Readers always tell their life stories in books. When I think back to my childhood, I remember friends and family, splashing in the pool and turning over rocks to look for crayfish in the creek behind our house. But for every year, every age, there’s also a book. I remember meeting Beverly Cleary’s […]
June
05
On Labels in Lions & Liars by Kate Beasley
posted by CBethM
I’m beyond excited about my new book, Lions and Liars. I feel in my bones that this is the story I was supposed to tell next and the way I was supposed to tell it. The novel is about Frederick Frederickson, a 10-year-old who, through a series of madcap mishaps, winds up at a […]
June
04
Thank You by Ashton Wronikowski
posted by CBethM
Dear J.K. Rowling, Rupi Kaur, Markus Zusak, David Arnold, Ruta Sepetys, Jeff Zentner, Thank you. For making me cry so hard that one box of tissues isn’t enough. For the strange looks I get when a burst of laughter escapes my chest at your words. For the sleepless nights in which I’ve had to tape […]
June
02
Lines Going for Walks by Jenny deGroot
posted by CBethM
“A drawing is simply a line going for a walk” said artist Paul Klee. The following books celebrate the simplicity and magic of the line and its ability to “go for a walk,” leading into the world in creative and unexpected ways. The authors and illustrators of the these picture books remind us that it […]
June
01
Digital Device + Free Texts = Reading All Summer Long by Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan
posted by CBethM
When we read the Pew Research Center’s report about access to digital information, it confirmed the work we are doing with digital reading. Although many students may not have easy access to actual books at home, based on these statistics, they probably have access to a digital device. Devices can give students more reading choices, […]
May
30
Cover Reveal: A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
posted by CBethM
My first middle grade novel is about a lot of things. A wishing well. An attic cluttered with mystery. A rare, stolen diamond. Lawn care. The enduring power of friendship. Overcoming our fears, whatever shape they make take. And junk. Lots of junk. But at its heart, it’s mostly about hope. Hope means something different […]
May
29
Wake Up Little Princess (and Prince) by Liesl Shurtliff
posted by CBethM
It’s inevitable. During a Q&A with a group of kids I will always be asked the following: Are you going to write a princess tale? Cinderella? Sleeping Beauty? Snow White? I get a little squeamish and politely say, “Maybe someday,” or “I haven’t gotten an idea for those stories yet,” while on the inside I […]
May
28
Summer Reading Plans by Katherine Sokolowski
posted by CBethM
On the day this post goes live, May 28th, my students and I will have said good-bye. It is, officially, our first day of summer vacation. This is a time for many teachers that is bittersweet. We absolutely need a break, as do our students, but we also hate to see them go. This year […]
May
25
Read, Rise, Resist, Repeat by Kacy Smith
posted by CBethM
A few short months ago, my district was in the middle of a comprehensive ELA adoption, which had a focus of providing diverse and engaging classroom libraries. Expected growing pains had arrived and passed, replaced with increased reading volume, stamina, and enjoyment. That all changed after a parent filed a complaint to have Andrew Smith’s […]
May
24
Poll: Last Read Aloud of the School Year
posted by Colby Sharp
A couple of weeks ago, I asked Nerdy Readers to share their favorite read aloud from both their childhood and this school year. I’m back this week with another poll question. What book will be the last book you read aloud to your students this year? Please let me know down in the comments below. […]
