Saturday, December 31, 2016

#mustreadin2016 final update 12.31.16



Ugh, I thought I had a fool-proof plan for this year.  Pick 12 books, read one each month.  Easy, right?  THERE ARE TOO MANY BOOKS I WANT TO READ AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME!!!  
Boo.  I didn't complete my goal.  Again.
Well.  There's always next year.  Worked for the Cubs this year (blech, I can't believe I included a Cubs thing in my blog....)

Read my September update.
Read my April update.
Read my January post.

1.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer read in April
2.  The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern read in July
3.  All Four Stars by Tara Dairman read in April
4. The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson read in July
5.  Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson
6.  After You by Jojo Moyes
7.  Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz read in December
8.  Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton read in January
9.  The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann read in December
10.  Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
11.  A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
12.  Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard read in March

The Unwanteds (Unwanteds, #1)
The Unwanteds
by Lisa McMann
read in December
I was encouraged to read this by Jason Lewis

One sentence summary:  With flavors of The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, children who are considered "Unwanted" (i.e. they have too much creativity) are Purged every year, but little do they know they end up in Aritme', a place where their creative talents are nurtured and developed into something magical, which will help in an upcoming battle.

My thoughts:  Oh, I have readers for this series!  And I may have pushed it onto a customer at Barnes and Noble (no, I don't work there.... just can't help chiming in).  I can't wait to see where this series goes.

Hook's Revenge (Hook's Revenge, #1)
Hook's Revenge
by Heidi Shulz
read in December
I was encouraged to read this by Kellee Moye

One sentence summary:  We meet young Jocelyn Hook, daughter of Captain Hook, who is on a quest to avenge the crocodile that brought the demise of the infamous Captain.

My thoughts:  Flavors of Disney, the "villain" is kind of the good guy?  Sold.

I'm currently reading:
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1)
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
I was encouraged to read this by Jillian Heise

I won't have this finished by the stroke of midnight, but it will be my first book read of 2017!

Another year completed.  Looking forward to starting #mustreadin2017!  We'll be posting our next set of goals on January 5th.  Come back and see what I'm reading next year on Thursday (sounds funny!)

2017 Poetry, YA, and GN 12.31.16


Hard to believe that we're looking at the start of a new year!
I don't know about you, but I'm ready for 2017!
Especially for the books.
This week I'll be spotlighting books to come.
I have pages written in my notebook for each month.
Pulling out just a few over the next few days.  
Lots more to come in 2017!

Today I'm looking at upcoming Poetry, Young Adult and Graphic Novels!

Upcoming Poetry/Novels in Verse

One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance
One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance
by Nikki Grimes
publishes January 3rd

Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures
Animal Ark: Celebrating our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures
by Kwame Alexander
publishes February 14th

If You Were the Moon
If You Were the Moon
by Laura Purdie Salas
publishes March 1st

Feel the Beat: Dance Poems That Zing from Salsa to Swing
Feel the Beat: Dance Poems that Zing from Salsa to Swing
by Marilyn Singer
publishes March 7th

Izzy Kline Has Butterflies
Izzy Kline Has Butterflies
by Beth Ain
publishes March 7th

Forget Me Not
Forget Me Not
by Ellie Terry
publishes March 14th

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets
by Kwame Alexander
publishes March 14th

Keep a Pocket in Your Poem: Classic Poems and Playful Parodies
Keep a Pocket in Your Poem: Classic Poems and Playful Parodies
by J. Patrick Lewis
publishes March 28th

Upcoming Young Adult

Carve the Mark (Untitled Duology, #1)
Carve the Mark
by Veronica Roth
publishes January 17th

The Hate U Give
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
publishes February 28th
* disclaimer, I've already read it - this is a MUST buy/pre-order - go do it now!

Ramona Blue
Ramona Blue
by Julie Murphy
publishes May 9th

The Unlikelies
The Unlikelies
by Carrie Firestone
publishes June 6th

Upcoming Graphic Novels

Egg
Egg
by Kevin Henkes
publishes January 3rd

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World (Marvel)
by Shannon Hale
publishes February 7th

Real Friends
Real Friends
by Shannon Hale
publishes May 2nd

Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt  (Narwhal and Jelly)
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt
by Ben Clanton
publishes May 2nd

The Great Art Caper
The Great Art Caper
by Victoria Jamieson
publishes June 13th

Comics Squad #3: Detention!
Comics Squad 3: Detention!
by Jennifer Holm, Matthew Holm, and Jarrett Krosoczka 
Featuring: Ben Hatke, Victoria Jamieson, Lark Pien, Matt Phelan, Rafael Rosado and Jorge Aguirre
publishes July 4th

Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
by Ben Hatke
publishes September 5th

Science Comics: Dogs: From Predator to Protector
Science Comics - Dogs: From Predator to Protector
by Andy Hirsch
publishes October 31st


So many wonderful books to look forward to in 2017!  Which ones are you excited for?  What did I miss?  I know there are others coming out in 2017 that don't have dates announced yet, can't wait to hear when more are being published!  As I mentioned earlier, I just picked a few to spotlight.  I'm looking forward to a lot of great reading this year!

Be sure to check back the rest of this week for more upcoming books!
2017 Middle Grade novels 


Friday, December 30, 2016

Spotlight Friday: 2017 Picture Books 12.30.16


Time to get ready for the weekend!
Kick up your feet and find a good place to read.
Sharing #booklove for your classroom or library.
Spotlighting a book or two because these books deserve the spotlight!


Hard to believe that we're looking at the start of a new year!
I don't know about you, but I'm ready for 2017!
Especially for the books.
This week I'll be spotlighting books to come.
I have pages written in my notebook for each month.
Pulling out just a few over the next few days.  
Lots more to come in 2017!

Today, picture book fun!

Publishing in January

My Kite is Stuck! and Other Stories
My Kite is Stuck
by Salina Yoon

Wolf in the Snow
Wolf in the Snow 
by Matthew Cordell

Publishing in February

Tony
Tony
by Ed Galing

Bob, Not Bob!: *to be read as though you have the worst cold ever
Bob, Not Bob
by Audrey Vernick

You Don't Want a Unicorn!
You Don't Want a Unicorn
by Ame Dyckman

This House, Once
This House, Once
by Deborah Freedman

Antoinette
Antoinette
by Kelly DiPucchio

Ballet Cat What's Your Favorite Favorite?
What's Your Favorite, Favorite?
by Bob Shea

Publishing in March

Dad and the Dinosaur
Dad and the Dinosaur
by Gennifer Choldenko

Image result for mighty truck muddymania
Mighty Truck Muddymania
by Chris Barton

Image result for over and under the pond
Over and Under the Pond

by Kate Messner

Snail and Worm Again
Snail and Worm Again 
by Tina Kugler

Triangle
Triangle
by Mac Barnett

Publishing in April

BE QUIET!
Be Quiet!
by Ryan T. Higgins

Image result for the legend of rock paper scissors
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors
by Drew Daywalt

Plankton is Pushy
Plankton is Pushy
by Jonathan Fenske

Sea Monkey & Bob
Sea Monkey and Bob
by Aaron Reynolds

Moo Moo in a Tutu
Moo Moo in a Tutu
by Tim Miller

Rulers of the Playground
Rulers of the Playground
by Joseph Kuefler

Publishing in May

Dream
Dream 
by Matthew Cordell

The Good for Nothing Button
The Good For Nothing Button
by Charise Mericle Harper

Blobfish Throws a Party
Blobfish Throws a Party
by Miranda Paul

The Case of the Stinky Stench (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, #2)
The Case of the Stinky Stench
by Josh Funk

Publishing in June

Life
Life
by Cynthia Rylant

Claymates
Claymates
by Dev Petty

A New Friend for Sparkle
A New Friend for Sparkle
by Amy Young

Publishing in July

Second Grade Holdout
Second Grade Holdout
by Audrey Vernick

Hello Goodbye Dog
Hello Goodbye Dog
by Maria Gianferrari

Publishing in August

Creepy Pair of Underwear!
Creepy Pair of Underwear
by Aaron Reynolds

The Only Fish in the Sea

The Only Fish in the Sea
by Philip Stead

Boo Who?
Boo Hoo?
by Ben Clanton

Image result for here comes teacher cat
Here Comes Teacher Cat

by Deborah Underwood

Nerdy Birdy Tweets
Nerdy Birdy Tweets
by Aaron Reynolds

Publishing in September

The Alphabet Book with No Pictures
The Alphabet Book With No Picures
by BJ Novak

Hooray for Books!
Hooray for Books
by Brian Won
Product Details
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter
by Kenard Pak

Publishing in October

(no image... yet!)
After the Fall
by Dan Santat


So many wonderful books to look forward to in 2017!  Which ones are you excited for?  What did I miss?  I know there are others coming out in 2017 that don't have dates announced yet, can't wait to hear when more are being published!  As I mentioned earlier, I just picked a few to spotlight.  Be sure to check back on Mondays and Fridays as I spotlight these books and more.

Be sure to check back the rest of this week for more upcoming books!
2017 Middle Grade novels 

Happy Reading in 2017!