From The Mixed Up Files

We’re thrilled to have New York Times bestselling author Philip Stead on here today to talk about his newest release, A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic X: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm. Whew! What a long title, but it definitely intrigued me, and I couldn’t wait to read it. Once I did, I understood why it received 6 starred reviews. Yes, 6! It was one of the most interesting books I’ve read recently. I don’t want to give too much away, but I especially liked that the book didn’t start...

According to the American Booksellers Association (ABA), the bills currently in Congress right now can “can impose book bans nationwide in ways state and local governments would be powerless to resist.” Contact your legislators today. The ABA has everything you need right here to do so, in just a minute or two. More from ABA: “Three national censorship bills are now active in Congress, targeting federal education funding in ways that would impact schools’ book purchases and have ripple effects across the book industry. Collectively, these bills would restrict books discussing race and gender in vague terms that would ban an uncountable...

Summer break is here! Welcome to sunshine, fireflies, and warm breezes. One of my favorite parts of summer break as a kid was reading underneath our big oak tree while lounging in a hammock. If your young reader is a seasonal reader, here are some sensational novels, novels in verse,...

Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! This month we’ve got a treat: TWO author interviews for the price of ONE! And, of course, they’re both free. First up, we’ve got Stephanie Gibeault, author of Calculating Chimpanzees, Brainy Bees, and Other...

We’re thrilled to have New York Times bestselling author Philip Stead on here today to talk about his newest release, A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic X: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm. Whew! What a long title, but it definitely intrigued me, and I couldn’t...

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...

From Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Cervantes and perfectly timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy follows 12-year-old sleuth Diez Espada on a high-stakes case as he tracks down the tournament’s stolen trophy in time for the championship match. Also available in Spanish!...

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...