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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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