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: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Want to Reread from Danny J., 6th grade
Wednesday: New Nonfiction Texts and Nonfiction & Fiction Chapter Books from Animal Planet
Friday: Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee
Wow! It is nice to be back! It has been four weeks since I’ve shared what I read, so this may be a bit much–sorry! I couldn’t leave any out because I want to recommend them all! If you want to know more about a specific book check out my Goodreads profile or feel free to comment below or tweet me @kelleemoye 🙂
Here is everything I read. In date read order by book type.
Picture Books
- Can An Aardvark Bark by Melissa Stewart: See my review!
- Scout by Gordon McMillan: A fun story about comparisons and friendship.
- The Monster Next Door by David Soman: About a boy and a monster who build tree house across from each other and overcoming differences.
- Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus: BEAUTIFUL! Nelson’s artwork + Naberhaus’s poetry = perfection.
- Come with Me by Holly M. McGhee: This picture book about how to make the world a better place is a must read for everyone. (Out 9/5/17)
- Sarabella’s Thinking Cap by Judy Schachner: Sarabella is like many kids I’ve met but that many people don’t understand. This picture book will help adults and kids alike have some insight into quiet and creative kids. (Out 9/5/17)
- La Princess and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya: A bilingual twist on the classic fairy tale. (Out 9/5/17)
- The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken: An unconventional picture book about embracing mistakes or imperfections.
- Renato and the Lion by Barbara Dilorenzo: This is definitely a new favorite. It made me cry. It is about art and history and family and connections. I loved it so much.
- Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin: I loved Rubin’s first dragon picture book, and the sequel was just what I expected–more weirdness and humor.
- Flashlight Night by Matt Forest Esenwine: Review coming soon!
- This Book Will Not Be Fun by Cirocco Dunlap: The mouse tries really hard to keep the book boring, but it was just not meant to be.
- Hattie and Hudson by Chris Van Dusen: I just love Van Dusen’s work! His illustrations are beautiful, and I also loved his story about assumptions and friendship.
- Hello, Hippo! Goodbye, Bird! by Kristyn Crow: Like Hattie, Hippo/Bird is about not assuming and making friends when least expected.
- Now by Antoinette Portis: A picture book about living in the moment and loving whatever you are experience as you experience it.
- Spunky Little Monkey by Bill Martin, Jr. and Bill Sampson: A fun interactive book that Trent loved acting along with.
- The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett: Klassen and Barnett have another winner! This book made me laugh out loud in the middle of ALA and ILA, and Trent loved it, too! (Out 10/10/17)
- The Noisy Little Rooster by Carmen Agra Deedy: I can definitely now understand why everyone is sharing this picture book as one to use in civics classrooms or during social justice units. It is about not being quiet in the face of oppression.
- Triangle by Mac Barnett: I don’t think Klassen and Barnett can do any wrong. This was probably Trent’s favorite book we read at ILA. He had me read it at least 5 times, he wore a Triangle tattoo for days, and we now have a Triangle poster on his door. I can’t wait for the other two in the series.
- Ice Boy by David Ezra Stein: What a fun book about the water cycle that wasn’t actually about the water cycle but instead about an ice cube family. Trent loved this one, too. Another we reread multiple times at ILA.
- Sing, Don’t Cry by Angela Dominguez: I’d never read any of Dominguez’s work, and now I need to read everything. I thank Katie at Macmillan for sharing this one with me–it was beautiful.
- Out! by Arree Chung: A one-word picture book whose illustrations tell the majority of the funny story about a baby and his dog friend.
- Are We Pears Yet? by Miranda Paul: I loved this unconventional nonfiction picture book! It is about seeds and plants and pears yet is funny and unique and like nothing I’ve ever read.
- Little Elliott, Fall Friends by Mike Curato: Another loveable Little Eliott book with Mouse.
- Nibbles: The Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett: Check out my review!
- What’s Below? by Clive Gifford: This book reminded me of Kate Messner’s Over and Under series but with only a spread per scene and with pop-ups.
- The Currious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie: Review coming this week!
Graphic Novels
- Swing It, Sunny by Jennifer L. Holm: A perfect sequel to Sunny Side Up which focuses more on her life at home and her family. (Out 9/12/17)
- Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey: I love Dav Pilkey. Everything he does. And I know kids will be more than ecstatic to see Dog Man 3. (Out 8/29/17)
- All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson: Imogene is starting public school for the first time, and she’s trying to balance it and her family’s Renaissance Faire life. (Out 9/5/17)
MG/YA Novels
- Edison’s Alley and Hawking’s Hallway by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman:
- Dear Martin by Nic Stone: A heart-wrenching novel about a young Black boy’s struggle after being detained by the police without reason. (Out 10/17/17)
- Vanished!: A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti: Review coming soon!
- Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling: Review coming soon!
- The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten: Whoa! I now understand why the Schneider Committee honored this book. I loved it so much. And the audio is highly recommended. It is a funny but super realistic look at an OCD support group.
- Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: The ending, guys! You must read it for the ending! Well, you must read it no matter what, but THE ENDING! (Out 10/17/17)
- The Nest by Kenneth Oppel: Well, I finally did it. I read The Nest even though you all warned me about how creepy it was, but I did it! It is Coraline level awesome creepy–you are all right. It is a super dark yet brilliant read.
- The Princess and the Page by Christina Farley: A fun fairy tale twist on the power of words! I hope there is going to be a sequel. Get this book for your fans of E.D. Baker.
- Unwind, Unstrung, and Unwholly by Neal Shusterman: I am so glad I reread Unwind before starting the rest of the series as I realized I hadn’t remembered it as much as I’d thought. WHOA! It is still amazing and $&!% just hits the fan in book 1.5 and 2. Waiting for 3 & 4 from the library.
- The Last Fifth Grade Class of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan: Loved the inclusion of diversity, civics, and poetry in the book. This really makes it perfect for a classroom read. Also, thank you to Laura for including all of the poetry resources at the back of the book.
- The Serpent King by Jeff Zenter: READ THIS! I had a small fear that I wouldn’t like this book because of the hype, but I was wrong. (And the audiobook was great!) You should read my tweets when I was reacting to the book. It truly puts you on a terribly wonderful emotional roller coaster.
- The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street by Lindsay Currie: Review coming soon! (Out 10/17/17)
- The Real Us by Tommy Greenwald: Review coming soon! (Out 8/8/17)
Ricki
I am moving across the country to Colorado to start my new job at Colorado State University! Yahoo! This week I am working on getting settled and finding everything I need (including my computer!). I’ll see you all next week!
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee
I am currently listening to The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. I’m giving it a second go as an audiobook. The last time I started it, I just wasn’t in the mood for a world-building book, so I hope the audiobook sucks me in. I am also reading Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Calgi Gallicano which I’m 50% of the way through, and readers of Riordan are going to LOVE this one!
I also have these 4 books on hold at the library, so I will read them when I get them. Hopefully. I am back at work for 21 hours this week then preplanning starts next week (and I agreed to write a couple of teaching guides before 8/2), so I don’t know how much reading I’ll get to as the beginning of the year is so draining. Bye summer 🙁 But hello new students and sharing books 🙂
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Twenty Favorite Graphic Novels by Amar & Luke, 8th grade, and Omar & Ethan, 6th grade
Wednesday: Scanorama Series (Amazing Animals, Dinosaurs, & Deadly Predators) by Anna Claybourne
Thursday: Guest Review: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locket Hero by Rachel Renee Russell
Friday: The Curious Case of the Missing Mammoth by Ellie Hattie
Sunday: Author Guest Post!
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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That is a WHOLE LOT of reading Kellee, and congratulations on the new job, Ricki! Looks like you both are leading exciting reading lives.
I know! It is crazy to see it all listed in one place 🙂
A great list! Sometimes it’s crazy to think how much we read and crazier still that some people don’t even read one percent of that.
It is baffling that there are people who don’t read at all!
Wow, what a lot of books. I’ve noted some to look for, read others. Have a great reading week!
Hope you like what you come across in your reading life 🙂
Good luck with your move, unpacking, and new job Ricki!
Kellee, I am super excited for Long Way Down. I can’t wait to get to it. What a bunch of great titles. I really loved Sing, Don’t Cry. I am eager to share it again with students. I read it to one grade at the end of the school year and they really enjoyed it.
Crystal, I cannot wait to talk to more people about Long Way Down! If you want to chat about it when you read it, let me know 🙂
I am going to definitely get Sing, Don’t Cry to read to my students–I cannot wait!
Wow, Kellee! Did you get out into the sun at all? And good luck on the move, Ricki. Never a fun process, but exciting.
I live in Florida so there is always sun 😛
So many great books! Renato and the Lion is one I definitely need to check out. I’m hoping to read Insignificant Events soon. Forget Me Knot is in the stack I got from the library. It sounds really good.
We’ll share thoughts on Forget Me Not next week if we both get to it 🙂
Renato and Cactus are both must reads–I hope you are able to get to them.
Phew! That’s a lot of reading, Kellee! I’m impressed!
Continued good luck on your move and exploring your new hometown, Ricki!
Awww, thanks Beth! 🙂 Summer time is the best time when it comes to reading!
That is crazy seeing all of your reading laid out like that!
I preordered the Guardians book because of your review 🙂
Good luck with school! I can’t believe it’s starting all ready!