It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers have adapted it to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.
This past week was the first week for students, which meant that things were busy. In addition, I was working on several blog posts in a series I am doing about Building a Nonfiction Classroom Library. I was amazed that between all of that I was able to get any reading in. As you can see from the titles below, I was a bit all over the place. Some recent releases and some older releases and some upcoming releases. I hope that you find something new to you that you will want to check out.
Here is what jumped out of the stack from this week:
Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story From Africa by Jeanette Winter (HMH Books for Young Readers 2008) - There are a number of stories about Wangari's Trees but I think this may actually be my favorite.
The Monkey Goes Bananas by C.P. Bloom (Harry N. Abrams, May 6, 2014) - A fun early reader that beginning readers are simply going to enjoy.
Beetles by Valerie Bodden (Creative Education, January 2013) - I love when I am introduced to new to me books and series. Great photographers and engaging text. Students will love this book and the whole series.
Pig and Small by Alex Latimer (Peachtree Publishers, August 1, 2014) - More to come on this one, but let's say it is one of those books that will make you smile and chuckle.
The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc (Enchanted Lion Books, May 6, 2014) - If I starred books, I would give this book a star. Sparse text, beautiful illustrations, and a touching story of friendship.
The Woman Who Won Things by Allan Ahlberg; Illustrated by Katharine McEwan (Candlewick 2002) - This one is an older title that came as a recommendation from a friend's daughter. If you have students starting to read chapter books, they will enjoy this series of silly stories.
The Memory of an Elephant: An Unforgettable Journey by Sophie Strady; Illustrated by Jean-Francois Martin (Chronicle Books, September 9, 2014) - Fiction meets nonfiction in this very artistically created story about an elephant and what he remembers of his history.
By Day, By Night by Amy Gibson; Illustrated by Meilo So (Boyds Mills Press, October 1, 2014) - I really enjoyed this one and the look at how universal some things are. Pair this book with Barbara Kerley's One World, One Day.
This Orq. (He Cave Boy) by David Elliott; Illustrated by Lori Nichols (Boyds Mills Press, September 1, 2014) - This one gave me a chuckle. Somethings really do not change. Children wanting a pet seems to be one of those things. Of course, wanting a Woolly Mammoth may be a totally different thing or is it?
Maple and Willow Together by Lori Nichols (Nancy Paulsen Books, November 4, 2014) - Maple is back and this time with her sister, Willow. A lovely story of sharing and resolving differences.
What's Eating You? Parasites -- The Inside Story by Nicola Davies; Illustrated by Neal Layton (Candlewick 2007) - I learned more than I wanted to about parasites from reading this one. Definitely an "ewww" book, but one that kids will want to read.
So, what are you reading?