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
Author: Susan Kennedy
Susan is a literacy specialist/coach in suburban Boston and a life-long learner committed to literacy education for all.
Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrations by Micha Archer
Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Purdie Salas, Illustrated by Micha Archer April 10, 2022 We can't let April get by without digging into some poetry. One of my favorite poetry books that can act as a mentor for equation poems is Snowman-Cold = Puddle. Simple equations anchor this book while the author adds some explanatory details about… Continue reading Snowman-Cold=Puddle by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrations by Micha Archer
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer Fans of Daniel's Good Day will not be surprised by the exuberance of Wonder Walkers by the same author, Micha Archer. For me Micha Archer is on a literary roll, that I hope she keeps up. Look for me to review another book by this author in the coming months.… Continue reading Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer
Inside Cat by Brenden Wenzel
When I choose to write about Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel, I thought this was another Caldecott for the author of They All Saw a Cat, the 2017 Caldecott recipient. While Inside Cat was passed over for the award, this book carries some big thinking in its few words and limited subject. As cat remains… Continue reading Inside Cat by Brenden Wenzel
When My Cousins Come to Town
When My Cousins Come to Town by Angela Shanté When My Cousins Come to Town is a love letter to all that a big family of cousins has to offer, summers with grandma, the give and take of lots of kids together, the special bond that can form, and the trying out of new versions… Continue reading When My Cousins Come to Town
What’s Inside a Flower? by Rachel Ignotofsky
What's Inside a Flower? and other questions about Science & Nature by Rachel Ignotofsky From the beauty and diversity of flowers to the steps involved in pollination, Rachel Ignotofsky breaks down every part of a flower and its place on earth in her stunningly beautiful book, What's Inside a Flower?. She modestly describes her purpose… Continue reading What’s Inside a Flower? by Rachel Ignotofsky
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
Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby
Fall in New England is arguably the most beautiful season. Often a tree-produced riot of color, magical visuals flood our senses. Definitely time to get outside and possibly take a literal hike. I love so much about Outside In. It has been on my list to share for months. The illustrations beautifully crafted by Cindy… Continue reading Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby
Extraordinary! Penny Harrison & Katie Wilson
As we begin this school year, perhaps a little unsettled from the last year and a half, our wonderful superintendent encouraged the educators in our district to ease into this year giving the students time to adjust, to settle in. She charged us with focusing on community building, the social emotional needs of each student.… Continue reading Extraordinary! Penny Harrison & Katie Wilson
Setting Intentions: The Author’s Craft
At this time of year, I consider the beginning of a new school year. There are many obligations given to me as a literacy educator in a school district, but along with those noble ideas, I always set an intention for the focus of my work for the year, my personal work, my inner work,… Continue reading Setting Intentions: The Author’s Craft
Summer Stacking- A Crash Course in One Subject
Summer Stacking : A Crash Course June 10, 2021 If you are like me, you have had a rocky road with personal reading this year. It's been up and down, hard to finish some books, difficult to find time to read, more difficult to concentrate when I do. But summer has always been my time… Continue reading Summer Stacking- A Crash Course in One Subject
Nothing in Common by Kate Hoefler & Corrina Luyken
Nothing in Common I fell in love with this book instantly for it is not just a picture book about two young people who have nothing in common but empathy. It is a book for everyone who thought they had no one and nothing in common with anyone. It is a book about noticing things… Continue reading Nothing in Common by Kate Hoefler & Corrina Luyken
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall From the first page, Sophie Blackall's If You Come to Earth draws you in. Written as a travelogue for celestial visitors, this book is not my usual recommendation, but is indeed a treasure in my conferring bag. You may know Sophie Blackall as a picture book illustrator.… Continue reading If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
No Buddy Like A Book by Allan Wolf
No Buddy Like A Book by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Brianne Farley No Buddy Like A Book is a freshly minted book extolling the myriad of things we can learn in a book. So when we launched our Writing a Teaching Book unit for first grade, this seemed like a delicious kick-off mentor text. This… Continue reading No Buddy Like A Book by Allan Wolf
Most Days and Most People by Michael Leannah
Most Days and Most People by Michael Leannah Truth be told when I thought of writing about this book and it's Companion, Most People, I considered the social emotional toil this year has taken on all of us, educators and students alike. I consider the hopeful yet believable message of both of these delightfully crafted… Continue reading Most Days and Most People by Michael Leannah
Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris
One of the bright spots of our current hybrid model is teaching a 'Changing the World' persuasive writing unit at first grade. This unit typically taught in the last quarter of kindergarten focuses on change-making. Initially student think of problems in their every day work and make posters and songs to encourage change. The young… Continue reading Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris
My Footprints written by Bao Phi, Illustrated by Basia Tran
Fans of A Different Pond, will be thrilled to see a new offering by Bao Phi. Reading this book with Jennifer Serravallo's book club this summer, I was excited by what it offers to readers and especially to young writers. I tucked this book away, hoping to use it when the weather and the study… Continue reading My Footprints written by Bao Phi, Illustrated by Basia Tran
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us
Our Friend Hedgehog The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo is just the type of short novel that you hope will be a series. As each of the characters are introduced and the storyline is revealed, you say to yourself, this is a wonderful read aloud chocked full of all the things we hope for… Continue reading Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us
Narrative Mentors to Stretch our Writers
Always on the hunt for elementary writing mentors, this fall I was introduced to two texts, The Hike by Alison Farrell and The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann. I've been thinking about small moments and narrative writing mentors even more since a colleagues said, we should move on from narrative, it's not like the… Continue reading Narrative Mentors to Stretch our Writers
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song
Squirrels plus Donuts = a perfectly delicious story I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for a good laugh right about now. Mika Song delivers those laughs in this hilarious entry level graphic novel, Donut Feed the Squirrels. Two best squirrel buds smell pancakes (read maple syrup) one morning and it's all… Continue reading Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song
Going Up by Sherry Lee
Going Up by Sherry Lee reviewed by Susan Kennedy As we are going back to school in whatever form that is taking, hopefully we are returning to writing. I love writing with students and hearing them storytell their narrative plans. Returning to school this fall, I hope we'll start with some narratives: small moments, memoirs,… Continue reading Going Up by Sherry Lee
Our Favorite Day of the Year
Our Favorite Day of the Year written by A.E. Ali and illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell by Susan Kennedy A great way to make new friends is by sharing things we like. For me, meeting new students is my favorite thing to do! That's why the first day of school is my favorite day of… Continue reading Our Favorite Day of the Year
My Summer Reading List
My Summer Reading List My summer reading list was disrupted at the beginning of this month. Along with my usual search for student book selections and my focus in the last years of 'own voice' text, I had learning to do. I have to learn to be an antiracist, not just a non-racist. I have… Continue reading My Summer Reading List
Creating a Buzz Around Books
Creating a Buzz Around Books May 10, 2020 The laundry hums in the bathroom and I can hear someone walking around upstairs. If I'm distracted, the students probably are as well. One of the many concerns that we have as educators in this time of connected learning is keeping engagement and reading… Continue reading Creating a Buzz Around Books
Can I Touch Your Hair?
One of the last demonstration lessons I wrote before we left school in mid-March was a cross-text synthesizing lesson with this lovely poetry book, Can I Touch Your Hair? by Irene Latham & Charles Waters. While I can't find my hard copy in the sea of books I have brought home with me, I bought… Continue reading Can I Touch Your Hair?
Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson
Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson An advance copy of this book made it into my hands from our local independent bookstore last spring. I immediately loved it! Always on the lookout for a book that fits the complexity we hope for our upper elementary readers without being too mature for them, Some… Continue reading Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson
Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson
Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson It's difficult to narrow my comments about Carter Reads the Newspaper to a short blog. If you asked me the title of my #1 coaching book, this is it. This book has a lot: picture book biography, amazing book for black history month, narrative arc, and author's craft. … Continue reading Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson
Fungus is Among Us! written by Joy Keller Illustrated by Erica Salcedo
At first I thought that fungus was really gross...but now I think they are good for our planet- Julia, Grade 3 They mixed a storybook with poetry and a BUNCH of facts! - Rain, Grade 3 That's a LOT of fungi! Barely any fungi in my yard! Yeast is fungi. We eat fungi ?!? -… Continue reading Fungus is Among Us! written by Joy Keller Illustrated by Erica Salcedo
Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins
Rowboat Watkins’ Most Marshmallows has been floating around my book collection since February without a permanent home. Currently living in my love this book but what category bin, on the surface Most Marshmallows is a wonderfully silly tale about marshmallows. The publisher’s summary includes most marshmallows like to watch television and lead normal lives-but some… Continue reading Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins
If Elephants Disappear by Lily Williams
If Elephants Disappear by Lily Williams I read that Lily Williams never imagined writing a book where poop figures prominently, but in her book, If Elephants Disappear, elephants' dung plays a critical role in tropic cascade and readers are given a front row seat to its importance to the elephant ecosystem and our own survival.… Continue reading If Elephants Disappear by Lily Williams
The Field
The Field by Baptiste Paul, illustrated beautifully by Jacqueline Alcantara A winner of many awards in 2018, The Field shows and tells the story of a girl, her brother and some friends as they pick up a soccer game in rural St. Lucia, the author's home of origin. Through stunning illustrations full of movement… Continue reading The Field