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
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Tuesday: Ten Favorite Books That Feature Food
Wednesday: National Geographic Kid’s What Would Happen?
Thursday: Landscape with Invisible Hand by M.T. Anderson
Friday: Review with Giveaway and YouTube Video!: Bruce’s Big Move by Ryan T. Higgins
Giveaway open until Thursday!!!
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee
My parents were in town last weekend into early last week, so reading didn’t really happen (neither did commenting on blogs–SORRY!), but I was able to finish my audiobook and one of my ALAN books.
- Stella By Starlight by Sharon Draper is a book that I think is one that is perfect for introducing kids to the idea of racism. The book overall is Stella’s story of her every day life. She struggles in school, she gets in trouble, and something happens in her family; but more than that, it is the story of freed Black Americans fighting racism in their town.
- The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller is a sci-fi book where a man believes he has made the perfect world, so he created New Earth with only the richest and most intelligent people of Old Earth. He uses a system called The Intercept as a weapon to keep everyone safe. The Intercept uses memories and emotions as a weapon against disobedience and criminal behavior. Violet, President Rowley’s daughter, begins to figure out that something is going on that is threatening the safety, and she is certain she can figure it out. This was one epic novel!
Ricki
We enjoyed Pug & Pig Trick-or-Treat by Sue Lowell Gallion! It is an adorable story that we’ve read a few times this week. This duo is always a pleasure to read.
Henry and I have been reading a little bit of Making Scents by Arthur Yorinks each night. It tells the story of a boy who was raised as a dog. When his parents pass away, he goes to his aunt and uncle’s house, and they are not pleased to have a boy who thinks he is a dog in their house. I recommend this book for upper elementary or lower middle school readers. It’s a fun graphic novel that was interesting to read.
I REREAD Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. My students are reading it this week, and I wanted to refresh my memory. It was just as enjoyable to read the second time.
I finished listening to The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock. I really enjoyed this book and loved the audio. I plan to read it in print, as well. I think it would be enjoyable in different ways in print.
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee
I am taking a break from audiobooks for a bit to listen to S-Town, a podcast created by a producer of This American Life. It is hard to describe what it is about, but it begins with a man from Alabama contacting the producer about a suspected murder in his town that he believes is being covered up because the perpetrator is the richest teen in town. But then it ends up not being about that at all. It is very good–I highly recommend it. I am currently on Chapter 4 of 7, so I hope to finish it this week.
My other ALAN panelist is Jodi Lynn Anderson, and I am just starting her newest, Midnight at the Electric. It is also about someone leaving Earth for somewhere else, but I think that is where the similarities with Dark Intercept will end. Hopefully I have time to finish it this week.
Ricki
Life has been really crazy, but I am really looking forward to diving into Turtles All the Way Down by John Green.
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Ten Unique Book Titles
Wednesday: Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty
Thursday: Pug & Pig Trick or Treat by Sue Lowell Callion
Friday: Brave Red, Smart Frog: A New Book of Old Tales by Emily Jenkins
Sunday: Author Guest Post from Laura Gehl, Author of Peep and Egg
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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Kellee, How wonderful to have family come to visit. I enjoyed Stella and agree with your comments.
The Dark Intercept sounds fascinating.
Ricki,
I loved The Smell of Other People’s Houses when I listened to it earlier this year. My library has Turtles All the Way Down on order, but I have already got so many books on my list.
Making Scents sounds very interesting. I have never heard of that one. Pug & Pig are so adorable. For some reason, my students love any book with a pug.
Glad you had a fun time with your family. We can’t read every minute of the day, can we? 🙂
Thanks for the reminder about Stella By Starlight. I have that on my TBR list.
Have a great week, Kellee!
Augusta
Stella By Starlight and Brown Girl Dreaming are both awesome. Those were both popular in my classroom. Have a great week!
Kellee, looks like you had a great time this weekend!
I just got the new Peep and Egg book today, I love that series! I’m going to use it with my 2nd graders this week, I think!
Looking forward to hearing about EARTH. Stacy told me about it this summer, sounds fun!
Kellee – I have Stella by Starlight on my TBr shelf – I really need to get to it! I;m not sure I’ve read a Draper novel before, but I’ve certainly heard great things about them. The Dark Intercept sounds really intriguing – just the sort of sci fi plot I enjoy.
Ricki – I LOVED Brown Girl Dreaming, too. I both listened on audio (read by the author – incredible) and got a copy out of the library to see how the poems were laid out on the pages. Both were amazing! You’ve chosen some wonderful books to use in your class!
Hope you both enjoy your books this week –
Sue
Book By Book
I enjoyed Stella by Starlight very much, and liked your words about Landscape of Invisible Hand, love all books by M.T. Anderson, Kellee. Glad you had fun with your family. Ricki, Brown Girl Dreaming is a lovely read, and I just saw Pug & Pig earlier today for the first time, guess I should find it! Just got “Turtles. . .” but I have to read Maggie Stiefvater’s new book first! Happy Reading both of you!
Love hearing about your reading and family adventures ladies. Happy reading this week!