Book Tastings- hook, chapter 1 reading, read aloud, circle time, picture books, YA Fiction, YA Books, classic books, relevant

Episode 61: "Walkin' the Dog" by: Chris Lynch

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Walkin' the Dog" by: Chis Lynch. In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls "the inactivist," someone who'd rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling. But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends--both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he's going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis's charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods. Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Walkin' the Dog. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Chris Lynch Enjoy, Anne

Episode 60: "Across the Desert" by: Dusti Bowling

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Across the Desert" by: Dusti Bowling. Twelve-year-old Jolene spends every day she can at the library watching her favorite livestream: The Desert Aviator, where twelve-year-old "Addie Earhart" shares her adventures flying an ultralight plane over the desert. While watching this daring girl fly through the sky, Jolene can dream of what it would be like to fly with her, far away from her own troubled home life where her mother struggles with a narcotic addiction. And Addie, who is grieving the loss of her father, finds solace in her online conversations with Jolene, her biggest--and only--fan. Then, one day, it all goes wrong: Addie's engine abruptly stops, and Jolene watches in helpless horror as the ultralight plummets to the ground and the video goes dark. Jolene knows that Addie won't survive long in the extreme summer desert heat. With no one to turn to for help and armed with only a hand-drawn map and a stolen cell phone, it's up to Jolene to find a way to save the Desert Aviator. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Across the Desert. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Dusti Bowling. Enjoy, Anne

BONUS Episode 5: "When Bad Things Happen" by: Donna Carr Roberts

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the book "When Bad Things Happen" by: Donna Carr Roberts. Join Mr. Fuzzy Ears and his family on a journey that transcends the boundaries of life and death. In this beautifully illustrated tale filled with laughter and tears, we all learn the timeless wisdom that even in the face of loss, love endures, memories persist, and the angels above us promise an everlasting connection." When Bad Things Happen is a poignant exploration of the circle of life, inviting readers of all ages to find solace and joy in the bittersweet embrace of saying goodbye. These delicate threads of life intertwine to create a timeless tapestry of hope and remembrance. The warmth and grace of the illustrations in this book depict love that says every goodbye is but a prelude to a new beginning. If you enjoyed this book please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: When Bad Things Happen Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Donna Carr Roberts. Enjoy, Anne Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book to record live on my podcast. THANK YOU!!!

Episode 59: "The Adventure is Now" by: Jess Redman

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Adventure is Now" by: Jess Redman. Sometimes it's hard to be Milton P. Greene. He says all the wrong things, his family is falling apart, and everyone at school avoids him because of the very embarrassing Bird Brain Incident. But when Milton plays his video game Isle of Wild, he becomes someone else--Sea Hawk, the brave and brilliant naturalist explorer who conquers danger at every turn. Then Milton's parents ship him off to the remote Lone Island for the summer, where his uncle Evan is an environmentalist researcher. The island is chock-full of spectaculous species, and Milton realizes this is his chance to become the brave and brilliant naturalist he's always wanted to be--and even meet some fellow explorers! But as it turns out, the future of the Lone Island is in some pretty serious peril, and the only thing that can save it is a field guide full of cryptic clues. If Milton and his unexpected new friends are going to protect the island, they'll have to trust each other, discover new truths, and embark on a wild and wondrous adventure all their own. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Adventure is Now. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Jess Redman Enjoy, Anne

BONUS Episode 4: "The Adventures of Dori: A Rescue Pup" by: Conway and Ellis

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the book "The Adventures of Dori: A Rescue Pup" by: Conway and Ellis. Embark on an enchanting journey with Dori, the Rescue Pup, in this delightful children's book. Follow Dori and her friends as they explore the beach, highlighting the beauty of teamwork, the magic of friendship, and the unique perspective of a rescue pup. From playful moments in the sand to exciting discoveries along the shoreline, each page captures the essence of wonder and the bonds forged between friends. This heartwarming tale not only shares a story of friendship and optimism but also invites young readers to be a part of Dori's legacy. With every purchase, a portion of the proceeds goes back to Southern Comfort Maltese Rescue, the organization that helped Dori find her forever home. If you enjoyed this book please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Adventures of Dori: A Rescue Pup Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Kathleen Conway and Juanita Ellis . Enjoy, Anne Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book to record live on my podcast. THANK YOU!!!

BONUS Episode 3: "Pisa Loves Bella: A Towering Tale of Kindness" by: Kimberley Lovato

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the book "Pisa Loves Bella" by: Kimberley Lovato. Welcome to Pisa! I'm thrilled you dropped by. I'm Bella the bell tower- Eight stories high! And so begins this uplifting rhyming tale told by Bella, Italy's famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. For hundreds of years, Bella has felt proud of her gravity-defying tilt. But her confidence is tested one day when she overhears hurtful words about her appearance. Bella responds by making a big change, one that leaves the residents of Pisa and visitors from around the world worried that their treasured tower will never be the same again. If you enjoyed this book please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Pisa Loves Bella. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Kimberley Lovato. Enjoy, Anne Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book to record live on my podcast. THANK YOU!!!

Episode 58: "Hummingbird" by: Natalie Lloyd

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Hummingbird" by: Natalie Lloyd. Twelve-year-old homeschooled Olive is tired of being seen as "fragile" just because she has osteogenesis imperfecta (otherwise known as brittle bone disease) so she's thrilled when she finally convinces her parents to let her attend Macklemore Elementary. Olive can't wait to go to a traditional school and make the friends she's always longed for, until a disastrous first day dashes her hopes of ever fitting in. Then Olive hears whispers about a magical, wish-granting hummingbird that supposedly lives near Macklemore. It'll be the solution to all her problems! If she can find the bird and prove herself worthy, the creature will make her most desperate, secret wish come true. When it becomes clear that she can't solve the mystery on her own, Olive teams up with some unlikely allies who help her learn the truth about the bird. And on the way, she just might learn that our fragile places lead us to the most wonderful magic of all . . . If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Hummingbird. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Natalie Lloyd. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 57: "Attack of the Black Rectangles" by: Amy Sarig King

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Attack of the Black Rectangles" by: Amy Sarig King. When Mac first opens his classroom copy of Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic and finds some words blacked out, he thinks it must be a mistake. But then when he and his friends discover what the missing words are, he's outraged. Someone in his school is trying to prevent kids from reading the full story. But who? Even though his unreliable dad tells him to not get so emotional about a book (or anything else), Mac has been raised by his mom and grandad to call out things that are wrong. He and his friends head to the principal's office to protest the censorship... but her response doesn't take them seriously. So many adults want Mac to keep his words to himself. Mac's about to see the power of letting them out. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Attack of the Black Rectangles. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Amy Sarig King. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 56: "A Rover's Story" by: Jasmine Warga

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "A Rover's Story" by: Jasmine Warga. Meet Resilience, a Mars rover determined to live up to his name. Res was built to explore Mars. He was not built to have human emotions. But as he learns new things from the NASA scientists who assemble him, he begins to develop humanlike feelings. Maybe there's a problem with his programming.... Human emotions or not, launch day comes, and Res blasts off to Mars, accompanied by a friendly drone helicopter named Fly. But Res quickly discovers that Mars is a dangerous place filled with dust storms and giant cliffs. As he navigates Mars's difficult landscape, Res is tested in ways that go beyond space exploration. As millions of people back on Earth follow his progress, will Res have the determination, courage, and resilience to succeed...and survive? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: A Rover's Story Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Jasmine Warga Enjoy, Anne

Episode 55: "A Duet for Home" by: Karina Yan Glaser

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "A Duet for Home" by: Karina Yan Glaser. It's June's first day at Huey House, and as if losing her home weren't enough, she also can't bring her cherished viola inside. Before the accident last year, her dad saved tip money for a year to buy her viola, and she's not about to give it up now. Tyrell has been at Huey House for three years and gives June a glimpse of the good things about living there: friendship, hot meals, and a classical musician next door. Can he and June work together to oppose the government, or will families be forced out of Huey House before they are ready? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: A Duet for Home Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Karina Yan Glaser Enjoy, Anne

Episode 54: "How to Win a Slime War" by: Mae Respicio

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "How to Win a Slime War" by: Mae Respicio. Alex Manalo and his dad have just moved back to Sacramento to revive their extended family's struggling Filipino market. While Alex likes helping at the store, his true passion is making slime! He comes up with his own recipes, playing with ingredients, colors, and textures that make his slime truly special. Encouraged by a new friend at school, Alex begins to sell his creations, leading to a sell-off battle with a girl who previously had a slime-opoly. Winner gets bragging rights and the right to be the only slime game in town. But Alex's dad thinks Alex should be focused more on "traditional" boy pastimes and less on slime. As the new soccer coach, Dad wants Alex to join the team. Alex is battling on multiple fronts--with his new friends at school and with his dad at home. It will be a sticky race to the finish to see who oozes out on top. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: How to Win a Slime War Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Mae Respicio Enjoy, Anne

Episode 53: "The Apartment House on Poppy Hill" by: Nina LaCour

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Apartment House on Poppy Hill" by: Nina LaCour. Welcome to 1106 Wildflower Place: It is no ordinary apartment house, but you, reader, are no ordinary visitor. So, please, come in! Two new tenants have just arrived, and nine-year-old Ella is determined to help them settle in. Who better to teach them about the glitchy lights and the nighttime noises? After all, Ella knows all the neighbors. Well, almost all. No one has met the mysterious Robinsons who live on the top floor. Will a special neighborly celebration change all that? This bighearted chapter book by bestselling author Nina LaCour, highlighted by lively illustrations throughout, celebrates community, friendship, family, and home. It is a place of walking dogs that aren't yours, keeping surprises secret, and making everyone feel welcome. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Apartment House on Poppy Hill. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Nina LaCour Enjoy, Anne

Episode 52: "Outside Nowhere" by: Adam Borba

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Outside Nowhere" by: Adam Borba. Charming and funny, Parker Kelbrook can wriggle out of anything he doesn't want to do. So when he's forced to take a job at the local pool--a threat to his beach-filled summer plans--he comes up with the perfect prank to get himself fired. Once Parker's father catches wind of his latest scheme, he decides enough is enough, and Parker is sent halfway across the country to work on a farm alongside five other kids who aren't his biggest fans. As Parker learns to roll up his sleeves and keep his head down, strange things start happening. And after he awakens one morning to find a seventeen-hundred-pound dairy cow on the roof of a barn, he suspects that something magical and mysterious is growing in the farm's fields. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Outside Nowhere Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Adam Borba. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 51: "Game Changer" by: Tommy Greenwald

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first 15 pages of "Game Changer" by: Tommy Greenwald. Thirteen-year-old Teddy Youngblood is in a coma, fighting for his life after an unspecified football injury at training camp. His family and friends flock to his bedside to support his recovery--and to discuss the events leading up to the tragic accident. Was this the inevitable result of playing a violent sport, or did something more sinister happen on the field that day? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Game Changer Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Tommy Greenwald. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 50: "Odder" by: Katherine Applegate

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the 15 page of "Odder" by: Katherine Applegate. Meet Odder, the Queen of Play: Nobody has her moves. She doesn't just swim to the bottom, she dive-bombs. She doesn't just somersault, she triple-doughnuts. She doesn't just ride the waves, she makes them. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she's known. She's a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself--and about the humans who hope to save her. Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature's most beloved and charming animals. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Odder Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Katherine Applegate Enjoy, Anne

Episode 49: "The Line Tender" by: Kate Allen

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Line Tender" by: Kate Allen. Wherever the sharks led, Lucy Everhart's marine-biologist mother was sure to follow. In fact, she was on a boat far off the coast of Massachusetts, collecting shark data when she died suddenly. Lucy was seven. Since then Lucy and her father have kept their heads above water--thanks in large part to a few close friends and neighbors. But June of her twelfth summer brings more than the end of school and a heat wave to sleepy Rockport. On one steamy day, the tide brings a great white--and then another tragedy, cutting short a friendship everyone insists was "meaningful" but no one can tell Lucy what it all meant. To survive the fresh wave of grief, Lucy must grab the line that connects her depressed father, a stubborn fisherman, and a curious old widower to her mother's unfinished research on the Great White's return to Cape Cod. If Lucy can find a way to help this unlikely quartet follow the sharks her mother loved, she'll finally be able to look beyond what she's lost and toward what's left to be discovered. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Line Tender Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Kate Allen Enjoy, Anne

Episode 48: "The Night War" by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Night War" by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. It's 1942. German Nazis occupy much of France. And twelve-year-old Miriam, who is Jewish, is not safe. With help and quick thinking, Miri is saved from the roundup that takes her entire Jewish neighborhood. She escapes Paris, landing in a small French village, where the spires of the famous Chateau de Chenonceau rise high into the sky, its bridge across the River Cher like a promise, a fairy tale. But Miri's life is no fairy tale. Her parents are gone--maybe alive, maybe not. Taken in at the boarding school near the chateau, pretending to be Catholic to escape Nazi capture, Miri volunteers one night to undertake a deadly task, one that spans the castle grounds, its bridge, and the very border to freedom. Here is her chance to escape--hopefully to find her parents. But will she take it? One thing is certain: The person Miri meets that night will save her life. And the person Miri becomes that night could save the lives of many more. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Night War Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Kimberly Brubaker Bradley . Enjoy, Anne

Episode 47: " The Mystery of Locked Rooms" by: Lindsay Currie

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Mystery of Locked Rooms" by: Lindsay Currie. Twelve-year-old Sarah Greene wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends, West, and Hannah. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose your house bad...until now. Sarah feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned funhouse. According to legend, Hans, Stefan, and Karl Stein were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the most epic funhouse in existence. They wanted their experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside the funhouse. Once in, Sarah, West, and Hannah realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted. There are challenges, yes, but they feel personal. Like the triplets knew who would get in. It seems impossible, but so does everything about the house. As soon as they're in she immediately worries that attempting the funhouse is a bad idea but Sarah has no choice but to continue, since her future is at stake. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Mystery of Locked Rooms Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Lindsay Currie. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 46: "Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska" by: Helen Moss

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Balto and Togo: Hero Dogs of Alaska" by: Helen Moss. It's the winter of 1924 and a diptheria outbreak is threatening the population of Nome, Alaska. The only way to stop the deadly illness from causing a full blown epidemic is to immediately deliver one million units of the diptheria antitoxin to the affected communities --a task that seems impossible given that the only way to reach any place in Alaska at this time of year is by dog sled. The stakes are high, and the snow is piling higher. Will the antitoxin make it in time? Or will the infection spread faster than they can treat it... Follow along as Balto and Togo lead the way in this race against time to get the antitoxin and save lives. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Balto and Togo. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Helen Moss. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 45: "Across So Many Seas" by: Ruth Behar

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Across So Many Seas" by: Ruth Behar. Spanning over 500 years, Pura Belpré Award winner Ruth Behar's epic novel tells the stories of four girls from different generations of a Jewish family, many of them forced to leave their country and start a new life. In 1492, during the Spanish Inquisition, Benvenida and her family are banished from Spain for being Jewish, and must flee the country or be killed. They journey by foot and by sea, eventually settling in Istanbul. Over four centuries later, in 1923, shortly after the Turkish war of independence, Reina's father disowns her for a small act of disobedience. He ships her away to live with an aunt in Cuba, to be wed in an arranged marriage when she turns fifteen. In 1961, Reina's daughter, Alegra, is proud to be a brigadista, teaching literacy in the countryside for Fidel Castro. But soon Castro's crackdowns force her to flee to Miami all alone, leaving her parents behind. Finally, in 2003, Alegra's daughter, Paloma, is fascinated by all the journeys that had to happen before she could be born. A keeper of memories, she's thrilled by the opportunity to learn more about her heritage on a family trip to Spain, where she makes a momentous discovery. Though many years and many seas separate these girls, they are united by a love of music and poetry, a desire to belong and to matter, a passion for learning, and their longing for a home where all are welcome. And each is lucky to stand on the shoulders of their courageous ancestors. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Across So Many Seas. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Ruth Behar. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 44: "The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry" by: Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry" by: Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. Eleven-year-old Juniper Berry lives in a cabin with her family deep in the wild woods. Living off the grid is usually exciting, like the time she chased off three growling raccoons with a tree branch and some acorns, or when she thought she glimpsed the legendary Bigfoot. But her happy life in the wild ends abruptly when her younger brother gets sick, and the family moves to the city to be closer to the hospital. Juniper and her older sister are sent to live with cousins they hardly know and attend a public school for the first time, which is harder to navigate than the wild woods ever were. Juniper feels like a wolf cub separated from her pack. When Juniper notices that her cousin, Alayna, is being bullied by so-called friends, she's ready to fight back like the wild geese do when protecting their goslings, but her cousin tells her to stay out of it; she doesn't want Juniper making things worse. As the hospital bills for her brother start piling up, Juniper knows they'll need to be paid before the family can go back to the woods, so she decides to make enough money to help out. With Alayna's support, Juniper starts posting videos filled with her wisdom from the woods, hoping to get a following. But what if it doesn't work? What if the bills never get paid? Not going home to the wild is Juniper's worst nightmare. But while she's stuck in the city, she might as well make the most of it, like sticking up for her cousin, for starters. The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry is a story about perseverance when faced with difficult and unfamiliar challenges, belonging and finding your identity, compassion for others, and learning that our differences can sometimes be our strengths. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else these authors have written be sure to check out Chad Morris and Shelly Brown . Enjoy, Anne

Episode 43: "15 Secrets to Survival" by: Natalie D Richards

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "15 Secrets to Survival" by: Natalie D. Richards. When classmates Baxter, Abigail, Turner and Emerson break a school rule, they're forced to travel to the middle of nowhere for an extra credit project. They think things can't get much worse. After all, how will learning to survive in the wilderness help them stay out of trouble in school? What starts off as a weekend of team building takes a scary turn when their instructor goes missing and they are given nothing but pages of a survival guide to complete a series of challenges. They soon learn the woods around them have unexpected surprises. Will they discover a way to work together to find their teacher and overcome the dangers of winter in the mountains? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: 15 Secrets to Survival. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Natalie D Richards. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 42: "The Doughnut Fix" by: Jessie Janowitz

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Doughnut Fix" by: Jessie Janowitz. Tristan isn't Gifted or Talented like his sister Jeanine, and he's always been okay with that because he can make a perfect chocolate chip cookie and he lives in the greatest city in the world. But his life takes a turn for the worse when his parents decide to move to middle-of-nowhere Petersville--a town with one street and no restaurants. It's like suddenly they're supposed to be this other family, one that can survive without bagels and movie theaters. His suspicions about his new town are confirmed when he's tricked into believing the local general store has life-changing chocolate cream doughnuts, when in fact the owner hasn't made them in years. And so begins the only thing that could make life in Petersville worth living: getting the recipe, making the doughnuts, and bringing them back to the town through his very own doughnut stand. But Tristan will soon discover that when starting a business, it helps to be both Gifted and Talented, and it's possible he's bitten off more than he can chew... If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Doughnut Fix Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Jessie Janowitz. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 41: "Gregor the Overlander" by: Suzanne Collins

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Gregor the Overlander" by: Susanne Collins. When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it -- until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Gregor the Overlander. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Suzanne Collins . Enjoy, Anne

Episode 40: "Ferris" by: Kate DiCamillo

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Ferris" by: Kate DiCamillo. It's the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris's mother's chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris's grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans--wild, impractical, illuminating plans. How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Ferris. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Kate DiCamillo. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 38: "The Mapmakers" by:Tamzin Merchant

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Mapmakers" by: Tamzin Merchant. Cordelia Hatmaker has saved England from war. She stopped Lord Whitloof's sinister plans, rescued the King and Princess, and restored the Makers Guild. But she still hasn't found her missing father. Ever since Cordelia discovered the hidden map in her father's telescope, she's been searching the streets of London by starlight, trying to uncover its secrets. She never expects to stumble upon a secret society of Mapmakers--or to learn that magic isn't limited to the few Maker families, but instead is all around, if you know where to look. But danger is lurking around every corner, and Cordelia must convince the rival Maker families to work together for once--not only to bring her father home, but to save the very essence of magic itself. . . . With exceptional and inventive storytelling and a lionhearted heroine, Tamzin Merchant once again draws readers into her captivating London and takes them on a breathless new adventure full of wildness, wit, warmth--and magic. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Mapmakers Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Tamzin Merchant. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 35: "The Lost Library" by: Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "The Lost Library" by: Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change. Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself. Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It's about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you). If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: The Lost Library Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass . Enjoy, Anne

Episode 34: "Wretched Waterpark" by: Kiersten White

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Wretched Waterpark" by: Kiersten White. Meet the Sinister-Winterbottoms: brave Theo, her timid twin, Alexander, and their older sister, Wil. They're stuck for the summer with their Aunt Saffronia, who doesn't know how often children need to eat and can't use a smartphone, and whose feet never quite seem to touch the floor when she glides--er--walks. When Aunt Saffronia suggests a week pass to the Fathoms of Fun Waterpark, they hastily agree. But the park is even stranger than Aunt Saffronia. The waterslides look like gray gargoyle tongues. The employees wear creepy black dresses and deliver ominous messages. An impossible figure is at the top of the slide tower, people are disappearing, and suspicious goo is seeping into the wave pool. Something mysterious is happening at Fathoms of Fun, and it's up to the twins to get to the bottom of it. The mystery, that is. NOT the wave pool. Definitely NOT the wave pool. But are Theo and Alexander out of their depth? If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Wretched Waterpark. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Kiersten White. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 33: "Puppy Love" by: Gary Soto

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter of "Puppy Love" by: Gary Soto. Thirteen-year-old Jordan Mendoza has a huge crush on his classmate, Sierra, but he's never going to win her affections if he stays a C student and keeps embarrassing himself on the basketball court. And it doesn't help that his best friend, Antonio, likes to tease him about it all a little too much. But when Jordan dives into the waters of a dangerous irrigation canal to save a drowning puppy, he's suddenly got even more on his mind than kissing Sierra and making the starting team. Can he nurse the abandoned puppy back to health (and will his parents let him keep her)? Who threw her into the canal--and is it possible that there are more puppies needing rescue? And why are the cops suddenly at Jordan's door, looking for him? There's something for every reader in this story's mix of humor, sports, themes of thrilling independence, subtle strands of magical realism, and timely social commentary, all held together by a sweet and satisfying emotional core. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Puppy Love. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Gary Soto. Enjoy, Anne

Episode 32: "Jawbreaker" by: Christina Wyman

Hey there teachers, in the classroom and those at home, need someone to help you get the kids into reading? Join me in this week's episode while I read aloud the first chapter along with the author note's of "Jawbreaker" by: Christina Wyman. Max Plink's life is complicated. Her parents aren't getting along. The school bullies are relentless--and her own sister is the cruelest of them. Worst of all, her mouth is a mess. With a mismatched puzzle of a jaw, Max has a Class II malocclusion, otherwise known as a severe overbite. She already has braces, which means she lives on Advil and soft foods after each orthodontist appointment. But now Max has to wear painful (and totally awkward) orthodontic headgear nicknamed "the jawbreaker." Could things get any worse? Yes. The journalism competition Max wants to enter has a video component. But being on camera means showing her face not just to her junior high classmates, but possibly the whole city. Going viral is the last thing Max needs, but winning this competition is what she wants most. Turns out, following her dreams is complicated, too. If you enjoyed this first chapter please screenshot today's episode and share it on your IG stories and tag me @booktastingspodcast. Want to keep reading?? Here is a click to buy the book: Jawbreaker. Loved this book and interested in seeing what else this author has written be sure to check out Christina Wayman. Enjoy, Anne