Monday, February 9, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2.09.15

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.

Picture Books

Glamourpuss
Glamourpuss by Sarah Weeks
4/5 stars
Glamourpuss is a diva among cats, but what happens when the diva of dogs shows up?  After some jealous moments, Glamourpuss learns you can be a diva and a friend.  Cute story.

Just a Duck?
Just a Duck? by Carin Bramsen
3/5 stars
Young readers will enjoy this story.  The illustrations are beautiful.

I Don't Like Koala
I Don't Like Koala by Sean Ferrell
4/5 stars
I read a copy of this book at ALA.  It is very funny... because the koala is creepy!  Kind of reminded me of a creepy Furby!
Publishes April 14

Everyone Loves Bacon
Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly DiPucchio
5/5 stars
Love love this book.  So many laugh out loud moments!
Publishes September 1

Orion and the Dark
Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett
5/5 stars
Gorgeous book and heartwarming story.  I think if you like Beekle, you will like this one!  So glad Jen Vincent had me read this book!
Publishes March 24

Product Details
Little Elliot, Big Family by Mike Curato
5/5 stars
Dang, I love that little elephant!
Publishes October 6


Transitional Chapter Books

Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page
Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant
4/5 stars
I have no idea how I missed this book last year.  Thrilled that Mr. Putter got some recognition by the Geisel committee!  This is a great book in the series and it carries some serious book love within the story!

Eva's Treetop Festival (Owl Diaries #1)
Owl Diaries: Eva's Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott
3/5 stars
I love what Scholastic Branches series is doing for young readers.  While not being the most amazing contribution to children's literature, it is giving young, transitional readers something to read!  Bright illustrations and told as a diary, young readers will enjoy meeting Eva.  


Middle Grade

Stella by Starlight
Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper
5/5 stars
Loved this story for several reasons
1.  It is wonderful historical fiction.  The setting of the story is important.  The social unjust that occurred in the 1930s, including the Ku Klux Klan, are extremely important to the story.  But what I love about good historical fiction, is that it doesn't take over the story.  This book was no exception.
2.  I love the relationship between Stella and her mom.  When I met Sharon Draper last weekend, she told me it was a great mother-daughter read aloud.  Now I know why!  The love and compassion and respect between Stella and her mom is heartwarming.
3.  I love watching Stella grow as a writer.  I understand Stella's feelings and worries and concerns.  I love seeing her work and try at something that didn't feel comfortable to her.
Favorite lines:
pg. 180 "Stella wondered how silence could be so loud."
pg. 193 "Is it possible to be scared and brave at the same time?"
pg. 201 "Sometimes bravery is just doin' what you gotta do."
the line that made me LOL pg. 240 "It's colder than a billy goat's butt today."
And my favorite part.  Stella is typing her "newspaper" (grammatical and spelling mistakes are taken from the text.  The scratched out errors from the text have been omitted here):
pg. 263-264 "Some people have the gift of writing i think I must of been sleep when that gift was given out.  I wonder how people who write real good know what to say.  Im not even sure why I keep writing.  Maybe I should just stick to reading.  I like the way books smell.  I gues that is strange.  The pages feel good as I turn them."

Currently Reading

The Truth About Twinkie Pie
The Truth About Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

On Deck

Girls Like Us by Gail Giles
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John

What are you reading?

13 comments:

  1. I have GOT to stop reading picture books! Stella by Starlight had its moments, but I keep getting it confused with another similar book. Twinkie Pie... a bit sad. That said, I LOVED Girls Like Us! Not middle school appropriate, but Giles always tells such a good story!

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  2. You got quite a few great ones! I had to add a few to my to read list!. I've read The Terrible Two and enjoyed it!

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  3. Hi Michele, Yay-a new Little Elliot book! Loved the first one. I also enjoyed Stella by Starlight. Is Everyone Loves Bacon a picture book?

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  4. Everyone Loves Bacon--now there's a title I can get behind! The Glamourpuss title looks like a must-read for me as well. The new Mr Putter and Tabby left me cold, which made me sad, because it's one of my favorite series. Planning to reread sometime this week and hope I connect more.

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  5. I received a copy of Glamorpuss at ALA so I'm looking forward to reading that one. I can't wait to read I Don't Like Koala. I thumbed through the illustrations at the S&S booth and I was in love.

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  6. I reviewed Stella, too - and felt the same enthusiasm!

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  7. I need to get Everyone Loves Bacon for my daughter, a 'huge' bacon lover and otherwise not a meat eater-lots of teasing there! Thanks for the shout out for all these new picture books, look good & will be on my list, Michele.

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  8. Everyone Loves Bacon sounds like a fun one. I just bought Stella by Starlight this past week and am looking forward to reading it. I'm jealous you met Sharon Draper. I missed her somehow as I ran around the exhibit area.

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  9. Bacon!!! Want to read that!
    I also need to read both Eliot titles. I never read the first though it got a lot of love.
    I look forward to reading Stella by Starlight. LOVE Draper.

    Happy reading this week! :)

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  10. You have turned me on to so many fabulous looking books again. I wish I didn't have to wait so long for them. I'm especially looking forward to Everyone Loves Bacon, Little Elliot, Big Family , and Orion and the Dark.

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  11. I got Glamourpuss at NCTE, and I am ashamed to say I haven't read it yet! I am surely going to read it within the next few weeks. It looks like good fun. :)

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  12. Hearing lots of great reviews of Stella! I am excited to see the new Elliot book. Mr Putter is one of my favorite series. I adore anything written by Cynthia Rylant. Do you know her Poppleton series? LOVE these books! Thanks for the great titles - I've added Everyone Loves Bacon and Big Family to my list!

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  13. Stella by Starlight sounds like a lovely, ruminative kind of read. I know friends who would absolutely enjoy Everyone Loves Bacon. I loved Little Big Elliott and look forward to reading the next book in Mike Curato's series. :)

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