For me, memories of reading are about connection: curled in my father’s lap, listening to stories from The Fairy Tale Book by Marie Ponsot, or my mother at my bedside reading classics like The Secret Garden and Little Women. I even felt connected to Louisa May Alcott because we regularly drove past her house in Concord, Massachusetts. And so, books […]
Windows, Mirrors, and SEL: Teaching Empathy Through Story by M.O. Yuksel and Razeena Omar Gutta
posted by CBethM
Most people have heard of Ramadan and the holiday that follows it, Eid al-Fitr. But have you ever heard of Hajj and Eid al-Adha? And how are they connected? If you’re not as familiar with these, you’re not alone. For over two billion Muslims around the world, Hajj—the annual pilgrimage to Mecca— and Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, are among […]
Falling to Fairyland with Cricket the Ward by Sarah Jean Horwitz
posted by CBethM
The working title of my upcoming middle grade fantasy novel, Falling to Fairyland, was originally a lot less magical-sounding. From day one of its inception as a baby idea to pretty much the finished product, I called the book Cricket the Ward. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, I know. I also knew that a lot of people, especially younger readers, might […]
Mirrors, Windows, and Runways by Nicole Melleby
posted by CBethM
I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that writing should be fun. I write a lot about queer kids. About sad queer kids. About mental health issues, particularly how they affect queer kids. And I love making the space for that. I love giving sad stories and characters for sad readers who may need them. To […]
The Intangible Real World of Story by Susan Metallo
posted by CBethM
The first graders gaped at me like zombie fish. Can you picture it? Twenty-four six-year-olds sitting crisscross apple sauce on their industrial blue classroom carpet, their tongues languid in slack-jawed mouths, eyes round and unblinking—and standing in front of them, me: a twenty-something grad student halfway through my library science degree, at my first ever […]
Sky Luck: A Story of Abundant Thinking by Erica Lee Schlaikjer
posted by CBethM
Is it possible to create your own luck? Turns out, it is. Years ago, I remember learning about a psychology study from Dr. Richard Wiseman, who wrote The Luck Factor, concluding that luck is not purely random chance but can actually be influenced by your own attitude and behavior. People who consider themselves “lucky” tend […]
The Bare Bear Facts by Karen Jameson
posted by CBethM
I can “bearly” contain my excitement at the upcoming release of BEAR LOVES HIS HOME, written by yours truly and beautifully illustrated by Ishaa Lobo. Published by the esteemed Yosemite Conservancy, our cub makes his debut on August 26, 2025. This lyrical nonfiction picture book comes from the heart, combining my lifelong passion for national […]
TEN NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS ON WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS IN SPACE SCIENCE BY SANDRA NEIL WALLACE
posted by CBethM
Braving sexism, racism, and ableism, and with few support networks in a field dominated by men, many women trailblazers in space science didn’t realize how their discoveries and innovations were interconnected and often simultaneous. These ten nonfiction picture books centering women superstars in space science form a sisterhood of engineers, mathematicians, innovators, and scientists who […]
The Astronomer Prince by M.O. Yuksel
posted by CBethM
We all know about scientists like Copernicus, Galileo, and Einstein. But have you ever heard of Ulugh Beg? If not, you’re not alone. Most of us grew up with the same familiar names in science, the ones who dominate our textbooks. Yet history is filled with brilliant thinkers we don’t know about whose contributions have […]
Ten Books About Expressing Your Fears & Finding Your Bravery by Ana Siqueira
posted by CBethM
Being scared isn’t a weakness—it’s part of being human. These stories will show how each character reveals a unique fear and their path to find bravery. Vera la Valiente is Scared by Ana Siqueira and Teresa Martinez Fear: Roller coaster Bravery: Sharing feelings and asking for help Vera is muy valiente—she climbs like a mountain […]
Nerdy Book Club