It's Monday! What Are You Reading? March 24, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

Sidney, Stella and the Moon
by Emma Yarlett

 Yarlett's illustration immediately reminded me of those made by Oliver Jeffers. Story about sharing, or rather not wanting to, and two minds being better than one for a solution...

Dairy Queen (Dairy Queen #1)
by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

 I started listening to this book last Wednesday and was so enthralled, that I spent much of Friday night, lying on my bed, listening to the rest of it.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

hush, hush (Book 1)

by Becca Fitzpatrick

I am continuing to listen to hush, hush but I am at the point of maybe dropping it.  It's just not holding my attention.

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

These are the books I'm looking forward to reading this week.

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or havin

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? March 24, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

Please Bring Balloons
by Lindsay Ward

This was my favourite read of the week.  Its the story of a little girl who finds a note on a carousal polar bear that leads to a remarkable, possibly imagined, night time adventure.  Lindsay Ward's words are sweet, but it is really the illustrations that make the story so magical.  Using cut paper art, Ward not only uses her own illustrations, but re-uses found paper.  The houses in one scene are made from notebooks, with some even have writing on them.  The snowy grounds in the North Pole are really maps with a wash of white over top.  My favourite illustration, however, are the dozens of polar bears dancing, each bear having been cut out of a different sort of paper.  Children from grade one to three will be delighted by the story and the illustrations!  I am hoping to use this book to inspire my students to create their own paper-cut illustrations to celebrate Earth Day.


There are No Animals in this Book (Only Feelings)
by Chani Sanchez

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started Chani Sanchez book.  Part art appreciation, part feelings exploration, with a touch of humor, No Animals in this Book! (Only Feelings) was an interesting read. The pictures on each page are actual pieces of art, combined with Sanchez's words about feelings.  The author begins by stating that just like animals, feelings say things too.  This is an interesting analogy, and one that kids could connect with.  It is written in an conversational tone, with the animals interrupting from time to time, because they to want to be part of the story.  This style of writing has been made more popular by such books as  Chloe and the Lion, but in this case, I'm not sure that it adds anything to the story.  The addition of the animals seem more like an excuse to add certain pieces of art, rather than helping to connect with the idea of feelings.  Despite this I would still likely use this book in a grade one or two classroom to discuss ways of representing feelings through sound and art.

Ten Birds Meet a Monster
by Cybèle Young

Ten Birds Meet a Monster is this weeks Canadian pick.  The story is a sequel to Young's Ten Birds.  It tells the story of 10 birds who encounter what appears to be a monster, while exploring a room in a house.  These clever birds decide to try to scare the monster away by creating their own creatures.  Using clothing found strewn across the floor, the birds begin to create their own monsters, but no matter how many birds join in, the creature does not budge. The sentence structure in Young's book is simple, but rich in descriptive words.  Words like resourceful and creative are used to describe the birds, while indifferent and unmoved describe the monsters feelings.  The pen and ink drawings are detailed and intricate.  The simplicity of the black and white pictures gives the story a "thriller movie" feel and helps keep the audience wondering if the monster with ever make its move.  This book would be a great way to show student how adjectives and descriptive words can make simple phrases more exciting.  Young also uses ordinal numbers to tell the reader which bird joins in next, making it a useful book for reading in math.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

hush, hush (Book 1)

by Becca Fitzpatrick

I am continuing to listen to hush, hush but I am at the point of maybe dropping it.  It's just not holding my attention.

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

These are the books I'm looking forward to reading this week.

A Watermelon in the Sukkah
by Sylvia A. Rouss

Jane, the Fox and Me
by Fanny Britt & Isabelle Arsenault
Translated by Christine Morelli & Susan Ouriou

I'm picking this one up this week in preparation for next month's Winnipeg Children's Literature Roundtable's Amelia Award Read-In.

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? March 17, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

I finally finished up report cards this week, so I spent the weekend catching up on my reading.  There were lots of good finds that I can't wait to share.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)

by Marissa Meyer

I only just discovered The Lunar Chronicles Series a few months ago, so I was delighted to discover book three had just coming out.  I have loved the first two books, but Cress was by far my favourite.  Marissa Meyer has a gift for introducing new characters into each book without losing any momentum in the established characters' story lines.  The series, based loosely on familiar fairy tales, strays far enough away from them to keep you guessing about what will happen next.  There is some romance, but nothing more than the occasional kiss between action scenes.  My only complaint is that now I have to wait a whole year for book 4 aptly named Winter.

Francis, the Little Fox

written by Veronique Boisjoly, illustrated by Katty Maurey 

My Canadian book of the week, Francis, the Little Fox tells the story of adventure at the laundromat.  Francis and his father go every Saturday to wash their clothes.  Kids will enjoy the familiar routines the father and son have such as going for ice cream and and playing games while waiting for the spin cycle.  Francis has a run in with Lily, who likes to play tricks on people, and has to help find the laundromat owner's cat when it gets frightened by her latest trick.  The illustrations are simple with muted colours, and bring added humour to the story.  In the end, when Francis and his dad return home, we find out what Lily's final trick of the day is.  I promise its something the kids will get a kick out of.  A great book for kids in grade 1- 3, but it may be a big long for anyone younger than that.

Fraidyzoo

by Thyra Heder

This is a creative tale about Little T, who is hesitant to go on a family trip to the zoo because she is afraid of something.  The only problem is she can't remember what she is afraid of.  With the help of her family and various house hold items, Little T's parents and sister try to jog her memory.  They entire family creates elaborate, large scale replicas of animals using towels, cardboard, umbrellas and more.  Each new animal represents a letter of the alphabet, which Heder highlights for us on the back cover.    This book also speaks to a general sense of anxiety that children sometimes experience.  The way the family tries to help Little T name her fear in a fun and relaxed way is a great model for kids.  What I loved most about this book was the amazingly creative ways Little T and her family made the animals.  This would be a great book to use as a starter for students to try and make their own animals.

When You Reach Me

By Rebecca Stead

Over the past few months I have seen several people talking on twitter about this 2010 Newberry winner.  I happened to find a copy on CD at my local library and put it in this week to see what all the fuss was about.  For the first quarter of the book I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.  I wasn't a fan of Miranda's mother, or Sal her former best friends, or even of the main character Miranda.  But Rebecca Stead's words seemed to draw me in as it talked of a book about time travel, and a strange homeless man that sits on Miranda's corner every day.  Stead slowly unwraps each mystery and reveals its connection to the story.  If you give it a chance, When You Reach Me will draw you in.  There are several layers of story happening at the same time, and I know that I would discover new pieces of the puzzle if I re-read it.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

hush, hush (Book 1)

by Becca Fitzpatrick

This is an older series, which I just started yesterday.  I am not sure how I feel about it yet, the first few chapters have a very "Twilight" feel to them.

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

These are the books I'm looking forward to reading this week.

Please Bring Balloons
by Lindsay Ward

There are No Animals in this Book (Only Feelings)
by Chani Sanchez

Ten Birds Meet a Monster
by Cybèle Young

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? February 24, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

The Bear's Song
by Benjamin Chaud

A cute story by French author and illustrator Benjamin Chaud.  The story of Papa Bear as he searches through forest, city and theatre to find Baby Bear.  Chaud's word choice is interesting and definitely something I would point out if I were reading it to a class.  What really draws me to this book though are the illustrations.  The drawings are so intricate and detailed that you could look at them for hours and find new little vignettes each time you look, much like a Where's Waldo book.  I would recommend this book from students in grade 1 to 4, with the older students really focusing on the juicy words Chaud uses.

The Man with the Violin

by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Dusan Petricic

This book appeared just as we are starting a study in class about music and creativity, so I was thrilled that it was one of my reads this week.  I am always happy to discover a new Canadian picture book and The Man with the Violin is a delight.  It is the true story of a famous violinist playing in the subway told through the eyes of a child.  I love how Stinson weaves in the true story, but uses a fictional character as the focus.  Petricic, whose illustrations I am always a fan of, explores how music and noise can affect us through his use of colour.  The story begins with realistic situation, a child wanting to stop for a moment and enjoy the music, while his mother pulls him along, headed to where ever they are going.  I can't wait to share this with my class and with my music teacher.

The Invisible Boy

By Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton

Trudy Ludwig's story of a boy who doesn't quite fit in and doesn't quite feel noticed is both heartbreaking and hopeful.  Many children and adults can relate to Brian, who is always picked last and rarely invited to play.  Patrice Barton helps to express his feelings of invisibility through her drawing of Brian as just barely seen in each picture.  Things begin to change however when a new student arrives and takes notice of Brian.  This is a great book to use when discussing inclusion and how small acts of kindness can change someones day.  A great book for students from grade 1 to 3, it also includes discussion points and questions that can be used after reading the book. 

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)

by Marissa Meyer

I am excited to finally read listen to the newest installment in The Lunar Chronicles series.

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

This is the book or books I'm looking forward to reading this week.

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson
by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick

Herman and Rosie
By Gus Gordon

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? February 17, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

Last week I didn't post as I was distracted by the Olympics. So here are the books I've read, listened to and loved over the past two weeks.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
by Katie DiCamillo, Illustrated by K.G.Campbell

This year's Newberry winner is such an amazing and uplifting book that I can't stop thinking about it.  The story of a girl (Flora) and her intelligent squirrel (Ulysses) touches on the themes of friendship, belonging, acceptance, bravery, and family (both the ones we're born with and the ones we create).  The novel begs to be read out loud and would be best suited for students in later grade 2 and older.  The author introduces us to a variety of characters and gives each one depth, creating realistic and likable characters who have hopes, dreams, and flaws.  Through Flora & Ulysses' eyes we see the world as wonderous though sometimes uncertain and in the end, always full of love.

The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancey

All I can say is WOW!  The 5th Wave had twists and turns, some hinted at and others I never saw coming.  The story, told from several different perspectives, is about what happens when aliens come to visit and are not friendly.  Yancey offers a slightly different take on the alien apocalypse, a version where there are no death rays or explosions, but a systematic wiping out of the human race.  Each wave of their plan dwindles down the number of humans on the planet and everyone is waiting for the next one, the 5th one.  I really enjoyed the book, both the action sequences and the quieter moments between characters.  I found I had a similar reaction to this book as I did to some of the historical fiction I've picked up in the past few weeks.  I wondered, as I listened, if I would be able to survive in the world of the book, and I'm still unsure if I could.  The first in what is projected to be a trilogy, the 5th wave left me wondering what comes next.

Bits & Pieces

by Judy Schachner

A sweet story of a somewhat dopey cat and his life with a family who loves him.  Schachner, author of the Skippyjon Jones series, creates a realistic view of life with a cat.  Being a cat lover myself, I could relate to some of the "helpful" habits the cats has, including sitting on the newspaper to "help" the human read it.  While two cats are on the cover, the story is really the adventures of the older cat and the trouble he often seems to find himself in.  This is an interesting book to use when talking about setting or prediction, and one that my students enjoyed it as much as I did. 


Genie Wishes
by Elisabeth Dahl

The story of Genie, a middle school student and class blogger, found its way into my hands because it is an upcoming selection for the #virtualbookclub.  I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own as I tend to read either elementary or young adult fiction.  Genie's story however, brought me back to middle school and its themes are ones that any tweenager could relate to.  The topics of friends drifting apart and navigating the beginnings of romantic relationships were both handled in a manner that allows Genie to be a role-model for young girls.  I would put this book in the hands of fifth and sixth graders because I know they would relate to both the characters and the situations.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2)

by Marissa Meyer

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

This is the book or books I'm looking forward to reading this week.

I didn't get to The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten, so it is on my night stand for the week.  Here are a few others: 
  
The Man with the Violin
by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Dusan Petricic

The Invisible Boy
By Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? February 3, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

Fortunately the Milk 
by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Skottie Young

 

As mentioned earlier I am a HUGE fan of Gaiman's work and have loved almost everything he has written.  Fortunately for me, Fortunately, The Milk did not disappoint.  The story has a variety of twists and turns including pirates, Wumpyres, Aliens and a very intelligent stegasaurus (not necessarily in that order).  Gaiman' writing style in this late elemantary/early middle school novel reminded me alot of Douglas Adams, with its cheeky absurdity that leaves you needing to know what happens next.  I think I was particularly fond of this story because I have a father who has been known to tell tall tales.  This would be a great book to read before having students write their own creative stories because there are so many ideas that can be pulled from it.

Pick a Circle, Gather a Square:

A Fall Harvest of Shapes

by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, illustrated by Susan Swan

It seems that 2014 is the year of reading great math books.  Pick a Circle... is a great companion book when teaching younger students about shapes in the environment.  Swan's collage and painting really bring the crisp feeling of fall to life.  Chernesky's rhyming phrases draw the readers attention to the shapes on the page, but leave some to be discovered on ones own.  My only reservation about this books is that it talks about diamonds which are not true geometric shapes, and from teaching older children that this can become confusing when we start to teach quadrilaterals.  A good book for kindergarten and grade 1 students, I can also see the opportunity for art activities inspired by Swan's illustrations.

Counting by 7s

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

I found this story of love, loss and change to be both inspiring and informative.  Willow, the main character, lives a very ordered life, where everything has its place and life makes sense.  A great loss sends her life into chaos and she is unsure how she will be able to go on.  Through Willow's eyes we see chaos turn to comfort. Golderberg Sloan creates an interconnected web of characters interspersing their own points of view through out the story.  I would recommend this book to any teacher whose had a student that has a hard time connecting with others and any students who has felt unconnected. 


Lion Vs Rabbit

by Alex Latimer

Lion is a wedgy giving, lunch monkey stealing, bully and none of the other animals know what to do about it.  Enter rabbit, ready to go nose to nose with Lion in any competition imaginable.  Latimer marries the pictures and text well, especially as the story progresses and the extent of Rabbit's cleverness is revealed..  His animal spin on stereotypical bullying behaviours can be easily recognized and is very amusing.  This story would be well received in a grade one or two classroom and would work well as a conversation starter on ways to handle bullies, or just to help imagine what animals might be like if they acted like humans.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancey

This one just happened to be available when I was searching for something new to listen to.  I have since been listening to it every chance I get!

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

This is the book or books on my to-read list for this week.

I am still working my way through Genie Wishes, but I think I will be done in the next day or so.  I also have a bag full of picture books to work through, so with hopefully have at least a few to share with you next week.

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

by Teresa Toten

A newer Canadian YA novel, it has been recommended to me by several friends.  The story of a boy in love, who also suffers from OCD. I am wondering if I will see any parallels between this and Counting by 7s.

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? January 27, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  I didn't get a lot of time for reading this week, but here are the books I did read, listened to and love.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

Hattie Big Sky

by Kirby Larson

It has been a long time since I've read historical fiction, but Larson's story reminded me just how great it can be.  Listening to Hattie's adventures this past week was reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie Series that some of my third graders are starting to discover this year.  As the story unfolded I found myself day dreaming of a "simpler" time and wondering if I would have the strength and gumption to build my own homestead at 16 years of age.  I'm not sure I could have.  The characters, who are well developed and believable, left me wishing they really existed.  In addition to an interesting and adventurous story, Larson provided historical details I hadn't known about.  There is nothing like being entertained and learning at the same time!  I can't wait to read the sequel Hattie Ever After in the near future.

The First Drawing
by Mordicai Gerstein

This week "the past" seems to be a reoccurring theme. The First Drawing is the imagining of how some of the earliest cave drawing came to be.  This story combines history, art and creative story telling, drawing the reader in.  I loved the idea that these first drawings were done by kids, and that they are front and center in this tale.  Gerstein's illustrations have earthy colours that create that caveman feel.  This is a story I would use near the beginning of the year to inspire my students to see the world through an artists eye.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute This Week

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

Fortunately the Milk 
by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Skottie Young 

 

I can't wait to start this one as I love Gaiman's storytelling style.

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

This is the book or books on my to-read list for this week.

Genie Wishes
by Elisabeth Dahl

I am reading this to prepare for another #virtualbookclub meeting later in the year.

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? January 20, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA edition, is a meme created by Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers.  Every Monday book lovers share their own #IMWAYR posts.  So here I are the books I've read, listened to and loved this week.

Loved Books of the Past Week

These are the books I loved from last weeks pile and will be placing 
on the desks of children and colleagues alike this week.

How to Train a Train
By Jason Carter Eaton, illustrated by John Rocco

I love Eaton's style of writing for this book.  The style brought back memories of how-to slide shows from the 70's we used to watch in elementary school.  Rocco's illustrations are lush and detailed, with artfully placed windows and bolts that bring the trains to life.  My favourite page depicts trails in the "wild" as a boy watches from above waiting for the perfect moment to coax a train closer.  Elementary students k through 5 would enjoy this story and it is a great jumping off point for student's how-to writing.

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)

by Marissa Meyer 

 

This book was a departure from my usual genre preferences.  A sci-fi fairy tale, Cinder tells the life of a cyborg living in futuristic New Beijing.  Listening to the story on my commute, I often found myself spending a few extra minutes in my parked car, and caught myself yelling at the radio more than once.  The story is well thought out, and had enough departure from the original fairy tale to keep me wondering what might happen next.  I think I will be placing Scarlet, the second in the series, on my nightstand very soon.

That's a Possibility!: 

A Book About What Might Happen

by Bruce Goldstone

 My non-fiction selection for the week, I found Goldstone explained the ideas related probability in child friendly language.  He uses real-life examples and takes time to establish each concept before moving to the next.  While my students do not study probability until next year, I'd love to have this one in our library for them to explore.

What I'm Listening to on My Commute

I have a 20-30 minute car ride to work and often pass the time with a good book.

Hattie Big Sky

by Kirby Larson

This has been on my to-read list for over a year and I happened upon it at the library this week.  This historical novel continues my trend of listening to genres I wouldn't normally pick out for myself.  I am two discs in and enjoying it.

What's on My Bedside Table This Week:

This is the book or books on my to-read list for this week.

Counting by 7s

by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Truth be told I started reading this book a few weeks ago, but had to put it down to get caught up on a few things.  I am looking forward to re-uniting with the characters this week.

 Well that's it for this week!

Let me know if you've read any of my #IMWAYR books from this week or having any suggestions of what I should read next.  Have a great week and happy reading!