This year, my K-8 school district has two parallel tracks for learning. The first is fully in school five days a week, and the other track is fully remote. The cohorts for both are very small, each has its own teacher, and families were allowed to choose which track was best for their child/ren. To… Continue reading Choice Still Matters
Author: Gwen Blumberg
Gwen is a life-long book lover & K-8 literacy leader in Lincoln, Massachusetts. You can follow her on Twitter @gwenblumberg
The Next President
With less than one month until election day, The Next President, The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America's Presidents written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Adam Rex is a timely read aloud. It's also not your average book about Presidential history for kids... it's way better. Clear and concise text and supporting illustrations… Continue reading The Next President
I Have Missed Books
A Sharing of My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano & Jillian Tamaki This was a different kind of reading summer. Normally, I go to local libraries on hot days, browse the recent releases in the children's section for hours, and check out stacks upon stacks of beautiful books. I visit small, local bookstores and linger… Continue reading I Have Missed Books
Summer Reading Resolutions
My summer reading list usually ends up feeling like a New Year's resolution. I have great intentions, aim too high, and end up disappointed I didn't achieve my goal. This year, I've decided to slow down a bit and think in twos-- two professional books, two adult books that I'm reading just because I want… Continue reading Summer Reading Resolutions
Camp Tiger
written by Susan Choi & illustrated by John Rocco At the beginning of the school year, the fifth-grade team asked me for a book recommendation. They wanted a book that they didn't know so they could authentically model the interpretation process with their students through a think aloud. They wanted a book that would make… Continue reading Camp Tiger
Going Down Home with Daddy
Written by Kelly Starling Lyons & Illustrated by Daniel Minter Nothing is more important than family." I was delighted to learn that Going Down Home with Daddy was named a 2020 Caldecott Honor Book. From the first time I read the beautiful words and poured over the lush, acrylic wash illustrations by artist Daniel Minter,… Continue reading Going Down Home with Daddy
Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul
If you are a reader of this blog, chances are you are a book lover. If I were a gambling woman, I would also be willing to bet that when you see a Little Free Library, you get a wee bit excited by the thought of peeking inside to see what treasures await. Dear reader,… Continue reading Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul
Room On Our Rock by Kate & Jol Temple
"No room on this rock? Can it be true? Read back to front for another point of view." The first time I saw Room on our Rock on the shelf of a small, local bookstore, I pulled it down, read it and then answered the invitation to read the book again, this time from back… Continue reading Room On Our Rock by Kate & Jol Temple
PAPER SON, The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist
Paper Son is a gorgeous, new biographical picture book written by Julie Leung and illustrated by Chris Sasaki about the life of unsung Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong. The story follows Tyrus from his immigration to the United States during the Chinese Exclusion Act, through his childhood, to art school, and to his first creative job… Continue reading PAPER SON, The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist
Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
Last spring, a student I've known for years came to talk to me because he was having a bad day. He shared that everyone was trying to make him feel better, but he was just having a bad day and wished that everyone would give him space to have it and then move on. He… Continue reading Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando
by Andrea Wang & Illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz When I was a child, I LOVED it when one of my parents would make ramen. I adored winding the squiggly, wavy noodles around my fork and the salty broth that inevitably splashed on my face. In college, I ate a LOT... I mean A L O… Continue reading Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando
There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Teacher Thoughts... Dip into this story to experience a powerful punch of rich, descriptive language. You’ll quickly tuck it into your “go-to” stack of mentor texts to love throughout the elementary grades. Kids who need models for how to weave description and figurative language into their writing will be inspired by phrases such as: “I slipped… Continue reading There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach