IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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

BRET B.

FOR WINNING A COPY OF YOUR ALIEN

Last Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Villains

Friday: Blog Tour with Review, Author Guest Post, and Giveaway!: Ghostlight by Sonia Gensler

Giveaway open until Friday!

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “An Element of Fun: A Teacher’s Reflection” by Melissa Polyakov, Author of Mr. Fact and Miss Opinion

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I have figured out that for now my reading limit is about one novel a week. I keep on trying to read more, and I will try to work my way up from that, but for now, that is going to be my reading speed 🙂 This week, my novel was Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. I am so excited for its book birthday this week, and I am even more excited to review it on Wednesday.

Ricki: This week, I was very fortunate to pass my dissertation proposal defense. 🙂 In effect, the first half of the week was spent preparing for the defense, and the second half was spent writing the IRB forms. So I am empty handed. I am sorry I failed you! (Kellee, don’t yell at me for apologizing.)

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week I need to finish The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills to review on Friday. I also want to finally start Hook’s Revenge, and I am reviewing Zack Delacruz next week, so I will need to read that as well. I also plan on reading Ebola: Fears and Facts by Patricia Newman and Sloth Slept On by Frann Preston-Gannon for future reviews.

Sadly, I didn’t get done with Read Between the Lines this week, so I am going to miss the chat on Wednesday, but if you have read the book, join my informal book club friends on Twitter for #RBtLChat at 9PM on Wednesday.

Ricki: I plan to read five books for the panel I am moderating at the ALAN Workshop. The panel focuses on increasing the number of diverse books in publishing. I am lucky enough to be working with five awesome authors. See below for more information about the panel!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Fall TBR List

Friday: Review and Author Guest Post!: The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills

Sunday: Author Guest Post! “Teaching Kids Empathy Through Story” by Natasha Sinel, Author of The Fix

 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 hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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.

It’s Monday! What are you reading? has a new button! Make sure to grab it and update your blog post.

CONGRATULATIONS

CRISTEN K.

FOR WINNING A COPY OF THAT’S (NOT) MINE!

Last Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Pet Peeves

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Your Alien by Tammi Sauer

Giveaway open until Wednesday!

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “Space: The Next Frontier in Children’s Books?” by Christopher Peter, Author of Danny Chaucer’s Flying Saucer

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I read a SUPER CREEPY book. Now, I am quite sensitive to ghost stories and other horror things, but the book must be super good if it is affecting my dreams. I cannot wait to share Ghostlight with you on Friday. I also read Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon by Kate DiCamillo, and Sparky and Tidbit by Karthryn O. Galbraith for last Friday’s post. I think I can blanketly say that I enjoy everything that Shannon Hale and Kate DiCamillo write.

Ricki: This week, I started by reading a book about potty training (Oh Crap!). The author made me laugh, and I feel as prepared as I could be! I also read several picture books with Henry. We read Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall every night. I’ve mentioned this book on the blog before, but I continue to love the depth to this book. Every time I read it, I think critically about the world. Henry is also obsessed with the Playtown series by Roger Priddy. These are my favorite lift-the-flap books and are great for young kids.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week I hope to read Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz, Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, or Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles. I want (need) to finish all three of these by the 23rd (or at least two of them), so I need to read as much as I can this week. I am very much looking forward to all of them.

Ricki: I am loving A.S. King’s Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future. Next, I am excited to read Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath. I’ve heard it is incredible.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Villains

Friday: Blog Tour with Review, Author Guest Post, and Giveaway!: Ghostlight by Sonia Gensler

Sunday: Author Guest Post: “An Element of Fun: A Teacher’s Reflection” by Melissa Polyakov, Author of Mr. Fact and Miss Opinion

 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 hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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

Jana E. for winning Goodnight Songs: A Celebration of Seasons by Margaret Wise Brown

Christiane for winning A Story of Now by Emily O’Beirne

Last Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Extra Special Author Top Ten Tuesday!: Favorite Fictional Picture Book Educators by Josh Funk, Author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast

Friday: Review, Giveaway, and Guest Post! That’s (Not) Mine by Anna Kang, Illustrated by Christopher Weyant

Giveaway open until Friday!

Sunday: 20 Desserts Inspired by Your Favorite Books

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Oh man, guys! The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher is just as good, if not better, than the first. I love this middle school mystery series because they are pretty crazy mysteries and don’t seem baby-ish but do not have any extraneous horror or sex, so it is perfect for my middle schoolers.  I also read Roar! by Julie Bayless, The Perfect Percival Priggs by Julie-Anne Graham, and Liberty’s Voice by Erica Silverman all in preparation for reviewing them. I really enjoyed them all, but Trent really enjoyed Roar!. He loves animals that roar (lions, tigers, and dinosaurs), so he was so excited to say ROAR on every page. It was so cute!

P.S. I want to apologize for last week and any future week. I am still working on getting used to being a part-time reading coach and a part-time teacher with 70+ students. As I work on this balance, work has been feeding into my home, reading, and blogging time, so I just haven’t had as much time to visit blogs. 🙁 I’m sorry! But I’m sure it will get better as I get used to the schedule.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RICKI!!!! 🙂

Ricki: My new goal has been to read more YAL. Because I’ve been so busy these past few weeks, I have been reading dozens of pictures books. I love literature for all ages, but YAL is my passion. So this week, I read I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. I fell in love with this book. I can’t stop thinking about those quirky characters. This one will definitely make my favorites list. I also listened to Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone. I knew nothing about the Triple Nickles, so I found this book to be fascinating. I particularly liked learning about the Japanese incendiary balloons. I can’t believe I didn’t know about these important topics in our history.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I still have my early reader chapter books to read for my review on Friday, but I plan to read them today. I then have Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz, in preparation for NCTE (which is getting closer and closer!) and Ghostlight by Sonia Gensler, in preparation for a review, to read. I’m setting my sights high and hope to read them both or at least get to Ghostlight. Fingers crossed!

Ricki: I plan to read Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King this week. I am mad at myself for not reading it sooner! I am listening to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. And lastly—because you care—I am reading Oh Crap! Potty Training in preparation for the potty training adventures.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Pet Peeves

Sunday:  Author Guest Post: “Space: The Next Frontier in Children’s Books?” by Christopher Peter, Author of Danny Chaucer’s Flying Saucer

 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 hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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: Texts that Might Be On Ricki’s English Methods Syllabus

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Goodnight Songs: A Celebration of the Seasons by Margaret Wise Brown

Giveaway open until Wednesday!

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post and Giveaway!: “Why We Still Need Coming Out Stories in YA Fiction” by Emily O’Beirne, Author of A Story of Now

Giveaway open until Saturday!

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Well… this school year is totally exhausting me already. The first week (preplanning) was the hardest preplanning week I’ve ever had, and last week was just tiring because it was a first week of school. This is my third year as reading coach, but each year I have taught more classes (1 the first year, 2 last year, and now 4 this year), so I am getting back into the swing of teaching while also doing my reading coach job. PHEW! Each night I am falling asleep before I even pick my book up!

I did get to read two funny, wonderful picture books this week though! First, I am so excited that I finally got to read Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by my friend Josh Funk! It comes out tomorrow, and you all should read it! We’ll be reviewing it Thursday, come back then to learn more about it. I also read That’s (Not) Mine by Anna Kang in preparation for Friday’s review. It was a great follow-up to You Are (Not) Small.

Ricki: Henry and I went crazy reading picture books this week. We absolutely LOVED Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by my friend Josh Funk. Stop by tomorrow for his Top Ten Tuesday post! Also, we are reviewing it on the blog this Thursday. Yahoo! We also read That’s (Not) Mine by Anna Kang. It is particularly helpful right now because Henry has started saying “mine” and taking toys from me. We are working on his sharing skills.

We loved the beautiful artwork and imagery in The Promise by Nicola Davies. The storyline of The Perfect Percival Priggs by Julie-Anne Graham taught great lessons for kids who feel like perfectionists. And lastly, we enjoyed Roar by Julie Bayless. With few words, it is excellent fun!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I hope to finish The Tiara on the Terrace this week (which is just as good, and maybe even better, than the first) thus finally getting to Hook’s Revenge, but we’ll just have to see how the week goes!

Ricki: My wonderful experience listening to I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson inspired me to ask for an Audible subscription to Audible. Does anyone have it? I am almost done with the book, and I love it. I’ve always loved audiobooks, but getting to pick the audiobook (rather than scrounging for free ones) was very exciting for me.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Extra Special Author Top Ten Tuesday!: Favorite Fictional Picture Book Educators by Josh Funk, Author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast

Sunday: 20 Desserts Inspired by Your Favorite Books

 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 hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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 of Our Auto-Buy Authors

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “When Things Aren’t Perfect” by Laurie McKay, Author of The Last Dragon Charmer Series

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Holy first week Batman! This is the first year that I have felt completely overwhelmed with preplanning week. I think it will all seem better once the students start (today!), but this last week was brutal. With that being said, I did finish my reread of A Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time. I’ve started the second in the series, The Tiara on the Terrace, but I did not get anywhere near as far as I would have liked to. I’m always super sad when I have these types of reading weeks, but I just couldn’t find the time!

Ricki: Hello! I’ve missed everyone! As some of you know, I broke my right elbow about two weeks ago. I’d tell you the story, but it is embarrassing. I apologize I haven’t commented on anyone’s posts, but I promise I’ve been reading them! And thank you all for your well wishes. I wasn’t able to hold up any books for a good portion of the time, but I read a bunch of books before the injury and in the last few days. I read Kelly Gallagher’s Deeper Reading: Comprehending Texts, 4-12. I loved it so much that I am making my students read it this semester. There are a lot of great, practical strategies to help students break down challenging texts.

Henry and I have read a dozen new picture books, but I will share the best ones. Henry’s favorite picture book from the last few weeks is Planes Fly by George Ella Lyon. We read it three times in a row every night. He loves the illustrations of the different types of planes and the descriptions of the different things that planes can do. Mom’s favorite from the last few weeks is Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall. I added it to his birthday list because I liked it so much! Two other books we enjoyed a lot were the new Dr. Seuss book, What Pet Should I Get? and Sloth Slept On by Frann Preston-Gannon. I love sloths!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: We’ll see! I hope to finish Tiara, but I am not putting any pressure on myself. If I do, I want to start Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz.

Ricki: I am listening to I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It is phenomenal! 

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Texts that Might Be On Ricki’s English Methods Syllabus

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Goodnight Songs: A Celebration of the Seasons by Margaret Wise Brown

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post and Giveaway!: “Why We Still Need Coming Out Stories in YA Fiction” by Emily O’Beirne, Author of A Story of Now

 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 hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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 

JOSH F.

for winning a set of the Emily Windsnap books by Liz Kessler

Last Week’s Posts

  

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Fairy Tale Retellings

Thursday: 25 Boys Who Stand Out (in Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature) for Ricki

Friday: 25 Boys Who Stand Out (in Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature) for Kellee

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “In This Place: An Imagery Writing Activity” by Kate Ormand, Author of The Wanderers

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I have no excuse for the lack of reading I did this last week. Trent is finally feeling better (last day sick was Tuesday!), but then we just ended up doing a bunch of stuff together. I am super sad to go back to work tomorrow because I don’t get to spend as much time with Trent. I also pampered myself a bit 🙂 I did finish The Fall of the House of West by Paul Pope, the second book in the Aurora West series which is a prequel to Battling Boy, and I really enjoy the story and characters. She is such a tough cookie, and this book was a roller coaster!

• Aurora wants to know who killed her mother. But because she is hiding her investigation from her father, there is no one to monitor what she is doing, so through her investigation, things do not really go as planned. I loved this continuation of Aurora’s story. She is such a strong character, and I love that she and her father are willing to put their lives on the line to protect others in her city. There are definitely some BIG surprises in this one. Throughout the book you will feel so many emotions: frustration, shock, sadness, anger. All rolled into an adventure-filled GN.

 

With Trent, we have been reading a bunch of Sesame Street mini-board books because he is in love with Elmo as well as some of his other regulars; however, I was able to sneak in A Good Day by Kevin Henkes. Man, I enjoy Kevin Henkes’s books. They are so quiet but special. I also finished a bunch of picture books for review, so I will share my thoughts about them when I review.: Goodnight Songs: A Celebration of Seasons by Margaret Wise Brown, Your Alien by Tammi Sauer, Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak, Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles by Susanna Reich, and Tristan Wolf by Mariana Llanos.

Ricki: Unfortunately, Ricki has a fractured elbow, which makes it very painful to type. She will be out for one more week and promises to return with some good books to share. 

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: As I didn’t get as much reading done as I hoped, I pretty much have the same reading plan as last week. I am 75% done with a reread of The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher in preparation for reading book #2, The Tiara on the Terrace. After these, I want to read Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz. However, with going back to school (lesson plans and focus calendars are due by next Monday!), I am not sure how much reading I will get done. There may be some dry weeks coming up…

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

 

Tuesday: Ten of Our Auto-Buy Authors

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “When Things Aren’t Perfect” by Laurie McKay, Author of The Last Dragon Charmer 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 hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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: Review and Author Interview!: Cold War on Maplewood Street by Gayle Rosengren

Wednesday: Windsnap Wednesday! Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Author Interview: Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Giveaway open through Wednesday!

Thursday: 25 Girls Who Stand Out (in Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature) for Ricki

Friday: 25 Girls Who Stand Out (in Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature) for Kellee

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “How Settings Help Shape Characters’ Character” by Anne Boles Levy, Author of The Temple of Doubt

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: As my summer is coming to a close, I really hoped to be reading a bit more than I did, but a sick baby plus working two days this week put a wrench in that plan. I did read two middle grade novels, a graphic novel, and a nonfiction picture book–all which I enjoyed very much. First, I read A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord which is my unofficial Twitter book club read for August (chat on Wednesday at 9PM ET if you would like to join us), and I am so glad that it was chosen. Salma would definitely have been on my girls list if I made it today. The other novel was Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Elementary School by Kim Baker which was super funny. I love the diversity and humor within it. Kim is one of the fabulous female authors on the humor panel I’m chairing at NCTE. The graphic novel I read was The Rise of Aurora West by Paul Pope. Aurora is so kick butt–I loved it! Though the world she lives in is so scary (monsters kidnap children at night), she is a light in that very dark world. Finally I read Children Growing Up With War by Jenny Matthews which I’ll be reviewing on Wednesday.

Ricki: Ricki is currently without internet service, so she will catch up with everyone next week! Hopefully, she has double the number of good books to share!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I have already started the sequel to Aurora West, and I plan on finishing that. I also want to read The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher and Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schultz (both funny females on the NCTE panel!). I hope to get through at least two of them.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Fairy Tale Retellings

Thursday and Friday: 25 Boys Who Stand Out (in Middle Grade and Young Adult Literature)

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “In This Place: An Imagery Writing Activity” by Kate Ormand, Author of The Wanderers

 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