It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 12.28.15

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.

I hope everyone has enjoyed or is enjoying the holidays!  I've been able to find time and get in some wonderful reading.  
Two weeks ago I shared my favorite picture books, nonfiction picture books and middle grade fiction from this year.  Did you check out those posts?
This week I will share upcoming 2016 titles that I am excited to read.  Be sure to come back and check out the new titles!

Picture Books


My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
5/5 stars
We have English Language Learners at our school.  Most come to school knowing some, if not, quite a bit of English.  But every once in awhile, we've had students start school with zero English.  This book really puts it into kid perspective what that is like for the English Language Learner.  Well written.


Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago
5/5 stars
What a powerful book.  Wow.
I first heard of this title at the NCTE Children's Luncheon when it was named a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Title book.  
This tells the story of a young girl and her father who are clearly on the move, appearing to be looking for a better place to live, perhaps in America?  Why are they leaving?  Is it for a better life?  More money?  Do they live in a country of civil unrest?  This book will surely spark conversations.


Mother Goose Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
4/5 stars
I'm trying to control my picture book spending.  Books like this don't help.
What happens when an egg-loving grouchy bear picks the wrong eggs to eat for his new recipe?  
Young readers will laugh out loud at the silliness.
Older readers will get the subtle sarcasm and tongue in cheek lines.


Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood
4/5 stars
I am really enjoying this cranky cat and his holiday adventures.  Great read alouds for kids.

Graphic Novels


Flop to the Top! by Eleanor Davis
3/5 stars
I really enjoy the Toon Books graphic novels.  They make GNs accessible to the young readers.  Kids will enjoy seeing Floppy Dog's rise to stardom and laugh at the silliness of Floppy and his owner, Wanda.

Listened With My Ears


The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson
4/5 stars
I am a firm believer that the narrator makes or breaks an audio book.  
Kellee Moye has raved about this series and listening to it on audio.  I bought the book a long time ago, but just never got around to reading it.  My library doesn't have it on audio so I figured I was out of luck.  But then this year I got a teacher's card to my school district's public library and I was fortunate to find it there!
The narrator of this story is brilliant!  Katherine Kellgren is an extremely talented voice actress whose accents and dialogue make this book wonderfully fun to listen to.  Magic, gargoyles, enchantresses and pirates.  This book has something in it for everyone!  Encourage your library to get a copy if it doesn't already!

Middle Grade

I've been really lucky and I've read some great ARCs of upcoming books.  Many of them I'll share in their own separate post closer to the book's release date.  But for now, I'll leave you with this gem:


Booked by Kwame Alexander
4/5 stars
Mr. Alexander is amazing when writing about tweens and their struggles.  Add in some sports.  Write it in verse.  It's pure magic.
In Booked we meet Nick, a soccer star who is trying to get through the eighth grade.  Add in his parents getting divorced.  His mom, who he is closest to, moving away.  His dad, who he is not, makes him study words.  A best friend that is also a rival on the field.  And a girl who makes him tongue tied.  Meet a teacher librarian who knows how to pass on books and keep things interesting.  Throw in conflict when his dreams are altered.  You've got another amazing book for tween readers.  
Bravo, Mr. Alexander.


The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
5/5 stars
I've owned this book for a year now, and for whatever reason, I just hadn't gotten to it yet.  I'm so glad I put it on my #mustreadin2015 list because I made sure to get to it!  I had heard wonderful things about this book and my nerdy friends did not let me down.  
As a debut author, Dan Gemeinhart has shown he has writing chops.  
This is a book that has a tough topic - cancer and when is enough enough for a young kid. Gemeinhart explores this topic in a way that makes it accessible for young readers.  Our main character, Mark, will get in your heart and you'll cheer for him.  And through it all we meet champion dog, Beau.  Mark's best friend, Jesse, needs a special mention because everyone should have someone who believes so thoroughly in you. 
I enjoyed the organization of the book, with each chapter having its own 1/2 chapter where we get a glimpse of what is happening back at home while Mark is on his journey.

Currently Reading


Fenway and Hattie by Victoria Coe

What books are you wrapping up 2015 with?