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: Reasons to Read

Wednesday: National Geographic’s 100 Things to Know Before you Grow Up

Thursday: Grimm’s Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, Audio Book Collection by Listening Library

Friday: Future Problem Solving International Conference Update

Sunday: Author Interview with Diane Gonzales Bertrand by Wendy Martin, Illustrator of The Story Circle

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I had the amazing opportunity to go to ALA this weekend! Then on Monday, I am so happy to be able to go see a preview of The BFG movie (The BFG is one of my top 10 favorite books!). I will update you all and visit with you next week. Happy reading everyone! 🙂

Ricki

This week, I finished Gae Polisner’s A Memory of Things. What a fabulous book! Someone (Beth Shaum, was it you?) wrote in her review that she liked how the book was about 9/11 without being about 9/11, and I couldn’t agree more. There are so many fantastic themes in this book, and it would be a great book to use in classrooms. I look forward to writing a full review soon!

I also finished Danielle Rollins’ Burning. I really enjoyed her first book, The Merciless, so I was excited to read this one, too. She writes fantastic thrillers that have elements of fantasy but feel very realistic. In this story, the narrator is in juvenile hall. A mysterious juvie shows up who throws the entire juvenile hall into a mysterious, creepy state. I am not extremely experienced in this genre, but the book gave me the chills!

Henry and I read The Fan Brothers’ The Night Gardener. This was a beautiful book that is wonderfully illustrated. Henry loved all of the animals, and I loved the mystical story.

This Week’s Expeditions

Ricki 

I am reading Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis. I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time, so I am happy to cross it off my bucket list! So far, I am enjoying it a lot.

I am listening to Teresa Toten’s The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B. I am really loving the characterization, but I am wondering if I am missing a lot without the illustrations. Can anyone provide their thoughts on this one? I just signed the actual book out of the library, so I may flip through to see if I missed anything.

I’ve begun reading Jonathan Todre and Sarah Higinbotham’s Human Rights in Children’s Literature for a review for an academic journal. It is focused on law, but I am interested to see how these ideas apply to education.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Jobs for People Who Love Books

Wednesday: National Geographic’s Awesome 8

Thursday: Burning by Danielle Rollins

Friday: Whose Story Is This Anyway? by Mike Flaherty

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
Stefani T.
for winning a copy of Can You Canoe? by the Okee Dokee Bros!

Last Week’s Posts

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

   

Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2016

Wednesday: The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman

Thursday: Nibbles: The Book Monster by Emma Yarlet

Friday: Teacher Appreciation Book Tour with Review, Excerpt, Video, and Giveaway!: Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson
Giveaway open until Thursday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “A Magical Location” by Byrdie Walker Bain, Author of The Secret of Sinbad’s Cave

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Before I start talking about books, I wanted to talk about Orlando. Orlando is my home and has been for 16 years. What happened here over the last week+ is terrible. More than terrible; it is horrific. And too close to home. One of the young men who passed away went to my middle school my first and second year of teaching (though I didn’t know him), and another was a boyfriend of a friend’s friend. Too close to home. But please know that this does not define Orlando. The Pulse attack happening here actually shocked me because we are such a diverse place that overall is open-minded and loving. This does not represent who we are. I also want to thank any of you that prayed or sent healing thoughts or wrote a message or helped in any way. We are wounded, and everyone’s positivity after the massacre shows me that there is hope. And I want to take this time to send my love and thoughts out to anyone who was affected by any of the events that happened over those terrible five days.

This week, I primarily focused on getting through my picture book and nonfiction TBR pile! I read 12 picture books and 3 nonfiction texts, all that I will be reviewing at some point on the blog. All worth putting on your TBR.

My teacher friends and I also decided to have two book club meetings during the summer (YAY!), and we are focusing on reading the Sunshine State Young Reader Award (SSYRA) titles, so we choose to read The Neptune Project as our first summer read. It was such a unique dystopian title, and I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Ricki

I couldn’t put it better than Kellee. The Orlando attacks are horrifying, disgusting, and saddening. I have spent a lot of time emotionally thinking about this awful tragedy. I can’t quite express my feelings because I am still in such disbelief.

 

This week, I read two great National Geographic books. My son is obsessed with the NG texts because the photographs are eye-appealing and the facts are fun and interesting. As an adult, I also love reading and learning from them, too!

I finished listening to Kenneth Oppel’s This Dark Endeavor. What a neat, neat book! The second half really captured my attention, and I had difficulty leaving my car! I found myself listening to it while I played with my son on the floor. I only do this with audio books that I really, really enjoy!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

In addition to the summer book club choices, I am focusing on trying to read all 15 of the SSYRA list and some books from my #mustread2016 list. I started Dave Barry’s The Worst Class Trip Ever, and so far it is quite funny. I look forward to finishing it then I am  not sure what I will pull from my bag of books.

Ricki 

I have about 50 pages left of Gae Polisner’s A Memory of Things, and I am excited to share more of my thoughts about it. I want to see how it ends first. It could take so many different directions!

I was asked to review Jonathan Todre and Sarah Higinbotham’s Human Rights in Children’s Literature for an academic journal. I am very much looking forward to this text and think I will learn a lot. It discusses law, and I am interested to see how these ideas apply to education.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Reasons to Read

Wednesday: National Geographic’s 100 Things to Know Before you Grow Up

Thursday: Grimm’s Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm, Audio Book Collection by Listening Library

Friday: Future Problem Solving International Conference Update

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 Reasons We Love Being Moms to Readers

Wednesday: Candlewick Nonfiction Picture Books: Who’s Like Me? by Nicola Davies, Can We Help? by George Ancona, Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend by Calvin Alexander Ramsey & Bettye Stroud, and The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower by P.J. Lynch

Thursday: What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

Friday: Review and Giveaway!: Can You Canoe? And Other Adventure Songs by The Okee Dokee Brothers
Giveaway open until Thursday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “How to Love the Language Your Students Use” By Matthew Jobin, Author of The Nethergrim series

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

The school year is over, graduation has passed, Future Problem Solvers International Competition is done, and summer had begun–I think I can start getting back to normal over here! I want to apologize for being a bit MIA recently with visiting blogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and throughout the week–life has just been so busy! Thank you for understanding!

Because of the craziness, I wasn’t able to read as much as I’d hoped, but I did get in First Step (review on Wednesday), Ms. Bixby’s Last Day (review on Friday), and  six graphic novels:

   

Sweaterweather by Sara Varnon was a short story comic collection which was exactly what I would have expected from Varnon. Her comics are clever and cute, and I loved her little notes at the beginning of each new story.

Varmints by Andy Hirsch was quite a wild, western adventure following two siblings, Opie the hothead and Ned the sweetheart, trying to find their Pa. There are problems around every corner, and you never know how they are going to get through the situation, but somehow they do! I know my students who like adventurous graphic novels will be a fan of this one. The story ended with a cliffhanger, so I am assuming there will be more to come!

Science Comics: Volcanoes by Jon Chad was an interesting combination of science fiction and informational nonfiction. The story takes place in the future where a new ice age has set in and a society is looking for heat. When Aurora discovers a book about volcanoes she cannot stop teaching her siblings and guide about them because she feels like they can save their civilization. It is through Aurora that we learn about volcanoes in a very detailed way. I think the author did a good job combining nonfiction and fiction, and you definitely learn a lot about volcanoes during the story.

Bera, the One-Headed Troll by Eric Orchard is a dark yet heartwarming story about a troll that wants to save a baby. Bera, who has no idea what to do, sets off on a quest to hopefully save the child. I loved how the author/illustrator built a fantastical world that was very dark but threw in Bera who has a heart of gold. You will root for her the entire book!

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton was perfection! This is the graphic novel equivalent of Elephant and Piggie and is a ladder to Phoebe and her Unicorn. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments as well as thoughtful moments covered in friendship and cuteness, Narwhal equals such a charming graphic novel for all ages.

Hilo is the first book in a series that I know will be popular in my classroom. Funny, adventurous, and science fiction–all things my graphic novel readers love! Also, the end is a great cliff hanger which will keep readers wanting more!

Ricki

I finished my author friend’s untitled, secret fantasy that she is working on and sent her some feedback. It was really fun to read a book in its entirety with an editor’s eyes. I’ve never done this with a full book, and I had a lot of fun with it. I am hoping the work is published, and I will share news later!

Henry and I read Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Bettye Stroud. I loved learning new information about MLK Jr. and the mules of Gee’s Bend. This nonfiction was a great read!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

Since summer is upon us, I hope to partake in #bookaday (or in my world: read as much as I can). I brought home a pile of books from school that include books from my #mustreadin2016 list as well as the Sunshine State Young Reader list (I’m going to read all 15 this year!). I also have 7 novels (and a ton of picture and nonfiction books) to read for review this summer. I am so looking forward to jumping feet first into all of this reading!

Ricki 

I’ve always meant to read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. This week, I saw it in the library and nabbed it. I enjoy reading graphic novels in between transcribing for my dissertation because my fingers get tired!

I reviewed Merciless last year, and Danielle Rollins saw the review and sent me her newest book, Burning. I am very excited to read it. Thrillers make my heart flutter!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2016

Wednesday: The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman

Thursday: Nibbles: The Book Monster by Emma Yarlet

Friday: Teacher Appreciation Book Tour with Review and Giveaway!: Ms. Bixby’s Last Day 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.

Last Week’s Posts

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

  

 

Tuesday: Ten Non-Shallow Beach Reads

Wednesday: Mastermind by National Geographic

Thursday: Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie

Friday: Kate DiCamillo: Collaborative Summer Library Program Summer Reading Champion for 2016

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Finding the Joy in Writing” by Laurisa White Reyes, Author of The Kids’ Guide to Writing Fiction

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

From Thursday to Sunday this week, I was at the Future Problem Solvers International Competition at Michigan State University, so I was not able to write my IMWAYR post. I’ll update you all next week 🙂

Ricki

Many of you know Emmanuel Guibert’s graphic novel Alan’s War. Guibert is a French cartoonist who tells the true story of Alan Cope, an American GI in France in WWII. How the World Was: A California Childhood depicts Alan’s earlier childhood experiences, growing up during the Great Depression in California. The graphic novel is unlike others that I’ve read, and I really enjoy Guibert’s style. The chapters read like vignettes of Cope’s childhood; some of the scenes are graphic, and many are quite moving. This text would be excellent for close reading, and I don’t think readers even need to read it in its entirety to appreciate and understand each chapter.

I finished The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart in one sitting, and I totally agree with the hype. This book is excellent! It took me awhile to get to it, and I am glad I was finally intrigued enough to pick it up. It reminds me of so many works of literature that I love, yet it was quite different. I highly recommend this one.

Henry and I also read a lot of great picture books this week. This morning, we sat in his room for two hours and read about 50 books in a row. He enjoys laying across my pregnant belly and tells me he is reading to his baby brother. It’s these moments that make me love life. I won’t list the books here because most of them are older books or rereads. We did enjoy Chupie: The Binkie That Returned Home by Thalia.

This Week’s Expeditions

Ricki 

I continued reading the unnamed book by my author friend. I am 75% done and enjoying reading it before bed. It’s a great sci fi, but she’s asked that I not reveal any information yet. She’s feeling really shaky about it. I have lots of feedback for her, so I am excited to see where it goes!

The Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel has been on my TBR list forever. I added it to my #mustreadin2016 list this year, and am happy to say I am 2 hours away (audio) from finishing it! At first, I didn’t like it, and I was so bummed, but I realize now I made a huge mistake. This book is simply fantastic! Kellee’s voice was in the back of my head. She told me it was a great read. Because we usually agree, I give it a second chance.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Ten Reasons We Love Being Moms to Readers

Wednesday: Candlewick Press Nonfiction Picture Books

Thursday: What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

Friday: Can You Canoe? And Other Adventure Songs by The Okee Dokee Brothers

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 Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed

Wednesday: Boyds Mills Press Nonfiction Picture Books

Thursday: Dump Truck Duck by Megan E. Bryant

Friday: Doodle Adventures: The Search for Slimy Space Slugs! by Mike Lowery

Sunday: Aspiring Author Guest Post!: “Four Books that Challenge Gender Roles” by Ainsley Izzie

Congratulations to Casey O. for winning a copy of Bubonic Panic!

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

 

Book clubs are over! This week I finished Undercurrents by Willo Davis Roberts, Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson, Peak by Roland Smith, and Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde. I am so proud of myself that I was able to finish seven of the nine book club books in the four weeks we did them in class! And my students all really loved book clubs! They’ve given me some good feedback, and many of them are going to be in my class with me again next year, and I cannot wait to do lit circles again with them next year.

We also finished Touching Spirit Bear in my 2nd period. I am so glad these students chose to do the whole class read aloud. I think they really connected with Cole and the novel. They actually have asked if for the rest of the school year we could listen to the sequel also. This was a class that we had a very hard time finding community; I really think this novel has helped finally build up our community.

Ricki

My family loves Brian Floca, and Five Trucks was no exception. 🙂

We’ve been reading Sandra Boynton since Henry was born, but this week, he seemed to become obsessed with the fact that they each have songs. We’ve reread all of them dozens of times this week. He can’t get enough of them.

I found Crossing by Philip Booth in the library. The illustrations are absolutely stunning.

I adored Trains Go by Steve Light. Each page features a different type of train with its matching sound effect. This is very fun to read.

I loved Doodle Adventures: The Search for Slimy Space Slugs! by Mike Lowery. I am having difficulty deciding who I will gift it to because it is so awesome. We reviewed this last week, but I didn’t have time to put it on my finished books because I read it so late!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I don’t know what I am going to read! I know I have some novels that I have in the queue for review, but I feel kind of lost because I don’t have the lit circle books anymore. I did get approved for some new graphic novels on Netgalley, so I cannot wait to jump into those.

I’m almost done with Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and I would love this production! The narrators are amazing!

I also have a big pile of picture books to read including some of the F&Gs that Ricki has shared and some nonfiction picture books that I’m reviewing next week.

Ricki 

Like Kellee, I’m also almost done with Grimm’s Fairy Tales. I love it!

I am also reading an unpublished manuscript for an author. At her request, I can’t share anything about it, but it is a great work of fantasy!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

Tuesday: Ten Non-Shallow Beach Reads

Wednesday: Mastermind by National Geographic

Thursday: Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie

Friday: Kate DiCamillo: Collaborative Summer Library Program Summer Reading Champion for 2016

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 Picked Up on a Whim and Enjoyed

Wednesday: Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!: Bubonic Panic by Gail Jarrow
Giveaway open until Tuesday! It’s a great nonfiction text!

Thursday: Poptropica: Mystery of the Map by Jack Chabert

Friday: Agent Darcy and Ninja Steve in Tiger Trouble by Grant Goodman

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Taking the Fear out of Shakespeare” by Stephanie Kate Strohm, Author of The Taming of the Drew

Congratulations to Kimberly G. for winning the Bucky and Stu vs. The Mechanical Man Giveaway!

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

Also, lit circles/book clubs are starting to come to a close in the classroom (some students chose to take 3 weeks and other chose to do 4 weeks), so I have started finishing some of the books I was reading with my students.

My groups reading Flight #116 is Down! by Caroline B. Cooney originally wanted to do it over 4 weeks, but on Wednesday we were talking about the cliffhanger on the end of the page they chose to stop at, and they all decided they wanted to finish before Friday. It is quite a suspenseful and well put together book.

The Boy Who Saved Baseball book always wanted to read it in 3 weeks, and they all finished it in just over 2 because they wanted to know the end so badly. It was much deeper than just a baseball book, and I loved the end. My only complaint was the 3 boys who were reading the book like to read the end of books first (ACK!), so they spoiled stuff for me before I got there.

The Red Kayak group was one of my 3 week groups, and they were very jealous of me rereading other books with groups and not theirs. I did remember the basic premises of their book, but not enough to ask specific questions, so they asked me to read it. I brought it home Wednesday night and devoured it. It was the first time I’ve read it since I was a mom, and it is a whole different point of view!

Undercurrents‘s group is not finishing until this upcoming week, but I couldn’t remember how it ended, and I just couldn’t wait, so I finished reading it on Saturday (as soon as I could!). Willo Davis Roberts really knows how to put together a mystery!

I also was able to squeeze in my two library books, both third books from series that I love!

Finally, because I’ve been reading the lit circle/book club books, I realized I was a bit behind on the books I needed to read for review, so also read the books that I am reviewing this week. You can read about my thoughts of them later this week!

Ricki

I’ve had a busy week, but I was able to read the ARCs of some incredible picture books. All of these books are published by Penguin and will be available in August-September. I recommend all five highly and will be posting a full review of each a bit closer to their publication dates. It will be hard to hold out that long! I’ve listed them below in the order they will be published.

My Friend Maggie by Hannah E. Harrison hit me right to the core. I read it aloud to several family members who were visiting, and they were all in tears. It is a story that includes themes of friendship, strength, and bullying. I’ll be reading this one to my pre-service teachers, for sure.

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas is a quiet book that will be lovely to use in classrooms. The teaching possibilities are endless for this text. When I closed the cover, I couldn’t help but sit in solitude for a few minutes. Even my toddler was utterly silent during and after the reading. It leaves much to think about.

Dear Dragon is the second book by Josh Funk that I have read, and I have fallen in love with his writing. He makes learning and reading very accessible to kids. I can imagine the giggles from students as this book is read aloud. Teachers won’t have to think very hard to find ways to integrate this text creatively in the classroom. I am excited for this one to come out!

The Water Princess by Susan Verde is a stunning story set in Africa. It connects with so many books that are taught in classrooms today (e.g. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park). I would love to read this book to kids to increase their awareness of the world and to connect them to this beautiful story.

I’ve read Shy by Deborah Freedman at least 12 times since I received it two days ago. My son absolutely loves the story. When my husband walked him upstairs to bed, he didn’t even make it to the top of the stairs before he requested his reading choices for the night, “Race car books and Shy, please.” The book features a character who is Shy and who is unable to say hello to a yellow bird. I won’t give anything away, but this is a book that will teach many lessons to readers (and not just the shy ones!).

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I still have three lit circle/book club books that I am reading:

  

I am almost done with Kingdom Keepers, but I am hardly into Heir Apparent and Peak (I have not been keeping up with them–for shame!), but I hope to chug through them this week. After I am done with these, I have no idea what I am going to read! I may jump into John David Anderson’s Ms. Bixby’s Last Day.

And I’m still reading Touching Spirit Bear with my 2nd period.

I’m still currently listening to Grimm’s Fairy Tales from Listening Library, and each story is from a different AMAZING narrator–I’m loving it!

Ricki 

Tonight, I am going to start Doodle Adventures. It looks like it will be very entertaining.

I am still loving The Memory of Things. I spent the week working on a manuscript, so I spent my nights writing rather than reading. But I really miss this one and can’t wait to read more.

I am excited to start listening to Grimm’s Fairy Tales from Listening Library!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Ten Books We Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed

Wednesday: Boyds Mills Press Nonfiction Picture Books

Thursday: Dump Truck Duck by Megan E. Bryant

Friday: Doodle Adventures: The Search for Slimy Space Slugs! by Mike Lowery

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
Julie M.
for winning a copy of Invisible Fault Lines!

Last Week’s Posts

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

 

 

Tuesday: Ten Favorite Book Titles

Wednesday: Review and Author Interview!: Camp Rolling Rills series by Stacy Davidowitz

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Bucky and Stu vs. the Mikanikal Man by Cornelius Van Wright
Giveaway open until Thursday!

Friday: Rescued by Eliot Schrefer

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Science Fiction and Science Fact: World-building in The Riven Chronicles” by Amalie Howard

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

I was able to finish two of the seven books I was reading last week! (Though I added on two more!)

First, I finished Hidden by Helen Frost for my faculty book club last Friday. The beginning of Hidden really just sucks you in like not many books can. There is no tip toeing around, it just jumps right in. I also love how clever Frost was in putting in a secret message within her vignettes.

I also finished listening to Masterminds by Gordon Korman, and I am waiting on the edge of my seat for book 2 to be available at my library; however, I just found out book 3 doesn’t come out until March 2017 which makes me so sad! I cannot tell you much about the book without giving things away, but it is so good that when I told my husband the spoilery premise of the book, he said we should buy the movie rights!

Ricki

I got a little bit crazy this week. Henry and I spent a lot of time in bookstores and libraries (see picture below).

I absolutely love Sherman Alexie’s first picture book, Thunder Boy Jr. I pre-ordered it out of excitement. It’s a darling story about a boy who wants to have a different name from his father. There are a lot of great lessons in this book.

Kobi Yamada’s other picture book (What Would You Do with an Idea?) is one of my favorite picture books, so I was thrilled to see What Do You Do with a Problem? in the bookstore. It is very similar to the first book but the theme is a bit different. I’d love reading this with students. The lesson is just as important as the first book.

I’ve never read Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand. Wow! I am so glad I decided to pick up this book. I imagine many of you will comment that you loved this book, too. What a wonderful story that will be very helpful to me when I parent.

Bob the Artist is a cute story by Marion Deuchars. Bob is teased for his skinny legs, so he decides to get creative. I would love to use this book to talk about bullying or to introduce an art unit.

A Fire Truck Named Red was a nice story by Randall de Sève. My son didn’t like how only the beginning and ending pages were in bright colors, and I think the story was a bit old for him. I think we will try this one again in a couple of years.

I enjoyed the illustrations of Jack E Levin and Norma R. Levin’s My Dog Spot. This is a great book for dog lovers, and I think kids will enjoy it. There isn’t a strong message, but you can’t go wrong with a book about dogs!

Whose Story Is This, Anyway? is a fun story by Mike Flaherty. The story includes all of the components that intrigue my son: pirates, kitties, aliens, dinosaurs, knights. You really can’t go wrong! We’ve read this book numerous times, and there always seems to be something new to look at.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I am still reading too many books for me! I am proud of myself that I am not getting them confused; however, I am struggling with remembering character names. The up side is that they are all so good!

First, I am reading Touching Spirit Bear with my 2nd period. We just got to a pretty gruesome part which, of course, my students loved!

I am also reading Flight #116 is Down, Boy Who Saved Baseball, Undercurrents, and Kingdom Keepers with book clubs in my other two reading classes. I have read them all, but I realized it’d been too long, so I didn’t feel like I could discuss with them, so I decided to read along with them. I’m following their reading schedule. The other books my students chose to read, but I am not reading because I remember them well enough to discuss are Endangered by Eliot Schrefer, Peak by Roland Smith, Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings, and Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde.

Lastly, I am still reading Unicorn vs. Goblins though it has been put on the side burner for a bit because I am trying to keep up with the others.

Additionally, I started listening to the new audiobook for Grimm’s Fairy Tales from Listening Library which has narrators like Jim Dale and Katherine Kellgren, and I am liking it even more than when I’ve read them.

Ricki 

I am absolutely loving Bubonic Panic by Gail Jarrow, and I will be finishing it by tomorrow. I look forward to sharing it on Wednesday! I have a few other books in the works, but I will share more next week!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Ten Books We Picked Up on a Whim and Enjoyed

Wednesday: Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review!: Bubonic Panic by Gail Jarrow

Thursday: Poptropica: Mystery of the Map by Jack Chabert

Friday: Agent Darcy and Ninja Steve in Tiger Trouble by Grant Goodman

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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