Mitali Perkins, I know you are everywhere on the blogosphere giving interviews and inspiring authors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to escape this week and read your First Daughter books: First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover  First Daughter: White House Rules Anyone who teaches middle school (grades 5 and up) should have both of these [...]

It’s a HOLIDAY weekend. Where should I go? What should I do? I know… I’ll stay home, turn off my cell phone, and read. Heavenly bliss! Reading everything I want and anything I want. Yes, I know I should be reading and blogging those nonfiction series books, but I also want to catch up on [...]

I saved blogging about this title until closer to release date although the waiting nearly did me in. The Revolution of Sabine by Beth Levine Ain is being released by Candlewick Press on September 9th  for ages 12 and up. ISBN 978-0-7636-3396-7, 224 pages, $16.99  "Loved it! Teenage girl in France coming of age and wanting [...]

Yes, folks, bubble-gum. Gum is NOT tolerated by my assistant. She knows where it will end up and has clearly stated her refusal to clean gum from furniture and chairs. Sooo, what on earth am I trying to do to her by bringing in the book Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist written by Rush Spiro and [...]

How exciting is being a school librarian? Ask my new students and they’ll tell you I have the very best job. In fact, they seem to be waging an active campaign to organize student workers so they can spend more time in the library. I’m hearing pleas to go to the library as I walk through the [...]

"This is YOUR library… If there aren’t enough manga books here, whose fault is it?" I asked my 6-8th graders during their visits the first 7 days of school.  When someone hesitantly said, "Yours?" I dramatically reacted with, "How can it be my fault? This is my first week here. This is YOUR library. You’re in [...]

Listen to your teachers. What titles have they read that excited them? Since I’m new to the "strictly middle school" environment, I’m spending much of my time listening to teachers. Thankfully! Otherwise, I’d have missed the book We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success by Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenins, and [...]

ARGH! My frustration has boiled over and it’s time for another rant. What happened to good customer service? Especially in our libraries? I was reading the article about the  Itch and Stitch Children’s Knitting Club being kicked out of the Long Sault Library in Long Sault, Ontario since they aren’t allowing arts and craft groups. What? [...]

I also found time to attend the Toyota Tundra race at the Nashville Superspeedway for about 12 hours on Saturday and created my own speaking avatar using Voki. Great fun! Go check it out. Get a Voki now! This week I removed all the kitchen floor and retiled it in my spare time. I helped [...]

Did I disappear? Yes! The first week before we open the school to students, I disappear from my blog and focus exclusively on helping get the school ready. This year is particularly exciting since we feel like a brand-new school. Most of the teachers are new to the building. There are only a few who [...]