This weekly post comes from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts
It's a great source to find new books to use with your students.
At first I didn't know if I was going to continue blogging during this pandemic. The uncertainty is real. What people are looking for is not necessarily in this blog. But as fellow blogger Aaron Cleaveley mentioned, there are a lot of great books that are being released during this time and the typical author visits and bookstore releases and parties aren't happening. So if I can give a little shout out for them, then I'm all for it. Even if you can't get ahold of these books right away, please make sure they are on your TBR lists for someday. Don't forget many indie bookstores are offering lower shipping costs right now!
Last Week's Adventures
Last week was our Spring Break. I had not planned to post because I was supposed to be in sunny AZ with my family. Even though I would have been staying with my parents, it still didn't make sense to travel during this time. We made the difficult decision to stay home and I know it was the right one. I only posted my last Women's History Month post. It was going to be posted this Wednesday, which is technically April 1st, but since I was home I figured I would get it out in the month of March! Here are posts from the past two weeks in case you missed any!
Celebrating Women's History Month - women who have made a difference in the arts!
Celebrating Women's History Month - women who made an impact on our country - then and now!
Chapter books that feature characters from a wide representation of cultures and traditions!
Picture Books
Snail Crossing
by Corey R. Tabor
Just a fun book to read. A snail tries to cross a road to get some cabbage - I know sounds like the start of a good joke but really that's what happens. Along the way he turns some attitudes around, gets turned around, and makes friends.
Story Boat
written by Kyo Maclear
illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
I read this book during the Covid19 outbreak, and while it was a book about traveling during the refugee crisis, there were also some parallels to our current status of life. While refugees are on the move, never feeling safe in one spot, we're all staying in one spot, but perhaps never really feeling safe, and mostly anxious. A calming, quiet book to read about finding hope.
What a Cold Needs
written by Barbara Bottner
illustrated by Chris Sheban
I saw this on a fellow blogger's post and thought it would be appropriate to read during cold and flu season. I picked this book up from the library on Feb. 15th. Now I'm reading it under a stay-at-home order and I can't help but read it with the Covid19 warnings... on the page where the Grandpa gives the sick boy a kiss on the cheek - no, no!! Elderly need to stay away from the sick!! On the page where the boy's tissues are all over the floor - no, no!! Make sure used tissues go right into the garbage can! I wonder when we'll be able to read books without thinking about these things??
The Bold, Brave Bunny
written by Beth Ferry
illustrated by Chow Hon Lam
This book made me giggle at certain parts and ooohhh and aaahhh over some of the illustrations. Teetu the Bunny decides he lives with too many bunnies and decides to go out into the world and see what else is out there.
Cool Cuts
by Mechal Renee Roe
A follow up to Happy Hair, this one is for the Black boys and the many ways they may choose to wear their hair. Positive self identity that kids need to see in books! I think I like this one even more than the girl book!
One Mean Ant
written by Arthur Yorinks
illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
This is a book that begs to be read aloud. A grouchy ant, who is a pretty humorous grouchy ant, who kind of gets what is coming to him. The nice, sweet, innocent fly, maybe not as much.
Middle Grade
What Lane?
by Torrey Maldonado
This book publishes in just a few weeks! This isn't a book to get at the library, it's a book you want in your own library. Preorder for sure.
I know most people are familiar with the Newbery winning title New Kid. That book helped readers understand how microaggressions hurt kids. It named what they are and brought new conversations to young readers. This book does the same thing in a written form. And if you know books that are edited by Nancy Paulsen, you know she doesn't let her authors waste words... every single word counts. This is a book I've already written down on my potential Mock Newbery list for 2021.
I didn't know how the title was going to come into play in this story. Lane refers to the way a person or group of people may approach life. In this story, Stephen is in one lane, but his best friend Dan is in another lane. Mostly because Stephen is Black - well mixed, according to his white mom - and Dan is white. Stephen wonders - can he swerve into other lanes? Why are the rules different for the lanes? It's a lot for a middle grader to navigate, but important discussions for kids to be having!
Arlo Finch in the Kingdom of Shadows
by John August
I am so sad this trilogy has come to an end. I feel like Arlo has more stories to tell!
If you have readers that like action and adventure and suspense and just a touch of the fantasy world, then you have readers for this trilogy. The first book took me about 100 pages to get into. After that, there is not a moment to take a breath - in that book and then all the way to the last page of the third book.
This book closes out Arlo's initial story. Answers are given and some stories are finally put to rest. Although I really feel there is more that can be explored with Arlo and friends... hint, hint Mr. August and Roaring Brook Press.....
Young Adult
To All the Boys I've Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You
by Jenny Han
I've owned the trilogy for about three years now. Finally pulling it out because as we are at home in the middle of this pandemic, I need something for my high schooler to read. Of course, I needed to make sure it was ok for her to read, so I'm reading it first :) Although I will say, this was just the read I needed during this time. Light, funny, and it took me away from these crazy times we're in.
Currently Reading
Always and Forever, Lara Jean
by Jenny Han
Finishing off the trilogy!
Have your reading habits/what you're reading changed with this Pandemic? I've pulled out a bunch of my YA books to read. My daughter would spend all of her time on Insta and TikTok if I didn't give her other things to do. She starts e-learning this week so I'm guessing she'll get a little more busy, but we'll see!
Wishing health and happy reading to everyone!
I've read a lot less than I thought I would - concentrating isn't so easy right now. I'm keeping up with my blog and following others that are devoted to books because I need to keep some normalcy in my life. I'm still putting books I want to read on hold at the library, but who knows when they'll be up and running again! Be well!
ReplyDeleteI know it's disappointing to cancel vacation plans. But staying home protects everyone, so you made the right decision. Once this is all in the rearview mirror, we'll all be able to take trips and actually ENJOY them. Glad you can at least escape in the awesome books that you share each week. I'm going to have a mile-long list when my library reopens. Thanks for sharing and have a good week with your family.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about What Lane? & still need to read Tight! I am scattered & trying to find some way to finish a task before I start a new one! This is a new kind of learning for all of us! Wishing you the best wishes, Michele. I laughed at One Mean Ant, too, agree it would make a super readaloud!
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed What Lane? and you are so right about the economy of word use. It is a very short book that packs a lot in. I had previously marked One Mean Ant as to-read and totally forgot, thanks for the reminders. I loved your comments about how we are reading books differently right now, and also share your thoughts on cancelling vacations right now. Tough but necessary. We are looking at a lot of vacation photos, a slideshow on the computer while it is in sleep mode. Makes us feel grateful for the trips we have had and we have a list of places to go back to when that is possible. Thanks for all the great shares, I never read the Jenny Han series either, but I had it when I worked at middle school. They did look like nice, light escapist reading that many are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI too have read less and was wondering about blogging about new books right now. Thank yo for sharing Aaron's point of view - it is important to support authors, illustrators and publishers right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for those lists Michele. I shared your transitional chapter books post on facebook because I am always getting asked for recommendation. I was especially happy about the Mindy Kim series since my granddaughter is half Korean.
ReplyDeleteReading is harder, and I don't want anything to intense these days. I am really appreciating audio books that I can listen to when I go out for walks.
My reading habits haven't actually changed much with the pandemic. I did notice that many people are skipping excessively sad books right now, but I’ve been avoiding them since well before all this started! I just read and reviewed New Kid, so if What Lane? compares well to it, then it is a must-read! Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteMy students love Jenny Han's books; maybe I need to pick them up too.
ReplyDeleteBe patient with yourself--blog when you can and take care of other things when you need to. But yes, I feel bad for many things that aren't being celebrated the way they should because of the pandemic, but also I want everyone to STAY HOME. :)
Happy reading this week :)
I have been reading but actually writing reviews has been tough. I finally posted my #IMWAYR today so feeling better now. I love Sergio Ruzzier's books so looking forward to One Mean Ant. I am eagerly awaiting to read What Lane. I am next on the list with #bookexcursion and hoping to receive it soon. Stay safe and well Michele!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed you can still keep ahead of your high school daughter's reading! I stopped trying around middle school, when he was churning through at least a book a day. Lots of good books here, and I'm with you with seeing things through a virus-lens -- no one in books knows about social distancing!
ReplyDeleteI'm giggling over your comments on Grandpa not giving the sick boy a kiss on the cheek. LOL Too funny! But yes, it seems we read every book about sick people differently, these days. Somehow I missed the new Arlo Finch book. I so enjoyed books #1 and #2, so I'll have to hunt down a copy of book #3. Thanks for sharing, Michele! (and my apologies for commenting so late from last week)
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