It’s the time of year for summer reading, and many schools will post lists of recommended books. I believe there is room on every reading lists for a few classics, and for middle school readers, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame is an ideal option. The friendship between Rat and Mole, the adventures…
What I’m Reading: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. The authors give readers a close-up look at legendary American financier, J.P. Morgan, and the woman he hired to be his personal librarian, Belle Da Costa Greene, in the early 1900s. Unbeknownst to Morgan, Greene was a Black woman…
An Artist’s Date: The Morgan Library
A Classic to Consider: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Classic to Consider, Care Givers, What I'm ReadingLeave a Reply
There is a level of comfort in reading the classics. When my life becomes stressful and overwhelming, I find that I seek the classics as I would seek the counsel of a good friend. My mother died one month ago, and during her last week of life, I read aloud to her from Jane Eyre,…
Writing Resource: How To Write Short Stories and Use Them To Further Your Writing Career by James Scott Bell
Writers looking to sharpen their short story skills and increase productivity will benefit from James Scott Bell’s manual, How To Write Short Stories and Use Them To Further Your Writing Career. The slim text breaks down the components of a short story into a shattering moment + the emotional fallout of said moment. Bell likens…
Short Story Spotlight: “The Leaf” by O. Henry
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Short Story Spotlight, Teacher Resources, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
O. Henry is perhaps most famous for his short story, “The Gift of the Magi.” I would think that most of us who grew up in the States have read it either in middle or high school, and for good reason. O. Henry was a master of short stories, focusing on a simple problem or…
What I’m Reading: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I’ve recently finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I have to say that I loved it. Reid is a master of creating complex characters that keep readers engaged in the story. Following Evelyn throughout her career and love life was fascinating – a trip through old Hollywood glamour combined…
Writing Resource: The Magic Words by Cheryl B. Klein
Writers of children’s books will benefit from the advice of Cheryl B. Klein’s The Magic Words. Klein offers list after list of practical, tangible, effective advice for every aspect of the writing process from generating ideas to drafting and revision. Her detailed instructions on creating a scene-by-scene bookmap might seem overwhelming, but if you can’t…
A Gem of a Poem: “Chairs in Snow” by E.B. White
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in A Gem of A Poem, Teacher Inspiration, Teacher Resources, Teacher TuesdayLeave a Reply
Teachers creating a mini-lesson on poetry, simile, or imagery can utilize E.B.White’s “Chairs in Snow.” While spring may be an easy choice for writing poetry about nature, using winter imagery may prove more challenging. Yet, White’s poem contains a simile that draws in winter, summer, and fall, and compares them to youth. How many of…
What I’m Reading: In The Great Green Room by Amy Gary
Posted on Author Jill M SmithPosted in Care Givers, What I'm Reading, Writing InspirationLeave a Reply
So many of us, I am sure, have “Goodnight Moon” on our bookshelves. When they were little, my children would select three books each night, and “Goodnight Moon” was a popular choice. Amy Gary’s biography of Margaret Wise Brown illuminates the life of the beloved children’s author, whom I used to picture her as a…