Once again, it’s the game that’s sweeping the country. I used this website to (virtually) create 3 LEGO book covers. See how many you can name! #1: Answer #2: Answer #3: Answer How’d you do? If you like this post, you might like my newsletter, FROM THE DESK OF 100 SCOPE NOTES. You can click here to subscribe. Previously . . . Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#1) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#2) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#3) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#4) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#5) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#6) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#7) Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#8) Name ..read more

Am I overthinking this? Last week I read the picture book classic The Monster at the End of This Book to classes of kindergarteners. I’ve done this every year for a while. It’s a Read Aloud Hall of Famer after all. I have students follow up by playing The Monster at the End of This Game on PBS Kids (also great). But I always have a moment when I’m reading it aloud, where I think “Okay, we’re all about to tell Grover to take his fears and shove ’em – because we’re going to keep turning pages”. Is it weird that we torture Grover during the course of this book? I repeat: Am I overthinking this ..read more

Below are all the 2024 books from previous Pura Belpré author and illustrator medal and honor winners. Did I miss one? Let me know in the comments! Previously . . . 2024 Books from Caldecott Winners 2024 Books from Newbery Winners 2024 Books from Geisel Winners 2024 Books from Sibert Winners 2024 Books from Stonewall Winners 2024 Books from Coretta Scott King Winners ..read more

Colby Sharp and I have wanted John Schu on The Yarn for a long time. The guy has been our podcast white whale, if you will. Well call me Ishmael, because Mr. Schu is our guest for the latest episode. We recorded it LIVE at BookBug, an independent bookstore in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He takes us behind the scenes of his New York Times bestselling novel in verse, Louder Than Hunger. https://open.spotify.com/episode/7FZqa3bQAWJA5lvfRohitc?si=ce7e25f0cd6545f6 Subscribe below to catch every episode of The Yarn: iTunes Spotify Stitcher ..read more

Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads? I strongly dislike bugs, so I thought this book was disgusting. Also, I did not find the poetry to be artful. Click here for the answer. Why do I share these? Click here. If you like this post, you might like my newsletter, FROM THE DESK OF 100 SCOPE NOTES. You can click here to subscribe. Previously . . . One Star Review Guess Who (#1) One Star Review Guess Who (#2) One Star Review Guess Who (#3) One Star Review Guess Who (#4) One Star Review Guess Who (#5) One Star Review Guess Who (#6) One Star Rev ..read more

Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day. It’s an easy one to celebrate. Keep a poem in your pocket, and pull that sucker out and read it to anyone you see. Here are some books that might help ..read more

The American Library Association has released their annual list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books. Sadly, book challenges were up (again) in 2023, and the most challenged (Gender Queer and All Boys Aren’t Blue) remaining the same from last year’s list. In fact, much of the list is similar to last year – with This Book is Gay, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Flamer, The Bluest Eye, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl all returning ..read more

It’s been an embarrassment of podcast riches over on The Yarn recently. Here are five recent episodes for your listening pleasure: Abby Hanlon: Ruth Behar: Jesús Trejo: Emily Calandrelli: Amy Noelle Parks ..read more

Ever since Jen J’s incredible starred review spreadsheet went dormant in 2021, I’ve been looking for a place to see which books have received the most starred reviews (from the established review journals: Booklist, Kirkus, PW, SLJ, Horn Book) in any given year. Donalyn Miller and Jennifer LaGarde are taking a crack at it, and for that I salute them. What I want to do here is occasionally highlight the books (for grades K-6) that have received the most starred reviews up to this point in the year. It’s meant to be a snapshot of the cream of the crop (I know, starred reviews aren’t everything ..read more

Today I’m rounding up all the 2024 books from past Stonewall Medal and Honor winners. Did I miss one? Let me know in the comments. Previously . . . 2024 Books from Caldecott Winners 2024 Books from Newbery Winners 2024 Books from Geisel Winners 2024 Books from Sibert Winners ..read more