Author Archives: Jennifer Sniadecki

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”

Book Review: The Tornado, by Jake Burt

        What does it take to avoid the school bully? Fifth grader and innovative thinker, Bell Kirby, has an elaborate plan that works, until the day Daelynn Gower, the new student with rainbow hair and crazy attire, arrives.      Back in 4th grade, former friends, Bell and Parker Hellickson (the principal’s son), had aContinue reading “Book Review: The Tornado, by Jake Burt”

NerdCampMI – another year of fabulous fun!

“What is Nerd Camp?” Wow! Fun-filled, exhausting days of learning, reading books, writing, meeting #kidlit authors in real life, reuniting with like-minded people, and visiting with fellow campers until the wee hours of the morning. #NerdCampJr was awesome this year, and those 3rd graders were amazing! THANK YOU to Alaina Sharp, Colby Sharp and familyContinue reading “NerdCampMI – another year of fabulous fun!”

Happy Fourth of July! Book Review of Grace Goes to Washington

I’m so happy to live in a country where I am able to read and write. I’m celebrating the 4th with some books and my computer. Today I read the upcoming Grace Goes to Washington, by Kelly DiPucchio. This title is due out September 3, 2019 from Disney-Hyperion and is another friendly and fun bookContinue reading “Happy Fourth of July! Book Review of Grace Goes to Washington”

IMWAYR: Picture Books and Memoirs

I’m spending the week with my granddaughter and today we headed to The Brain Lair Bookstore to visit Kathy (the owner and my book buddy). “M” spied one of her favorite authors right away and said, “Hey! Look! We have How to Build a Sandcastle! How about we get It’s NOT Jack and the Beanstalk?”Continue reading “IMWAYR: Picture Books and Memoirs”