As accountability measures for schools and teachers continue to grow, instructional practice is under the microscope. The practice of reading aloud to children may be viewed by some educators as an extra bit of fluff used solely for the purposes of enjoyment or filling a few spare minutes,but researchers and practitioners stand in solidarity: the practice of reading aloud throughout the grades is not only viable but also best practice.In Defense of Read-Aloud: Sustaining Best Practices, author Steven Layne reinforces readers' confidence to continue the practice of reading aloud and presents the research base to defend the practice in grades K12. Layne also offers significant practical insights to strengthen instructional practice-;answering the questions of Why should we?- and How should we? and provides practical advice about how to use read-alouds most effectively.Leading researchers in the field of literacy provide position statements, authors of professional books share insights on books they have loved, leaders of the largest literacy organizations in the United States write about their favorite read-alouds, award-winning authors of children's and young adult book (Katherine Paterson, Andrew Clements, Lois Lowry, to name a few) share the powerful behind-the-scenes stories of their greatest books, and real classroom teachers and librarians speak about books that have lit up- their classrooms and libraries around the world.Last but not least,In Defense of Read-Aloud features many great recommendations of books to share with children.Read-aloud is an essential practice in teaching literacy in grades K -12. In this book, Steven Layne has provided everything needed to support, sustain, and celebrate the power of read-aloud.

Kyle Mewburn grew up in the sunburnt, unsophisticated Brisbane suburbs of the 1960s and '70s in a household with little love and no books, with a lifelong feeling of being somehow wrong – like ‘strawberry jam in a spinach can'. In this book, Kyle describes this early life and her journey to becoming her own person – a celebrated children’s book author, a husband and, finally, a woman. She shares the dreams, the prejudice and the agony of growing up trans and coming out, the lengthy physical ordeal of facial feminisation surgery, and her experiences as a woman – good, bad and creepy. This is a heartbreaking, often hilarious, candid true story about what it means to hide from yourself, your partner and the world, and then to attain the freedom and acceptance of being yourself. A story with the bittersweet beauty you’d expect from the writer of Old Huhu that is relevant for anyone wanting to know and understand the trans experience – or anyone wanting to discover who they are and what they are meant to be.

Can a tomboy like Linda really fall for boys?

Em adores her funny, glamorous dad - who cares if he's not her real father? He's wonderful to her, and to her little brother Maxie and sister Vita. True to form at Christmas, Dad gives them fantastic presents, including a real emerald ring for his little Princess Em. Unfortunately he's got another surprise in store - he's leaving them. Will Dad's well-meaning but chaotic attempts to keep seeing Em and the other children help the family come to terms with this new crisis? Or would they be better off with a clean break - just like Em's arm?

Out of the Mouths of Babes is a charming celebration of the unique, quirky - and usually entirely unintentional - humour of children everywhere, for adults who enjoy seeing the funnier side of life.

“Beautiful, textured, and addictive…the novel makes for a stunner. Un-put-downable.” —Prairies Book Review A hauntingly beautiful tale that starts with the kind of friendship that alters lives, and ends in a heart-racing finale—amidst an atmospheric manor, clever riddles, ghost folklore, an exploration of grief, and an unforgettable romance. Grieving for her sister, introverted and witty Rose expects a lonely summer vacation at allegedly haunted Peacock Manor when she befriends charming and gorgeous locals February, Kamdyn and Robbie. She discovers clues promising the legendary Book of Lost Spirits—a supernatural tome enabling communication with the dead—and yearns to contact her sister. Peacock Manor is as treacherous as the secrets buried within it. What Rose perilously unveils forces her to confront the harrowing mystery of her sister’s accident, and exposes the horrifying truth about the house that changes all their lives forever. To save themselves, they must each face the lies they hide—or else they’re doomed to a fate worse than death.

A young Yale graduate falls in love with a man with a troubled family who plot to thwart their relationship.

Will the consequence of their forbidden night finally be revealed in this scandalous reunion story by USA TODAY bestselling author Heidi Rice? A four-year-old secret… From that unforgettable night! Since the passionate hours Lacey Carstairs spent with CEO Brandon Cade, her life couldn’t have changed more dramatically. Even her name has changed! Yet when writer Lacey is told to interview Brandon at the last minute, she can’t believe he doesn’t recognize her—at all… However, it’s his invitation to be his plus-one at a ball in Paris that Lacey finds most shocking—and privately thrilling! Until Brandon finally recognizes her and the past begins to crash into the present… Starting with Lacey’s biggest secret: their child! From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

Harlequin® Blaze brings you four new redhot reads for one great price, available now! This Harlequin® Blaze bundle includes: ONE BLAZING NIGHT (Three Wicked Nights) by Jo Leigh To get past Valentine’s Day, new friends Brody Williams and Marigold McGuire are pretending they’re in love. But their burninghot chemistry means the Marine and the interior designer’s makebelieve is quickly becoming a supersexy reality… HOT ATTRACTION (Hotshot Heroes) by Lisa Childs Reporter Avery Kincaid is determined to uncover the truth about the wildfire that almost killed her nephews. But gorgeous Hotshot firefighter Dawson Hess is out to distract her…in the sexiest way. SEDUCING THE BEST MAN(Wild Wedding Nights) by Sasha Summers Patton Ryan and Cady Egerton have nothing in common except their need for control. And their outofcontrol attraction for each other. Will protecting those they love bring them together, or tear them apart? A DANGEROUSLY SEXY AFFAIR by Stefanie London Quinn Dellinger was determined to get the promotion she deserved at Cobalt & Dane Security. Then she saw the guy who actually got the job: former FBI, completely ripped…and the man she slept with last night. Look for four new sexy, steamy stories every month from Harlequin® Blaze!