Monday, February 7, 2022

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2.07.22

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.


As I mentioned in my first IMWAYR post of 2022, I was making no commitments to a weekly post!  It looks like right now I'll be closer to a monthly roundup!  I wanted to put a couple of posts together in January, but my Sundays (usual blogging days), got eaten up by other things.  And in the spirit of blogging not being something that stresses me, the posts just didn't get done.  And since I'm doing a roundup with lots of books, I'll try to be quick and simple with my details!

Picture Books

I Eat Poop.: A Dung Beetle Story
I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story
by Mark Pett
It has poop in the title.  That sells it right there.  Positive message about identity.  Is it the best example?  No, but it comes through clear, and again, it has poop.  *adult, shrugs shoulders*

The Year We Learned to Fly
The Year We Learned to Fly
written by Jacqueline Woodson
illustrated by Rafael López
From the duo that brought us The Day You Begin brings us another beautiful story (although in my opinion Day is better).  Don't miss the author's note because it brings in a part of history that makes this book even better.

Love You by Heart
Love You By Heart 
by Peter Reynolds
This is better as a gift book (in time for Valentine's Day) than one you would choose for a class read aloud.

Friends Are Friends, Forever
Friends Are Friends, Forever
written by Dane Liu
illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
One of my favorite picture books I read in January.  Moving away to a new country, leaving loved ones behind, and starting over is hard.  

Mina
Mina
by Matthew Forsythe
I love how this book constantly makes the reader make predictions and change them based on what happens.

Change Starts With Us
Change Starts With Us
by Sophie Beer
Perfect for April's Earth Day, or any day!  Easy ideas for youngsters to try.

What Can You Do with a Rock?
What Can You Do With a Rock
written by Pat Zietlow Miller
illustrated by Katie Kath
Loved how this one was organized!  Perfect to talk about discoveries, perspective, and of course, rock collecting.

The Problem with Pajamas
The Problem with Pajamas
by Lauren Stohler
It's hilarious and you get to say "inconceivable"!  Funny but heartwarming story.

That Egg Is Mine!: A Silly Story About Manners for Kids
That Egg is Mine
by Liz Goulet Dubois
A must have if you have Elephant and Piggie readers.

Nonfiction Picture Books

I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story
I Am An American: The Wong Kim Ark Story
written by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Kim
illustrated by Julia Kuo
Must have when discussing immigration.

We Are One: How the World Adds Up
We Are One: How the World Adds Up
written by Susan Hood
illustrated by Linda Yan
It will make you think about the parts of "one" in a whole new way!

Lights Day and Night: The Science of How Light Works
Lights Day and Night
written by Susan Hughes
illustrated by Ellen Rooney
YES!  We need more nonfiction like this - books that support science curriculum standards.  It is hard to always find read alouds (that don't sound like their textbook counterparts) to go along with these topics.

Middle Grade

Across the Desert
Across the Desert
by Dusti Bowling
I love the desert setting, the sense of adventure and urgency throughout the story, and how quick the book takes place.  It makes it even harder to put down!

Cuba in My Pocket
Cuba in My Pocket
by Adrianna Cuevas
I binge read this one and really enjoyed it.  I liked that it was written from the perspective of a boy leaving Cuba and trying to fit into America.

The Ice House
The Ice House 
by Monica Sherwood
A book about the pandemic, but not about the pandemic.  There is a Freeze and the entire planet is frozen and full of snow.  Yet kids are still dealing with other very real problems.

Adult Novel

The Maid
The Maid
by Nita Prose
Loved this book. Quick read.  Molly the Maid (a quirky character, for sure) looks very suspicious in the murder of a wealthy hotel guest.   But it's the people who come to Molly's aid that help you realize what a great character she is.

Currently Reading

Forbidden City (City Spies, #3)
City Spies: Forbidden City
by James Ponti
If you haven't read this series yet, change that NOW!  I will often read a couple of books in a series so I have a feel of it, but then I usually just put new books out as I get them.  Not this one.  I'll read all of them!

Loads of other books in my piles.  I've been making some headway with them.  Looking forward to more reading in February!

6 comments:

  1. Love the City Spies series, and was a big fan of Ice House and Cuba in My Pocket. Your review of I Eat Poop is the best! Sounds like you had a great week of reading. Hope your February continues to have a lot of books in it.

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  2. I'm not familiar with That Egg is Mine, but I'm definitely going to check it out. I have many Elephant and Piggie readers and always looking for new books to introduce to them.

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  3. Hi there!
    I have many of the picture books to read yet; I loved I Eat Poop! So fun! I can't wait to read the third City Spies book! What a great series. Also, Across the Desert was awesome! Dusti Bowling is a favorite author here. Have a great week!

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  4. You have read some great books in the last month Michele. I'm waiting for The Year We Learned to Fly to become available through my library. I haven't read any of this James Ponti series, and yet I am a sucker for adult spy novels. They sound great so I've just added the first to my list.

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  5. It's wonderful to see you back, Michele—we're always happy to see you regardless of how frequently you post! And you've shared so many wonderful books—I'm absolutely making note of Mina, We Are One, and Friends Are Friends, Forever, since they all look so good!! The Ice House sounds really compelling as well. Thanks so much for the wonderful post!

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  6. Thanks for giving my #stem picture book LIGHTS DAY AND NIGHT a thumbs-up, Michele! It's great to see nonfiction picture books in the spotlight as recommended reading for kids, both for pleasure and learning opportunities.

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