Tag: reading

The Book Nook of Saugatuck, MI

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Dearest Readers,

This is a love letter to The Book Nook of Saugatuck, MI. Your cozy bookshop has stolen my heart. On your shelves are gently read picture books, novels, and treasures waiting to whisked away. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the bookshop owner. We perused the shelves and assorted trinkets. On this particular excursion, I located four books written by Patricia Polacco, which I proudly purchased and are now part of my ever growing collection of classroom literature.

I look forward to future expeditions and discovering new treasures to share with my students.

Forever yours,

Jenn 📚💕

The Book Nook of Saugatuck, 242 Butler St, Saugatuck, MI 

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Authors, Coffee & Adventures Galore

October 3, 2023

Authors, coffee and adventures galore!

Over the past several weekends, I have attended various Author Talks (thank you Anderson Bookshop) and explored Indie bookshops in Iowa and Michigan. Each adventure brought epic tales and jaw dropping encounters. These are tales best told over a second and third cup of coffee. Since its officially fall, make mine a pumpkin cold brew with a side order of pumpkin loaf.

Check back for future posts on:

Author Talks courtesy of Anderson’s Bookshop:

  • Cara Mentzel & Idina Menzel
  • Catherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenke
  • Rick Riordan & Daniel Jose Older

Indie Bookshops:

  • Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Schuler Books, Ann Arbor Michigan
  • Hello Books, South Haven Michigan

—Jenn

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Fork

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

It’s was late Sunday night and we just arrived home from a long day trip to Michigan. Before leaving St. Joesph, we picked up carryout for dinner. Our meal came with an extra plastic fork, which neither of us needed at the time. I’m that person. Yup. Let’s save it for later. You know. Just in case. We might be able to put it to use.

Now, look closer. Some may say, “Jenn, it’s just a disposable fork wrapped in plastic.” Is it? I see a digging tool for sand at the beach. Or maybe, this fork could be used to eat that unexpected cake in a parking lot at the grocery store. You might have a rough day. Don’t judge. We all have done it or thought about it. Nonetheless, let’s agree there are a million uses for that disposable fork. After all, it’s a fork.

Alright, take that fork a step further. What if our student(s) are like the plastic fork? Let’s say he/she is “wrapped in plastic.” A little different. Maybe it’s their odd sense of humor. Or, maybe no one has been able to reach them. They’re out there. Not quite like the other scholars. Different. Embrace them! These “forks” are the dreamers; the creative minds; and the out-of-box thinkers. I have a passion for the “forks.” Embrace them. Find a way to reach them. Our world needs them.

One last step. Are you still with me? Awesome! There are authors and illustrators that have written picture books for dreamers and out-of-box thinkers. If you happen by Anderson’s Bookshop or another Indie Bookstore, stop in and pick up any (or all) of the following books for a great classroom read aloud. Here goes…a long over due list of picture books/chapter books that celebrate our students and their uniqueness.

*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.

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Back to School 🍎📚

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Coffee brewed. Rae Dunn mug selected. Make It Happen. It’s my third cup of dark roast coffee. No cream. No sugar. Bitter and dark. It’s a day for ambitious endeavors. I am sorting through books for the first week of school. There are a plethora of picture and chapter books to choose from. Kindness; classroom expectations; growth mindset, and social emotional learning are only a handful of topics that will be covered the initial weeks of school.

First pass through the bookcase complete. Will this list change? Oh, yes! We have a couple more weeks before returning. There is just enough time to finish reading one more chapter book. In the meantime, coffee is brewing and pages are turning.

Picture Books

  1. School’s First Day of School, by Adam Rex
  2. Do Unto Otters: A Book of Manners, by Laurie Keller
  3. What are Words Really?, by Alexi Lubomirski
  4. Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller
  5. The Smart Cookie, by Jory John
  6. What do you do with a Chance?, by Kobi Yamada
  7. Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in all of us, by Kobi Yamada
  8. The Book With No Pictures, by B.J. Novak
  9. I Don’t Care, by Julie Fogliano
  10. Noodle and the No Bones Day, by Jonathan Graziano
  11. Wordy Birdy, by Tammi Sauer
  12. Wordy Birdy Meets Mr. Cougarpants, by Tami Sauer
  13. I Wonder, by K.A. Holt
  14. After the Fall, by Dan Santat
  15. When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left, by Peter Reynolds
  16. The World’s Best Class Plant, by Audrey Vernick

Breakfast & A Book Read Aloud

Breakfast & A Book organically developed last school year. While eating breakfast in the classroom, students listen to a chapter book read aloud. As a class, we “sample” three chapter books and take a class vote. The winning chapter book is then read and discussed over breakfast. It’s also an incentive to arrive at school on time. If you’re tardy, then you miss the story. Do I leave the story on a cliffhanger? You betcha!

One of these lovelies will be selected as the first chapter book read aloud of the school year. It is always a challenging decision. Last year, my students had a wicked sense of humor. They were comedians. Loved to giggle and laugh. Second graders are ridiculously silly.

  • The Chocolate Touch, by Patrick Skene Catling
  • Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate
  • The Trouble With Chickens, by Doreen Cronin
  • Frindle, by Andrew Clements
  • Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowry
  • Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

*Please note that bookshop links will be shared at a later time.

Please share your favorite back to school read aloud.

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Red Flags

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

On Sunday, we arrived at St. Joesph beach in Michigan only to find the dreaded red flag waving strong. Overcast and dangerous waves. No swimming today. It was the perfect day to relax and read on the beach.

After several hours of baking in partial sun and reading, we made our way through the local shops. Our first stop was Cabanas for some delicious Black Cherry ice cream. Afterwards, we strolled and browsed the local shops. A visit would not be complete without stopping by the local independent bookstore Forever Books. As you walk in, you are greeted with the fragrance of possibility. While browsing, I came across two exceptional picture books. The Legend of Sleeping Bear is beautifully written and illustrated. I’m looking forward to integrating this lovely into my classroom. Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall’s Hello Lighthouse was the second lakeside treasure that I discovered. Hello Lighthouse “is a luminous tribute to a steadfast lighthouse and its reassuring light.”

Picture Books

The Legend of Sleeping Bear, by Kathy-jo Wargin

Hello Lighthouse, by Sophie Blackall

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

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Author Talk – Anderson’s Bookshop

Thursday, July 13, 2023

While enjoying my morning coffee, I came across this little nugget. Love, love, love Katherine Applegate and her books. At the risk of completely fan girling, oh my gosh she is going on a book tour!!! Fellow literature enthusiasts, this is a must attend event. Click on the link below to reserve your ticket, which includes a copy of her book and a spot in the signing line. The author talk has yet to be posted on Andersons’ website. It came across her Facebook feed and I’m still recovering. Oh my gosh! I’m going to meet Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko!!!!

—Jenn

Click – EventCombo
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Yes Chef! – Tasty Reads 👩‍🍳

Yes Chef! – Tasty Reads

Saturday, July 8 , 2023

The idea for Yes Chef! Tasty Reads was “cooked up” one Sunday evening while making pasta sauce from scratch. Since my daughter graduated college and moved home, she asked me to teach her to cook. The shear comedy that ensued. In the directions, the recipe stated “blanch the fresh tomatoes.” Giggle. Giggle.

A little backstory. Our stovetop has been periodically dusted while she was away at college. It seemed ridiculous to cook an extravagant meal for one person leaving days on end leftovers. My meals consisted of coffee, microwavable dinners, soup, and frozen pizza. As an exhausted teacher, the mere thought of cooking was out of the question. Yes, it was not the healthiest meal plan.

Back to cooking. After searching, I located my favorite cooking apron. Ok. I am now wearing the apron that I excavated from the bottom kitchen drawer. Said apron has what I believe to have permanent creases from being folded for too long. Sigh. By now, we both are armed in aprons and ready to conquer the culinary world.

Stovetop. Blanch the tomatoes. When I was younger, much younger, my mother would spend hot summer days canning vegetables and fruit from our garden. I recall hearing the term “blanch.” Also, there is a glimmer of a memory of Mom standing over a pot of boiling water.

My daughter proceeded to ask me, what do they mean “blanch the tomatoes?” Little, grown girlie I can’t remember. That’s when the banter went back and forth. You blanch the tomatoes. No, you blanch the tomatoes. Finally, it was decided to check YouTube. Yup. There it was. How to blanch tomatoes. It was exactly how I remembered.

How did the sauce turn out you ask? It was delightful and we are now fighting over who will finish the rest.

Fast forward to Thursday. We are at Target and I find a magical gadget that makes a mug of ice cream. No really. A sweet, cute little mug of ice cream. Yes Chef!! You’re coming home with me. I spent most of today researching the perfect recipe for my new treasure. YouTube for the win! 5 Easy Ice Cream Recipes! I’m now researching new salad recipes. A girl needs balance in her life.

We are open to trying new recipes, please share below. Keep in mind I am brushing off my culinary skills and adding a new fire extinguisher to the shopping list. Just in case.

Sidebar: Speaking of new recipes/cookbooks, in August I have a new cookbook arriving from Chef Gary Maclean. In June, we had the distinct pleasure of meeting him at a cooking demonstration at the Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Itasca, Illinois. And that is a conservation over coffee for another day.

—Jenn

Picture Books

  1. Arnie the Doughnut, by Laurie Keller
  2. Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, by Josh Funk *Series/Collection
  3. A Mango in the Hand: A Story Told Through Proverbs, by Antonio Sacre
  4. Duck at the Door, by Jackie Urbanovic *Series/Collection
  5. Dragons Love Tacos, by Adam Rubin *Series/Collection
  6. Pig the Slob, by Aaron Blabey *Series/Collection
  7. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, by Maria Dismondy
  8. The Smart Cookie, by Jory John & Pete Oswald *Series/Collection
  9. Pancakes, Pancakes!, by Eric Carle *Series/Collection
  10. Tea for Ruby, by Sarah Ferguson The Duchess of York
  11. If You Give a Dog a Donut, by Laura Numeroff *Series/Collection

Chapter Books

  1. Bliss, by Katherine Littlewood *Series/Collection
  2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl *Series/Collection
  3. The Chocolate Touch, by Patrick Skene Catling
  4. Amelia Bedelia Bakes Off, by Herman Parish *Series/Collection

**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.

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Rain ☔️

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

It’s raining. It’s been raining since yesterday. We are currently under a flood watch. Occasionally, there is a rumble of thunder and some lightening. I’d rather be hiking or at the beach, but here I sit waiting on the rain. So far, I am on my third cup of coffee and unmotivated to read or sort books. I’m in a rain stinks-I’m stuck inside-I want to go hiking or the beach-funk. I’m wallowing. It’s not attractive. Not even my pink flamingo slippers are cheering me up. I tried turning on music and dancing it out. Nope. So, I’m now sorting through books. I didn’t realize how may picture books I had on rain/weather. Break out your favorite coffee mug and join me for a walk in the rain. Well, not the actual rain because it’s raining cats, dogs, and hippos.

—Jenn

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

Picture Books

  1. We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom
  2. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett
  3. Come on, Rain!, by Karen Hesse
  4. Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?: All About Weather, by Tish Rabe
  5. Lizzy and the Cloud, by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
  6. Little Cloud, by Eric Carle
  7. The Rhythm of the Rain, by Grahame Baker-Smith
  8. The Big Umbrella, by Amy June Bates
  9. The Rain Came Down, by David Shannon
  10. The Weather Girls, by Aki
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