Blog Posts

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar shares a timeless message of perspective through it's retelling of a Parsi legend. I have recently found myself imagining a fourth grade social studies “regions” unit centered on immigration, so it was only natural that I picked up Thrity Umrigar’s Sugar in Milk while recently browsing the library shelves.… Continue reading Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar

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The First Blade of Sweetgrass

Picture books and novels by Indigenous authors ABOUT Indigenous people are some of my favorite books to share with students all year long.  The First Blade of Sweetgrass: A Native American Story by Suzanne Greenlaw, citizen of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and her husband, Gabriel Frey, citizen of the Passamaquoddy Nation, is one… Continue reading The First Blade of Sweetgrass

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Gratitude

/ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/ noun - the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Every year at this time, I reflect on my life - especially the people and things for which I am most grateful. This year I am most thankful for a healthy family, a comfortable home, wonderful friends, experiencing… Continue reading Gratitude

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Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman

The world is changing, and people are growing by learning more and taking action."-- Fourth Grader Imagine my surprise on Inauguration Day when my partner texted me to share that he had gone ahead and preordered Amanda Gorman's children's book for my classroom! He just knew that my students and I needed it in our… Continue reading Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman

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Ten Beautiful Things

Recently on Twitter, Tara Lazar asked people to give a shout out to picture books published during the pandemic that they thought hadn't received enough attention. I read through the chat and stumbled upon this book. The beautiful cover and the title caught my attention. When I read the reviews and learned it was about… Continue reading Ten Beautiful Things

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Pip and Egg by Alex Latimer and David Litchfield

Pip and EggBy Alex Latimer and David Litchfield Last month, I shared a vision of comprehension work I can imagine, spanning and strengthening readers across grade levels. Earlier this month, I was tasked with providing professional development for our district's first grade teachers. We have recently implemented an updated version of a popular reading assessment.… Continue reading Pip and Egg by Alex Latimer and David Litchfield

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The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge

Lita Judge crafts a dual informational/poetry books where she images the voice of the trees through poetry and explains the science of tree communities through sidebars. Take a journey with your students through this amazing versatile author's creative process outlined here in her own voice, identify the author's craft moves in this truly unique book,… Continue reading The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge

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Zonia’s Rain Forest, written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

We all must answer. Zonia lives with her loved ones in her home in the Amazon rain forest. Each day the rain forest calls for her to explore, and she does. She greets the many animals of the forest, the Blue morpho butterfly, the Hoffman’s two-toed sloth, the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the Amazon river dolphin, and… Continue reading Zonia’s Rain Forest, written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal