From The Mixed Up Files

For this month’s theme, I read two books about bridges and read/wrote two books about skyscrapers. Two of these books were on this months book list and two were “bonus” books. Here’s what I read/wrote. Skyscraper by Lynn Curlee Skyscraper is presented in picture book format and includes beautiful illustrations. It follows the history of skyscrapers in general and then focuses on specific, noteworthy skyscrapers. Through this history, Skyscraper explores advances in design, construction, and materials that facilitated the building of the world’s tallest structures. This book is a bit older, so some of the...

As the use of generative AI grows, concerns about its negative impacts grow as well. Most notably, Pope Leo XIV recently issued his Magnifica Humanitas, an appeal to safeguard humanity against the use of AI in a way that is detrimental to our collective future.   While concern is spread across industries, the publishing arena has become acquainted with a unique set of issues. Lawsuits are waged over the unauthorized use of intellectual property, and many literary agents and publishers now require authors to attest that AI was not used in the development of stories.    And yet, AI is...

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest By Nik Korpon and Jorge Enrique Paz A thirteen-year-old boy holds the fate of his family, his neighborhood, and the world in his hands when he discovers that his cat is from a secret realm of warrior cats facing a dangerous enemy. The walls between worlds are wearing...

For this month’s theme, I read two books about bridges and read/wrote two books about skyscrapers. Two of these books were on this months book list and two were “bonus” books. Here’s what I read/wrote. Skyscraper by Lynn Curlee Skyscraper is presented in picture book format and includes beautiful illustrations....

Today, let’s give a hearty Mixed-Up Files welcome to Maddie Frost. An award-winning author and illustrator, Maddie has been praised as a “powerhouse creator,” making over a dozen books for kids. Her first middle-grade novel, Really Rubie, which Kirkus hailed as: “Humorous, frank, and guaranteed to reassure,” is out now from...

The end of the school year can be a challenge. Excitement is high. Patience may be low. And student attention is fading. Sometimes you just need to press pause and take your students outside for a bit of fresh air. Yet that break can be productive if you ask them...

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest By Nik Korpon and Jorge Enrique Paz A thirteen-year-old boy holds the fate of his family, his neighborhood, and the world in his hands when he discovers that his cat is from a secret realm of warrior cats facing a dangerous enemy. The walls between worlds are wearing...

I’m delighted to welcome award-winning author Fleur Bradley to the blog. I first discovered Fleur when I devoured her middle grade mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel. With its clever clues and spectacular twist, it felt very Agatha Christie for kids. I became an instant fan. She followed with Daybreak on...