Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 4


In order to manage 30 gratitude posts this month, I am giving myself the freedom to keep things short.  For the 4th day of November, here are a few things that I am thankful for...

....getting to work on a daily basis with some amazing women in the Student Support Office at my District. They are smart, caring, hard-working, and incredibly helpful. 

....an opportunity to have dinner with friends.

....watching my friend's 7 year old light up when I brought her books.

....and since this is also picture book month, here is my daily picture book recommendation:




by Pat Zietlow Miller; Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
Schwartz & Wade (August 6, 2013)


What are you thankful for?

It's Monday! What are you reading? - From Picture Books to YA - 11/4/13


It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.  Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers have adapted it to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

Here's what jumped out from the stack last week...


Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman; Illustrated by Skottie Young (HarperCollins, September 17, 2013) - I listened to this one and my review will be coming tomorrow.  Fans of Neil Gaiman will love this one.



Fossil by Bill Thomson (Two Lions, November 5, 2013) - If you are a fan of CHALK, Thomson is back with a great follow-up. 


Giving Thanks Edited by Katherine Paterson; Illustrated by (Chronicle Books, October 15, 2013) - Just in time for Thanksgiving, a collection of poems and sayings to express gratitude edited by Katherine Paterson.




Kids Meet the Bugs by Andra Serlin Abramson and Paula Kovacs Ross (Applesauce Press, February 12, 2013) - Where was this when I was teaching a bug unit?!  The photos in this one.


So, what are you reading?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 3

 

Independent Bookstores! Yep, that's what I am very thankful for today.  I am especially lucky that I have several in close proximity to home and work.  I am fully aware that some people do not even have one near them.  I do my best to support as many of these indies so that they will continue to be around.

Here are just two of my favorites - I love Maureen Palacio, Kris Vreeland and the rest of the staff at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, California.  OUaT is small but has incredible author events and the best service.


My other frequent bookstore hangout is Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.  It's been around for 120 years and it has an incredibly large children's and young adult section.  A definite must visit if you come to Pasadena.



....and since this is also picture book month, here is my daily picture book recommendation:



created/illustrated by Bill Thomson
Two Lions (November 5, 2013)

This is Thomson's follow-up to CHALK.  It is wonderful, and it comes out on Tuesday.  Quick, go order it! :-)   

What are you thankful for?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 2


One of the things that I took for granted when I lived in New England was how amazing the leaves were in the fall.  Since I moved to California, I have learned to be much more appreciative of what few deciduous trees we have in Pasadena. 

Today as I was driving along Sierra Madre Boulevard, I was thankful for whoever decided to plant lots of them along the sides of this road.  For a minute, I forgot I was in Southern California and thought I was transported back to New England.  I took a moment to share with my 7 year old niece, in the back seat, why I was thankful for the colored leaves. 

Somehow, I need to go back and get a photo of those gorgeous leaves to keep reminding me of why I am so thankful.

....and since this is also picture book month, here is my daily picture book recommendation:


by Laura Malone Elliott
Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Katherine Tegen Books (August 27, 2013)

What are you thankful for?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 1

Today is the first day of November.  Its the month that we celebrate Thanksgiving.  However, so often food preparation and eating, holiday sales, and general busy lives crowd out time to express gratitude.  I have a lot to be thankful for and need to take a moment to acknowledge those things.

So, today I am thankful for....

.....the community of friends that surround me and remind me of how rich my life really is.

.....homemade brownies baked with snickers that a friend made.

....a moment of quiet to reflect on all the amazing things in the world.

Also, today kicks of Picture Book Month.  And what better way to celebrate than by reading...


Edited with reflections by 
Katherine Paterson
Illustrated by Pamela Dalton
Chronicle Books (October 15, 2013)

What are you thankful for?