Confession: As you probably noticed, I took a bit of a summer break!
A break from blogging, but let it be noted, not from books. I am back, refreshed, and with plenty of great material to blog about. Read more…Summer break!
Books
So many books, so little time! What I hope to capture here - through my posts and your comments - are the true gems. Not always gems in terms of content to be sure - but in terms of their ability to captivate, and to get more kids of all ages to turn to books as a reliable source of entertainment and eventually, enrichment. Join the conversation!
“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” Maya Angelou
Bridging with Boris
Finding great book series that form a bridge between picture books and chapter books can be surprisingly hard. If your child is stuck on the journey to independent reading, check out this series by Australian author and illustrator Andrew Joyner. Read more…Bridging with Boris
Puzzle time!
Summer vacation can be the perfect time for puzzle-lovers to exercise their brains. But truly great puzzle books for young kids are surprisingly hard to find. Read more…Puzzle time!
Young gods
In the past decade and a half there has been an explosion of interest in Greek mythology among children, due in great part (in my opinion) to Rick Riordan’s block-buster Percy Jackson series for tweens.
For younger siblings who are not yet ready to tackle Percy Jackson, but are feeling left out of the Greek phenomena, here’s a fun and accessible primer series: Read more…Young gods
50 years of The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
For 50 years, The Horn Book has collaborated with The Boston Globe to confer annual awards on the best fiction and poetry, nonfiction, and picture books for children and young adults.
The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards are among the most prestigious in the biz, with the announcements of awards highly anticipated each spring. Read more…50 years of The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
Fortunate? Unfortunate?
To read or not to read A Series of Unfortunate Events ?
I have mixed feelings…but there’s more than one great way to experience the books. Read more…Fortunate? Unfortunate?
Geniuses in the house!
Does the name Ken Jennings ring a bell? The trivia genius who famously won 74 consecutive Jeopardy games in 2004, making quiz-show history? Jennings is clearly a walking encyclopedia, but his true talent may lie in encouraging kids to embrace curiosity through the books he has written after his Jeopardy reign. His excellent nonfiction series for kids take on topics – Dinosaurs, Greek Mythology, Outer Space, etc. – and explore related facts, trivia and anecdotes in a thoroughly enjoyable way. Read more…Geniuses in the house!
The boy who waited for winter
Winter this year started with a whimper, but seems to be determined to go out with a bang. Falling temperatures, snowstorms and snow days in March – I, for one, am ready for spring to get here quick.
But, I imagine there was one boy who loved long-tapered winters, and waited for the return of snow each year. This is his story. Read more…The boy who waited for winter
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