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The “Whys” Behind the New Adolescent Lit Syllabus
This is the letter I’m posting to students in Adolescent Literature to explain the philosophy of the course: Most English teachers say their number one goal is to help their students become better readers, but most of our classroom practices don’t reflect that goal. (Think about what you do in your real life as a […]
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Reading Goals for 2013
In Book Love, my favorite professional development read of the 2012, Penny Kittle writes of the importance of setting goals for ourselves as readers. Readers, she points out, have plans. That’s one thing that sets readers apart from non-readers. I require my students to read a lot in addition to the course required reading, and […]
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My Year of Reading 2012
This year, I read 139 books plus probably at least 350 picture books. (In 2013, I’m going to keep track of the picture books I read on goodreads.com). I read the most in December, when I did a #bookaday challenge (picture books not included). I read the least in October (just 5 books)—not sure why. […]
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1988: Lincoln: A Photobiography
I wish the Newbery honored nonfiction more often because there is so much distinguished nonfiction for children. I haven’t read much about Lincoln, and I thought I knew more than I actually did. In some ways, this is the very best kind of book because it makes you want to read more. Now I want […]
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1980: A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl’s Journal 1830-32
I could probably say this at the beginning of every Newbery reading challenge post: this is one I’ve been actively avoiding for years. Again, it has Newbery written all over it—Newbery in the bad sense, the one where adults choose edifying and acceptable books that children ought to be reading in order to learn something—about […]
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1992 Newbery: Shiloh
I avoided this book for many years, because it’s about a dog, and I assumed that in classic Newbery fashion, the dog would have to die. But I am here to tell you it’s safe to read this book: no dogs die! (At least not any dogs that you know and personally care about. In other […]
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1982 Newbery: A Visit to William Blake’s Inn
Hmm. I don’t know what to say about this one. It’s short? That’s always a virtue in a Newbery. I don’t get this book in a big way. I do love the illustrations and think it’s very deserving of its Caldecott Honor, but the poems really weren’t very good. Here is a sample of a […]
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1957: Miracles on Maple Hill
Based on the cover, I wasn’t expecting much. And really, very little happens in this book. The big drama is will-they-or-won’t-they get all the hundreds of buckets of sap from the maple trees into the sugar house before it freezes. But that’s okay. It’s very well-written and holds up surprisingly well. Sorensen creates a satisfying […]
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2008 Newbery: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
Okay, I have to confess: I had a prejudice against this particular Newbery. When this book was announced, I thought to myself what a typical Newbery title it was: just the sort of book grown-ups think children ought to read and just the sort of book that kids don’t want to read. I decided I […]
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the dirigible plum 