I’m back with my favorite middle grade (grades 5-8) novels of the year! I recommend these books for both classroom read-alouds and stocking stuffers for your middle grade readers at home! The list is long (far more than ten titles!) but they are all unforgettable stories and many will tug on your heartstrings! I have organized the books into different genres, so you are sure to find a book your middle grader will love! Realistic  Top Story – Kelly Yang This is the fifth installment in the Front Desk MG series. I can always count on Kelly Yang to provide uplifting stories of friendship, f ..read more

As we approach the holiday season, I’m excited to start my Top Ten lists featuring my favorite books of 2023 for sharing and gifting! Each Tuesday leading up to Christmas, I will share my favorite 2023 titles from five different book groups: Nov. 22 – Beginning Chapter Books (and Early Graphic Novels) Nov. 28 – Middle Grade Novels Dec. 5 – Graphic Novels Dec. 12 – Nonfiction Books Dec. 19 – Picture books This week, we will begin with my favorite Beginning Chapter books of 2023. These books are often filled full-color illustrations, or graphic novel layout, and provide a nice bridge between pi ..read more

With Halloween and Remembrance Day behind us and Christmas coming up, I thought I would break from our seasonal themes and focus on something you might need to get you through to the winter break – I’m talking about a little RESPECT! While we often begin our school year with some of these books to help build a positive class community, they are also useful tools for pushing the “respect reset button” if you start noticing classroom respect flying out the window! Here are my favorite books for helping your class RESET RESPECT! You Get What You Get – Julia Gassman “You get what you get and you ..read more

With only one more week before Halloween, I thought I would share some of the new releases perfect for reading aloud as your students count down to the big day! Looking for more titles? Check out my 2022 Halloween blog HERE. For less spook and more pumpkin – check out my pumpkin post HERE. I Will Read to You – Gideon Sterer Starting out with my unexpected new favorite book of the Halloween season – and the perfect combination … books and Halloween!  Adorable little boy loves reading to monsters and he goes out to find them and reads to them under the moon. Delightfully spooky and surpris ..read more

It matters so much that all children see themselves represented in the books they read — and that goes for neuro-diverse children, too. Over the past few years, there has been a number of incredible resources for teachers or parents who are trying to build empathy and compassion in all children. These picture books feature neurodiverse characters that help readers better understand or relate to children with autism, OCD, ADHD, and other sensory issues. Here are some of my favorites: Neurodiversity, What’s That? – Nadine Arthur A simple, accessible and very positive book introducing ..read more

Well, it’s hard to believe that it’s October and even harder to believe that Thanksgiving will be here in less than a week! And what better time to share some books and talk about things we are thankful for? These would be also be wonderful books to share all month if you and your class are writing daily “gratitudes” on your “Gratitude Pumpkins” (see below). Remember – if you don’t have a copy of the books, check out YouTube for shareable read-alouds! Always a bonus when it’s the real author reading it themselves! Thankful – Elaine Vickers I LOVE this book about a little girl who writes what ..read more

Books have always been a way for me to approach tough topics and start important discussions with students. This week, as we prepare for The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30th, here are some books that might help you launch those discussions in your class. Thank you to all who shared titles of books you will be sharing with your students this coming week, as you prepare for this day. Hopefully, there will be one or two new books on this list you may be able to share with your students to honour this important day. The Orange Shirt Story – Phyllis Webstad This book tells t ..read more

The start of the year is such an important time for building a positive class community. And what better way to help you with that task than finding a great picture book Last week, I posted this question on my social media: What is your favorite picture book you share with your class to promote building a positive class community. The response was EPIC! So many of you responded with favorite titles! So I thought I would follow up sharing some of the most popular books, as well as a few unique ones. Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite titles! I challenge EVERYONE to find a new book ..read more

Well, it’s back to school and I have been getting LOTS of requests for novel recommendations. Those first read-alouds really set the stage for inspiring your students to LOVE books! No strategies, no response sheets, no homework – just you and the book and your students saying, “Just one more chapter, PLEASE!!” Many of these books can lead to engaging class discussions – great for building community and getting to know your students. Hoping you will find one book on this list that you feel excited about sharing with your new class! And, as always, please pre-read any book before sharing any bo ..read more

Each school year, in the Central Okanagan School District (SD 23) where I now live, the district chooses an overriding theme for schools to explore. Last year, their theme was caring communities; this year they have chosen to focus on wonder and curiosity. Ooooo-what a GREAT theme! Curiosity leads to deeper thinking, and more engaged learning. As American writer William Arthur Ward brilliantly said, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”  So, of course, I have been thinking about which books could be shared to spark and inspire wonder this year! SO MANY to choose from, but her ..read more