readtothem
“The consolation of imaginary things, is not imaginary consolation.” (Roger Scruton, via Emily Jenkins) This August, we’re looking at Fantasy books. There’s a lot to explore in the Upside-Down Magic series from authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins. We thought it would be fun to interview the trio together and we were right. … Read more
We can’t get enough Fantasy in August at The Lamp-Post. We learned so much from the authors of the Upside Down Magic series about building a magical school world. After reading and writing about books based in two other very different magical worlds – Brooklyn and Eerie-on-Sea – we were delighted to have the chance … Read more
“Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It’s a way of understanding it.” -Lloyd Alexander This is the season of vacations – be it a trip across the world, a weekend away, or even just a relaxing day spent by the pool. Can you guess the easiest and most direct way to head out on … Read more
Colby Sharp will tell you that he is a fifth grade teacher in Michigan, working hard to help his students “fall in love with reading.” And that is true, but Colby is so much more. He is: an author – The Creativity Project is a great gift for your favorite teacher, and The Commonsense Guide … Read more
Since their inaugural program in 2018, the staff at T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary in New Jersey considers One School, One Book to be one of the highlights of their year. With each book, it becomes easier to find ways to ensure their program remains fresh and fun for students. “The program grows each year,” says … Read more
Happy Summer! At the Lamp-Post, our summer thoughts are filled with books that are playful and fun! Can books be part of play? Of course! Especially Wendy Orr’s Nim’s Island and Vivian Vande Velde’s 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos. It turns out that writing these playful books is fun, too! … Read more
Animal characters are a staple of children’s literature, and for good reason. Many young readers gravitate to animals, giving these stories wide appeal. Peruse the children’s department at your local library, and you will find lots of books featuring farm animals, pets, and – for reasons I’m not sure I understand – rodents. Here at … Read more
Play is the work of childhood. – Piaget One of the biggest perks of teaching preschool is you get to play – really play – with the experts. Four-year-old humans know more about play than any adults. If you promise to respect the play and not try to turn it into work, they are more … Read more
Our July Book Stack is recognizing, appreciating, and exploring books in the Read to Them library that incorporate the element of play, our at The Lamp-Post theme for this month. Wanna play? The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary When you discover a little mouse in your hotel room and he rides a … Read more
You’ve probably never sat down, scratched your head, and said, “You know what I ought to do? Look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.” If you have, you were probably pretty certain that you’re already checking off all five boxes, but you might be surprised. Because smack-dab in the middle of that color-coded pyramid, is the … Read more
Booth Tarkington Elementary in Wheeling, Illinois has been actively participating in One School, One Book for four years. As Ryann Rivers, the librarian at Booth Tarkington, looks back on their previous reading events, the growth between their first and most recent event is like an acorn to a tree. “The first year, I gave families … Read more
Join us at The Lamp-Post as we discuss understanding with Elana K. Arnold (A Boy Called Bat) and Sharon M. Draper (Out of My Mind). In this reflective and personal conversation, we learn how both authors approach their storytelling as a vehicle for readers to find their own meaning, rather than teaching a planned lesson. There … Read more
Spend time with the awesome Dads in your life by sharing a story (or six!) this Father’s Day. Read to Them has culled a list of six titles featuring unforgettable dads. Click on our book quotes to read them at their full size! The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes – Navigating second grade … Read more
“I see you.” A simple phrase, loaded with meaning. It can be used in the literal sense: “Your image has now entered my eye through the cornea and my pupil has adjusted it, and my lens has focused it, and now I can see that you are angry because the dishes are still in the … Read more
As long time Read to Them participants know, there are three keys to a successful reading event. A great book, school-wide enthusiasm, and an inspiring, constructive set of resources. Read to Them’s distinct book packets provide opportunities to explore the rich material in each book and the inspiration that gets schools and families wanting to … Read more
From “a list of twenty supplies you need to survive middle school when you don’t have arms.” A sense of humor. I’m being very serious here – you’ve got to have one. Seriously. — Aven Green (Dusti Bowling, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, p. 255) For centuries philosophers have analyzed humor. … Read more
Since Stella Díaz Has Something to Say joined the Read to Them catalog of books in 2021, thousands of students across the country have shared this special book for their school-wide reading program, and the feedback from schools has been overwhelming. Students, teachers, and families all fall in love with sweet Stella as they root … Read more
This month at the Lamp-Post, we talk about the role of humor in children’s literature with the always funny Betsy Bird. Betsy is a Renaissance woman in the world of children’s literature – a librarian, author, blogger, and podcast host, and we are quite sure she has read almost everything published for children…ever. She edited … Read more
I taught preschool from 2003 until 2019. In that time, “screen time” went from watching Sesame Street DVDs while parents were making dinner to iPads in the laps of toddlers in grocery store buggies. Endless rounds of The Wheels on the Bus in the carpool line were replaced by – well, I quite frankly have … Read more
Spend time with the amazing Mom in your life by reading aloud together this Mother’s Day. To get you started, Read to Them has culled a list of six titles with unforgettable Moms, Grandmas, and even some not-so-conventional maternal figures, too. Check them out below: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña … Read more
Since 1919, Children’s Book Week has endeavored to celebrate and bolster books for younger audiences. It’s the longest-running literacy initiative in the United States, and you can participate on an individual, small group, or even community-wide level. Be sure to check your local libraries and bookstores to see if there are any in-person events in … Read more
One School, One Book has been a staple at North Shore Elementary in St. Petersburg, Florida since 2015. The program has even remained strong during the pandemic thanks to the combined efforts of Tracy Leskanic, co-chair Gifted Program Teacher, and Tamara Gramlich, co-chair Library Media Technology Specialist. The dynamic duo build excitement with the support … Read more
“Connectedness. One thing leads to another. Often in unexpected ways.” ― Holly Goldberg Sloan, Counting by 7s Recently, I had the pleasure of moving my young adult son halfway across the country. In truth, it wasn’t pleasurable. It was hard and sad and scary. But I pretended like it was pleasurable. Because – after graduating … Read more
In celebration of Earth Day, listen to our conversation about Conservation in children’s literature with Lynne Rae Perkins, author of Nuts to You. We talk about unexpected inspirations for stories, a subconscious interest in rodents, the fine art of writing about connections (those missed, and those made), and how writers choose phrases and metaphors that … Read more
