Author: Susan Kennedy

Some days you just want a good laugh with kindergarteners, a playful romp in author's craft, illustrations, predictions, and good old fun. This book by Steve Smallman and Miguel Ordonéz has many opportunities for that playful read aloud fun. After a week of benchmark assessments, I dropped by a kindergarten class and asked if they… Continue reading The Eyebrows of Doom

I love it when a book surprises you, when it make you as an adult reader consider your world view. I especially love it when I immediately see the mentor text/writing connection with a picture book. This simple book, Like by Annie Barrows and simply but powerfully illustrated by Pura Belpré honor recipient, Leo Espinosa,… Continue reading Like by Annie Barrows and Leo Espinosa

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

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 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

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 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? 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

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

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

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

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, 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 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

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

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 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

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

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

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 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

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