It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 3.20.17

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.

Reading in general got away from me last weekend.  I really didn't have much to update you on and it was a crazy weekend.  Took last Monday off, book binged this weekend and now have more to share! 

Be sure to check out what did go up on the blog with the following links!

Last Two Weeks' Adventures

Looking for some books to teach theme?  Look no further than here.

Thinking about passion and how that helps you work harder at something!  Picture book biographies that exemplify this here.

A fantastic new series from Candlewick Press - SPARKS - transitional chapter books for readers on the #road2reading!

Check out these upcoming releases for those on the #road2reading!

This nonfiction picture book series is a perfect addition for transitional chapter book readers.

Little Fox in the Forest is my new favorite wordless PB!  Check out these ideas for using it has a mentor text!

Picture Books


What Will Grow? by Jennifer Ward
4/5 stars
Great book to add to your growing/plants/life cycles units.  I know our second grade studies plants and while this book is geared to a younger crowd, there is still a lot that can be used to cover the second grade NGSS.  Each layout has a rhyme that describes the seed or plant.  The left side of the layout shows the seed, the right the plant it turns into.  My favorite spreads are the ones that have a page to pull out into a larger layout.  Also depicted are animals that eat the seeds or plants.  In the back are some notes about each seed, how to plant them and how long it takes to grow.



Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
5/5 stars
I got to read this book at NCTE, but I'm so glad to have more time with it.  I think the detail in the research that Kate Messner has clearly put into this series makes these exceptional books.  Books you want to spend lots of time pouring over words and illustrations.  I'm glad Christopher Silas Neal has stayed with this series because I love the continuity it brings.  His illustrations are always full of gorgeous detail.


The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedy
5/5 stars
When you've heard from many trusted Nerdy friends how wonderful this book is.... I just got to it... Too much on my plate....  This is a very very important book to be reading right now.  When it is so important to talk about being a leader, about having a voice.  Be sure to get your hands on this book and read it and talk about it.


Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin
4/5 stars
Loved this sweet story!  For every child who has wanted a pet... and was given a rock.  Many tongue in cheek jokes, some kids will get, some may need some explaining (but they'll make the teacher laugh!).  An ending that I guess I should've seen coming but didn't!


The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra by Marc Tyler Nobleman
3/5 stars
This is probably the most fun title to read out loud!  I love the colors illustrator Ana Aranda used.  Fun read aloud.  Good book to get from the library.


Great, Now We've Got Barbarians! by Jason Carter Eaton
4/5 stars
A new twist on the you-haven't-cleaned-up-your-room cause/effect story.  Silly, and it will appeal to young readers.  The ending was funny and certainly set up the story for more adventures!

Middle Grade


Braced by Alyson Gerber
5/5 stars
Loved this book about a main character who has scoliosis and has to go through seventh grade with a back brace.  Happy to see a very realistic portrayal of a middle grade student dealing with a physical disability.
Please be looking for my upcoming post about this book and make sure it's on your TBR - it publishes March 28th!

Young Adult


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
4/5 stars
Finally got to this one!  I think it's been on my #mustread lists a couple of times now.  I really loved Cath and Levi's story.  I was not a huge fan of the fan fiction/additional fiction story.  Halfway through the book I stopped reading them.  Not sure if it was supposed to parallel what was happening in the novel or if there was a connection between the stories I was supposed to get, but regardless, I didn't read them after awhile.

Currently Reading


This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer
This is the final book in the Clifton Family chronicle.  I've enjoyed all of them - I thought I would be tired of them by now, but have held on to the end!  I think this is my first adult read of the year!


Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
I've owned this book for a long time, but just never got around to reading it.  I made sure to put it on my #mustreadin2017 list so I could get to it for sure.  It's my current purse read - meaning it's the book I carry around and read in the edges! 

On Deck


Goodbye Days by Jeffrey Zentner
This will be my first Spring Break read!

Spring Break starts next week for us and I am really looking forward to taking a break, getting in some reading time and plenty of time to RELAX!  I'll be taking a short blogging break in order to get in some family time.  I have a couple of posts that will go up, but otherwise I'm going to spend more time reading than writing.  I'll be back to #IMWAYR in a couple of weeks!  See you in April!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 12.28.15

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.

I hope everyone has enjoyed or is enjoying the holidays!  I've been able to find time and get in some wonderful reading.  
Two weeks ago I shared my favorite picture books, nonfiction picture books and middle grade fiction from this year.  Did you check out those posts?
This week I will share upcoming 2016 titles that I am excited to read.  Be sure to come back and check out the new titles!

Picture Books


My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
5/5 stars
We have English Language Learners at our school.  Most come to school knowing some, if not, quite a bit of English.  But every once in awhile, we've had students start school with zero English.  This book really puts it into kid perspective what that is like for the English Language Learner.  Well written.


Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago
5/5 stars
What a powerful book.  Wow.
I first heard of this title at the NCTE Children's Luncheon when it was named a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Title book.  
This tells the story of a young girl and her father who are clearly on the move, appearing to be looking for a better place to live, perhaps in America?  Why are they leaving?  Is it for a better life?  More money?  Do they live in a country of civil unrest?  This book will surely spark conversations.


Mother Goose Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins
4/5 stars
I'm trying to control my picture book spending.  Books like this don't help.
What happens when an egg-loving grouchy bear picks the wrong eggs to eat for his new recipe?  
Young readers will laugh out loud at the silliness.
Older readers will get the subtle sarcasm and tongue in cheek lines.


Here Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood
4/5 stars
I am really enjoying this cranky cat and his holiday adventures.  Great read alouds for kids.

Graphic Novels


Flop to the Top! by Eleanor Davis
3/5 stars
I really enjoy the Toon Books graphic novels.  They make GNs accessible to the young readers.  Kids will enjoy seeing Floppy Dog's rise to stardom and laugh at the silliness of Floppy and his owner, Wanda.

Listened With My Ears


The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson
4/5 stars
I am a firm believer that the narrator makes or breaks an audio book.  
Kellee Moye has raved about this series and listening to it on audio.  I bought the book a long time ago, but just never got around to reading it.  My library doesn't have it on audio so I figured I was out of luck.  But then this year I got a teacher's card to my school district's public library and I was fortunate to find it there!
The narrator of this story is brilliant!  Katherine Kellgren is an extremely talented voice actress whose accents and dialogue make this book wonderfully fun to listen to.  Magic, gargoyles, enchantresses and pirates.  This book has something in it for everyone!  Encourage your library to get a copy if it doesn't already!

Middle Grade

I've been really lucky and I've read some great ARCs of upcoming books.  Many of them I'll share in their own separate post closer to the book's release date.  But for now, I'll leave you with this gem:


Booked by Kwame Alexander
4/5 stars
Mr. Alexander is amazing when writing about tweens and their struggles.  Add in some sports.  Write it in verse.  It's pure magic.
In Booked we meet Nick, a soccer star who is trying to get through the eighth grade.  Add in his parents getting divorced.  His mom, who he is closest to, moving away.  His dad, who he is not, makes him study words.  A best friend that is also a rival on the field.  And a girl who makes him tongue tied.  Meet a teacher librarian who knows how to pass on books and keep things interesting.  Throw in conflict when his dreams are altered.  You've got another amazing book for tween readers.  
Bravo, Mr. Alexander.


The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart
5/5 stars
I've owned this book for a year now, and for whatever reason, I just hadn't gotten to it yet.  I'm so glad I put it on my #mustreadin2015 list because I made sure to get to it!  I had heard wonderful things about this book and my nerdy friends did not let me down.  
As a debut author, Dan Gemeinhart has shown he has writing chops.  
This is a book that has a tough topic - cancer and when is enough enough for a young kid. Gemeinhart explores this topic in a way that makes it accessible for young readers.  Our main character, Mark, will get in your heart and you'll cheer for him.  And through it all we meet champion dog, Beau.  Mark's best friend, Jesse, needs a special mention because everyone should have someone who believes so thoroughly in you. 
I enjoyed the organization of the book, with each chapter having its own 1/2 chapter where we get a glimpse of what is happening back at home while Mark is on his journey.

Currently Reading


Fenway and Hattie by Victoria Coe

What books are you wrapping up 2015 with?  

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 12.14.15

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

Authors that can vary their writing styles are amazing to me.  Be sure to check out Chris Barton's work.  His writing style is wonderful.  For a writeup on his work, check out this post.

Need some last minute holiday picture books?  Try these!

Last week was an amazing week in our household.  My daughter participated in her first Paralympic Can Am Open swim meet.  Please read about our experience and some amazing athletes in this post.

* I will be taking a blogging break next week, the week leading up to the Christmas holiday.  I will be spending time with family and friends and enjoying all of those moments that are part of the holiday season. The rest of this week I'll be listing my favorite books of 2015.  The week leading up to New Year's, I'll be listing the books I'm most looking forward to in 2016.  I hope you stop by and tell me your favorites or what you're looking forward to in the upcoming year.  Cheers! *

Middle Grade

I was very fortunate to get some ARCs of some wonderful upcoming 2016 books when I was at NCTE.  I am going to write up a separate post for each of the books and publish them a little bit before their actual publication dates.  I feel that when I am fortunate enough to have received an ARC of a book, it's worthy of its own blog post.  But in the meantime, be sure to put these 2016 releases on your TBR list.  They are must reads, although for very different reasons!


Masterminds: Criminal Destiny by Gordon Korman
5/5 stars
pubs Feb. 2
This book has it all:  mystery, suspense, adventure.


Pax by Sara Pennypacker
5/5 stars pubs Feb. 2
I think it's important to show readers how authors subtly weave multiple story lines together.  This is a perfect book to use for that.

Young Adult


All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
5/5 stars
I really really really hope this book sees recognition on January 11.
I also really really really hope that everyone reads this book.  Whether you're a young adult or not.  Whether you're a police officer, teacher, social worker, lawyer, stay at home parent, eye doctor, sanitation worker... You get the point.
This book is so relevant.  So important.  
You know those One Community One Book programs?
This should be the book for One World One Book.
Because everyone should read it and talk about it.

Currently Reading


The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari
I've heard great things about this book from my book friends.  Looking forward to it.

Unfortunately, I am stuck in North Dakota.  If you read my Saturday Celebration post you know I am here because of my daughter's Paralympic swim meet.  The weather here is horribly foggy and all flights have been cancelled.  We're hoping to get out tomorrow morning, although the fog advisory goes through mid-morning.  Not sure when I'm getting home at this point.  I will try to comment on blogs on Monday, but it will all depend on our travel!  Wish us luck!

Last week of school before Winter Break.  Looking forward to time with friends and family and books!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 12.07.15

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.

Yikes, I took two Mondays off!  You would think I would have piles and piles of books to talk about!  Nope.  It's been a no reading few weeks.  I definitely read in the edges.  And it was just pages at a time.  This time of year leaves me so busy.  Most of the time I'm doing something fun.  Othertimes I'm just getting the holiday stuff done.  I have a lot of library books due today, so I had to do a lot of reading yesterday.  Trust me, most of this list was completed yesterday!

The Past Two Week's Adventures (not much)

I'm always looking for short books or passages to show theme for young readers.  The Bunjitsu Bunny series is a perfect one for that.  Check them out here.

Took some brief moments to share why NCTE is important to me.  And some holiday traditions, here.

Picture Books


A Dog Wearing Shoes by Sangmi Ko
4/5 stars
Sweet story, love the illustrations.   A timeless story to share and share and share.


Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin
4/5 stars
That was fun.  And completely unexpected.


Written and Drawn by Henrietta by Liniers
5/5 stars
My new favorite book by Liniers.  I wonder how many ways you could use this for Writer's Workshop?


Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
5/5 stars
I had just gotten this book from the library when it was announced at NCTE that it was a 2016 Charlotte Huck Honorable Mention Book.  Now I know why.
Love books about friendship.  They should be used throughout the school year because issues about friendship don't just happen at the beginning of the year.  They pop up all year long.  I think some of the things that friends just do that are listed in this book should be put on posters that are on display all year long in the classroom.


Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak
4/5 stars
Has one of the best platforms for a presidential candidate to run under!

Informational Texts


Mary Cassatt: Extraordinary Impressionist Painter by Barbara Herkert
3/5 stars
Good intro biography to Mary Cassatt, an artist I really didn't know much about!

Currently Reading


Masterminds 2: Criminal Identity by Gordon Korman
Wow, I love this series.  Not realistic fiction, but really fun fiction!  What an adventure these kids go on - suspense, action, mystery.  
I was able to get an ARC of this book at NCTE.  I actually got my copy signed for a student at my school - I hand delivered fan mail to Mr. Korman from this student.  So thrilled to be able to hand off this copy to him.  Thank goodness another teacher got a copy and let me borrow it before it goes into her classroom!
Be sure to get this sequel in Feb. 2016.  I already have mine pre-ordered!

On Deck
I have some reading time up ahead and have some ARCs from NCTE that I want to get to.  The first on the pile - Sara Pennypacker's Pax.  I've heard wonderful things!

I have a couple of fun posts coming up this week.  On Wednesday I have a post about Chris Barton's books.  Really enjoy his writing!  On Friday I'll be spotlighting a holiday roundup of books.  Later in the month I'll have a review of Kristen Kittscher's The Tiara on the Terrace.  Loved it!  Be sure to check back!
Happy Reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 11.16.15

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

Looking at the NGSStandards is something we've been doing in earnest at our school.  One of the standards has students studying plants.  If you're looking for some books to use for this topic, be sure to include these.

I have found having books for readers that are transitioning from early chapter books to something more challenging can be difficult.  Middle grade books are a bit of a reach.  These students really need to have access to transitional chapter books.  Here's a collection of books that are perfect for these readers.

Are you thinking about doing a Mock Newbery?  Here's our process.  Would it work for you?

Picture Books


Is Mommy? by Victoria Chang
3/5 stars
This was an interesting book.  I adored the illustrations by Marla Frazee.  I wasn't so sure about the text.  Young children ask questions about their mommy using opposites - is she nice? mean? fun? boring?  Each time the answer is the mommy is the worse of the two choices.  I felt conflicted.  As a mom who is probably often boring, ugly and mean, I don't need a picture book telling me that.  But that is not what the author was after.  The author wanted to celebrate moms.  Moms that work.  Moms that do everything they can to take care of their children, even if it doesn't always look pretty.  I understand it better, but for me, it was just ok.


This is my Home, This is my School by Jonathan Bean
As a public school teacher, my knowledge of homeschooling is limited.  From what I know of it, parents put a lot of work and thought into their children's education, including giving them experiences that give them hands-on knowledge.  I had a brief experience of it, for 4 months, having to home school my child while she had her leg lengthened when she was in 2nd grade.  It.  Was.  Hard!!  I was so glad to return to home and return my child to the capable hands of her teachers at school.  I appreciated being able to read more about the author's experience.  I think it would be interesting to share this book with students.
And I really loved seeing the picture of Jonathan Bean in the back of the book with his Rainbow Brite lunchbox!


Bear and Squirrel are Friends. Yes, Really! by Deb Pilutti
4/5 stars
Can a bear and squirrel really be friends?  Even after a looong hibernation when Bear wakes up especially hungry?  Cute story.


The Bear Report by Thyra Heder
4/5 stars
We know a "being there" experience is best to activate all the senses which helps makes connections in the brain which helps children learn best.
Thrya Heder seems to know this as she creates a being there experience for her young character, Sophie.  Sophie meets Olafur the polar bear and he gives her a day in the life of a polar bear.  And at the end of the book, we see how much Sophie learns from the experience!

Informational Texts


The Fantastic Ferris Wheel: The Story of Inventor George Ferris by Betsy Harvey Kraft
5/5 stars
I really enjoyed Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis.  This book is another fantastic picture book biography about Mr. Ferris and his now very famous wheel.  Going into more detail about events that happened once the World's Fair opened, I enjoyed learning more about the famous invention!

Currently Reading


The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
Loving this book.

On Deck

Princess Juniper of the Hourglass by Ammi-Joan Paquette
I had to switch some books around because of books that are currently overdue that need to be read.  I'll be back to Princess Juniper soon!

The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher
I'm hoping to see Kristen at NCTE and would like to get the ARC read!

Looking forward to this week - NCTE!  One of my most favorite weeks of the year - friends, books, and getting excited about what I do!  I will return in two weeks, I don't think I'll have a post ready for next Monday after traveling on Sunday.  Happy reading to all!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 11.09.15

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

I wrote about how writing is hard and about the importance of celebrating Picture Book Month with my reading intervention students here.

Picture Books


Lost.  Found. by Marsha Diane Arnold
4/5 stars
The details are so often in the illustrations.  And when they are illustrations by Matthew Cordell, it's that much more fun to pore over them!
Love the idea that something lost can be another person/animal's treasure!

Early Chapter Books


Ling and Ting Together in all Weather by Grace Lin
4/5 stars
I love the Ling and Ting series.  This one is fun to see what the girls are up to in a book that takes place over all seasons.


Mr. Putter and Tabby Smell the Roses by Cynthia Rylant
4/5 stars
Best quote from this book:
"On Saturday, Mr. Putter put on
his best shirt and his best tie.
He also put some pomade in his hair.
It made him look very spiffy.
'Pomade makes the man,'
Mr. Putter told Tabby."

Awesome.

Transitional Chapter Books


Last-But-Not-Least Lola and the Cupcake Queens by Christine Pakkala
3/5 stars
A good series to hand off to fans of Junie B. Jones.


Lola Levine is Not Mean by Monica Brown
4/5 stars
I'm really excited for this new transitional chapter book series.  Featuring a diverse cast of characters and one mean playing soccer queen, I know kids will flock to this series.  Well-written and lots of kid appeal.  Looking forward to the next book in January!


Middle Grade


Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff
5/5 stars
Books stand out for me in different ways.  This one it was character development and the writing.  Without great writing, the character of Trent would never have developed the way he needed to.  Trent is a character that is conflicted.  We see pieces of the person he was and wants to be.  But we see a large part of who he is now because of a horrible accident. Most readers love reading about characters they can either relate to, have a connection with, or someone they admire, or someone who touches the reader's heart in a deep way.  Trent isn't that kind of character.  He does unlikeable things.  We know the things that set him off, but we don't like his reactions.  And he does it over and over again.  Graff deftly tells the story so Trent's developments happen slowly.  If you read too quickly, you miss the little things that happen.  But Trent's character development also couldn't happen without the addition of a secondary character - Fallon Little.  For me, Fallon was the hero of the book.  I loved her story and really hope Graff writes another book with her as the main character.  Fallon is also flawed, but her way of dealing with bad things that have happened to her, is vastly different than Trent's.  I love these two characters together.  


The Nest by Kenneth Oppel
5/5 stars
Oh.  My.
Disturbingly creepy.
And so good.
But so creepy.
Before I even started reading it I knew if was going to be different.  A young boy says yes to an agreement with a queen bee in his dreams that will save his baby brother, who is very sick, from dying.  
Right there, I didn't know if this was something I really wanted to read.  
I read the book in 2 sittings.
I was right.  Very very creepy.  I think there are some underlying and unsaid topics that could be a bit controversial (the perfect race?  disposing of humans that are not perfect?), although Oppel does a great job of not exploring those topics, just letting them sit there without going into further discussion.  I think most kids will discuss them as they are in the book, not go into a huge philosophical discussion.
The book is a high speed ride of a kidlit psychological thriller.  The big action doesn't happen until the end, but Oppel writes in a page-turning way that will keep you up reading.
My daughter asked me to compare it to The Night Gardener which was he last creepy book I read.  It's different.  THG kept me us and it was a spine tingling thriller.  This one is more creepy instead of thriller.
Make sure you have a block of time set aside for this book.  You won't want to put it down. You might want to read it in the daylight hours.

Currently Reading


Princess Juniper of the Hourglass by Ammi-Joan Paquette

On Deck

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall