It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/30/14

Head over and meet Jen & Kellee at www.teachmentortexts.com and www.unleashingreaders.com for more on this awesome meme. There are many other

"It's Monday" links.

I started a new tradition this past week. I checked out a book stack, of 10 books, to enjoy. This week they were wordless picture books or picture books. It was a fun week! My favorite of the week was Emily's Blue Period by Cathleen Daly. This is my favorite picture book of 2014. Such a meaningful story. I also really loved Journey, by Aaron Becker - a book I had not read, even though I should have long ago. Special shout to Peter Brown, author of Children Make Terrible Pets and many other great books. He's one talented guy!

Books I Read This Past Week...

Children Make Terrible Pets, by @itspeterbrown

(5 out of 5 stars)

Peter Brown writes the most hilarious, wonderful books. I so enjoyed Children Make Terrible Pets and look forward to reading You Will Be My Friend! Who can resist Lucy - a bear with a cute bow in her hair and tutu? 

Journey by Aaron Becker, @storybreathing

(5 out of 5 stars)

I never thought I would be one to really enjoy wordless picture books, but I have discovered how wonderful wordless picture books are and I would like to use them more in my classroom. I know many of my Nerdy Book Club friends do! This book would be #1 on top of the pile I would like to use in class. I think that as we get older, it's easy to lose our childhood imagination. Books like this remind me how important it is to hold onto to imagination. Truly a magical book - pick it up if you haven't. 

Emily's Blue Period by Cathleen Daly

(5 out of 5 stars) 

Some books just touch you. This is one of them. By far my favorite picture book, and maybe book, of the year so far. Being a child of divorce, this book really connected with me. Emily goes through her blue period - following after Pablo Picasso (Emily is a great artist if you didn't guess), which relates to the struggles she is having in her life. I just loved how Emily grew throughout the book and of course, the ending was wonderful. This would be a great book to read aloud to a class and I plan on it next year! 

Other Books I Read This Past Week...

Owen by Kevin Henkes (5 out of 5 stars)

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (5 out of 5 stars)

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle (4 out of 5 stars)

A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (4 out of 5 stars)

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett (5 out of 5 stars)

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall (4 out of 5 stars)

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett K. Krosoczka (4 out of 5 stars)

                                         

                                       What are you reading, friends?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/23/14

Head over and meet Jen & Kellee at www.teachmentortexts.com and www.unleashingreaders.com for more on this awesome meme. There are many other

"It's Monday" links.

I read a lot of good books this week - some I should have read a long time ago! How had I never read Hound Dog True, Frindle, or Counting by 7s? There is never a shortage of wonderful books to discover - new and old.

Books I Read This Past Week...

Frindle by Andrew Clements 

(5 out of 5 stars)

Nothing is better than going to The Echo - my favorite brunch spot - and getting my favorite tuna sandwich and reading. Frindle was an enjoyable read. I loved everything about it - the unique plot, the intelligent (yet fun) main character Nick and of course the positive message about teachers and words. Mrs. Granger is one of my new top favorite teacher characters in a book. I have always recommended this book to my students, knowing by word of mouth that is was a winner. But, now I know why. 

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, @HGoldbergSloan

(5 out of 5 stars)

Willow Chance is a character that you cannot help but love. She endures tragedy, but comes out on the other side with a one of a kind family that I as the reader never expected. I loved the quirks of Willow's character and kids will easily grow to like her. I am so happy to have this is my classroom to book talk and recommend.

Bonus points for a book that almost makes me want to garden...almost.

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban, @lindaurbanbooks

(5 out of 5 stars) 

How did this book not receive a Newbery Award or Newbery Honor? I demand a recount! This stands as one of my all-time favorite books and I feel like it became one of my favorites early on - I simply just fell in love with this story. I often think of writing a book with some of the seed ideas I have collected over the years. Hound Dog True makes me feel like I could actually write that book someday. This is a simple story of bravery and friendship, but no less powerful and meaningful than books with more expansive plots. The character of Uncle Potluck is unforgettable. 

Imogene's Antlers by David Small

(5 out of 5 stars)

This was just the cutest, most playful book. I loved the character of Imogene and how she just wakes up with antlers. The people in her life react in different ways. I especially loved the mother, who fainted several times. This is a classic, beautifully illustrated book. Take a moment and check it out of the library!  

Other Books I Read This Past Week...

The Hummingbirds' Day by Harry Allard (1 out of 5 stars)

This and That Bread by Joan Ellis (3 out of 5 stars)

                                         

                                       What are you reading, friends?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/16/14

Head over and meet Jen & Kellee at www.teachmentortexts.com and www.unleashingreaders.com for more on this awesome meme. There are many other

"It's Monday" links.

I read this week, but not as much as I thought I would! I am including a movie I watched this week because it kind of counts - I watched the movie version of Brent Hartinger's book Geography Club. I liked it. It would be a perfect movie to do a book comparison with - there were so many differences from the novel! Older students could have a field day comparing and contrasting the two. 

Movies I Watched this Past Week...

Geography Club, based on the book by Brent Hartinger, @brenthartinger

**Remember folks - we need diverse books (and diverse movies) available to our youth. Follow the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks on Twitter and follow the Twitter account, @diversebooks. 

Books I Read This Past Week...

The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio, @rjpalacio

(4 out of 5 stars)

This is one of those books I sat down with, could NOT put down, and completely finished within an hour. I needed to know this story and loved how R.J. Palacio intricately weaved the plot to connect with what occurred in Wonder, but also how she shed new light on a character I simply despised - Julian (oh, and his mother, Melissa)! I won't give away the plot, but after reading this, you may be surprised to find yourself empathizing a bit more with Julian. R.J. Palacio's writing is crisp, and reliably "teen" as ever. Every year, when I read Wonder aloud to my students, Julian is the hated character - the epitome of an antagonist. But, their dislike of the character never stops them from wondering why R.J. Palacio did not include a Julian chapter in the original novel. They are very curious to know what was going through Julian's mind during these same events. Wonder no longer! This will be an equally satisfying read for them as it was for me.

Loving Now...

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, @HGoldbergSloan

                                       

                                       What are you reading, friends?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6/9/14

Head over and meet Jen & Kellee at www.teachmentortexts.com and www.unleashingreaders.com for more on this awesome meme. There are many other

"It's Monday" links.

I have been reading on average one to two books a week during this school year, which is not the best average. I hope to increase my reading now that I am on summer vacation. My plan is to read more than 42 books to beat my last summer's number - can I do it?

Books I Read this Past Week...

Geography Club by Brent Hartinger

(4 out of 5 stars)

This was a book that I enjoyed most for the story and positive message for adolescents who may be struggling with their sexual identity. This book is a must to have on middle school and high school bookshelves. Russell, the main character, feels he is alone in the world. But, he finds out the opposite and helps create a support group for other kids like him. 

While many positive advancements have been made in the acceptance of LGBTQ individuals, books like this are still needed for students who may not be in such a supportive environment, either at school or at home. 

For example, in Cincinnati, Catholic school teachers were asked to sign a teaching contract that details prohibited practices such as gay "lifestyles," out-of-wedlock relationships, abortions and fertility methods that go against Catholic teachings. Many teachers are leaving their jobs in protest of this teaching contract, but some simply can't. Cincinnati Catholic Teaching Contract

In another example, Twitter friend and amazing author Tim Federle (author of Better Nate Than Ever and 5, 6, 7, Nate) tweeted a message today explaining that a school had canceled his school visit because of their concerns over his book. Shocking that a school would do this. As Tim said, we need diverse books. Didn't realize it, but there is a Twitter account celebrating diverse books, @diversebooks. Check it out.

I also read...

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix 

(5 out of 5 stars)

This is one of the books I had never read, but that my students recommended to me. They were right - what an awesome book, with lots of twists and turns. I have always been a big fan of Haddix's Shadow Children sequence, so I am glad I finally read this book.

What are you reading, friends?