Reading Teacher Writes

Sharing a love of literacy with fellow readers and writers

Author Archives: Jennifer Sniadecki


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IMWAYR: Happy Spring!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s Spring! If the snow and cold ever go away, I’ll believe it. Ha! Happy fourth quarter of school, happy spring, happy reading! School is super busy until spring break now, but I’m still on track with my reading.

Physical Books: I received a lovely book mail package today with the new book, The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story by Dezh Azaad and Nan Cao, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers. It’s the story of a family who lives on their carpet, and wherever they happen to be, the carpet brings them “home.” I love hearing about family traditions and cultures, and The Carpet is perfect for sharing.

I’m still reading Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta. It’s perfect for catching that spring/summer vibe.

Libro.fm: I’m still listening to Finally Seen by Kelly Yang and I LOVE the characters! The narrator (Cindy Kay) is good and I’m enjoying my commute to work while hanging out with Lina.

NetGalley: I’m reading Dear Medusa when I can. I feel for Alicia early in the book. This one is sad and scary and makes me angry. I wonder how long it will take to get challenged or banned. (I’ll be mad about that, for sure.) I’m still a fan of this cover! Perfect!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

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IMWAYR: Book Birthdays and Re-Reads

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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Physical Books – New: Happy Book Birthday to John Schu and Lauren Castillo! It’s FINALLY here! This Is a Story is a long-awaited picture book for celebrating readers and reading. I was lucky enough to see this one before it publishes tomorrow. Look at this cover! (That’s how I hold new books – I hug them!) There’s even a poster on the inside of the jacket. Share this story with all your friends and family!

T.P. Jagger is in town! My author friend came to visit for a few days and meet students from our district’s elementary schools. We are having so much fun talking about writing (secret tips!), reading, and T.P.’s series, Hide and GEEK. These four friends – Gina, Edgar, Elena, and Kevin (the GEEKs) – are having adventures and solving mysteries and our readers love the series! In the first book, the GEEKs try to save their town as the famous toy factory that manufactured the Bamboozler is shutting down. In the second book, someone is trying to say the GEEKs are frauds! What? (You’ll have to read and find out.)

NetGalley and Libro.fm: I’m still reading Dear Medusa and listening to Finally Seen. These books are keeping my attention even though I just started a very busy week.

It’s MONDAY! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Many Book Birthdays!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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Physical Books: I love celebrating book birthdays! I read Dan Santat’s graphic novel/memoir, A First Time For Everything, before meeting him recently at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL. He is so kind! I got my Fanta sticker and a signed book, which is already moving along at school. This week (tomorrow) there are four (4) notable middle-grade book birthdays! Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta, Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt, and Change the Game: A Graphic Novel by Colin Kaepernick (all from Scholastic Press).

Libro.fm: I’m still listening to Finally Seen by Kelly Yang. I haven’t been in the car much, so I’m not finished yet.

NetGalley: I haven’t started Dear Medusa yet, but I will this week.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Care for the Planet and Each Other

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s been busy at school (wrapping up 3rd quarter soon) and I’ve been stressed about book banning and climate change. What can I do to relax? I can read. I’m finishing Half Moon Summer (so good!) by Elaine Vickers. I love the way the alternating chapters flow between prose and poetry. I love the characters Drew and Mia and how they get closer as the plot moves forward. I’m not a runner, but I can see how running can be a vehicle for dealing with life.

Physical Books: There are so many picture books out there and they are all so wonderful. I’ve been spending time building text sets for different projects and these three are perfect for “world perspectives.” I read 9 Kilometers (math friends need this one!) by Claudio Aguilera and Gabriela Lyon, translated by Lawrence Schimel (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2020), We Are Human Animals (social studies teachers – pick this one up!) by Rosie Haine (Eerdmans Books, 2023), and Border Crossings by Sneed B. Collard III and Howard Gray (Charlesbridge, 2023) — just gorgeous, yet heartbreaking.

I am rereading Haven Jabobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee to add a middle-grade book to this text set. I love Barbara Dee’s characters! Yes, you, too, can help save the planet. (My copy is at school, so I used the Goodreads image here.)

Libro.fm: I FINALLY had some time to start listening to Finally Seen by Kelly Yang. I’m at chapter 7 and loving it!

NetGalley: I finished The Gray by Chris Baron (such a special book – Chris Baron makes me laugh and cry every time!) and I’m on to Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole (how can one resist that cover!).

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: A Day Off To Read

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s President’s Day, and since I don’t really celebrate ALL the presidents, I spent time traveling and reading today. Here’s what I finished since last week: We Are Here, This is a Story, When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left, I Am Ruby Bridges, Frozen Peaches, and A First Time for Everything. There are SO MANY excellent titles coming soon. These are all on my list to celebrate!

Up next! More #AuthorFriendsRock sharing with #booksojourn! Thank you!

Physical Book: Half Moon Summer by Elaine Vickers. This one looks intriguing. The two main characters’ chapters are written in alternating prose (Drew) and poetry (Mia).

Libro.fm: Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life by Jerry Pinkney and narrated by Scott Pinkney and Gloria Pinkney. This one will be special. I’ve always been a fan, but now this book will hold more meaning for lots of us readers, I’m sure.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Enjoying the Reading

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I’m not feeling very well after a long week last week and a busy day today, but I AM enjoying my reading time. There are so many books coming in 2023! Here’s another one…

Coming in April from Scholastic Focus, this nonfiction text by Deborah Hopkinson is worthy of more than one shout-out! I have several students who will be sharing our library copies after spring break. (See my Book PREview about Race Against Death.)

It’s MONDAY! What are YOU reading?


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Book PREview: Race Against Death by Deborah Hopkinson

Race Against Death is a scary, suspenseful look at POWs’ lives after Pearl Harbor. Deborah Hopkinson brings the story of The “Angels of the Underground” to readers, detailing the horrific conditions the American and Filipino servicemen endured while stuck in the Philippines under Japanese military control.

This a story of suffering and death attributed to war and its conditions, but also a celebration of the hope and dedication of US Army Rangers who risked everything to save their fellow soldiers. The Great Raid was an unknown war story for this reader, and I hope many more readers will come to know about this Race Against Death. Powerful. Interesting. Needed.

Recommended for middle school/high school.
5 Stars!

Thank you to the author for the early peek ARC. This title publishes in April 2023 by Scholastic Focus. #NewBooks #TrueStories #WarStories #middleschool #reading #independentreading #WWII #ReadingTeacherWrites #booksojourn


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IMWAYR: Aftermath of LibLearnX (It’s a GOOD thing!)

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I had such a great time at #LibLearnX23 and I learned so much about books, authors, stories, and awards. This week I start a new phase of reading I named “The Aftermath of LibLearnX.” Don’t worry! It’s a GOOD thing! I have more to read and share!

Since I cannot read EVERYTHING all at once, I chose a few books this week that I know I need right now.

Physical books:

We are Here by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier (Orchard Books, 2023). A beautiful companion for All Because You Matter.

This is a Story by John Schu and Lauren Castillo (Candlewick Press, 2023). This is a School author and illustrator, and my friends, team up again for this heartwarming story.

I Am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges and Nikkolas Smith (Orchard Books, 2023). Ruby Bridges is a legend and Nikkolas Smith illustrated the picture book, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water. Perfect!

When Things Aren’t Going Right, GO LEFT by Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds (Orchard Books, 2023). Peter H. Reynolds is known for his art and positive spirit and this new picture book is FABULOUS. I love the endpapers here.

(You know me: “Picture Books Are Perfect for Middle School.” I will be sharing these with students this week…and beyond!)

You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory by Ruta Sepetys (Viking, May 2023). This will be perfect to share with our middle school writers who are working on narratives right now.

Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden (Nancy Paulsen Books, May 2023). I cannot wait to read another story by Ann Braden! We loved Flight of the Puffin and this one looks just as good. Don’t you love the cover?

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat (First Second, February 2023). I finished this and I’m telling you, this one will win awards. This book fully embodies the youth experience: a perfect commentary on middle school, travel, and life itself. (And now I want some Fanta Draft Root Beer.) Newbery 2024? (Colby Sharp, my Nerdy Book Club friend, is predicting already.)

NetGalley: I’m still reading Frozen Peaches — I’ll finish it tomorrow. I love this series by another Nerdy Book friend, Erin Soderberg Downing. I think I would love the Ice Hotel in Sweden, even though I don’t like winter.

Libro.fm: I’m not listening to anything right now, but I downloaded Finally Seen by Kelly Yang and I’ll start that soon. She’s an amazing storyteller and a lovely human.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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Book PREView: Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

In this companion to Hey, Kiddo, Jarrett takes us with him to Camp Sunshine, a week-long camp for pediatric cancer patients and their families. Jarrett volunteered when he was a senior in high school, and it changed his life.

Reading Sunshine changed my life – I can only read about Jarrett’s experience with Diego, Eric, and their families, but I wish my high school would have done a service project like this when I was young. I loved reading about the kids and all of the cool activities they got to do while at Camp Sunshine, despite their diagnoses.

Jarrett was a lovely host for Diego, encouraging the wheelchair-bound teen to speak a little more loudly and try activities that may have otherwise been impossible. Everything was possible at Camp Sunshine. Jarrett also made lifelong friends, special people who led him to be the wonderful human he is today.

Thank you to the author for sharing this wonderful graphic novel with readers. We are better people now that we’ve entered your world.

Recommended for ages 10 and up. Make sure you read the author’s note and acknowledgments. 5 Stars!

Sunshine publishes April 18, 2023 with Graphix. Thank you to Jarrett and the amazing people at Scholastic for the preview copy.


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IMWAYR: ARCs From #LibLearnX23

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I am honored to be in New Orleans, LA for the #LibLearnX23 conference (ALA’s newest winter offering). I filled two full boxes and sent them home today, but I’m keeping a couple of titles out because I know I’ll read them at the hotel and on the plane. I’m still listening to Apartment 713, too.

Libro.fm: Apartment 713 by Kevin Sylvester is sooo good on audio! Kevin is a fantastic read-aloud voice!

NetGalley: The Gray by Chris Baron is fabulous! I’m over halfway through and I’m loving the characters and the horses. The “Gray” is a place inside the mind of Sasha, the main character, but Mr. Baron also uses colors throughout the book to set up metaphors and show the reader the mood of the setting. (Teachers: check out your state standards of reading literature; I can meet so many standards using this book! I know, it’s not the main purpose of reading, but as a teacher, I will use The Gray, for sure!)

Physical Books: At the conference, I picked up two books I’ve been looking forward to: Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. I will need multiple copies of these books on our library shelves, I can tell already.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

By the way, the Youth Media Awards 2023 announcements were today and I, apparently, need to read more! I hadn’t even heard of the Caldecott or Newbery Medalists before! Time to catch up!