I LOVE Blueberries by Shannon Anderson and Jaclyn Sinquett

I LOVE Blueberries 

by Shannon Anderson 

Illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett

Published April, 2025

Feeding Minds Press

32 Pages

Hardcover 

Informative Fiction

Summary From Publisher

Berry-loving Jolie is back, and this time she has a new friend! Margot has just moved to town and misses Maine — especially the blueberries. Determined to help, Jolie turns to their teacher to learn how hydroponics helps the strawberries in their classroom grow. Unfortunately, it’s a costly system and there’s no money left from the grant that helped the class start their indoor strawberry patch. Undeterred, Jolie, Margot, and their diverse group of classmates brainstorm ways to get the equipment they need, and they come up with just the thing: a Blueberry Bash!

The students invite the local community to a show-and-tell — featuring homemade decorations (blue, of course), blueberry muffins, and even a blueberry-themed poem! — where they explain their gardening goals, and inspire the community to come together and help the class achieve their berry-growing dreams.

Sinquett’s illustrations of Jolie’s exuberant, scrapbook-style journal and Margot’s sketchbook bring Anderson’s delightful tale to life, and will keep kids engaged as they learn all about the wonders of hydroponics and indoor gardening, and the many health benefits of blueberries.

My Thoughts

Maine is known for its blueberries so I was drawn to this book immediately. I liked how the characters worked together to solve the problem and kept track of things using their notebook. The notebook images added a lot to the book and show readers how to use writing in a real-world way. Facts are woven in naturally, but the story still shines through. I can see readers wanting to use hydroponics in their  classrooms or homes after reading I LOVE Blueberries. 

Back matter includes nutritional facts about blueberries and how to start using hydroponics. 

In my opinion, this book could be used K-5, but 2-5 would likely benefit the most. 

Image from Amazon.com

About the Author: Shannon Anderson is an award-winning children's book author, professor, TEDx speaker, frequent keynote presenter, and certified brain coach. She taught for 25 years, from first grade through college level and was named one of the 10 teachers who "awed and inspired" the Today Show in 2019. Shannon loves doing author visits, providing Professional Development for teachers, mentoring aspiring writers, and speaking at events. Her book I LOVE Strawberries! was named the top rated 2022 picture book by Good Housekeeping magazine and the national book of the year by the Farm Bureau Foundation. Learn more at shannonisteaching.com.

About the Illustrator: Jaclyn Sinquett grew up playing in her dad's garden, feeding worms to box turtles, and tossing french fries to seagulls at the Jersey shore. She now spends her time avoiding sunburn at the beach with her daughter, catching up on a certain great baking show, and illustrating books for children. She lives in Brick, NJ. See more of her work at jaclynsinquett.com.

About the Publisher: Feeding Minds Press is a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The mission of the Foundation is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education. The goal of Feeding Minds Press is to publish accurate and engaging books about agriculture that connect readers to where their food comes from and who grows it. Learn more at feedingmindspress.com.



Praise for I LOVE Strawberries!

“A multi-layered story about a resourceful girl who is determined to grow strawberries received the highest scores from parents and kids of all the books tested. A series of handwritten diary entries, along with a bit of regular text, chronicle (often with humor) the girl’s efforts to convince her parents that she’s mature and hard-working enough to raise berries. ‘This book explores themes of responsibility, passion and entrepreneurship while explaining the process of growing one's own food and the lifecycle of a plant,’ says judge Sandhya Nankani, founder of The Story Seeds Podcast.”
—Good Housekeeping, 2022 Best Kids’ Books Awards

Awards and Honors

2023 American Farm Bureau Foundation’s Agriculture Book of the Year
2023 Benjamin Franklin GOLD Award for Picture Book
2023 Jr Master Gardener Program’s Growing Good Kids Book Award
2023 Hindi's Libraries’ Best Females of Fiction Award
2023 Penelope's Prize Children's Book Award Judge's Selection
2023 Indiana Farm Bureau’s Book of the Year
2023 Virginia Ag in the Classroom’s Book of the Year
2022 Good Housekeeping’s Best Kids Books
2022 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year BRONZE Award

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? November 7, 2016

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Click on the covers to learn more about each book.

An important story to share with children to build 

empathy and spark their desire to help others.

Just beautiful! Deborah Freeman is amazing! 

Share this with all your shy little ones. 

There is so much to read and examine in this 160 page biography of E.B.White. A must-have for your biography collection. 

What are you reading friends? 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? October 24, 2016

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Click on the covers to learn more about each book.

An adorable addition to this series. 

Click here to see my review from last week. 

Click here to see my review from last week. 

This book should come with a pack of tissues. I have not cried because of a book since Maxi's Secrets. 

Finished

A wonderful middle grade novel in verse. 

Maine friends, it would make a nice read aloud. It is set in Maine and the characters participate in 4-H activities. And what would a book set in Maine be without a stereotypical Mainer with a thick Downeast accent?...Ayuh!

Currently Reading

What are you reading friends?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?-October 17, 2016

A couple more day left to enter to win a Pug Meets Pig gift pack ! 

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Click on the covers to learn more about each book.

Last week I reviewed A Bike Like Sergio's by this author/illustrator team. This book would be excellent to share with elementary students and offers many opportunities for discussion about fairness, wants and needs.

Visit tomorrow to hear more about this sweet picture book!

Currently Reading

Really enjoying this novel in verse.

Maxi's Secrets by Lynn Plourde

Maxi's Secrets 

by Lynn Plourde
Expected Release Date August 23, 2016
Nancy Paulsen Books
Middle Grade Novel
272 pages
Advanced Review Copy provided by publisher. 




Goodreads Summary

When a BIG, lovable, does-it-her-way dog wiggles her way into the heart of a loudmouth pipsqueak of a boy, wonderful things happen that help him become a bigger, better person. With its diverse cast, authentic narrator, and perfect blend of spot-on middle-grade humor, drama, and wisdom, this powerful debut is relatable, funny, bittersweet, and full of heart. 

Timminy knows that moving to a new town just in time to start middle school when you are perfect bully bait is less than ideal. But he gets a great consolation prize in Maxi—a gentle giant of a dog who the family quickly discovers is deaf. Timminy is determined to do all he can to help Maxi—after all, his parents didn't return him because he was a runt. But when the going gets rough for Timminy, who spends a little too much time getting shoved into lockers at school, Maxi ends up being the one to help him—along with their neighbor, Abby, who doesn’t let her blindness define her and bristles at Timminy’s “poor-me” attitude. It turns out there’s more to everyone than what’s on the surface, whether it comes to Abby, Maxi, or even Timminy himself.

My Thoughts

Maxi is joining the ranks of classic "dog books" such as Old Yeller, Shiloh and Because of Winn Dixie and will fit right in.  However, it is much more than just a book about an exceptional, loving dog. 

It is about how Maxi draws people together, imperfect, misunderstood people who need each other. Because of Maxi, Timminy meets Abby, his first friend in his new town. Because of Maxi, Timminy has a reason to get through the school day. And it is Maxi who reveals the softer side of the school bully, Rory.

The characters are very well-developed and the author makes the reader care deeply about each of them. Timminy embarrasses himself in cringe-worthy fashion throughout the book making the reader root for him to overcome his awkwardness and to finally get the chip off his tiny shoulder. Middle grade readers will be hooked from the beginning and will not be able to put down this book as they hang on for its many ups and downs including a very emotional ending.

I am not what you would consider a "dog person". I have never owned a dog or any pet for that matter, but one does not need to be a dog person to love Maxi's Secrets. 

Lynn Plourde is not a new author. She is an award winning author who has published dozens of picture books. This is Plourde's first middle grade novel and it is a gem. I would highly recommend it for middle grade classrooms and libraries. It would also make a great read aloud or independent read. I will certainly be putting it in my classroom library. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Vermont by Toni Buzzeo

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Vermont
by Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by Liza Woodruff
Published October, 2015
Sterling Publishing
Hardcover
32 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Summary
Grace gets to visit her cousin Camden and tour New England for 12 days. Each day cousin Camden gives her something related to the state they are in. Grace writes letters back to her Mom and Dad about her trip which tell the story and provide the reader with interesting information about each of the New England states. 

My Thoughts

   Don't let this little picture book fool you, it is much more than just an adorable story of two cousins touring New England. Toni Buzzeo naturally weaves in information about each state in a way that the readers will barely notice they are learning about each state. As a lifelong New Englander, I can tell you that Buzzeo and Woodruff do a fabulous job together presenting information and capturing the feel of New England in the winter. There are also things that I learned about New England. Did you that Rocky Hill Connecticut has a state park called Dinosaur State Park with large prehistoric animals and hundreds of fossilized tracks? Me either!

   I would definitely recommend this books for any child ages 5-9 (publisher's range). It will definitely be reading to to my 4th graders. It would make a great addition to a classroom library or a gift for a New England child or a relative "from away".  

See what others have to say about The Twelve Days of Christmas in New England.

Publishers Weekly

Reviewed by Mom

Visit Toni Buzzeo's Website

Visit Liza Woodruff's Website