Empowering 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

I am on a strict diet of 30 minutes of news (I check my sources for bias) and indulge in unlimited late night comedy. I can't remember who recommended this book or why I thought I should read it. Bottom line, stop giving your money to organizations and fund raisers until you've made sure they are not grifters. Doesn't matter whose side you're on.

From the Human Body Helpers series, Using Insulin is a simple and age appropriate explanation of diabetes and how to care for yourself. Meet polly Pancreas and Ian Insulin.

Sorry, wrong season, but still cute.

Doing a unit about respect and having the kindergartners read to me. This book amazed them. We talked about who in our school should talk to the bad boy so he can turn in the same direction as the other kids on the last page.

Dyckman cracks me up every time! This is a much needed replacement copy.

A must read for our #dogsoflitsy
Who knew Tarshis wrote a picture book? And it's adorable over and #underthedustcover

Reading while processing and capturing great things #underthedustcover
This book is a gift. It reads like a 💌 love letter, but it's not romantic.

The author and illustrator truly capture the experience of raising a neurodivergent child. The book says it's a hymn and in Destiny its call number is 782.42, but there is no mention in the book where to find the music.

This tribute to Jerry Pinkney is just what I needed. A powerful & beautiful, expression of grief to be shared, loved and adored.

A shy kid that can dance is encouraged to share his talent.

I haven't read this outloud to my students yet, but I'm sure it will be a hit. I didn't know about your kids, but mine seem to love meta fiction and I think that's a lousy name for the literary device. May I suggest Ironic Groveresque?

Excellent book for discussing format. While it's a picture book, the word count and the content speak to a more mature audience. The story has many layers. A modern retelling of Rapunzel and an allegory it illustrates the hardship of captivity and the use of hair to escape.

My little dumpling takes a literal turn. It reminded me of Into the Night Kitchen.

Laugh out loud funny!

Adorable story enveloped in Korean Lunar New Year traditions. My only fuss is there was not enough support for pronouncing Korean vocabulary. I need all the support I can get!

Picture books are not for kids! Keeping in mind that 4th graders didn't like being called children lately...
Older students might relate to Bijan's experiences. Khorram offers 2 pages to talk about analogies. In the end Bijan apologizes which allows everyone to move on, which may be the purpose of forgiveness.

Loaded with several humorous visual details, a fantastic #gazingbook. A definite reread for details.

Here's to folklore maintaining relevance!
This is a laugh out loud take on the Legend of Sissa Ibn Dahir. 5 nuggets! Bonus: it explains exponential growth in elementary terms.

Fascinating history of the Korean alphabet as a gift and tool of resistance. "When the heavens nourish the earth, they do not distinguish between the great and small..." King Sejong

Sienna Woodley is an up and coming author from Tacoma, Washington 🇺🇸
This picture book can be found on Amazon. I think it's a great explanation of light pollution, but also provides lots of opportunities for turn and talk or pair share. I give it 5⭐

Sending hugs! This is an oldie but a goodie. Some of the characters are reluctant to hug, but knowing it's a delivery makes it okay.

Read this out loud to your kids! And then at the second to the last page ask, wouldn't you like to play here? Turn the page and ask, or here?

Prepare for screams and strong opinions. This is an oodle lover book and more. #dogsoflitsy Beezus recommended #schoolcounselorapproved

Discovered at the book fair, this may be my favorite read aloud of the week. Bryan the pig has an excellent explanation for why he prefers to wear jeans, he's explicit. The best reason is unraveled through the remainder of the book and it's priceless.

My favorite scene was when they made the dough, wow! Lotta and her shell phone save the party. But how could we make this party safe for the anchovies? No time for deep thoughts #readforfun

Discovered at the book fair, I started reading this out loud to my students and had to stop because a few actually got scared. Most kids thought it was a great book. Those who loved it, really really loved it.

This last week I hosted our most successful book fair. I love/hate Scholastic. I'm physically and mentally exhausted. With so many parents around, this week in particular, it was nearly impossible to be the unbiased teacher-librarian. My goal for the next 4 years will be to protect my student's right to read and make sure they can see themselves in literature and media. I have a boss and a governor who will stand up for me. 💙🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈+ (5⭐ Guts)

From Beezus and Montie 🎃💀😽😘

A little like little Red, but with emphasis on adventure and overcoming fears. I'd kind of like an acorn full of magical healing soup. 🥚 🌽 X 5

Beautiful and sad true memoir by Allen Say.

A staple at our house! I love the blast of readers. Kids need more accessible nonfiction. Macaroni is good too 😋

A vibrant retelling of events around the swearing in ceremony of Deb Haaland to the office of cabinet secretary of the Department of Interior.

Fascinating memory of noodle delivery in the first half of the 20th C Japan. It will leave you hungry for soba.

This is a serious case of dramatic irony starting with a character that has a lot of eyes, but can't see what's obvious.

My plan of action is to vote. I'm privileged to live in a state where I can sit down at home with my ballot and voter's pamphlet. I can take as much time as I need to make informed decisions. We can liberate libraries and librarians in states where books are being banned. Children are not free if they can't see themselves in what they read. #ala #freedomtoread #dayofaction #americanlibraryassociation #vote #blm #lgbtq+ #transrights saves lives.

I have never visited the white house, so I've never heard of all the other rooms Willow explores in this book. Kids will love the nonfiction back matter with photos of the real Willow.

Nominated for the 2024 #WCCPBA I read this to all my classes and gave them an idea map for creating a definition of safety in their words because you can't share your feelings unless you feel safe. Their definition will be used for a character trait bulletin board. #underthedustcover

Excellent book for talking about empathy and forgiveness. Also a great segue to discuss safety. I'll be asking the students to define safety and it's revealed on this page that Bitsy hadn't felt safe. I find that younger students stop at happy & sad, so this is eye opening. But if you can feel safe, why isn't safety a feeling? This book became gobs more impressive after reading it to the kids.

I didn't get an image for this Dyckman instant classic, so Beezus will just push in. This book hits a gross nerve that will make the kids squirrel I mean squirm I mean squeal

I miss following this author on Xitter. Has anyone seen her on another site? She hasn't joined Threads yet.

This is a classic! I love the question Penelope has at the start: how many teeth will her classmates have? Is that foreshadowing? It seems too obvious. Like "Where are you going with that axe?". What's the literary device? Maybe it's just foreshadowing, but I think it needs more E.B. White significance.

Penelope has a problem! I love that the kids gave Walter teeth. I am sure they'll learn soon enough that he doesn't really have teeth. Right? 😬

My students 😍 LOVE ❤️ Louie. This book is great for sharing book trauma. This is where I introduce who is responsible when a library book gets damaged (the kid that checked it out). We had some great art come from this lesson.

I have been in a reading rut for a while now. School started and I'll start reading to the kids and that should help. But I'm not getting my Litsy notifications. So my motivation to read and review is also tanking. I'm trying out using Instagram and threads, but I'm just not satisfied. I need inspiration!

This book is excellent for teaching the smallest about 911

Just read The Library Dragon for the 200+ time & had to come up with fluff to read (good fluff) too time. Our school had a record number of last minute registrants. My rotation is 🌪️ and the feelings 😔😭!
Has anyone written a picture book about having to move to a new class because there are too many kids? I mean... I should know!
Also #sticknation
1 kid walked in from recess and tried to sit with this in his pocket 🤣. He was 😳 when I said⬇️

Illustrated by Michaela Goade & influenced by Tlingit folklore, this book will be a great way to introduce the task of Poet Laureate and celebrate our native neighbors on whose unceded land we learn.

Less about symbiosis and more about what makes a great friendship.

When I can get my camera out in time to capture a reader, I feel like a spider. I got one. A lot of schools close their LFL, and I'm happy I could keep mine open and accessible through the summer. Ah, summers end... I'm going to miss my free time, but I'm excited to have the kids in the building again.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great book. A necessary read. It was nominated for the 2025 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award #WCCPBA so I'll be reading it to 370 K-5 students. I think I'll start at the back, but it will lead to so many questions.

Dude! I'm such a nerd. Look who just followed me on Threads!

I purchased a copy for the kids and downloaded the audio from the Timberland Regional Library. I'm not a very good listener which makes me admire audiophiles. I may need to give it a second listen. It reminded me of Edward Tulane. I loved the characters, but I may need more info before I admit it deserves 5 ⭐