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Friday Five: Gift Books: Holiday Reads Edition

  • Dec 6, 2019
  • 1 min read

Updated: Dec 10, 2019


The holiday gift-giving season is upon us, and the countdown to winter break is...

So.

Very.

Close.


For this week's Friday Five, I am highlighting some of my favorite 2019 holiday-themed picture books. They would make great #classroombookaday read alouds with your students of all ages, picture books to share with your family, or gift giving.


Side note: Find out why you should follow Dan Santat on social media this holiday season.

Books Mentioned in the video: The Great Santa Stakeout by Betsy Bird and Dan Santat Dasher by Matt Tavares (Also, Red & Lulu) The Crayons' Christmas by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper and Carson Ellis Between Us and Abuela by Mitali Perkins and Sara Palacios Finding Narnia by Caroline McAlister and Jessica Lanan Fry Bread by Kevin Noble-Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal Freedom Soup by Tami Charles and Jacqueline Alcantara

Stay tuned next week when I'll post the FULL LIST of gift book suggestions for all ages, PreK-Adult. Uncle Joe? Grandma Joan? Your nephew? Books make great gifts for everyone, especially your own kids, and there is a book for every reader on the list. Also, if you have kids of your own and you plan on getting their teacher(s) a gift this holiday season, consider a monetary (gift card) donation to help them add to their classroom library. We love new books, and so do the students we teach!


In the meantime, this week's Friday Five will help you kick off your holiday reading. Happy Reading and Happy Holidays!


 

Check It Out: October Newsletter, Scary Stories edition

  • Oct 21, 2019
  • 1 min read

October marks the official "Scary Stories" season in the library (or classroom). And while readers of all ages always seem to ask for a SCARY story, fall is always a good season for those books best read on a dark and stormy night.

Check out all the things you will need to get in the scary story mood this October. You'll also find some great ghost stories, literary costume ideas, and a how-to art lesson for decorating pumpkins by author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Plus, you'll always find books for all ages, curriculum connections, #classroombookaday options, a terrific read for First Chapter Friday, new titles coming from POPULAR authors, book-to-movie news, and more.


Scroll down or click here to read it.





 

Top 10 Tuesday: Never Forget

  • Sep 12, 2019
  • 1 min read

Wednesday is September 11th.


Before I talk about books, I want to highlight an essay by one of my favorite authors, Meg Cabot. Every year she gets requests to re-post it, and every year she does. And every year I read it. I encourage you to do the same. I promise, it is well worth the read. Find it on her blog.


If you want to share books about 9/11 with students this week, this month, or any time of year, here are my #Top10 books about 9/11.



Top Row:

The Day The World Came to Town (Defede). Written for adults, but interested teens (7th - 12th grades) would appreciate this as well.


The Red Bandanna (Rinaldi). Grades 6-12. This is a young readers edition, but you might enjoy the original as well.


The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (Gerstein). Picture book biography for all ages or #classroombookaday.


Thunder Dog (Hingson). Adults, and grades 6-12.


Middle Row:

Nine, Ten (Baskin). Grades 5-8. Probably my favorite middle school fiction title about 9/11.


Fireboat (Kalman). Picture book “biography” for all ages and #classroombookaday.


Hope and Other Punchlines (Buxbaum). New in 2019, this #yalit title works for grades 7-12.


Bottom Row:

Towers Falling (Parker Rhodes). Another good fiction title for grades 5-8.


America is Under Attack (Brown). Grades 2-5 (and up!) Illustrated nonfiction.


14 Cows for America (Deedy). Picture book based on a true story. Grades 2-5 (and up!) and good for #classroombookaday.


Do you have a favorite on this list? Or one not on this list? What book or story do you always share with your students to honor the day?


 

WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING:

Guadelupe, Teacher, CA

The knowledge and passion for books for EVERY reader  has hooked me! She is in the classroom and just gets readers.

Dee, Teacher-Librarian, CA

Wowza! One of the best, packed workshops, filled with RELEVANT content, delivered in a well organized, engagingly paced seminar. HIGHLY RECOMMEND to librarians and lovers of literature.

Lindsey, English Teacher, TX

Excellent content, EXCEPTIONAL presenter! The entire presentation was engaging and meaningful. I am excited to have the opportunity to take all of these amazing titles and introduce my students to them.

Laurie, Librarian, IL

GREAT SEMINAR! Shauna was fantastic. My booklist is overflowing and I can't wait to share these books with students, and educate my teachers.

Julia, School Librarian, PA

I can't wait to get these books into the hands of my students!

Chad, LA Teacher, IL

Shauna reinforces the idea that there are two types of students: those who like to read and those who haven't found the right book yet. She offers a plethora of resources and titles for both!

Guadelupe, Teacher, CA

The knowledge and passion for books for EVERY reader  has hooked me! She is in the classroom and just gets readers.

Dee, Teacher-Librarian, CA

Wowza! One of the best, packed workshops, filled with RELEVANT content, delivered in a well organized, engagingly paced seminar. HIGHLY RECOMMEND to librarians and lovers of literature.

Lindsey, English Teacher, TX

Excellent content, EXCEPTIONAL presenter! The entire presentation was engaging and meaningful. I am excited to have the opportunity to take all of these amazing titles and introduce my students to them.

Guadelupe, Teacher, CA

The knowledge and passion for books for EVERY reader  has hooked me! She is in the classroom and just gets readers.

Dee, Teacher-Librarian, CA

Wowza! One of the best, packed workshops, filled with RELEVANT content, delivered in a well organized, engagingly paced seminar. HIGHLY RECOMMEND to librarians and lovers of literature.

Lindsey, English Teacher, TX

Excellent content, EXCEPTIONAL presenter! The entire presentation was engaging and meaningful. I am excited to have the opportunity to take all of these amazing titles and introduce my students to them.

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