It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 8.06.18

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

Are you ready for August book releases?  Here's a roundup!

If you work with Kg-3rd grade readers, this series is a MUST - Meet Yasmin!  A review and author interview.

Part 2 of picture book biographies - people who made an impact on the world.


Picture Books


I Love My Purse
written by Belle DeMont
illustrated by Sonja Wimmer
A young boy decides enough is enough - he is going to accessorize with his favorite item, a red purse.  And when everyone he meets throughout his day tells him it's not ok to wear a purse and lists all the things a boy should like, he calmly explains he likes what he likes.  Great book to show gender "norms" don't need to be the norm and to be proud of yourself.


My Dog Laughs
by Rachel Isadora
I loved I Hear a Pickle by the same author so I was so excited to see there was another book coming.  Pickle focused on the senses, and this one focuses on dogs!  I bet you already know some readers for this book, maybe even you!
Look for it on Aug. 21st!


Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community
written by Susan Verde
illustrated by John Parra
When Jillian Heise pulls you aside at ALA and tells you go get in line for this book, you want it.... well, you listen!
This book is so more complex than I originally thought.  I can't wait to talk about:
- being a game changer
- what does community mean to you?
- how can you inspire change?
- what did the wall mean to you?
- where do you see yourself in the pages of the book?
Make sure you get this on Sept. 4th!


Ruby's Worry
by Tom Percival
Oooooh, I liked this one!  I already recommended it.  It's a great book to share with kids to let them know it's ok to feel worried and that others feel that way too.  The solution in this book is to talk about your worry.  Definitely relatable for even a pretty young reader.

Poetry


Vivid: Poems and Notes About Color
by Julie Paschkis
Oh, I loved this poetry book.  Clever poems about colors that will delight young readers.  On the opposite page there is either scientific or historical information about the colors that is really interesting.  And gorgeous and bright illustrations throughout the book.  This is one to add to your poetry collection!

Middle Grade


Louisiana's Way Home
by Kate DiCamillo
I liked Raymie Nightingale, but for me it still fell short of Kate's previous works.  But this one seems to be getting back on track.  I think it had more heart.  Many of Kate's characters have a reason to like them - India Opal and her need to fill that missing part of her heart.... Gollie for being so spunky and trying things with her eyes closed....Eugenia and Baby Lincoln for, well, being themselves.  Louisiana because her heart is so open but finding really good people to share it with is hard.  I can't wait to see how this one is received by young readers.
Publishes Oct. 2nd


Naomis Too
by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich and Audrey Vernick
I read this e-galley thanks to Edelweiss.  I find it very hard to fall into my reading when it is electronic.  However, this one.... this one..... I want to share it with everyone!  This book is so needed right now.  You know how adults can't get it right?  Racial conflicts... asking big, but potentially uncomfortable questions... being part of something new... Oh, the kids in this book!  They get it right!  And it's not easy.  It's uncomfortable.  But they are leading the way.  Preorder this book now.  And then make sure you have it added in to your read aloud rotation.  Publishes Sept. 11th


The Journey of Little Charlie
by Christopher Paul Curtis
This was a really fascinating read.  Mr. Curtis writes it in a dialect that could potentially be difficult for young kids to read.  It's in a deep rooted Southern dialect.  I even found myself having to gloss over words and just get the basic meaning.  If I tried to get each word correct, I think I would still be reading it!  But, it really helps you understand the setting.  
I found it very interesting that Curtis writes from the point of view of a young, white sharecropper.  The situation he writes about is during the time when slaves often escaped to Canada to make sure they had their freedom, yet slave catchers were allowed, and rewarded, for bringing slaves back to owners.  

Currently Reading


The Three Rules of Everyday Magic
by Amanda Rawson Hill
So far I am loving this one!  It's got the feels of one of my all time favorite books - Snicker of Magic!

I will be taking next week off to spend time with family before school starts.  It was such a busy summer, and I'm not sure I got everything done I wanted to, but another school year is waiting!  Hoping to get some reading in to help finalize some Mock Newbery plans!