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.

Last Week’s Posts

   

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I finished two books this week and they both were 5 star reads–I love weeks like that! First, I finished listening to Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I found this book to be more along the line of his Coraline and other children’s books than his adult books and I adored the magical world he made. I will also say that I am biased a bit, because I listened to the audiobook and I love listening to Gaiman (who narrated).  The other book I read I may have liked even more; I cannot stop raving about it–Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil. It is such a good book and I cannot believe that this book hasn’t been talked about more and that I hadn’t heard about it until recently.  I plan on reviewing it soon for you all.

Ricki: This week, I dipped into the classic children’s books. I read The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I enjoyed rereading these, as I haven’t read them since I was a child. I felt compelled to research Dr. Seuss’s life a bit more because I was so impressed by his language. I also read On the Night You Were Born  by Nancy Tillman and Where the Deep Ones Are by Kenneth Hite. Both were enjoyable, but I liked the classics more.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am quite excited about both of the books I am starting. First, I am going to start listening to Courage Has No Color this week. As always, since I am car pooling, it will take a bit to finish, but I know I am going to enjoy it. I also started Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. If it is anywhere as good as the other books I’ve read of his, I know it is going to be fantastic.

Ricki: This week, I will definitely finish Winger by Andrew Smith. I am at a REALLY good part. It makes me look forward to my nursing sessions. I also hope to finish Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. This one is good, but very dense! Has anyone else read it?

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 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

    

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I finished Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always by Elissa Janine Hoole which, unfortunately, took me all week to finish it.  It was overall a good book, but I just had trouble connecting to the protagonist until about half way through… then it was smooth sailing. I did finish it Saturday, but because of going to be early and waking up early to see my husband finish his first marathon (actually he did the Dopey Challenge this weekend! 48.6 miles in 4 days!), I haven’t started another book yet.

Ricki: Last week, I read seven books. This week, I read zero. Yes, ZERO! I am so embarrassed. My excuse: Henry’s colic has gotten increasingly worse. We have been dealing with a child who screams from 8pm to midnight. The hours before and after that, he fusses. My life balance is all a mess! To be fair, my husband and I reread The Little Engine that Could to him last night, but I included that book in a past week’s post. We also read a book about cars, but it wasn’t memorable enough for me to remember the title. I have also read about fifty more pages in Winger by Andrew Smith. But books completed? None. 

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening to Ocean at the End of the Lane. I am carpooling again (3 days this week), but I am listening whenever I am alone. I am almost finished with disc 4 (out of 5), so I should finish it soon. I plan to start Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil tonight and finish it this week. I then plan on reading Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan. 

Ricki: This week, I would love to finish Winger by Andrew Smith. I read a few pages to Henry (and even read the swears–I figure it is safe, as he is only 6 weeks old). I also plan to read some of Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire for school. I’d love to finish two or three picture books too, if Henry is willing to listen. 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 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

   

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

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Happy new year!! I read two very different yet very good novels this week and I definitely recommend them both. First was Period 8 by Chris Crutcher which is… well, a Chris Crutcher novel! They are always winners. I’ll be reviewing it here for you later. Next, I read Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein which was a middle grade novel paying homage to Willy Wonka with so many book allusions throughout. It was such a fun book! I actually am not planning on reviewing it because I read it in bed in one sitting, so I didn’t take any review notes on it—oops!

Ricki: This week, I took it back a few decades and read Experience & Education by John Dewey. This book was published in 1938, but boy was John Dewey on the mark. He was ahead of his time in his progressive thoughts, and I can understand why scholars always refer to his writings. I also read the YA book, The Living by Matt de la Peña. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the sequel. I will read anything by this man. He is such an incredible writer. This book was much different from his other works, and I think students who love action-packed books like The Maze Runner by James Dashner will love it. The children’s books I read to Henry this week are: Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (sobbed through this one), Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems (nice illustrations and photography), Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson, and Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle (this one was adorable). 

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I just started Sometimes Always, Sometimes Never by Elissa Janine Hoole yesterday, but did not get very far–we’ll see! After Sometimes Always, I’ll be reading Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil. I also will continue Ocean at the End of the Lane tomorrow when I go back to driving to work.

Ricki: This week, I am starting Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere as part of my independent study for my doctoral degree. I am trying to read books by all of the big names in education. I also plan to read Winger by Andrew Smith while nursing. Additionally, I will be reading as many children’s books as I can to Henry each night. 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 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

  

 

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

 

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I was doing so well with Winter Break #bookaday and then Christmas happened! It is so hard to just excuse yourself from all of the family fun to go read and with people from out of town visiting, it was even harder. With that being said, I did read 5 books over this week.

The first 4 were graphic novels: Romeo and Juliet by Gareth Hinds, The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown, Bluffton by Matt Phelan, and Lost Boy by Greg Ruth. They were all VERY different yet I enjoyed them all in a different way. I’ll be reviewing Dust Bowl and Romeo later in the winter.

The 5th book I read was Fangirl  by Rainbow Rowell and OMG! I read it all in one sitting and I loved every second of it! If you have been following my pregnancy reading at all, you know that sitting down and reading a novel in one sitting has been something that has become hard for me, so I was so proud of finishing Fangirl in one night!

Ricki: This week, I finished The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher. This was quite different from her other book, Stolen. It is a mystery/thriller, and I really enjoyed the way she depicted the setting. I also read several books to baby Henry. We started with a few classics: The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper, Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle (I loved this board book—the see-through sections are beautiful!) and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle. Then, we read some new picture books that were both fantastic! Both were based on true stories. The Man with the Violin is based on a true story and has a wonderful lesson for children (and adults)—to stop and admire the beauty in the world. We also finished On the Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne. This was really fun. I can’t wait to read it to Henry when he is older. I love how it teaches children to be curious.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening to Neil Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane, but I am not getting much reading done during the break without the commute. I love what I’ve read so far, but I don’t know how much I’ll get read this week either. I also started reading You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle and thus far I am really connect with the narrator and I look forward to reading more of it.

Ricki: I am almost finished with The Living by Matt de la Peña. The only reason I haven’t finished it is because I have it in actual book form, and I can only read e-books while nursing. It is very, very good. I am losing some sleep over it because I read it when I should really be sleeping. I also downloaded Winger by Andrew Smith on my Kindle. So far, I am loving it. It is reminding me a bit of John Green’s Looking for Alaska so far.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

 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

   

  

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

 

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I kept working on reading Nerdy nominees this week so I felt prepared when I voted last night. This week I finished A Splash of Read: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin, Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animals Lives, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Frog Song, Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton, The Story of Fish and Snail, and Arnie the Doughnut: Bowling Alley Bandit. I can definitely see why they were all nominated! My favorites were Lifetime, Daredevil, Mr. Tiger, and Arnie. These books also helped me start of Winter Break #bookaday right!

Ricki: I read some great children’s books this week. My husband and I read The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt to our son. We were both highly entertained. It is so funny! I can see why everyone seems to love it. We also read a few classics. To name a few–Goodnight Moon (and the modern version with a twist–Good Night New York City) and a great book that I never read as a child called Time for Bed. It made me want to cuddle up and go to sleep.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I didn’t get to some of the graphic novel Nerdy nominees before voting, but I still have them to read: Lost Boy, Great American Dust Bowl, and Bluffton. I also still have Gareth Hinds’s Romeo and Juliet to read (though I may read it before I go to bed). I’m also still listening to Ocean at the End of the Lane by Gaiman, but I don’t know how much listening I’ll get done during break.

Ricki: I have the same goals as last week. I am almost finished with The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher and am loving The Living by Matt de la Peña. My life is dedicated to this tiny creature who cries often, so I am not meeting all of my goals! 🙂 He is entirely worth it. I also wish he wouldn’t always cry when we read The Velveteen Rabbit because I would like to finish that one. I think it is too many words and not enough stimulation.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 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!

Happy Holidays!!!!

  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

  

  

  

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

 

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: The busy-ness that started with my mom’s surprise visit and my baby shower kept going this week; however, this weekend I was able to get some reading done. First, I finished The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley and will be sharing it with you this week. I then started reading some of the Nerdy award finalists so I am more knowledgeable for voting (I’ll also review most of these for you). The ones I got through this weekend are: Battle Bunny by Jon Sciezska, I’m a Frog & A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems, Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Ling & Ting Share a Birthday by Grace Lin, Bluebird by Bob Staake, and Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes. I can definitely see why these were nominated!

Ricki:  Henry (my new baby) is in his second week right now. We read a counting book together and Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola. How did I miss this one as a kid? It teaches some great lessons. We are also making our way through The Velveteen Rabbit by Margerie Williams, but Henry tends to cry after a few pages. While he sleeps, I am busy reading The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher and The Living by Matt de la Peña. He is one of my favorite YA authors!

Here is a picture of Henry as I type this blog post on my laptop (don’t mind the messy background of my house…):

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I have a couple more Nerdy finalists to read this week. After those, I’ll probably read Gareth Hinds’s Romeo and Juliet. Once winter break starts (FRIDAY!), I hope to get through some of the YA novels I have set aside. 

Ricki: No promises, but I have all intentions of finishing The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher and The Living by Matt de la Peña. Henry and I will also finish a few children’s books (whichever are within my arm’s reach while feeding him—but there are some great ones (new and old!).

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

 

 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

  

   

 

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

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Last week, as planned, I finished Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders by Geoff Herbach and I cannot wait to get close to the release date so I can review it for you. If you have not read any Herbach, start now! I also had a VERY long doctor’s appointment this week (for prenatal glucose testing), so I was able to get three graphic novels read while there! First, I read Explorer: The Lost Islands edited by Kazu Kibuishi and I am just so impressed with everything he does and this book is no different. I also read both of the Salem Hyde books by Frank Cammuso. His Knights of the Lunch Table books are a HUGE hit in my classroom, so when I heard he had a new series I made sure to get my hands on them. I will review all of these as they deserve to be shared.

Ricki: Thank you for the congratulations about my new son! I am absolutely in love with him. The week before he was born, I read a professional development book called Celebrating Writers by Ruth Ayres. This is a FANTASTIC book for teachers of writing. It gives great suggestions to help students celebrate their writing. I also read Thrice Told Tales by Catherine Lewis–another amazing book for teachers. It is based on the nursery rhyme of “Three Blind Mice.” Each page is a different literary term within the context of the nursery rhyme. I wish I had this book when I was still in the high school. I actually learned some literary terms as I read it. I also read two great National Geographic books that would be enjoyable for beginning readers to explore nonfiction—Amelia Earhart by Caroline Gilpin and Meerkats by Laura Marsh. Since my son has been born, I read Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott while nursing. This is a great book that explores grief with a very interesting plot. The main character’s mother is being kept on life support only because she is pregnant. I didn’t realize the plot when I started it—it was a depressing book to read while nursing!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I started The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley followed by a couple of other graphic novels (and maybe even enough time to start some of my YA  TBR) and, since I got my new phone, I hope to start listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane. 

Ricki: This week, I want to read The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher. I am hoping to get through it, but no promises with the new baby. 🙂

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

  

 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