As the director of a school library and a middle school literature teacher at Inly School in Scituate, Massachusetts, I have the opportunity to read lots of books. Depending on the day of the week, I have many books that I consider my favorites.
I received my masters at the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College in 2005.
I am also the author of two biographies for young readers: John F. Kennedy: His Life and Legacy and Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg: Baseball Pioneer. Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg was named a 2012 Sydney Taylor Honor Book and a spring 2011 selection of the Junior Library Guild. I’ve been reviewing books for School Library Journal since April 2013.
Sommer Reading 
Shelley – You are a bright light in the blogoshphere!! A beacon in the galaxy of information….
Thanks for sharing and ‘ll be following!
Signed, A big, fan, Lori
Shelley–this is really impressive–and to think I made fun of you having an IPhone! I’m obviously the luddite in the group.
Nice work–and thanks for the ideas. Consider me a fan!
Keep in touch-Cary
Shelly –
Your blog is really wonderful. In the little time you have been posting you have created a treasure for the reading family. I know its at the edge of your mission – but I encourage you to continue to blog about young adult and adult literature that you find worthwhile or inspiring.
Best – KWH
I really like your blog and was wondering how you select the books to recommend. I have written a children’s book for Christmas based on a story I used to tell my daughters when they were young. The link to the book on Amazon is below. The reviews are worth noting. I did not know how to send you an email so hopefully this will work. Thanks.
Keith
Thanks Keith,
I get ideas from a number of sources, including School Library Journal and the Horn Book. I will certainly take a look at your book during the holiday season.
Thanks Shelley – you’ve done all my work for me: books for teens, books for children, educational books, books to suggest to my book group! Here I come Barnes and Noble……
Love Dad
love
love
such a great idea
So happy to find this and YOU!
I know I can trust your opinion and cannot wait to use your recommendations to make suggestions for my three girls. I am always on the lookout for those just right books!!
Hope you are happy and well – miss you!
Hello! I just found your blog via Barbara O’Connor’s blog, and I am thrilled. From the very start, I love your voice and your quiet talk about books. I will be a frequent visitor.
Hi Devin,
Thanks for your kind words… reading your blog inspired me to add The Luck of the Buttons to my reading list. Thanks for the recommendation!
Shelley,
I am so impressed by your blog and inspired by your topics. You are doing good work and helping parents and teachers find the right books. I wish I had had this to read when my kids were little.
Thank you.
Pat T
Hi Pat,
Thank you for your kind words – I love writing the blog and always enjoy pointing out good books! See you at school…
Shelly, we are all so impressed with your latest honor. Congratulations on your book being honored. Very exciting! I enjoyed reading your blog tonight too.and I loved reading the “All of a Kind Family” books when I was younger. I look forward to sharing them with Cassady. Have great weekend and hope to see you soon.
Ms. Sommers, My name is Erik Synnestvedt. I’m a professional audiobook narrator at the Library of Congress Talking Books for the Blind program. I’m about to start recording Hammerin’ Hank. Could you please get in touch with me regarding a few pronunciations I need to ask about? Thanks.
Ms. Sommers, please contact me about further recognition for Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg. Thank you.
Hi Norman –
I can be reached by e-mail at ssommer@inlyschool.org
Thanks…
Shelly, I just found out about your blog from the UD Alumni mag. It is so awesome. Last year I wrapped up 7 years as a K-8 Catholic school part-time librarian and I wish I had found this before. It would have been so helpful, since there was never enough time to do lots of research. I remember you from UD, communications classes maybe…Good luck on your new book. It sounds great!
Jayne Kassman Tegge ’83
Hi Jayne,
Thanks so much for your comment. I remembered your name right away – and it was great fun to hear
a name from our Flyer days…I’ve been having a lot of fun with my bio of Hank Greenberg –
especially hearing from old friends. Thanks again.
BTW, “Wrinkle in Time” was my all time fave as a kid, and I never failed to read “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” to my 4th graders.
Shelly, I had a parent ask me tonight about possible non-Scholastic book fairs. I remember reading about a company that you have organized book fairs with before. I know I could go back and try to find it, but I have NO IDEA when it was, and I figured it would be a quick response from you. I appreciate it! Thank you.
Hi Devin,
The “other” book fair company that Inly uses is Book Fairs by Book Ends, but they are a New England-based company and I’m not sure if they run book fairs out of the region.
Also, I’ve worked with local independent bookstores in the past. They order books and bring them in which is great, but these kinds of fairs require more set-up.
If I think of anything else, I’ll definitely write back. Hope all is well!
Thank you, Shelly! I do think Prairie Lights (IC’s independent book store) would be willing to host something, but I don’t know that it would bring in the dollars that Scholastic does. Always a trade-off, no?! The school year is starting tomorrow – crazy. I hope you have a great year! Thanks again.
Have you come across a story about Hank Greenberg in the late 1920s playing in, and hitting a 9th inning home run for his NYC team to win an amateur baseball tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan? I was told about this when playing there in 1960 and then in 1962 in an interview with the Dean at Northwestern MBA program he said Hank was a boyhood friend and teammate – so I interrupted to tell the Battle Creek tournament story – and it turned out the Dean was a baserunner when it happened. For the next 50 years I have frequently been asked – how did a guy like you get into Northwestern MBA – and I say it is simple – the Dean was a baserunner in the 9th , 2 out, 2 strikes and Hank Greenberg hit a home run.
The new Hank Greenberg Hero of Heros adult bio has no mention of this and the author had never heard of it so I am wondering just how common or even true it is.
Jerry Paner
Hi Jerry,
Thanks for your comment. I haven’t heard that story, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! You might want to
check out John Rosengren’s new 392-page biography of Hank Greenberg. It was just published and is getting really good reviews.
Thanks – I read the H G amateur baseball years in John R’s book and contacted him when I did not find the story I am interested. John had not heard of it either and based on his timeline of H G in the early 20s it now seems doubtful. That’s what jump started me on my investigation. I sent an e-mail to Sports Editor of Battle Creek, MI newspaper inquiring but no response over last 2 days. Right now “tis a puzzlement” as Yul Bruner said in the King and I,
Jerry Paner
Shelley. So great to see you tonight. I am going to find this book and get it for Elijah. Great blog. Kim
Hi Kim,
So fun to check blog and see your comment! It was great to see you as well….
HI there, I love your blog! I teach second grade in MA. The primary teachers at my school are preparing summer work for our students. Are there newer chapter books you would recommend for teachers to require of students entering second, third and fourth grades? I’d love to hear your ideas! Some I’ve looked at are The Year of Billy Miller, Marty McGuire, and The One and Only Ivan.
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for your comment. I’m happy to hear the blog is helpful. I do have lots of ideas for you – and will write them into a post. Can’t list them all here. Watch next week!
We discovered your blog when researching for ways to promote our latest book on line. What a wonderfully helpful blog you have for promoting good children’s literature (and literature for adults as well). We are seniors living in British Columbia and have so far, in our retirement, produced a how-to manual, a novel of adventure and time travel, a memoir and now a children’s chapter book about a boy and two pet birds, one a wingless budgie and the other a rescued raven. If you would like to review Jake, Little Jimmy & Big Louie, we would be happy to send you a complimentary copy. Please check us out on our WordPress blog at ianmooremorrans.com. You can email us at gayleian@gmail.com if you wish. Two of our great-grandchildren assisted us with the production of the chapter book: our then-12-year-old great-grandson as our age-appropriate consultant and our then-8-year-old great-granddaughter as illustrator. Best wishes as you continue adding to your blog.
Ian and Gayle Moore-Morrans
Hi Gayle and Ian,
Thanks for your comment. I will definitely check your website to learn more about your books.
Thank you so much for reviewing PAX AND BLUE. I’m glad you enjoyed the book!
Shelley, thank you for the shout-out! Love your blog.
Kevin Mims
Thanks Kevin….
I loved your essay so much – keeping it close!
I love your blog. Can I subscribe to it? I am a librarian at Tenacre Country Day in Wellesley.
Hi Esther,
Thanks so much. And yes, I just checked – and if you scroll down, it says: email me – or something like that! If you click on that and put your email address, it notifies you when there’s a new post. I almost always post on Sundays so it’s pretty reliable in that way as well!
Thanks again…
Love your blog! I ran across it as I was doing a little research on blogs for children’s books.
Do you accept books for review? If so, would you be interested in reviewing it on your blog?
I’ve just published a children’s picture book, now available on Amazon. It shot to a #1 best seller almost immediately and as of today, has been in the best seller list for a week. It is an adorable book for young children with lovely illustrations about a Sailboat with her two friends, Danny the Dolphin and Simon the Seagull.
If so, please let me know the best way to send you a copy. I am also available for an author interview or a guest post.
Thanks so much for your consideration and keep blogging! It’s great!
Laura Young
Thanks Laura —
I appreciate your comment and was happy to learn more about your work (on your website).
It seems like your book is only available on Kindle – is that the case? I only review
books in “traditional book form” so let me know….
Thank you for your reply. It will be available in print in a few days.
Laura
LAURA THOMAE YOUNG
_CONTACT ME: __LAURA@LAURATHOMAEYOUNG.COM [1]_
__
__
Serena the Sailboat [2] is now available on Amazon!