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: MANY Reading Without Walls Recommendations

Wednesday: Animal Ark by Joel Sartore and Kwame Alexander

Thursday: Guest Review: Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Friday: Picture Books That Celebrate Books!: Chicken Story Time by Sandy Asher & Mark Fearing; How This Book was Made by Mac Barnett & Adam Rex; and Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar by Emily MacKenzie

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Trent and I read some fantastic picture books this week!
I’ve had Penguin Problems since NCTE, but Trent picked it up for the first time this week, and now he loves it and so do I! What a funny, cute book! We love penguins and this book is a wonderful penguin book.
This week, Trent got his first BOOX (Books in a Box) from Powell’s (a gift from Meemaw and G’dad), and it included Not Quite Narwhal and a stuffed Narwhal named Spike. Trent is obsessed with his Narwhal now and loves not only Spike but Kelp, the Narwhal in Not Quite Narwhal. It is a great story about fitting in and a good discussion starter about families.

Someone (I CAN’T REMEMBER WHO! Was it you?) recommend McToad Mows Tiny Island by Tom Angelberger to us since Trent loves vehicles, and we read it this weekend. How wonderful is this book?!? Funny and informative combined with John Hendrix’s amazing illustrations = a new favorite!
Finally, we received One Lonely Fish by Thomas Flintham from Bloomsbury, and Trent and I have read it so many times! He still laughs when we get to #10. I love when we found books that make counting fun, and books that Trent feels confident to read himself.

Wow! I loved both of these middle grade novels, and I cannot wait to share the with you and with my students. Both deal with how differences shouldn’t cause bullying and discrimination.

Funny story! I thought I read this book, but when I went to go read the 3rd book and went to go read the notes I put for the 2nd book, and I realized I hadn’t reviewed the 2nd book on Goodreads which got me thinking, “Did I read the 2nd book?!?” But when I started thinking about it, I couldn’t remember much of the story. I talked to a student at school who had just read it, and he asked me some non-spoiler questions, and I realized I hadn’t! Everywhere I put that I was so excited for book 3, but I hadn’t read 2! But then I started listening to 2, and I knew everything that was going to happen. Now I was completely confused… But then, about 1/3 of the way into the book, I didn’t know what was going to happen, and I realized that I had only listened to a third of it! WHY?! I still don’t know why. But I finished it now! And loved it!

 Ricki

My dissertation defense is this week, so I have been preparing my presentation. I did take my boys to the bookstore and was able to read these two books to them. We also read several Batman books, that I am not including on this post (eye roll). Can you tell what my son is into these days?

I adored The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin. This is the perfect baby shower gift. It reminds me of Mem Fox’s Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes a bit–between the illustrations and the mama love.

The Lost House by B. B. Cronin is a bizarre book. Each page is one color, and readers have to look for things on the pages. I enjoyed it, and it is very artsy.

My sons and I enjoyed Cowboy Car by Jeanie Franz Ransom. They are hooked on vehicles, so this was a fun read for them.

My sons and I also enjoyed Splatypus by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. This is a great book about belonging.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

 

I cannot wait to read the next book in Sam’s story as I loved the first one so much. I also have Framed! by James Ponti to read for a review next month. I found out not long ago that Ponti is a local author which is so exciting!

These books looks so interesting, and I know my students will enjoy reading about these legends.

I HOPE that this becomes available at my library soon. I am hold 1 on 1 copy, so it can’t be any longer than 3 weeks, but that is a LONG time to wait for the finale! I’m so excited!

 Ricki

Because of my dissertation (and putting my house on the market), I don’t have time to read with my eyes. But I’ve been reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas with my ears as I drive. It’s incredible.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Unique Books

Wednesday:  An Interactive Children’s Book App: Care For Our World by Karen Robbins from Sunbreak Games

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Cowboy Car by Jeanie Franz Random

Friday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway!: Posted by John David Anderson

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.

CONGRATULATIONS

Aaron W.

for winning Henry and the Chalk Dragon

Last Week’s Posts

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

 

  

Tuesday: Spring TBR Books

Wednesday: Here We Go: A Poetry Friday Power Book by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

Thursday: #mustreadin2017 Spring Update

Friday: Upcoming Must Haves from little bee books: Race! by Sue Fliess; Toucans, Too by Bethanie Deeney Murguia; Blobfish Throws a Party by Miranda Paul; and A Cat is Better by Linda Joy Singleton

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Well, my reading slowed down a bit this week because of “Th1rteen R3asons Why” on Netflix. I was obsessed and finished it over four days! I have so much to say about it; I may have to do a post about it!

I did finish the Legend series! Wow! That is one intense story, and I now know exactly why my kids devour it and were so upset that I hadn’t read it yet.

 Ricki

I listened to the audio of The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. Gosh, I love this book so much. I will definitely be using this book next semester in my courses! There is so much to talk about, and I think it will make for phenomenal conversations.

I read On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen with my boys. My three year old said, “Mama, that book was really, really nice.” That’s a true compliment from him. I loved this beautiful book. It reminded me a bit of Make Way for Duckings, one of my favorites.

Keep a Pocket in Your Poem by J. Patrick Lewis is a fun book. Each spread features a classic poem on one side and a playful parody of that poem on the other side. I enjoyed this one.

Percy: Dog of Destiny by Alison McGhee is a charming book that my sons enjoy reading. The illustrations make us laugh!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

 

I started Posted on Sunday–I look forward to reading it 🙂 After I finish, I plan on starting The Sweet Spot by our very own Stacy Mozer!

 Ricki

I am listening to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. So far–wow. Now I understand why everyone is raving about this book.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: MANY Reading Without Walls Recommendations

Wednesday: Animal Ark by Joel Sartore and Kwame Alexander

Thursday: Guest Review: Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Friday: Picture Books That Celebrate Books!: Chicken Story Time by Sandy Asher & Mark Fearing; How This Book was Made by Mac Barnett & Adam Rex; and Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar by Emily MacKenzie

 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 TO OUR GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

Angie O. won I am (Not) Scared!

Katie B. won the Blood Guard series!

Francis U. won Brobarians!

Last Week’s Posts

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

 

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Authors We Would Love to Meet

Wednesday: Teaching Guide for Ada’s Ideas by Fiona Robinson

Thursday: Guest Review: Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey

Friday: Review and Giveaway!: Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton

*Giveaway ends Thursday!*

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “How Do We Know What Someone Else Is Feeling?: Body Language, the Big Horse Book, and Imaginative Leaps in Bramble and Maggie” by Jessie Haas

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Before starting Legend like I said I was going to, I felt I needed a contemporary YA just to clean my pallet since I’d just read a fantasy novel. I picked up Someone Else’s Summer by Rachel Bateman and it was PERFECT–exactly what I needed. It is a road trip novel which is one of my favorite types of books! It was sad and thought-provoking but also lovely and romantic. It is a special book, and I look forward to reviewing it.

Then I started Legend, and oh man! I can see why my kids want me to read it. I haven’t read a great dystopian adventure in a while; it is nice to be back in this type of genre. I am currently reading Prodigy, and I cannot wait to see what happens!

 Ricki

Hi! I am off the grid this week because my dissertation goes to the committee this Wednesday. Hugs to you all, and I apologize for being so elusive this month!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I hope to finish the Legend series this week! I have to know what happens!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

  

Tuesday: Spring TBR Books

Wednesday: Here We Go: A Poetry Friday Power Book by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong

Thursday: #mustreadin2017 Spring Update

Friday: Upcoming Must Haves from little bee books: Race! by Sue Fliess; Toucans, Too by Bethanie Deeney Murguia; Blobfish Throws a Party by Miranda Paul; and A Cat is Better by Linda Joy Singleton

 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: Ten Short Novels that Pack a Punch

Wednesday: Review and Giveaway!: Brobarians by Lindsay Ward

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang

Friday: Paint Me a Picture & Tell Me a Story by Emily Bannister

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “Journey” by Michael Cottman, Author of Shackles from the Deep

**Don’t miss out on the two giveaways from last week!**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I love Spring Break! Even with our mini-vacation and being a bit busy, I was able to get a lot of reading done. I am not going to list all of the picture books I read (17!) because I plan on reviewing them all soon, so I will share them with you then 🙂

First Second has some amazing upcoming graphic novels coming out!
–Pelé: The King of Soccer by Eddy Simon and Vincent Brascaglia is the name I have heard for years because soccer is by far the most popular sport at my school, but I hadn’t know much about him until this graphic novel, and I loved learning about the man that many of my students call a hero.
–Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke is just as good as the first one, and I love the world that Hatke has created for Jack, Maddy, and Lilly. The creatures are so creative and interesting, the adventures are heart stopping, and the characters are so well developed. And GUYS! There is an epic cliffhanger ending! I cannot wait!
–Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld is everything you would expect from Scott Westerfeld: unique, mind-blowing, and fantastical. I cannot believe this books is not getting more hype because it is going to be a series that readers will not be able to put down and readers will be so anxious to read the next one. I loved the premise that is so mysterious and only little clues sprinkled throughout the book to help you figure things out, but there is SO MUCH more to know–I cannot wait for the next book!

   

I almost met my Spring Break reading goal!
-Sting is a really awesome continuation of Loot–it was just unique enough to not seem like it was Loot continued but it also really helps you get to know all the characters.
–Bot Wars and Bot Wars: Meta-Rise by J.V. Kade are so good! I love the political aspects of this story while it also has such an interesting plot and characters. If you haven’t read them and like sci-fi, I really recommend it.
-Frenzy is TERRIFYING! It is probably the creepiest middle grade book that I have ever read. And there were so many deaths. If you or your students like horror and suspense, they should pick this one up! (Oh, and it was my final book from my state list! I read all 15 of them! Woot!)
-The Chronicles of Nick is a series that one of my students is obsessed with, and he makes comments all the time like, “Why won’t anyone read it?!” So, I promised him I would read it over break, and I can see why he likes it–it is a pretty epic paranormal adventure. I probably won’t continue the series, but I am glad that I can now chat with the student about the world of this series.

 Ricki

Hi! I am off the grid this week because my dissertation is due to my advisor this Wednesday. Hugs to you all, and I apologize for being so elusive this month!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

This is one of those series that everyone freaks out about me not reading, so I am going to jump in. Hopefully it is as good as everyone says!

After, I plan on reading a few more novels for review that I’ll share later 🙂

I want to apologize for the lack of commenting recently: two weeks ago it was my yearbook deadline, last week was my mini-vacation for my anniversary, and today is the state competition for my Future Problem Solvers. Hopefully next week things will be more back to normal.
HAPPY READING THIS WEEK!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Authors We Would Love to Meet

Wednesday: Teaching Guide for Ada’s Ideas by Fiona Robinson

Thursday: Guest Review: Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey

Friday: Review and Giveaway!: Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton

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.

CONGRATULATIONS
Nicole L.
for winning a copy of A Boy Called Bat!

&

CONGRATULATIONS
Regan
for winning a copy of Mapping My Day!

Last Week’s Posts

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

   

Tuesday: Ten Reason Kellee Loves Teaching Middle School

Wednesday: Stand Up and Sing!: Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice by Susanna Reich

Thursday: Guest Review: Five Little Ducks by Denise Fleming

Friday: In the Middle School Classroom: Who Wins? 100 Historical Figures Go Head-to-Head And You Decide the Winner! 

Sunday: Author Guest Post  and Giveaway: “A Recipe for Storytelling: Take One Real Life, Add a Spoonful of Fantasy, and Stir”  by Carter Roy, Author of The Blazing Bridge, the third book in the The Blood Guard series *Giveaway!*

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

 

These upcoming picture books are all must buys!
The Fog by Kyo Maclear is about beating something by putting your mind to it and collaborating and also about the environment. It is a beautifully illustrated picture book that will definitely start thoughtful and much-needed discussions.
A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen is a perfect read aloud for an early elementary school before starting creative writing because it shows that writing is something anyone can do and is just a form of expression with no boundaries. I cannot wait to read this to Trent and write a story together afterwards, and I know many of you will feel that way with your kids/students.
Ashley Spire has a way of writing stories that makes you have even more faith in kids that you did before reading them.  The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do is not exception. Lou loves to do so many things, but when she is faced with something she doesn’t think she can do, she hesitates. Until she realizes that she can do whatever she puts her mind to!
Hair-pocalypse by Geoff Herbach has much of the same humor that his YA books have! It starts out as a silly book about Aidan’s crazy hair and ends up being a book about thinking of others and compromise. This’ll definitely be a favorite read aloud!
Gennifer Choldenko and Dan Santat are a winning combination! This story shows that fear is something that anyone can face and parents are there to support you when you need them. I worry a bit about some of the “boys can’t be scared” and “don’t tell mom” parts, but the message in the end is positive.

Tinyville Town, just in this week, has become a favorite of mine and Trent’s. I love how it highlights all the different kind of jobs there are in a town, how each is special, and what the jobs entail. Gets to Work talks a bit about how city planning works then each of the other books focuses on a different profession. Trent LOVES the firefighter one, and he reads it to himself before bed almost every night!

Every time I read graphic novels, it reminds me why I love them so much! The visuals just a whole new element to the story for me! 
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt is the second Narwhal book and is just as good as the first book! I just have a soft spot for these two who just perfectly fit together as friends. Narwhal and Jelly are the perfect ladder up from Elephant & Piggy, Bird & Squirrel, or other fun duos.
Star Scouts is a fun sci-fi story about finding your place even if that place at first feels like it is in the middle of misfits. Avani ends up being accidentally abducted by a Star Scout, an alien equivalent of our Scouts, and finds a place in their troop. I loved that Avani is so relatable! She speaks Hindi, loves rodeo, and is a bit testy–a perfect mix to make an authentic middle schooler. All of her Star Scouts friends are different also, so even though they are aliens, many readers will relate to one of them. One of my students already checked it out for Spring Break, and I know he will love it!
Real Friends is Shannon Hale’s graphic novel memoir about her time in elementary school and the drama of finding true friends while trying to find her own identity and family drama also. Like Sunny Side Up and Smile & Sisters, many readers will find Shannon’s story interesting and relatable, and Pham’s illustrations make it even more appealing.

Lastly, I finished two wonderful yet very different novels. However, the are more alike than they seem. Glory Be is about Freedom Summer and Glory learning about the prejudice in the world while realizing that she need to stand up for what she believes. Bot Wars takes place in the future after robots have been segregated because of the fear of them taking over, but Trout, the protagonist, soon learns that the government have spread negative propaganda to meet their needs.

 Ricki

As Kellee said, the Tinyville Town books are awesome! Henry fell in love with them. He points to all of the characters in the book and reminds me which board books we have and which board books we don’t have. This book has inspired a lot of conversations about jobs. It would be fun to have kids create their own books based on their town!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

Spring Break Reading Goal:

It’s a pretty hefty goal, but I have had some really good reading weeks later, so I thought it might be doable. Jim and I are going on a mini anniversary vacation though, so we’ll see!

The Books: I loved Bot Wars, so I knew I wanted to read #2. Same with Loot, so I have Sting on my Kindle. Infinity (Chronicles of Nick) and Legend are books that students really want me to read. March is on my #mustreadin2017 list, and Frenzy is our March book club book. I also hope to read some picture books and graphic novels that I’ve been lucky enough to get from publishers. *fingers crossed!*

 Ricki

My dissertation is due in NINE days to my advisor. I have about 70 pages left to write. I am so sorry I have been off the grid. I can’t apologize enough. 🙁 Writing a dissertation with a three-year-old and five-month-old means very, very little sleep, so I haven’t been a great blogger.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Ten Short Novels that Pack a Punch

Wednesday: Review and Giveaway!: Brobarians by Lindsay Ward

Thursday: Review, Giveaway, and Author Guest Post!: I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang

Friday: Paint Me a Picture & Tell Me a Story by Emily Bannister

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.

CONGRATULATIONS

Mary K. 

for winning a copy of Duck and Hippo!

Last Week’s Posts

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

   

Tuesday: Ten Reasons We Love ARCs

Wednesday: Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Mapping My Day by Julie Dillemuth

Friday: Blog Tour with Review, Teaching Guide, and Giveaway!: A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “The Story of Family and Frog! Haggadah” by Rabbi Ron Isaacs and Karen Rostoker-Gruber, Author of The Family and Frog! Haggadah

Don’t miss out on our two giveaways from last week!

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

It is so nice to have Trent be open to reading new picture books! This last week we read a ton of new picture books or ones we hadn’t read in a very long time! The last three above, The Book with No Pictures, Also an Octopus, and Are We There Yet? really show the complex and brilliant levels that picture books are reaching!

I also finished Henry and the Chalk Dragon and Brobarians this week, both of which I’ll be reviewing in the upcoming weeks–can’t wait to share them with you!

Finally, I read two Bird & Squirrel books and two August Scattergood books. I tweeted James Burks not long ago telling him how excited I was for Bird & Squirrel number three, and I embarrasingly learned that there was already a 3rd and On Fire was #4! I knew I had to remedy this, so I ordered them both from Amazon immediately, and before my students check them out and devour them, I read them. I love the duo of Bird & Squirrel!

I also read two August Scattergood books because our next Skype visit is with Augusta on the 31st. Trent was home sick on Thursday and Friday, and Destiny and Billy Wong were perfect reads to keep me company when I was sitting and watching Trolls and Moana for the millionth time. August Scattergood has a way of telling stories that readers of today will connect with (moving, family, friendship, music, baseball, etc.) but in a historical context that will also teach about a time in history that they may not know already. I am SO glad I finally got around to reading Augusta’s books, and I cannot wait to book talk them when I get back to school!

 Ricki

I read some great picture books this week (one published and three to be published soon)! I recommend all four very highly, and they are all quite different.

My week started with Brobarians by Lindsay Ward, which is an adventurous, fun text about two brothers. I read this book with my two boys on my lap, and I felt excited about their future adventures together.

I loved Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney (to be published posthumously on June 6). I read a lot of books about construction vehicles, and this one rises to the top of the pack. It has great figurative language and would be a fantastic, creative resources for teachers.

Whew. The Book of Mistakes (Anticipated April 18, 2017) by Corinna Luyken. This book is stunning! It starts off with a mistake that sends the illustrator’s imagination on a beautiful path with a lovely ending. I’d love to use this book with the words and without the words. Readers might create a different story to go with the illustrations. This book reminded me a lot of The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds (another book I love).

Renato and the Lion  (Anticipated June 20, 2017) by Barbara DiLorenzo is set in historical Florence. It teaches readers about the setting and the protection of artwork during WWII. The book is a work of fiction and inspired by real Italian artwork. In the Author’s Note, readers learn more about how artwork was hidden during the war.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

To finish the Augusta Scattergood trio, I am now reading Glory Be. I originally was going to listen to it, but I want to know what is going to happen faster than the audiobook is giving it to me, so I started reading it instead.

 Ricki

Still working on my dissertation! I’ve squeezed in some books here and there, but with 2.5 weeks left to submit it, I am writing during every waking hour! I am excited to be able to sleep again.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Ten Reason Kellee Loves Teaching Middle School

Wednesday: Stand Up and Sing!: Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice by Susanna Reich

Thursday: Guest Review: Five Little Ducks by Denise Fleming

Friday: Using Who Wins?: 100 Historical Figures Go Head-to-Head And You Decide the Winner! in the Classroom

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: Ten Books We Wish Had More Pages in Them

Wednesday: If I Were a Whale by Shelley Gill

Thursday: Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm by Jonathan London

Friday: Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “An Adaptation: Better Than The Original?” by John Powers, Author of Queen of Sky Island

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I am so glad that I finished Loot before the Skype visit on Tuesday. I really enjoyed the book, and I cannot wait to hear what Jude Watson has to say. I also finished Showing Off, the third Upside-Down Magic book, and I loved, loved, loved a certain Ms. Starr moment at the end of this book that I cannot wait to talk to my two boys who are reading it right now.

I can’t list all of the books that Trent and I read together, but we read a new title this week: Don’t Touch This Book by Bill Cotter. We are a huge fan of Don’t Touch This Button, Cotter’s first Larry book, and we are huge fans of the second as well.

We’ve moved to a new level of our bedtime reading with Trent. He has moved to liking longer picture books and wanting to read more. He also has started reading to us which is probably my favorite thing that has ever happened to me ever. If you ever want to see all of the books I am reading with Trent, we have a Goodreads shelf:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1919931-kellee?shelf=read-to-trent

Just for fun, check out Trent 🙂
(and I’m sorry about the not centering)

 Ricki

This week, I read Mapping My Day by Julie Dillemuth and I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang. These two picture books were a delightful interlude to my dissertation writing. I recommend both highly and will be blogging about Mapping My Day this week and I Am (Not) Scared in the upcoming week. 🙂

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I am currently reading an independently published memoir written by one of my students’ grandmothers. It is a journal she wrote after her family was taken from Poland and deported to Siberia. Her story reminds me of Between Shades of Gray but I know this story is complete true (while Gray is based on Sepetys’s family’s history) makes it even harder to read. After I finish the memoir, I actually don’t know what I am going to pick up next as I have a couple of different books I need to read.

 Ricki

I am, unfortunately, not reading much because I need to finish my dissertation. I spend every waking hour working on this.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Ten Reasons We Love ARCs

Wednesday: Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Thursday: Mapping My Day by Julie Dillemuth

Friday: Blog Tour with Review and Giveaway: A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold

 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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