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Jillian Heise

@heisereads.bsky.social

3.1K followers 180 following 93 posts

{Hi-Z} | 2026 Caldecott Committee | Elementary Librarian | MLIS | Former 7/8 ELA Teacher | NBCT | #ClassroomBookADay founder | she/her | *views are personal & do not represent my employer https://campsite.bio/heisereads heisereads.com classroombookaday.com

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jul 6

Started a new book today. #Dragonborn #VacationRead #HeiseReads

Reposted by Jillian Heise

Michigan Association of School Librarians @michiganmasl.bsky.social · Mar 19

MASL 52 Teaser....We'll be Growing Together with Jillian Heise (@heisereads.bsky.social) as our Opening Keynote Speaker in Grand Rapids this December!

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Feb 24

Weekend mindfulness task accomplished.✅
Lego wildflower bouquet from the niblings.💕
Headed to my library tomorrow.💐

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Feb 18

Current commute audiobook read. "The Small and the Mighty is the encouragement we all need in an age of doomscrolling and division."

Being reminded of our common humanity & inspired by the hope of it all from America's Government Teacher™️ @sharonsaysso. ❤️🤍💙

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Feb 1

💜

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Feb 1

For the start of #BlackHistoryMonth, resharing this Virtual Picture Book Read Aloud Library - a Google Slideshow covering 233 titles, in 7 categories, with book covers linking directly to copyright-compliant video read alouds of recommended picture books.

heisereads.com/bhm2024-ralib/

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 21

I've been watching this for awhile - there are a lot out here that don't belong in my follower list!

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Reposted by Jillian Heise

Kate Messner @katemessner.com · Jan 15

So maybe it’s time to retire the whole sad books vs funny books discussion. The idea that stories have to be one or the other is a false dichotomy. Let’s share stories that let our kids know it’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to laugh. And it’s okay to do both at the same time.

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Reposted by Jillian Heise

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · Jan 12

1. Did you know that Girl Scouts has, for a long time, accepted trans girls and nonbinary scouts?

Trans kids are under attack. Every year, I make a thread of trans and nonbinary girl scouts you can get your cookies from.

Lets get our cookies from them this year in solidarity!

2025 Trans Girl Scouts To Order Cookies From!

This year, consider ordering your Girl Scout cookies from a trans girl scout to make their day!

www.erininthemorning.com

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Reposted by Jillian Heise

Shari Sawyers @sharisawyers.bsky.social · Jan 9

May I also suggest Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen & Minnie Phan
It beautifully ties together a child’s evacuation from a wildfire and her mother’s escape from a flood as a child in Viet Nam.

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 10

I have seen this recommended by several people! I just haven't read it yet. But thank you for the rec!

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 10

Right?!? It was SO compulsively readable, too.

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 9

The devastation from wildfires can be hard to fathom. These books can help young people process what's happening.

📙They Hold the Line: Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters Who Brave Them
📗What to Bring
📘I Am the Storm
📕Wildfire!

Thoughts with those on the front lines fighting to save.🙏🏻

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 6

Just wait until you get to the end!!

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 2

The last book I read in 2024 & the first book I'll finish in 2025.📚 The Games Gods Play is a perfect vacation read (for adults)! It's giving Lore meets Fourth Wing meets Hunger Games vibes & I'm loving the banter and sass and all the allusions to Greek mythology.

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Jan 2

Thank you! 💕

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 31

🥰 And gained myself a lot of extra work for 2025. 😅😂🤣

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 31

I was appointed to the 2026 Caldecott Award Committee!🏅📚

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 23

When everyone you know who has read it raves about it, you have to dig through your TBR stack to find the copy you know you set aside because it's from a favorite middle grade author. Tucked Jasmine Warga's A STRANGE THING HAPPENED IN CHERRY HALL into my carry-on so I can read it in one sitting.

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 23

Fascinating article if you're interested in more critical readings of picture books!

www.anisfield-wolf.org/resources/wh...

“Why Black, Not Blue?”: Redefining the Color Black in Children’s Picture Books

By recognizing how language and art can perpetuate racist or discriminatory beliefs and thoughts, we can begin to understand how racism operates in subtle forms.

www.anisfield-wolf.org

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 22

'Tis the season to read a good book!📚
When you're cleaning out your home reading room to prep for the Caldecott Committee year, so you get to be the jolly elf delivering stacks of joy in the form of picture books to all of the classroom teachers in your building. (And this was just for one floor...)

Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 21

What a delightful new Santa story for Christmas time read alouds from Joanna Ho & Thai My Phuong!🎄 A CITY FULL OF SANTAS is adorable!🎅

Thank you @harperkids.bsky.social for the review copy! ❤️

#WNDB #ClassroomBookADay

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 21

We had way more than Just One Flake this week, so it was ironic this was the book I grabbed to preview for January's snow themed lesson planning.❄️ It's a delightful picture book from @100scopenotes.bsky.social for the winter season!

#ClassroomBookADay

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Jillian Heise @heisereads.bsky.social · Dec 21

A new favorite! So much joy discovering UNFLAPPABLE in my TBR stack! Love the message it sends through these birds' determination (plus the hilarious peanut gallery worms). Share this read aloud for themes around STEAM, perseverance, & supporting friends.

#ClassroomBookADay

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Reposted by Jillian Heise

Kate Messner @katemessner.com · Dec 3

We need to keep talking about how weird it is for people to think they should have a say in reading choices for anyone's kids but their own. You're not in charge of what other people's children eat or wear or when they go to bed. Why on earth would you get to choose what they read?

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