A few years ago, I was introduced at a writer’s conference as the only happy attendee, because I was a poet, and poets don’t expect to make money, so they are never disappointed. I’m afraid that’s still true for most of us, but one thing has changed: I no longer go around referring to poetry […]
October
17
THE GENDER DANCE by Lesléa Newman
posted by CBethM
“What are little boys made of? What are little boys made of? Snips and snails And puppy-dogs’ tails That’s what little boys are made of What are little girls made of? What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice And everything nice That’s what little girls are made of” Aren’t you glad […]
October
16
Vision by Sandy Brehl
posted by CBethM
One morning last summer I spent a few hours at a local hospital having minor eye surgery. I knew that this procedure would improve my vision, but I won’t deny that the prospect of losing my sight, as unlikely as that was, left me feeling jittery. There was no reason for concern, though. I […]
October
15
On the Level by Donalyn Miller
posted by donalynm
While I was visiting an elementary school library in Chicago last spring, a group of third graders came into the library to return and check out books. The children wore index cards clipped to their shirts. On one side of the card was the child’s name. On the back, layers of sticky labels with […]
October
14
The Books That Bind Us by Susan Knell
posted by CBethM
I had the opportunity to visit The Netherlands and Germany this summer, and like many teachers, I try to find children’s books from the culture I’m visiting. Bringing back children’s books from trips, whether across the state or across the ocean and sharing them with students is a wonderful way to show them the world. […]
October
13
Cover Reveal: Takedown by Laura Shovan
posted by donalynm
I’m thrilled to be revealing the cover of my next middle grade novel at Nerdy Book Club today! Writing this book was a big stretch for me. My first book, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary, was a verse novel. Not only is Takedown written in prose, it’s a sports story. My son had been wrestling […]
October
12
Cover Reveal for Whatshisface by Gordon Korman
posted by CBethM
My first “cover reveal” took place in 1977. I was a fourteen-year-old high school freshman. In those days, a cover reveal consisted of seeing your first copy of the printed book. It had come in the mail, and my mom brought it to my high school so she could be the first to show it […]
October
11
Cover Reveal for PRIDE WARS: The Spinner Prince by Matt Laney
posted by CBethM
Earth…millions of years from now. Humans are no more. A new species of super-evolved felines rules the planet. A Prince must hide a dangerous and forbidden power he cannot control. Can he conceal his curse, claim the throne, and protect his realm? Or will he embrace his power and discover a far greater destiny? I’m […]
October
10
Putting the W in Research by Sally M. Walker
posted by CBethM
My mother let my sister and me go on our first solo adventure when we were eight and ten years old. We traipsed to a large park a mile and a half from our house. We’d read that Revolutionary War soldiers—Hessians—were buried somewhere in the park. So, we knew Who we were looking for, but […]
October
09
Driving Our Children to Life Long Reading by Meg Leventhal
posted by CBethM
As part of our district’s reading workshop program, my fifth grade students are required to read a self-chosen book for thirty minutes each night for homework. As a teacher, I know how vital this reading is to each student’s journey to the place where reading becomes like breathing. As a parent, however, with two children […]
