Monday, September 26, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 9.26.16

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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.

Last Week's Adventures

A book that inspires us to think about stories and maybe thinking of our own - A Child of Books.

A review of Cloud and Wallfish - go behind the Iron Curtain, and get a glimpse of history.

This amazing book will inspire growth mindset, makerspace, and a love of play - The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring.

Picture Books

We Found A Hat
We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
5/5 stars
There is something beautiful about that first reading experience of a book.  Especially one that you have been anticipating for a long time.  While you often spot something new in subsequent readings, or think about things in a new way, you never really get to have that first reading experience again.
Because of this, I'm not going to review or tell you anything about Jon Klassen's final book in his Hat trilogy.  Go have your first experience.
Publishes on October 11th.  Thank you to Candlewick for my advanced copy.

Dragon Was Terrible

Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio
4/5 stars
I got this at the library, but it's one I need to own. It's not a book that I'm going to necessarily use as part of curriculum, but it's a book I'm going to share with everyone because it's so funny!  Perfect for read aloud.  Perfect to hook kids into reading.  Perfect to just enjoy the story.


Leave Me Alone
Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol
5/5 stars
Another library book that I had to own because it is so stinkin' funny!  I totally know that feeling of wanting to just be left alone to finish whatever it is you want to get done.  I love the lengths the character goes to!

The Water Princess
The Water Princess by Susan Verde
4/5 stars
I hope this book serves as a "door" and encourages students and teachers to become active in doing and serving the community and the world.
Powerful message.  Beautiful illustrations.

King Baby
King Baby by Kate Beaton
4/5 stars
This is another one I may need to purchase!  It's funny and silly and I know students will love it, probably even relate to it!  Babies are the king... or queen!

Graphic Novels

Mighty Jack

Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke
5/5 stars
Great take on the familiar "Jack and the Beanstalk".  Definitely it's own story and I'm anxious to see how Hatke will continue it.  Yeah, there's a cliffhanger.

Middle Grade

Ghost
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
5/5 stars
Dude can write!  I am amazed at Reynolds way of writing books for different ages.  And being able to pull different emotions out of his readers.  There are times where I'm laughing, there are times where I'm in awe of some prolific statement, there are times when I am emotional for the characters.
Great upper middle grade novel that I am so excited will be part of a series.  I can't wait to find out what the characters are up to next.

Under the Ashes
Under the Ashes by Cindy Rankin
3/5 stars
It started out well - strong character, great setting (San Francisco) and plot (earthquake) but the character and plot development ended up being a little too weak.
Publishes Nov. 1st.

Currently Reading

Short
Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan
This book comes out in January 2017 but I was at my {somewhat} local indie this weekend and they let me borrow this copy.  It is very witty so far, I really like the main character.

What are you reading these days?

10 comments:

  1. I'll put Short on the list, Michele, and am excited about that final story by Jon Klassen. How clever he is! Of course, Ghost is on the list, too, and The Water Princess is coming from the library. I shared A Child of Books today, a treasure! Thanks, and have a great week!

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  2. I had a great discussion with a patron who was so confused by I Want My Hat Back - she wasn't used to open-ended stories, or children's books that don't have a clearly specified moral, it was quite a fascinating cultural experience for this patron to discover this new style of picture book!

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  3. Thanks for the honest review of Under the Ashes.

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  4. I don't even see how there are enough hours in the day for everything Jason Reynolds does. I have got to get Ghost. I really want to introduce my son to Reynolds's work and we should read his middle-grade books before moving on to the YA. I can't wait to get the new Klassen for my classroom. My students LOVE these books. I love seeing college students fall hard for picture books!

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  5. My copy of WE FOUND A HAT just arrived today from Candlewick. I literally screamed when I opened the package. :)

    Glad you loved GHOST. I am swoony over Jason Reynolds. ;)

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  6. I've read some of these and have others on my list, but I had no idea about this Jon Klassen one!

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  7. You always have such awesome lists! I've ordered four of the picture books from my library. Thanks for your terrific suggestions. Have a great week!

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  8. I honestly can't comment on these books because I am so overwhelmed by how many I want to talk about. I NEED to read Ghost. I think I may see if I can snag it on audio and listen to it while nursing. And I have Cloud and Wallfish on my nightstand. Oh, and don't even get me started on We Found a Hat! I didn't get it in the mail, sadly, so I will need to find myself a copy. :)

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  9. I loved Vera Brosgol's Anya's Ghost - so I am looking forward to her new novel here, looks like a lot of fun! So many Ghosts books published this year (I am thinking of Raina Telgemeier's).

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  10. I'm so excited for Ghost since I love Reynold's writing, but also because I'm a runner. I am also super excited for the newest hat book and Mighty Jack.

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