It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 10.27.14

This weekly post comes from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers.  It's a great source to find new books to use with your students.

Another week and weekend has come and gone and I haven't had any time for writing.  Putting this together quick on Sunday night which means not everything will be covered.  But, here are some highlights from the week!

Picture Books


Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood
4/5 stars
I loved Easter Cat and Santa Cat is just as fun.  I think if this series is new to you, it almost makes more sense to start with Easter Cat, but Santa Cat can be read on its own.  I think it's a great book to use as a mentor text for point of view and to show how illustrations can tell the story.  Who is the narrator in the story?  And use it just because it's a fun book!


This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne
4/5 stars
I really didn't know which way this book was going to go before I started - and it took me by surprise!  It went in a direction I did not expect but had me laughing right away!  Just a fun book.


Rex Wrecks It by Ben Clanton
4/5 stars
Really great book for the preK/Kg crowd.  I love the problem solving the characters take on, I think it provides for great conversation!  And the unicorn-rabbit??? My daughter was in character heaven :)


It's a Book by Lane Smith
If you haven't read this book, it's a must read for Nerdy readers!  Hilarious, but entirely inappropriate for children.  Older readers will get the humor.  "Happy Gilmore" enthusiasts may as well!

Informational Texts

          
Seedlings series
animal stories by Kate Riggs
I've covered this series before, but have recently started using it with students.  I love this series for readers who need accessible nonfiction texts.  The photographs are fantastic - engaging and eye-appealing for young readers.  They don't shy away from the grotesque!  I wish there were more nonfiction features and additional information provided.  Even though they are "earlier" readers, I think there could be a little bit more done with the books.  I just preordered some titles in the series - great animal stories in our future!  I noticed they will also be printing titles in the transportation family, including "Bullet trains", kids will love this!

Young Adult


The Young Elites by Marie Lu
4/5 stars
I'm a fan of Lu's "Legend" series, but I didn't know if she would be able to part from that genre.  While still in the fantasy genre, Lu's newest series departs from the dysopian society to one that would have existed centuries ago.  New characters, new setting and new plot, but same fantastic writing style.  Great new story for the YA crowd.  Due to the content, I would recommend for a mature middle grade reader.

Currently Reading and on deck


Still reading El Deafo.  So many library books to get through, I didn't finish this one yet.  I love what I have read so far!  
I ended up abandoning Garth Stein's newest, I just couldn't get into it by page 50 (my abandoning point).  I may return to it one day, but have too many in my stacks that I want to get to!  
Will start Jodi Picoult's newest this week.  Also got The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler.  Hoping to get that read and out to the kids this week too!

Happy Reading, everyone!