Tiff4Tat

  I brought them to life.  I massaged the heart. I promised devotion, loyalty, and allegiance.  And, I wasn’t alone.  Students at Bain Elementary School in Cheyenne, Wyoming, gave them a name. “A name gives identity to a person,” said Rosalie in Robyn Dabney’s The Ascenditure (p. 28). The kids named them Marshmallow.  And, Marshmallow came to life on December 4, 2023.  Marshmallow has been to school with Bitsy Bat and Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire.  Marshmallow has danced under the Northern Lights.  Marshmallow has made friends with students in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade during monthly read-alouds.  And, Marshmallow and I have set out on a reading adventure.  This is just one way I model a love for reading and lead a literacy initiative at my school.  As a principal literacy leader, a passion for reading should be evident. Share your favorite books, discuss reading with students, encourage teachers and librarians to book talk their favorite age-appropriate reads, and participa

January 12, 2024, Update : The Waters is for sale (click the blue link!), and it's a Jenna Bush Hagar January Book of the Month Club pick! Hello, fellow bookworms! As we bid farewell to another incredible year of literary adventures, it’s time to look to the future. Get ready to dive into two must-reads in the new year and join me at the wishing well for two others.  Calling all lovers of the gritty, the real, the raw. The best stories have authentic characters, so it’s no surprise I am longing for new releases from two authors who specialize in character-driven stories. January is the release month for one, and the other, well … it’s a wait and see.  I was first introduced to Bonnie Jo Campbell by my friend, the lovely and brilliant Kerry Peterson, who sees beauty in all things. Author Bonnie Jo Campbell has a knack to write that way, too. Campbell highlights the simple, draws out the mundane, and captures the everyday. Campbell also writes character-driven short stories and bri

  Welcome, fellow bookworms, literary enthusiasts, and avid page-turners! Prepare to embark on a journey through the realm of words, where ink dances, and stories come alive. I’ve been playing with a question you might be wondering, as well: Why should I bother with another book blog in the vast literary galaxy? Well, perhaps this will not be like every other book blog.  Some hopes of this blog are to provide a literary sanctuary for our kindred literary spirits where literature and wit intertwine to create a tapestry of literary revelry. But, wait, there’s more! This blog will be a platform for book reviews and recommendations. This blog will be a virtual gathering to dissect the nuances of prose, unravel the mysteries of plot twists, delve into character development (or lack thereof), and unleash an endless arsenal of wit.   Whether you’re a voracious reader, an aspiring writer, or simply seeking refuge from the mundane world, let this blog, published every Sunday, be your literary

Tiff4Tat is back with a fresh vision and renewed focus. Stay tuned for a formal welcome on Tuesday!