IMWAYR

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!

Tuesday: Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean by Patricia Newman, Photographs  by Annie Crawley

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

Kellee

It is SPRING BREAK! I definitely needed it! If you are on Spring Break: Enjoy your time! If you are still waiting for your Spring Break: I understand your pain–it’ll be here soon!

I’ll update you either next week or the week after on what I’ve been reading, but for a sneak peek of what I’m reading, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

It’s Spring Break for my oldest, too, which means I am working from home with a kid in tow. I will be back next week, too!

.

Tuesday: Once Upon Another Time by Charles Ghigna & Matt Forrest Esenwine, Illustrated by Andrés F. Landazábal

Thursday: Follow That Frog! by Philip C. Stead, Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

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?
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!

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Let Liberty Rise: How America’s Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefl, Illustrated by Chuck Groenick

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

Kellee

Hunting November picks up right where Killing November ended, so I was immediately sucked right back in. Loved this secret society book with lots of twists and turns!

Nibbles books are still a favorite in our house, but now Trent is reading them to me ❤

Still reading Promised Neverland. I only finished 1 this week because I was SUPER lucky to finally have gotten my 1st COVID Vaccine, but it also put me in a brain fog for a couple of days which slowed down my reading. Number 9 ended with a big cliffhanger too, so I can’t wait to read 10!

Timbaland’s Nightime Symphony, illustrated by Christopher Myers, has the rhythm of Timbaland’s music and it is obvious that he loves sounds. And Myers’s illustrations are beautiful! (P.S. Keep a look out for the cat!)

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I spent some time with family this weekend, so I am a bit behind. I hope you all had a great reading week, and I look forward to catching up with you next week!

Kellee

Reading: A Good Kind of Trouble by Lina Moore Lamée

Reading with Trent: Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets by Dav Pilkey

Listening: The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

Tuesday: Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean by Patricia Newman, Photographs  by Annie Crawley

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?
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!

Tuesday: Review, Book Trailer, and Giveaway!: The Stuff Between Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered MOST of the Universe by Sandra Nickel, Illustrated by Aimée Skuro

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by Brooke Smart

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas

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

Kellee

As you can tell, I am LOVING the Promised Neverland series. I have a student who is feeding my habit. I am about to read book 9, and I am SUCKED IN! I look forward to finishing through book 18 and waiting for 19 & 20–then I am going to watch the Anime!

I read the two newest Alex Rider books, one a continuation of the series and one a short story anthology, and it reminded me just how much I adore this series. Each book just grabs me and surprises me. And thankful, from Anthony Horowitz on Twitter, there is another book coming!

I listened to The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert, and it was a wonderful book looking not only at racial microaggressions and growing up as a Black girl in a primarily white town, but it has a great mystery and realistic middle school drama wrapped in.

On the Horizon by Lois Lowry is a memoir and historical nonfiction book-in-verse that combines Lois Lowry’s childhood memories, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the bombing of Hiroshima in a truly emotion-draining, truth-telling, heart-wrenching book.

Trent read Cat Kid’s Comic Book Club during our nightly weekday reading time, and when he finished he asked me to read it. It was the first Dav Pilkey book that we haven’t read together, so he wanted me to read it so we could talk about it. It is such a clever concept (like all of Pilkey’s books!) and just so silly. Building on the Pilkey love, we listened to Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot #1 and Captain Underpants #1 together this week also.

The newest HiLo book is probably my favorite in the series so far! Gina is such a good character, and I am loving the character arc. I read this in one sitting before bringing it to school for students to enjoy.

All the Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson is a much needed memoir as I do not think there is any other book out there like this one and it is going to be an important book for so many. And I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author which made the story telling even better!

The She Persisted chapter books are a series I am so excited about! Finally, a series that focuses on women and their amazing accomplishments for young readers. The first two, about Claudette Colvin and Harriet Tubman, are great introductions to these amazing women and definitely worth reading.

Killing November by Adriana Mather is a teenage illuminati book that is so suspenseful and quite a mystery. I cannot wait to read book 2!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

 

It was a busy week with some new research projects, but my 4yo and I read and loved Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds. It wonderfully integrates facts about crows! We also read Let Liberty Rise! by Chana Stiefel. This is a really neat book that shares a slice of history. I’ll be reviewing it on Thursday!

Kellee

Reading: Hunting November by Adriana Mather & Promised Neverland

Casually Reading: Pokémon Super Deluxe Essential Handbook

Going to start listening to: The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

Ricki

I am really enjoying The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. I’m listening to it and am thinking I might even read it in print afterwards. How beautiful is the cover of this book?

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Let Liberty Rise: How America’s Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefl, Illustrated by Chuck Groenick

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?
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!

Tuesday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway!: The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang, Illustrated by Jana Christy

Thursday: Love in English by Maria E. Andreu

Saturday: Trent’s Favorite Reads as a 6 Year Old

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

Kellee

Hi, everyone! It was Trent’s birthday weekend, and I just never got around to doing my IMWAYR… I’ll catch up next week!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I read and loved Saving American Beach by Heidi Tyline King. I wasn’t familiar with American Beach, so I learned a lot. I love nonfiction picture books so much. The illustrations are stunning!

I also read another wonderful nonfiction picture book called Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark. Elizebeth Friedman is incredibly inspiring, and this book was packed with amazing information. Review on Thursday! 🙂

My 7yo wanted to read Sisters by Raina Telgemeier. I enjoyed reading about the sibling dynamics in this book. I would love to see the panel about spirit animals removed from this one.

I absolutely loved Slay by Brittney Morris. I listened to the audio and had a hard time moving through my day because I wanted to get back to it! I really loved reading about the game and am hoping she incorporates some sort of gaming into her next book The Cost of Knowing. I am really excited to read that one.

Ricki

Listening with my 7yo: Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri.

Listening by myself: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

Print text: I am rereading a YA book that I am using for an article. 🙂

Tuesday: Review, Book Trailer, and Giveaway!: The Stuff Between Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered MOST of the Universe by Sandra Nickel, Illustrated by Aimée Skuro

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by Brooke Smart

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas

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?
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!

Tuesday: Brave in the Woods by Tracy Holczer

Thursday: Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Valentina Toro

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Van Gogh Deception by Devon Hicks

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Vali Benson, Author of Blood and Silver

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

Kellee

Although being on book award committees is a tremendous honor and privilege, one of the big plusses about not being on one is that when a student or friend recommends a book, I can actually find the time to read it!

This last week I read Book 1-3 of The Promised Neverland manga series which was recommended by a student, and I can definitely see why it is so popular–it is a pretty messed up but interesting story!

Also recommended to me was the Black Sands book 1 which is a graphic novel that takes place in Ancient Egypt. The action in this one is pretty epic and the story has just started! Black Sands is also created and distributed by Black Sands Entertainment which is a Black owned indie publisher, so I was excited to learn about them as well.

Trent and I also finished The One and Only Ivan this week! Yay! He loved it as much as I’d hoped he would. Up next is the picture book! (We also watched the movie this weekend, and although it is different, it holds up the heart of the story.)

I love the That’s a Job series from Kane Miller, and I was happy to get a new one from the series–I Like Space. I think this book is awesome because many kids LOVE space but may not want to be an astronaut and this book gives more ideas.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I’ve realized that I am happiest when I am reading, and these books filled my bucket of happiness.

Traci Chee’s We Are Not Free is a powerful story that knocked me off my feet. I recommended it to a friend who teaches history teachers, and she said it had a similarly impactful effect on her. This book is deserving of all of the awards it has received.

Speaking of awards—When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. Wow. Just wow. My 7yo and I read this book together, and we were both moved to tears.

Maria E. Andreu’s Secret Side of Empty was beautifully written, so I was looking forward to Love in English. I really liked this book, and I talk about it more (and the complexities) in the review on Thursday.

Kellee

Reading: Alex Rider: Nightshade by Anthony Horowitz

Listening: The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

Ricki

Reading with my ears: Slay by Brittney Morris

Reading with my eyes: Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Tuesday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway!: The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang, Illustrated by Jana Christy

Thursday: Love in English by Maria E. Andreu

Saturday: Trent’s Favorite Reads as a 6 Year Old

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?
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!

 

Tuesday: First Day of Unicorn School by Jess Hernandez, Illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum

Thursday: Who Loves the Dragon? by Bianca Schulze, Illustrated by Samara Hardy

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Asking the Important Questions about Action Scenes” by Matt Wallace, Author of Bump

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

Kellee

• Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson: I agree with Teen Vogue that this book is essential reading. Inspired by Jackson’s own age-inappropriate relationship as a teen as well as R. Kelly, Grown looks at sexual abuse, manipulation, and what makes someone “grown.”
• The Rock From the Sky by Jon Klassen: Klassen describes this book as “five connected stories about three characters in which they don’t go anywhere or do almost anything,” but still he is able to bring brilliance to the story. I love it so much, I have actually read it out loud to two adults because I told them they HAD to read it. It is so simple and funny brilliant, like only Klassen can do.
• Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne: A coming of age novel-in-verse about finding your own voice when out of the shadows of a toxic friendship.
• Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons by Ashli St. Armant: This Audible Original was so much fun! Viva goes on a search to solve a mystery surrounding the song “Miss Mary Mack” which is claimed to be actually a scavenger hunt.
• There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell by Lucille Colandro: Trent LOVES this series and after reading this one with his grandma, he insisted on reading it to me.
• The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart: I have read all of Gemeinhart’s books now, and although I have loved them all SO MUCH, I can definitely tell that Gemeinhart’s craft is excelling.
• (Don’t) Call Me Crazy edited by Kelly Jensen: Everyone should read this book. If you don’t feel seen while reading some of the stories, it will help you understand those around you.
• The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung: Jung definitely understands middle school boys! A funny and fun read about two friends and their last hurrah.

With the finishing of Coyote Sunrise, I officially completed my #BitAboutBooks Challenge! YAY! And there was truly not a dud in the list!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I loved Kate Messner’s Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy. It teaches wonderful skills in mindfulness and shares the realities of anxiety. I am looking forward to reviewing it this Thursday. It’s a book that is so necessary. I wish I owned it as a child.

My 4yo AND my 7yo woke up this morning talking about Dinosaurs Are Not Extinct by Drew Sheneman. This book is very cleverly crafted and really funny! The dinosaurs have speech bubbles on each page that keep readers giggling. Dinosaurs Are Not Extinct is packed with facts and smartly organized.

My kids argue about who is allowed to keep Follow That Frog by Philip C. Stead in their room. This book is packed with good vocabulary, and I was laughing as I read it aloud. Matthew Cordell’s illustrations are simply fantastic, and I adore this book so much.

Kellee

I am currently reading The One and Only Ivan with Trent.
I just finished my book and audiobook, and I haven’t decided what to read yet 🙂

Ricki

I am still reading the books I named last week, but I have to give another plug for this book. I’m reading it with my 7yo, and I look forward to reading it together every night. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Tuesday: Brave in the Woods by Tracy Holczer

Thursday: Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Valentina Toro

Saturday: Sofia’s Kids’ Corner: The Van Gogh Deception by Devon Hicks

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Vali Benson, Author of Blood and Silver

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?
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!

Tuesday: Schneider Family Book Awards

Thursday: Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-Winning Children’s Book Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing edited by Melissa Stewart

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Vivian McInerny, Author of The Whole Hole Story

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

Kellee

• Starfish by Lisa Fipps gave me so many feels! It is a story of a young girl who is SO tired of being fat-shamed when she is not ashamed of being fat, but it seems like everyone else has an issue with it–including her family. Beautifully written and heartfelt.
• Diana Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale and Dead Hale is a fun young Wonder Woman graphic novel.
• Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson is the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and picks up RIGHT after the first book, even continuing the trials from the first book’s case; however, this novel brings us another mystery that Pip gets pulled into and it is life or death.
• The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad & S.K. Ali with illustrations by Hatem Aly is such an exquisite book, not only in illustrations (I mean–look at that cover!) and story but in inclusion. This book was a window for my son which led to amazing conversations but will be a mirror for so many kids.
• The Little Blue Bridge by Brenda Maier, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez is a fun twist on “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” with a fun, sassy young protagonist!

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2020 Goodreads Challenge page  or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I read and loved Mahogany L. Browne’s Chlorine Sky. I wish this book existed while I was teaching high school. I know so many students who would have benefited from it. I am so glad it is out in the world now, and I know it will really reach a lot of readers.

I REREAD Dear Martin by Nic Stone because my preservice teachers are pairing up with high schoolers who are reading this book. Ahhh, I love this book even more every time I read it. It’s simply phenomenal.

I loved Deborah Wiles’ We Are All Under One Wide Sky. It has great representation, and the concept is wonderful. This book is a great reminder to adults and children alike. Andrea Stegmaier does a lovely job with the illustrations!

I really enjoyed Cranky Right Now by Julie Berry. Holly Hatam’s illustrations are fantastic and made me smile. I know the perfect kid for this book, and I can’t wait to read it to him.

Kellee

Reading with Trent: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Reading: (Don’t) Call Me Crazy edited by Kelly Jensen

Listening: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Ricki

Reading: Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Listening: We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

Reading with 7yo: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

 

Tuesday: First Day of Unicorn School by Jess Hernandez, illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum

Thursday: Who Loves the Dragon? by Bianca Schulze, illustrated by Samara Hardy

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Asking the Important Questions about Action Scenes” by Matt Wallace, Author of Bump

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