I learn history best through fiction. I love experiencing the effects of history on people’s lives through fictional characters’ lives. Any time I read something or watch something that deals with Civil Rights (or the lack thereof during our nation’s history), I’m changed. I am grateful for how far we’ve come, but I also am…
Category Archives: Children’s Books
Kids’ Picks, January 10
My 7-year-old is detoxing from his computer/Wii binging that I allowed during our Christmas break from school. Yes, he read (mostly Calvin and Hobbes), but I’ve weaned him off unlimited electronics time, and I’m back to encouraging “real” books for him that meet his school reading requirement, and I’m gently nudging my 13-year-old to choose…
Cybils shortlists and worthy “also-rans”
The Cybils finalist lists are out! Check out the site for the top picks in categories from young adult, to picture books, to poetry and more. Dawn and I were thrilled to be invited back to serve as Cybils round I judges this year, her in fiction picture books and me in middle grade fiction….
Promise the Night
Everyone knows the name Amelia Earhart, but what about Beryl Markham? She was one of the first women to get a commercial pilot’s license, and one of the first to successfully make a solo flight from Europe to North America. Promise the Night by Michaela McColl is a middle grade novel that looks at her…
Glory Be
Gloriana June Hemphill, better known as Glory, is about turn twelve during the summer of 1964, on the fourth of July, in fact. She can’t stop thinking about the fun she will have at the town pool to celebrate like she has in past years, but this particular summer, it seems as if nothing is…
Stand-Out Cybils Nominated Picture Books, #12
This is it folks, the final week of Cybils-nominated picture book round-ups from me. In two days, the shortlists will be announced on the Cybils site, and as they’re usually rolled out throughout the day, I cannot tell you exactly when the list for this category will be shared. But, I can tell you, that…
School Stories
Kids and adults like to read what’s real to them. All of these middle grade fiction novels have a strong school setting. However, they are so different — from a wide range of appeal (on for 7 – 8 year olds and another for 12+), the themes, and the writing style. Warp Speed Middle-schooler Marley…
Did you get an ereader for Christmas? (A Mr. Poppers Penguins ebook giveaway)
Did you get an ereader for Christmas? Or did your child or teen? I predict that’s one of the hot gifts of the year. If you did get or give one, I’d love to know which ereader and from whom it came (or was received). Once you get that ereader, you need to stock it…
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Jennifer Donovan
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