It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 11.13.17

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.

Last Week's Adventures

I love this time of year when everyone's Mock lists and groups start!  I shared our school's Mock Caldecott list last week.

Needing more nonfiction picture books for your #classroombookaday? Then check out what the favorites are from this 4th grade class.   I also asked students about their opinions and biases of nonfiction reading are.

I hope you've enjoyed the "If You Like This, Try These" series for kids who are on the #road2reading.  Last week was the final post, have you read these transitional chapter books?

Picture Books


Three Balls of Wool (Can Change the World)
written by Henriqueta Cristina
illustrated by Yara Kono
translated by Lyn Miller-Lachmann
If you've been collecting titles about refugees, this will be another one you want to add.  Written generally, but through the notes in the back, you'll see this is a story about Portuguese refugees who fled the country during the late 1960s to find freedom.  It was a hard time to find freedom anywhere, as depicted by this book.  Families had to try and find their own ways to show any kind of individuality.
This book was published in partnership with Amnesty International and has some interesting  letters and notes included in the book.


Take Your Time: A Tale of Harriet, the Galápagos Tortoise
written by Eva Furrow and Donna Jo Napoli
illustrated by Laurel Molk
I'm glad a fellow blogger shared this book because it really is lovely.  I related to this book so much as I rush to try and get everything done.  It all gets done quickly and I feel like I rarely do anything as well as I want, or enjoy what I'm doing to the fullest.
Harriet likes to enjoy life and do things slowly, yet with purpose.  Her friends tell her she is missing all the fast things in life so with some help, Harriet tries a few.  Great discussions about trying new things yet staying true to yourself can be had with this picture book!  Beautiful illustrations by Laurel Molk!


Read the Book, Lemmings!
written by Ame Dyckman
illustrated by Zachariah OHora
This is one of those books that is funnier when you read it out loud.  It's the reactions of the audience that makes you love the book even more.  Silly, illiterate lemmings, who even once  they are taught, find a way to continue to be exasperating!


Middle Grade


R is for Rebel
by J. Anderson Coats
You'll want to have this book on your radar this February.  A historical fantasy, the world building in this book is amazing.  While you can see pieces of history within this book - regimes rising up and taking over, groups being silenced and punished - Coats has created new ruling governments, traditions and cultures.  A book about rising up, staying true to yourself and new leadership.  Will be an interesting read for older middle grade readers.


Wonder Woman at Super Hero High
by Lisa Yee
I've had this book for awhile and the students have seen it in my pile and have grown antsy that I hadn't read it yet.  Any time the characters are in high school I grow a little leary about giving it to 3rd and 4th grade readers.  Never fear, this is a perfect middle grade novel, especially for those who love their Super Heroes!  As someone who does not know a lot about the DC Comics, there were certainly characters I was unfamiliar with, but it didn't stop my understanding of the story.  I really liked this first book in the series and am looking forward to reading and sharing the others!

Currently Reading


Princess Juniper of the Hourglass
by Ammi-Joan Paquette
I'm excited to get back into this one because I've heard such wonderful things about this series.  I got this book as a Christmas present a couple of years ago and started it, but deadlines came up for other things and I never got back to it.  Now it's time!


I'm so excited because some of my favorite weeks of the year are coming up!  This week is is NCTE week and I'm so happy to be catching up with friends I don't often get to see!  NCTE is a conference that rejuvenates me and gets me excited to start the next half of the year.  I can't wait to find some new book titles and talk books with friends!  Are you going to be at NCTE this year?  I hope we run into each other!  I'll be presenting on Friday from 12:30-1:45 in Rooms 120/121.  I'll be presenting along with some of the authors I've been currently spotlighting:  Jennifer Ziegler, J. Anderson Coats, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Joan Paquette and Lisa Yee.  Stop by!
And then the week after is Thanksgiving Week!  It's one of my favorite weeks because it's filled with family and tradition!
I'll be taking off next week from blogging while I enjoy some family time.  I'll be back the following week with some end of the year posts, including My Favorites from 2017 and what to look forward to in 2018!