This is a big week of reading, since I’ll be presenting my introductory professional development session, “Picture Books are Perfect for Middle School & High School” on September 14th at the Indiana State Literacy Conference in Noblesville, IN. I will read MANY picture books this week to finalize my presentation. Which books should I pack?Continue reading “IMWAYR: “Picture Books are Perfect” and Special Book Mail”
Author Archives: Jennifer Sniadecki
IMWAYR: Short Week – Happy Labor Day!
This is a short school week, so there’s plenty of time for reading. This past weekend I finished Maybe He Just Likes You, Things You Can’t Say, and More to the Story (Hena Khan’s newest comes out tomorrow!). All three of these are going into the middle school library as soon as possible. All threeContinue reading “IMWAYR: Short Week – Happy Labor Day!”
IMWAYR: Catching Up
I’m catching up this week — finishing Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee (SO needed in our middle schools and high schools) and Things You Can’t Say by Jenn Bishop. I am gathering more wordless picture books right now for various uses. The Fisherman & the Whale by Jessica Lana is an importantContinue reading “IMWAYR: Catching Up”
IMWAYR: Back-to-School Reading Begins
Will you look at this mess? LOL Yes, I staged it (a little). This stack of books on my desk grows each day, and I love it! This week: Maybe He Just Likes You, by Barbara Dee — Barbara Dee has a way of making must-read books for middle graders. This one will be perfectContinue reading “IMWAYR: Back-to-School Reading Begins”
IMWAYR: Picture Books, a Story Collection, and a Bonus
Bonus comes first today — THE SILENCE BETWEEN US by Alison Gervais (Blink YA Books) comes out TOMORROW! Maya Harris must leave Pratt School for the Deaf and attend a hearing school — for her senior year in high school! It’s bad enough being the new girl, but she needs a personal interpreter for everyContinue reading “IMWAYR: Picture Books, a Story Collection, and a Bonus”
Book Review: Give and Take, by Elly Swartz
I was honored to receive an advanced reader copy of Give and Take by Elly Swartz (thank you, #booksojourn and Macmillan Publishers) and I was inspired! If you haven’t yet, pre-order this phenomenal middle grade novel. You won’t be disappointed. About Give and Take: Maggie is a caring 12-year-old who loves her family and friends.Continue reading “Book Review: Give and Take, by Elly Swartz”
IMWAYR: Finishing Up and Planning for the Start of School
I didn’t read the stack of books in one week (see post from July22 here) like I wanted. I’m finishing up Anthem and Other Words for Home this week, as well as re-reading picture books I want to use in the first quarter of the school year. During summer school, I shared several nonfiction pictureContinue reading “IMWAYR: Finishing Up and Planning for the Start of School”
IMWAYR: Can’t Talk! Must Read!
With only one week until summer school, I’m reading like a bookworm! Here’s what’s up for this next week… Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (from last week’s list) The Paris Project by Donna Gephart Give and Take by Elly Swartz Anthem by Deborah Wiles (These three are publishing in October 2019. Preorder yourContinue reading “IMWAYR: Can’t Talk! Must Read!”
Book Review: Astro-Nuts, by Jon Scieszka
Recommended for ages 8-12, Astro-Nuts is the newest creation by Jon Scieszka , illustrated by Steven Weinberg. In this first book in a planned trilogy, Mission One: The Plant Planet, NNASA (Not-NASA) charges four mutant animals hiding in Mt. Rushmore to travel to outer space and find other planets to support human life, since theContinue reading “Book Review: Astro-Nuts, by Jon Scieszka”
Book Review: Ordinary Hazards, by Nikki Grimes
Nikki Grimes is one of my favorite writers, gathering beautiful words in her notebooks over the years, which are now mixed with memories in Ordinary Hazards (coming 10/08/19 — thank you for providing ARCs, WordSong/Highlights). The content is dark, yet hopeful. The words are tragic, yet inspirational. Some poems made me laugh (“Math Madness”) andContinue reading “Book Review: Ordinary Hazards, by Nikki Grimes”
Reading Teacher Writes 