Category Archives: Uncategorized

I think it would be cool, but I’ve never had the spirit or the smarts to be a spy, so when I read the advanced reader copy of Deborah Hopkinson’s newest book, How I Became I Spy: A Mystery of WWII London (coming February 12th, 2019), I felt that I had reached a new goal whileContinue reading “Book Review: How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson”

I’m still finishing my 2018 reading, as promised. On Saturday, I started Marshfield Memories: More Stories About Growing Up, by Ralph Fletcher. I love Ralph’s writing, and I’m happy to visit Marshfield again through his words. February at school is Black History Month, and I spent the day preparing a display for my students. ThereContinue reading “IMWAYR: I-Love-To-Read February!”

Darius Kellner is a teen who does not fit in at school, or really much at home. He describes himself as a Fractional Persian, with Mom born in Iran and Dad in America. Darius and his father share two things in common: a love of Star Trek, and depression. They both take their medicines everyContinue reading “Book Review: Darius the Great is Not Okay, by Adib Khorram”

Only a weekend away now — THE book awards season is upon us, and I’m eagerly waiting for the live webcast of the Youth Media Awards on Monday, January 28th (live from Seattle, 8:00 am PT, during the ALA Midwinter Conference). I’m so sorry I will miss the live event, but I’m so happy thatContinue reading “My Newbery and Caldecott Predictions – 2019”

The snow, cold, and long weekend helped me to settle down and read these last several days. I thoroughly enjoyed mixing it up with several reading genres that all proved excellent choices. It’s Monday! What are you reading? The Art of Comprehension, by Trevor A. Bryan I have been waiting for The Art of Comprehension forContinue reading “IMWAYR: Snowy Cold = Reading Time”

Carrie Gelson of “There’s a Book For That”(https://thereisabookforthat.com/) hosts a hashtag for all the readers who didn’t get to finish their TBR lists in 2018 – #MustReadin2019. (Thank you, Carrie! I see I’m not alone.) I read over 140 books in 2018 (I’m terrible at posting on goodreads.com), but these are the titles I didn’tContinue reading “#MustReadin2019 — Books From 2018 I Didn’t Finish”

My “One Little Word” for 2018 was VENTURE. As I look back over the year, I found that I ventured out more than I ever thought I would. I took risks and made mistakes; I laughed and I cried. I spent more time thinking and planning, but also “doing” in 2018. As I acted outContinue reading “My 2018 One Little Word — Venture”

Amy Losak, Sydell Rosenberg’s daughter, sent me her mother’s work, H Is For Haiku. Amy knows I love poetry and short texts I can read to my middle school students for enjoyment and for study. As I read each A to Z poem, I realized that every one was different, and that some didn’t followContinue reading “IMWAYR: H is For Haiku”

With the little time that I have this week, I’m reading… The New Kid by Jerry Craft I opened this one just now. It’s a graphic novel, so my middle schoolers will love it, I’m sure. I will use this book to add to my “Fabulous First Lines” list of titles: “This is how IContinue reading “IMWAYR: So Little Time…”

This could be a long post, but I am thinking you would be upset, so I won’t list every picture book from my PD session today at #RSAC2018. If you want the list of books we used in the session, please feel free to ask in the comments (or email me) and I’ll help. InContinue reading “IMWAYR: PD Week”