My One Little Word for 2024 is…

Happy New Year! I feel like 2023 was a good year and I’m looking forward to getting started with 2024. I’m anxious, hopeful, and excited for this new beginning, and I wish all of you happiness and good fortune.

I learned about One Little Word at http://www.aliedwards.com many years ago as I found writing inspiration at Two Writing Teachers (http://www.twowritingteachers.org). I look forward to many changes coming for me and my family this year, so My OLW for 2024 is CHANGE.

What is One Little Word®? (From the website)

In 2006 I began a tradition of choosing one word for myself each January—a word to focus on, to live with, to investigate, to write about, to craft with, and to reflect upon as I go about my daily life. These words have each become a part of my life in one way or another—a process I document via simple creative monthly prompts from January to December.

You’re invited to join me in choosing your own One Little Word®.

I’ll post more about my OLW in the coming months and over the course of the year, but for right now, I cannot tell you anything else. Stay tuned! In the meantime, keep reading and writing! If you need a work partner for a project surrounding independent reading, personal reading goals, classroom libraries, or how “picture books are perfect”© for middle school and beyond, please contact me through my email. I’m happy to discuss your goals with you. (jdsniadecki@readingteacherwrites.blog)

“Best Books” of 2023

Welcome to December! This was a tough year, but I did read a lot. I did NOT meet my goal of reading 100 books and logging them into Goodreads, and I’m looking for a new way to log my reading better in 2024.

Disclaimer: This is NOT a complete “Best Books” list because these are only the books I logged with 5-star reviews in my Goodreads account. Also, this list is a school-based, children’s literature list. I hope you find it useful and maybe add something to your own list for future reading.

Happy Holidays!

Best Books of 2023: According to Jennifer Sniadecki’s Goodreads Account

Picture Books

The Promise by Bridget Hodder

Just One Flake by Travis Jonker

Like Lava in My Veins by Derrick Barnes and Shawn Martinbrough, with Adriano Lucas

Remember by Joy Harjo and Michaela Goade

Glitter Everywhere by Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat  

A Vaccine Is Like a Memory by Rajani LaRocca and Kathleen Marcotte

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

How the Sea Came To Be by Jennifer Berne and Amanda Hall

The Miracle Seed by Martin Lemelman

I Am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges and Nikkolas Smith

We Are Here by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier

Middle-Grade Books

A Breath of Mischief by MarcyKate Connolly  

Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz                                   

Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II by Deborah Hopkinson

The Gray by Chris Baron

YA Books and Graphic Novels

School Trip by Jerry Craft

Sunshine by Jarrett Krosoczka

A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat

Professional Books and Adult Titles

5 Kinds of Nonfiction by Marlene P. Correia and Melissa Stewart   

Criteria for my “best books” list in 2023

  • Logged as “Read” on Goodreads.com in 2023
  • A 5-Star Rating on Goodreads

Reflections: I didn’t meet my goal of reading 100 books this year.  I was surprised at how many titles I gave 5-star reviews. I also haven’t used Goodreads like I used to. Until I find a better way to log my reading, this will have to do.

Happy New Year! I hope you find many good books to read in 2024.

IMWAYR: I’m back!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I’ve been away from my computer, working, traveling, and taking care of myself. I’m back for end-of-the-year sharing of my reading — there are some excellent titles out there now that you won’t want to miss! Check these out!

Two books you must read if you haven’t yet in 2023: Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall and Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango. Both of these books have fierce, brave protagonists and both have beautiful writing.

I was lucky enough to walk by the Feiwel and Friends booth on the last day of the NCTE convention and picked up Olivetti by Allie Millington (due March 26, 2024). The main character is a typewriter! And this typewriter KNOWS things about the family that owned it before “the everything that happened.” Oh, I cannot tell you any more! Just read it. This middle-grade title is sure to be a hit in the spring.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Battle Books and Fun Gifts

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s been a crazy few weeks…again. First quarter is over, my first fall presentation is complete, and now I’m preparing for NCTE Annual. I’m catching up with my students, reading two “Battle of the Books” titles, and reading some fun book mail this week.

Thank you for the gift, Scott Magoon! Unflappable is darling and my students are going to love it! (I won this book by Matthew Ward and Scott Magoon. You have to read it!)

I got book mail today! Perfect timing! @PubSpotlight is amazing! Tracy is always sending me excellent books to read and share. Thank you!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Indigenous Peoples’ Day

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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Fresh off of Banned Books Week, I’m celebrating new titles for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. My friend, Traci Sorell, thank you for your enthusiasm about reading and teaching reading. Mascot (by Charles Waters and Sorell, published by Charlesbridge, 2023) is wonderful and timely. The front cover leads the story: “Discrimination is discrimination, even when people claim it’s ‘tradition.'” It’s way past time to think about how mascots can be (and are) racist, and this is the perfect day to celebrate Indigenous authors (and illustrators).

I’ll be reading Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen and Rez Ball by Byron Graves, both published by Heartdrum, this week, as well. Thank you to Cynthia Leitich Smith for continually posting amazing titles that I need to check out!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Banned Books

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s Banned Books Week, and I’m not celebrating; I’m writing to state officials and school boards on behalf of my students and my granddaughter. I believe that children (and adults!) should be able to read whatever they want. There are so many actions AGAINST reading right now, it makes me angry. (I’ll have another post this week on banned and challenged books/censorship.)

Here’s what I’m reading and sharing this week. I hope you have a great week of reading, too!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Memoirs

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I’ve been on a memoir kick again lately because my friends have written excellent books and I MUST get the word out for others to read, too! Thank you for your brave and beautiful writing, Chasten Buttigieg, Kwame Alexander, Jarrett Krosoczka, Omar Mohamed (w/Victoria Jamieson), and Nikki Grimes.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: A Labor of Love…Reading!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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Happy Labor Day! I’m catching up on some reading and reviews today, my day off. Reading truly is a labor of love for me, and I’m happy to share. I updated my Goodreads reviews for today’s titles. Check them out!

I love that there are so many different kinds of families, even those that don’t last forever, like a school class, camp friends, or a sports team. I also love that families are made up of all kinds of people. This book is a joyous celebration with wonderful illustrations and endpapers. A must-share title for back-to-school time.

Tracy at Publisher Spotlight sent me some excellent books. Thank you for sharing, @pubspotlight!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: PD and Priorities

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I’m back to work! This is professional development week before students come next week, and I’m ready! This week my priorities are to finish A Work In Progress by Jarrett Lerner (soooo important! soooo needed!) and get some PD materials reviewed to start the school year. I’m also reviewing our district’s Library Manual to make sure everything is correct and up-to-date for our library staff.

I had a blast today sharing information about independent reading time inside the classroom. Thanks to #SBCSC for the opportunity to present! This is me, reading TRUMAN (Reidy, Cummins) to a group of teachers. It’s one of my favorite picture books to use in the classroom. (Thank you to my friend and colleague, Vicky, for snapping the picture!)

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: End of Summer

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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This is it! I cannot believe it’s the last day of July, the end of summer. This is such a bittersweet time of year, as I’m holding on to summer but I’m also looking forward to the fall season, school, and working full-time again. I’m finishing up my summer books this week and looking for new titles to grab once school starts.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?