Regina Scott knew she was destined to become a writer the minute she finished her first story, “Mummies at the Lake,” in the third grade. She put that dream on hold in order to pursue more financially secure jobs—preschool teacher, day-care professional, and communications specialist among them. Later, when she realized that the only thing she […]
Those of us of a certain age might remember a series of commercials for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Here’s how they go: two people, one carrying an unwrapped bar of chocolate and the other person an open jar of peanut butter, bump into each other. The first person says, “You’ve got peanut butter in my […]
Though women in historical romances tend to abide by the social mores and rules that govern their societies, they can also be very anachronistic. Whether Victorian England, the wilds of the American Frontier, or the banks of the Nile River, there are always rule breakers—women who decree that they will do what they want to […]
Lynn: Here’s something you might not have guessed about me: I’m a closet Georgette Heyer fan from way back. It’s true. When I’m yearning for a comfort read, I often turn to the creator of Regency romance and her murders-with-manners. Her books have gotten me through some sad days and I’m here to say that I think […]
The holidays are coming fast and furious, as they seem to do each year. The leftover oranges and blacks of Halloween haven’t even reached the clearance aisle when the blues, silvers, reds, greens, and golds begin to replace them. Thanksgiving is just a speed bump as we race to the end of the year and […]
If you like historical romance, then you will enjoy Ciji Ware’s A Race to Splendor. Set during and following the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, A Race to Splendor is a perfect blend of politics and tension, featuring a tempestuous romance between two complex, well-drawn characters. I found Ware’s book on our new […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
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