Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 1/7/19

January 7, 2019 by Kellee

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

Vi for winning our Two Truths and a Lie Giveaway!
&
Danielle for winning our Children of Exile Giveaway!

Well, our last posts posted.

Wednesday: If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur by Amy Newbold

Friday: Ten Year Anniversary of the Sisters 8 series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Loggsted

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Shaping the World: Industrial Design” by Carla Mooney, Author of Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren’t Round and Other Mysteries

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

Kellee

Hello, friends! So nice to be back after a couple weeks off!

The novels I read were:

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills: I am so glad that Katie at Macmillan shared Emma Mills with me. Her books are such pleasurable reads that are written so well and are deep yet fun.
Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen: I know this may be sacrilegious, but I may like Nielsen’s historical fiction even more than her fantasy. Resistance is action packed, emotional, and fact filled.
Internment by Samira Ahmed: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Scary in the ways that is too full of a possible future. Whoa.
Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills: Emma Mills does it again! If you haven’t read any of her novels, get started then read this one when it comes out!
Odd One Out by Nic Stone: I am so glad that Nic Stone wrote this story for herself because she is not the only one out there that needs the story. A look at identity and friendship and family.
#murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil: Another book that is futuristic but with our current state of things seems too close to reality mostly with reality shows and social media becoming so front and center to our lives.
Searching for Lottie by Susan Ross: I am a fan of Susan Ross’s books. They are always a great middle grade introduction to some really tough subjects done in a gentle way yet without holding back anything. I also love that family is front and center in her stories.
Beep and Bob: Too Much Space by Jonathan Roth: A chapter book that Trent and I read (my astronaut loving kiddo loved them!), and I will review them on here soon.
Watch Hollow by Gregory Funaro: Review coming closer to the publication date. Another great dark fantasy from Gregory Funaro.

The graphic novels I read were:

Time Museum 2 by Matthew Loux: Have you read the first Time Museum graphic novel yet? If not, pick it up and then pick this one up because they are both so adventurous and funny!
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson: I can see why so many of my students love this story–it truly looks at what it means to be a middle schooler and struggling with finding your place.
Edison Beaker, Creature Seeker: The Night Door by Frank Cammuso: A funny and smart introduction to a new middle grade graphic novel series!
Monster Mayhem by Christopher Eliopoulos: I love Zoe. She is one of the smartest characters I have ever encountered in a book and the empathy she grows through the help of her robot and monster friends!
Nico Bravo and the Hound of Hades by Mike Cavallaro: Mythology and graphic novel fans have a new series that they are going to love!
The Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer: I love fairy tales and fairy tale retellings, and these new fairy tales are right on point.
Narwhal’s Otter Friend by Ben Clanton: Yay Narwhal!!! I love these stories, and Otter adds a lovely new character!

The picture books I read were:

The Lost Picnic by B.B. Cronin: A fun seek and find book!
Cheerful Chick by Martha Brockenbrough: Chick is so cute! And a great message for the readers!
Felipe and Claudette by Mark Teague: I love Mark Teague’s illustrations, and this story was so cute (I love Claudette!), and the ending was so heart warming!
Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp: I loved the volunteering and literacy-loving aspect of this story!
Cicada by Shaun Tan: Wow, Shaun Tan! He is so existential. And his illustrations are genius.
Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman: A lovely story of Carl finding his identity.
Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell: Sometimes it is okay to not be dragging around all of the tough stuff in life and enjoy life instead.
Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesday by Jon Stahl: But what do they eat on Wednesday? Read to find out and be ready to laugh!
Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel: From love and joy to resistance and strength–all the reasons to put your hands up.
I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey: I love Blabey’s illustrations! They really add such humor to this story about finding someone to accept you.
There’s a Hole in the Log in the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long: I love this song, and I am happy to have a fun book to read while singing it (and it has a twist ending!).
Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre: A look at all of what makes our amazing planet that we need to take better care of. Read for the message and view for the beautiful photographs.
The Runaway Beignet by Connie Collins Morgan: A present from my Louisiana-based parents along with making beignets with Trent–yum! And a fun story that is retelling of the runaway gingerbread man.

Ricki

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes is incredibly powerful. I sobbed through the entire book.

Why, oh why, did it take me so long to read Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough? I read 3/4 of the book last semester and had to pause to finish some work. My pause is not representative of how incredibly amazing this book is.

There’s a Hole in the Log in the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long: I never logged this one a couple of weeks ago, but I noticed it above in Kellee’s list. I love this book and read it often. It has such a great rhythm to it and is quite fun to read aloud.
Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman: I also didn’t log this one! Deborah Freedman is a genius. She always impresses me. This book teaches about nature while also exploring identity.
Here, George!, But Not the Armadillo, and Hey, Wake Up! by Sandra Boynton: I think I’ve read almost every Sandra Boynton book out there, but I read these three for the first time this weekend. My younger son loves everything she writes. He gets really excited when he finds her section of the bookstore. Here, George! was my favorite of the three. It describes what George, the dog, does when no one is home (spoiler: he dances!).
Old MacDonald Had a Farm and The Wheels on the Bus by Nosy Crow: I got these two books for my younger son for the holidays. He absolutely loves this series. The sliders are really fun to push, and it adds a new twist to lift-the-flap books. They are very well-made.
The Hat by Jan Brett: The illustrations of this book really shined.

Kellee

Starting: Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes
Listening: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer (Yay! Hopefully I can finish it before the loan expires this time!!!)

Ricki

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is next on my list! I saw it on a few Mock Printz lists, and I need to get to it NOW!

Tuesday: Kellee’s Five Star Reads of 2018

Wednesday: Ricki’s Favorite Reads of 2018

Thursday: Final Update of #MustReadin2018

Friday: #MustReadin2019

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Curiousity, Ignorance, and the Big What If?” by Jeanne Moran, Author of The Path Divided

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? #IMWAYR 12/31/18

December 31, 2018 by Kellee

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

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.

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 12/24/18

December 24, 2018 by Kellee

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

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.

and

Author Guest Post!: “Shaping the World: Industrial Design” by Carla Mooney, Author of Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren’t Round and Other Mysteries

December 23, 2018 by Kellee

“Shaping the World: Industrial Design”

Why are chairs shaped like…chairs? How do engineers get ideas for improving the design of cars, phones, packaging—everything?

Since the earliest times, people have searched for better solutions to specific problems. They have tried to improve stone tools, cooking pots, weapons, and more. When creating each new item, they have thought hard about it—what problem are they trying to solve, what are they trying to accomplish, how can they make it work better?

Answering these questions, they made a design. Through design, people have created the key inventions of our civilization.

You might not know it, but you, too are a designer. Have you ever rearranged your room or desk to better suit a specific use? Maybe you wrote a quick computer program to make your gaming system work better. By thinking about what needed to be improved and finding a way to improve it, you used design skills.

So what’s industrial design? Industrial design is the process of brainstorming and planning every aspect of a product before it is made in mass production. Most of the things we buy today are made in a factory. Someone, an industrial designer, decided what the product would look like, how it would work, and developed a process for it to be manufactured.

Industrial design includes making decisions about how a product is used by a person, what technologies it uses, the materials it is made from, and how it looks and feels. Industrial design is a problem-solving process.

People have been designing things since the first fire pit! As technology grows increasingly complex, the methods of design have grown more sophisticated, but the beginning spark is the same. Spot a problem? Design a solution!

Try your hand at industrial design with these hands-on projects!

DESIGNER VS CRAFTSMAN

The growth of factories and mass production allowed companies to produce goods that were affordable for many people. At the same time, separating design from manufacturing can cause some problems. In this activity, you will explore some of the differences between craft-based design and mass production.

To begin, you will play the role of a craftsperson. Choose something that you can make, such as a piece of art, a stick picture frame, a simple wooden train and tracks, or a magnetic clip. Gather your supplies and get to work designing and making your item. Think about the following questions.

What design decisions did you make for your item?
When did you make these decisions—before you started working or while you were making the item?
How were the design process and the making of the item connected? How were they separate?

Now, imagine that your item will be mass-produced in a factory. You are still the designer, but will not be making the items. How will you convey your design ideas to the people who will manufacture and assemble the items? How will you ensure that the mass-produced items match your design, regardless of who makes them?

Have several friends or classmates follow your design instructions and make the item without you. After they have finished, compare their items to your handcrafted original.

Are there any differences? If so, what are they?
What difficulties did you and your team encounter while mass-producing the item? Why do you think this occurred?
What problems will it cause if there are differences between a design and the manufactured products? What about between the products themselves?
What could you do as the designer to ensure there are very few differences between the original design and mass-produced items?

Try This!

Think about how ornamentation affects mass-produced industrial design. Ornamentation is everything added to an object for decoration. It could be the type of finish or painting on an object, scrolls in woodwork, or even added jewels or metalworking. What is the effect of ornamentation on an object’s form, function, manufacturing process, and cost?

DESIGN A CHAIR

Design solves a problem and meets a need. When industrial designers create and improve products, they make sure their designs meet the needs of users. In this activity, you’ll design a chair that meets the needs of a specific type of user.

Consider the following chair users.

An 80-year-old man who walks with a cane. He spends most of his day in a chair, watching television. It is difficult for him to get in and out of a chair.
A 15-year-old student who spends eight hours a day at school. He has a large, heavy backpack that he carries from class to class. In every class, he needs a place to work and store his backpack.
A 30-year-old marathon runner who spends much of her time moving. Because she often has sore muscles, she prefers a cushioned, comfortable place to relax and prepare for the next day’s run.

Choose one of the users and make a list of what they need in a chair. How are these needs related to design requirements for a chair?

Choose a variety of materials to work with. Possibilities include black permanent markers, paper, scissors, corrugated cardboard, pipe cleaners, modeling clay, cotton balls, tape, and toothpicks.

Following the design process and considering your design requirements, design the chair.

Draw several sketches of the design. What elements will you use in the design? How do these elements meet design requirements?

Using your materials, make a simple model of your chair.

Evaluate your chair’s design. Does it meet the design requirements? Does it work as intended? Is it aesthetically pleasing?

Test your design by having other people evaluate the chair. What changes or improvements do they recommend?

Retest it with potential users. If needed, redesign your chair based on the testing feedback. After you have the final design, consider the following questions.

What did you change during the design process? What did you learn from your models and prototypes?

What materials did you enjoy working with the most? Which did you enjoy the least? Why?

Try This!

Try building a model of the same chair using different materials. How do different materials affect the design? How does the choice of materials affect how well the chair meets the design requirements?

REDESIGN A KITCHEN UTENSIL

There are a lot of utensils in the kitchen—knives, forks, spoons, whisks, peelers, pizza cutters, ice cream scoopers, spatulas, and more. Can you find any that could be improved by industrial design?

With an adult’s permission, take an inventory of your kitchen utensils. Consider the following questions.

What types of utensils do you have? How many of each kind?
What materials are they made from?
Are they ergonomic?
Are any utensils hard to hold or difficult to use?
Are any broken or rusty?
Can you use them right-handed or left-handed?
Do the handles wobble and make gripping the utensil difficult?
Does the utensil have sharp edgesthat cut into your hand when holding?
Do they look aesthetically pleasing?

Choose a utensil to improve through industrial design. Follow the steps of the design process:

Understand the problem
Define design requirements
Generate ideas
Choose the best solution
Develop the solution
Make a model/build prototype
Test and redesign

Present your new and improved utensil design to family members. What are their reactions?

Try This!

Can you design a product to organize your kitchen utensils?

About the Author: Carla Mooney has written more than 70 books for children and young adults. Her work has appeared in many magazines including Highlights, Faces, and Learning Through History. Carla lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Website: carlamooney.com
Facebook: facebook.com/carlamooneyauthor

Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren’t Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids
By Carla Mooney
Published August 3rd, 2018 by Nomad Press

About the Book: What is industrial design? Why do microwaves open with a swinging front door? Why aren’t smartphones round?

In Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren’t Round and Other Mysteries with Science Activities for Kids, readers ages 10–15 engage in and learn about the engineering design process from its earliest beginnings, when individuals designed and crafted their own tools, to today, when engineers work to find the best design for products that are then manufactured in bulk by automated machines. Engineers consider the user experience of every product they design to ensure that users have the best experience possible. Good design combines the right materials, colors, details, and form to make a person want to buy and use a product. A well-designed product is easy to use and does what it is meant to do!

Thank you Carla for these classroom and independent friendly inquiry activities!

Celebrating 10 Years of the Sisters 8 series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted (with a special message from the author!)

December 21, 2018 by Kellee

The Sisters 8 Series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted

The Sisters 8 #1: Annie’s Adventures & The Sisters 8 #2: Durinda’s Dangers
Published December 29th, 2008 by HMH Books for Young Readers

through

The Sisters 8 #9: The Final Battle…For Now
Published August 7th, 2012 by HMH Books for Young Readers

About the Series: The story begins on New Year’s Eve, eight sisters–octuplets–wait for Mommy to come back from the kitchen with eggnog and Daddy to come back from the shed with more wood for the fire.

But they–Mommy and Daddy, that is–don’t. Come back. Ever.

It takes the sisters a few minutes to notice, but when they do it’s just as you would expect. Disbelief! Outrage! Despair! But then a note appears, telling the girls that each one of them has a talent and a gift. They all must find theirs to learn what happened to Mommy and Daddy.

Okay, so that’s how it begins. How does it end? Enter the world of the Sisters Eight to find out…

About Annie’s Adventures (Book #1): A rather large problem has befallen the Huit girls. (Sisters, actually. Octuplets to be exact.) One particular New Year’s Eve, the girls wait for their mommy to bring them hot chocolate and their daddy to return with more wood for the fire. But they don’t. Mommy and Daddy, that is. They’re gone. Poof! Maybe dead—no one knows for sure.

You must see the problem here. Eight little girls on their own, no mommy or daddy to take care of them. This is not a good thing.

So now these little girls, must take care of themselves. Get to school, cook the meals, feed the cats (eight of them, too), and pay the bills. They can’t ask for help, oh no. Any self-respecting adult would surely call in social services, and those well-meaning people would have to split them up. After losing their parents, being split up would be completely unbearable.

At the same time, the question remains:What happened to Mommy and Daddy? The Sisters Eight (as they are called, affectionately and otherwise) are determined to find out. Luckily, they do seem to have someone or something helping them. Notes keep appearing behind a loose brick in the fireplace.

It’s a good old-fashioned mystery with missing (or dead) parents, nosy neighbors, talking refrigerators, foul-smelling fruitcake (is there any other kind?), and even a little magic. Eight little girls, eight cats, and one big mystery—let the fun begin!

Annie’s Adventures, wherein the girls’ parents go missing (or die) and the girls learn each one has a power and gift. Annie, being the oldest, is the first to discover hers.

And expand the Sisters Eight adventures by entering The Sisters Eight Website!

After you enter, you can:

Learn about each of the books,
Learn about the authors,
Read reviews of the books,
Meet the Huit sisters,
Take a quiz to see which Sisters Eight you are,
Printable paper dolls,
Make your own beanbags,
Decorate a t-shirt,
Design flip-flops,
Make a friendship bracelet, or
Learn about starting a Sisters 8 book club!

About the Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted is the author of more than a dozen books for adults and young readers, including The Twin’s Daughter, Crazy Beautiful, and the Sisters 8 series, which she cowrites with her husband and daughter.

A personal note from the author on this special anniversary:

Who could ever have predicted that getting snowbound in Crested Butte, Colorado, back in 2006 would lead 12 years later to a nine-book series that has sold over a quarter of a million copies? But that’s what happened to my family. When a visit with friends that was supposed to last five days turned into 10 following a blizzard that closed Denver Airport, my husband Greg and me and our then-6yo daughter Jackie had to find new ways to entertain ourselves, which in our case meant brainstorming what would become known as The Sisters 8 series, about octuplets whose parents go missing on New Year’s Eve, leaving the girls to solve the mystery of where their parents went while keeping other adults from realizing there are no longer any adults in the house. The first two books were published in December 2008, with seven more books since.

Over the course of my career, I’ve been extraordinarily lucky. While I have neither the money of Rowling nor the critical acclaim of Franzen, I’ve been able to write the books I wanted to write – for adults, teens and children – in a variety of genres, and seen nearly 40 of those books published. If that’s not lucky, I don’t know what is. But nothing in all of it has given me more pleasure than The Sisters 8. I got to create it with my husband and daughter, who is now 18 and off at college. I got to share the early books with Jackie’s classmates as we were writing them. I got to receive thousands of emails from kids – and their parents, grandparents, librarians and teachers – telling me how much the series has meant to them. Most writers I know long for more money or greater fame. Now, I’m not saying I’d say no to either, but when you’ve receive a letter from a ten-year-old saying “After my brother died, The Sisters 8 was the first thing that made me feel cheered again” or from a special needs teacher saying “It was the first book that ___ asked if she could take home to continue reading on her own” or whole families of Canadians saying they bring the books to read aloud to each other on camping trips (Bless you, Canada!) – well, after all of that, you realize that while fame and fortune would be nice, you did your job as a writer.

This marks the 10th anniversary of The Sisters 8. I hope you’ll join me in wishing them many more years to come – cheers! ~Lauren

Celebrate the Sisters 8 ten-year anniversary by picking up a Sisters 8 book and enter into their adventures!

If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur by Amy & Greg Newbold

December 19, 2018 by Ricki

If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur
Author: Amy Newbold
Illustrator: Greg Newbold
Published October 2 2018 by Tilbury House Publishers

GoodReads Summary: In this sequel to the tour de force children’s art-history picture book If Picasso Painted a Snowman, Amy Newbold conveys nineteen artists’ styles in a few deft words, while Greg Newbold’s chameleon-like artistry shows us Edgar Degas’ dinosaur ballerinas, Cassius Coolidge’s dinosaurs playing Go Fish, Hokusai’s dinosaurs surfing a giant wave, and dinosaurs smelling flowers in Mary Cassatt’s garden; grazing in Grandma Moses’ green valley; peeking around Diego Rivera’s orchids in Frida Kahlo’s portrait; tiptoeing through Baishi’s inky bamboo; and cavorting, stampeding, or hiding in canvases by Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Franz Marc, Harrison Begay, Alma Thomas, Aaron Douglas, Mark Rothko, Lois Mailou Jones, Marguerite Zorach, and Edvard Munch. And, of course, striking a Mona Lisa pose for Leonardo da Vinci.

As in If Picasso Painted a Snowman, our guide for this tour is an engaging beret-topped hamster who is joined in the final pages by a tiny dino artist. Thumbnail biographies of the artists identify their iconic works, completing this tour of the creative imagination.

Ricki’s Review: After I read this book, I texted Kellee, “I LOVE THIS BOOK!” We received this a couple of weeks ago, and my son and I have read it several times. I missed If Picasso Painted a Snowman, but I plan to get it for my son for the holidays. I love how much learning is packed in this book. After we turned the pages, my son and I looked up the artists to learn more about the artists, their style, and their famous paintings. For me, this picture book will always rank among my favorites because it offers so much educational potential. This is one that I’d use with high schoolers and college students, as well. If you don’t own this book, I recommend it highly. It’s phenomenal.

Kellee’s Review: If I thought the Newbolds hit the height of fun art picture books with If Picasso Painted a Snowman, but they continued the brilliance with their newest If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur. What I love about the Newbolds’ books are that they are so beautifully done in both art and informational narrative, and it is done in a way that is entertaining and also teaches about some amazing artists. What surprised me about this newest is that there are even more truly abstract and modern art pieces, more than the first book, and the diversity of the artists represented were expanded to show the talent around the world and in different cultures. I can’t wait to see what they are going to do next!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This would be a great book to use in interdisciplinary ways with an art classroom. Students might research an artist, pick a theme, and create their own “If ______ painted a _______” book. It could be bound and kept in the classroom.

Discussion Questions:

How do the dinosaurs differ across the pages? What do you notice about the different artists’ styles?
Which dinosaur was your favorite? Why?
After reading the back matter, which artist would you like to learn more about?
Compare and contrast “regular” dinosaurs which each dinosaur in the book. What do you notice that is the same and/or different?

Flagged Spread:

Read This If You Love: Art!; If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold; Biographies of artists such as The Noisy Paintbox by Barb Rosenstock, Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales, Sandy’s Circus by Tanya Lee Stone, A Splash of Red by Jennifer Fisher Bryant; The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds; Linnea in Monet’s Garden by Christina Björk; Seen Art? by Jon Sciezska; The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt; Perfect Square by Michael Hall; My Pen by Christopher Myers, Paint Me a Picture by Emily Bannister, Mini Museum Series

Recommended For:

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**Thank you to Casey at Media Masters for providing copies for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 12/17/18

December 17, 2018 by Kellee

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

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.

Wednesday: Where’s the Architect: From Pyramids to Skyscrapers (An Architect Look and Find Book) by Susanne Rebschet & Annabelle von Sperber

Friday: Blog Tour with Author Guest Post and Giveaway!: Children of Jubilee by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Giveaway open until Thursday!!!

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Big Questions, Big World, Big Data!” by Carla Mooney, Author of Big Data: Information in the Digital World

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

Kellee

I now know why this series is so popular with my students! It is like a Rick Riordan book on steroids! Wow!
One of Us is Lying kept me up at night trying to figure it out, and it still surprised me!
With Trent, I’ve not done a good job keeping track of what we’ve been reading though we did start a new chapter book I shared below.

Ricki

The good news is that I read the final exams for 54 pre-service teachers, and there are some amazing teachers entering the work force! The bad news is that I didn’t read much YAL this week. My younger son is potty training, and we reread approximately 100 picture books this morning. I’m not lying. I’ve read through Olivia at least twelve times today. But I only have two new-to-me books to share:

Dragons: Father and Son by Alexandre Lacroix was published last year. It documents an angry father dragon who wants his son to go into the village and burn down a house. The son goes to the village and encounters nice people and doesn’t want to follow his father’s orders. It is a fun book that my kids enjoyed.

Many Moons by Remi Courgeon was also published last year. It teaches the different phases of the moons through different objects that look similar in shape. I loved the thick, almost board-bookish pages and use of black, white, and yellow only to teach the book. The illustrations are simple and eye-catching.

Kellee

Listening with my ears: Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Just started: This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

Up Next: Internment by Samira Ahmed

With Trent: Beep and Bob: Too Much Space by Jonathan Roth

Ricki

I am hoping to finish the 10 half-finished YA books on my nightstand now that I am not going to get caught up in rereading three YA books each week for my YAL class. It feels very freeing!

Wednesday: If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur by Amy Newbold

Friday: Ten Year Anniversary of the Sisters 8 series by Lauren Baratz-Logsted with Greg Logsted and Jackie Loggsted

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Shaping the World: Industrial Design” by Carla Mooney, Author of Industrial Design: Why Smartphones Aren’t Round and Other Mysteries

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