Book recommendations & reviews

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 […]

7 New Middle Grade Books You Should Know About

I’m excited to share these 7 titles with you — for your kids, students, and you. Ghost Boys and Captain Superlative both are incredibly thought-provoking. Bob, The Endling, and The Lost Books are well-written, can’t-put-em-down fantasy stories. Hardscrabble is a fascinating historical slice-of-life look at life in sod houses around the turn of the century. […]

Your Studying Strategies Aren’t Working (& What To Do Instead)

Let’s talk studying strategies. Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Reedier III and Mark A. McDaniel takes the latest research in cognitive psychology and other disciplines and synthesizes it into practical learning and studying strategies. And it’s not what you think. In fact, how you studied in your […]

(Even More) Must Read Picture Books from 2017

2017 wraps up with even more great picture books and a few I missed earlier in the year. You’re going to love these… Even More Must Read Picture Books from 2017 This Is Not a Normal Animal Book by Julie Segal-Walters, illustrated by Brian Biggs HILARIOUS. Wacky humor (“if a cat laid an egg […]

What to Read Next? More Exceptional Late Fall 2017 Chapter Books

It’s almost the end of 2017 yet there are still books to read. I’ve culled and found even more amazing middle grade books to recommend to you. If you’re looking for what to read next, try one of these. (Several are going on my BEST OF 2017 list!) What to Read Next? More Exceptional […]

13 New Middle Grade Books to Read in Fall 2017

Discover new, amazing middle grade books for tweens, ages 9 – 12, for fall 2017 reading. *Find more newly published (excellent) fall 2017 middle grade FANTASY books here and HISTORICAL FICTION books here. (I separated the list because it was so long.) 13 New Middle Grade Books to Read in Fall 2017 Wallace the Brave […]

5 Historical Fiction Novels for Tweens, Fall 2017

Tweens reading these new 2017 historical fiction novels will find that the stories make the history come to life. All these books are good but I highly, highly recommend Refugee as a stand-out, must-read choice for everyone. Want to read other genres? Find MORE fall 2017 newly published middle grade books for tweens. 5 Historical Fiction […]

What’s New in Fantasy Books for Ages 8 – 12 (Fall 2017)

I’m so excited to share with you the new fantasy middle grade books for children ages 8 – 12! If you’re like me and love this genre, you’re going to be thrilled with so many fantastic new titles. What’s New in Fantasy Books for Ages 8 – 12 The Wonderling by Mira Bartók This beautiful, […]