THE MATCHBOX DIARY by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline Choose one. Great-grandfather asks his great-granddaughter to pick “what you like the most. Then I’ll tell you its story.” What will she choose? An old jewelry box … a case of fine fountain pens … a mirror? The young girl makes an unusual choice –… Read more »
Nancy Bo Flood
Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad
AFRICA IS MY HOME: A CHILD OF THE AMISTAD (Candlewick, 2103) by Monica Edinger, illustrated by Robert Byrd Monica Edinger skillfully – and delightfully – tells an extraordinary story through the voice of a young girl who experiences an extraordinary journey. Illustrator Robert Byrd fills the pages with detailed images that expand the text to further engage and… Read more »
HOW I BECAME A GHOST
HOW I BECAME A GHOST, A CHOCTAW TRAIL OF TEARS STORY by Tim Tingle From Chapter 1, “Talking Ghost” “MAYBE YOU HAVE never read a book written by a ghost before. I am a ghost…I should tell you something else. I see things before they happen. You are probably thinking, ‘I wish I could see things… Read more »
You’re Wearing That to School!?!
Guest Post by Diane Kress Hower Penelope, the hippo knows exactly how she wants to approach her first day of school until her older, wiser friend, Tiny, tells her the importance of blending in. YOU’RE WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL!?! boldly addresses embracing uniqueness and what might happen if you stand out from the crowd. Will Penelope… Read more »
IRA’S NEW BOOK AWARD: SOCIAL JUSTICE LITERATURE
“This award is presented to honor books that address social responsibility towards individuals, communities, societies, and/or the environment as well as invite reflection and socially responsible action by the reader.” – – IRA’s Literacy and Social Responsibility Special Interest Group What is social responsibility – what can it mean to young readers? And how does one… Read more »
DARE TO DREAM…CHANGE THE WORLD
DARE TO DREAM…CHANGE THE WORLD, edited by Jill Corcoran, illustrated by J. Beth Jepson This poetry anthology is all about the many ways individuals, including children, have changed the world. Some have been in little ways, others in big ways, courageous ways, such as the way Sylvia Mendez, when only ten years old, dared to… Read more »
D IS FOR DESERT
D IS FOR DESERT: A World Deserts Alphabet by Barbara Gowan and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen Think you know something about deserts? Think again and enjoy the fascinating information in this book which will take you to the many deserts around the world. First of all, did you know that deserts cover nearly one-third of our… Read more »
