The Staff Lounge Book Club— First Round Launches November 2025

The Staff Lounge Book Club is where teachers come together as readers first. Each round, we’ll enjoy a book for ourselves — and then, through guided conversation, reflect on how it might inspire or connect to our work in the classroom.

November Pick: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

We’re kicking off the very first round of The Staff Lounge Book Club with a story full of magic, found family, and the courage to embrace who you are. In The House in the Cerulean Sea, we follow Linus Baker, a by-the-book caseworker sent to evaluate a mysterious orphanage where six unusual—and possibly dangerous—children live. What he discovers will change the way he sees the world, and himself.

As educators, we’ll read this novel first as readers—falling into its whimsical, hopeful world—and then, in true CWG fashion, we’ll consider how its themes and storytelling might spark new ideas for teaching and learning.

Pilot Round Perk: This first round is completely free to join! Starting in 2026, future book club rounds will move to a paid model.

Join us this November for a thoughtful read, meaningful conversation, and a chance to rediscover the joy of books as both readers and teachers.