IMWAYR

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 from Childhood (or Teen Years) We’d Like to Revisit

Friday: Review and Author Guest Post “Josh, Harrison & Dad’s Excellent Adventure” by Henry L. Herz, Author of Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Spring break was good to me! I am so proud of myself because I did a good job of relaxing, spending time with family, and reading. I finished five novels!!! Woot! I enjoyed all of them, but three are new favorites.Both Big Fat Disaster by Beth Fehlbaum (such a hard book to read! And it just kept getting worse and worse!) and The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer (a look at art, poetry, and reality TV) were very good; however, 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith, Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, and Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle were just so superb. Andrew Smith is just amazing at crafting a plot with fascinating characters! His books often seem like just another teen book, but then he is able to make them so special. Counting by 7s is such a special book. I now understand why it is compared to Out of my Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird although I find a lot of comparisons to Fish in a Tree as well. Willow Chance is such an amazing little girl, and the way she is able to change the world around her even in the midst of grieving is inspiring. Finally, Better Nate Than Ever was the perfect book to read this week. It was funny, heart-warming, and had musicals!! I want to go back to high school (I never say that!) at my arts high school, bring Nate with me, and be his best friend! (And btw, the audiobook is so great!)

Like Henry (see below), Trent is only interested in certain books. It makes me a bit sad that he throws fits if we try a new book, but I also love that he has favorites. We were able to squeeze in two new ones in between favorites: Look by Jeff Mack (the personality of this book shines! I also love the use of only 2 words) and Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by James Dean (nothing lives up to the original, but I love that we could read about Easter with Trent’s favorite character).

Ricki: For those of you kind folks who are tracking my long progress in the doctoral program, I am excited to say that I submitted my materials for my comprehensive exams—which are one month from today. AH! I will keep you all posted about how this goes. This week, I made a lot of progress in many books, and I also finished a picture book, Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku  by Lee Wardlaw. It was good fun, and I particularly recommend it for use in middle or high school settings. It is important to infuse picture books into older classrooms. With scaffolding and assistance from an adult, young kids would also enjoy navigating this fun book. I think it is very important to challenge our students, and the balance of vocabulary and a fun storyline will make this book a great resource to teachers.

Henry (who is 16 months old now) shows strong preferences for books. He only wants to read truck books. Like an adult, his draws his pointer finger across the bindings until he reaches any book with the title, Trucks (and his grandmother has bought just about every truck board book that exists). I can recite the position of each of those tractors, skid steers, and all-terrain vehicles on the pages in my sleep. I am excited that he said his first word this week—“car!” (I don’t think “Mama,” “Dada,” “uh oh,” “no,” and “okay” count, right?). So along with a book update, you got a life update. Sorry—next week, it is back to books.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I have already downloaded Five, Six, Seven, Nate because I cannot wait to hear what happens to Nate next! I also plan on starting Hunt for the Bamboo Rat by Graham Salisbury tonight. We’re also trying to read a few new books with Trent, including another Easter book, but we’ll see.

Ricki: Still reading and enjoying Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin. My book club meets Tuesday, so I will definitely be done with this one within 48 hours. 🙂 I also listened to three more discs of East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I love it—but I find it very disturbing. I think I’ve reached disc 15 out of 23. It’s quite epic.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

    

Tuesday: Ten Books We’ve Recently Added to Our To-Be-Read Lists

Thursday: #MustReadin2015 Spring Update

Sunday: Author Guest Post by Sue Duff, Author of Fade to Black and Mask and Mirrors

 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!

  and

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 On Our Spring TBRs

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post!: “A Love for Reading Begets Passionate Writing” by Jake Marcionette, Author of Just Jake

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This last week I read two very different YA novels: Words and their Meaning by Kate Bassett and Noggin by John Corey Whaley. Words may be one of the most depressing and emotionally-intense book I’ve read in a while. Noggin, on the other hand, was a bit emotionally-intense, but it also was super unique and quite funny. I can see why it was a National Book Award finalist (though I wish the focus had been a bit more on Travis and less on Cate).

I also read two picture books this week: The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bike by Jude Isabella and Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes by Henry L. Hetz. I loved the story of The Red Bicycle. It just shows how one thing can change so many peoples’ lives. Monster Goose will be reviewed on Friday, so stop back.

With Trent, we are continuing to read the same books over and over (see our 9-12 month favorites list). I try to switch it up, but he is just not interested. I now have Fifteen Animals by Sandra Boynton, Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton, and Pete the Cat by Erit Litwin & James Dean completely memorized.

Ricki: I finished Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil, which is nothing about outer space. The main character reminds me of Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Last week, I compared it to other books, but all in all, it is quite lovely. I hate movies and don’t like video gaming, but it incorporated these two topics in a way that was interesting to me. This book would be a fantastic addition to classrooms. 

Henry and I received a lot of great, new books this week from relatives. His favorite is Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder. It doesn’t have much depth, but the scanimation part is admittedly cool. The animals run when you move the pages.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening to Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan, but this week is spring break which means I may not listen to as much as I do on a work week. Trent is home with me this week as well, so I am going to try to read 5-7 books this week; however, it is going to be tough. We’ll see!! I am going to start 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith tonight as book one.

Ricki: I started reading Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin this week, and I love it. I am still working on balancing work and life, so while this one book a week thing is making me feel pathetic, it just has to do. My date for my comprehensive exams is on April 30, so I have been doing a lot of planning for them. 

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Books from Childhood (or Teen Years) We’d Like to Revisit

Friday: Review and Author Guest Post “Josh, Harrison & Dad’s Excellent Adventure” by Henry L. Herz, Author of Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes

 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!

  and

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 for Readers Who Like Nonfiction

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I read When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds. Now that I’ve read the book, I love the cover so much! I know it has gotten a lot of publicity over its portrayal of a gun on the cover, but if you read the book, it is a perfect cover for a special book.

I also finished listening to The Family Romanov which deserves any award that is has received. Candance Fleming’s research is flawless and the fascinating story is told brilliantly with a mix of narrative about the Romanovs, information about the state of Russia, and primary sources.

Additionally, I finished reading Endangered with my students. The loved the book, hopefully as much as I did. It took us a bit to read it, but it was because they wanted to talk so much about it. They had so many questions and were so invested! I cannot wait until after spring break when we get to Skype with Eliot Schrefer. (I would like to add that the end of that book ALWAYS gets me. I cannot read it without crying. It is so perfect.)  We are starting Hurt Go Happy on April 1st, and I cannot wait to share another of my favorite books with my amazing kids.

Ricki: This week, I read a professional development text—James Paul Gee’s An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method. I know that sounds boring, but it was actually quite interesting! It made me think about how our language reveals power relationships and our figured worlds (the ways we understand the world). I listened to two more CDs of East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I think I am on disc 11 out of 23, but I am probably wrong. I love it. It makes my rides very enjoyable!

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I started Words and Their Meaning by Kate Bassett on Friday, and so far I am enjoying the voice. I also plan on beginning the audiobook of Counting by 7s on Monday. I am so excited to FINALLY be reading it!

Ricki: I am almost finished with Melissa Keil’s Life in Outer Space. I will probably be done with it tomorrow. It is delightful (Paper Towns meets Stargirl). Then, I plan to read Ann M. Martin’s Rain Reign. I am a bit behind on pleasure reading, but I plan to go crazy this summer. 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what everyone else is reading this week!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Books On Our Spring TBRs

Sunday: Author’s Guest Post!: “A Love for Reading Begets Passionate Writing” by Jake Marcionette, Author of Just Jake

 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!

  and

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 Would Classify As ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS Read In The Past 3 Years

Wednesday: A First Year Full of Books Video: Trent’s Journey Through Books
During Trent’s first year, we took a photo of every book we read to him. This slideshow documents our journey through books with Trent from three days old to one year old. 

Thursday: Litweaver
A new website for teachers to access hundreds of different texts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week didn’t seem long, but when I think back a lot happened this week! I was able to finish two novels this week. Both were unique and well done, but VERY different. First I read Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs which was a good senior year /figuring out who you are book. Then I finished Playing for the Commandant by Suzy Zail which was about a young pianist who was chosen as the commandant’s pianist at Aushwitz-Birkenau. It was interesting to read them one after another because Breakfast was a very emotionally driven book written in almost a journal format while Playing was much more matter-of-fact.

On Mondays and Thursdays, Jim, Trent, and I are now going to the park to go for a walk (run for Jim), and Trent and I have been listening to audiobooks while we walk. Last Monday we had the pleasure of listening to Mercy Watson to the Rescue and Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo. I am always so blown away by DiCamillo’s ability to tell these perfect stories and use such perfect language. There is no question that she is one of the best around. Within all of our rereading we also read (then reread and reread) a new book he got for his birthday: Duck and Goose Colors. I like reading it because Trent now says “quack quack” if you ask what a duck says, so this book is perfect to get him to say it.

Ricki: Happy Monday, friends! I am still working on my YAL grant and also a manuscript about the evolution of a struggling reader’s identity when she is exposed to YAL. It’s all fun stuff. I’ve been up every night until about 3am working on these (ah, the life of a mom!), so the writing has taken precedence to reading. I suspect I will get back in the grove within the next week or two. This week, Henry and I read a new book, Second Banana by Keith Graves. It tells the story of Bubbles, a monkey who is the top banana of the circus show, and his friend Oop, a gorilla who wants to be something more than second banana. Henry and I also read Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton a few times (I’ve been practicing my singing voice) and several pop-up and lift-the-flap books. He is a big fan of those books, and his grandmother keeps buying new ones.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am almost done with The Family Romanov. It is such an eye opener! I am learning so much about the time period. I am also going to start When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds.

With Trent, we started listening to Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne while walking, so we’ll continue that on Monday.

Ricki: I am still working on Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil, but I love it. If I wasn’t so focused on writing YAL stuff, I would have devoured it long ago! Of course, East of Eden is still playing in my car. I think I am on disc ten, and I still love it. That Cathy is a memorable character!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

   

Tuesday: Top Ten Books for Readers Who Like Nonfiction

 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!

  and

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 Favorite Book Heroines

Wednesday: Trent & Kellee’s Favorite Picture Books: 9 to 12 months

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: Last week I finished The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters. Wow! Winters sure knows how to tell a compelling, bit-odd, unique story! So glad I read it, and I have loved talking about it with my student who also loved it.

With Trent, we read Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss over a couple of days. Man, what complicated tongue twisters! But they are actually kind of fun to read. Next to that, we reread whatever book he chose for us.

Ricki: I have been writing a grant related to young adult literature, so much of my time has been spent on that. I am looking to do some pretty hefty research and want to pay my participants. I did read one fun book I received from Macmillan called Presidential Misadventures: Poems that Poke Fun at the Man in Charge. The book features a short poem and humorous drawing about each president. I learned a lot and giggled quite a few times. I read this one aloud to my son and husband, and they enjoyed it. 🙂

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am currently listening to The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming, and I am just enthralled in the history of the Romanov family. It is just as juicy as any fiction book out there! I also am about halfway through Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs. I really like the smart, funny female lead in this one. I look forward to finishing it this week.

Ricki: I am still reading Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil and listening to East of Eden by John Steinbeck (22 or 23 discs, so it is a long endeavor).

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We Would Classify As ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS Read In The Past 3 Years

Wednesday: A First Year Full of Books Video: Trent’s Journey Through Books

 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!

  and

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 Book Related Problems We Have

Friday: How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday by Jane Yolen (& Can You Believe Trent is ONE?!)

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This was a crazy week for us! I was planning for Trent’s birthday party all week, so I didn’t get much reading done though I did finish listening to The Lion of Little Rock by Kristin Levine which was so wonderful! I am so glad that I listened to it.

The only new book Trent and I read this week was How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jane Yolen which I reviewed on Friday. It was a great birthday book.

Ricki: This week, I finished another book on my #mustreadin2015 list: The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. The writing was stunning, and I was happy to go back and read her guest post from last year. Everyone in my YA book club loved it, and we had a fun time discussing it. I suspect many of you have already read it, but if you haven’t I highly recommend it. I also finished The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers by Johnny Saldaña. My head is spinning at all of the coding possibilities. It was a good read, overall, though.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still reading The Cure for Dreaming which I am very much enjoying. Cat Winters is such a unique writer! In the car, I am going to start listening to The Family Romanov which I am very much looking forward to.

Ricki: Kellee has been telling me to read Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil for quite some time. I finally got around to ordering it via Interlibrary Loan and am excited to read it!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

  

Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Book Heroines

Wednesday: Trent & Kellee’s Favorite Picture Books: The First Year

 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!

  and

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 Things We Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Three Bowls of Porridge” by Lisa Heathfield, Author of Seed

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

 Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: I read The Crossover this week, and I am so glad I did! I am so happy that a book that won the Newbery is one that I love and that is accessible to my students. Oh, and it is diverse! I cannot wait to review this book because this is a book that belongs in a classroom.

With Trent, we read Pete the Cat probably 15 times, Fifteen Animals probably 10 times, and Personal Penguin probably 5 times. The boy finally has favorite books! I know it will eventually become tedious, right now I am loving that he loves these books.

Ricki: I was boring this week. I read 200 pages in a manual about coding qualitative data and read half of a book on qualitative data analysis. Henry has started a new sleeping trend. We read the typical 4-5 books together. Then, we put him down to sleep. He cries and cries unless we read another 4-5 books. We have tried starting off with ten books. Nope. The break—when Mommy and Daddy say goodnight—is required between the ten books. I am not quite sure how to break this trend, but hey, at least the kid wants to read! His current favorites are Trucks by Roger Priddy (a slide and find book), B is for Bear by Roger Priddy (a fantastic alphabet book) and Where’s Spot by Eric Hill (a lift the flap book). He reads each of these at least 15 times per day. 

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I am still listening the The Lions of Little Rock, and I am loving it! I am actually listening to it at the same time one of my students is reading it, so I am really enjoying chatting with her about it. As for what book I’m going to read this week, I am going to have to decide, but I think I am going to grab The Cure for Dreaming because I student loved it, and I would love to chat with her about it as well. Trent and I will probably continue reading the same books, but I do want to get Fox in Socks in there because my aunt gave it to Trent and haven’t gotten to it yet.

Ricki: This week, I will be finishing The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer. My friend, Wendy, gave me several new picture books for Henry, so I am excited to get to those, too.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

 

Tuesday: Top Ten Book Related Problems We Have

Friday: How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday by Jane Yolen (& Can You Believe Trent is ONE?!)

 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!

  and