• Reviews

    #blogbookaday: Flowers for Sarajevo

    Summary:  “The moving story of a young boy who discovers the power of beauty and kindness during a time of war. Drasko helps his father sell flowers in Sarajevo, but when war threatens and his father is called to the battlefront, Drasko must take over the flower stall. One morning the…

  • Reviews

    Middle Grade Review: The First Rule of Punk

    Synopsis: It’s the first day in a new school a thousand miles away from her dad, best friend and everything she knows and loves and Malu is nervous. After a tough day (violating the school dress code, upsetting the school’s queen bee and so much more), Malu has disappointed her…

  • Reviews

    Book Review: Sparrow

    The story opens in a white hospital room after Sparrow’s apparent suicide attempt. The custodian found Sarah on the edge of the school’s roof, but no one will believe that she wasn’t up there to jump. She was up there to fly. When the world on the ground gets to…

  • Lists

    (Unofficial) Top Ten Tuesday: Middle Grade Audiobooks

    My regularly scheduled blog themes for Tuesday is on hold until August, so I created my own list – Ten Middle Grade audiobooks – perfect for summer vacation! Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews, Rebecca Soler; music, Corky Siegel Nimona by Noelle…

  • Activities

    Girl Scout Visit – Yoga

    I had a visit from a Girl Scout troop this week and was requested to provide a short yoga/book program for the girls. I was well-prepared and created an entire lesson plan the week before, but about an hour before the girls came, I switched everything up and I’m so…

  • Reviews

    Picture Book Month Theme: Music

    You’ll be seeing a lot of picture books on my blog throughout the month of November as we celebrate Picture Book Month.  You’ll definitely want to check out the website as picture book authors and illustrators will be posting an essay each day about the importance of picture books!  Check…

  • Lifestyle

    Must Listen: Emily Arrow ~ Storytime Singalong

    I’ve mentioned Emily Arrow before on my blog, but that was before I got a copy of her Storytime Singalong, Vol. 1 CD.  This CD is absolutely pure gold for storytimes and families!  Emily has done a few of her own songs, but what I absolutely am in awe of…

  • Lifestyle

    5 Early Literacy Practices: SING

    I’ll be the first to admit that my singing voice is less than stellar.  In fact, it’s downright bad, but that doesn’t stop me from singing in every storytime I offer.  Singing to young children helps them learn so much about language, which is a point I try and make…

  • Activities

    Family Storytime Theme: Colorful Chameleons

    This storytime was awesome!  I enjoy my Saturday crowds because they are a lot of families that I don’t see during the week and are usually very into participating.  The kids LOVED the fish song and (once they figured it out) the “Mmm Ahh” song too!  They were also captivated…

  • Lifestyle

    Bonus! Book Review & Resource

    Today you, my reader, are getting a Bonus! Book Review & Resource! I thought that I Am Yoga was done in the best possible way!  The text is beautiful and the illustrations are gorgeous with washes of color and poses that kids will be able to do at home with their…