Dadaji’s Paintbrush: A Thing of Beauty

In which JULES hails ‘Dadaji’s Paintbrush,’ an open-hearted and tender intergenerational story of a boy and his grandfather in India, as ‘a thing of beauty’
by David McGee
 

 
 

Graffiti, Hip-Hop & Misfit-ness

In praise of graffiti-inspired illustrator THEODORE TAYLOR III, in his own book, OFF THE WALL, and in WHEN THE BEAT WAS BORN, the story of DJ Kool Herc.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Final Breakfast: 
Sophie Blackall on Farmhouse

JULES hosts her final Seven Impossible Things breakfast, with author SOPHIE BLACKALL who tells of a 'falling-down house' that yielded the unexpected treasures she ruminates on in FARMHOUSE.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Me and the Boss

MICHELLE EDWARDS's ME AND THE BOSS is subtitlted "A Story About Mending and Love." For young readers, it's so much more. Illustrations by APRIL HARRISON.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Hard Road to Compassion and Inclusion in an Alien World

JULES spotlights two important new books for young readers: SANCTUARY: KIP TIERNAN AND ROSIE'S PLACE, THE NATION'S FIRST SHELTER FOR WOMEN and Young Vo's GIBBERISH, in which a young boy navigates a new language in a new land.
by David McGee
 

 
 

This Very Tree, The Survivor Tree & A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America, our acclaimed kids' lit blogger, JULES, finds fresh perspectives for young readers in three new books, two specifically addressing the World Trade Center attacks, another ...
by David McGee
 

 

 

For the Lost Children of Chile

NIÑOS: POEMS FOR THE LOST CHILDREN OF CHILE offers 'a powerful reflection on political violence in the lives of children,' as JULES explains in this month's featured book for young readers.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Abundant Love Before Breakfast

JANE PORTER's THE BOY WHO LOVED EVERYONE, illustrated by MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING, offers valuable lessons to teach children about managing their emotions, as JULES explains. Also: "HERE COMES THE SUN," a short but welcome Spr...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Juliet Menéndez’s Latinitas

In LATINITAS: CELEBRATING 40 BIG DREAMERS, author/illustrator JULIET MENÉNDEZ profiles women from all over Latin America and the U.S. and includes life stories that go back as far as the 17th century. Celia Cruz, Isabel Allend...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Shirley Chisholm: ‘Always a Doer’

In SHIRLEY CHISHOLM IS A VERB! author VERONICA CHAMBERS and illustrator RACHELLE BAKER remember the first black woman elected to Congress and the first woman to make a serious bid for the Presidency. JULES has the inside scoop.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Bookman in Zoomland

JULES welcomes a guest post by DEAN SCHNEIDER, a veteran teacher at Nashville, TN's Ensworth School. Herein Mr. Schneider reveals his plan for a history course he'll be teaching this year--one that recognizes the temper of the ...
by David McGee
 

 
 

In The Woods, In the Illustrator’s Eyes

IN THE WOODS, DAVID ELLIOTT's poetry collection that explores 15 creatures in their woodland habitats, is beautifully illustrated by ROB DUNLAVEY, who discussed the project with JULES.
by David McGee