Author: Jennifer Ryan

by Remy Lai Pie In The Sky, by Remi Lai has been one of the greatest additions to our school’s book room in recent years. Pie In The Sky is the story of a boy’s journey from his former life in China to a brand new life in Australia, following the sudden death of his… Continue reading Pie In The Sky

How many times in the last year have you heard people say, “Ugh! 2020!”?  Many of us feel like 2020 has dealt us one tsunami after another and our personal shorelines are eroding rapidly. Though I am ready for 2020 to end as much as the next person, as a writing teacher, I recognize that… Continue reading Using Silver Linings As Ideas for Stories

Get out the Vote!  Kate Messner’s History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote,  illustrated by Dylan Meconis, is an inspiring and timely history of the centuries of struggle that women waged to vote in America. History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote - Written by Kate Messner and Illustrated by Dylan Meconis When we think of the… Continue reading History Smashers: Women’s Right To Vote

bOOKS AS mIRRORS AND wINDOWS Dr. Rudine Simms Bishop, in her 1990 article, wrote about the importance of literature as “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.” Our students come to us during this unique year, in the midst of two pandemics; a global health crisis and the urgent battle to dismantle systemic racism. As we… Continue reading Launching Readers Workshop with Books as Mirrors and Windows

"So maybe it isn't the fewest mistakes that wins. Maybe it's having the courage to take that next step--even at the risk of making a mistake."

I’m sure that many of you felt that this summer’s vacation would never arrive. Parents and teachers alike have just completed the complicated dance of balancing teaching and parenting their children and sustaining work from home. Now that summer is here, it’s important to step back, slow down, and unplug. There is one type of… Continue reading Unpacking Identity

by Kat Zhang & illustrated by Charlene Chua Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao is a zesty story about the perfect recipe for perseverance. Chinese-American Amy Wu loves her family tradition of making bao together almost as much as she loves eating them. Amy becomes frustrated when she struggles to make bao that look as… Continue reading Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao

by Kheryn Challender No one would ever say, "Come and join us, Caroline," so I would then spend the rest of the lunch period feeling sorry for myself and trying to remember that the lonely children like me are the ones who grow up to be someone that everyone wishes they could be.” Hurricane Child… Continue reading Hurricane Child

By Sydney Smith  “I know what it’s like to be small in the city”, “The streets are always busy. It can make your brain feel like there’s too much stuff in it.”  Small in the City, written and illustrated by Sydney Smith, is a beautiful narrative picture book about, what at first seems to be… Continue reading Small In The City

by Stacy McAnulty and Illustrated by David Litchfield Hi! I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome. Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, tells the autobiographical story of Earth’s history, from the beginning of time to the present. This text takes you on a walk through geologic time from the perspective of Earth, herself.… Continue reading Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years

“If everyone decided nothing could change, nothing ever would.” As fifth graders’ worldview begins to expand, they start to understand that the things that they might take for granted are treasures to children in other parts of the world. Amal Unbound, by Aisha Saeed is a beautiful story that demonstrates how our perspectives are shaped… Continue reading Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

We are all interconnected. Towers Falling, by Jewell Parker Rhodes brilliantly brings this message of societal interconnectedness to life as main character, Deja Barnes uncovers her  community’s and family’s history.  Fifth grader, Deja, is new to school. Deja’s family of five lives in a one room apartment in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn. As Deja… Continue reading Towers Falling By Jewell Parker Rhodes

Much like Brown Girl Dreaming, Jaqueline Woodson’s ability to weave together challenging, yet relevant story lines with subtle imagery and graceful, melodic language does not fall short in her 2018 novel, Harbor Me.This is an important story for adults (particularly teachers) and older students alike, as it reminds readers that each child has defining layers… Continue reading Harbor Me