Why I Picked It Up: Buzz Kill is one of the books on the 2015 Lone Star List. In preparation for another successful Battle of the Books, I am beginning to read the chosen texts. I should probably start with the ones that don’t necessarily speak to me, but I’m not there in my personal […]
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Book Review: Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin
Why I Picked It Up: There were several things that came together to confirm that I’d made a good choice when I picked up this book. I found out about it during a session at the recent Texas Council for Teachers of English Language Arts and Reading (TCTELA) conference about non-fiction. The cover flashed up on the […]
Book Review: Rump, by Liesl Shurtliff
Why I Picked It Up: This was just one of those books. It’s the book that you see on multiple lists, New York Best Sellers, Amazon, Barnes and Noble. It’s the book that all your friends are reading. It’s the book you see in connection with all the other books you are reading. However, for […]
Book Review: Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, by Kwame Alexander
Why I Picked It Up: My youngest son is interested in music. He has been playing the guitar for a year and a half and is positive he will be a rock star when he’s older. As we were exploring Amazon’s recommendations for us, this book appeared. Rhys was automatically interested so we peeked inside. That’s […]
Book Review: Half Upon a Time, by James Riley
Why I Picked It Up: Fairy tales. Actually, it goes back a little further than that. In preparation for one of our most popular sessions, Jessica was at the bookstore and I got a text with a picture of this book cover. Beanstalk, kid in a tunic, a play on the traditional fairy tale opener – […]
Book Review: This is Not My Hat, by Jon Klassen
Why I Picked It Up: Last Christmas, Sherry bought this brilliant book for me. I was intrigued from first sight. The cover, solid black, with a small fish with a Charlie Chaplin hat swimming across the front. The title just adds. Automatically I found myself grinning. Why I Finished It: This seemingly simple book is anything but. […]
