It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 3.06.17

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

Graphic novels can be tricky to navigate.  A few explicit teaching moves will help young readers be able to read them with ease!

Be sure to check out this nonfiction picture book that has amazing voice!  Martina and Chrissie

Thinking about windows and mirrors, this book is one that could be both.  Amina's Voice

Bringing the world around us to students.  A book to use to talk about refugees.  Lost and Found Cat


Picture Books


Tony by Ed Galing
4/5 stars
What a quiet, timeless book that packs so much into the small amount of text!
Telling about a small moment in time - when Tony the horse delivers eggs and milk on his carriage to someone's house.  The love for the horse, both through the author's words and illustrator's pictures, show so many feelings.
Although told in the past, this book feels timeless.
I can see why this book has some Caldecott buzz around it.
I think it makes a great mentor text for writing about a small moment.


Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin
5/5 stars
Love love love this book.  It grabbed my heartstrings, it made me want to pour over it.  It's a beautiful wordless picture book that tells a timeless story - how far would you go for your favorite stuffed animal?  And, it tells the story of being kind of selfless.  Just loved it.  Get it and share with students.  Share with your children.  Share it with other children.
Want to hear more about this book?  Stop by this Friday!


Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm by Jonathan London
3/5 stars
I'll enjoy sharing this book with readers this spring!  It will make a fun spring time read aloud - rain, puddles and mud!
I adored the illustrations in this picture book.  They reminded me of books I read in my childhood - did anyone else read the "Flicka, Ricka and Dicka" series?   But there were transitions in the story that fell a little flat for me.  Not a book I'll use for mentor texts, but will still be a fun one to share.


Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro
4/5 stars
Such a sweet book about fellow book lovers.  If these animals knew about Nerdy Book Club, they would definitely join!


I Am NOT a Chair by Ross Burach
4/5 stars
I've heard this book is fun, and it is!  It's funny and silly but has a great message.  This would be a great book to use at the beginning of the school year!


Noisy Night by Mac Barnett
4/5 stars
Who is that making a noise in the apartment above?  Funny picture book that will appeal to young readers.  Adding this one to my Geisel long list.


Dill & Bizzy Opposite Day by Nora Ericson
4/5 stars
Young readers who still get a kick out of playing "Opposite Day" will love this book.


The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus
4/5 stars
A nice twist on believing during Christmas time.  I liked the way the story ended and loved the illustrations by Cale Atkinson!

Middle Grade


The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish
5/5 stars
This was a beautiful book, but what I appreciated the most was how the ending brought everything together.  There were several story strands and several open questions throughout the book and I liked how they came together at the end.  The book had so much hope in it, it really touched my heart.

Currently Reading


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I didn't have a lot of reading time this week so didn't get too far in this book.  


Braced by Alyson Gerber
This is the book I'll be carrying around in my purse to read in the edges.  My 11yo read it already and gave it two thumbs up!

On Deck
I have a lot of young adult and adult library books checked out.  Here's what's in the stacks:

American Street by Ibi Zoboi
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer 
My (not so) Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

We'll see what I get to!  Happy Reading to all!