When the two big “new year” markers come around – a new school year in September and a new calendar year in January – I like to pause and reflect on the books that have made a difference in my heart and mind over the course of the year. Much like special people or meaningful […]
Category Archives: Book Lists
July
11
Five Must Read 2023 Middle Grade Novels by Colby Sharp
posted by Colby Sharp
For the first time since the summer of 2019, I feel like I am reading as much as I was before the pandemic began. It is amazing. I’m reading between 75 and 200 pages a day. The books that I am reading are making laugh, cry, and learn. I am such a happy reader. How […]
December
25
Best Young Adult Audiobooks for 2022 by AudioFile
posted by CBethM
AudioFile’s 2022 Young Adult Audiobooks include a brief but breathtaking story from Jason Reynolds, bone chilling horror audiobooks, a remixed classic, and beautiful contemporary fiction. Each audiobook comes to life with powerful narrations. For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit AudioFile’swebsite. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/best-audiobooks-2022/ AIN’T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT by Jason Reynolds| Read by Jason Reynolds, Nile Bullock, […]
November
28
Chapter Books to Middle Grade Novels: Stepping Up the Reading Ladder by Michele Knott and Victoria J. Coe
posted by CBethM
Imagine a newly-independent reader who’s ready for longer stories. Chapter books set them up for success, right? Think about it. Chapter books feature appropriate vocabulary, simple sentence structure, appealing characters, and a predictable storyline with a satisfying outcome. And they’re presented in short chapters with lively illustrations. Even better – they come in series! So […]
September
01
What are your kids reading? by Colby Sharp
posted by Colby Sharp
Today is my seventh day of the school year. It is hard to believe that a couple of weeks ago I hadn’t met my students, and now I know so much about them. I’m feeling pretty confident that we are going to have an awesome year together. Every week or two, when the kids head […]
October
27
DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH-NEW BOOKS by Lynn Plourde
posted by CBethM
Do you remember Corky on the TV show Life Goes On? Corky Thatcher, a character with Down syndrome, who was played by Chris Burke, an actor with Down syndrome? I was so excited when that show came on. As a public-school speech-language therapist at the time, who worked with students with Down syndrome, I thought, […]
February
28
Audiobooks & 2020 ALA Youth Media Awards by Robin Whitten & Emily Connelly
posted by CBethM
Every year, we’re excited to see the winners of the American Library Association youth media awards—announced in January—and especially to celebrate the audiobook winners and audiobook versions of print winners. The 2020 Odyssey Award for the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults went to Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My […]
August
19
Fellow Travelers by Donalyn Miller
posted by donalynm
I have packing rituals—habits I follow each time I prepare for a trip. I can pack my carry-on suitcase, Little Red, like a racetrack pit crew—quickly slotting my clothes, computer cords, and shoes into their proper places. After packing the essentials, I examine the available remaining space in my bag and fill it with books. […]
July
09
So What Are You Reading? by Cindy Minnich
posted by CBethM
It’s a Monday morning that looks a lot like most of my summer Monday mornings. I’m sitting here with a cup of coffee, looking at my phone. Most mornings, admittedly, I’m either reading a book on it or scrolling through social media to see what everyone else was up to last night after I went […]
January
03
THE 2016 NERDIES: YOUNG ADULT FICTION (PART TWO) ANNOUNCED BY A CONVENTION OF NERDS
posted by donalynm
This post includes the second half of the 2016 Nerdy Book Club Award winners for best young adult fiction. The first part of the list ran in yesterday’s post. Congratulations to all of the winners. Your books offer reader empowering stories celebrating the resilience, honesty, and integrity of young adults as they navigate […]
Nerdy Book Club 