Welcome to Just the Stacks

Welcome to Just the Stacks, a blog born from a my love of children's books, 30+ years in education, and an understanding that children’s picture books aren’t just for little kids.

Many of the most thought-provoking, beautifully written, and visually stunning books live on the picture book shelves. Books you can find with the spine labeled with an “E” for Everyone. And I do mean everyone, including middle and high school students.  

This blog is dedicated to exploring how picture books can serve as meaningful entry points into complex topics for older students. From history and science to social justice, identity, and mental health, picture books can introduce nonfiction concepts and spark deep, age-appropriate conversations in secondary classrooms and homes.

But Just the Stacks is also about something even more fundamental: reminding educators, caregivers, and families that reading to and with children, at any age, matters. Too often, reading aloud and shared reading stop once children can read independently. But older students still benefit from hearing stories, discussing illustrations, and engaging with texts in a shared space. Reading aloud fosters connection, critical thinking, and curiosity skills our teens need now more than ever.

Let me be clear: this is not a blog about picture books written for adults (yes, those exist too). Just the Stacks will focus on trade picture books found in school and public libraries books typically shelved in the “E” section books that deserve a second look through the lens of middle and high school use.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Spotlights on picture books that resonate with older readers

  • Curriculum connections and cross-subject links

  • Lesson ideas and activity suggestions for classrooms and homes

  • Tags and searchable categories by theme, topic, or grade level

  • Trigger/content warnings when needed

Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, parent, or just someone who loves the power of stories, this blog is for you. I hope Just the Stacks helps you discover new titles, rethink how you use picture books, and reconnect with the joy of reading together.

Thanks for being here. Let’s dig into the stacks.



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