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!