Category: Events

Start a Parent/Child Book Club

Posted in Children's, Events1 Comment

This week, I’m sharing a post again that is great for this season. Back to school is the perfect time to mark your calendar for a new activity–a parent/child book club!

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Are you looking for a fun way to connect with your child over books? Start a parent/child book club! 

As a school librarian, I helped host a 4th and 5th grade parent/child book club and was always so moved by the conversations and insights shared at these events. Books can be a wonderful way for kids to open up about problems they are facing or feelings they are having, that they may not have shared otherwise. It is also valuable for kids to see their peers as well as adults reading and chatting about books in a meaningful way.

I think upper elementary school is a great time to begin this sort of book club. Invite some of your child’s friends and their parents to join. You could meet monthly or bimonthly, taking turns hosting. Food always makes a book club more enjoyable. Keep it simple and order some pizzas or do a pot-luck.

Use these middle grade book suggestions to help get your parent/child book club started. As time goes on, you could have the kids bring ideas and vote for what they want to read next.

Reading Suggestions for Your Parent/Child Book Club

1.  Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

2. Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

3. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper

 

4. You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly

 

5. Wonderby R.J. Palacio

 

6. Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

 

7. It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

 

8. Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French

9. Front Deskby Kelly Yang

10. The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

11. The Benefits of Being An Octopus by Ann Braden

 

12. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 

What middle-grade books have you enjoyed reading with the kids in your life? I’d love to hear. Leave me a note in the comments or let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

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Five Picture Books for Back to School

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This week I’m sharing a post from last fall with my favorite read alouds for back to school. Enjoy!

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Are you looking for a picture book to kick off the new school year with your students or children?

Here are five of my favorite back to school read alouds:

 

1. School’s First Day of School

Story by Adam Rex, Pictures by Christian Robinson

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In this funny, charming story a brand new school awaits its first students: “It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?” A read aloud of School’s First Day of School is sure to delight your students or children. For more, watch this PBS interview with illustrator Christian Robinson where he discusses his process and a topic I’m passionate about–the importance of children seeing themselves reflected in books:

 

2. Planet Kindergarten

By Sue Ganz-Schmitt, Illustrated by Shane Prigmore

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Do you teach Kindergarten or have a child about to take this leap? This is the read aloud for you. In this adorable and clever story, a young boy ventures off to a strange new world, with different customs and alien inhabitants: Planet Kindergarten. Engaging and sure to excite young readers about this new adventure. Check out the book trailer for a sneak peak:

 

 

3. Wemberly Worried

By Kevin Henkes

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Kevin Henkes is the author and illustrator of many beloved and award-winning picture books from Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse and Kitten’s First Full Moon, to Owen and Chrysanthemum. All of his books make fantastic classroom read alouds, but Wemberly Worried is one of my favorites and a wonderful choice to calm new school year anxieties for the pre-K to second grade set: “Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start. And Wemberly worried even more. If you ever worry (or know someone who does), this is the book for you.” For more, check out this Activity Guide from Kevin Henkes with a Wemberly coloring page, a “worry list”, recipes from the book and more.

 

4. When Sophie Thinks She Can’t…

By Molly Bang

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If you are looking to kick off the new school year with a discussion about “growth mindset” and the importance of persistence, Molly Bang’s new book is an excellent read aloud choice. When Sophie Thinks She Can’t… is Molly Bang’s third Sophie book, you may recognize this character from When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry… or When Sophie’s Feelings are Really, Really Hurt. In this story, Sophie gets frustrated when she struggles to solve a math puzzle and shouts, “I CAN’T DO IT!” She doubts whether she will ever be “smart”: “Luckily Sophie’s teacher steps in. What does it mean to be smart? Using current, popular “mindset” techniques, Sophie’s class is taught that we get smarter when we exercise our brains, such as when we work harder at solving a puzzle. Struggling to solve a problem doesn’t mean “I can’t do it!” Sophie and her classmates just can’t do it. . .yet!” For more, you can watch this book trailer from Scholastic:

 

 

5. The Dot 

By Peter H. Reynolds

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Are you hoping to inspire the kids in your life to take risks in the classroom this year and follow their creativity? Read them The Dot by Peter Reynolds: “Her teacher smiled. ‘Just make a mark and see where it takes you.’ Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw – she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. “There!” she says. That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise and self-discovery.” To take the uplifting message one step further, you could also celebrate International Dot Day on September 15th with your students. I love the idea from this Educator Guide to do a  “Door Dots” activity,  “Have the classroom door covered in plain colored dots, waiting like a blank canvas.” After reading the book, students could “make their mark” and decorate one of the dots.

 

What books will you be sharing with the kids in your life to kick off this new school year?

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

 

Celebrate the Bookish Birthdays of Two Potters…

Posted in Children's, Events, Libraries, Read Aloud, Summer ReadingLeave a comment

This week I’m reposting some ideas for celebrating Harry Potter and Peter Rabbit. Enjoy!

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Are you looking to add a dose of literary fun to your family life this week? Celebrate one of these upcoming bookish birthdays!

Two wonderful literary Potters, Harry and Beatrix have birthdays coming up. Harry Potter was born on July 31st and Beatrix Potter on July 28th.

 

Celebrate Harry Potter’s Birthday:

Attend a Harry Potter Birthday Party

If you or the little ones in your life are Harry Potter fans, check your local library or bookstore to see if they have a birthday celebration planned for Harry that you can attend. This is such a wonderful way to engage with the book and spark excitement for readers of all ages.

 

Can’t attend a Harry Potter birthday celebration? Why not throw your own?

If you’re looking to celebrate at home, I love this Sorting Hat Cupcakes recipe from Little Sugar Snaps. When you bite into them, the cupcake reveals which Hogwarts House you would be in!

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Gather your friends for some cupcakes and nerdy Harry Potter debate over whether you’re actually a Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. If you have little ones, I also love the idea of eating these cupcakes during a family read aloud of Harry Potter or while you just chat about your favorite characters.

 

Read One of the 20th Anniversary Editions of Harry Potter

You can celebrate Harry’s birthday by checking out these new editions issued by Scholastic to celebrate the 20th anniversary of publication. (For more on celebrating this milestone check out Harry Potter Twentieth Anniversary Year).

The books feature new cover designs by Brian Selznik with the original interior illustrations of Mary GrandPré.

 

Enter to Win Tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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I recently learned that there is a weekly lottery for tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway! Check out Today Tix Lottery: “Every Friday, we release 40 tickets for some of the very best seats in the theatre at $40 ($20 per Part) for every performance for the following week. Submit your entry from Friday at 12:01AM ET to Friday at 1:00PM ET.” For more information or to purchase general tickets visit: Harry Potter the Play

Celebrate Beatrix Potter’s Birthday:

Have some bookish fun with younger readers in honor of Beatrix Potter’s birthday on July 28th.

 

Read Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

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I am such a big fan of Peter Rabbit. There is nothing better than snuggling up with my daughter while we read this classic. We’re also automatically in the Beatrix Potter spirit in her room since the nursery has a Peter Rabbit theme! This is a great time to enjoy this book with your children and share the magic of the story.

 

 

 

 

Watch a Peter Rabbit Read Aloud on Storyline

While the book is the perfect size for tiny hands and one-on-one sharing, I find it doesn’t work as well for reading to a larger group.  I actually love this Storyline Online read aloud with Rose Byrne and have shown it to kindergarteners in my school library. Everyone can see the illustrations and Byrne is a wonderful narrator. Storyline also has many other free read aloud videos.

 

Enjoy Peter Rabbit Coloring Pages

These Peter Rabbit coloring pages are available for free from Educational Coloring Pages. This would be a fun activity to follow your read aloud!

 

 

I hope these ideas add some bookish excitement to your home!

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

Ten Bookish Gift Ideas for a Baby Shower

Posted in Children's, Events, Holiday, Read AloudLeave a comment

Today I’m sharing a favorite post from last year: literary gift ideas for the new babies in your life.

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Will you be attending a baby shower or buying a baby gift soon? This is a great time to help build baby’s library and make sure the nursery is well stocked for many bedtime read alouds to come!

If you’re the one planning a baby shower, I love when the invitation asks guests, “Instead of a card for baby and mother, please give a book with your thoughts in the cover”. Many of my daughter’s favorite books and read alouds were baby gifts from friends and family and it is so wonderful to open a book and see a loved one’s name inside.

Not sure what book to choose? Here are some ideas to get you started!

Ten Bookish Gift Ideas for a Baby Shower

1. A Fun, Silly Board Book by Sandra Boynton–she has many!

Board books are also a perfect, durable choice for easy sharing with a little bookworm that might love chewing on the pages.

 

2. One of Nancy Tillman’s Sweet Stories

These board books make loving, sentimental read alouds. On the Night You Were Born is our favorite.

 

3. A Delightful Bedtime Read Aloud

Meet Little Nutbrown Hare in the classic Guess How Much I Love You or discover beautifully illustrated dreamlands in Dream Animals. Both are perfect for reading over and over with a sleep little one!

 

4. A Board Book for Learning

Try a book that teaches–from where baby’s eyes and nose are (Where is Baby’s Belly Button) to baby’s First 100 Words, or well known nursery rhymes such as “Humpty Dumpty” and “Mary Had A Little Lamb” (Usborne Very First Nursery Rhymes).

 

5. Holiday Read Alouds

A great idea for building baby’s library is by gifting books for holidays. We received books for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Halloween and more at our baby shower and it has been so helpful to have those ready to share with our little one! Some of our favorites are Leslie Patricelli’s funny stories such a Boo!, Fa La La, and Huggy Kissy.

 

6. A Classic Picture Book

Help build baby’s library with one of these wonderful picture books to enjoy for years to come!

 

7. A More Recent Picture Book Favorite

Gift one of these stellar books to stock the nursery! Capture the imagination with The Dot or Sam and Dave Dig a Hole and inspire perseverance (Ada Twist Scientist) and gratitude (Last Stop on Market Street). You also can never go wrong with  a book from Mo Willems’ crowd pleasing, laugh out loud Elephant and Piggie and Pigeon series.

 

 

8. A Bookish Onesie from Out of Print

Pair your gift of a classic picture book with a coordinating bookish onesie!

 

 

 

9. A Storybook Gift Basket

You can create a gift basket with a children’s book and coordinating stuffed animal or other items. I’m a big Peter Rabbit fan and loved the coordinating blanket and baby dish set we received. Barnes and Noble has quite a few character stuffed animals including Peter Rabbit, Pigeon, and Madeline. Your local bookstore would be another good place to try.

 

10. A Subscription to Hello Magazine from Highlights

We received a Hello magazine subscription as a baby gift and it has been a hit! It’s fun to get mail each month and the magazine makes a great read aloud choice. My favorite part though is how perfectly constructed this is for babies and toddlers– it’s the perfect size for little hands (and to throw in the diaper bag), the pages can be chewed on and tugged without ever getting damaged and you can wipe it down.

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Do you have a favorite bookish gift idea for a baby shower? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @ABookishHome.

Don’t forget to subscribe to A Bookish Home to receive your weekly email with a new post sharing ideas for building a culture of reading in your home.

 

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

10 Author Events Coming to the Boston Area in June

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, Events, Read Aloud, Summer ReadingLeave a comment

Are you in the Boston area and looking for a bookish event to add to your calendar?

These are just some of the fabulous authors coming to bookstores and libraries in the Boston area next month. Some of these events require tickets so be sure to book your spot soon!

Not in the Boston area? This list is still a great way to find a book to add to your TBR list and get to the top of the library holds list. And be sure to check the events calendars for your local libraries and bookstores.

Chris Van Dusen

A Piglet Named Mercy

“Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture-book prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series.

Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson live ordinary lives. Sometimes their lives feel a bit too ordinary. Sometimes they wish something different would happen. And one day it does, when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door. In a delightful origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series, a tiny piglet brings love (and chaos) to Deckawoo Drive — and the Watsons’ lives will never be the same.”

For more information visit the event website.

Rajani LaRocca

Midsummer’s Mayhem

“Please join us on Sunday, June 2 at 3pm, when Rajani LaRocca launches her middle grade novel, Midsummer’s Mayhem!

Rajani LaRocca was born in Bangalore, India, and immigrated to the US with her parents when she was a baby. She grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from Harvard with both a BA and an MD, and has worked as a primary care physician since 2001. She lives in Concord with her family.”

 

“An Unlikely Story is hosting a launch party like no other, with not one but TWO beloved authors! Jenna Blum will launch the paperback of The Lost Family in conversations with New York Times bestselling author Jane Green, who will be introducing her latest novel, The Friends We Keep. Please join us to celebrate—and bring your book clubs! Appetizers and cocktails from both books will be served.

Ticketing information to come!”

For more information and tickets visit the event website.

Sarah Dessen

The Rest of the Story

“Legendary YA author Sarah Dessen will be here to discuss and sign her new book, THE REST OF OUR STORY, a big-hearted, sweeping novel about a girl who reconnects with a part of her family she hasn’t known since she was a little girl – and falls in love, all over the course of a magical summer. 

Ticketing information will be announced soon!”

For more information and for tickets visit the event website.

Jennifer Weiner

Mrs. Everything

“From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes, comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.”

For more information and for tickets visit the event website.

Scott Magoon

Linus the Little Yellow Pencil

“Scott Magoon will be visiting to read, draw and present his new picture book LINUS THE LITTLE YELLOW PENCIL.

Linus and his eraser, Ernie, don’t always see eye to eye. But with the family art show drawing near, these two will have to sharpen their collaboration to make something neither one could do on their own!

This ode to art by the illustrator of Spoon and Chopsticks points out the power of sharing the creative process and sticking with it.”

For more information visit the event website.

Meg Medina

Merci Suarez Changes Gears

“Listening to a good author speak is like riding a bike—you never forget! An Unlikely Story welcomes middle-grade author Meg Medina to talk about her 2019 Newbery award-winning book, MERCI SUAREZ CHANGES GEARS. In the book, sixth-grader Merci is trying to balance feeling alone at her private school and feeling confused at home about the strange changes in her grandfather’s behavior. At the event, Meg will talk about her thoughtful coming-of-age novel, answer audience questions, and sign books.”

For more information and to register visit the event website. 

Author Dinner Party with Whitney Scharer, Marjan Kamali, and Grace Talusan

Age of Light, The Stationary Shop, and The Body Papers

 

“We invite you to join The Silver Unicorn Bookstore and three local authors for a unique celebration of food and fiction at Orange Door Kitchen. Novelists Marjan Kamali, Grace Talusan and Whitney Scharer will sit down with guests for a delicious meal inspired by their recently published works and then linger over coffee for book signing and more conversation.

MENU:

ONE // The Body Papers // Lumpia Shanghai (Filipino egg roll) with sweet and sour dipping sauce

TWO // Age of Light // Moules Mariniere with smoked paprika, tomato and feta

THREE // The Stationary Shop // Persian Spiced Chicken with jeweled rice

FOUR // Rose Cardamom Avocado Ice Cream with cinnamon pastry

Tickets include a copy of the novel of your choice plus non-alcoholic beverages and a four-course meal prepared by Orange Door Kitchen. All three novels and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.”

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the event website.

Stay tuned for a summer reading preview episode of A Bookish Home, the podcast with Paul Swydan, owner of Silver Unicorn Books in Acton, MA.

 

 

10 Author Events Coming to the Boston Area in May

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, EventsLeave a comment

 

Are you in the Boston area and looking for a bookish event to add to your calendar?

Here are some of the authors coming to bookstores and libraries in the Boston area this month.

Be sure to check your local library and bookstore’s event calendar to see what author events are coming to your community.

Not in the Boston area? This list is still a great way to find a book to add to your TBR list!

An Evening With Author Martha Hall Kelly

Lost Roses

Lost Roses

Pico Iyer

Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells

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From one of our most astute observers of human nature, a far-reaching exploration of Japanese history and culture and a moving meditation on impermanence, mortality, and grief. Iyer leads us through the year following his father-in-law’s death, and as the maple leaves begin to redden and the heat begins to soften, Iyer offers us a singular view of Japan, in the season that reminds us to take nothing for granted.

For more information visit the event website.

Get Cozi - it's free!

 

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Shouting at the Rain

An Unlikely Story invites readers to a book party for the new release from Lynda Mullaly Hunt, author of the New York Times bestseller, FISH IN A TREE! In a celebration with the author herself, there will be activity booths and raffles, and Lynda will speak about her new book, SHOUTING AT THE RAIN. A soft and sweet story, SHOUTING AT THE RAIN tells of weather-loving Delsie’s adventures around Cape Cod with a new friend as she discovers the true meaning of family and friendship.

For more information and to order tickets visit the event website.

So You Want to Write a Children’s Book?

 

 

Join the Boston Authors Club and authors Nancy Tupper Ling, Padma Venkatraman, Susan Lynn Meyer and host Peter H. Reynolds for a lively and informative discussion on writing and publishing children’s literature of all genres! Located at The Blue Bunny Bookstore. Free and open to all!

For more information visit the event website.

 

Hayley Barrett

Babymoon

As the weather is warming up, our Saturday Morning Story Time is the perfect destination for a family morning walk! Hayley Barrett will be reading her debut picture book, Babymoon.

Inside the cozy house, a baby has arrived! The world is eager to meet the newcomer, but there will be time enough for that later. Right now, the family is on its babymoon: cocooning, connecting, learning, and muddling through each new concern.
While the term “babymoon” is often used to refer to a parents’ getaway before the birth of a child, it was originally coined by midwives to describe days like these: at home with a newborn, with the world held at bay and the wonder of a new family constellation unfolding. Paired with warm and winsome illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal, Hayley Barrett’s lyrical ode to these tender first days will resonate with new families everywhere.

Hayley Barrett says that fond memories of her own days spent nesting and cocooning with her husband and each of their newborns inspired her to write Babymoon. She lives in eastern Massachusetts

For more information visit the event website.

Toni Buzzeo

When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers the T. Rex

From a very young age, Sue Hendrickson was meant to find things: lost coins, perfume bottles, even hidden treasure. Her endless curiosity eventually led to her career in diving and paleontology, where she would continue to find things big and small. In 1990, at a dig in South Dakota, Sue made her biggest discovery to date: Sue the T. rex, the largest and most complete T. rex skeleton ever unearthed. Named in Sue’s honor, Sue the T. rex would be placed on permanent exhibition at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. When Sue Found Sue inspires readers to take a closer look at the world around them and to never lose their brave, adventurous spirits. 

Toni Buzzeo is the author of the Caldecott Honor Book and New York Times bestseller One Cool Friend and many other books for children. She lives in Arlington, Massachusetts.

For more information visit the event website.

 

Jeffrey S. Cramer

Solid Seasons: The Friendship of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson

Solid Seasons: The Friendship of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson Cover ImagePlease join us on Sunday, May 19 at 3pm, when local author Jeffrey S. Cramer returns to the Bookshop with his new book, Solid Seasons: The Friendship of Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Jeffrey S. Cramer is the editor of Walden: A Fully Annotated Edition, winner of a 2004 National Outdoor Book Award, and The Quotable Thoreau, recipient of an Umhoefer Prize for Achievement in Humanities. In 2017, Cramer was the historical consultant for the Ken Burns–produced documentary Walden, created for the Walden Pond State Reservation during the Thoreau Bicentennial. Cramer is the curator of collections at the Walden Woods Project’s Thoreau Institute Library. He lives in Maynard.

 

Celebrate Poetry Month

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, Events, Read AloudLeave a comment

In honor of National Poetry Month, this week I’m sharing a post from last April:

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April is Poetry Month! Celebrate by reading poetry with the children in your life or by picking up an adult collection. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Children’s Collections:

For collections that celebrate poetry and reading, try Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poetry by Kwame Alexander and Book Speak!: Poems About Books by Laurie Purdie Salas:

 

 

 

 If you’re looking for a funny poetry book, try A Light in the Attic or anything else by Shel Silverstein, Laugh-eteria by Douglas Florian, and I’m Just No Good At Rhyming And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-ups by Chris Harris.

 

 

 

Travel the world, celebrate sports, and explore animal life in these collections: The National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry Edited by J. Patrick Lewis, Amazing Places with poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, and Good Sports: Rhymes About Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More by Jack Prelutsky.

 

 

For fun, creative pairs of poems that can be read in reverse I recommend Mirror Mirror, Follow Follow, or Echo Echo, which are all by Marilyn Singer and are based on fairy tales and greek myths.

 

 

 

You could also celebrate Poetry Month by reading a novel in verse. These also make fantastic choices for listening to as audiobooks.

Novels In Verse:

From Kwame Alexander’s Crossover (Plus Booked and Rebound), to Sharon Creech’s Moo and Another Day As Emily there is great kids’ realistic fiction in verse! (Bonus for Poetry Month: Another Day As Emily’s Susie decides to try living like poet Emily Dickinson).

 

 

For a historical read in verse try Inside Out & Back Again by Thanha Lai or Jacqueline Woodson’s incredible memoir Brown Girl Dreaming.

 

 

 

 

For a beginning chapter book in verse read Gone Fishing (Also Gone Camping) or the sweet, funny series of books beginning with Like Pickle Juice On A Cookie by Julie Steinberg.

 

 

I also adore “A Child’s Garden of Poetry” which HBO created with the Poetry Foundation. You can watch video clips of some of the poems on The Poetry Foundation’s website. 

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Check out “Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson, read by Claire Danes and also shared with sign language. It’s one of my favorites.

 

Poetry for Adults

I usually spend so much time sharing children’s poetry during April, that I haven’t made enough time for adult poets! This year, I picked up two collections from my local public library, Yeats’s When You Are Old: Early, Poems, Plays, And Fairy Tales And Maya Angelou’s The Complete Poetry:

 

 

 

What books are you reading and sharing during Poetry Month? Leave me a note in the comments or let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

 

 

 

Start a Parent/Child Book Club

Posted in Children's, Events2 Comments

Are you looking for a fun way to connect with your child over books? Start a parent/child book club! 

As a school librarian, I helped host a 4th and 5th grade parent/child book club and was always so moved by the conversations and insights shared at these events. Books can be a wonderful way for kids to open up about problems they are facing or feelings they are having, that they may not have shared otherwise. It is also valuable for kids to see their peers as well as adults reading and chatting about books in a meaningful way.

I think upper elementary school is a great time to begin this sort of book club. Invite some of your child’s friends and their parents to join. You could meet monthly or bimonthly, taking turns hosting. Food always makes a book club more enjoyable. Keep it simple and order some pizzas or do a pot-luck.

Use these middle grade book suggestions to help get your parent/child book club started. As time goes on, you could have the kids bring ideas and vote for what they want to read next.

Reading Suggestions for Your Parent/Child Book Club

1.  Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

2. Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

3. Stella by Starlight by Sharon Draper

 

4. You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly

 

5. Wonderby R.J. Palacio

 

6. Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

 

7. It Ain’t So Awful Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

 

8. Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French

9. Front Deskby Kelly Yang

10. The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

11. The Benefits of Being An Octopus by Ann Braden

 

12. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 

What middle-grade books have you enjoyed reading with the kids in your life? I’d love to hear. Leave me a note in the comments or let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

Affiliate links are used in this post. At no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you purchase something through the links provided. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home!

Boston Author Event Roundup: April

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, EventsLeave a comment

 

Are you looking for a bookish event to add to your calendar?

Here are some of the authors coming to bookstores and libraries in the Boston area this month.

Be sure to check your local library and bookstore’s event calendar to see what author events are coming to your community.

Not in the Boston area? This list is still a great way to find a book to add to your TBR list!

Kwame Alexander presents The Undefeated,

joined by Lamar Giles, Raul the Third, and Kip Wilson

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“Harvard Book Store welcomes Newbery Medal–winning author KWAME ALEXANDER for a celebration of the launch of his new Houghton Mifflin Harcourt imprint, Versify, and the release of his new picture book The Undefeated.

He will be joined by Versify authors LAMAR GILES, RAÚL THE THIRD, and KIP WILSON, who will be presenting their respective new children’s books The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market, and White Rose. The event will be a special 45-minute program focused on spreading the word about how books can empower young people to imagine and create a better world. It will be followed by audience Q&A and a signing with all four authors.”

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the event website.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 – 7:00pm at Trident Books, Boston

First Draft with Sarah Enni Live: In Conversation With Sara Farizan and Katie Cotugno

“Join us for an in-conversation event with local authors Sarah Enni, author of TELL ME EVERYTHING, Sara Farizan, author of HERE TO STAY and IF YOU COULD BE MINE, and Katie Cotugno, author of HOW TO LOVE, 99 DAYS. This will be a lively chat including discussions of the themes connecting all of their books, writing young adult fiction, and an audience Q&A. This event will also be recorded and released as a bonus episode of the First Draft podcast.”

Thursday, April 4, 2019 – 7:00pm at Silver Unicorn Books, Acton

Julie Berry, Lovely War

“We are extremely excited to welcome Printz Honor author Julie Berry to share her newest YA novel, Lovely War.

They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it’s no match for the transcendent power of Love.

Author Julie Berry’s critically-acclaimed writing has been called “haunting and unforgettable” by New York Times bestselling author of Salt to the Sea Ruta Sepetys and “utterly original and instantly engrossing” by Publishers Weekly.

Julie Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor and Los Angeles Times Book Prize shortlisted novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlistedAll the Truth That’s in Me, and many other acclaimed middle grade novels and picture books. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College. She lives in Southern California with her family.”

For more information visit the event website.

– 11am at Blue Bunny Books

Hayley Barrett, Babymoon

“The Blue Bunny welcomes Hayley Barrett to share her forthcoming picture book, Babymoon. Hayley’s debut picture book encourages growing families to take time together to rest and fall in love. In a perfect gift for new and expectant parents (and siblings), a gentle story pays tribute to the wonder and emotion of a family’s first quiet days with a newborn. Once an aspiring nurse-midwife, Hayley honors the arrival of any child, whether newborn or older, by birth or by adoption, as a momentous event.”

For more information visit the event website.

 

 at Blue Bunny Books, Dedham

Book Release Party with Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple,

A Kite for the Moon

“Meet the New York Times bestselling mother-daughter author team of Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple for a special event marking the release of their new picture book, A Kite for Moon.

The book tells a heartfelt story about a young boy’s fascination and unlikely friendship with the moon. With whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Matt Phelan, the story begins when the little boy, who is flying his kite, notices a sad Moon. He sends up kites to her, even writing notes to Moon promising he will come see her someday. This promise propels him through years and years of studying, learning, and training to be an astronaut!

Dedicated to Neil Armstrong, this is the perfect children’s book to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first United States moon landing.”

For more information visit the event website.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 – 7:00pm at Trident Books, Boston

Steven Rowley in Conversation with William Kuhn,

The Editor

“In 2016, Steven Rowley’s smash debut, Lily and the Octopus, was a publishing phenomenon. The magical tale of grief and friendship sent shock waves through the literary world and was heralded on both sides of the Atlantic. Sold in translation in nineteen languages, Rowley’s remarkable book made The Washington Post’s list of Notable Fiction for 2016 and is currently in development as an Amazon Studios feature film.

Rowley now delivers on the soaring promise of that debut with The Editor, a stunning exploration of the complicated bond forged within families and a tribute to the serendipitous relationships that shape and define us—perfect for admirers of Less and The Nix.”

 

Saturday April 13th- 11:00AM at Silver Unicorn Books, Acton

Saturday Morning Story Time:

Andrea Wang, Magic Ramen

“This Saturday morning we explore the origins of ramen noodle soup and the story of Momofuku Ando.  Andrea Wang will read from her new picture book,Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando.

Inspiration struck when Momofuku Ando spotted the long lines for a simple bowl of ramen following World War II.
Every day, Momofuku Ando would retire to his lab–a little shed in his backyard. For years, he’d dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty for the hungry people he’d seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II. Peace follows from a full stomach, he believed.

Day after day, Ando experimented. Night after night, he failed. But Ando kept experimenting.

With persistence, creativity, and a little inspiration, Ando succeeded.”

For more information visit the event website.

 

Performance ergobaby carriers are great for warmer climates and outdoor activities

 

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 – 7:00pm at Belmont Books

Louis Bayard, Courting Mr. Lincoln

“When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one’s shortlist to be president. Rough and reticent, he’s a country lawyer lacking money and manners, living above a dry goods shop, but with a gift for oratory. Mary, a quick, self-possessed debutante with a tireless interest in debates and elections, at first finds him an enigma. “I can only hope,” she tells his roommate, the handsome, charming Joshua Speed, “that his waters being so very still, they also run deep.”

It’s not long, though, before she sees the Lincoln that Speed knows: a man who, despite his awkwardness, is amiable and profound, with a gentle wit to match his genius and a respect for her keen political mind. But as her relationship with Lincoln deepens, she must confront his inseparable friendship with Speed, who has taught his roommate how to dance, dress, and navigate the polite society of Springfield.

Told in the alternating voices of Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, and rich with historical detail, Courting Mr. Lincoln creates a sympathetic and complex portrait of Mary unlike any that has come before; a moving portrayal of the deep and very real connection between the two men; and most of all, an evocation of the unformed man who would grow into one of the nation’s most beloved presidents.

Louis Bayard, a master storyteller at the height of his powers, delivers here a page-turning tale of love, longing, and forbidden possibilities.”

 

50% Off First 3 Months Bluprint Subscription at mybluprint.com through 4/7/19.

For more information visit the event website.
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Boston Author Event Roundup: March

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, EventsLeave a comment

Are you looking for a bookish event to add to your calendar?

Here are some of the authors coming to bookstores and libraries in the Boston area this month.

Be sure to check your local library and bookstore’s event calendar to see what author events are coming to your community.

Not in the Boston area? This list is still a great way to find a book to add to your TBR list!

Tina Cassidy, Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait?: Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson, and the Fight for the Right to Vote

“An eye-opening, inspiring, and timely account of the complex relationship between notable suffragist Alice Paul and President Woodrow Wilson in Alice’s fight for women’s equality. From solitary confinement, hunger strikes, and mental institutions to sitting right across from President Wilson, Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait? reveals the inspiring, near-death journey it took, spearheaded in no small part by Paul’s leadership, to grant women the right to vote in America.”

For more information visit the event website.

Tuesday Mar. 5th 6:00 pm at Brookline Booksmith

Valeria Luiselli in conversation with Christopher Lydon, Lost Children Archive

“Valeria will be in conversation with Christopher Lydon, the host of WBUR’s Radio Open Source.

From the two-time NBCC Finalist, an emotionally resonant, fiercely imaginative new novel about a family whose road trip across America collides with an immigration crisis at the southwestern border – an indelible journey told with breathtaking imagery, spare lyricism, and profound humanity.”

Wednesday, March 6th – 6:30 PM at An Unlikely Story in Plainville

Soman Chainani, The School for Good And Evil: A Crystal of Time 

“Soman Chainani will introduce the fifth installment in his New York Times bestselling fantasy series, the School for Good and Evil. Sophie, Agatha, and their friends must find a way to overthrow the sinister evil that twists lies into the truth and seeks to rewrite their story. While you’re waiting for the event, you can enroll at the School for Good and Evil and take the entrance exam!”

For more information visit the event website. 

Wednesday, March 6th- 7pm at First Parish Church, sponsored by Harvard Bookstore 

Gretchen Rubin, Outer Order, Inner Calm

Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness

“Harvard Book Store welcomes celebrated writer and podcaster GRETCHEN RUBIN—bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before—for a discussion of her latest book, Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter and Organize to Make More Room for Happiness.”

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the event website.

Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 11:00am at Belmont Books

Josh Funk’s 10th Book Celebration!

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“Hansel and Gretel will not listen to their storyteller. For one thing, who leaves a trail of bread crumbs lying around, when there are people starving? Not Hansel, that’s for sure And that sweet old lady who lives in a house made of cookies and candy? There’s no way she’s an evil witch As for Gretel, well, she’s about to set the record straight–after all, who says the story can’t be called Gretel and Hansel? It’s time for these wacky siblings to take their fairy tale into their own hands. So sit back and enjoy the gingerbread

With laugh-out-loud dialogue and bold, playful art (including hidden search-and-find fairy-tale creatures), this Hansel and Gretel retelling will have kids giggling right up to the delicious ending.”

Sunday, March 10th- 2pm at Silver Unicorn Books, Acton

MarcyKate Connolly and Monica Tesler

Sunday, March 10 – 3pm at Concord Bookshop

Jabari Asim, We Can’t Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival

We Can't Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival Cover Image

“Please join us on Sunday, March 10 at 3pm, when acclaimed author Jabari Asim presents We Can’t Breathe, Insightful and searing essays that celebrate the vibrancy and strength of black history and culture in America.”

For more information visit the event website.

Shout, Laurie Halse Anderson

SHOUT

“Harvard Book Store welcomes LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON, the award-winning, bestselling author of Speak, for a discussion of her new memoir, SHOUT—a searing poetic memoir for the #MeToo era. Anderson will be joined in conversation by a special guest, to be announced.”

For more information visit the event website.

 

Monday, March 18, 2019 – 7:00pm at Porter Square Books

Whitney Scharer, The Age of Light 

 

Tuesday, March 19th- 6pm at Belmont Books

Kathryn Lasky, Tangled in Time

“For fans of the Royal Diaries series and Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Honor-winning author Kathryn Lasky delivers the first enchanting adventure in a compelling new middle grade series about a newly orphaned girl who finds herself time-travelling between the present day and the court of the two most memorable English princesses in history.”

Sunday, March 24, 2019 – 10:00am at An Unlikely Story in Plainville

LeUyen Pham, The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Cake

“Suit up for some monster-fighting fun with LeUyen Pham, the illustrator of THE PRINCESS IN BLACK series! Her colorful illustrations always bring alive the humor and action in the stories and the newest installment, THE SCIENCE FAIR SCARE, is no different. In the book, when a goo monster threatens the interkingdom science fair, only Princess Magnolia’s monster-fighting alter ego, Princess in Black can save the day. At the event, LeUyen will give a presentation and do a drawing demonstration, followed by a signing.”  

For more information visit the event website.

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Watch yoga classes at myBluprint.com

 

Tuesday March 26th – 7:00 PM at Harvard Bookstore

Laila Lalami, The Other AmericansThe Other Americans: A Novel

“Harvard Book Store welcomes acclaimed writer LAILA LALAMI—author of Pulitzer Prize–finalist The Moor’s Account—for a discussion of her new novel, The Other Americans. She will be joined in conversation by MIN JIN LEE, author of the celebrated National Book Award–finalist Pachinko.”

An Afternoon with Lynda Mullaly Hunt

 

“Come spend an afternoon with Lynda Mullaly Hunt, the award-winning middle-grade author of One for the Murphys and the New York Times bestseller, Fish In a Tree. We can’t wait for this event!”

For more information visit the event website.

Sunday, March 24th at 3pm at Concord Bookshop

Melissa Stewart and Sarah Brannen present Seashells: More Than a Home

Seashells: More Than a Home Cover Image

“Please join us on Sunday, March 24 at 3pm, when author Melissa Stewart and illustrator Sarah S. Brannen will be here with their new collaboration, Seashells: More Than a Home.”

For more information visit the event website.