This book has had quite a journey in my coaching bag. I pulled it out when a teacher described the tough morning he had before arriving at school. He proceeded to read it aloud to the group, and at the end of it, we were all in stitches. On another day, this book traveled to… Continue reading Who Wet My Pants? By Bob Shea and Zachariah Ohora
Author: Tammy Mulligan
Tammy Mulligan co-authored It’s All About the Books and Assessment in Perspective with Clare Landrigan. At work, you can find her teaching and collaborating alongside elementary teachers and kids. At home, you will find her in the garden, with her family, working with her therapy dog, or hiking in the woods.
Learning to Revise Our Thinking with the Help of the Piano Recital by Akiko Miyakoshi
I was so excited when I found this book at the Harvard Book Store one Sunday afternoon. It is a fantasy picture book that pushes students to reconsider their initial ideas and lift their thinking as they read. When I began reading this book to a group of fourth-graders, they had no trouble inferring how… Continue reading Learning to Revise Our Thinking with the Help of the Piano Recital by Akiko Miyakoshi
Astro Girl, Ken Wilson-Max
Some books touch people's hearts no matter their age. Astro Girl is one of those stories. The first time I shared this book, I was with a group of principals and literacy specialists. When the story ended, a quiet hush filled the room. Then, digital devices began to glow as people ordered their own copies.… Continue reading Astro Girl, Ken Wilson-Max
Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki and Genevieve Simms
I had to have this book as soon as I saw the cover. I am a big gardener and have always been fascinated by Japanese gardens, even though my gardening style is a bit different. But this book is about so much more than gardening – it is a book about saying good-bye, accepting the… Continue reading Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki and Genevieve Simms
The Quiet Boat Ride, Sergio Ruzzier
When I read about this book in Horn Book, I immediately ordered it. First off, these stories are adorable. Sergio Ruzzier has taken such simple moments – a ride in a rowboat, sharing a cake, watching the sunrise and made them into stories about friendship. The stories are funny and endearing without smacking kids over… Continue reading The Quiet Boat Ride, Sergio Ruzzier
The Very Impatient Caterpillar, Ross Burach
I chose to read The Very Impatient Caterpillar to third graders because it tied beautifully with their pollinator science unit and this book is “laugh out loud” funny – a perfect combination. I also loved the way Ross Burach wove information about butterflies into this narrative story in ways that kids could emulate in their… Continue reading The Very Impatient Caterpillar, Ross Burach
Welcome!
I met a lot of educators and read a lot of books over the years. So it made sense to create a space to share our collective passion for children's literature. I called my friends, and they called theirs, and suddenly we had twenty-seven educators with diverse experiences, backgrounds and book loves. I hope you… Continue reading Welcome!