Category Archives: reading

Books and Magic

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Jennie

‘What an astonishing thing a book is.  It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, Library, literacy, Quotes, reading | Tagged , , , | 82 Comments

Giving – the New Amos McGee Book

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Jennie

The  Amos McGee books are wonderful. The first in the series, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, won the coveted Caldecott Medal. I love the newest book, A Snow Day for Amos McGee. Amos works at the zoo.  His best friends … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Expressing words and feelings, Giving, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, preschool, Quotes, reading, reading aloud | Tagged , , , | 68 Comments

Mr. Willowby’s Book, Then and Now

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Jennie

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, by Robert Barry is a delightfully predictable tale of a tree that is too tall.  Each time the top is snipped off, it goes to someone else who has the same problem, and so on.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, reading, wonder | Tagged , , , | 60 Comments

Look What Arrived!

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Jennie

Look what arrived today! Darlene Foster’s new Amanda book, Amanda in Ireland, The Body in the Bog. I’m so excited! Jennie

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Imagination, Inspiration, Learning About the World, literacy, reading | Tagged , , , | 57 Comments

My Favorite Picture Books of the Summer

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Jennie

  Norman and the Smell of Adventure, By Ryan T. Higgins Norman has a best friend – Mildred.  She’s a tree.  While they have favorite things they do every day, Norman is getting bored.  He wants to do something new, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, picture books, reading, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 69 Comments

Amanda

Posted on August 3, 2025 by Jennie

Hubby snapped this picture of me, completely engrossed in reading Amanda in Scotland The Standing Stones. Thank goodness for Amanda.  This weekend I’m busy with an annual writer’s conference on line.  I’m exhausted.  There was an hour window of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Giving thanks, Inspiration, literacy, reading | Tagged , , , | 71 Comments

I’ve Lost Hubby

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Jennie

I’ve lost hubby to Dan and Willow’s new book, Poetic Justice. Isn’t that wonderful? Jennie

Posted in Book Review, books, Giving thanks, literacy, reading | Tagged , , , | 77 Comments

Gifting a Book to the Public Library

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Jennie

Discovering a great new book is one thing. Reading the book to children, over and over again, is another thing. Gifting that book to the public library is the icing on the cake.   The Little Red Chair, by Cathy … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Expressing words and feelings, Inspiration, joy, Library, literacy, picture books, reading | Tagged , , | 83 Comments

Jim Trelease, His Million-Copy Bestseller Book, and Me.

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Jennie

This is a blog repost of Jim Trelease, the (late) author of the million-copy best seller, The Read-Aloud Handbook.  This week I had a  lovely, heartfelt comment on this long-ago post from Jamie Trelease – Jim’s son.  “Thank you, Jennie, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Early Education, Inspiration, Jim Trelease, literacy, reading, reading aloud, reading aloud | Tagged , | 70 Comments

More Amanda Books to our Library

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Jennie

The Groton Public Library has most of Darlene Foster’s wonderful Amanda books, but not all. My last delivery included six books. Now there are ten books in the series. I was excited to gift the rest to the library. So … Continue reading →

Posted in books, chapter reading, children's books, Giving, literacy, reading | Tagged , , | 79 Comments