As summer wraps up, I wanted to share some of my new favorite middle-grade titles. If you like historical fiction, Lifeboat 12 is a must-read. Artists will love The Frame-Up mystery novel. Fantasy lovers, you don't want to miss the enchanting Willa of the Wood whose beautiful cover is one of my favorite covers EVER. But, there are even more good books on this list. See for … [Read more...]
Picture Books to Teach Onomatopoeia
Use picture books as mentor texts to model for your elementary students how to write using sound words or onomatopoeia. These books show your young writers the possibilities for incorporating the sense of sound into stories and poems. Picture Books To Teach Onomatopoeia Dig, Dump, Roll by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock VEHICLES A noisy world of construction that begs to be … [Read more...]
3 New Inspirational Girl-Power Middle Grade Books
These girl-powered middle-grade books feature the true stories of girls and women who achieved amazing things with creativity, hard work, and determination. Use them in the classroom or at home to show your children possibilities -- the possibilities of dreaming big and achieving those dreams. Middle-Grade NonFiction: Female Leaders and Entrepreneurs Girl CEO Priceless Advice from … [Read more...]
Learn About Animals: New Nonfiction Books for Ages 4 – 14
If your child enjoys reading about animal life, you'll want to know about these new books. From picture to comics to nonfiction middle-grade, there is something for every age and most interests on this list of new books for kids. Learn About Animals: New Nonfiction Books for Ages 4 - 14 Walk This Wild World: Lift the Flap by Sam Brewster Starting with the Arctic, visit different ecosystems on … [Read more...]
Don’t Miss These 2018 Back-to-School Books
We do a lot to prepare our children for the school year. One of those rituals, besides changing up bedtime and school supply shopping, can be reading books about going to school. Especially for our younger children who are still unsure of what to expect. This year's back-to-school books offer humor, wisdom, and diversity. Read these at home or in the classroom as your kids go back for another year … [Read more...]
Outstanding Beginning Nonfiction Biographies for Ages 7 – 10
I want to highlight two excellent nonfiction biography series for beginning readers, ages 7 to 10, one called Little Guides to Great Lives and the other called The Story Of. Having taught this age group, I always struggled to find interesting nonfiction text for my students to read. Because, as you know, kids need to read both fiction and nonfiction (also called expository.) When I'd test a … [Read more...]
New in Picture Books, Summer 2018
What are you reading this summer? Here are some newly published picture books that I think you'll enjoy. (I put the latest funny picture books in a separate post here.) New in Picture Books, Summer 2018 Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang, illustrated by Max Lang FEELINGS This is one of the best, most healthy emotional intelligence children's books I've ever read about feeling your … [Read more...]
If You Like to Laugh, Read These 5 New Funny Picture Books
Kids love all sorts of books, especially ones with funny stories. Here are five newly published picture books that will get your kids laughing with delight. ENJOY! If You Like to Laugh, Read These New Funny Picture Books Walrus in the Bathtub by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Matt Hunt FUNNY Things I love about this story: illustrations humorous story handwriting … [Read more...]
8 New Middle-Grade Books, July 2018
If you're looking for new middle-grade books for your kids or students, these eight won't disappoint. I particularly want to highlight The Rhino in Right Field, The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle and The Jigsaw Jungle. But all the books on this list are great! 8 New Middle-Grade Books, July 2018 The Rhino In Right Field by Stacy DeKeyser HISTORICAL FICTION I loved this … [Read more...]
Outstanding Dinosaur Books for Kids
Many kids go through a dinosaur phase -- before they can even read, often kids know complicated dinosaur names they learn from books like these. But, even kids with only a passing interest can learn to appreciate the wonder of these creatures of prehistoric times. And these children's books are amazing -- from picture books to nonfiction tomes, there's something for everyone. Outstanding Dinosaur … [Read more...]
Keep Kids Engaged with the Latest, Greatest Activity Books
Looking for non-screen options for road trips and quiet time at home? Books are always my go-to option but activity books count as engaging, interactive choices, too. Keep Kids Engaged with the Latest, Greatest Activity Books The Kids Awesome Activity Book by Mike Lowery Visually appealing, kids will like that this colorful book offers a wide variety of engaging ideas in the form of … [Read more...]
If You Have a Neurodiverse Child, Differently Wired Is a Must-Read
In a world full of parenting books for "typical" kids and books about understanding specific disorders, there aren't many books that guide us on how to embrace and parent an atypical, neurodiverse child. Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World is a judgment-free breath of fresh air; it shows parents like me how to see, parent, and celebrate the kids we've been … [Read more...]