IMWAYR

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: Ten Favorite Quotes from Books from Habiba, 9th Grade

Wednesday: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Thursday: #mustreadin2017 Fall Update

Friday: Review and Giveaway!: Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari

 **Giveaway open until 9/14/17!!!**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Hi, everyone 🙂 It is Wednesday here, and I am setting this up a bit early because Florida is preparing for Hurricane Irma, and I didn’t want to get too busy or lose electricity without at least checking in. Here is what I have finished as of today, and I will update you next week on what I read between now and then.

• Scythe by Neal Shusterman is just so phenomenal! I loved his work already, and this one blew me away. I used it for an example for writing book reviews for my students. Here’s what I wrote:

Neal Shusterman’s Scythe takes place in a futuristic world where death no longer exists and it is up to a group of chosen ones called Scythes to inflict death on the ones they choose to keep control of our population. Citra and Rowan were living a normal life until a Scythe came to them and chose for them to be his apprentice. Will Citra and Rowan want to be a master of death for the rest of their lives?

I really enjoyed Scythe because Neal Shusterman’s concept for the book is so unique, his futuristic world is plausible, and he gives us insight into many character’s feelings.  Fans of dystopian science fiction are definitely going to enjoy this book!

The only way the story may have been better for me is if a map of how the United States had changed including its new regions and city names had been included.

The biggest appeal for me was the underlying concept of Scythe. I cannot think of any other book that includes a world like Shusterman has created. I also felt the story was especially strong in the area of character development because Shusterman included points of view for so many of his characters, so it gave a well-rounded look at the world that Shusterman has created. I also really enjoyed that the world that Scythe takes place in is realistic based on what our world is like right now. It shows that the cloud turned into a greater being called the Thunderhead which dictates the world, that scientists were able to eradicate all disease, and that even wars ended with the start of a worldwide governing body.

“A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review

• Knockout Games by G. Neri was more than I even could have expected from the summary and what I knew about it. I was sucked into the world and just didn’t want to stop reading. I highly recommend it and the audiobook.

 Ricki

Stay safe in the storm, Kellee! We are thinking of you!

I enjoyed I Am Bat by Morag Hood. It is reminiscent of Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony. It doesn’t have the exact same premise, but there are a lot of great similarities.

Train by Mike Vago is a great book to get kids enjoying reading. It comes with a red train that kids can weave through the grooved train tracks on the pages of the board book. The train sits right in the pages!

Poor Louie by Tony Fucile is about a dog named Louie who isn’t sure why his parents aren’t paying attention to him. This is a great baby shower gift to parents who also own a dog.

I reread The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. God, I love this book.

This Week’s Expeditions

 Ricki

I have been rereading a lot of YAL in preparation for my Adolescents’ Literature course each week. Planning for the two classes has taken up a lot of my reading time. I’ll definitely be rereading Aristotle and Dante this week, but I hope to finish The Smell of Other People’s Houses, too.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Books to Read with my Mom from Sarah H., 8th grade

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk

 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: Top Ten Tuesday: Thirty Male Book Characters We’d Totally Date by Clara A., Amanda C., Kiersten R., & Ashley F., 8th Grade

Wednesday: Gamer Squad#1: Attack of the Not-So-Virtual Monsters by Kim Harrington

Thursday: Teaching Ideas for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Friday: Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Reaching Reluctant Readers” by Brian Rock, Author of The Tyler Files

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

• The Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman is such a well-crafted roller coaster of twists and turns and suspense and complications and mayhem and BRILLIANCE. It is so good. Sad that I’m putting the final book on hold, but I will read it soon!
• I loved Giant Pumpkin Suite and Things That Surprise You! I am reviewing both this week, so stop by on Wednesday and Friday 🙂
• Because I had so many students reading the 2nd Mighty Jack book, I felt I needed to reread it. Mighty Jack and the Goblin King is a perfect continuation of the first Mighty Jack story yet is so unique in its adventures. Also, the cliffhanger at the end may just kill some of my students as they wait for the next book!

 Ricki

Henry and I have read It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk every night since I received the book two weeks ago. He laughs out loud every time we read it. This is a great book, and I am very excited to write the full review Thursday of next week. 🙂

Here Comes Teacher Cat by Deborah Underwood is another recent favorite in our house. I like how certain words repeat across the pages. It’s helping Henry learn certain words by sight. This makes me very happy!

The new wordless picture book Owl Bat Bat Owl by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick is a great story to explore. It’s about a family of bats and a family of owls who aren’t sure if they can co-exist on the same tree branch.

I re-read American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Gosh, I love this book. I am very excited to talk about it with my students on Wednesday!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

• Currently Listening: Guys! Knockout Games is getting INTENSE! I don’t listen to my audiobooks on the weekends, but I so bad want to know what is going on. If you haven’t read this, I say it is a must read. It gives a look inside getting sucked into gang-like activities.
• Currently Reading: Scythe by Neal Shusterman. Well, I technically haven’t started it yet, but it is what I am going to start. It is our Teacher Book Club book for September. Can’t wait!

 Ricki

I am still enjoying listening to The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock.

I also restarted The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. I was loving it earlier in the year, but I got interrupted with my dissertation.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Ten Favorite Quotes from Books from Habiba, 9th Grade

Wednesday: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Thursday: #mustreadin2017 Fall Update

Friday: Review and Giveaway!: Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari

 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.

CONGRATULATIONS 
Caitlin C. 
for winning our giveaway of The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald!

Last Week’s Posts

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

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Antagonists from Christian U., 8th grade

Wednesday: Marti’s Song for Freedom by Emma Otheguy

Thursday: The First Week in Kellee’s Classroom!: Setting Up the School Year in Week One with Expectations, Kindness Goals, One Word Goals, and Six-Word Memoirs

Friday: Tinyville Town by Biran Biggs

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “How Kids Can Help Homeless Children” by Melody J. Bremen, Author of The Boy Who Painted the World

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I finished listening to The Smell of Other People’s House by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, and I DEFINITELY can see why it was honored as a finalist for the 2017 Walden Award! It is a brilliantly crafted story that puts the reader in 1970s Alaska within intertwining stories of 4 teenagers and everyone in their lives.

I very much look forward to reviewing the first book in the Gamer Squad series for you all this week!

Ricki

I am doing a lot of rereading this week in preparation for the courses that I am teaching this week.

This is my fourth time reading Sherman Alexie’s Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I am very excited to hear what my students think about it because it is my first time teaching it at the college level. I’ve generated a lot of critical activities to engage with the book. I’ll feature them on this Thursday’s post in case anyone wants to swap ideas! It doesn’t matter how many times I read this book—each time, I am swept up by the emotions of the text.

I also reread Teaching English by Design by Peter Smagorinsky in preparation for my class. He does a fantastic job exploring supportive practices for teachers. I love this text for methods courses.

My older son is loving this book right now, so we’ve been reading it each night. I read it a long time ago, so it was great to revisit it!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

• Currently reading: Unsouled by Neal Shusterman – I AM SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE! The curse of back-to-school tiredness means I read for such a short time each night, but I cannot wait to finish. It is so good!
• Currently listening: Knockout Games by G. Neri – I just started this on Friday, so I look forward to getting more into it.
• Next: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill
• Then: Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari

 Ricki

I am very fortunate to work with Todd Mitchell, author of The Last Panther. I visited his book launch this week, and I am very excited to read the book!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Thirty Male Book Characters We’d Totally Date by Clara A., Amanda C., Kiersten R., & Ashley F., 8th Grade

Wednesday: Gamer Squad series by Kim Harrington

Thursday: Teaching Ideas for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Friday: Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano

Sunday: Author Guest Post!

 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: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Special Announcement! The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner Wins the 2017 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award! Finalists: Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, & The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Wednesday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway: The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald
**Giveaway open until Tuesday!!!**

Thursday: Ricki’s Adolescents’ Literature Class Syllabus

Friday: Vanished by James Ponti

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Cap’n Rex’s Steps to Writing a Fictional Picture Book” by Henry Herz, Author of Cap’n Rex & His Clever Crew

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Ah. The start of the school year. There is no tired like the first week of school tired. And that tired means very little reading; however, it does mean I’m back to driving 25 miles each way daily, so it allows for great audiobook listening time. I LOVED Highly Illogical Behavior! I am so glad that Ricki told me to listen to it–it is definitely a winning audiobook.

 Ricki

My sister is getting married, so I am flying back to Connecticut this week and weekend. I’m sorry I’ll miss you all!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I

• Currently reading: Unsouled by Neal Shusterman – I need to get going because I want to get through it and the final book in the series before the ebook expires from the library! And I have Scythe to read for my faculty book club on 8/8, so I need to finished the Unwind Dystology to start Shusterman’s new series.
• Currently reading: Gamer Squad: Attack of the Not-So-Virtual Monsters by Kim Harrington – These are going to be loved by my students! Perfect for a fans of monster fantasy, video games, and Pokemon.
• Currently listening to: The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock – I have read 3 of the 5 Walden honorees, so I grabbed this one when I saw that the audibook was available from my library.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Antagonists from Christian U., 7th grade

Wednesday: Marti’s Song for Freedom by Emma Otheguy

Thursday: The First Week in Kellee’s Classroom

Friday: Tinyville Town by Biran Biggs

Sunday: Author Guest post

 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: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Unbelievable Moments in Books [Spoilers!] from Courtney and Yasmine, 8th grade

Wednesday: The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, The First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon by Frances Poletti & Kristina Yee

Thursday: 2017 Picture Book 10 for 10: Favorite Picture Books to Use in the Secondary Classroom #PB10for10

Friday: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “An Interview with…Myself!” by Ann Herrick, Author of The Ugly Girl Party

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

School is back. That means less reading 🙁 But I was able to finish the amazing Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds! What an awesome introduction to the character with really important race issues also discussed. I cannot wait to share this one with my classes.

 Ricki

.

I finished listening to The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This book will stick with me forever. I can’t get over how talented Sáenz is. He is one of my favorite authors of all time. It’s like he breathes life into his characters. This book will give teachers a lot to talk about.

I also reread Fair Isn’t Always Equal by Rick Wormeli. I like this book a lot because it forces teachers to (re)consider their views toward assessment, differentiation, and grading. The book covers a lot of topics like the “burning questions” we ask ourselves about grading and whether homework should count. I’m excited to use this book in my Methods class next semester because I think it will spur a lot of debates.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

 

• Currently reading: Unsouled by Neal Shusterman –YES YES YES! I’m so excited to continue this series. If you haven’t read it, it is a wonderful dystopian series (with some serious political undertones).
• Currently listening: Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley – Oh man! I love this book so much! I was struggling with my last audiobook, so I grabbed this one to help me get out of the listening rut, and it is working! I want to listen to it all the time. If you haven’t read this one, I definitely recommend it.
• Coming up: Gamer Squad 1 & 2 by Kim Harrington – I look forward to reading and reviewing these for UR.
• Coming up: Things That Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari – I look forward to reading and reviewing this one for UR.
• Coming up: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill – I look forward to reading and reviewing this one for UR.
• Hope to get to s0on (will read it before it expires from the library!): Finding Perfect by Elly Schwartz – This one has come highly recommended by many of my friends on Twitter, and I finally got my reserved copy of it from the library.
• Hope to get to soon: Stealing Our Way Home by Cecelia Galante – I loved Summer of May by Galante and this one has come highly recommended by Michele, so I look forward to it.

 Ricki

.

I am listening to (and loving) The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Announcement

Wednesday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway: The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald

Thursday: Ricki’s Adolescents’ Literature Class Syllabus

Friday: Vanished by James Ponti

Sunday: Author Guest Post

 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:  Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Favorite Graphic Novels by Amar & Luke, 8th grade, and Omar & Ethan, 6th grade

Wednesday:  Scanorama Series (Amazing Animals, Dinosaurs, & Deadly Predators) by Anna Claybourne

Thursday: Guest Review: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero by Rachel Renee Russell

Friday: The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie

Sunday: Interview with Kim Harrington, Author of the Gamer Squad Series

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Well, after last week’s book sharing extravaganza, I don’t have as much to share this week. I went back to work for a four day week last week and preplanning (thus normal) starts today. Alas, that means no more reading until 2am and sleeping until 10am, but I do hope to keep my habit of reading every day.

• Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry – A friend of mine (and a mom of a past student) was an early reader for this book, and she highly recommended it to me, so I was so glad when it was my turn to read it from the library. I am a sucker for multi-voiced texts and novels-in-verse, so the format alone was meant for me. I also adored watching Callie learning to be herself and standing up for herself and finally BEING instead of hiding. I am so glad this book was recommended to me–thank you, Peggy!
• Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano – WHOA! When I was contacted to review this book for UR, I loved the summary, but I hadn’t heard anything about it. I look forward to being someone who spreads the word about this awesome book that so many of your students are going to love. I look forward to reviewing it soon.
• Georgia Rules by Nanci Turner Steveson – Michele has been bugging me to read Steveson’s books since that summer I believe, and this week when I was having an indecisive reading moment, I got it from the library, and I am so glad I did. I will tell you that there is a character in this book that I just REALLY DIDN’T LIKE but that also shows how much I did care for Maggie. This is a story I look forward to book talking because many kids will want to know how Maggie deals with leaving her home and friends and getting to know more about her father. (Although I still believe that this beautiful cover won’t suck in the readers this book deserves!)

 Ricki

I’m BACK! Our family had a wonderful trip across the country. Who knew that a 3-year-old and 9-month-old would tolerate 42 hours in the car with minimal complaining? Unfortunately, I didn’t get a lot of reading done in that time frame and my brain is a bit fuzzy about what I DID read. I do know that Henry and I read this picture book today that we enjoyed:

Morris Mole by Dan Yaccarino is a charming story of a mole who decides to do things differently. He digs up. Henry has made me read this book every night for the past few weeks. He loves it. The pictures pop, and the story is enjoyable (even after a dozen reads).

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

   

• Currently listening to The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson – I know many of you loved this book and series, but I am struggling. I am hoping driving every day is going to help me love it. It is on our state list, so I want to finish it to be able to chat to students about it.
• Currently reading Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds – Marvel and Jason Reynolds?!?!?!? YES!
• Coming up: Finding Perfect by Elly Schwartz – This one has come highly recommended by many of my friends on Twitter, and I just got my reserved copy of it from the library.
• Coming up: Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill – I look forward to reading and reviewing this one for UR.
• Impatiently waiting for Unsouled by Neal Shusterman – I’m next on the hold for this one! (I own the book, but it is at school, and I like reading ebooks better *shhhhh!*)
• Hope to get to Stealing Our Way Home by Cecelia Galante – I loved Summer of May by Galante and this one has come highly recommended by Michele, so I look forward to it.

 Ricki

One of my smart, thoughtful colleagues (Pam Coke) recommended this book, The Genius Hour Guidebook. Genius Hour is a time for students (of all ages) to explore their passions. I am going to be using Genius Hour in my Methods course next semester because Pam has had great success with it in the past. I’ve only read the first chapter, but I am very, very excited about it! I’ll be posting about how it goes!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Unbelievable Moments in Books [Spoilers!] from Courtney and Yasmine, 8th grade

Wednesday: The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, The First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon by Frances Poletti & Kristina Yee

Thursday: Picture Books 10 for 10

Friday: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Sunday: Author Guest Post

 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: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Want to Reread from Danny J., 6th grade

Wednesday: New Nonfiction Texts and Nonfiction & Fiction Chapter Books from Animal Planet

Thursday: Guest Review: Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson

Friday: Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett

Sunday: Author Guest Post and Giveaway!: “Creepy Crawley Science” by Kim Kasch, Author of Irma the Inventor and the Vampire Spiders

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Wow! It is nice to be back! It has been four weeks since I’ve shared what I read, so this may be a bit much–sorry! I couldn’t leave any out because I want to recommend them all! If you want to know more about a specific book check out my Goodreads profile or feel free to comment below or tweet me @kelleemoye 🙂

Here is everything I read. In date read order by book type.

Picture Books

   

  

  

• Can An Aardvark Bark by Melissa Stewart: See my review!
• Scout by Gordon McMillan: A fun story about comparisons and friendship.
• The Monster Next Door by David Soman: About a boy and a monster who build tree house across from each other and overcoming differences.
• Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus: BEAUTIFUL! Nelson’s artwork + Naberhaus’s poetry = perfection.
• Come with Me by Holly M. McGhee: This picture book about how to make the world a better place is a must read for everyone. (Out 9/5/17)
• Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner: Sarabella is like many kids I’ve met but that many people don’t understand. This picture book will help adults and kids alike have some insight into quiet and creative kids. (Out 9/5/17)
• La Princess and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya: A bilingual twist on the classic fairy tale.  (Out 9/5/17)
• The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken: An unconventional picture book about embracing mistakes or imperfections.
• Renato and the Lion by Barbara Dilorenzo: This is definitely a new favorite. It made me cry. It is about art and history and family and connections. I loved it so much.
• Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin: I loved Rubin’s first dragon picture book, and the sequel was just what I expected–more weirdness and humor.
• Flashlight Night by Matt Forest Esenwine: Review coming soon!
• This Book Will Not Be Fun by Cirocco Dunlap: The mouse tries really hard to keep the book boring, but it was just not meant to be.
• Hattie and Hudson by Chris Van Dusen: I just love Van Dusen’s work! His illustrations are beautiful, and I also loved his story about assumptions and friendship.
• Hello, Hippo! Goodbye, Bird! by Kristyn Crow: Like Hattie, Hippo/Bird is about not assuming and making friends when least expected.
• Now by Antoinette Portis: A picture book about living in the moment and loving whatever you are experience as you experience it.
• Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin, Jr. and Bill Sampson: A fun interactive book that Trent loved acting along with.
• The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett: Klassen and Barnett have another winner! This book made me laugh out loud in the middle of ALA and ILA, and Trent loved it, too! (Out 10/10/17)
• The Noisy Little Rooster by Carmen Agra Deedy: I can definitely now understand why everyone is sharing this picture book as one to use in civics classrooms or during social justice units. It is about not being quiet in the face of oppression.
• Triangle by Mac Barnett: I don’t think Klassen and Barnett can do any wrong. This was probably Trent’s favorite book we read at ILA. He had me read it at least 5 times, he wore a Triangle tattoo for days, and we now have a Triangle poster on his door. I can’t wait for the other two in the series.
• Ice Boy by David Ezra Stein: What a fun book about the water cycle that wasn’t actually about the water cycle but instead about an ice cube family. Trent loved this one, too. Another we reread multiple times at ILA.
• Sing, Don’t Cry by Angela Dominguez: I’d never read any of Dominguez’s work, and now I need to read everything. I thank Katie at Macmillan for sharing this one with me–it was beautiful.
• Out! by Arree Chung: A one-word picture book whose illustrations tell the majority of the funny story about a baby and his dog friend.
• Are We Pears Yet? by Miranda Paul: I loved this unconventional nonfiction picture book! It is about seeds and plants and pears yet is funny and unique and like nothing I’ve ever read.
• Little Elliott, Fall Friends by Mike Curato: Another loveable Little Eliott book with Mouse.
• Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett: Check out my review!
• What’s Below? by Clive Gifford: This book reminded me of Kate Messner’s Over and Under series but with only a spread per scene and with pop-ups.
• The Currious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie: Review coming this week!

Graphic Novels

  

• Swing It, Sunny by Jennifer L. Holm: A perfect sequel to Sunny Side Up which focuses more on her life at home and her family. (Out 9/12/17)
• Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey: I love Dav Pilkey. Everything he does. And I know kids will be more than ecstatic to see Dog Man 3. (Out 8/29/17)
• All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson: Imogene is starting public school for the first time, and she’s trying to balance it and her family’s Renaissance Faire life. (Out 9/5/17)

MG/YA Novels

             

• Edison’s Alley and Hawking’s Hallway by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman:
• Dear Martin by Nic Stone: A heart-wrenching novel about a young Black boy’s struggle after being detained by the police without reason. (Out 10/17/17)
• Vanished!: A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti: Review coming soon!
• Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling: Review coming soon!
• The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten: Whoa! I now understand why the Schneider Committee honored this book. I loved it so much. And the audio is highly recommended. It is a funny but super realistic look at an OCD support group.
• Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: The ending, guys! You must read it for the ending! Well, you must read it no matter what, but THE ENDING! (Out 10/17/17)
• The Nest by Kenneth Oppel: Well, I finally did it. I read The Nest even though you all warned me about how creepy it was, but I did it! It is Coraline level awesome creepy–you are all right. It is a super dark yet brilliant read.
• The Princess and the Page by Christina Farley: A fun fairy tale twist on the power of words! I hope there is going to be a sequel. Get this book for your fans of E.D. Baker.
• Unwind, Unstrung, and Unwholly by Neal Shusterman: I am so glad I reread Unwind before starting the rest of the series as I realized I hadn’t remembered it as much as I’d thought. WHOA! It is still amazing and $&!% just hits the fan in book 1.5 and 2. Waiting for 3 & 4 from the library.
• The Last Fifth Grade Class of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan: Loved the inclusion of diversity, civics, and poetry in the book. This really makes it perfect for a classroom read. Also, thank you to Laura for including all of the poetry resources at the back of the book.
• The Serpent King by Jeff Zenter: READ THIS! I had a small fear that I wouldn’t like this book because of the hype, but I was wrong. (And the audiobook was great!) You should read my tweets when I was reacting to the book. It truly puts you on a terribly wonderful emotional roller coaster.
• The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie: Review coming soon! (Out 10/17/17)
• The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald: Review coming soon! (Out 8/8/17)

 Ricki

I am moving across the country to Colorado to start my new job at Colorado State University! Yahoo! This week I am working on getting settled and finding everything I need (including my computer!). I’ll see you all next week!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I am currently listening to The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. I’m giving it a second go as an audiobook. The last time I started it, I just wasn’t in the mood for a world-building book, so I hope the audiobook sucks me in. I am also reading Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano which I’m 50% of the way through, and readers of Riordan are going to LOVE this one!

I also have these 4 books on hold at the library, so I will read them when I get them. Hopefully. I am back at work for 21 hours this week then preplanning starts next week (and I agreed to write a couple of teaching guides before 8/2), so I don’t know how much reading I’ll get to as the beginning of the year is so draining. Bye summer 🙁 But hello new students and sharing books 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday:  Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Favorite Graphic Novels by Amar & Luke, 8th grade, and Omar & Ethan, 6th grade

Wednesday:  Scanorama Series (Amazing Animals, Dinosaurs, & Deadly Predators) by Anna Claybourne

Thursday: Guest Review: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero by Rachel Renee Russell

Friday: The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie

Sunday: Author Guest Post!

 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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