It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. 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!
Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee 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 Books We Wouldn’t Mind Santa Bringing Henry and Trent This Year
You can see ADORABLE photos of both boys on our Wednesday and Thursday post.
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee: I have been trying very hard to read a #bookaday during the winter break. I have been semi-successful which has resulted in some good reading (though as I was typing I realized that 4 out of the 5 novels were compilations!):
- One for the Murphys is such a tremendous book–ended in an ugly cry! If you were like me and haven’t read it yet, move it up your pile.
- Explorer: Hidden Doors is another great compilation put together by Kazu Kibuishi. I love seeing all of the different stories revolving around one theme.
- Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists was another pretty good compilation, but this time it was all fairy tales. I love that they included many different styles of cartoonists and fairy tales.
- Strong Female Protagonist is a graphic novel of the popular web comic. If you haven’t read it, you can check it out online or buy the GN when it comes out.
- Big Nate’s Greatest Hits is a comic compilation of Big Nate. His books are always quite funny. I really like Nate (so much more than Greg!), and his stories crack me up.
- Sophie Scott Goes South is a nonfiction book but with a fiction protagonist (if that makes sense). I loved how the book taught about Antarctica and science while also making it an adventure.
Ricki: This week, I finished All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, and I was completely blown away by this book. I did some rearranging of the calendar, and my full review will be this Thursday. It was one of those books I needed to share with others as soon as possible. It is reminiscent of some great YA texts, but yet, it is very different. I also finished the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone audio book. I liked it, but as I said in the past weeks, I didn’t fall in love with it. I completely understand why others enjoy it, but it didn’t have the depth I had hoped for. Please don’t be offended if you love this book! Henry and I also enjoyed The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. It made us giggle.
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee: I started A Snicker of Magic on Sunday, and I will definitely finish it. My parents have been here, so it has been harder to read instead of spending time with them; however, they leave today, so I will have a bit more reading time this week. After Snicker, I plan on reading Counting by 7s, Fish in a Tree, All the Bright Places, and Gabi, a Girl in Pieces. Hopefully I can read all of them during break. I also have a HUGE picture book pile that I need to make a dent in.
Ricki: A friend has been urging me to listen to East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I am a huge Steinbeck fan, so I am excited. I am not sure how I feel about the TWENTY-TWO CDs, though! I also just started The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley, a 2015 Morris Finalist.
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish/Blog Goals/Resolutions for 2014
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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Happy Reading on your breaks! And Happy New Year to you both!
And to you Linda!
Thanks, Linda!
Wow, Kellee – I can’t believe how much you read last week! That’s great. Counting by 7’s has been on my TBR list for a while now – hope you enjoy it. I’ve heard great things about it.
Ricki, one of my closest friends says that East of Eden is her favorite book of all time! We read it for our book group, and I struggled with it a bit – liked it OK just didn’t love it, though I do enjoy Steinbeck generally. I’ll be interested to hear what you think. I bet it’s good on audio.
Hope you are both enjoying the holiday season with your families. Happy New Year!
Sue
Book By Book
I know! It felt great! I love having time to read. It has been hard figuring out how to balance reading, working, and Trent, so getting rid of working really made it so I had time for the other two 😉 One more week of break–let’s see how much I can read! 🙂
Hi!
I love all things Steinbeck, but I am a little more hesitant now that you said you struggled!
I will certainly keep you posted!
All the Bright Places is on my 52 TBR list for 2015. Can’t wait! Happy New Year!
It may be my first book of 2015 🙂
52! I saw you were on the MustRead2014 challenge. Kellee and I are joining this year!
I’m boycotting books like All the Bright Places, or anything that deals with suicide, because it’s not a topic that is amusing or informative in any way. There have been so many books on it lately, and I’m just DONE. Luckily, there are a few books out there that are thought provoking and interesting without getting overly depressing!
I can completely understand that. I have no idea what All the Bright Places is about (I’ll read Ricki’s review this week), but I know it is being loved by many. I’ll probably give it a try; however, there are times when I find myself completely ignoring depressing books just because they aren’t fun.
AH! We are on completely different pages, but I will agree to disagree. It is interesting because my review discusses the importance of books that deal with mental health. I had several students who were very depressed, and for me, it is important for them to feel less alone. I suppose that is why we all have slightly different tastes and interests.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of A Snicker of Magic, Kellee!
ME TOO!
So far I am really enjoying Natalie’s language. Beautiful! It is a bit quirky, so it actually took me a bit, but I am getting into the groove now.
Love the pictures of the boys from last week!
Love the reading that’s been happening, I love seeing all the new book reviews that are coming out!
Happy New Year 🙂
Thanks! Luckily both of our boys are just so darn cute we have to share them 🙂
Happy new year!
Thanks, Michele. You are such a great blogger friend. <3
I just bought Carnival of Bray. I’m hoping to get all of the Morris finalists read in the next 2-3 weeks. 22 CDs… that’s a commitment! I’ve never read East of Eden. Maybe someday! Sophie Scott Goes South is one I need to put on my #Mustreadin2015 list. Hope you both find lots of reading time this week!
You will really like Sophie, Elisabeth. Good choice for your list. (I need to do a #mustreadin2015 list this year!)
I am impressed you are reading them all! I am going to read one for now and hope for the others soon. I always hope the one that I picked to read ends up winning, but having served on a committee, I know that the other four are usually just as worthy!
While I really like the Harry Potter series, I attempted to listen to it on audiobook (the first book) and just couldn’t enjoy it == not sure if it was the audio or my lack of audiobook experience….