Road to Awesome
These are my notes from Darrin Peppard’s keynote at the March 24, 2025 NCMLE ‘Middle School Matters’ Conference. MY THOUGHT AND REFLECTIONS ARE IN ALL CAPS....
Why Regulate AI?
Why should we regulate artificial intelligence? This was the question we tackled at the Thursday evening discussion group at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan, Kansas,...
Uncovering Secrets and Solving Mysteries: Detectives, Investigators, and Spies for Ages 7-17
written by Beth Anderson Who doesn’t love a good mystery? I’ve always been a fan of stories about detectives, spies, and investigators. I read many… The...
10 Notable New Chapter Books, March 2025
Ready for new 2025 chapter books? I have some good choices for your readers, from fantasy to realistic, adventure to mystery. Chapter books range from… The...
15 Recommended New Picture Books, March 2025
March picture books bring us SO MANY funny read alouds plus books about words, hair, and weather, just to name a few. You’re going to… The...
A Teen’s Guide to the Top Ten YA Murder Mysteries
These top ten YA murder mysteries for young adults are excellent pieces of writing. Heartbreaking tales, shocking mysteries, perfect romances, these books will make it in… The...
SIDEWALK CHALK Cover Reveal and Giveaway with Jen Fier Jasinski
by Jen Fier Jasinski After only three months and six drafts writing SIDEWALK CHALK, I received a critique from a big-name agent that said: “I’m sorry...
Get to Know Picture Book Author-Illustrator Alex Willan
Mermaids Are the Worst, am I right? To celebrate Alex Willan’s 5th installment in The Worst! picture book series, I interviewed Alex by email. We talk about… The...
Reading Wish List
Long form reading may be a relic of the past for younger generations in US society and culture for a variety of reasons, but I still...
9 Outstanding New Middle Grade Books, February 2025
From heartfelt realistic stories to fantasy, dystopian, and mystery, there’s a good book for almost every kind of reader. Which ones will you want to share...
