It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 6/5/23

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: Teacher Guide for Fox + Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride and Other Stories by Serio Ruzzier

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Using Fiction to Tell Your Truth” by Kaz Windness, Author of Bitsy Bat, School Star

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

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Kellee

I am off this week! See you next week for my update! To learn more about the books I’m reading, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This week, I finished Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein. I sat down and read it in one sitting. It’s beautifully written and illustrated and does an amazing job making the characters feel very real.

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Ricki

There was a lot going on this week for me, so I am still continuing the books below!

Reading: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Listening to: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Reading with my kids: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

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Tuesday: Discussion Guide for Merci Suárez Plays it Cool by Merci Suarez

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Big Ideas: Ways of Making Abstract Concepts More Tangible for Students” by Laura Wippell, Author of Feeling Hopeful

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/29/23

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: What About Philosophy? An Illustrated Q&A Book for Kids by Guénaēlle Boulet and Anne-Sophie Chilard, Illustrated by Pascal Lemaître

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Building Empathy” by Kim Taylor, Author of A Flag for Juneteenth

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

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Kellee
**Click on any image or title to view the book’s Goodreads page!**

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman Reign by Katharine McGee They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

  • Gamechanger by Neal Shusterman: Neal Shusterman just has a way of coming up with concepts no one else thinks of then executing them in a way you could never imagine! He’d shared the concept for this book when he visited our school, but the short summary cannot even capture the depth of this book. It is about more than a football player jumping into different dimensions, it is about finally realizing the privilege the main character had. There is a lot of criticism about Ash’s shifts of identity, including questioning the need to address so many issues, but it seems that Shusterman wanted to emulate true life which has so many issues. I think that the problems many have are with Ash, the MC, but it is because he is the epitome of white, cis, middle class which is frustrating in real life…
  • Reign (American Royals #4) by Katharine McGee: I LOVE this series! I am a bit fascinated with pop culture and probably read just a little too much gossip (yes, I know the problems behind paparazzi, but I also get sucked in!), this series has a gossip vibe, and I just wanted to know everything about all of the characters! I gobbled up all 4 of the books in this series, and I highly recommend them for some drama reads. This finale is perfection too, so you will not be disappointed.
  • They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera: This is a reread for me because I wanted to read the prequel. I know that this book is either loved or hated by readers, but I am on the love side. With this book, you know the destination, but the journey is full of so many emotions. I love all of the characters in the book (so much hate for Mateo!), and I loved going on their journey with them.

Troublemaker by John  Cho Glitch by Laura  Martin

  • Troublemaker by John Cho with Sarah Suk: This is the first book I’ve read that took place during the protests and riots after the Rodney King verdict in 1992, which brought back such emotions while reading it as it was probably my first introduction, at 10 years old, of the racial injustices in our nation. Troublemaker isn’t exactly about the upheaval, but instead is about a young Korean American boy who is trying to prove to his father that he is not just a troublemaker by bringing him a gun to protect their store (which I have opinions about being included, but John Cho explains his choice in the author’s note). Everything about the book made it an engaging read: great pacing, characters you can connect with, and an important lesson.
  • Glitch by Laura Martin: This is on the grades 3-5 Florida list for next year, so I listened to it with Trent, and I think many kids are going to have this one be a favorite. The action/adventure, historical, and sci-fi elements all make the book one that is hard to put down, and I loved that within a sci-fi, action/adventure book, you get to learn about history because there is time travel! Also, with the polar opposite main characters, there will definitely be one that readers connect to (and probably one that annoys them).

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

  • Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister: I was reading on the bus home from a field trip, and a PE teacher and I started chatting about books. She shared this one with me, and her elevator pitch of it (a mom witnesses her son murder someone, he’s arrested, they go to bed to go back to the precinct in the morning, and she wakes up the day before the murder!) made me want to read it immediately, and luckily my library had it! And MAN, the book just sucked me in and had so many twist and turns. Also, it did not go where I was expected; I always love being surprised by a book. I’ve been talking about this one to all of my adult books reading friends because I think so many will enjoy it!

Mega-Predators of the Past by Melissa Stewart Dear Mr. G by Christine      Evans The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed Boop! by Bea Birdsong
Line Up! by Susan Stockdale Bioblitz! by Susan Edwards Richmond Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy

  • Mega-Predators of the Past by Melissa Stewart, Illustrated by Howard Gray: Melissa Steward just knows how to craft an engaging and informative nonfiction book! Mega-Predators is so fascinating–it includes some prehistoric creatures I knew (Megalodon & Blue Whale) but so many I didn’t (giant scorpion, griffenfly, short-faced bears, deinosuchus, Sander’s seabird, archelon, terror birds, and titanoboa). Each predator includes some informative text, a comparison graphic, mega fact file, as well as the continuation of the Mega-Predator text. Everyone who grabs this book will learn something and will quickly become interested in these creatures!
  • Dear Mr. G by Christine Evans, Illustrated by Gracey Zhang: Oh man, this book was touching! Told in letters back and forth between a young boy and his neighbor who exchange their letters until Mr. G can no longer take part. The letters include lessons learned, lessons taught, current life stories, past life stories, and is just a joy to read (though it pulls at your heartstrings!).
  • The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham: Aisha Saeed and LeUyen Pham together?! Yes, it is as good as you’re guessing it is! There can never be too many picture books about kindness. Being kind in the face of meanness is so tough for kids, so more stories they read about ways to face those bullies and spread kindness are always welcome. The Together Tree is about a new student at a school, Rumi, who quickly finds his unique fashion sense being made fun of and the boy, Han, who helps Rumi know that there are kids who find his interests and creativity to be wonderful.
  • Boop! by Bea Birdsong, Illustrated by Linzie Hunter: Oh man, oh man, oh man! This truly endearing book will get so many awwwws and boooops out of its readers because every dog in this book is adorable, it has an interactive aspect, and just is such a fun book that will be one that kids will want to read over and over again. I also loved that it had a little bit of an allusion to Go Dog Go so gives a great contemporary book to read along with that classic. I do also want to give a shout out to the author for the intro at the beginning that reminds the reader not to just boop any dog’s nose without permission and making sure it is safe.
  • Line Up!: Animals in Remarkable Rows by Susan Stockdale: This text is a nice introduction to animals that like to line up in nature, such as turtles that line on a log and shrews that hold onto tails as they go on adventures. The text itself is easy to read aloud and is fun and then there is extra info in the back matter about each of the creatures.
  • Bioblitz! Counting Critters by Susan Edward Richmond, Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman: What a fun introduction to bioblitz for young kids! It also includes so many different animals that readers are going to want to learn more about, even more than what is shared in the back matter. I think this will be a great book to incorporate in science to introduce different types of creatures and the idea of bioblitz.
  • Wombat Says Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy, Illustrated by Brian Lies: Based on the idea that wombats in Australia opened their homes to other animals to help them stay safe during wildfires. I have mixed feelings about the animals in the book being so unkind to wombat’s home, and I wonder if it is tied to the truth (if it is, I wish that had been included), but it made me sad that wombat is so welcoming, even after the fact, but the other animals are not great guests. But I can see this being used in the classroom to talk about hospitality and being a good guest–it definitely would be easy for readers to understand this lesson with this book. Oh, and I cannot talk about this book without giving a shout out to the beautiful illustrations–Lie’s acrylic and pencil artwork is stunning!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

See you next week for my update!

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Kellee

Reading: The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Listening to: The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Listening with Trent: Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek

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Tuesday: Teacher Guide for Fox + Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride and Other Stories by Serio Ruzzier

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Using Fiction to Tell Your Truth” by Kaz Windness, Author of Bitsy Bat, School Star

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/22/23

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: Review and Educators’ Guide: The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder

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

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Kellee

It’s my week off! To learn more about my reading, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I love Stacy McAnulty’s books, and this was no exception. Pluto! Not a Planet? Not a Problem! is absolutely adorable and filled with incredible facts and information about Pluto and the solar system.

Invader from Mars: The Truth about Babies by Peggy Robbins Janousky is a new and fun take on the picture book sibling story. It made me laugh out loud!

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Ricki

I am in adult book world for the moment.

I am reading in print Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

I’m listening to Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

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Tuesday: What About Philosophy? An Illustrated Q&A Book for Kids by Guénaēlle Boulet and Anne-Sophie Chilard, Illustrated by Pascal Lemaître

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Building Empathy” by Kim Taylor, Author of A Flag for Juneteenth

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/15/23

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: Blog Tour with Review & Educators’ Guide!: Greatest Kid In the World by John David Anderson

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

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Kellee

I haven’t updated in a month, so I have some great books to share!
I do want to give a shout out to audiobooks because I am in a bit of a reading rut; without audiobooks, I would have only read 4 non-graphic novels over this last month, but with audiobooks, I read 11! So thankful for them!

Battle for the Park by H.D.  Hunter Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston The Sister Switch by Sarah Mlynowski Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga

  • Futureland: Battle for the Park by H.D. Hunter: This book needs more hype! It is such a fun sci-fi book that is about the problem of technology, including AI, in the wrong hands. It is gripping, important, and keeps you wanting to read!
  • Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston: A great sequel that continues the momentum of book one and doesn’t lose the magic!
  • Best Wishes: The Sister Switch by Sarah Mlynowski & Debbie Rigaud: I am just such a fan of Mlynowski’s stories, her standalone and her co-written ones, and this is no exception. I look forward to see what happens in the rest of this series as the magical bracelet gets passed to the next kid.
  • Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee: No wonder this book won everything it did–it is well written, heart-warming, teaches history, has a great lesson, is important, and just an excellent read! Anyone who reads this is going to love Maizy and her group of family and friends.
  • A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga: This book received a lot of hype when it came out among my blog friends, and I can see why; I am so glad I finally read it! It is so funny with a lot of heart and a bit of adventure. I loved the two points of view to include insight into what is going on on Earth while we follow Rez’s adventures to Mars.

The First Rule of Climate Club by Carrie Firestone Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus

  • The First Rule of Climate Club by Carrie Firestone: What a great book about how kids can make a difference! I loved that the author included the main story about climate change as well as other side stories that add to the engagement of the story. As soon as I was done, I had to read its companion novel, Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone. I do wish I’d read Dress Coded first because it is spoiled a bit in First Rule of Climate Club, but it was still interesting to read how everything came to be. Just like Climate Club, there are additional side stories that are happening at the same time which adds to the book also!
  • Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca: What a beautifully written book! LaRocca’s verse is just superb. That combined with a character who you cannot help but love, equals a heart-wrenching but wonderful story.
  • One of us is Back by Karen McManus: The third in the series! I cannot tell you much about it because it has all of the characters in books 1 & 2 and starts off with something that will make fans of the first two books so mad, but they will also just love this book. Has the same vibe as the first two–a great read!

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks Picture Day by Sarah Sax

  • Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks: I don’t think I’ve missed a Faith Erin Hicks book yet, and I have enjoyed every single one of them. I love the characters in the books–they are all flawed and lovable, especially the main characters, Alix and Ezra. It also looks at the pressure of high school and being a star and being loved by all. It is multilayered book that is also just fun to read.
  • Picture Day by Sarah Sax: Fans of middle school realistic fiction graphic novels have another one that they need to add to their TBR. Picture Day is about Viv who is embracing who she is and wants to try to help everyone be ask happy as being herself makes her. But she doesn’t pay attention to those she is bulldozing on her way…

To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I’ll see you next week for my update!

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Kellee

Wrong Place Wrong Time Gamechanger Glitch

  • Reading: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
  • Listening: Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
  • Listening with Trent: Glitch by Laura Martin

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Tuesday: Review and Educators’ Guide: The Witch of Woodland by Laurel Snyder

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/8/23

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: The Witness Trees by Ryan G. Van Cleave, Illustrated by Dðm Dðm

Sunday: “Small Things Lead to Social Emotional Learning” by Marsha Diane Arnold, Author of One Small Thing

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

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Kellee

It’s my off week, so I’ll catch you next week!

To learn more about any books I’ve finished, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

Things got unimaginably hectic this week, work-wise. The last week of the semester has my head spinning! I read 90 pages of the book I’ve posted below, but I didn’t finish anything!

I’ve read Gabrielle Zevin’s YAL and adult novels, and this one, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, is beautiful. I am only halfway through, but I am loving every page.

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Tuesday: Greatest Kid In the World by John David Anderson

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/1/23

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: Maps for Penguins and Other Traveling Animals by Tracey Turner, Illustrated by Hui Skipp

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

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Kellee

It is my week, but I am busy this weekend and didn’t get my Monday post done–I’m sorry!

To learn more about any books I’ve finished, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

This is my week off. See you next week!

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Tuesday: The Witness Trees by Ryan G. Van Cleave, Illustrated by Dðm Dðm

Sunday: “Small Things Lead to Social Emotional Learning” by Marsha Diane Arnold, Author of One Small Thing

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 4/23/23

Share

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. 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.

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!

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Tuesday: Hooray for DNA! How a Bear and a Bug Are a Lot Like Us by Pauline Thompson & Greg Pizzoli

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

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Kellee

I am off this week! To learn more about any of these books, check out my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I reread Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka to teach it to my class. I haven’t read anything else because the end of the semester is so busy!

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Ricki

 

  • Reading: The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
  • Listening: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

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Tuesday: Maps for Penguins and Other Traveling Animals by Tracey Turner, Illustrated by Hui Skipp

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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!

 Signature andRickiSig