It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 8/24/26

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
For readers of all ages

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop we host which focuses on sharing what we’re reading. This Kid Lit version of IMWAYR focuses primarily on books marketed for kids and teens, but books for readers of all ages are shared. We love this community and how it offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. The Kid Lit IMWAYR was co-created by Kellee & Jen at Teach Mentor Texts.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “The Child Who Feels Different: What They Need from Adults in the Room” by Dr. Nahal Delpassand, Author of The Seasons of Little Tree

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

Kellee

Picture Books

• Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer, Illustrated by Charles Santoso: This book has so much going for it! 1) Underwear is a guarantee pick up. 2) A tad bit scary because he’s a werewolf–that’ll be loved! 3) An adventure with some humor; that’s everyone’s favorite! In addition, the illustrations are perfect for the story!
• How to Train Your Evil Robot by Joy McCullough, Illustrated by Eduardo Medeiros: I am going to get this book for my middle schoolers, and it is great for primary too! It is a graphic novel-esque picture book with a diabolical robot who wants to take over the world but has a young girl who is not going to let it. Throughout the story, the reader learns more and more about AI. This primer is perfect for getting kids thinking and learning about AI.

• So Many Questions: Abuelita Becomes a US Citizen by Belen Medina, Illustrated by Heidi Moreno: This older picture book is a great companion to social studies because it talks about citizenship and has all of the questions on the citizenship test. Readers who are from immigrant families or young kids who are close to their grandparents will also connect with Anita’s focus on helping her abuelita.
• The Upside Down Girl by Keith Negley: Why is the upside down girl in love with being upside down? What is her secret?? That is going to be THE TALK of every class/kids that read this book! And I loved the colorful and extra sillies within the illustrations.

• Horizontal Crocodile by Scott Rothman, Illustrated by Brian Won: This would be so much fun to read aloud. Don’t worry, it isn’t too looooooooooong. 🐊 (You’ll get it once you read it.) Readers will love crocodile and his antics while he prepares to see his friend who promises a change. This will also help kids who are nervous about change or friends they haven’t seen in a while. Also, what a great way to talk about horizontal and vertical!
• Our Favorite Day of the Week by Ashley Franklin, Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell: I want to read this with kids so badly and then have them tell me their favorite day of the week using this as a mentor text! Also, the different days of the week truly highlight how everyone’s family and culutre are different. And I loved the little bit of back matter.

• Sabrina Sue: The Epic Aventure by Priscilla Burris: Sabrina Sue loves an adventure and this time she isn’t alone! This book is not just a fun adventure story, it is a great start for a conversation about facing changes, risks, and differences.
• Hairy and Scary! by Jan Thomas: This is a silly rhyming book; I can definitely see why more than one has been made. These would be great for early ed while rhyming is being taught! (This one also shows not to judge someone by their looks.)

Middle Grade

• The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin: I listened to this book with Trent, and I think the best compliment is that as soon as he finished this, he went to go read Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming to learn more and has put Bletchley Park on our list of things to do in London. Sepetys and Sheinkin combined their forces to tell a story that tackled the code breaking Bletchley Park in a way that middle grade readers will connect with.

Middle Grade/Young Adult

• White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-Ups by Gail Jarrow: I have come to realize that I am a big fan of Jarrow’s nonfiction; I need to read more than just this and Spirit Slueths because I’ve loved them both. This book exposed presidental medical secrets that were kept from the masses from President Wilson’s stroke or JFK’s need to be medicated to just walk. I was fascinated and couldn’t put the book down.
• Lovely One: A Memoir Adapted for Young Adults by Ketanji Brown Jackson: I listened to Jackson’s memoir about her childhood up through her appointment on the Supreme Court. It was inspiring to hear how she got to where she was.
• The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf, Illustrated by Jose Pimienta: I did not know anything about this anomaly (I guess it wasn’t really national news because there was a lot going on at that time). Wolf and Pimienta do a great job telling and showing this story in a way that keeps you reading because you just have no idea what will happen next.

• Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz – The Creator of Snoopy and Peanuts by Yuzuru Kuki: I love Snoopy and Peanuts, so I was excited to read this biography, and it did not disappoint. Learning about Charles “Sparky” Schulz really puts Peanuts into perspective and made me love it even more.
• Science Comics: Deep-Sea Creatures: Adapting to the Abyss by Mike Lawrence: Every time I read one of these, I remind myself how much I enjoy them. The editors and authors do a great job in making sure the graphic novels are entertaining and educational (this book calls it edutainment). This one took us to the twilight zone of the ocean to learn about deep sea “monsters.”
• The Unofficial Alcatraz Handbook: A Complete Guide to the Most Often Asked Questions About “The Rock” by Kristen Tracy, Illustrated by Anika Orrock: What is it with Alcatraz that makes us all so fascinated?! Whatever it is made it so I devoured this book. It is written by a past tour guide who shares the top questions she was asked when working and all the answers to these questions. The questions range from escapes to Al Capone to gardening to protests.

You can always learn more about any of the books I’ve been reading by checking out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off; see you next week!

• I’m currently reading The Wicked King by Holly Black
• I’m currently reading Coming Home by Brittney Griner & Michelle Burford

Wednesday: A Cheeky Reading List of Hilarious Picture Books About Butts from Sourcebooks Kids

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Teaching the Next Generation About September 11th” by Jacqueline Joyce, Author of Smoke at the Pentagon

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