Today’s guest is Ilse O’Brien, Grade 5 Literacy & Language, and History teacher at Wilson Middle School. Ilse is another of my Twitter friends who saw my plea for quiz participants and quickly said yes! So grateful for all the Ilses in this world.

So here’s the first question, Ilse: Please fill in the blank. You should never  (blank) and read at the same time.

You should never read and cook at the same time.  You think you’ll just read a few pages while you wait for those vegetables to soften in the pan, or the pasta to cook, but you’ll burn or overcook them every time.

If you were invited to be on Oprah, what book would you bring for her to read?

 It would be a toss-up between Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, one of the best grown-up books I ever read, and A Long Way from Chicago, by Richard Peck, an endearing, funny, nostalgic, coming-of-age story that sticks with me.  Purely coincidental that both books are set in Illinois.

What is the funniest book you’ve read?

This question gave me pause.  Most of the books I read aren’t funny. Then I thought of all the picture books I read to my own kids and the ones that we laugh at together, like The Book with No Pictures, or The Pigeon Needs a Bath.  But David Sedaris’ Holidays on Ice stands out as the funniest for me. 

What is the saddest?

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

Favorite reading snack/beverage?

 Chai tea with honey.

What’s next on the TBR pile?

Aaron Starmer’s The Whisper, the second part of a trilogy that transports readers back to that time between childhood and adulthood when fantasy and reality are vivid and intense.

Teachers, librarians, reading coaches, principals, custodians, lunch ladies, anyone with school connections: Please play along! Email me (use the Contact button at the top of this page) and I’ll get you the questions so you, too, can be featured on Teacher Tuesday.