From The Mixed Up Files

Changing the clocks for Daylight Saving Time reminded me of how disruptive losing one hour can be, and had me imagining if I could travel through time. These seven spectacular books feature diverse characters, each with a definite reason for visiting another time. Some go to the past for a do-over or to meet a specific person, while others embark on quests to the future to try to save the universe. The authors of these books are not afraid to break rules, add touches of humor, or include fast paced adventures. Traveling through time reveals...

Exciting news for budding librarians and other people who love deep diving into information: The Library of Congress (LoC) is opening The Source, a special space for kids 8 and older to learn about research and information. According to the LoC, The Source will be a “space to discover how information and research can nourish curiosity, creativity and change… Through dynamic interactive experiences, kids will explore the Library’s resources and discover their own researcher identity by exploring collections, finding and analyzing information and considering perspectives represented in the Library.”   The space was designed with help from a youth advisory council,...

Changing the clocks for Daylight Saving Time reminded me of how disruptive losing one hour can be, and had me imagining if I could travel through time. These seven spectacular books feature diverse characters, each with a definite reason for visiting another time. Some go to the past for a...

Welcome to Writing Tips and Resources! This month we’re talking about: Climbing the Mountain of Your Writing Project! Like a mountain, a writing project can be big, confusing, and hard to picture in its totality. Luckily, we can prepare to write just like we prepare to climb a mountain. Let’s...

How long would you last by yourself… in the Amazon rainforest… after surviving a plane crash?  Although this sounds like a work of fiction, Ellen Cochrane’s new book, Follow the Water, is an account of Juliane Koepcke’s unbelievable survival story. In addition, Ellen includes informational sections that explain in better...

You turn the crank on the side of the colorful box once, then once again, and then wait.  You turn it slower and slower, rapt in anticipation of that freaky clown’s surprise appearance when the lid springs open. With every turn, your heart beats faster, and your eyes get a...

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...

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...