In the wake of the social isolation that Zoom school brought to students, this year I’ve been flooded with requests from teachers for books about social emotional learning (SEL). There are many aspects of SEL, from developing empathy to encouraging self-confidence, but the request I’ve received the most is books about growth mindset. Carol Dweck […]
Category Archives: Top Ten Lists
September
13
10 Best Books Starring Kangaroos by Margaret Robson Kett
posted by CBethM
It’s the animal holding up one side of the Australian coat-of-arms. Europeans who encountered First Nations people speaking Guugu-Yimidhirr language in what is now northern Queensland over two hundred years ago heard them describe this strange animal as ‘ganjurru’. The kangaroo is adorably quirky and seems purpose built for picture books about mother-child relationships. My […]
August
14
TOP TEN BOOKS ABOUT KIDS WHO COOK (AND BAKE) BY SALLY ENGELFRIED
posted by CBethM
When I host elementary school class visits at my library, one of the most frequent questions I hear in the nonfiction section is “Where are the cookbooks?” The popularity of competition cooking shows like MasterChef Junior or The Great British Baking Show may help fuel this interest, but whatever the reason, it’s a great idea […]
August
07
Ten Ways to Make Storytimes Interactive by Abi Cushman
posted by CBethM
At nErDCampPA this year, I got together with fellow kidlit creators, Josh Funk, Valerie Bolling and Carol Gordon Ekster to chat about making storytimes interactive. How can we get kids actively involved and keep their interest piqued during the reading and even beyond? It was a great discussion with many educators chiming in with their […]
July
10
Ten Books to Help you Get Ready for the Summer Olympics by Jennifer Swanson
posted by CBethM
Got sports? The Olympics does, and plenty of them. A huge multinational sports competition held every four years, this is THE sporting event of the world. Well, okay it depends on who you ask, but still, the Olympics are a pretty big deal, especially if you are an athlete. It brings together some of the […]
June
05
Top Ten Short Story Anthologies for Teens by Kasey Short
posted by CBethM
Short Story anthologies have so much to offer middle and high school age children. Teens are often still deciding what types of books they enjoy, looking for authors whose work engages them, and may not have significant time to invest in reading outside of school assignments. These approachable books provide an opportunity for teens to […]
April
03
Ten Books that Encourage Teens to Speak Up and Speak Out by Kasey Short
posted by CBethM
Middle and high school students have strong sense of justice, innovative ideas, and the potential to make a significant impact on their communities. They need encouragement to use their voices to speak up and speak out for their lives, their school, their community, and our world. These books provide examples of teens speaking up for […]
January
23
10 Ordinary Moments In Diverse Picture Books by Amanda Bower
posted by CBethM
A pattern that disturbs me in picture books that illustrate diversity is that most books I come across that are by diverse authors or that have diverse characters deal with oppression and racism as the main theme of the story. Civil rights, and the ways those have been violated, are essential stories, and many […]
January
09
Ten Picture Books to Boost Discussion of Boundaries by Katey Howes
posted by CBethM
We invest a great deal of time and energy teaching children to share, take turns, and be kind to others. These skills support a healthy, happy community in the classroom, on the playground, and in larger life. So many wonderful picture books serve as discussion starters for these essential lessons! But we often neglect to […]
October
31
Top Ten Tips for Reading Scary Books by Kristiana Sfirlea
posted by CBethM
Like all holidays in 2020, Halloween is going to look a little different this year. For many, season staples such as trick-or-treating, costume parties, and haunted house attractions will not be part of their celebrations, and it can leave everyone feeling put out like a jack-o-lantern with its candle extinguished. But never fear! When […]
