Are you looking for exciting summer 2020 book recommendations for your middle grade reader? My middle grade bookworms devour books faster than I can say abibliophobia. I’m always on the prowl for books that readers age 9-12 might like, and 2020 looks lit 🔥! My young bibliophiles are getting a little bit of everything this …
Book Review: ‘Make Your Kid a Money Genius’ by Beth Kobliner
Talking to Your Kids About Money A year ago, my mother-in-law gave us Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even if You’re Not). I finally got around to reading it. It’s an instruction manual on how to help your children develop financial mindfulness. Beth Kobliner offers tips on how to talk to your children about …
Top 5 Read Aloud Recommendations for 11- and 12-Year-Olds
When kids hit 11- and 12-years-old, it’s challenging to find appropriate read aloud material. They abandon middle grade fiction and gravitate toward young adult and adult fiction. Intellectually, they’re ready to transition to adult fiction, but often the mature content gives me pause, especially for read alouds. For many reasons, this in-between stage is tricky, …
Summer Journal Prompts for Children
One of the ways you can be a literacy advocate for your own children is by asking them to keep a summer journal. Journaling makes a difference in your child’s relationship with writing in ways you see and ways you don’t. Summer is a time for long, lazy days spent sunning and swimming, but it’s …
Middle Grade Book Series Recommendations by a Middle Grade Reader
Are you looking for series recommendations for your middle grade reader? As the mother of a young bibliophile, I’m always on the lookout for high-quality middle grade books. Perhaps your child finished Harry Potter, Fablehaven, Land of Stories, and other popular series already. What should they read next? If you’re on the hunt for series …
How My Teens Are Beating the Quarantine Blues
During the early days of quarantine, my teens exchanged witty banter and funny memes. Uproarious laughter echoed throughout our home. Sure, they experienced their fair share of fear, confusion, and unrest, but the mood around here was upbeat. Distance learning was review. They slept until noon. Bedtime shifted later and later. They binged Netflix shows, …
Proud Mama Bookworm Moment: Published on Scary Mommy
When I heard back from the deputy editor of Scary Mommy, informing me that they planned to run my submission “Why I Still Read Out Loud to My Teens,” I was stocked!
Get Off Your Butts & Do Your Chores
I head to the treadmill for my early morning “Netflix and run.” As I pass through the basement’s main room (aka teen cave), my gaze lands on the dirty cups, crusty snack bowls, smelly socks, and miscellaneous garbage strewn across the table and floor. When I step on a minefield of LEGOs, my shoulders sag. …