An Afternoon as a Blogger

To find these recently/ soon to be released books, I spent a few hours with blogger Julie Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Thanks to her endless dedication to this "hobby", she has earned the recognition and respect of authors, illustrators, and publishers alike- and I get to reap the rewards. From puppies and kittens to tween angst, I thoroughly enjoyed my fall preview.

In Madeline and the Old House in Paris, John Bemelmans Marciano continues the young girls' century old sage with Ms. Clavel. Faced with a legendary ghoul and an immoral administrator, Madeline is both cunning and benevolent in her mischief. The book provides a great outlet for the child to see the flaws in and defy the adult authority. I would use it in both small and large group settings to discuss the nature of rules and whether and when it may be okay to break them.

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Chris Raschka is one of those authors for whom I may have missed the train the firs time around. When reading his new book, Daisy Gets Lost, Jules informed me that it was a sequel to this modern classic. Both largely wordless picture books, these are great for early readers, advanced readers, and groups alike. They leave room for interpretation and discussion while making clear points about friendship and feelings of safety of security.


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Jane, the Fox, & Me (written by Fanny Britt, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, and translated by Christine Morelli) departs from my usual tastes in both its format and content. This is not a picture book I would use with my young preschoolers. Instead, it is a deeply intriguing graphic novel that I would use with older elementary and middle school students. I particularly appreciate here how the young protagonist explores her insecurities and draws connections between herself and her literary heroine. It is a super-quick read. Struggling readers could use the pictures to clue them into the context while (I hope!) more advanced readers would not be put off as the "graphic novel" does not necessarily carry the same stigma as the "picture book". It does a great job of exploring social dynamics and the intense pressure on young tween and teen girls surrounding body image.


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This fun little meta-picture book written by Jesse Klausmeier and illustrated by Suzy Lee explores the concept of a book and the fun of reading and sharing. It's a quick read and one that I have no doubt would get my students excited and give them ideas about making their own books (within books) (within books)!

The List Continues...
Pecan Pie Baby, Written by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
14. Madeline and the Old House in Paris, Written and Illustrated by John Bemelmans Marciano
15. A Ball for Daisy, Written and Illustrated by Chris Raschka
16. Daisy Gets Lost, Written and Illustrated by Chris Raschka
17. Jane, the Fox, & Me, Written by Fanny Britt, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, Translated by Christine Morelli
18. Open This Little Book, Written by Jesse Klausmeier, Illustrated by Suzy Lee
19. The Christmas Cat, Written by Maryann Macdonald, Illustrated by Amy June Bates
20. Strega Nona Does it Again, Written and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
21. Journey, Written and Illustrated by Aaron Becker