It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!
Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.
We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Last Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Ten ALAN Books Ricki is Excited About
Wednesday: Ten ALAN Book Kellee is Excited About
Thursday: Ricki’s NCTE/ALAN Reflection
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee: Since I had that really great week of reading during Thanksgiving Break, I realized how much I had missed reading often, so I have been trying to fit it into my days more often than I had over the last few months, and I am so enjoying it! I also realized that I read so much more when my book is on my phone. This allows me to read anywhere I am and also read in bed even if my husband is asleep!
This week I read Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles (finally!). Now, if any of you know Jo, she is one of the nicest people I have ever met, so it blows my mind every time I read one of her books that are filled to the brim with such dark truths about being a teenager. This book was no exception. And it revolves around flipping the bird. Jo Knowles is brilliant.
I also read two highly recommended nonfiction picture books: Tricky Vic by Greg Pizzoli and Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews. I loved them both! I hope to write official reviews on both of them before my library ebooks expire, so I can share them with you all. They are very different, but both so good.
Ricki: I feel horridly behind on life. I spent all of my energy preparing my son’s birthday party yesterday, and I have not finished any books! Some weeks, I feel like I can manage everything, and other weeks, I have to put mommyhood first. The end of the semester is at the end of this week, so my pleasure reading fell by the wayside. I have been a very absent blogger. Kellee is going to be mad at me for writing this, but I AM SORRY!
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee: I am currently reading How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon, and it has just sucked me in. I’d be reading right now instead of blogging, but my phone is dead from me reading it too much. After How It Went Down, I plan on reading another book from my #mustread list, The Summer I Saved the World…in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz then either Knockout Games by G. Neri, The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhard, or The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith–any votes?
Ricki: Next week, I hope to have two books complete: The Martian by Andy Weir and Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom. I have a lot to say about both, but I am going to wait until I finish them before I comment.
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2015
Wednesday: The Princess Games by Danai Kadzere
Thursday: Ricki and Henry’s Favorite Children’s Books (1-2 years)
Friday: A Carnival of Cats by Charles Ghigna
Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Where Are You From? Honing Research And Evaluation Skills With A Family Tree Project” by Lissa Johnston, Author of The Dala Horse
So, what are you reading?
Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!
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I too need to read Read Between The Lines. Each time I read one of Jo Knowles’ books I enjoy it thoroughly. Too many other books get in the way. Thanks for all you both do, Ricki and Kellee. Love hearing about the books!
This Knowles is just as good as her others!
Jo Knowles is wonderful. She never ceases to impress me. 🙂 Thank you for all that YOU do, Linda!
My best friend in high school said I was tiptoeing through the tulips while everyone else was rolling in them or smoking them, so that’s probably why I don’t like YA as much as MG! There were no dark truths about my teen years! I do have a podcast up today on WWII books if you want to see if it will lull small children to sleep!
I will head over to your blog now!
Ricki-I will be interested in hearing your thoughts about The Martian. My book club just discussed that one last week. It is such an interesting book that was a big departure from what I normally read.
It is also a big departure for me! My husband said I wouldn’t like it, and I took that as a challenge. I like most genres. I have listened to 6 hours and have 4 to go. I hope to have it done this week. If not, definitely next week! Then we can compare notes!
I so know what you mean, Ricki! I’ve been pretty absent too. I also haven’t had much reading to blog about! Pretty much everything on my blog today came from yesterday’s reading!
Kellee, I’m going to read The Honest Truth in a week or two. Read one of the other ones first and then we can read and chat about THT together! (but really just read it whenever you want!)
I’ll read it with you! Maybe it can be an informal book club book?
Phew. I am glad I am not alone. I feel like I am juggling too many hats!
I ended up moving Tricky Vic to this year’s TBR list since it’s been so raved about. And I’ve read the other books in the NYT’s best illustrated books of 2015 except that one. Have a great reading week you two!
It’s a pretty brilliant book–I loved it. It is beautifully illustrated and so interesting!
Thanks! Have a great week!
Kellee, I didn’t think I would like reading on my phone (and still don’t do it much), but I never would have made it through Les Mis without it being on my phone. It does make it easier to slip reading into small moments throughout the day.
Ricki, I know what you mean about trying to balance it all. I find that as my life changes, my reading changes, too. Since I left teaching, I have more time, but read less. Part of it is because I’m reading such different books that take me longer. I also don’t cram as much reading in. I’m savoring more.
I didn’t think I’d like reading ebooks, but they have saved my reading life! It really does allow me to read anywhere in any situation.
As I get more and more into the dissertation, I stay up late transcribing. This is really cutting into my pleasure reading. That said, I am going to try to be better about making time. Some weeks, I don’t do a very good job, but other weeks, I read four books. I am not consistent!
Glad to hear you are on such an awesome reading roll, Kellee! Isn’t that a great feeling? I am struggling to find enough time to read during this busy season…and I have a review book AND a book group book to read in the next 9 days – yikes. I’ve never read a Jo Knowles, but I’d really like to.
Ricki, you said it perfectly: “I feel horridly behind on life.” Me, too!! I am so sick of feeling constantly behind and never catching up and this hectic season makes it even worse. Lots of stress and too much to do. We are having an early Christmas celebration this weekend with my family (wasn’t it just Thanksgiving??) and I need to finish (ahem, START) the year-end photo DVD I make every year for them – I just finished winnowing my usually weekly to-do list down to What MUST be done THIS week??
Anyway, thanks for the rant – at least I’m not alone! Happy Birthday to your son and I hope you both enjoy some good reading time this week!
Sue
Book By Book
I recommend all Knowles, but See You At Harry’s, Jumping off Swings, and Living with Jackie Chan are my favorites!
You remind me that I haven’t done my holiday photos, either! Your description of life so perfectly matches mine. I hate feeling constantly behind!
Hi Kellee, Tricky Vic and Trombone Shorty are two of my favourite PBBs read this year. And between The Honest Truth and Alex Crow, I have to admit I liked the latter way better.
Hi Ricki, hope things go well for your baby’s birthday! My own daughter’s first birthday was a massive production – but I did rope in her 20 pairs of godfathers/godmothers to help out, so that they earn their title. Haha. 🙂
I can see why!
I’ll move Alex Crow up! Thank you for the input 🙂
This year, I did a more low-key gathering OUTSIDE of the house at a children’s museum. It was the best decision I could have made. It was nice going home to my house and not having to clean!
Hello to you both! I have not been blogging and sometimes, not reading as much as I would like. Sometimes life is like that. The holidays should give us lots of family and reading time! Kellee – will be interested to see if you liked How it Went Down. What a read! I am a huge Jo Knowles fan too. Ricki, off to check out your NCTE reflection!
I think one of the best things about reading blogs about reading is realizing that everyone gets overwhelmed by life at times and our reading life sidelined. The time building up to Christmas is a killer for me since I like to make everyone at least one homemade gift.
I decided to start my 2016 must read list and have added Read Between the Lines and The Alex Crow to it. This is very depressing since I am not close to finishing up this year’s list! Kellee, I agree that having a book on your phone is a brilliant way to fit in more reading. I also read on my ipad and I really appreciate that overdrive syncs my machines so I am always at the same place. Ricki, I really enjoyed listening to The Martian and hope you do too.
Read Between the Lines is brilliant, as is all Jo Knowles. I tried The Alex Crow, but I don’t think it is the right time for it for me; however, I know people love it!