Mike: Hey, David. It’s a pretty special day today, isn’t it? David: It is indeed, Mike! Thank you for remembering that it’s my birthday! Mike: Uh…what I had in mind was that today is the cover release of our next book together, See the Ghost: Three Stories About Things You Cannot See. David: And what […]
October
26
See Mike Wohnoutka and David LaRochelle talk about their upcoming Beginning Reader: See the Ghost
posted by CBethM
October
25
Author’s Notes and Not-So-Trivial Pursuits by Sarah Albee
posted by CBethM
Teachers often tell me that authors’ notes are useful pedagogical tools for their classroom book discussions. As it turns out, authors’ notes are extremely helpful tools for authors as well. I usually write my author’s note at the very end of the writing process (usually when my editor reminds me to do so). And in […]
October
24
What If by Laura Sebastian
posted by CBethM
The most magical words in existence aren’t Abra Kadabra, they’re What If. When I was five or six, my parents taught me an ongoing game that I still play almost subconsciously to this day called What If. It went like this: I would be doing something I shouldn’t be, like running inside or refusing to […]
October
19
How to See Creatures That Live in the Dark by Julia Kuo
posted by CBethM
As an illustrator, I rely on existing imagery to learn about subjects I haven’t seen with my own eyes, especially when most of these creatures live in the deep sea. When I started to work on my picture book Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night, my first question was: what do bioluminescent creatures […]
October
18
Reading with Siblings by Constance Lombardo
posted by CBethM
As the fourth of five children, I was very thankful for my younger brother, Frankie. At last, there was SOMEONE less informed about the world than I! Between us kids, there was a lot of competition – to get parental attention at the crowded dinner table, for the best spot on the couch to watch […]
October
17
Thank You by Janet Costa Bates
posted by CBethM
File this under ‘better late than never,’ but I have a few thank yous to share. Some would argue that it’s too late, but I don’t believe so. Very young me didn’t have access to many books. Our family didn’t have much extra money to spend on books, and with one car which my father […]
October
16
Working on the Nonfiction Sections in my Classroom Library by Colby Sharp
posted by Colby Sharp
In writing The Commonsense Guide to Your Classroom Library with Donalyn Miller, we wanted to make it very clear that we didn’t have all of the answers when it comes to classroom libraries, and the work of a classroom library is never complete. As we read more children’s books, get to know more readers, and […]
October
15
Respect the Mic Poetry Competition – An Invitation from Peter Kahn
posted by CBethM
This post is written by Peter Kahn, teacher and editor of Respect the Mic, a expansive, moving poetry anthology, representing 20 years of poetry from students and alumni of Chicago’s Oak Park River Forest High School Spoken Word Club. When I began my career as a high school English teacher in 1994 I soon realized […]
October
14
An Essay About Reading by Kenneth Kraegel
posted by CBethM
Preliminary Remarks: The Nerdy Book Club website’s banner is so inviting! It is just fun to look at and the colors are so pleasing – an inviting world all by itself. Beautiful! Introductory Remarks: I am sitting in my living room on a beautiful blustery autumn day with my son who is home from school […]
October
12
PLAY WHAT? by Jon Scieszka
posted by CBethM
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. And … isn’t it just mind-boggling that chances are, if you are reading this, that you know exactly what happens next with Humpty? Just like a reader over 200 years ago? Before I started writing for kids, I taught elementary school in New York City. […]
Nerdy Book Club 