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: Introduction to Text Sets for Teachers Series
Wednesday: Text Sets for Teachers: Growing Pains: Looking at the Subject of Coming of Age
Thursday: Text Sets for Teachers: What is a Hero?: Exploring the Concept of a Hero
Friday: Text Sets for Teachers: Prejudice: Is It Something We Can Control?
Sunday: Text Sets for Teachers: The Power of Words: Witnessing the Impact of Words
**Click on any picture/link to view the post**
Last Week’s Journeys
Kellee: So…. this wasn’t as good of a reading week. My life was PACKED this week with holiday parties, Christmas programs, Disney trips, and visiting family, so I just didn’t get as much reading in as I wanted. This week I finished nothing; however, I had a lot of fun with my family 🙂
Ricki: I finished listening to The Martian by Andy Weir. It was okay. I found it to be suspenseful and interesting, but I didn’t love the writing. I think the author is incredibly intelligent, but language isn’t his strongest skill. Overall, I was engaged from the beginning until the end, so I can’t complain. I also finished Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. The topic will connect with many teens, and I felt Simon’s sense of loneliness. I wanted to give him a warm hug. Henry and I read two Candlewick picture books by Bob Graham: A Bus Called Heaven and Let’s Get a Pup! Both were fun, and Henry enjoyed the illustrations. I liked the sense of advocacy in A Bus Called Heaven.
This Week’s Expeditions
Kellee: I have a pile of graphic novels and picture books that I got from the library based off of recommendations on IMWAYR posts. I cannot wait to tackle the pile during break. My 2nd period and I have a competition going about who can read more–me or one of them, so we’ll see how it goes! I also plan to read The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart, when Michele tells me to :), Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro, and a few other books for review.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday if you celebrate, and I hope all my teacher friends enjoy the first week of their break!
Ricki: I am reading Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polansky and really enjoying it. It is on my #mustreadin2015 list.
Upcoming Week’s Posts
Tuesday: Finding the Line: What is “Good?”
Wednesday: Good vs. Evil: Exploring Morality Through the Holocaust
Thursday: Gender’s Lens: Society’s Views and Expressions of Gender
Friday: Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!
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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You did some amazing posts this week, and I imagine many teachers enjoyed the ideas and books shared. Have a wonderful Christmas with your families, especially those two darling boys! They’re getting old enough to be so surprised about what happens at Christmas, aren’t they?
I hope so, Linda! The teachers did such a nice job. We were excited to feature their text sets! Henry talks about Santa every day. I think he may be understanding the concept! Merry Christmas to you!
Trent is starting to understand Christmas–specifically Santa and presents. I think this shows the 3 month difference between our boys 🙂
Have a wonderful Christmas as well!!
Ah yes, the seasonal craziness is upon us. I am in the throws of finishing up home made projects and am so thankful for audiobooks. Hope you all have a fabulous holiday.
I agree that audio books are great for that kind of thing. I am especially appreciative of them when I am driving. Enjoy the holidays!
I’m sucked into podcasts, so that is what I am listening to right now.
Holiday time is quite crazy, but also so wonderful 🙂
I’ve enjoyed the mentor text sets (even though I’m no longer teaching). I love seeing what these teachers have pulled together and their thinking behind it. Enjoy your celebrations and break! I hope you both have much happy reading in the days ahead–and lots of time to enjoy family and friends, too.
Thanks, Kay! I am happy that you’ve enjoyed them. I am no longer teaching at the high school level, but I’ve enjoyed them very much, too! Happy holidays!
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed them–I have as well. So well done 🙂
Have a wonderful time with your family as well!
Kellee – I can understand Christmas planning getting in the way of your reading! The same thing is happening to me. Ricki – I, too, was just so-so about The Martian, but the movie is really good! It’s not often that the movie is better than the book, but I think it was this time.
I don’t enjoy movies very much, but I think I will watch it. I’ve heard that from a few people!
It has definitely hurt my reading, but it is helping my heart 🙂
I like that you have a reading challenge with students, lol. I’ll be rooting for you!
And, good luck on your #mustread challenge. I know I’m trying to finish my list.
I am getting pretty worried that I won’t finish, but I tried!
I’m probably not going to finish my #mustread (I’m at 17 out of 25, I think), but I do think I will beat my kids! Here’s hoping! Thanks for the cheer leading, Early 🙂
Ricki – Glad you enjoyed The Martian – I think that one may be better read than on audio. I bet the technical/science bits dragged a bit on audio. Have you seen the movie yet? It’s great! I have heard good things about Gracefully Grayson.
Kellee – Good luck on your competition! Sounds like fun!
Hope you both enjoy the holidays with your sons – they are at such a great age for the magic of the season 🙂
Sue
Book By Book
I plan to watch the movie! Yes, I don’t recommend it on audio for the exact reason you mention! Happy holidays!
Thank you! I want to win, but I almost hope that they beat me 🙂
I am loving Christmas with Trent–it is so wonderful to experience Christmas this way!
The Honest Truth is such a tough read but a really good one. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
I’ve not read anything about it (I try to avoid summaries of books I know I really want to read), but I do know that it causes tears. I’m waiting for the right time to read it, and I will definitely share what I think.
Fun that you have a reading competition going Kellee. I hope your break is wonderful and you are able to enjoy many great books.
Rikki, I too enjoyed meeting Simon. Yay for getting to another #MustRead book. The Honest Truth is a tough one, but I’m glad I read it.
Thank you, Crystal 🙂