It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 10.22.18

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

My switch to NCTE's Mock Orbis Pictus

A new book to the INFAMOUS RATSOS series - PROJECT FLUFFY


PIcture Books


A Parade of Elephants
by Kevin Henkes
I had a sneak peak at this book at ALA and marveled over its beauty - gorgeous palette of colors and simplistic story.  One that will capture the imagination of an early reader.  This is going on our Mock Geisel, for sure!


Unstinky
by Andy Rash
A book about celebrating your differences.  A stink bug just can't stink - instead he produces lovely smells like flowers and new car smell :)  But he discovers his talent lies in.... dancing!
A bit didactic but because of the silly humor, young readers will definitely giggle!


All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah - Based on the classic books by Sydney Taylor
written by Emily Jenkins
illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
I vaguely remember the All-of-a-Kind Family stories from when I was a child.  I think my grandparents had the books at their house and I started one when I was there but I don't remember finishing them (they also had many Nancy Drew books and I was infatuated with them for a time!).  
This picture book is based on the All-of-a-Kind Family, but you don't have to be familiar with the stories in order to enjoy this book.
A story about family, traditions and helping, this reminded me of the Jasmine Toguchi books!  A lovely story to add to your holiday collection.

Informational Texts


What Can a Citizen Do?
written by Dave Eggers
illustrated by Shawn Harris
I think this is a book that is perfect for close reading.  Since it's a shorter text - a line or two per page, I hope classrooms take the time to really think about some of the lines and talk about and discuss what the words mean - for them and for the greater community.


Sun! One in a Billion
written by Stacy McAnulty
illustrated by Stevie Lewis
McAnulty follows up Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years with another humorous text about the Sun.  Told in the voice of the Sun, we get a first handed account about the Sun (yes, with a capital S!) and all of the important jobs it has.  Told in a humorous voice, readers will enjoy the story and learn some facts along the way!  Important backmatter included.


Middle Grade


Scar Island
by Dan Gemeinhart
This week I read a couple of books from my never ending TBR piles.  I choose Scar Island because I had the opportunity to have dinner with author Dan Gemeinhart this past week and it was one of his I had not read yet. 
I can definitely see handing this book off to a reader who is looking for an action packed novel about survival, especially when the conditions aren't ideal.
I always have a tough time reading books when kids are mean, being bullies.  This one certainly has it's moments, but I'm glad I read this story finally!


The House That Lou Built
by Mae Respicio
Another book that has been on the TBR for sometime.  I really enjoyed Lou - a diverse character (half Filipino, half white) who is figuring out who she is, trying to figure out how to stay with loved ones instead of moving states away, and doing what she loves - building homes!  I love the integration of architecture and learning about the different types of homes.  Great middle grade read, I think readers will enjoy Lou's voice.

Currently Reading


Book Scavenger
by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
A book I've owned since it was published, it took me to putting it on my #mustread list to get to it.  Glad I'm finally there!

Happy Reading this week!