Month: May 2022

Anyone paying attention to big-name book publishers and their “new release” calendars is aware that publishers are making efforts to fill-in the massive hole that is BIPOC authors and characters in their library portfolios. With so many eye-catching titles, its more important than ever for school districts (and lets face it, individual teachers!) to be… Continue reading Buying Books? What do you prioritize?

It doesn't seem fitting to go on as normal...it doesn't feel right...it's heart wrenching to go on yet again...but we do it, day in and day out. We do it while keeping hope for the sweet littles that we work with. What we do matters. I walked into school Wednesday morning holding back tears, knowing… Continue reading “You’ll be in my heart”

Traci Sorell, member of the Cherokee Nation, is one of the most popular authors for the students in Room 23. Her latest book, Pow Wow Day was a HUGE hit!  It is different from her other books and the students were able to pick up on the differences quickly.  It is so exciting when students… Continue reading Pow Wow Day

IT’S ME, HENRY(Orca Book Publishers, 2022) by Stéphanie Deslauriers with illustrations by Geneviève Després, gently and respectfully shines a light on the challenges presented at school for a child with autism. The story follows Henry through a day at school where we learn about his somewhat unexpected behaviors, such as calling plants by their Latin… Continue reading IT’S ME, HENRY

by Kashmira Sheth All it takes is that one special series to hook young readers and keep them reading! Own Voices author, Kashmira Sheth brings an engaging and relatable main character to young audiences through the Nina Soni series.  Nina Soni is an American-Indian girl  who is as genuine and lovable as she is completely… Continue reading Nina Soni, Master of the Garden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb2mYaGwbyY It's a rainy day in Massachusetts. It is the kind of day that makes me want to snuggle up with a good book so I invited our reading community to do so this afternoon. We cozied up on our green, orange, and blue polka-dotted rug and turned off the lights like a theater. Together,… Continue reading Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani Larocca

One of the best parts of the end of the school year is witnessing and celebrating the culmination of a year's worth of teaching. Out of the Blue and it's fabulous author, Elizabeth Shreeve, afforded our classroom that opportunity. But before I get to the end, let me go back to the beginning. Last year… Continue reading Out of the Blue

I am reading lots of books with my second graders to help them notice and name injustices, introduce them to people who took a stand (many who still are), and recognize the power they have to stand up for themselves and others. As we read books and watch videos, the children have hands-down conversations either… Continue reading Justice and Action

In 2019, in a pre-pandemic world, I attended a TCRWP Saturday Reunion Session...in person. How I miss the anticipatory drive into the city, ready for a day of learning that always filled my professional bucket. It was during a session with the lovely and brilliant Shana Frazin that my literacy world kind of expanded. The… Continue reading Read Aloud With Graphic Novels

As we near the end of the school year and begin to both challenge our students to apply all that they have learned and also inspire them to do so with independence, we look to tasks and mentors to move this work forward. In a world of practice that has been characterized in recent times… Continue reading Fly by Brittany J. Thurman, Illustrated by Anna Cuhna

Oh, this book will have your heart.  Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartolj is a strikingly beautiful book with a big message, all without a written word to be found on the page. This wordless picture book does not need text to take readers on a powerful journey of kindness. The beautiful images moving from… Continue reading Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartolj

It’s not often - wait, no - It’s not ever, that I get to share a story without a single interruption. There was utter silence as I projected the illustrations of this work from the SMART Board while I read the text. Indeed, Kindergartners sat transfixed by the message so craftily told and illustrated. Van… Continue reading Wishes by Muon Thi Van & Victo Ngai