Sylvie Shaffer
@sylvieshaffer.bsky.social
School Librarianship and Kidlit, mostly. 🏳️🌈🦄🤸🏻♀️✡️📚
If you're going to assign students to complete a family tree (and really, there's SO MANY reasons not to!) please at least make the template editable, so kids can, for example, do Mom's side and Mama's side, or remove a side altogether, or actually can we just stop with the family trees?
May 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
If you're going to assign students to complete a family tree (and really, there's SO MANY reasons not to!) please at least make the template editable, so kids can, for example, do Mom's side and Mama's side, or remove a side altogether, or actually can we just stop with the family trees?
Although he’s over a year out from his Bar Mitzvah, 11yo asked to get up early to eat before Ta'anit Esther, today’s fast before Purim starts tonight. We had a lovely conversation about how Muslims are fasting each day for Ramadan right now, and I taught him the terms Suhur and Iftar.
March 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Although he’s over a year out from his Bar Mitzvah, 11yo asked to get up early to eat before Ta'anit Esther, today’s fast before Purim starts tonight. We had a lovely conversation about how Muslims are fasting each day for Ramadan right now, and I taught him the terms Suhur and Iftar.
In Circle Time at the #library this morning, one toddler vehemently protested every story and song, demanding cake. He got more insistent over the program “No cow moo- CAKE!” He wanted this cake stacking toy, but honestly just refusing everything asked of you and demanding cake is highly relatable.
March 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
In Circle Time at the #library this morning, one toddler vehemently protested every story and song, demanding cake. He got more insistent over the program “No cow moo- CAKE!” He wanted this cake stacking toy, but honestly just refusing everything asked of you and demanding cake is highly relatable.
Almost 12yo asked a great question: “did they even talk to any kids with two moms to ask what’s important to us about our families?” #kidlit #nonfiction #lgbtq
March 11, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Almost 12yo asked a great question: “did they even talk to any kids with two moms to ask what’s important to us about our families?” #kidlit #nonfiction #lgbtq
The wild air pressure and temperature swings have been brutal for my arthritis. Just lost my grip on a glass of water and am demoting myself to plastic and stainless steel for the remainder of this flare. On the plus side, the glass didn't break, and the kitchen floor really benefited from mopping.
March 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The wild air pressure and temperature swings have been brutal for my arthritis. Just lost my grip on a glass of water and am demoting myself to plastic and stainless steel for the remainder of this flare. On the plus side, the glass didn't break, and the kitchen floor really benefited from mopping.
I’ve (again!)got a guest #kidlit column in the Washington Post, this time offering #mglit readalikes for the #wickedmovie here’s a guest link! wapo.st/3VsqHQE
December 10, 2024 at 2:35 PM
I’ve (again!)got a guest #kidlit column in the Washington Post, this time offering #mglit readalikes for the #wickedmovie here’s a guest link! wapo.st/3VsqHQE
Me, to myself after taking my 11yo to see #wicked, and subsequently having to listen to him sing Defying Gravity nonstop. “I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re happy now.”
November 29, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Me, to myself after taking my 11yo to see #wicked, and subsequently having to listen to him sing Defying Gravity nonstop. “I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re happy now.”
I’m in today’s Washington Post’s Bookworld! Gift link to article (which ran digitally earlier this week) wapo.st/3SYbLID. #kidlit #mglit #picturebooks #nonfiction #books #childrensliterature
August 25, 2024 at 3:44 PM
I’m in today’s Washington Post’s Bookworld! Gift link to article (which ran digitally earlier this week) wapo.st/3SYbLID. #kidlit #mglit #picturebooks #nonfiction #books #childrensliterature
Congrats to the 2024 Walter Award Winners, and thank you to the committee for your work! #kidlit #yalit #mglit #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks diversebooks.org/wndb-announc...
January 17, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Congrats to the 2024 Walter Award Winners, and thank you to the committee for your work! #kidlit #yalit #mglit #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks diversebooks.org/wndb-announc...
Kid took off the VR headset to do the secret code challenge on the back of the cereal box. The future is weird.
December 17, 2023 at 2:36 PM
Kid took off the VR headset to do the secret code challenge on the back of the cereal box. The future is weird.
PSA - don’t limit yourself to Latkes and Sufganiot! Tonight’s dinner was zucchini cutlets with Boursin cheese, roasted red peppers, and pesto on baguette. Happy Chanukah!
December 8, 2023 at 1:25 AM
PSA - don’t limit yourself to Latkes and Sufganiot! Tonight’s dinner was zucchini cutlets with Boursin cheese, roasted red peppers, and pesto on baguette. Happy Chanukah!
Delighted to discover that a box of Chanukah candles exactly nestles into a Bonne Maman jar.
December 7, 2023 at 1:20 AM
Delighted to discover that a box of Chanukah candles exactly nestles into a Bonne Maman jar.
Caldecott predictions from a first grader “I think it’s going to be either the squirrel book, the spider book, or the horse book” place your bets, folks! #alayma #kidlit #picturebooks
December 5, 2023 at 7:36 PM
Caldecott predictions from a first grader “I think it’s going to be either the squirrel book, the spider book, or the horse book” place your bets, folks! #alayma #kidlit #picturebooks
Absolutely un-put-down-able! Fascinating #middlegrade #nonfiction about the Hoover Dam. Seriously, SO CAPTIVATING. Out 3/24 from Little Brown. Definitely going on my middle school summer reading list and my 2025(!) Sibert list! #kidlit #MGLit
December 4, 2023 at 12:53 AM
Absolutely un-put-down-able! Fascinating #middlegrade #nonfiction about the Hoover Dam. Seriously, SO CAPTIVATING. Out 3/24 from Little Brown. Definitely going on my middle school summer reading list and my 2025(!) Sibert list! #kidlit #MGLit
In First Grade library today, a student referred to the Caldecott Medal as the "TATER TOT MEDAL" and I hereby petition ALSC to consider the creation of said Youth Media Award. (what would the criteria be??) #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebooks #illustration #ALAYMA #librarians #schoollibrarian
November 28, 2023 at 7:42 PM
In First Grade library today, a student referred to the Caldecott Medal as the "TATER TOT MEDAL" and I hereby petition ALSC to consider the creation of said Youth Media Award. (what would the criteria be??) #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebooks #illustration #ALAYMA #librarians #schoollibrarian
Today in 1st Grade library classes, we'll be taking a close look at one of my personal 2024 #Caldecott and #Sibert picks: Jumper by Jessica Lanan. I'm excited and tad nervous to hear kids' responses as we examine this gorgeous #nonfiction #picturebook through our Mock Caldecott criteria lens #kidlit
November 28, 2023 at 2:10 PM
Today in 1st Grade library classes, we'll be taking a close look at one of my personal 2024 #Caldecott and #Sibert picks: Jumper by Jessica Lanan. I'm excited and tad nervous to hear kids' responses as we examine this gorgeous #nonfiction #picturebook through our Mock Caldecott criteria lens #kidlit
They say as we age we only become more clearly ourselves. Absolutely tickled to see this ancient post about #nonfiction #kidlit purchased to fill student requests. Good job, 12 years ago Sylvie! You'd be so thrilled that I recently presented at AASL on nonfiction in elementary school libraries!
November 21, 2023 at 2:43 PM
They say as we age we only become more clearly ourselves. Absolutely tickled to see this ancient post about #nonfiction #kidlit purchased to fill student requests. Good job, 12 years ago Sylvie! You'd be so thrilled that I recently presented at AASL on nonfiction in elementary school libraries!
10yo is advocating for his book selection (entire box set of Wings of Fire, the 2024 Guinness World Book, a box set of Big Nate…) to not count as Chanukah presents “because they’re necessary for me to live” and I’m honestly feeling very sympathetic.
November 18, 2023 at 5:35 PM
10yo is advocating for his book selection (entire box set of Wings of Fire, the 2024 Guinness World Book, a box set of Big Nate…) to not count as Chanukah presents “because they’re necessary for me to live” and I’m honestly feeling very sympathetic.
www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2023/11/revi...
Thrilled and honored to be a guest reviewer over at the Sydney Taylor Shmooze today, highlighting some #JewishJoy (and a bucketload of teen angst!) in one of the most enjoyable young adult titles of 2023. #ALAYMA #YALit #STBA
Thrilled and honored to be a guest reviewer over at the Sydney Taylor Shmooze today, highlighting some #JewishJoy (and a bucketload of teen angst!) in one of the most enjoyable young adult titles of 2023. #ALAYMA #YALit #STBA
Review: Phoebe's Diary
Phoebe's Diary by Phoebe Wahl Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023 Category: Young Adult Reviewer: Sylvie Shaffer Buy at Bookshop.org...
www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com
November 16, 2023 at 5:33 PM
www.sydneytaylorshmooze.com/2023/11/revi...
Thrilled and honored to be a guest reviewer over at the Sydney Taylor Shmooze today, highlighting some #JewishJoy (and a bucketload of teen angst!) in one of the most enjoyable young adult titles of 2023. #ALAYMA #YALit #STBA
Thrilled and honored to be a guest reviewer over at the Sydney Taylor Shmooze today, highlighting some #JewishJoy (and a bucketload of teen angst!) in one of the most enjoyable young adult titles of 2023. #ALAYMA #YALit #STBA