See You on a Starry Night by Lisa Schroeder - Tween Book Review

I've read many books by tween and teen author Schroeder and this one didn't disappoint. This is a great title for young teens that are dealing with divorce for the first time and navigating the waters of moving to a new school or town.
The main character Juliet has recently moved to San Diego, after her parents recent divorce. She still has time to adjust and relax before school starts up again. She meets a quirky friendly gal named Emma who suggest they send a message in a bottle across the ocean to see who will answer. They are surprised that this individual wants to start a club based on making wishes happen for people in need. Juliet soon discovers that she too has wishes to still strive for and things to overcome as she deals with her new beginning in a new town. Schroeder's writing is poetic, entertaining, and detailed. The series will continue in her upcoming book, "Wish on All The Stars," which will be released in July 2019! We can't wait!

Photo by: Lisa Schroeder

Free audio books

The other day, I was having a conversation with a young mother about audio books and was surprised to hear that her family pays for them through Amazon and other online forums. Did you know that your local library has FREE audio books and e-books for children, teens and tweens? Yes, of course you may have to hold popular titles ( and wait a bit for them to arrive) but the great thing about this is that you get an email when the book is available and you don't have to return them... they return themselves! Oh and did I mention... it's free!!!
A couple of things to remember:
1. You should have a library card from your local library in good standing. 
2. Usually you have to download a free app like Overdrive or something similar
3. Books can take up a lot of your phone's memory, so instead of downloading them use the read in browser feature. 
Have fun! Comment below if you have any questions!

How to throw an Easter Egg Hunt at a Library

Hello all... we just finished an amazing egg hunt with about 458 guests at our library. Decorations were made by our talented part time staff, Mari, Kayla, Lesley, Leslie, and our volunteers assisted with the painting.
We ran four different rounds with four different age groups... Did we have enough eggs? No. However to minimize, we did an egg exchange where kids could exchange two eggs for candy ( lets not do chocolate next time; it melts) and one egg for a pencil, eraser, sticker or ice cream.
The kids had a good time with a few that didn't get eggs, so we just handed them something small like a sticker as a fill in prize.
Next year... I think we need to do sign-ups. LOL
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Questions? Comment below

Friday Funday!

Hooray! It's Friday. My favorite day of the week. Well, at least when I have Saturday off it is. I just completed a class visit, and have begun gearing up for an upcoming Mad Hatter's Tea Party happening in late April. I just wanted to share my paper tea cups with you and this fun picture book based on Lewis Carroll's  "Alice in Wonderland." What sort of things are you planning in your classrooms or libraries? Comment below.

Books I Want to Read and Review

Hello! Happy Tuesday everyone! There are a few books that have been popping up in my feeds that I am eager to read. Many of them are for older teens and some are at the middle grade level... Tell me what you're reading and comment below.
Here are a few of the well done covers from my picks of the month. Oh, and did I say...COMMENT and let me know what you're reading? Well! Do it...

Lucky by Rachel Vail

This is a book that has been out for sometime, but is still noteworthy and fresh. Rachel Vail writes a fantastic middle school story about what it is like to have everything you could want and more, only to then suddenly have your world rattled. Our main character Phoebe is planning an elaborate graduation party with a group of her popular rich friends, when suddenly her mom loses her job and Phoebe struggles to put up with a happy face that everyone always expects from her. With the help of her sisters, her friends, and some inner strength... she learns the true meaning of what money can't buy. Will it cost her friendship? Will it cost her love? Or will it be one of the toughest lessons she will ever have to learn? Read up to find out. 
This is book one of the Avery Sisters... I just might read the rest. Comment below!

A great book for middle schoolers and young teens.

Spring Break Fever! Comment below

It's Spring Break! And you know what that means? Time to hit the beach, park, or somewhere fun with a great book and lemonade in hand. If you live in Cali. the weather is fine and the books are in line. There's my attempt at a rhyme, lol!
Comment below what your teen or tween is reading this spring or any moms out there who care to share... tell us too!

Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

This was a well written read by Meg Medina that is perfect for 4-5th graders. Younger readers might enjoy it as a read aloud, however the serious topic of Alzheimer's Disease will need to be touched upon. I enjoyed the character Merci very much. Merci is finding herself with new school challenges and learning how to cope with mean Edna, as she learns of something very serious happening with her grandfather.Understanding her role in the family is something she struggles with and is very relateable.  She has spunk very similar to Ramona Quimby and loves her family dearly. Medina is a very skilled children's author who is descriptive in her word choice and entertaining at best.

Your Tween or Teen Doesn't Like to Read?

Hello parents and friends,
Lately I have been hearing from several patrons that their child just isn't interested in reading. This is hard for me to hear, especially since as a young girl, I often had my nose in a book. Sometimes it was a book, I was not supposed to be reading. My older sister Jacque often had a Harlequinn romance novel or the title, "Elvis and Me," on her nightstand and the ever curious child, I would take a look.
My mom never discouraged this completely, she would just say... "You're too young to read that book." Parents, you can make the judgement call on this, but be aware... wouldn't you rather have then see it in a book then actual live it or watch it on television?
Here are a few tips for those of you with teens/tweens who do not like to read:

1. Ask your child what movies they like and select a book similar to this movie. You can also select the movie adaptation of a book they are wanting to see.

2. Have the child choose their own books. Pick four or five books that you know are their reading level and let them have at it. Insisting that they must choose one.

3. Take your child to a local bookstore. Make a day of it! Barnes and Noble and other small chain bookstores often have a small cafe inside. Snack on a cookie or sip on a fresh lemonade while browsing for books.

4. Ask your friendly librarian!

5. Comment on this post for some suggestions.

Here are some of my favorites for reluctant readers of all ages: 

1. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick; Grades 4-7

2. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous; Grades 9-12 * Parental advisement on this one for content! 

3. I, Funny by Patterson; Grades 4-8th

4. If I Were You by Leslie Margolis; Grades 5-6th.

5. And of course the tried and true, Captain Underpants, Rainbow Magic Fairies, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
COMMENT BELOW FOR IDEAS AND THOUGHTS!

St. Patrick's Day School Age Craft and Storytime

Top of the mornin' to ya! We are gearing up for St. Patty's Day early and I have a fun easy craft for you to host with children ages 4 and up. Read stories such as:
The Story of the Leprechaun by Katherine Tegen
The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School by Laura Murray

You can create a fun cut out leprechaun as well.
For this craft aka art activity, I found a leprechaun template online, pasted him to green cardstock and will be adding small strips to the bottom with crepe paper in various colors: red, blue, green, yellow to create a windsock effect with tape attached to the back of the leprechaun.
* You can find the template here:
https://www.turrtle.com/leprechaun-template-printable/

I also found a template on Pinterest, "What's Your Leprechaun Name?" 
You can ask kids to take a look at the first letter of their name and birth month, according to the chart to create their leprechaun name. My name happens to be Ruxbin O'Wee!



Enjoy and comment below if you have questions
#stpattysday #leprechauncrafts #LauraMurray #KatherineTeganbooks #StPatricksdaycrafts

What am I reading this March and why you should care?

March is here, can you believe it? The weather is still cold and rainy, so what a perfect time to head to your local bookstore with a coffee and shop for books. Or.... perhaps you would prefer sitting at home, curled up with books you borrowed for free at the library. Well here are a few fun titles to try this month whatever your  preference may be.:

Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Award Winning Author Meg Medina for tweens
The audio book is great by the way! 

Past Perfect by editor queen Leila Sales for grades 8-12

29 Dates by Award Winning Teen Author Melissa de la Cruz for older teens

Why should you care? Comment on this post, subscribe to my blog, and you will be entered into a contest to receive a free book!