Book Recommendations
Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day by Tameka Fryer Brown — Book Recommendation
Title: Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day Author: Tameka Fryer Brown Illustrator: Charlotte Riley-Webb Publisher: New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010 Genre: Picture book, fiction Audience Age: 4 to 8 Themes/Topics: Neighbors, diversity, sharing food, friendship Opening Sentences: Blue sky, no clouds, Summer heat, side street, Whirling, whizzing feet. Everyone is out to play…
Read MoreMy List of 100 Memorable Novels. With a Few Memoirs.
A list of 100 favorite/impactful/memorable novels — Nathan Bransford did it. So did Becky Levine. I’m going to do it, too, and pop on to my blog long enough to post it, so you can think about your 100 favorite books (and perhaps find a few on my list, or Becky’s, or Nathan’s, that you…
Read MoreBook Recommendations for Your Summer Reading
Summer is coming! Among other things, that means it’s time to take a blogging break for a while. I’ll pop in from time to time for a quick “What I’m Reading” post, but regular posts will be on hiatus until fall. When I was growing up, one of the things I enjoyed about summer (besides…
Read MoreA Strong Right Arm by Michelle Y. Green — Book Recommendation
I’ve been impatiently waiting until my planned alphabetical posts were complete so that I could share this book with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Title: A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Author: Michelle Y. Green Publisher: New York: Scholastic, 2002. Genre: Middle Grade biography Audience…
Read MoreJane Yolen
Jane Yolen is one of the wonders of modern writing. She has written and published over 300 books, most — but not all — for children (of all ages). She is a poet and a master of many genres. She is a mentor and teacher to many. One of the keys to the prolific nature…
Read MoreWater. A Post After Earth Day with Book Recommendations
Water. Its presence is essential to life, and yet we treat it as if it were nothing, an easily-found, easily-restored, rightfully-ours commodity. We do this at our peril. I want to share three picture books today, each by a writing friend and colleague, each with an important message for us about water. In Water…
Read MoreUp in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner — Book Recommendation
Title: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt Author: Kate Messner Illustrator: Christopher Silas Neal Publisher: San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2015 Genre: Picture book, fiction (with facts strewn through it like seeds sprinkled on dirt) Audience Age: 4 to 8 Topics: Gardening, time with Nana, what’s under the ground, ecology Opening Sentences: Up…
Read MoreSarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay — Book Recommendation
Title: Sarah’s Key Author: Tatiana de Rosnay Publisher: New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007 Genre: Adult fiction Audience Age: 16 and up Themes/Topics: Holocaust, France’s role in deportation of Jews during World War II, Vélodrome d’Hiver roundup, truth, fear, justice Opening Sentences: The girl was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door.…
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