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

   

Tuesday: Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015

Wednesday: The Princess Games by Danai Kadzere

Thursday: Ricki and Henry’s Favorite Children’s Books (1-2 years)

Friday: A Carnival of Cats by Charles Ghign

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I finished two very different books! First, I finished How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon which was such a tough yet important and well done read. I think this is one of those books that everyone needs to read. I cannot wait to book talk it to my 8th grade class because I think that many of them will want to read Tariq’s story. Also, being so close to where the Trayvon Martin murder happened makes the story even more relevant. Then, a complete switch in type of novel, I read Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis based on the recommendation of Josh Funk. Man! Timmy Failure is such a silly book! I can see why my 7th grade student loves them so much, and now that I’ve read it, I cannot wait to share it because I think my Diary of a Wimpy Kid gang will really love Timmy.

Ricki: I read and absolutely loved Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom. The story is about a girl who is blind and a runner. How do you run if you are blind? I feel like I learned so much for this book about the physical and mental strength of this young girl. Frankly, I can’t quite find the words to express how much it taught me about life. The narrator is feisty, and I appreciated her candor about her disability. I highly recommend it. 

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee:  I’d planned on reading an Andrew Smith novel this week, but I got sick and needed something a bit lighter, so I started Camp Utopia and the Forgiveness Diet by Jenny Ruden, and it is seems like it is going to be a fun YA novel. I then plan on reading Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro then The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart with Michele Knott.

Ricki: I have two hours left of The Martian by Andy Weir. I will definitely finish it this week. I am also about halfway through Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, and I am really enjoying it.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Introduction to Text Sets for Teachers Series

Wednesday: Text Sets for Teachers: Growing Pains: Looking at the Subject of Coming of Age

Thursday: Text Sets for Teachers: What is a Hero?: Exploring the Concept of a Hero

Friday: Text Sets for Teachers: Prejudice: Is It Something We Can Control?

Sunday: Text Sets for Teachers: The Power of Words: Witnessing the Impact of Words

 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: Ten ALAN  Books Ricki is Excited About

Wednesday: Ten ALAN Book Kellee is Excited About

Thursday: Ricki’s NCTE/ALAN Reflection

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Nurturing Nature in the Classroom” by Rebecca Bielawski, Author of the Mummy Nature series

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Since I had that really great week of reading during Thanksgiving Break, I realized how much I had missed reading often, so I have been trying to fit it into my days more often than I had over the last few months, and I am so enjoying it! I also realized that I read so much more when my book is on my phone. This allows me to read anywhere I am and also read in bed even if my husband is asleep!

This week I read Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles (finally!). Now, if any of you know Jo, she is one of the nicest people I have ever met, so it blows my mind every time I read one of her books that are filled to the brim with such dark truths about being a teenager. This book was no exception. And it revolves around flipping the bird. Jo Knowles is brilliant.

I also read two highly recommended nonfiction picture books: Tricky Vic by Greg Pizzoli and Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews. I loved them both! I hope to write official reviews on both of them before my library ebooks expire, so I can share them with you all. They are very different, but both so good.

Ricki: I feel horridly behind on life. I spent all of my energy preparing my son’s birthday party yesterday, and I have not finished any books! Some weeks, I feel like I can manage everything, and other weeks, I have to put mommyhood first. The end of the semester is at the end of this week, so my pleasure reading fell by the wayside. I have been a very absent blogger. Kellee is going to be mad at me for writing this, but I AM SORRY!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am currently reading How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon, and it has just sucked me in. I’d be reading right now instead of blogging, but my phone is dead from me reading it too much. After How It Went Down, I plan on reading another book from my #mustread list, The Summer I Saved the World…in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz then either Knockout Games by G. Neri, The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhard, or The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith–any votes?

Ricki: Next week, I hope to have two books complete: The Martian by Andy Weir and Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom. I have a lot to say about both, but I am going to wait until I finish them before I comment.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015

Wednesday: The Princess Games by Danai Kadzere

Thursday: Ricki and Henry’s Favorite Children’s Books (1-2 years)

Friday: A Carnival of Cats by Charles Ghigna

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Where Are You From? Honing Research And Evaluation Skills With A Family Tree Project” by Lissa Johnston, Author of The Dala Horse

 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

Sui G.

for winning A Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish!

Last Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Ten Fictional Families We’d Invite to Thanksgiving Dinner

Wednesday: Where’s Will?: Find Shakespeare Hidden in his Plays by Tilly and Anna Claybourne

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Spurring Ideas with Creative Teamwork” by Jack Keely, author of The Whistlebrass Horror

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Unfortunately, my week ended up not being what was planned. I received some sad news about a sick family member as soon as I got to Minneapolis for NCTE/ALAN, so I turned around to come home right away to be with my family and to help take care of my son.

I was able to get a good amount of reading done during these couple of weeks though. First, I caught up on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by reading Hard Luck, Long Haul, and Old School. I was a bit surprised at these titles because I actually didn’t completely dislike Greg throughout all of them. I think if Greg isn’t able to be mean to Rowley, Greg doesn’t bother me as much.

I also read a couple of graphic novels that were very different but both good. First was Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova which is going to be a big hit in my classroom. It is a wonderful middle school story. Second was Space Dumplins by Craig Thompson which is an odd science fiction adventure.

Although Trent and I didn’t read many picture books while we were staying with Jim’s family because we didn’t pack many and we were in a hotel, but we made it up when we were home. He even let me read a new one to him: The Diggers by Margaret Wise Brown. I overall liked it, but it actually felt like two different books with the first half talking about things that dig and the second half being the journey of a train tunnel being built. Trent liked it though!

Finally, I finished five novels. First, I finished listening to The Buccaneers’ Code by Caroline Carlson, the third book in The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. I love this series, and this one didn’t disappoint! Hilary Westfield is one of my favorite female protagonists. Then, I finished Tyrell, Bronxwood, and Kendra by Coe Booth. I’d actually read Bronxwood in the past, but didn’t truly enjoy it. Now I know it is because it means so much more if you read Tyrell first. Kendra is a companion to the two Tyrell books and is very different; however, I am happy I read all three.  I am so glad that Ricki recommended Tyrell to me, and I put it on my #mustread list. Finally, I read The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo. This book has been on my TBR list since it came out, and a few weeks ago I saw it on someone’s IMWAYR, and I decided that it would be one of the next books I read. It is such a magical book! Kate DiCamillo has such a way with words!

Ricki: I finished The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds. It was wonderful! It is a quiet book that packs a good, solid punch. I will be reading more books by Jason Reynolds. While at NCTE/ALAN, I started about fifteen books, and I am feeling a bit spastic. There are so many good books to read! I am so, so glad that Kellee enjoyed Tyrell. Ah!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I hope to get through some more of my #mustread books during December! I plan on readinging Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles first. I also have Hook’s Revenge #2 to read.

Ricki: I am really enjoying Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom. The book features a character who is blind and a runner. I like the intersection of disability and sports, and it is really making me think. I got this ARC from the Little, Brown booth, and it intrigued me.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Ten ALAN  Books Ricki is Excited About

Wednesday: Ten ALAN Book Kellee is Excited About

Thursday: Ricki’s NCTE/ALAN Reflection

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Nurturing Nature in the Classroom” by Rebecca Bielawski, Author of the Mummy Nature series

 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: Recent Book Quotes We’ve Loved

Wednesday: Over the River & Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure by Linda Ashman

Thursday: Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway!: The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Friday: Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: Parents + Baby + Technology = #BabyLove by Corine Dehghanpisheh

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

 Last Week’s Journeys and This Week’s Expeditions

We are currently at the NCTE convention and ALAN Workshop (yahoo!). We hope to see some of you there! Because we will be presenting and attending many meetings, we are, unfortunately, out of commission this week. We can’t wait to return and read about all of the books you are reading. Next week, we will share all of the gems we receive and learn about at the convention and workshop! Have a happy reading week!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Ten fictional families we’d invite to Thanksgiving dinner

Wednesday: Where’s Will?: Find Shakespeare Hidden in his Plays by Tilly and Anna Claybourne

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke

Sunday: Author Guest Post! by Jack Keely, author of The Whistlebrass Horror

 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 Book To Movie Adaptations We’re Looking Forward To

Wednesday: Kellee’s NCTE Session: Humor and the Art of Engaging All Readers with Kim Baker, Caroline Carlson, Jennifer Holm, Kristen Kittscher, and Heidi Schulz

Thursday: A Picture of Grace by Josh Armstrong

Friday: Kellee’s ALAN Panel: Keeping ‘Em on the Edge of Their Seats with Michael Buckley, Roland Smith, and C. Taylor-Butler

Sunday: Author Guest Post!:  “My Son’s Teacher’s Approach to Reading” by Beth Vrabel, Author of A Blind Guide to Stinkville

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week, I finished rereading Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I think it may have been even better rereading it this time. I’d already read it a handful of times, but it has been about a year since the last read, so I remembered the story, but had forgotten some of the beautiful language.

Ricki: This week, I finished Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. I thought it was highly entertaining. I am not hugely into puzzle/riddle/mystery books, but the narrator’s voice is incredible, so I found it to be deserving of the hype it has received.

But wow, wow, wow. I also finished More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera. If you’ve read this book, I want to talk about it with you! I am so glad I convinced my book club to read it this month. (We meet tonight!) It made me feel so many emotions! I highly recommend it.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening to the third book in The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. I’m still loving Hilary’s story! I also have two new graphic novels I want to read this week: Awkward and Space Dumplins. Finally, I want to catch up on reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books since I am three behind. My students want to talk to me about them, so I told them I would catch up. I cannot believe NCTE/ALAN is this upcoming week, so I am not sure how much reading time I’ll have though!

Ricki: I randomly just started listening to The Martian by Andy Weir. I don’t usually listen to or read this many adult books in a row, but after Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (last week) and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore this week, I am having faith in adult books. Other than The Martian,

I am halfway through The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds. It is excellent, but I keep crying! The mark of a great writer.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books We’ve Read In The Past Year Or So

Wednesday: Over the River & Through the Wood: A Holiday Adventure by Linda Ashman

Thursday: Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway!: The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

Friday: Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: Parents + Baby + Technology = #BabyLove by Corine Dehghanpisheh

 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

ERIC W.

for winning a prize package of MONSTER picture books from Sterling Kids!

Last Week’s Posts

 

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Movies We Would Like to See Adapted into Books

Wednesday: Women Who Broke the Rules by Kathleen Krull

Thursday: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond

Friday: Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted: Birdie Friends! by Jill Esbaum

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Choosing Your Stepping Stones” by Margaret R. Chiavetta, Author of The Alchemist’s Theorem: Sir Duffy’s Promise

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week, I read The Princess Games by Danai Kadzere which is a funny, fractured fairy tale mixed with Princess Academy. Trent and I also read a new board, A Carnival of Cats by Charles Ghigna, which Trent loves because he adores kitties. Other than that, because of a stomach virus and a Disney race on Saturday, not much reading was going on in the Moye household other than rereads of our favorite board books.

Ricki: I finished with Surviving Santiago by Lyn Miller-Lachmann (author of Gringolandia). I really enjoyed learning about the Chilean setting. Lately, I’ve gotten into international literature (but texts published outside of the United States and texts with settings outside of the United States). It offers me similar things that historical fiction offers. I learn about a new settting/time period and I enjoy learning about the different cultures.

I also finished Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. This is a powerful book, and I am glad it is receiving so much praise.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am currently rereading Eleanor and Park, and I’m finding the story as easy to read and the language as beautiful as the first time. I’m also listening to the third book in the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. If you love audiobooks and humorous, fun middle grade books, you should definitely pick this series up.

Ricki: I am still listening to (and loving) Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, and I am starting More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

     

Tuesday: Top Ten Book To Movie Adaptations I’m Looking Forward To

Wednesday: Kellee’s NCTE Session: Humor and the Art of Engaging All Readers with Kim Baker, Caroline Carlson, Jennifer Holm, Kristen Kittscher, and Heidi Schulz

Thursday: A Picture of Grace by Josh Armstrong

Friday: Kellee’s ALAN Panel: Keeping ‘Em on the Edge of Their Seats with Michael Buckley, Roland Smith, and C. Taylor-Butler

Sunday: Author Guest Post! by Beth Vrabel, Author of A Blind Guide to Stinkville

 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

Kelly G.

for winning copies of Mercy Watson to the Rescue and the two Deckadoo Drive books AND a Mercy Watson plush!

Last Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Scariest Topics

Wednesday: Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola

Thursday: Monstrous Fun by Travis Nichols

Friday: Reviews and Giveaway! Monster Books from Sterling Children’s Books

Giveaway open until Thursday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Games to Battle Writer’s Block” by Madelyn Rosenberg, Author of How to Behave at a Dog Show and Nanny X Returns

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week, I finished The Lost Tribes by C. Taylor-Butler. This book ended up being quite a ride and was much different than I expected when I started! I look forward to sharing this title with you all and with ALAN attendees! I also read the four Women Who Broke the Rules books to review them for you this week. Such a wonderful series!

Ricki: This week, I finished The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine. What a beautifully complex book! I imagine that teachers love using this book because there is so much to analyze!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week, I plan on rereading Eleanor and Park in preparation for my AEWA NCTE session. I’m also going to start listening to The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #3 starting tomorrow, and I am so excited because I loved the first two! I also have Hook’s Revenge #2 to read if I get to it this week.

Ricki: I am almost finished with Surviving Santiago by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. I haven’t read Gringolandia (the companion to this book), but I’ve loved getting to know Tina Aguilar and learning about the setting of Chile.

I am also diving into the adult world of books. I am reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates in short spurts because I need time to digest it. It is very well-written. And I’ve loved listening to the audio of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. I can’t tell if I love it so much because it is a neat story or if it is because the reader (Ari Fliakos) does such a great job. This may be my favorite audio that I’ve ever listened to.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Movies We Would Like to See Adapted into Books

Wednesday: Women Who Broke the Rules

Thursday: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond

Friday: Elwood Bigfoot: Wanted: Birdie Friends! by Jill Esbaum

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Choosing Your Stepping Stones” by Margaret R. Chiavetta, Author of The Alchemist’s Theorem: Sir Duffy’s Promise

 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