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YA, MG, and PB New Release Spotlight--September 27, 2016
Happy Tuesday! I had a great time going over this list with my 6th grade homeroom this morning. Based on their reactions, I already know that I am going to need lots of copies of Frazzled for all my...
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Review: A Long Walk to Water (Park)
This short book is based on the true story of Salva Dut, a boy fleeing civil war in South Sudan in 1985. Librarians and teachers, this one is a must.AUTHOR: Linda Sue ParkSERIES: nonePUBLISHER:...
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Read Off Your Library Fine (Printable)
Do your students have library fines that just sit around, unpaid, for months at at time? These little fines used to drive me and the teachers nuts! How many students were not checking out any books...
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New Releases for Kids and Teens--November 22, 2016
It's New Release Tuesday! This week is a weird one because I only found new releases for YA and picture books. Really, nothing new for middle grades or lower elementary? November has had far fewer new...
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25 (Not-Book!) Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
I've been researching book-related gift ideas this holiday, and I have found some really cute stuff on Amazon. I know many of you are in book clubs or might want inexpensive ideas for library...
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20 Must-Read Space Operas for Teens
What the heck is a space opera? I'm not sure where I first heard these books called "space operas," but I love the term. Like soap operas, space operas feature high drama, action, and even some...
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New releases--November 29, 2016
I'm starting to wonder if the Christmas season isn't a great time to release a new book. I found only 14 new releases this week, a far cry from the 60+ I was finding back in September and October. I'm...
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Sub-Friendly Library Activity and Holiday-Themed Bulletin Board Idea
This week has been a roller coaster. My husband and both my boys have the flu, and I am now the last Collazo standing. On top of that, my older son turned twelve today AND performed in our school's...
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Do you have a Wednesday dress?
How does my family know it's a Wednesday? Because I'm wearing the Wednesday Dress. Yep, I wear the same dress every Wednesday. I'm not really sure how or why this started. I just got ready for school...
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What YA Holiday Titles Are Under Your Tree?
YA authors and publishers, I have a bone to pick with you...Can someone please tell me why there are so few quality holiday fiction titles for teens? My students request these every December, and year...
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New Releases for Kids & Teens--December 6, 2016
Before I started writing these New Release lists, I had no idea how few books were released in near the end of the calendar year. This week is another disappointment; there are only a small handful of...
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Got five minutes? Start your library time with current events...
I am so excited to share this idea today! If you are looking to spice up your library lesson routine, this idea is a must-try! It will work with upper-elementary, middle school, and even high school....
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Feeling Frazzled? 15 Ideas for High-Interest, Low-Prep Library Centers
Let's see if this sounds familiar...It's nearly Christmas break, and you are on your last leg. There simply isn't enough coffee in the world to keep you going every day. Though you started so fresh in...
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New Releases--December 13, 2016
Another slow week, but there are some good choices! The biggest excitement for my students will be Crystal Storm, which is book 5 of the popular Falling Kingdoms series. Also, the new James Patterson...
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Review: We Are Still Tornadoes (Kun, Mullen)
I didn't really like this one until I finished it. It's a slice of life story, so there isn't really a central conflict; rather, there are many conflicts, both large and small, that reflect real life...
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MrsReaderPants Podcast--First Episode!
I am super-excited today to announce that I have finally recorded my first-ever MrsReaderPants podcast! I've been thinking about starting a podcast for about a year now, but I just had no clue where to...
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New Releases--December 27, 2016
Due to a serious dearth of new releases last week, I have combined the December 20th and 27th new releases lists. YOUNG ADULT (GRADES 8+)The Secret of a Heart Note (Stacey Lee)Sometimes love is right...
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Podcast Episode 2: 20 Graphic Novels Middle Schoolers Love!
Welcome to Episode 2! Today, I discuss 20 graphic novels that are most popular with my middle schoolers as well as award-listed graphic novels I need to read and promote better in my library. All the...
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New Release Spotlight--January 3, 2017
Happy 2017! Or as we say here in China, Xīnnián kuà ilè! Now that we've made it through December, we actually have lots of new releases this week! This week features a diverse lot of narrators: a blind...
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Podcast #3: Ten YA Titles I Can't Wait to Read in 2017
Whoohoo! I'm officially posting my THIRD PODCAST! So crazy that I've thought about doing this for so long and have finally made it happen! I still have so much to learn, but I learn more with every...
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