It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kid lit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kid lit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

I have been reading a number of longer books lately and I am almost done with them. So until those are finished, here are a collection of picture books that I really enjoyed. Some won't be out until later this spring or early summer. So, mark your calendar.

Here is what jumped out of the pile this past month...

Hello, Hello by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle Books, March 20, 2018) - I love Wenzel's follow-up to They All Saw a Cat. This brightly illustrated book will draw young readers in and have them asking for it again and again.

Hoot & Olive: Brave Enough for Two by Jonathan D. Voss (Henry Holt & Co., June 12, 2018) - A book about friendship and conquering your fears. I can't wait to see the final version of this book and look forward to sharing it with students.

Big Bunny by Rowboat Watkins (Chronicle Books, March 20, 2018) - I have a special fondness for books that have character writing and rewriting a story as each page turns. Love the wacky humor and imaginative text.

Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes by Hena Khan; Illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle Books, April 10, 2018) - A beautifully illustrated concept book that also shares another culture with readers.

Mabel and Sam at Home by Linda Urban; Illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Chronicle Books, June 5, 2018) - An imaginative way that two siblings deal with moving into a new home.

Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins; Illustrated by Emily Hughes (Chronicle Books, April 10, 2018) - What an amazing partnership between text and illustrations. I love this book so much.

A Most Unusual Day by Sydra Mallery; Illustrated by E.B. Goodale (Greenwillow, April 10, 2018) - A different take on the arrival of a new baby and a look at how discombobulated everyone's world becomes, especially the older sibling at school.

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell; Illustrated by Corinna Luyken (Dial Books, August 14, 2018) - I really love this book and would put it in the category of Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. A wonderful book to ponder kindness, compassion, and empathy.

How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell; Illustrated by Jennifer Hansen Rolli (Aladdin, May 1, 2018) - Though I am not a big fan of pranks, I did enjoy this book. A very different take on the Tooth Fairy.

A few titles for National Poetry month...

Dreaming of You by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater; Illustrated by Aaron DeWitt (Boyds Mills Press, March 6, 2018) - Though not Amy's typical poetry, Dreaming of You is a charming, lyrical, poetic bedtime story.

Crawly School for Bugs: Poems to Drive You Buggy by David L. Harrison; Illustrated by Julie Bayless (Wordsong, March 20, 2018) - A collection of poems to celebrate spring and the world of insects.

World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Abrams, March 6, 2018) - Each poem was written by a different writer and inspired by a different piece of art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I would use this with older students as a mentor text.

School People - Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Wordsong, February 13, 2018) - Through a collection of poems by different writers while focusing on all of the different individuals that make up the school community.

In case you missed these posts from last week...