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IT’S ME, HENRY(Orca Book Publishers, 2022) by Stéphanie Deslauriers with illustrations by Geneviève Després, gently and respectfully shines a light on the challenges presented at school for a child with autism. The story follows Henry through a day at school where we learn about his somewhat unexpected behaviors, such as calling plants by their Latin… Continue reading IT’S ME, HENRY

by Kashmira Sheth All it takes is that one special series to hook young readers and keep them reading! Own Voices author, Kashmira Sheth brings an engaging and relatable main character to young audiences through the Nina Soni series.  Nina Soni is an American-Indian girl  who is as genuine and lovable as she is completely… Continue reading Nina Soni, Master of the Garden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb2mYaGwbyY It's a rainy day in Massachusetts. It is the kind of day that makes me want to snuggle up with a good book so I invited our reading community to do so this afternoon. We cozied up on our green, orange, and blue polka-dotted rug and turned off the lights like a theater. Together,… Continue reading Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani Larocca

One of the best parts of the end of the school year is witnessing and celebrating the culmination of a year's worth of teaching. Out of the Blue and it's fabulous author, Elizabeth Shreeve, afforded our classroom that opportunity. But before I get to the end, let me go back to the beginning. Last year… Continue reading Out of the Blue

I am reading lots of books with my second graders to help them notice and name injustices, introduce them to people who took a stand (many who still are), and recognize the power they have to stand up for themselves and others. As we read books and watch videos, the children have hands-down conversations either… Continue reading Justice and Action

In 2019, in a pre-pandemic world, I attended a TCRWP Saturday Reunion Session...in person. How I miss the anticipatory drive into the city, ready for a day of learning that always filled my professional bucket. It was during a session with the lovely and brilliant Shana Frazin that my literacy world kind of expanded. The… Continue reading Read Aloud With Graphic Novels

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

Oh, this book will have your heart.  Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartolj is a strikingly beautiful book with a big message, all without a written word to be found on the page. This wordless picture book does not need text to take readers on a powerful journey of kindness. The beautiful images moving from… Continue reading Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartolj

It’s not often - wait, no - It’s not ever, that I get to share a story without a single interruption. There was utter silence as I projected the illustrations of this work from the SMART Board while I read the text. Indeed, Kindergartners sat transfixed by the message so craftily told and illustrated. Van… Continue reading Wishes by Muon Thi Van & Victo Ngai

With poetic rhyming and vivid illustrations, Andrea Beaty and David Roberts do it again with the latest addition to the Questioneers series. Miss Greer, the teacher we have come to love has a class full of characters, Ada the scientist, Rosie the engineer, Iggy the architect, Sofia the future president, and now Aaron the illustrator.… Continue reading “To write stories, he thinks, is the greatest of things”

Not fitting in. Feeling out of place. Hiding within oneself. Relatable feelings, for sure! Debut author Antwan Eady and artist Gracey Zhang illustrate evolving confidence through the character of Nigel. The story follows Nigel’s thoughts and actions during Career Week at his school. Nigel is enthusiastic about his dreams of becoming an astronaut, a dancer,… Continue reading Nigel and the Moon, written by Antwan Eady and illustrated by Gracey Zhang

by Kelly Yang Love is the only vaccine for hate.” I’m an elementary school teacher.  I have three elementary school-aged children of my own. Two years and an eternity into congruent pandemics - a war with a virus and another with racism -  while much of life has resumed “business-as-usual,” my colleagues and I often… Continue reading New From Here

Not LittleBy: Maya MyersPictures By: Hyewon Yum Not Little, written by Maya Myers and illustrated by Hyewon Yum, is the story of Dot who is small, but mighty. When people around her underestimate her abilities, she likes to prove them wrong. Being small doesn't mean she can't do things like everyone else and she let's… Continue reading Not Little By Maya Myers Pictures By Hyewon Yum

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

I usually choose the next book I want to read and share with teachers and students, but this book chose me. I was leaving the Children’s Department of my local library where Shelby and Watts: Tide Pool Troubles was on display. The brightly colored cover and spirited animals on the front caught my eye and… Continue reading Shelby and Watts: Tide Pool Troubles by Ashlyn Anstee

Dragonboy, by Fabio Napoleoni, opens with a little boy waking up in his bed “behind the farthest door down the hall”.  In his room, we see a dragon costume as well as several stuffed animals of different varieties.  The boy gets dressed in his dragon costume and greets his stuffed friends. As you turn to… Continue reading Dragonboy, by Fabio Napoleoni

ratedreads.com Have you ever finally settled down with a book that you’ve been ever so patiently waiting to read, just to be completely disheartened by the language or the nature of the content? Or, have you perused your teen’s required reading or friend suggestions to your utter dismay! It seems to me that more frequently… Continue reading Resource for Young Adult and Adult Readers

"There once was a youngster named Chester van Chime, who woke up one day and forgot how to...make words sound alike." April is National Poetry Month, and my students and I kicked it off with a hilarious new picture book by Avery Monsen. Chester van Chime loves to rhyme, but one day he wakes, and… Continue reading Chester van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen and illustrated by Abby Hanlon

I'm always watching for mentor texts for our kindergarten persuasive writing unit and when I came across Rise Up and Write It by Nandini Ahuja and Anoosha Syed, I literally squealed. Not only does this book show how children can really impact change in the world, it is written by and about people of color.… Continue reading “I know we can change the world!”

How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball Written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Frank Morrison Sometimes you have to sit down, to stand up." It’s that time of year again! While fans are glued to their screens, anticipating college basketball wins through their March Madness brackets, elementary schoolers far and wide are elbow deep in picture… Continue reading Above the Rim