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🎧 The Reader's Heart Podcast | Guest: Kate Messner
Kate Messner has been writing books for kids for over 10 years, but I was late to the party. It wasn't until her 2018 novel, Breakout ,...

Jennifer LaGarde
12 minutes ago3 min read


🖍️ Library Girl Reading Challenges: July 2025
Last year, just for fun, I started creating monthly "reading challenges" that: focus on authentic reasons for reading (instead of having...

Jennifer LaGarde
10 hours ago1 min read


🤩 Among The Stars: June Update
It's that time again. For the moment, anyway, our curated starred review spreadsheet is up to date, y'all. As a reminder, Martha Hickson...

Jennifer LaGarde
3 days ago5 min read
![[UPDATE] A Back To School Challenge - Is Your School Library Fine Free?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5d4568_7c19d84cc512412b9313fc84f9b98fab~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_442,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_35,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/5d4568_7c19d84cc512412b9313fc84f9b98fab~mv2.webp)
![[UPDATE] A Back To School Challenge - Is Your School Library Fine Free?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5d4568_7c19d84cc512412b9313fc84f9b98fab~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_292,h_165,fp_0.50_0.50,q_95,enc_avif,quality_auto/5d4568_7c19d84cc512412b9313fc84f9b98fab~mv2.webp)
[UPDATE] A Back To School Challenge - Is Your School Library Fine Free?
This post was first published back in 2018 after a distressing incident at a local Starbucks. Although I am rubbish at keeping up with...
Jennifer LaGarde
Jun 167 min read


Summer 2025 BOCES Tour Reflections & Takeaways
I'm not sure when I first became aware of the BOCES system in New York state, but every year, for the last several, I've traveled to the...

Jennifer LaGarde
Jun 97 min read


🖍️ Library Girl Reading Challenges: June 2025
Last year, just for fun, I started creating monthly "reading challenges" that: focus on authentic reasons for reading (instead of having...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 311 min read
![RU548: Reading List [Summer 2025]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5d4568_3932176154774ccebc0f1ec7a211cf3f~mv2.webp)
![RU548: Reading List [Summer 2025]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5d4568_3932176154774ccebc0f1ec7a211cf3f~mv2.webp)
RU548: Reading List [Summer 2025]
I've had the pleasure of teaching a Young Adult Literature course in the MLIS program at Rutgers University for several years now and,...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 293 min read


🎧 The Reader's Heart Podcast | Guest: Rex Ogle
I often joke that I didn't start The Reader's Heart, because I thought the world needed more podcasts. Rather, just like every other...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 13 min read


🎙️ Five Questions With Katherine Marsh
Welcome to a new series of interviews, focusing on book love and library joy! In just five questions, I hope to use these posts as a way...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 306 min read


🖍️ Library Girl Reading Challenges: May 2025
Last year, just for fun, I started creating monthly "reading challenges" that: focus on authentic reasons for reading (instead of having...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 291 min read


📚 Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club: Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron
Full disclosure: I typically share my reflection post from these events during the week they take place, but y'all... this month has been...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 288 min read


🏆 Announcing The First Ever Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards!
In what I'm hoping will become a new series on my blog, I'm so happy to share my interview with Federico Erebia about the first ever...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 227 min read


NHSLS Reflections and Takeaways
It's hard (for me) to believe that the last time I visited New Hampshire, for their annual school library conference , it was 2015. That...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 218 min read


🤩 Among The Stars: March Update
It's that time again. For the moment, anyway, our curated starred review spreadsheet is up to date, y'all. As a reminder, Martha Hickson...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 64 min read


🎧 The Reader's Heart Podcast | Guest: Natalie Lloyd
Confession Time! I didn't really become aware of Natalie Lloyd until Hummingbird came out in . 2022I know! I know! Natalie had already...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 14 min read


🖍️ Library Girl Reading Challenges: April 2025
Last year, just for fun, I started creating monthly "reading challenges" that: focus on authentic reasons for reading (instead of having...

Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 301 min read


The 20 Day Bluesky Challenge!
Many moons ago, my friend and forever co-conspirator, Jeannie Timken and I created a "20 Day Twitter Challenge" for educators in our...

Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 262 min read


📚 Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club: Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman
At a time when we're all bombarded by negative news, the Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club remains a source of joy for me. If you've...

Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 198 min read


#TLSkyChat Resource Roundup: Book Talks that Hook
I've shared before that back in January, Heather Turner and I began moderating educator chats for Teacher Librarians (and those who love...

Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 176 min read


🎧 The Reader's Heart Podcast | Guest: Erin Entrada Kelly
During this episode, you'll hear Erin recount a story about meeting one of her heroes. It's not spoiling anything to reveal that she was...

Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 143 min read
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