From The Mixed Up Files

We’re excited to have Marie Benedict and Courtney Sheinmel on here today to talk about her new release. Let’s start with learning a bit more about you, and then we’ll talk more about The Secrets of Lovelace Academy. Did you love to read as children? If so, can you tell us some favorite books? Courtney and Marie both loved, loved, loved to read as children. While Marie has too many favorite childhood books to list, she does have special book from middle school that put her on the path to writing historical fiction about women,...

The month of April is known for many things. It’s National Poetry Month, of course. And it’s also American Heart Month, National Garden Month, National Autism Awareness Month, and National Financial Literacy Month. But guess what else it is…. April is School Library Month, and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) encourages us all to join them in both celebration and advocacy. The idea for School Library Month originated in 1983 with Lucille Thomas, who was appointed to spearhead the School Library Month Committee by then AALS president, Judy King. The idea became a reality on April 1, 1985,...

When you work in a school, there are some topics that permeate conversations and crop up in every corner of life as an educator. Usually, they’re tangled up with buzzwords: engagement, data-driven instruction, differentiation… you could make a pretty long list. My fellow teacher-authors are probably making one even now...

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today we’re featuring Danna Staaf, a marine biologist and author of several science books. Her book The Lady and the Octopus: How Jeanne Villepreux-Power Invented Aquariums and Revolutionized Marine Biology garnered these reviews: Notable...

We’re excited to have Marie Benedict and Courtney Sheinmel on here today to talk about her new release. Let’s start with learning a bit more about you, and then we’ll talk more about The Secrets of Lovelace Academy. Did you love to read as children? If so, can you tell...

It’s a good time to talk about libraries and museums—because it’s always a good time to talk about libraries and museums! Libraries and museums have an enchanted, mystical vibe year-round. They are particularly good places to spend some hours in this “long-haul” part of the school year when winter’s festivities...

Great Spring time books are raining down on middle grade readers this month. Check out this selection of upcoming releases. From a debut historical fiction story from Laurie Halse Anderson to, a second in a series from Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, and several adventures await! Come in from the rain...

As educators, parents, and creatives, we are very familiar with the notion of the reluctant reader: young—and old—readers who dread picking up a book, yet alone finishing it! Educators struggle with recommending interesting stories to unmotivated readers. Parents struggle with unfinished library books that their children just HAD to have....