It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/23/15

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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

top ten tuesday taste of freedom dreaming in indian 0-545-15353-0

Tuesday: Top Ten Book Related Problems We Have

Friday: How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday by Jane Yolen (& Can You Believe Trent is ONE?!)

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This was a crazy week for us! I was planning for Trent’s birthday party all week, so I didn’t get much reading done though I did finish listening to The Lion of Little Rock by Kristin Levine which was so wonderful! I am so glad that I listened to it.

The only new book Trent and I read this week was How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jane Yolen which I reviewed on Friday. It was a great birthday book.

Ricki: This week, I finished another book on my #mustreadin2015 list: The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. The writing was stunning, and I was happy to go back and read her guest post from last year. Everyone in my YA book club loved it, and we had a fun time discussing it. I suspect many of you have already read it, but if you haven’t I highly recommend it. I also finished The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers by Johnny Saldaña. My head is spinning at all of the coding possibilities. It was a good read, overall, though.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still reading The Cure for Dreaming which I am very much enjoying. Cat Winters is such a unique writer! In the car, I am going to start listening to The Family Romanov which I am very much looking forward to.

Ricki: Kellee has been telling me to read Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil for quite some time. I finally got around to ordering it via Interlibrary Loan and am excited to read it!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday Trent's Fave Books 9-12 months secret hum of daisy leroy ninker princessinblack

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Book Heroines

Wednesday: Trent & Kellee’s Favorite Picture Books: The First Year

 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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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/16/15

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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

top ten tuesday jackierobinson audacity From My (Huge) Library Pile seed

Tuesday: Top Ten Things We Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Three Bowls of Porridge” by Lisa Heathfield, Author of Seed

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I read The Crossover this week, and I am so glad I did! I am so happy that a book that won the Newbery is one that I love and that is accessible to my students. Oh, and it is diverse! I cannot wait to review this book because this is a book that belongs in a classroom.

With Trent, we read Pete the Cat probably 15 times, Fifteen Animals probably 10 times, and Personal Penguin probably 5 times. The boy finally has favorite books! I know it will eventually become tedious, right now I am loving that he loves these books.

Ricki: I was boring this week. I read 200 pages in a manual about coding qualitative data and read half of a book on qualitative data analysis. Henry has started a new sleeping trend. We read the typical 4-5 books together. Then, we put him down to sleep. He cries and cries unless we read another 4-5 books. We have tried starting off with ten books. Nope. The break—when Mommy and Daddy say goodnight—is required between the ten books. I am not quite sure how to break this trend, but hey, at least the kid wants to read! His current favorites are Trucks by Roger Priddy (a slide and find book), B is for Bear by Roger Priddy (a fantastic alphabet book) and Where’s Spot by Eric Hill (a lift the flap book). He reads each of these at least 15 times per day. 

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening the The Lions of Little Rock, and I am loving it! I am actually listening to it at the same time one of my students is reading it, so I am really enjoying chatting with her about it. As for what book I’m going to read this week, I am going to have to decide, but I think I am going to grab The Cure for Dreaming because I student loved it, and I would love to chat with her about it as well. Trent and I will probably continue reading the same books, but I do want to get Fox in Socks in there because my aunt gave it to Trent and haven’t gotten to it yet.

Ricki: This week, I will be finishing The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. My friend, Wendy, gave me several new picture books for Henry, so I am excited to get to those, too.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday taste of freedom dreaming in indian 0-545-15353-0

Tuesday: Top Ten Book Related Problems We Have

Friday: How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday by Jane Yolen (& Can You Believe Trent is ONE?!)

 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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/9/15

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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

top ten tuesday last stop on market street howtospeakdolphin

Tuesday: Top Ten Graphic Novels We Can’t Believe We Haven’t Read

Wednesday: More Great Nonfiction from 2014

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: First, I want to mention the book awards from last Monday and say how excited I was to see so many wonderful titles that I love win or be honored! I am especially happy for El Deafo by Cece Bell, Andrew Smith, Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin, Dan Santat, Kwame Alexander, brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock and Mary GrandpreSam & Dave Dig a Hole by Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, and so many other books I’ve blogged about or shouted out over the last year. I LOVED them all, and I am so happy they were recognized. Congratulations to all of the winners/honorees (and I hope I didn’t miss anyone)!!

This week, I also had a very good reading week! First, I read Baseballogy by Kevin Sylvester which was a nonfiction informational book about baseball that threw in a bit of humor and some wonderful graphics. As a baseball fan, I really enjoyed it. Then, I finished listening to Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick (one of my #mustreadin2015), and it, like her other book Sold, will never leave my heart. It is so powerful! On Friday, in one sitting, I read the Schneider winner Girls Like Us by Gail Giles which has voices that are hard to get out of your head, and it truly makes you think and look at the world around you. Finally, on Saturday night, also in one sitting, I read the heart-wrenching The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer (also one of my #mustreadin2015) which is about grief and the strength to overcome it.

With Trent, we did a lot of rereads this week (our current favorites are Fifteen Animals by Sandra Boynton and Book of Sleep by Sung Il Na), but we also read two new books. Last Sunday we read Freight Train by Donald Crews (recommended by Linda B!) which is a fantastic book about colors and trains and movement. Coincidentally, Donald Crews just won the Wilder Award, and I can see why. I think we will need to read more of his in the future. Then, we read Peanuts: A Scanimation Book by Rufus Butler Seder. Trent really likes the moving aspects of the book, but he also just really wants to rip the page open and see what the “secret” is.

Ricki: I completely agree with Kellee about the ALA Youth Media Awards! We have blogged about some of the books together that she posted above, but I want to add how thrilled I was about A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd (which I have mentioned in about fifteen posts, but apparently I never gave it a full review–shame on me!), brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (for its multiple awards), The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley (for its two awards), You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, and How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon. I am excited that many of the books are on my #mustreadin2015 list!

This week, I read two great books that will be published later this year. Look! by Jeff Mack has only two words, but the story is very meaningful. It is a story about friendship, technology, and the power of reading! I also adored the whimsical nature of By Mouse and Frog by Deborah Freedman. This is going to be a favorite this year. It is also a great book about friendship, but it is very different for Look! it teaches about both listening and creativity. Lastly, I loved Brad Meltzer’s I am Jackie Robinson. I can see why everyone has been raving about it. The format was lovely!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am going to start listening The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine this week, but it will probably take 2 or 3 to finish. As for reading, I am going to have to see what fancies me. My friend, Vivi Barnes, just had her second book Paper or Plastic come out, and I may pick that one up or I could go with a #mustreading2015 or another book from my numerous piles–we’ll see!

Ricki: A group of friends wanted to do a book club, and I told them I would only join if they made it YAL only. They agreed—yes! Our first book is The Secret Hum of Daisy by Tracy Holczer which I am really looking forward to!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday jackierobinson audacity From My (Huge) Library Pile seed

Tuesday: Top Ten Things We Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Three Bowls of Porridge” by Lisa Heathfield, Author of Seed

 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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/2/15

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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, 
CASSIE LARSON
for winning the Candlewick Giveaway of 6 YA novels!

Last Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday Mock Sibert Button2015 gabit carnival at bray moonpenny

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’d Love to Read With Our Book Club (If WeHad A Book Club)

Wednesday: Mock Sibert Winner Announced!

Sunday: Guest Post: “Beyond Setting: A Couple of Thoughts and Some Fun Writing Prompts” by Tricia Springstubb, author of Moonpenny Island

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I was able to get some more reading in which really does make my week better! I finished John David Anderson’s The Dungeoneers, and it is EPIC! You’ll want to read it; I promise. Part of the problem with reading an ARC, though, is I now have to wait even longer for the sequel. I also read Bob Shea’s new early reader Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret which was such a great, funny book. Elephant and Piggie fans will definitely like this one. Trent and I struggled a bit with finding reading time every day this week. He loves books and flips through them and plays with them often, but this week we had trouble with sitting down before bedtime and reading because of business. However, this week we did read a DK ABC Baseball book and a Thomas the Tank Engine book (which was perfect because this weekend, My Gym had the electronic Thomas out!).

Ricki: I finished Audacity by Melanie Crowder. It is an inspirational book in verse based on the true story of Clara Lemleich. She was a Russian Jewish immigrant who was forced to work in horrible factory conditions in the early 1900s. Clara stood up for her rights and fought with the union. I will provide a full review soon, and I absolutely recommend it.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening to Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick. It is such a tough book, but I am sucked in! I also hope to read A Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters and/or Girls Like Us by Gail Giles. With Trent, I hope to make sure to have more time to read to him this week.

Ricki: I am excited to start The Secret Hum of Daisy by Tracy Holczer. I know many of you have read it, and I have heard it is wonderful! I also have to read half of a book on coding. Jealous? 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday last stop on market street howtospeakdolphin

Tuesday: Top Ten Graphic Novels We Can’t Believe We Haven’t Read

Wednesday: More Great Nonfiction from 2014

 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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and Candlewick Press Giveaway 1/26/15

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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 to
KATIE from THE LOGONAUTS
for winning a copy of Emmanuel’s
Dream

Last Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday how it went down readathon

Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Feature Characters Who Show Resilience Despite Disabilities

Wednesday: Great Picture Books Kellee Has Read Recently

Friday: National Readathon Day Overview

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I finished 3 new picture books with Trent this week: This is Silly! by Gary Taxali, Pete the Cat and the New Guy by James Dean, and Baby Bear’s Books by Jane Yolen. This is Silly is quite an odd book, but has some wonderful illustrations; Pete the Cat and the New Guy has a good lesson, but isn’t as good as the other Pete books; and Baby Bear’s Books is about a young bears love of books. I did start reading The Dungeoneers by John David Anderson and listening to Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick, but I wasn’t able to finish them.

Ricki: I started back in school this week. I am in my fourth semester of the Ph.D. program, and it is getting tougher as each semester goes on. I will be sure to keep up with my reading though—it makes me feel alive! I did a lot of reading in a grant proposal book, so I am a bit behind in my pleasure reading. I did read three great picture books. My favorite this week was Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (a great book to teach bullying). But I also very much enjoyed Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell and Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I hope to finished The Dungeoneers and Never Fall DownThe Dungeoneers is really starting to get good! It is about a young boy who, in place of a punishment for pick-pocketting, is asked to join a guild. He is currently being tested to see how good he is. Loving the characters! Never Fall Down, on the other hand, is not an especially fun book, but it is eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and gripping. I never want to stop listening once I start. Hopefully I have enough time this week to listen to a good chunk.

Ricki: I know I will finish Audacity by Melanie Crowder this week. It is a beautiful book in verse, and I absolutely love it. I almost finished it the other night, but an amazing, incredible, (teething,) baby woke up and needed his mama.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday Mock Sibert Button2015 gabit carnival at bray

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’d Love to Read With Our Book Club (If WeHad A Book Club)

Wednesday: Mock Sibert Winner Announced!

Sunday: Guest Post: “Beyond Setting: A Couple of Thoughts and Some Fun Writing Prompts” by Tricia Springstubb, author of Moonpenny Island

 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!


GIVEAWAY!
We are also happy to be able to offer an amazing giveaway from Candlewick Press:

TIME MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES TOP 100 YOUNG ADULT AND CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF ALL-TIME

 CANDLEWICK PRESS EARNS 10 “BEST OF” NODS IN THE DISTINGUISHED RANKINGS

One of the most prominent news magazines in the U.S., TIME magazine, has declared we are living in a “golden age” of children’s and young adult books. A claim supported by ongoing sales reports that books for young readers and teens continue to dominate the bestseller charts and lead industry growth as they find wide audiences beyond their intended age demographics.

With the assistance of industry experts, reviewers, and major literacy non-profits, TIME has compiled a list to honor the all-time classics, both old and new.

Candlewick Press, a leading independent children’s book publisher based near Boston, Massachusetts, is proud to announce ten titles from its publishing list have been selected for inclusion – all remarkable works of writing and illustrating – that have established themselves as enduring favorites via critical and commercial success. Both National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Kate DiCamillo, and celebrated novelist, Patrick Ness, have the remarkable achievement of having two of their works selected. Candlewick’s titles include:

YA/Novels:

Feed by M. T. Anderson

Anderson takes on consumerism in this smart, savage satire that has captivated readers with its view of an imagined future that veers unnervingly close to the here and now.

* A National Book Award finalist

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo , illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. Along the way, we are shown a miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

Note: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is in the Top 25 to be voted on for Best of the Best ranking by reader vote: http://time.com/100-best-young-adult-books/

Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

Rob, sickly and devastated by the death of his mother, moves to a hotel with his father for a new start. But after he comes across a caged tiger in the woods outside the motel, the unexpected find helps him overcome his sadness and open up to a new friend.

*A National Book Award finalist

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

* Soon to be a major motion picture

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

A dystopian thriller follows a boy and girl on the run from a town where all thoughts can be heard — and the passage to manhood embodies a horrible secret.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

An unforgettable debut novel that follows an antisocial cinephile as she meets a quick-witted artist who’s savvy enough to see through her sci-fi disguise.

* Celebrating 10th anniversary in February 2015

Children’s/Picture Books:

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor– and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

Note:  I Want My Hat Back is in their Top 25 to be voted on for Best of the Best ranking by popular reader vote:  http://time.com/100-best-childrens-books/

Journey by Aaron Becker

Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.

* A Caldecott Honor Book

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Michelle Knudsen’s disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers. An affectionate storybook tribute to that truly wonderful place: the library.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Imagine the fun of going on a bear hunt-through tall, wavy grass (SWISHY SWISHY!); swampy mud (SQUELCH SQUELCH!); and a swirling whirling snowstorm (HOOOO WOOOO!) – only to find a “real” bear waiting at the end of the trail! For brave hunters and bear lovers, a classic chant-aloud.

ABOUT CANDLEWICK PRESS
Candlewick Press is an independent, employee-owned publisher based in Somerville, Massachusetts. For over twenty years, Candlewick has published outstanding children’s books for readers of all ages, including books by award-winning authors and illustrators such as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Jon Klassen, and Laura Amy Schlitz; the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, Mercy Watson, and ’Ology series; and favorites such as Guess How Much I Love You, Where’s Waldo?, and Maisy. Candlewick is part of the Walker Books Group, together with Walker Books UK in London and Walker Books Australia, based in Sydney and Auckland. Visit Candlewick online at www.candlewick.com

Twitter – @Candlewick
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CandlewickPressBooks
Instagram – http://instagram.com/candlewickpress
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/candlewickpress/
E-Volt Twitter – @evoltbooks
E-Volt Tumblr – http://e-volt.tumblr.com/

 candlewickgiveaway

To celebrate, Candlewick would like to offer a complete set of the chosen YA books to one lucky winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/19/15

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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

top ten tuesday emmanuel onceupon Mock Sibert Button2015

Tuesday: Top Ten 2014 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To

Wednesday: Blog Tour!: Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Friday: Mock Sibert Award: Favorites Announced

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

Congratulations to
Michele K.
for winning When Otis Courted Mama!

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I have been able to get more reading done over these last two weeks than I thought I would be able to. One thing that really helped is when you are staying at a hotel with people running races is that they go to bed SUPER early, so I spent a lot of time reading when we were out at Disney for Jim’s Dopey races (yay Jim!).

First, I read a ton of nonfiction books in preparation for the 2015 Mock Sibert! The books I read were: Star Stuff by Stephanie Roth Sisson, Eye to Eye by Steve Jenkins, Beetle Busters by Loree Griffin Burns, Feathers, Not Just For Flying by Melissa Stewart, Chasing Cheetahs by Sy Montgomery, Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy, and Born in the Wild by Lita Judge. I picked my top 5 nonfiction picture books out of these and other 2014 NF PBs I read. I shared them on my Mock Sibert post, and I plan to share my other favorites on a post later this month. All of these were phenomenal books.

Additionally, I did a lot of other reading: The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz, a nonfiction graphic novel about being born in East Germany; Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, a tragedy-filled, intense story of a young girls senior year; Caminar by Skila Brown, a beautiful novel-in-verse that takes place during the guerilla warfare in Guatamala; I Am Jackie Robinson by Brad Metzler, a fun comic/PB mix biography (so glad I finally got to read one of Metzler’s books!); Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena, a celebration of the little things we sometimes miss; The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami, such a weird little book; Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger by Jon Sciezska, another funny, smart Frank Einstein book, How To Speak Dolphin by Ginny Rorby, a book that tore at my heart strings and made me think about so many things; and Torn Away by Jennifer Brown, a frightening, sad, empowering book about loss and family.

Ricki: This week, I fell in love with Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. It has been on my TBR list for years, and I finally put it on my #mustreadin2015 list. I also started four other books that were recommended by YOU on Monday, and so far, I love them all. Bloggers have the best recommendations.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am not sure what I am going to read this week! I have a couple more 2014 NF picture books that have been recommended to me since Mock Sibert that I hope to get to read. I then have my #mustread2015 pile and other piles and library piles and piles of books all over 🙂

Ricki: As I stated before, I am reading four books right now. The two books that I have been reading the most of are Dreaming in Indian (Edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale) and Audacity by Melanie Crowder. Both are exceptional.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday how it went down readathon

Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Feature Characters Who Show Resilience Despite Disabilities

Wednesday: Great Picture Books Kellee Has Read Recently

Friday: National Readathon Day Overview

 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!

 Signature andRickiSig

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/12/15

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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

top ten tuesday When Otis Courted Mama  cover

Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels of 2015

Wednesday: #MustReadIn2015

Thursday: Blog Tour, Book Trailer, and Author’s Guest Post!: When Otis Courted Mama by Kathi Appelt

Friday: Books Trent Got For Christmas

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I am currently staying out at Disney World with Jim and Trent because my (crazy!) husband is running the Dopey (5K on Thursday, 10K on Friday, 1/2 maraton on Saturday, and marathon on Sunday). I will update you on my reading next week! Have a wonderful week!!!

Ricki: I read some great books this week! I finished Kekla Magoon’s How It Went Down. In light of the recent protests, this was an incredibly insightful book. The point-of-view shifts every 2-3 pages, which was very thought-provoking. This is the first book that I have completed from my #mustreadin2015 list. Yahoo!

Henry and I loved Matt de la Peña’s new picture book, Last Stop on Market Street. It is a beautiful book that we’ve read at least eight times this week. I can’t wait to review it. We also really enjoyed Peter H. Reynolds’ The Dot. We read two other picture books, but I don’t have a lot of nice things to say about them, so I am leaving them off of the list this week. I like to stick with the good recommendations! 🙂

Henry with Dad

Henry reading Last Stop on Market Street with his dad for the umpteenth time

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: See above. I apologize in advance if I am not able to comment on as many posts as usual as well. Happy reading!

Ricki: I can’t decide which book to read next. Would anyone recommend a book I should put to the top of my #mustreadin2015 list? I’d like to tackle another in January to stay ahead of the game. I trust my blogger friends’ advice, and many of the books on that list are popular books that I just haven’t gotten around to reading!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday emmanuel onceupon Mock Sibert Button2015

Tuesday: Top Ten 2014 Releases We Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To

Wednesday: Blog Tour!: Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Friday: Mock Sibert Award: Favorites Announced

 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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