A few weeks ago, the last video store in my zip code closed for good. On one of its final days in operation, I visited for a last look around. There wasn’t much left—some candy, a few posters, DVDs of titles all easily accessible on streaming services. The merchandise that remained was shoved into one […]
Author Archives: CBethM
May
10
A Season of Bravery by Lisa McMann
posted by CBethM
It’s been a season of bravery. I’ve always loved books with underdog main characters who must dig deep within themselves to overcome near-impossible obstacles. When I think back to stories that captivated me as a child and as a young bookseller (my first job in an independent bookstore came at age 17), I come up […]
May
07
Birth of a Batpig by Rob Harrell
posted by CBethM
There are a few different origin stories for this particular super pig. There’s the Batpig that appears in my novel WINK, a creation of the main character Ross Maloy. And there’s the origin story of that character you can find in my new graphic novel WHEN PIGS FLY – that involves a mildly radioactive bat, […]
April
30
Nerdy Book Club Cover Reveal — EGG MARKS THE SPOT by Amy Timberlake, with pictures by Jon Klassen
posted by CBethM
Amy’s questions for Jon! 1. Where did the cover design come from? I know you collect books, so any inspirations from your collection? Also, I love how much of the story is compressed into that cover! Where did that come from? This cover was so much fun. When we started this series I had a rough […]
April
29
Flavors of Summer by Ira Marcks
posted by CBethM
Like a recipe, the perfect summer can be conjured with the right ingredients. Here are my personal favorite flavors of summertime. There are too many flavors of friends to get into here. I like to have a balance of sweet and sour. Make sure a few of them contain some essential vitamins. Growing up, I’ve […]
April
26
Letting Go of Labels and Trusting Reading Identity by Dr. Jennifer Scoggin and Hannah Schneewind
posted by CBethM
My son pours over illustrations and devours graphic novels, especially those with sophisticated potty humor. Dav Pilkey has mythical status in our house. Garfield comics abound. Chris Van Dusen’s illustrations merit hours of close study. Yet despite his love of reading at home, my son did not see himself as a successful reader at school. […]
April
25
The Beautiful Complexities of Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas – Written by Nawal Qarooni Casiano
posted by CBethM
I inhaled Maverick’s story in just a few breaths, never wanting to leave his side amid the daily saga of his teenage life. I read at the park; I read in the car. As with all good storytelling, the characters feel like friends, and Maverick is one I won’t soon forget. Maverick shows up on […]
April
20
Finding My Happy Ending for Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall
posted by CBethM
We all want kids to read. To read widely, and happily, and voraciously. But for lots of kids, reading can be a challenge, and even a chore. For some kids, it might be about finding the right book. For others, it might be about finding the right cat. An extraordinary thing has been happening in […]
April
19
Why I Will Always Read Aloud to my Middle School Students by Beth Jarzabek
posted by CBethM
On a given day this fall, someone who passed my classroom may have heard my heartwrenching recitation of Johnny’s famous “Stay Gold” letter from the timeless novel, The Outsiders. This spring, passerbys might be relegated to my epic Effie Trinket impression, singing out the wish that the “Odds be ever in your favor!” While my […]
April
17
Ten Ways to Add Diversity in Aging to Picture Book Collections by Lindsey McDivitt
posted by CBethM
In childhood we celebrate every birthday and developmental milestone. As adults we cheer on milestone birthdays like ninety and one hundred yet stereotype older adults. Somehow our naturally increasing years are tainted with a sense of doom and failure. This is ageism, not reality. This needs to change, and picture books can be an important […]
