It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!
Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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
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Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee: Full on confession: I didn’t finish anything this week. This was the first week with students at school, and my new job is showing to be even busier than I thought. Our school is a digital curriculum pilot so I’ve been working on helping get the iPads out to all of the students. I’m also mentoring two new (to our school) teachers as well as two teachers who were at our school next year. Mentoring includes not only the reading aspects (hence the reading coach) including our new mandated curriculum, but also help with the implementation of digital curriculum. On top of all of this, I’m teaching yearbook and I’m working on getting ready for my club to start. PHEW! Because of all of this, I was at school most days until after 5, came home and had dinner, and, because of exhaustion, in bed by 9ish.
I’m actually not beating myself up about not finishing anything this week because of how crazy it is. The only reason why I’m sad is I really wanted to finish Living with Jackie Chan so I could review it with Ricki this week! Oh well. When I do read it, I’ll just go back and review it. [I also worry that if I don’t get a reading, I won’t have anything to review!! Hopefully my routine will fall back into place soon.]
Ricki: This week, I finished Rose under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. It was incredible. I just finished writing my blog post for next week, but I have to tell you all that it is going to go on my “favorites” bookshelf. I’d love to talk about it with anyone else who has finished it. I loved Code Name Verity, but this one exceeded my expectations. Wow.
I also finished Black Ants and Buddhists by Mary Cowhey. It is a great book to help teachers enact social justice in their classrooms. While it is directed to elementary school teachers, I would argue that teachers of all grades will find nuggets of wisdom in the text. It taught me to be more socially and culturally responsive to my students.
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee: I’m not making too many specific plans this week because I feel like I keep making plans and then not meeting them. I do hope to get to Jackie Chan (and finish it!!), and I do have a pile of picture books from the library. Obviously, I just need to get back into the swing of working full days and reading as well—I think picture books would be a great way to help myself get back into a routine and then hopefully it can move to novels.
Ricki: I start graduate school this week, and I am so frightened! I just ordered one of the textbooks, and it is over a thousand pages. I am not complaining because I know I am going to learn so much on this adventure, but I can’t help but be terrified! This week, my goal is to finish Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater. Usually, I list at least two books, but I am not sure how busy my days will be. Rather than overwhelm myself with expectations, I will finish this book, and read much more if my nights are free. Usually, the first week of graduate school is introductions and syllabi review, but I am not sure if that will be much different for doctoral degrees.
Upcoming Week’s Posts
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!
Have a triumphant week, you two! I can almost feel the hustle and bustle (even online) of how busy people are getting these days!
The busy season is here 🙂
Have a great week, yourself, Earl!
I am looking forward to Living with Jackie Chan. I was supposed to read Rose Under Fire, but my e-galley expired before I got the chance. Boo! I got too far behind and lost a few that way. Summer is supposed to be reading time, but this summer I read way less than usual. Ah well. I had some great books even though there weren’t as many as I expected. Good luck to both of you as you adjust to new schedules and routines. 🙂
Started Jackie Chan last night: so far so good!
I read less than usual this summer too Crystal… Ah well is right 🙂
Oh no! I haven’t had one expire yet. I will have to see if they still expire even after I do the send to kindle feature.
Hi Kellee, I know what you mean about not having enough time to read. Same thing for me with the university term that has just started – I do spend my evenings before bed reading though. I have a feeling I don’t have it as bad as you do. Hope you get your reading groove back!
Thank you Myra. I just have to get back into the before bed routine; it’ll come soon 🙂 We each have our agenda that keeps us busy, I think it is the switching between routines (summer to fall for example) is what really hurts my reading.
Myra, I am feeling like I will have to have to set aside my time for reading more intentionally now. Bedtime is a great time for it!
Kellee, we go back to school today and the kids go back next week, so I’ll be in your boat soon–hang in there! And Ricki–good luck with graduate school!
I hadn’t heard of Black Ants and Buddhists–will definitely check that one out. Have a good week, all!
Natalie @Biblio Links
You hang in as well Natalie! Have a good first week back.
Thanks, Natalie! Happy reading this week!
You two are busy ladies! Kellee–It sounds like there are all kinds of new things to learn about at your school this year besides your new role. I am sure it will get a little less crazy as time moves on. I hope you do get to Living With Jackie Chan because it is well worth the effort. Ricki-Good luck with graduate school. So exciting! I have now read about Black Ants and Buddhists in a few places and it sounds like a great read. I will have to find that one.
I was able to start it last night Andrea! Hoping for time to read again tonight 🙂 Thank you for the kind words.
It is really great! I will have to do a review on it to share some of the fun details!
I had a great discussion with my students about EACH KINDNESS last year. Some were upset by the less-than-neat ending and others were just like, “That’s real life.”
It is my favorite read aloud with my kids last year. Really makes kids think about some tough things. Great book!
Well, I think summer vacation is definitely over. Everyone is sharing how busy they are, like you two. It would be nice to have another week, but we’re back in the midst of prep too, students arrive Tuesday! Happy Reading this week!
Have a great first day with the kids tomorrow!
Let the busy-ness begin!
It is certainly over! I just got home, and I feel like I have so much to do!
Right now I’m reading, no one could have guessed the weather. With a 8 year old and 4 month old i seldom read at work or before bed. Tough, but i love reading.