Give the gift of reading with a boxed set of chapter books. Once you can get kids hooked on a book series, it will keep them reading for hours, days, and weeks. These are chapter books series that are just too good to put down. When should you give a boxed set of books? Holidays like Christmas or birthdays or anytime just for fun. And to whom would you give a boxed set? Any child in your … [Read more...]
Best Middle Grade Chapter Books of 2018
What are the best middle-grade books of 2018? I've picked my favorite books of the year. Books that transported me to other worlds, made me feel deeply, and inspired me to think about big issues. And these books are so well written, I couldn't put them down. Comment if you've read any of these or you want to share other favorites! If you're curious about other 2018 books, you read the … [Read more...]
2018 Christmas Books
What new Christmas books should you be reading this year? 2018 offers some choices that are sweet, some that are funny, and some that are cute. See for yourself. BEST Christmas Books for Kids (Secular) BEST Christmas Books for Kids (Christian) 2018 Christmas Books Christmas ABC by Jannie Ho A for angel to Z for zzzz, this is a cheerful Christmas alphabet board book for young … [Read more...]
Favorite Hanukkah Books for Kids
With the publication of several excellent, new Hanukkah books, I thought I'd share these and other favorite picture books to read with kids during this holiday season. I don't just recommend these books for Jewish families who celebrate the holiday either. We all can learn about the history and holiday of Hanukkah even if we aren't Jewish because it builds bridges of understanding with our Jewish … [Read more...]
14 New Picture Books, Late Fall 2018
I'm happy to share with you 14 more newly published picture books. Also, don't miss my other recent picture book lists that I grouped into the categories of friendship and bedtime. Some really good read aloud choices!! By the way, did you see when I shared P is for Pterodactyl on Instagram and Facebook? It's gone crazy viral on FB. It's on this list, too! :) New Picture Books A … [Read more...]
4 Meaningful Picture Books About Friendships
I can't wait to tell you about these picture books! They'll spark important conversations -- and I hope be helpful in teaching about communication, prejudice, and self-worth. 5 New Picture Books About Friendships Oliver: The Second-Largest Living Thing on Earth by Josh Crute, illustrated by John Taesoo Kim BELONGING, TOGETHERNESS, SELF-WORTH / Best of 2018 My daughter and I LOVE this book so … [Read more...]
11 Ways to Motivate Middle School Students to Read
A teacher recently wrote to me asking how to motivate her middle school students to read more. It's such a relevant question for parents and teachers everywhere. In a time when technology is more alluring than ever and test scores are driving instruction, here are some ways to get our middle grade students excited about reading-- either again or for the first time. And before I launch … [Read more...]
16 Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Thanksgiving books for kids share the early history of the United States, gratitude, and thankfulness. Do you know that thankfulness is a habit - something to practice and make a regular part of your day? (Kind of like exercise!) We practice thankfulness each night in our family prayers. For other people, they might share gratitude at a family meal. The good news is that gratitude directly … [Read more...]
Picture Books That Teach Kids About Prejudice, Inclusion, and Tolerance
My heart is heavy with the recent surge of antisemitism, institutionalized bullying, and wide-spread intolerance like the hate speech we see on social media. Teachers and parents have asked me to share picture books you can use with children to teach about prejudice, acceptance, inclusion, and tolerance. Here are some good options... Reading these books will bring up both questions and topics … [Read more...]
6 Bedtime Stories (About Going to Sleep)– So Meta!
Bedtime can be tricky for many kids. From fears to restlessness to I'd-rather-be-playing, it's not always a smooth transition to sleep. These fall 2018 picture books about going to sleep might help make your kids sleepy. If nothing else, these (meta) books make the perfect companions to your read aloud time just before turning off the lights and settling in for the night. 6 Bedtime Stories (About … [Read more...]
Gift Books for the Holidays: Puzzle and Activity Books
Do your kids like puzzle and activity books? One of these new 2018 activity books would make a great gift for any upcoming travel plans that you have. You'll appreciate how these activity books encourage playful thinking and learning, too. Be sure you check out the sample pages so you can get a sense of the level of difficulty. Unfortunately, most of these books didn't list a specific age … [Read more...]
Children’s Books about Elections and Voting
I firmly believe it's our responsibility as citizens to educate kids about the democratic process of elections and voting. (Even though you might dislike election time and the drama that comes with it!) Election season gives us an opportunity to teach children about elections by reading kid-appropriate children's books like these... Children's Books about Elections and Voting This Little … [Read more...]