This weekly post comes from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts
It's a great source to find new books to use with your students.
Last Week's Adventures
Build your nonfiction stacks with these new books and soon to be published books!
Some new early readers for your primary readers.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Maria Gianferrari's upcoming Operation Rescue Dog. A sweet story about a girl giving a rescue dog a forever home!
Picture Books
Good Rosie!
written by Kate DiCamillo
illustrated by Harry Bliss
A sweet story about making friends. Although the characters are dogs, the lessons can certainly transcend to humans!
The Rough Patch
by Brian Lies
This story will definitely pull at your heart strings. A fox does everything with his faithful and loyal dog... until they don't. It's a tears-inducing page seeing the fox bent over his best friend who is laying still in his dog bed. The feelings of grief and anger and sadness are witnessed and the reader feels the emotions through the page.
I think this is a very realistic portrayal of grief. Definitely a book to have on hand for when a reader needs it most.
Loretta's Gift
written by Pat Zietlow Miller
illustrated by Alea Marley
Add this to your list of gift books.
A new baby arrives and his cousin dotes over him, but she feels like she needs to give him a gift, like everyone else has. She learns that the gift of her time and love and affection are just what he needs.
Would be a good gift for a soon to be older sibling, as well.
Middle Grade
The Endling: The Last
by Katherine Applegate
I hope you had a chance to read my initial dilemma with this book. Here it is if you would like to read more about my struggle with DRCs.
I really really ended up liking this book. It's so different from the Applegate novels we've come to love. Sometimes you have to forget what you love about an author to appreciate the something different they've done.
A fantastic quest book, but readers have to learn about new species, which can be confusing. An unlikely group of friends come together to help a friend, who is an endling - the last of her species. What follows is a quest, where each person learns a bit more about themselves and each change a bit, probably for the better.
This book certainly set itself up for book two, which I am not anxiously awaiting!
Currently Reading
Merci Suárez Changes Gears
by Meg Medina
I am loving this story but especially because it takes place in my home #2 - West Palm Beach and it's surrounding areas. I love recognizing streets and places Merci visits.
Have you ever had a book whose setting you love??
It was a slow middle grade reading week for me and I think this week will be another one. What did you read this week?
I loved Merci Suarez. I enjoyed the setting, too. A wonderful family, too. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, takes place in one of my favorite places (Miami) so I loved the setting of that one.
ReplyDeleteI loved Endling. I’m glad you ended up connecting with it.
ReplyDeleteSettings can be so tricky. Kids often assume they're real places, and sometimes they just aren't! I like basing places on real ones, but you do need to get the details right or somebody is bound to call you on it. :) I'm dying to read Merci Suarez so thanks for that reminder.
ReplyDeleteSo excited to see Merci here - I am just starting this one!
ReplyDeleteI need to find The Rough Patch, sounds lovely. And I'm glad you're enjoying Merci Suarez. I liked it a lot! Fun that you're recognizing the places in it.
ReplyDeleteI need to give Endling a chance since I think I have the same hesitations you did. Merci Suarez is popping up all over.
ReplyDeleteI just requested Good Rosie! and Loretta's Gift from the library. Can't wait to get ahold of them. The Rough Patch is definitely an emotional read, have the tissues ready. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you ended up liking Endling. I agree it's quite different from her other novels. And I'm eagerly anticipating The Rough Patch and Good Rosie! Thanks for sharing, Michele!
ReplyDeleteWe loved Good Rosie - It is great to see a graphic novel for younger readers.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading No Fixed Address which is set in Vancouver where I live. I love being able to recognize the different places and schools. I'm looking forward to reading The Rough Patch and Merci Suárez Changes Gears.
ReplyDeleteI loved Endling! Also, I am looking forward to book 2. Thanks for all your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI love when a story is set in a setting that I love! It happens rarely because I lived in CT most of my life, but I am hopeful that it will happen more often now that I am CO! I am glad you are enjoying the book! :)
ReplyDeleteExcited to read Good Rosie, and I LOVED The Rough Patch--such a gorgeous and moving book on so many levels!!
ReplyDeleteGlad to read that you eventually ended up loving Endling. I am learning to honour the voices of the authors I am reading - that while maybe the story is not to my personal liking, or the characters unlikeable - there is something in the narrative that still stands out, and may prove to be meaningful to readers other than myself. :)
ReplyDeleteGood Rosie! - what a great new book for young readers. We hope Kate DiCamillo turns it into a series. Merci Suarez was one of our favorites. Right now we are reading - Winnie's Great War by Lindsay Mattick.
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