Sunday, March 8, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 3.09.15

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.

Small amount of reading this week as I'm gearing up to head to WDW to run 19.3 "happy" miles through Magic Kingdom and EPCOT!  
Shoot.... I wrote that a couple of weeks ago.... then never had the time to hit the publish button.  And now it's a couple of weeks later.  I really became a "reading in the edges" reader lately.  So busy, but I read here and there. I finally have the time to share a few reading treasures!  Here's 3 weeks of reading!


Picture Books

Finding Spring
Finding Spring by Carin Berger
4/5 stars
I know how Maurice the cub feels in this books.  He's looking for signs of spring when he's supposed to be hibernating.  I think I'm supposed to be hibernating until spring gets here!  Too much winter.

Tap the Magic Tree
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson
4/5 stars
I know a bunch of kids are going to be excited to see this book after loving Press Here and Mix It Up!  Glad I found this book through other Monday bloggers!

Red: A Crayon's Story
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
5/5 stars
Loved this story!  I wasn't sure what to expect - was it going to be similar to The Day the Crayon's Quit?  This is an original story that teaches so much.  It's going to be a great story to share and talk about.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
Up in the Garden Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
5/5 stars
Over and Under the Snow is a book I enjoy sharing in the winter time.  There is always amazement and interest in what really lives in the snow.  I was looking forward to this follow up, and it didn't disappoint.  Although, now I'm really going to clean my garden vegetables a bit more!  We were fortunate enough to Skype with Kate Messner this week and my favorite author's story from this book is Kate sharing how she would lay down in her garden to get close to the dirt and see and hear what was happening!

Special Delivery
Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead
5/5 stars
I must've had an interesting voice going when I read the post master's voice because my daughter said she pictured him having tattoos under his shirt!  That's the beauty of read alouds.  I love what they can spark in little minds.  This book begs to be read aloud and shared.  It's fun and Matthew Cordell's illustrations kept me going back to pages.

A Poem in Your Pocket (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series)
A Poem in Your Pocket by Margaret McNamara
4/5 stars
I think young readers are going to enjoy this book, but I loved the ideas it subtly showed - hanging pockets of poems around school.  This will be a great book to use in April!

Informational Texts

What's Great about Illinois?
What's Great About Illinois? by Kristin Marciniak
3/5 stars
Do you have a primary or elementary class that needs books to study the states?  This new series from Lerner will be a great addition.  Basic information, not a lot of extra thrown in which is good for young readers.  Newer photographs and good informational text features.



Middle Grade

The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy, #3)
The Shadow King by Jennifer Nielson
5/5 stars
I'm really going to miss Sage and everyone.  He's turned into one of my favorite characters.  I always enjoyed the spunk, creative thinking and goodness in his character.

The Terrible Two
The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
4/5 stars
This is going to be an easy series to sell to kids.  Miles and Niles are fun, witty and make you chuckle.  
I've seen Mack and Jory banter together a couple of times and it made this book come alive.  I can hear their voices in Miles and Niles.  The back and forth, the good guy/bad guy.  I think the two of them should be the narrators for the audio book!

Mark of the Thief (Mark of the Thief, #1)
Mark of the Thief by Jennifer Nielsen
4/5 stars
I enjoyed the first book to the new series by Nielsen.  It's a new setting, new problems, new twists, new characters.  I can see this new protagonist, Nic, being friends with Sage.


Adult

First Frost (Waverley Family #2)
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
4/5 stars 
I love Allen's books.  The happy magic, the magic that feels right.  All of her books have some, but this one is probably my favorite.  I loved the characters, especially the teenage girl, Bay.  If you're looking for some light, heartwarming adult reads, check out Sarah Addison Allen.

Currently Reading

Listen, Slowly
Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai
I am loving this book. Mai's voice is spot on.
On Deck

The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold
and
I'm starting the next installment of Jeffrey Archer's Clifton Chronicles, Mightier Than the Sword.  
Lots of other kid lit in the pile.  Not sure what will be first!

Happy Reading!


5 comments:

  1. I'm really looking forward to reading Special Delivery. Ive been to a few events here in Michigan with Phil and Erin Stead and now that I've gotten to understand their process and their respect for children's literature, I will read everything they publish.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm looking forward to Special Delivery too. I was able to look through Finding Spring this weekend--thought the art was lovely. I've been avoiding Red, worried that it would suffer by comparison with The Day the Crayons Quit. Glad to know it's quite a different story.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We are loving Listen, Slowly too. Good luck on your race!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've got to order the new Thanhha Lai book, sure it will be good. Thanks for all the new picture books, have read Finding Spring, but not the others. They all sound good, Michele-many good ones already coming!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! This was a crazy week for you. I admire your skills. To be honest, I was looking for a "misery loves company" moment, though. I thought you said on our blog that you haven't had much time lately! Haha. Kidding, kidding. Thank you for sharing these books with us. :) :)

    ReplyDelete