The Latest Posts

America, the Future: Divided We Fall and Sylo

This month we're looking at some YA and middle-grade titles that could be described as "high-interest": stories that grab you and don't let go.  But ...
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The Lunar Chronicles, continued

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.  Feiwel and Friends, 2013.  452 pages.  Age/interest level: 14-up.    As a sequel, Scarlet picks up right where Cinder ended.  Linh Cinder, now ...
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Librarians’ List: Easy/Leveled Readers, part 2

Lovable/Quirky Main Character Frances books by Lillian Hoban Arthur books by Lillian Hoban Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik Penny books by Kevin Henkes ...
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Book Bits, March 17th, 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day! First, we must congratulate DL for winning the Freddie Ramos giveaway!  During the month of March, we're focusing on high interest ...
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Ukraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Pt. 2

Last week, we began our Ukrainian series with a personal reflection from our executive assistant, Hayley.  Having recently visited orphans in Ukraine,  Hayley gave us insight ...
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Retro Reads: Lloyd Alexander’s Picture Books

In reading Lloyd Alexander’s picture books, I observe three things: 1) he is well-versed in a broad range of folklore traditions, 2) he loves cats, and 3) ...
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Retro Reads: Lloyd Alexander’s Vesper Holly Series

Readers will have a hard time forgetting Lloyd Alexander's plucky heroine, Vesper Holly. Ginger-haired, green-eyed, and very determined, 16-year-old Vesper Holly is ready for anything, ...
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Retro Reads: Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain

It's Retro Reads week with Lloyd Alexander! Today, we take a look back to Lloyd Alexander's marvelous Chronicles of Prydain, the first of which was ...
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Retro Reads: The Sword in the Stone

This week we begin a series of occasional posts called Retro Reads: those modern-day classics you may have missed in your teen years or before ...
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Sequelville: in Which We Follow up on Some Old Favorites

Sometimes fans of a popular book DEMAND a sequel (see Origami Yoda, below), and sometimes the entire series is planned out from the beginning.  Whether ...
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Librarians’ List: Easy/Leveled Readers, part 1

Oh, those early (slow) reading sessions when your son or daughter labors to sound out each and every phoneme…. It seems to take forever to ...
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Meet Lulu and Freddie: 2 Terrific Chapter Book Characters (+ a Giveaway)

Ready to move on from Frog and Toad? Henry and Mudge getting too easy for your newly independent reader? Rest assured:  Junie B. Jones, Judy ...
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