Monday, June 13, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 6.13.16

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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.

I always start writing this post earlier in the week and add to it throughout the week.  I couldn't post this without saying that while I'm celebrating a week of reading, my heart is also with the people in Orlando.  Being in Florida right now, it's been scary how many times this state has been in the news as of late.  But whether I'm in Florida or home, this senseless violence has to stop.  I hope the books we are reading help give this generation tools to help shape this world without violence, censorship or hate.

Last Week's Adventures

I shared a new picture book biography on Nadia Comaneci.  I think this book will be in demand this fall after the summer Olympics!

I reviewed Nora Raleigh Baskin's upcoming book Nine, Ten HERE.  Be sure to check it out because it was written from a different standpoint - the days leading up to 9.11.

I'm spotlighting some great new early readers.  Last week's was Salina Yoon's Duck, Duck, Porcupine.


Picture Books

Good Night, Baddies
Good Night, Baddies by Deborah Underwood

4/5 stars
I always knew the evil villains had a heart of gold!  Cute story.

There Is a Tribe of Kids
There Is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith
4/5 stars
The standout point for me were the illustrations.
This would be a good book to use at the beginning of the year to talk about community.

Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus
 Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus by Edward Hemingway
4/5 stars
I may or may not recognize some of the characteristics of the Grumpasaurus in me....  This would be a fun book to use in the beginning of the year to talk about character ed - how to calm down, how to approach a friend when they are having a problem.

Douglas, You Need Glasses!
Douglas, You Need Glasses! by Ged Adamson
4/5 stars
This would be a good book to use in primary classrooms when many kids are prescribed glasses.  Would also be good just to show students why kids need glasses.  

Teachers Rock!
Teachers Rock by Todd Parr
4/5 stars
This book is about Nerdy teachers everywhere!

Bring Me a Rock!
Bring Me a Rock by Daniel Miyares
4/5 stars
I thought this book was going to go one direction but it didn't.  It would be fun to use with theme.  Another good one to use for community and treating everyone equally.

Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks
Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks by Corey Rosen Schwartz

3/5 stars
I love Corey's fractured tales.  Another fun one to add to your collection.

A Whale in the Bathtub
A Whale in the Bathtub by Kylie Westaway

3/5 stars
Use this one for silly problem solving.  Pair it with Joyce Wan's The Whale in my Swimming Pool.


Transitional Chapter Books

Spunky Tells All
Spunky Tells All by Ann Cameron

3/5 stars
Spunky gets his own book!  Written by the author of the Julian and Huey books, Spunky the dog gets his chance to tell his thoughts.  Cute book for our younger readers who are ready for chapters.  
I enjoyed the dog perspective, but if you're looking for a book that really captures the dog's perspective, check out Victoria Coe's Fenway and Hattie!

Currently Reading

 The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs
The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Spring by Betty G. Birney
It's a sweet story but what I'm really loving are the illustrations by Matt Phelan!

On Deck

This Is the Story of You
This is the Story of You by Beth Kephart

Happy Reading, everyone!


10 comments:

  1. Lane Smith's new picturebook seems to be receiving a great deal of love. Really looking forward to finding it!

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  2. What a lot of books you've been reading, Michele! Great round-up! And thank you for the Fenway and Hattie shout-out!

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  3. Aren't Phelan's illustrations in Seven Wonders terrific? I really liked that book. Now I'm off to research Fenway and Hattie, which I'm not familiar with. I loved the illustrations in the Lane Smith too. Really not sure I'd share the book in any of my classes.... hard to figure out how it might fit with what I do. But a wow to the pix!

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  4. Thanks for sharing that first part. What a terrible thing it is for all of us. I'll look for This Is A Story of You, and the Seven Wonders-don't know it! Thanks, Michele.

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  5. I just read There is a Tribe of Kids too. I am waiting on Good Night Baddies. You have some others here like Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus and Spunky Tells All that I hope my library has. Thanks.

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  6. Oh yes, I can relate to the Grumpasaurus field guide, I think I might have been one this Monday morning.... ;)

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  7. Our thoughts are with everyone in Orlando - Such a terrible tragedy.

    We are going to order Bring me a Rock and There is a Tribe of Kids - Thanks for the recommendations!

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  8. I love Beth Kephart, and I wasn't aware of This is the Story of You. I am excited to hear what you think. That will help me know whether I need to push it forward on my list! :) :)

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  9. All of these picture books look great. I really like Daniel Miyares. He has such a delightfully weird sense of humor. This morning, before school, I had a seven year old come to talk about Orlando. He was thinking that he could protect himself from someone with a gun. It was just heartbreaking. We ended up the conversation by talking about the power of love and that love will always be stronger than hate. I think that mostly the next generation (at least my sons and the students I work with) are much more accepting than my generation ever was.

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  10. I am looking forward to the newest Schwartz book! Happy reading this week :)

    Being here in Orlando right now is so tough! Our community is hurting so much; I cannot believe that it happened here! :(

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