Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/29/21

November 29, 2021 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop co-hosted by Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts which focuses on sharing books marketed for children and young adults. It offers opportunities to share and recommend books with each other.

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Happy reading!

Kellee

Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau: What an intense book!! The prologue starts with the reader learning that there are bombs going off in a high school, there are kids stuck in the school, and the news shares that one of them is the bomber. Then you get to meet all of the characters. This book challenges biases and thoughts and totally caught me off guard.
Roxy by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman: I am a Shusterman fan. Period. I find that the concepts that he brings to life in his books are always so unique and mind blowing. This book is no different. And this one is definitely going to be controversial. I don’t know what side of the controversy I am on, but I do know that I couldn’t put the book down.
I’m still sucked into the Assassination Classroom series! It is such a weird feeling to want the kids to assassinate Koro Sensei while also rooting for him to keep teaching the kids because he is an amazing teacher. 1/3 of the way through the series–looking forward to seeing what happens.
You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus: Another McManus thriller that keeps you guessing until the reveal! I do have issues with representation of an educator in the book; it uses a trope I do not like. But even with the trope, I had to get to the end to find out the finale!
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys: Oh, Ruta Sepetys! You are a historical fiction author magician! This book blew my mind because it takes place when I was 7 but in Romania, and comparing my life to the tyranny and oppression Cristian and his family faces on a daily basis. Ruta educated me. Schooled me. Whoa.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley: Probably one of my favorite reads ever. The writing is beautiful, the representation is everything, the plot is intense, the characterization is full, it culturally immerses the reader in the story, and has such ridiculously strong women. Also, the focus on missing & murdered indigenous women was missing in YA lit until now. Highly recommended.
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee: Another terrible time in history that needs all of the spotlights. This book is brilliantly done and so intensely sad. The multiple perspectives makes the book even deeper than it could have been if written a different way.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

I finished two young adult books, and I loved them both.

I listened to We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez, and it ripped my heart out. The print and audio of this book are both incredibly well done. I will continue to use this one in my classes as all of my students have really liked it.

I could not put I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys down. In fact, I texted Kellee and convinced her to read it (see above) because I needed to talk about it with someone. She texted me updates as she read, and we talked at length about it. I learned so much from this book and am so grateful that I read it.

Kellee

Reading so many books at once, but all with different purposes!
And we’ll see how much reading I get done this week because I am going to the Florida Association of Media in Education (FAME) conference for three days! Woot!

Reading: It Will End Like This by Kyra Leigh & Assassination Classroom Vol. 7 by Yusei Matsui
Reading with my sister: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Reading with my Lunch Book Club (and will finish by Monday’s lunch!): Concealed by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Working on a Teaching Guide for: Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
Listening: Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

Ricki

I am also reading many books at once!

I am listening to With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, reading Clarice the Brave by Lisa McMann with my 8-year-old, and reading Me (Moth) by Amber McBride in print.

Thursday: Have You Seen Gordon? by Adam Jay Epstein & Ruth Chan

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 11/22/21

November 22, 2021 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

Happy reading!

Tuesday: Robin Robin by Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, Illustrated by Briony May Smith

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

We are currently at the 2021 ALAN Workshop learning from a hundred middle grade and young adult authors, so we are taking this Monday off (and the rest of the week off)! Hope you have a wonderful week!

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Robin Robin by Dan Ojari & Mikey Please, Illustrated by Briony May Smith

November 16, 2021 by Kellee

Robin Robin
Authors; Dan Ojari & Mikey Please
Illustrator: Briony May Smith
Published November 2nd, 2021 by Red Comet Press

Summary: The irresistible story of a robin and her adopted mouse family is the perfect treat from the creators of the holiday-themed film Robin Robin, created by Aardman for Netflix. This picture book version of the story, beautifully illustrated by Briony May Smith, is perfect for sharing with young children.

The mouse family all love Robin, and she is so keen to fit in she pulls her feathers into ears…but nothing can make a noisy, rather clumsy bird, good at sneaking crumbs for the family without disturbing the dreaded cat! After several attempts and with the help of a friendly magpie, she finally realizes that her special bird talents of singing and flying can be put to good use: Robin can be true to herself and a much loved member of the family.

Robin Robin is a heartwarming and humorous story with themes of diversity, community, inclusion and acceptance – it will win the hearts of families everywhere.

Streaming worldwide from Christmas 2021, Robin Robin is the new collaboration between Aardman, the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, and Netflix. Golden Globe® winner Gillian Anderson and Oscar® nominee Richard E. Grant lead the cast which also includes Bronte Carmichael and Adeel Akhtar.

About the Creators:

Dan Ojari and Mikey Please are co-founders of the BAFTA® Award-winning Parabella animation studio which is based in East London. They co-directed Robin Robin, the first production in association with Aardman and produced exclusively for Netflix. Together they authored an adaptation of the script of the Robin Robin holiday special to create the book. They both live in London. Learn more about Mikey Please at mikeyplease.co.uk and Dan Ojari at www.danojari.com.

Briony May Smith is a British illustrator who has published titles in the US and the UK, including Stardust, written by Jeanne Willis (Nosy Crow, 2019). She also wrote and illustrated Imelda and the Goblin King (Flying Eye Books, 2015) and Margaret’s Unicorn (Schwartz and Wade, 2020), a Fall 2020 Indie Kids’ Next List selection. She lives in Devon, England. Learn more at brionymaysmith.com.

Red Comet Press
Facebook: Red Comet Press
Twitter: @redcometpress
Instagram: @redcometpressbooks

Watch the Netflix special on November 24!

Review: There is no way you can read this book without loving Robin Robin. Robin means well, tries their best, and never gives up, and just look at that silly walk in the flagged passages (they’re trying to walk like a mouse)–how can you not love Robin?! And the love for characters won’t stop there when it comes to the wonderful cast of characters that Kirkus says “any character in this picture book could be a main character in a different book.” I cannot wait to see the Netflix special because I know that I am going to fall in love with it, too!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is so fun to read aloud, and with the themes it has and a Netflix special, there is so much that can be done in the classroom: theme, how an individual’s presence affects the plot, analyze the structure, and compare/contrast/evaluate content in diverse medias and formats. There’s just so much that can be done.

Flagged Passages:

Official Trailer for the Musical:

Read This If You Love: Picture books staring animals, with repetitive text, or with a moral

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Blue Slip Media for providing a copy for review!**

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 11/15/21

November 20, 2021November 15, 2021 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Sharing Picture Books, Early Readers, Middle Grade Books, and Young Adult Books for All Ages!

The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

Happy reading!

Tuesday: A-Okay by Jarad Greene

Thursday: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan, Illustrated by Lian Cho

Sunday: Author Guest Post: Author Guest Post and Educators’ Guide: I Am Today by Matt Forrest Esenwine, Illustrated by Patricia Pessoa

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

Kellee

Over these last two weeks, I’ve defintely been in the reading zone! It has been awesome!

Jackpot by Nic Stone: Nic Stone writes so many different kinds of book–it is amazing! Jackpot is about Rico and Zan’s relationship. Other may say it is about the lottery ticket or just Rico, but in the end it is about their relatioship and how it changes them both. It was a great read!
Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh: I can see why this novel in verse got the love it did. It is intense, powerful, and needed in our world. It is about Ada finding her way in the world after everything in her world was orchestrated by her highly religious father, her childhood was taken from her by abuse, and her search for identity now that she is on her own.
A-Okay by Jarad Greene: I reviewed this on Tuesday.
As Good as Dead by Holly Black: The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series is over! And PHEW! What an ending! So much happened in this book and everything just ties together from the other two books. But there are also some serious ethical questions the reader will be left with at the end.
A Tale of Sorcery by Chris Colfer: I LOVE THIS SERIES! Chris Colfer does a brilliant job of making his books seem fantastical and not of our world, but truly, the evils in his books allude to evils in our world. The third book in the series did not disappoint, and I do hope there will be more!
Grumpy Unicorn graphic novels by Joey Spiotto: Trent loved these graphic novels, so he gave them to me and told me it was my homework to read them. Why Me? is more just lists and introduction to Grumpy Unicorn where the other two are narrative graphic novels. Both show that there is more to Grumpy than meets the eye, though On the Road is probably my favorite.
Assassination Classroom #3 & #4 by Yusei Matsui: Still need to know if the class is successful! Shared my initial thoughts here.
The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA by Brenda Woods: I reread this wonderful historical fiction novel for my teacher book club (then had to miss the book club–boo!), and I enjoyed it just as much the second time. I think it is a perfect middle grade historical fiction story that will grab the attention of whoever picks it up!
14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph: Although I am not a fan of the title of this book because it doesn’t capture what it is really about, I did really like the book and the premise. Jess has always wanted to catch the man who killed her mother, so when she has a chance to be part of a You Tube reality show, she jumps at it to bring the serial killer’s killing back to the headlines. And boy does she!
Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards: This is a pretty messed up book! As you can tell, I am kind of in a thriller reading mood, so I knew that there had to be more going on than just 5 strangers riding in a car together, but as you learn more and more about the situation as the reader and Mira is still clueless, I got so anxious! And the reveal?! Intense!
Fast Pitch by Nic Stone: I loved softball as a teen, so I was so excited to read this newest from Nic Stone, and it did not disappoint. It was a great mix of softball, social justice, racial history, friendship, and family.
Robin Robin by Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, Illustrated by Briony May Smith: I’ll be reviewing Robin Robin this week!
Keeping the City Going by Brian Floca: What a nice tribute to those who kept New York City running during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic. And with Brian Floca, you know the illustrations are beautiful.
Unlimited Squirrels in Guess What!? by Mo Willems: The latest in the Unlimited Squirrel series is just as silly, but also so clever, as the others in the series. Trent particularly likes the emoti-corns and the A-corny Joke Times.

To learn more about any of these books, check out my 2021 Goodreads Challenge page or my read bookshelf on Goodreads.

Ricki

My book revisions are due tomorrow, so I am busy writing!

Kellee

Reading: Playing with Fire by April Henry, Concealed by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (for my lunch book club) & Assassination Classroom 5 by Yusei Matsui

Listening: Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko

Tuesday: Robin Robin by Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, Illustrated by Briony May Smith

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Author Guest Post and Educators’ Guide: I Am Today by Matt Forrest Esenwine, Illustrated by Patricia Pessoa

December 5, 2021November 14, 2021 by Kellee

“Non-grammatical doesn’t always mean wrong”

The year that shall live in infamy…

School was at home, play dates were via computer, vacation plans were stalled.

The pandemic shut-down was difficult for many people in many ways; however, as hard as it was for as adults to deal with, it was especially hard on kids, many of whom had no idea what was going on, or why. I felt like I needed to write something to empower kids, to help them realize they do have some control over certain things.

So in late summer of last year I began brainstorming ideas by doing something unusual. I made a concerted effort to come up with a non-grammatical title. A strange way to begin the writing process, but I thought a non-grammatical title might not only be poetic and thought-provoking but would certainly catch attention sitting on a bookshelf!

As I thought about it, the phrase “I am today” eventually popped into my head, and I loved it! Kids are always being told they are “the Future” – but what if a child doesn’t want to wait, to make a difference? The concept for my next picture book was born.

Non-grammatical doesn’t always mean “wrong”:

These days, it seems grammar police are everywhere; allow auto-correct to add an apostrophe to the word “its” in your social media post and suddenly a cute little possessive pronoun is the subject of derision and ridicule by everyone who reads it. And let’s not even get started on the “your” and “you’re” brigade!

No one appreciates proper grammar more than me. Certainly, it’s important to teach grammar, spelling, and such. Verb conjugations, parts of speech, sentence diagrams are all important and all have their place in education. But as someone who writes a lot of poetry, I would suggest that going out of one’s way to be non-grammatical on purpose might have some uses – and be quite fun.

You see, a phrase is only non-grammatical when there is no context, or it is used out of context. Take the title of my new picture book, “I Am Today.” How can a person be an adverb?? (Yes, “today” can also be a noun, but we’re not going to split hairs) On its own, the phrase “I am today” would not normally make sense – but once the story is read and we understand what the main character is thinking, it suddenly makes all the sense in the world.

We tell kids “they are the future” – which, to be honest, could be considered just as non-grammatical as “I am the future.” So if we are proud when children consider themselves to be “the future,” it’s not much of a stretch to understand why a child might want to be “today.”

Putting non-grammatical phrases to use…

Now that you (hopefully) understand my rationale for cheering on grammar that would make my high school English teacher Mrs. Jencks scream, here’s what I think is really cool: getting students to think creatively and/or poetically by deliberately creating non-grammatical phrases!

Think about it: why can’t phrases like “puddles of books” or “running the rainbow” or “soccer seriously” be legitimate springboards to something fantastic – a story, a poem, a song?

Many of us (your faithful guest poster, included) are always encouraging young people to come up with new ideas for writing, yes? Since essays, stories, homework assignments always need to be correct and proper, why not turn things on their head for a change and give kids a chance to do something totally different?

Encourage students to put together phrases that sound completely wrong, then have them write the story or poem that goes with it. Or better yet, put all their non-grammatical phrases together and draw them randomly so students need to write based on someone else’s phrase.

Phrases like those three I mentioned earlier, while possibly a bit odd-sounding, would all be perfectly at home in a poem. That’s what poets do, after all – coin phrases, turn words around, make unexpected connections.

Poets speak in terms that are new to their readers, using metaphors, similes, and comparisons that are thought-provoking and unforeseen. What better way to get students thinking in this way than by showing them the value of putting words together that everyone normally tells them not to do?

Knowing most middle school and high school students, they’ll seize any opportunity to do something they’re not supposed to do. So capitalize on that – and see what happens!

About the Author from the Author:

As a former radio broadcaster, I spent a good part of my life writing and producing commercials, comedy bits, and news stories. At various times I was also an event DJ, country dance instructor, news reporter, cook, telemarketer, ice cream scooper, and photography sales dude…and never figured out how to make a living doing any of it.

I also loved poetry – my first published poem was in 1984 when I was still in high school – and over the years I’ve had numerous adult-oriented poems published in various journals and anthologies including the Donald Hall tribute, “Except for Love (Encircle, 2019). In 2012 my poem, “Apple-Stealing” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and in 2019 I was the recipient of the MacGregor Poetry Prize, coordinated by the Robert Frost Farm board of trustees and Derry (NH) Public Library.

Anyhoo…little did I know all this short-form writing would lead to my debut picture book, “Flashlight Night” (Boyds Mills & Kane, 2017), which received numerous positive reviews including a Kirkus star and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Best Books for Kids 2017. I now have a dozen books out or under contract, including “Once Upon Another Time” (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with my friend, Charles Ghigna (aka, Father Goose®).

Meanwhile, my children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like “The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry” (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015), “Night Wishes” (Eerdmans, 2020), and “Construction People” (Wordsong, 2020), the latter of which chosen by Kirkus as one of the Best Picture Books of the Year. Take a gander at all my books here.

Matt lives in New Hampshire with his wife, kids, and more pets than he has fingers, so don’t ask him to count.

Expected Publication November 30th, 2021 by POW! Kids Books

About the Book: A young girl realizes that she doesn’t have to wait until she’s grown-up to stand up for what is right and make a big impact.

While playing on the beach in her coastal town, a young girl comes across a sea turtle ensnared by a wire. Her town is home to a factory that has provided jobs for many of her neighbors, including her mother, but it has also been dumping garbage from a pipe into the waters, threatening the creatures that live in them.

Children are used to being asked what they’ll do and be when they grow up, but the girl knows there is so much she can do today to help. Unable to forget the sight of the struggling turtle, with a fantastic act she inspires the townspeople to compel the factory to change its destructive ways.

Written in spare and evocative poetry, I Am Today is an empowering story for children who want to be the change the world needs.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation and Discussion Questions:

Please view and enjoy the educators’ guide for I Am Today

Flagged Passages:

Thank you, Matt, for this post to make us, as adults, think a little bit more out of the box!

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Mary Lee Donovan, Illustrated by Lian Cho

November 11, 2021November 11, 2021 by Ricki

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Author: Mary Lee Donovan; Illustrator: Lian Cho
Published October 12, 2021

Summary: Welcome, come in! You are invited to travel to homes around the world in this beautifully illustrated picture book about hospitality and acceptance, featuring the word “welcome” in more than twelve languages. Fans of Here We Are and The Wonderful Things You Will Be will enjoy this timeless story about family, friendship, empathy, and welcoming others.

Welcome, friend. Welcome.

There are almost as many ways of making someone feel welcome as there are people on our planet. To welcome another is to give that person and yourself a chance at a new connection, a new friendship, and maybe even new eyes through which to view the world.

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes introduces the word for “welcome” in more than twelve languages to illuminate a universal message of hope and acceptance. Mary Lee Donovan’s spare text is brought to life by Lian Cho’s illustrations that are full of rich details to pore over.

Includes a pronunciation guide, a note from the artist, a note from the author, and information about the languages featured in the book.

Review: I read this book back in August and was eager to get closer to its publication date to share it with you all. Readers are introduced to the word “Welcome” in 14 different languages, with beautiful illustrations of different cultural settings. New connections, new friendships—the book celebrates language and cultural difference. This is a book that would be lovely to share in language classrooms and would make a great book for the first day of school.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation & Discussion Questions: I would love to have students learn about a different language note featured in this book. The students’ contributions could be collected and bound into their own edition!

What language did you learn about?
How does knowing how to say “Welcome” in different languages benefit you? Benefit us?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson; I am Gandhi (both picture book & graphic novel) by Brad Meltzer; I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët; What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggers

Recommended For:

**Thank you to Keely at SparkPoint Studio for providing a copy for review!**

A-Okay by Jarad Greene

November 9, 2021 by Kellee

A-Okay
Author: Jarad Greene
Published November 2nd, 2021 by HarperAlley

Summary: A-Okay by Jarad Greene is a vulnerable and heartfelt semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic novel about acne, identity, and finding your place.

When Jay starts eighth grade with a few pimples he doesn’t think much of it at first…except to wonder if the embarrassing acne will disappear as quickly as it arrived. But when his acne goes from bad to worse, Jay’s prescribed a powerful medication that comes with some serious side effects. Regardless, he’s convinced it’ll all be worth it if clear skin is on the horizon!

Meanwhile, school isn’t going exactly as planned. All of Jay’s friends are in different classes; he has no one to sit with at lunch; his best friend, Brace, is avoiding him; and–to top it off–Jay doesn’t understand why he doesn’t share the same feelings two of his fellow classmates, a boy named Mark and a girl named Amy, have for him.

Eighth grade can be tough, but Jay has to believe everything’s going to be a-okay…right?

Praise:

A compelling depiction of teenage uncertainty. –Kirkus Reviews

Supported by expressive, well-drawn, and colorful illustrations, this compelling graphic novel will appeal to fans of middle-grade graphic memoirs. –Booklist

Greene’s use of color, line, and composition in his comic-panel layouts enhances the humor and angst of this particular slice of adolescent life. -The Horn Book

Jay’s arc is distinct and refreshing, and the story’s emphasis on friendships and body image issues is likely to resonate with any reader who has wished to jump out of their skin. –Publishers Weekly

A story about kids learning to feel good about themselves on their own terms is no small thing, and Jay is a low-key, lovely protagonist. Greene’s simple, bubbly color illustrations are friendly and accessible, matching the content perfectly. An earnest exploration of adolescence, recognizable and relevant to middle schoolers coming into their own. -School Library Journal

About the Author: Jarad Greene is a cartoonist originally from Lutz, Florida, who now lives in the curious village of White River Junction, Vermont. In addition to his own comics, Jarad works on staff at the Center for Cartoon Studies and has helped color many graphic novels for younger readers. He is also the author and illustrator of the graphic novel Scullion: A Dishwasher’s Guide to Mistaken Identity. Find him online at www.jaradgreene.com.

Review: My students and I really love middle school memoir (or memoir-esque) graphic novels–I cannot keep them on the shelf, and A-Okay is going to fall right in with that group. What makes a book like this so popular is that it takes something that students need to connect with or that they need to understand and shines a spotlight on a likeable character working their way through the challenge. A-Okay fits this perfectly with Jay’s wonderful character arc as he makes his way through 8th grade figuring out his passions, true friends, and sexual identity; with the focus on Jay’s acne which many middle schoolers deal with but may never have seen in a book; and with the very realistic middle school friendship drama that happens as childhood friends begin to become their own person. This engaging storyline along with Greene’s colorful, detailed, and distinct illustrations will make this a graphic novel I know will never be on my school library’s shelf.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation & Discussion Questions: HarperCollins created a Classroom Conversations page for A-Okay which includes a book talk and five topics with questions for group discussion:

It can also be accessed through the publisher’s A-Okay page.

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Middle school memoirs like Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm, Guts by Raina Telgemeier, New Kid by Jerry Craft, and The Dumbest Idea Ever by Jimmy Gownley

Recommended For:

**Thank you to SparkPoint Studios and the publisher for providing a copy for review!**