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Jennifer LaGarde
May 17, 20246 min read
📚 Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club: The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
ABOUT OUR BOOK CLUB Y'all, it's no secret that I love the Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club. If you've never participated, these...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 16, 20244 min read
Among The Stars: Our Starred Review Spreadsheet
Raise your hand if you remember Jen J's Starred Reviews Spreadsheet? I can almost hear the wistful sighs of those who used that resource...


Jennifer LaGarde
May 14, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Jasmine Warga
The first book I ever read by Jasmine Warga was Other Words for Home. As with so many of the best book recommendations, John Schu was the...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 8, 20244 min read
⭐️ Book Review: Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris
Every Time You Hear That Song is not about Dolly Parton. And yet, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that its loose connection to the country...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 6, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Torrey Maldonado
When I was in the 7th grade, I was suspended for demanding that my classmates and I be allowed to sing People are People by Depeche Mode...

Jennifer LaGarde
May 2, 20247 min read
⭐️ UPDATE ⭐️ Book Review: The First State of Being by Erin Entrada-Kelly
Y'all, I'm updating my review of this book to share that Erin Entrada Kelly will join me (to chat about The First State of Being!) on May...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 29, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Mike Curato
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST I've loved every episode of The Reader's Heart, but this one is special for several reasons. First, I've known...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 28, 20241 min read
Library Girl Reading Challenge: May
Just for fun, I’ve started creating monthly reading challenges for readers of all ages. I decided to make each month's free download both...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 27, 20246 min read
Spring 2024 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
Apr 22, 20242 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Ami Polonsky
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST Ami Polonsky is the first (but not the last!) guest on The Reader's Heart who is both a classroom teacher AND an...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 20, 20245 min read
NYSAIS Reflections and Takeaways
I arrived in Albany, New York last week to begin 10 days of working with educators across The Empire State. The last time I was here, I...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 15, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Chrystal D Giles
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST: Back in August, Chrystal D Giles agreed to be my guest for the Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club when we read...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 14, 20245 min read
It's Peanuts! It's Lego! It's a New AI Powered YOU!
How It Started... You may have noticed the #peanutslibrarians hashtag on Twitter recently. I am not sure who first used the Microsoft...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 10, 20245 min read
⭐️ Book Review: Max In The House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
I vividly remember the first book by Adam Gidwitz I ever read, in part because it was sent to me by a former student. I was an English...

Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 8, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Chris Baron
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST Chris Baron is one of the few people I've interviewed for The Reader's Heart (so far!) who I didn't already know...


Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 3, 20245 min read
📚 Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club: Louder Than Hunger
ABOUT OUR BOOK CLUB Y'all, it's no secret that I love the Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club. If you've never participated, these...


Jennifer LaGarde
Apr 2, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Chris Barton
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST Chris Barton is a gem, y'all. Even though we have never met, chatting with him for this week's episode felt like...

Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 28, 20241 min read
Library Girl Reading Challenge: April
Just for fun, I’ve started creating monthly reading challenges for readers of all ages. I decided to make each month's free download both...


Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 25, 20243 min read
🎧 The Reader's Heart | Guest: Corinna Luyken
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST This week's episode of The Reader's Heart is so special to me. I've known Corinna Luyken for a few years now,...


Jennifer LaGarde
Mar 20, 20244 min read
📚 Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club: Duel
ABOUT OUR BOOK CLUB Y'all, it's no secret that I love the Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club. If you've never participated, these...
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