It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Teaching Tuesday: Disability and the Body, Literature Circles/Book Clubs

Wednesday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway: Bone’s Gift by Angie Smibert

Congratulations to Jeff S. for winning the giveaway!!!!

Thursday: Islandborn by Junot Díaz

Friday: Kellee’s #mustreadin2018 Spring Update

Sunday: Blog Tour with Author Guest Post and Giveaway!: “The Importance of a Diverse Cast of Characters” by Carolyn O’Doherty, Author of Rewind

Giveaway open until Friday!

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I focused on graphic novels this week because I was so excited to read so many, and I was able to read four of them:

• I love the Star Leagues series by Mike Lawrence! It is so full of girl power and team work and aliens and sci fi and wonderful adventures! And book two, League of Lasers, does a great job continuing the story.
• The first Cucumber Quest by Gigi D.G. book was such a hit in my classroom, when I heard that the next three were coming out quite quickly, I knew I had to get to them, and thanks to Netgalley I was able to read the third one early. Each GN takes the hero through a new kingdom and a new monster.
• Kitten Construction Company by John Patrick Green seems like just a cute story on the surface and it may be, but I really think that it is a social justice book in its own way looking at people who are looked at as not equal no matter how qualified they are.

I also finished two audiobooks this week because they were just SO good!

• I loved the new Upside Down Magic book! Dragon Overnight takes the Upside Down Magic kids to sleepover camp at a Dragon rehab center. And obviously things happened that are hilarious and thought-provoking.
• The first Unicorn Rescue Society book, Creature of the Pines, by Adam Gidwitz is so special–it is funny and smart and thoughtful and mythical and everything! And the audio was superb! It is a must get.

Trent and I read quite a few new-to-us book this week!

• What This Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig by Emma J. Virjan is such a fun rhyming book. Trent is just learning how rhyming works, so this was a perfect book for him.
• Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant is a cute story but it is made by Christian Robinson’s artwork. But I love anything with penguins, so it made me happy!
• Blue Umbrella from Pixar and Coco from Disney were two audiobooks that we listened to on our way to school this week. Both were good representations of their movies.
• The King of Too Many Things is another gem from Laurel Snyder! Every time I thought I had read everything by her, I find another book, and I love it, too!

 Ricki

I am away this weekend at the AERA (American Educational Research Association) conference! I am hoping to learn some great new things to share with everyone! 🙂

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

• We are slacking on our graphic novel reading, but my goal is to finish Date with Disaster with Trent this week!
• I am so excited to read the second book in The Explorers series, Reckless Rescue! If you read my review you know it ended with a TERRIBLE cliffhanger, so I could not wait to find out what happened!
• I still have one more Cucumber Quest book to read!
• My book clubs next virtual author visit is with Dan Gemeinhart, and I have read all but Some Kind of Courage and his newest, Good Dog, so I was happy to find Courage as an audiobook which I’ll start this week.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday:  Kellee’s Middle School In-Class Book Clubs and Recommended Titles

Wednesday: On Gull Beach by Jane Yolen

Thursday: Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge

Friday: I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Sunday: Author Guest Post from Darby Karchut, Author of Del Toro Moon

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

  and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: The Stress of Teaching and Advice for Remaining Positive

Wednesday: Sports Illustrated Kids: The Baseball Fanbook by Gary Gamling

Thursday: You’re My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards

Friday: Secondhand Heroes series by Justin LaRocca Hansen

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

• *Screaming from rooftops!* If you have not read Nielsen’s Ascendance Trilogy, get to it! So much epicness and adventure and action and humor all in one series!
• Stung and Cured by Bethany Wiggins were quite interesting books. I can see why those who don’t like them didn’t, but I did overall. Actually, I may have liked Cured better than Stung! If you like post-apocaplyptic, dystopians with a bit of romance, then you’ll like these!
• I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted is so different than any of the other three books I read; however, I love when I read very different books that both are so special! I am so happy to review this title soon.

 Ricki

I Am Ghandi by Brad Meltzer is an absolutely stunning graphic novel which features 25 acclaimed graphic novelists. I am really excited about this book, which will appeal to all ages. My four-year-old was mesmerized by the artwork and enjoyed learning about Ghandi’s life.

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell is an absolutely stunning story that allows young people to consider ideas like class, poverty, and imagination. This one is due out in August, and I suspect it will be well-loved by readers.

Run Wild by David Covell, set to be published this June, reminds us that it is so good to be alive. The words in this book dance off of the pages. It made me want to open my doors and race out into the world.

I REREAD Graceling by Kristin Cashore for my Adolescents’ Literature course. We had some fantastic discussions about the fantasy genre, and this book was great fun to talk about.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

 

• I was so excited to start the 4th Upside Down Magic book, Dragon Overnight, when I finished Shadow Throne, and it is totally living up to its expectations! I love the characters in this series and all of the truly realistic themes that are touched upon in this fantasy series.
• League of Lasers is the 2nd book in the Star Scouts series by Mike Lawrence, and I am so excited to read it. I also got some other :01 graphic novels from Netgalley that I hope to read; I’ll share which ones next week if I get to them!
• Trent and I are still reading Date with Disaster, and I love that he loved DC Superhero girls!

 Ricki

My son and I started Sci-Fu by Yehudi Mercado. He’s loving it, and he doesn’t realize that I am editing out a lot of the words. It’s not written for a four-year-old, and he thinks any book with pictures is written with him as the audience. I’m enjoying it!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Teaching Tuesday: Disability and the Body, Literature Circles/Book Clubs

Wednesday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway: Bone’s Gift by Angie Smibert

Thursday: Islandborn by Junot Díaz

Friday: Kellee’s #mustreadin2018 Spring Update

Sunday: Author Guest Post from Carolyn  O’Doherty, Author of Rewind

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

  and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Teaching Tuesday: Teaching Tuesday: Teaching My Son to Read (by Ricki) Part II

Wednesday: Blog Tour with Review and Educators’ Resource Guide!: Bat and the Waiting Game by Elana K. Arnold

Thursday: Guest Review: Miles Away From You by A. B. Rutledge

Friday: Moon by Alison Oliver

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Yay Spring Break! And thank you for understanding about last week! My Future Problem Solvers teams did AMAZINGLY! I have one 6th grade team and one 11th/12th grade team that qualified for internationals! I’m so proud of how brilliant they are!

• Sunny by Jason Reynolds: Wow. I hope this isn’t the end of this series because each one is such a special treat. Sunny is quite different than the first although readers will find the format and story just as engaging.
• Bat and the Waiting Game by Elana K. Arnold: See my review from last week 🙂
• Bone’s Gift by Angie Smibert: I’ll be reviewing this next week!
• Breakout by Kate Messner: This is a 500 page book that I couldn’t put down and read so quickly! It is so special. I loved the variety of formats within the narrative and the multiple and diverse points of view. It is so applicable for many ages and it brings up issues for conversation in a respectable yet clear way. And it is such a darn good story!
• Two Naomis by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich: I can see why my students loved this story! It is filled with family, friend, and school drama that so many different kids can connect to. And we were so lucky to Google Hangout with Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich on Friday (check out my Twitter Thread to see some pictures and my favorite quotes)!

With Trent’s books, I’m primarily focusing on either new books to Trent or me, books we haven’t read in a while, or books he’s obsessed with. Listing all of the books we read in the car or sitting in the living room would be crazy, but I feel guilty about it, so I wanted to just say something 🙂

• 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos by Vivian Vande Velde: Reading this book with my mom and Trent when we visited Baton Rouge during Spring Break is going to be one of those memories that stay with me forever. My mom and I took turns reading, and we read to Trent every day. It is such a heart-filling experience to be able to enjoy a book as a family!
  
• With Easter upon us, we also read a bunch of fun Easter books that I pull out each year. Llama Llama was my favorite–I just think she has such an year for rhythms and rhymes.

Ricki

It’s been a crazy week for me. I’ve been planning an event to have the Get Lit players come to our university, and it sucked my time away. I did finish a few books!

I loved the nontraditional format of Thornhill by Pam Smy. It’s very similar in format to a Brian Selznick book, but it falls closer to the horror/mystery genre. It was a very engaging read and kept me intrigued. The integration of art and prose is wonderfully done—the prose is set in the 1980s, and the art is set in present day.

Your My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards is a charming board book that reminded me of a Mem Fox text. It’s a warm and fuzzy type of book. 🙂

Who’s Hiding by Satoru Onishi is a fun, interactive book where kids try to determine which character is hiding, angry, etc. It is a fun take on the search-and-find books.

Hoot Hoot Pop-Up Fun is a pop-up book winner. As a mom of two young kids, I read a lot of pop-up books, and the pop-ups are very clever in this book. We spent a solid ten minutes on the wolf page making the wolf howl and howl.

We also read a book called Shake Dogs Shake Puppies by Carli Davidson. The book is about 400 pages of photographs of dogs and puppies shaking off water. My younger son spends a lot of time perusing this book–even though I think it was intended to be an adult coffee table book.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

• The Shadow Throne by Jennifer E. Nielsen: I have 25 minutes left in the audiobook, and I cannot wait to finish it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Stung by Bethany Wiggins: This is our next faculty book club choice, and so far I am liking it, but I already know that it is going to be a split discussion because a couple of teachers have told me they really didn’t like it. I look forward to having the conversation. If nothing else, I know that kids adore it. It won the Florida Sunshine State Young Reader Award for grade 6-8 in 2016.
• DC Superhero Girls: Date with Disaster: Trent picked this book out at the book store, and he and I are reading it a chapter at a time. This is his first full graphic novel, and as long as I point at the word bubbles, he’s doing a great job following along!
• I Love You, Michael Collins by Lauren Baratz-Logsted: After Stung I look forward to picking this one up to read and review.
• Upside Down Magic: Dragon Overnight by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins: When I finish Shadow Throne, I am going to start the 4th Upside Down Magic book, and I am so excited! I love this series.

Ricki

I’ll be REREADING Graceling by Kristin Cashore for my class. We are doing Sci Fi/Fantasy this week, and the houses are reading Graceling, Feed, and Unwind. I am excited to hear what they think about the three books.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: The Stress of Teaching and Advice for Remaining Positive

Wednesday: Sports Illustrated Kids: The Baseball Fanbook by Gary Gamling

Thursday: You’re My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards

Friday: Secondhand Heroes series by Justin LaRocca Hansen

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

  and

P.S. Please note that IMWAYR’s publishing time has changed, starting with this post, to 2AM ET!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Teaching Tuesday: Most Talked About Books in our Classrooms Right Now

Wednesday: George the Hero Hound by Jeffrey Ebbler

Thursday: I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët

Friday: The Life and Times of Birdie Mae Hayes: The Gift by Jeri Anne Agee

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

This week is the Florida Future Problem Solvers State Competition, and I have twenty-five students competing! Fingers crossed for them! It started Sunday night, so I just ran out of time to do my IMWAYR post—my apologies!!! I’ll catch you all up next week.

 Ricki

My sons and I read these three F&Gs: Dreaming of You by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Blue Grass Boy: The Story of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass Music by Barb Rosenstock, and Look Out! It’s a Dragon by Jenny Lambert. The first is a quiet book that imagines what animals might be dreaming. The second is a nonfiction picture book about Bill Monroe, who is largely considered the father of blue grass music. The third is about a dragon who wants to be considered a nice dragon, so he can live with the local animals.

I REREAD American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. I am excited to share this one with students. It’s generated some great conversations with other classes in the past. I am curious what my current students will think about it.

It wasn’t a crazy reading week for me because I worked on submitting a manuscript for publication, but I am almost done with several books that I am looking forward to sharing.

This Week’s Expeditions

Ricki

Instead of being good and finishing one of the several books I have in progress, I cracked the cover of Thornhill by Pam Smy. This nontraditional book is capturing my attention. It’s very spooky. I think I am trying to recreate my experience of reading Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge. That book blew me away.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

Teaching Tuesday: Teaching Tuesday: Teaching My Son to Read (by Ricki) Part II

Wednesday: Bat and the Waiting Game by Elana K. Arnold

Thursday: Guest Review: Miles Away From You by A. B. Rutledge

Friday: Moon by Alison Oliver

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

  and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Teaching Tuesday: My Classroom After Parkland

Wednesday: Sylvia Rose and the Cherry Tree by Sandy Shapiro Hurt

Wednesday: My School’s Solidarity with Parkland

Thursday: Adventures in Science: Human Body by Courtney Acampora

Friday: My Rotten Stepbrother Ruined Cinderella by Jerry Mahoney

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Spring Break is upon us!!! And as I write this on Sunday, I have already taken advantage of some extra time to read!

• Sugar by Jewell Parker Rhodes: This book was recommended to me by one of my 7th graders, and I am so sorry it took me so long to read it. Sugar is such a wonderful protagonist, and I loved the racial themes shared in this middle grade book, specifically the highlight on Chinese workers in the south as this is a gap in taught history because I had no idea about it. The student and I had a great conversation about it, and when I shared it was a companion to Ninth Ward as they both take place in Louisiana, she took that home for Spring Break.
• The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen: I know that some people said they didn’t like the sequels as much as The False Prince, but I enjoyed the second book as much as the first though it is a bit different. The secret is out, so now it is all about adventure, treachery, and bravery!
• Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices edited by Mitali Perkins: Our March Skype visit is Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and our May Skype is Mitali Perkins, so Open Mic is being read by almost all of my students in the book club, so I picked this one up first, specifically because those kids who have finished it already ADORED it. I am so in love this this short story collection! I love the short insight into different lives; it truly builds empathy and understanding!

I had a pile of graphic novels that I was so excited to tackle! It is always awesome when I get the time to read some extra than just what I need to read.

• Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang: Wow. Everyone, you hear that? WOW! This is a beautiful book, both inside and out. Jen Wang’s dressmaker designs are phenomenal, and her story of the two characters who stole my heart is perfectly paced and has amazing secondary characters. I recommend this to all of you.
• Secondhand Heroes series by Justin LaRocca Hansen: I had one of my students read one of the Secondhand Heroes books and was so mad that I didn’t have all three–now I do, and I can’t wait to have him read them so we can talk about them! I also plan on reviewing these closer to the 3rd’s publication date.
• Monsters Beware by Rafael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre: Claudette is such a kick butt main character! And I think this may be my favorite of her stories. And I will say, I think this may be the final one; if it is, it is a perfect end.
• Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter by Marcus Sedgwick and Thomas Taylor: Another kick butt female main character. Scarlett’s story reminded me of a combination of Batman and The Monstrumologist. I do want MORE though. So many questions are unanswered, and I hope that the author/illustrator duo are planning more.
• Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable: Who doesn’t love sloths?!?!? And Peter & Ernesto are two special sloths. Peter is completely content at home, but Ernesto knows there is a big world to see. When Ernesto leaves to go adventure, Peter must fight his fears to go make sure his friend is okay.

 

• Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden and Melissa Castrillón: Trent is so lucky to receive Powell’s Books’ BOOX (book box) each month. This month included Yellow Kayak, and I was so happy to see Nina Laden’s name as we loved her Peek-A books when Trent was an infant. Yellow Kayak is beautiful! The illustrations are all inclusive and so detailed and dreamy. The story is poetic and meaningful. A wonderful read.
• Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James: I am so glad that I finally got my hand on Crown! I can definitely tell why it won so many accolades at ALAMW as it is quite perfect in its illustration and word combination and mood-setting swagger poetry. Perfect.
• Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel: On our way to school, Trent and I listen to audiobooks, and we’ve recently discovered the Read-to-Me books on Hoopla through our library. Trent’s newest find is Owl at Home which is less picture book and more early chapter book. Trent loves Owl and thinks he is hilarious. It has been a multi-read, and I’m sure it’ll continue.

 Ricki

My son and I finished the first book in the Secondhand Heroes series by Justin LaRocca Hansen. He imagines that he and his brother are the heroes and loves reading it.

I’ve read the graphic novel Mr. Wolf’s Class by Aron Nels Steinke three times this week. The first two times were with both of my sons on my lap. The third time was with my 17-month-old. They are both obsessed with this book. It’s in our playroom, and they choose it over their toys.

I REREAD All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. This book gets me every single time. I am looking forward to teaching it tomorrow and talking about adolescents and mental health.

Wow. This new release is going to captivate readers. Mary’s Monster by Lita Judge. It’s a nonfiction account of Mary Shelley’s life. I had no idea that she was a 16-year-old pregnant runaway when she write Frankenstein. This woman was a genius.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I hope to get a lot of reading done this week! I’m still listening to the 3rd book in The Ascendance Trilogy though I don’t know how much listening I’ll do since I am not driving to and from work. I plan on reading Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich’s other two titles: Eight Grade Superzero and Two Naomis. And after that, I don’t know what I’ll jump into.

 Ricki

I hope to finish listening to The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore this week. My commute is very short, which cuts down on my listening time. I am really enjoying this one, though.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Teaching Tuesday: Most Talked About Books in our Classrooms Right Now

Wednesday: George the Hero Hound by Jeffrey Ebbler

Thursday: I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët

Friday: The Life and Times of Birdie Mae Hayes: The Gift by Jeri Anne Agee

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

  and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 

Tuesday: Gateway Books for Kids Who Say They Don’t Like to Read

Wednesday: When Paul Met Artie by G. Neri

Thursday: Astronaut Annie by Suzanne Slade

Friday: Granted by John David Anderson

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I cannot wait to share this book with you on Friday. I’m so glad that I was introduced to this series.

 Ricki

The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds is a standout. Lovers of words will adore this book. I had a great discussion with my son about collections. I love the idea of collecting words, and I think I’ll start this with him when he is a little bit older.

Dance, Dance, Dance! by Ethan Long would make an enjoyable read-aloud. It’s very silly! I Am Famous by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie is a fun book about a girl who believes she is famous. I can think of several adorable divas that I know who will love this book. What Happens Next by Susan Hughes is a book about how to react to bullying. I would recommend this title for upper elementary schoolers. It is stylistically very interesting (but was much too mature for my four-year-old!). Terrific Tongues by Maria Gianferrari was not what I expected! It features all of the crazy, neat things that different animals can do with their tongues.

I loved Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll. Emily beautifully captures the original version of the book. This graphic novel version has many similarities with the prose version, yet it feels different. Even though I knew the story, it hit me hard. I love and will cherish both versions.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

 

• I am still listening to The Runaway King, and although it is different than the first one, I am really enjoying Jaron’s story! I know I am loving my audiobook when I find myself wanting to listen instead of talking to anyone.
• I am so excited to read the Secondhand Heroes series! I own the first one and students love it and most have read the second from our school library, but I have the third to read also. And I may even be more excited to bring them all into the classroom when I am done!
• The Prince and the Dressmaker is a graphic novel that I’ve been so excited to read!
• Sugar by Jewell Parker-Rhodes was recommended to me from a student at the very beginning of the year, and she even lent me her book; however, I feel so bad that I forgot about it! I hope to read it this week.

 Ricki

I’ve been reading several books simultaneously. It’s been great, but I think I’ll be focusing on finishing this one this week. 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Teaching After Parkland

Wednesday: Sylvia Rose and the Cherry Tree by Sandy Shapiro Hurt

Thursday: Adventures in Science: Human Body by Courtney Acampora

Friday: My Rotten Stepbrother Ruined Cinderella by Jerry Mahoney

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

  and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 

Tuesday: Teaching My Son to Read (by Ricki)

Wednesday: Leaf Litter Critters by Leslie Bulion

Thursday: Dr. E’s Super Stellar Solar System by Bethany Ehlmann with Jennifer Swanson

Friday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway!: The Backup Bunny by Abigail Rayner
Giveaway only open until tomorrow!

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

 

• I love everything by Eliot Schrefer! He is just so detailed in his voices and settings which just adds so much to his stories. Mez’s Magic is different than anything else he has done, and it is going to be a wonderful addition to the reading lives of students who love animal adventure fantasies.
• Fresh Ink edited by Lamar Giles was created in partnership with We Need Diverse Books and includes 13 authors sharing a short story (well, 10 stories, 1 comic, and 1 play). These authors include some of my favorites including Jason Reynolds, Walter Dean Myers, Nicola Yoon, Sharon Flake, Gene Luen Yang, and Malinda Lo as well as new to me authors who I can’t wait to read more from. This is a MUST GET everyone. I promise you–you and your students are going to love it!
• THE FALSE PRINCE IS AMAZING!!! I couldn’t stop texting Michele while reading it because it is so twisty and turny, and there were parts I didn’t see coming which just shocked me! So. Good!
• I look forward to sharing Granted on Friday 🙂

 Ricki

I am really excited to share these picture books, which will be published later this year.

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoeet is going to be a favorite this year. It’s absolutely stunning. I’ll be making space in the calendar to write a full review of this one. This is a great book to teach bullying. I would pair it with Jacqueline Woodson’s Each Kindness. I feel lucky to have this one in bound form, and I gifted my F&G to a friend who teaches literacy to future teachers. I love this book.

Wordy Birdy by Tammi Sauer is a fun book to teach listening skills.

Fruit Bowl by Mark Hoffman is full of puns, and adults will have just as much fun reading this as the kids will.

Night Out is a quiet almost-wordless picture book that reminded me a bit of Alice and Wonderland. The artwork is absolutely beautiful.

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang is very funny. I will be buying a bound copy of this one. I love that it teaches that it is okay to be grumpy sometimes!

How To Be a Lion by Ed Vere is a useful book for teaching about asking questions. I love the friendship that develops in this book and the lion’s determination to be different.

I also REREAD Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. I am looking forward to teaching it tomorrow!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

As soon as I was done with The False Prince, I started this one. I hope it is as good as the first!

 Ricki

I am halfway through Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya, and I love it. I don’t tend to love middle grade books. It’s my flaw. I am finding that I am thinking about this story a lot when I am not reading it. Once I get my work done tonight, I suspect I’ll be finishing it. 😉

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Gateway Books for Kids Who Say They Don’t Like to Read

Wednesday: When Paul Met Artie by G. Neri

Thursday: Astronaut Annie by Suzanne Slade

Friday: Granted by John David Anderson

 So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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