LITapalooza 2024: July 25-26, 2024

Anderson’s Bookshop is bringing K-8 educators & #kidlit creators back together in the Chicago suburbs for a day-and-a half of community, learning, and celebration of all things literacy! Anderson’s Bookshops gives a 20% discount to items educators purchase for their classrooms or libraries, and this will be honored at LITapalooza. As an added bonus, educators will earn CPUDs.

Hope to see you there!

—Jenn

Who’s coming to LITapalooza 2024?

**Your ticket includes a free signed copy of Built to Last, written by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat.

Guest Authors:
Vera Ahiyya, John David Anderson, Cale Atkinson, Tracey Baptiste, Bethany Barton, Cece Bell, Ashley Belote, Tadgh Bentley, Terry J. Benton-Walker, Valerie Bolling, Jessica Burkhart, Nidhi Chanani, Johnnie Christmas, Ben Clanton, Abby Cooper, Lindsay Currie, Sayantani DasGupta, Cori Doerrfeld, Antwan Eady, Vicky Fang, Saadia Faruqi, Josh Funk, Alyson Gerber, Chris Grabenstein, Andrew Hacket, Nathan Hale, Kate Hannigan, Mary Winn Heider, Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm, Alan Katz, Lisa Katzenberger, Supriya Kelkar, Lily LaMotte, David LaRochelle, Kari Lavelle, Jarrett Lerner, Loren Long, Stephanie V.F. Lucianovic, Kekla Magoon, Laurie Morrison, Jamar Nicholas, Rex Ogle, Jarrett Pumphrey, Jerome Pumphrey, Rekha Rajan, Jean Reidy, Mae Respicio, Michael Rex, Barb Rosenstock, Katherine, Roy, Blythe Russo, Sarah Sax, John Schu, Stephen Shaskan, Sheetal Sheth, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Esme Symes-Smith, Ruth Spiro, Elly Swartz, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Jana Tropper, Refe & Susan Tuma, Colleen AF Venable, Jasmine Warga, & Kaz Windness!

Schedule

**Lunch – A variety of food trucks will be available to purchase lunch and snacks throughout day 1. You can also have lunch on your own.
Morning (located right outside the auditorium):


​Lunch Food Trucks

  • Tacomotora – delicious and fast tacos, bowls, and salads!
  • SpoonBurger – burgers, fries, and mac & cheese
  • ​​EJ Pierogi – dumplings and sandwiches​
  • Billy Bricks – pizza by the slice or full individual pies

Location

Where: Neuqua Valley High School, 2360 95th Street, Naperville, IL

Brookfield Zoo Teaching Safari: Fall 2024

Attendees can earn 2 semester hours graduate credit (Dominican University) or 35 professional development hours.

The application window for the Fall Safari 2024 is opens May 20 and closes August 22. 

Seats are limited so apply early!

Rare Unicorn Sighting

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – National Unicorn Day

Breaking News…there was a rare unicorn sighting early this morning. If you were driving to work and witnessed this magical event, rest assured you were not alone. Thelma the Unicorn once again joined me in the carpool lane. We journeyed to the magical Land of Wonder & Academia. Truly the absolute best part of teaching is the unique holidays that make us giggle and take pause. Today, we explored these mystical creatures. How could I not share my Scottish heritage with my scholars?

Fun Fact: Scotland’s National Animal is the Unicorn.


Literature

May this curated list bring you joy, wonder and dreams of glittering unicorns.

  1. Thelma the Unicorn By Aaron Blabey
  2. The Return of Thelma the Unicorn By Aaron Blabey
  3. How to Catch a Unicorn By Adam Wallace, Andy Elkerton (Illustrator) 
  4. Fancy Nancy and the Quest for the Unicorn By Jane O’Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator)
  5. Unicorn Day By Diane Murray
  6. Legend of the First Unicorn: Traditional Scottish Tale By Lari Don
  7. An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales By Theresa Breslin & Kate Leiper (Illustrator)
  8. Facts about Scotland for Kids: Discover Scotland Culture, Sports, History, Cuisine, Landmarks, People, Traditions and many more for Kids By Gina Holden
  9. Scottish Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Scotland’s Kids (A Kids’ Year) By Tania McCartney
  10. Good Night Scotland By Adam Gamble, Mark Jasper, Suwin Chan (Illustrator)
  11. The Scottish Kitchen By Gary Maclean – This one is for the grownups. I had the distinct pleasure of attending a cooking demonstration last summer. Bravo Chef!

**Please note: At this time, I am not affiliated with the bookshop links above (wink, wink I would love the opportunity). Direct links are included for your convenience.


The 38th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games

WHEN
June 14-15, 2024
Friday: 1:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-10:00pm

WHERE (New location this year.)
DuPage County Fairgrounds
2015 Manchester Road
Wheaton, IL 60187

IDNR Education Workshops🔬🌳

March 16, 2024

Dearest Educators & Colleagues,

Are you in need of ISBE clock hours and fresh NGSS aligned lessons? If you responded “yes”, then click the link below.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has a plethora of workshops this Spring & Summer. Clear your schedule and take advantage of these affordable professional development opportunities.

—Jenn

Spring Educator Extravaganza!

March 12, 2024

Anderson’s Bookshop is hosting a Spring Educator Extravaganza at both of their bookshop locations. It’s time to spring clean your bookcase to make room for your new TBRs. There are still seats available for the Naperville location on April 7 at 3:00 p.m., and at the Downers Grove location on April 9 at 4:30 p.m. This event is not to be missed!

Click the registration link below to secure a free ticket.

Shedd Aquarium: Teacher Workshop

March 12, 2024

Teacher Workshop: Bringing Nature to the Classroom

K-5 Educators take a moment and register for this incredible professional development opportunity. Spend a Saturday morning at Shedd Aquarium and earn 3 ISBE clock hours. Click the registration link for additional details.

Top 11 Indie Bookstores of 2023📚🥂

December 29, 2023

Armed with coffee, road trip snacks and an eclectic Spotify playlist we began 2023 traveling the midwest in search of Indie Bookshops. Most of our destinations were day trips excluding The Drama Book Shop in New York. Each bookshop was welcoming and offered a carefully curated selection of literature, author events, and sometimes coffee. For your next Indie Bookshop adventure, please consider visiting the following bookshops. They will graciously welcome and assist in securing your next read and/or addition to your TBR.

  —-Jenn


Top 11 Indie Bookshops of 2023 📚🥂

  1. Anderson’s Bookshop, Downers Grove & Naperville, Illinois (2 locations)
  2. Harvey’s Tales, Geneva, Illinois
  3. Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  4. Forever Books, St. Joseph’s, Michigan
  5. The Book Nook of Saugatuck, Saugatuck, Michigan
  6. The Drama Book Shop, New York, New York
  7. Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Iowa
  8. Schuler Books, Ann Arbor Michigan (4 locations)
  9. Hello Books, South Haven Michigan
  10. Bookends and Beginnings, Evanston, Illinois
  11. This is a Bookstore & Bookbug, Kalamazoo, Michigan

**Please note: At this time, I am not affiliated with the bookshops linked above (wink, wink I would love the opportunity). Direct links are included for your convenience.


Indie Suggestions for    2024

*Please include Bookshop Name & Location.

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