Favorite Books

My Favorite Books

Childhood Favorites

I have SO many childhood favorites that it is too hard to pick just one.  I was always getting in trouble for staying up way past my bedtime reading under the covers with a flashlight!  Some of my very favorites include Blueberries for Sal, A Chair for my Mother, Imogene's Antlers, The Polar Express, Nancy Drew, all things Judy Blume and of course The Little House on the Prairie series. 

Classroom Favorites

Again, I have about a billion favorite books to read to the little ones.  In fact, a few months ago I said "This is one of my VERY favorite books" and one little friend piped up "Ms. P, you have about A THOUSAND favorite books!" haha.

Some that stand out are Elmer, Not Norman, Bippity Bop Barbershop, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, Fancy Nancy, One Dark Night, and all things Kevin Henkes and Leo Lionni (especially Swimmy!)

 

Reading to my Own Children Favorites

 I don't have any children (yet), but the one book I always give to nieces, nephews and friends is Where the Wild Things Are.  This book is near and dear to my heart.  I love the illustrations (have you ever noticed how they start small, get bigger and bigger and then shrink again?) and the message behind the book.  I read this book during a demo lesson back in 2007, which is how I landed my job :)

Professional Favorites

Debbie Diller is one of my favorites.  Literacy Work Stations and Spaces & Places have totally changed my teaching life (for a review, see my second ever blog post HERE).  I still need to get my hands on her new math book!  Another amazing author for teaching issues is Diane Ravitch.  I think that every teacher should know the history behind the US education system and the danger that many reforms are putting us in.  Lastly, for the past two years I have been involved in a group through Boston College called Mindful Teacher which compiled a book based on their work.  The goal of the work is to incorporate mindfulness into your teaching.  The authors, Liz MacDonald and Dennis Shirley, are absolutely fabulous.  I cannot recommend this book enough!

Guilty Pleasure Favorites

This is embarrassing!  A few favorites are the Twilight series (no, I'm not a 15 year old tween) and anything by Alisa Valdes Rodriguez. I am also in love with all of Chelsea Handler's books!  Some of the stories made me laugh until I cried.