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!