ODETTE’S SECRETS is a story for younger readers told in verse (Bloomsbury, 2013), about a Jewish girl named Odette living in Paris during World War II. While classified as fiction, it is based very closely on a true story about a real girl named Odette. When the Germans occupied Paris, Odette was sent to the… Read more »
Book Room
Teaching Diversity Through Oral Storytelling
Teaching with Story: Classroom Connections to Storytelling (August House, 2013) is a celebration of a family who has joined together to share their delight in oral storytelling and all of the diversity that comes with it. Author Margaret Read MacDonald has devoted her career to sharing the joys of storytelling with parents, educators, and librarians. Inspired by… Read more »
Carnivores and Frog Trouble
CARNIVORES by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat (Chronicle Books, 2013) It’s not easy being at the top of the food chain. In fact, it’s downright depressing. And it hurts, too. After all, it’s not the lion’s fault that the gazelles don’t trust him. And the great white shark? Well, he’s just misunderstood. The timber wolf… Read more »
All That’s Missing by Sarah Sullivan
We spoke with author Sarah Sullivan about her journey from early draft to final revision and the aha moment that eventually became the evocative debut, All That’s Missing (Candlewick Press), set to hit bookstore shelves October 8th. *** Thanks to all who entered this month’s giveaway! Congratulations to Colleen Malley, winner of a signed copy of All That’s Missing!… Read more »
The Cart That Carried Martin
THE CART THAT CARRIED MARTIN by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Don Tate. Martin Luther King Jr. used his peaceful words to help bridge the cultural and racial divide between African Americans and American Caucasians. He dedicated his life to making the world a better place and to teach love, equality, and acceptance in the hearts… Read more »
COUNTING BY 7’s
In Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (2013 Dial), main character twelve year-old Willow Chance is a genius and she herself admits that she is strange. “But I know it and that takes the edge off. At least for me.” She’s also a young woman of color adopted and beloved by parents so white, “they… 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 »
