It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to Young Adult - 3/6/27

March 6, 2017 Alyson Beecher

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.

It was an especially good week for picture books. Here is what jumped out of the book stack this week....

This House, Once by Deborah Freedman (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, February 28, 2017) - Deborah Freedman is on my automatic buy list. I love her beautifully illustrated quiet stories.

Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures by Kwame Alexander; Photographs by Joel Sartore (National Geographic Kids, February 14, 2017) - I am not sure what I was expecting when I opened this book but I found so much more. Engaging poetry with jump off the page photographs. Pick this one up.

Life On Mars by Jon Agee (Dial Books, February 28, 2017) - An act of kindness and some humor and a boy and an alien and chocolate cupcakes. What's not to love about this?

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin (Schwartz & Wade Books, February 28, 2017) - A gorgeous wordless picture book filled with imagination.

Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Tadgh Bentley (Balzer & Bray, 2015) - Oh this one would be a fun read aloud. Don't know how I missed this when it first came out but I did. Glad to have found it now.

Ferocious Fluffity: A Mighty Bite-y Class Pet by Erica S. Perl; Illustrated by Henry Cole (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016) I was looking for this one last year when it came out but I missed it. Finally got a chance to read it, and when you do, you will never look at a classroom pet in the same way again.

The Bad Guys: Episode 2: Mission Unpluckable by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press, February 28, 2017) - Finally got my hands on Book 2. Though not a picture book, this illustrated graphic novel hybrid is a winner in my book.

Alex Award Challenge: This year I challenged myself to read at least half of the 2017 Alex Award Winners. My second Alex Winner is Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Tor, 2016). I just started the book, but will report back.

In case you missed it...

#Road2Reading Challenge: Toon Books

NFPB Challenge 2017: National Women's History Month

Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm Review & Giveaway

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 2/27/17

February 27, 2017 Alyson Beecher

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 kidlit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Here is what jumped out of the book stack this week.....

The Bear Who Wasn't There by LeUyen Pham (Roaring Brook Press, 2016) - I love this book. Lots of fun and love the metafiction.

The Banana Leaf Ball: How Play Can Change the World by Katie Smith Milway; Illustrated by Shane Evans (Kids Can Press, April 4, 2017) - We need books like this to open the world to young readers. This book also adds an element of creating friendship in difficult circumstances.

The Green Umbrella by Jackie Azua Kramer; Illustrated by Maral Sassouni (North South Books) - A sweet story of accommodation and friendship.

Use Your Imagination by Nicola Byrne (Nosy Crow, 2015) - A fun read about using your imagination to create a story and the twist at the end of the story.

Octo-Man and the Headless Monster (The Escapades of Clint McCool) by Jane Kelley; Illustrated by Jessika Von Innerebner (Grosset & Dunlap, May 9, 2017) - A transitional chapter book filled with imagination, humor, and adventure.

A Rambler Steals Home by Carter Higgins (HMH Books for Young Readers, February 28, 2017) - I am so excited for Carter Higgins and her debut novel. More about this one to come on the blog.

In case you missed these posts....

#Road2Reading Challenge: Transitional Chapter Books

#NFPB2017 Challenge - The Youngest Marcher

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 2/13/17

February 13, 2017 Alyson Beecher

Well, it seems that my professional reading continues to dominate my reading life.....

Here is a stack of what I have been re-visiting while I put together some slides for a training on Word Study.

Here are some picture books that jumped out of the stack this week...

Tony by Ed Galing; Illustrated by Erin Stead (Roaring Brook Press, February 7, 2017) - I love Erin Stead's illustrations in this charming story of friendship.

TouchThinkLearn: Fly by Xavier Deneux (Chronicle Books, March 7, 2017) - An board book for very young readers who will enjoy moving the chick and other pieces of the book from one page to the other.

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner; Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Chronicle Books, March 7, 2017) - A new book in Kate Messner's series Over and Under series and not to be missed.

The Tree A Fable by Neal Layton (Candlewick Press, February 7, 2017) - What happens when you intend to build a house in a spot where a tree exists? One couple comes up with an unusual alternative.

And I have been listening to the audiobook for In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford for next week's book club. Given the current climate around immigrants and deportations, it is quite timely.

In case you missed these posts....

#Road2Reading Challenge: Upcoming Releases

#NFPB2017 Challenge: New Releases

Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite Review and Giveaway

#NF10for10: Women Who Nevertheless Persisted

Also, don't forget to check out Scholastic's Reading Report:

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 2/6/17

February 6, 2017 Alyson Beecher

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 kidlit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last week was a busy week and I didn't get to do a ton of reading for fun. I spent a lot of time in professional reading:

Guided Reading: Responsive Reading Across the Grades, 2nd Edition by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell (Heinemann Publishers, 2016)

It is a big book and I have been going through it as part of my coaching duties. I love the updates from the original edition.

Here are a couple of picture book titles that jumped out of the pile I read this weekend....

Grandmother Fish: A Child's First Look at Evolution by Jonathan Tweet; Illustrated by Karen Lewis (Feiwel & Friends, 2016) - A fascinating explanation of evolution for children. The endnotes provide more information.

Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep by April Pulley Sayre; Illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Henry Holt & Co, 2016) - I missed this when it came out last fall and excited to finally get my hands on it. This would work well as a read aloud for young children. Endnotes provide additional facts about squirrels.

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell (Feiwel & Friends, January 3, 2017) - This nearly wordless picture book has a powerful message about friendship and not leaving someone alone, especially when they have been kind to you. I didn't expect to get a bit choked up as I read this one.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016) - Sparkly unicorn books are not my typical reading but this was a fun read. Definitely a unique spin on unicorns and a good message on friendships.

Check out last week's #Road2Reading Challenge: A Look At Some New Chapter Books

In case you missed it, here is last week's post for the #NFPB2017 Challenge: Text Set for Loving Vs Virginia.

Don't miss it...

There is still time to join in with the annual #NF10for10 happening this coming Friday. For more details, click here. Thanks Mandy and Cathy for hosting this.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 1/30/17

January 30, 2017 Alyson Beecher

Last week, I missed posting because I was at the American Library Association MidWinter Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. On Monday, I attended the Youth Media Awards. I love attending the Awards Announcement and the energy in the room.

The Schneider Family Book Awards are announced right at the beginning.

Very fortunate to serve with a fabulous group of teachers/librarians.

And the winners are....

Here's what I have been reading?

Love Is by Diane Adams (Chronicle Books, January 24, 2017) - Just in time for Valentine's Day and Spring, this Love Is story definitely will elicit an aww feeling.

How to Be A Bigger Bunny by Florence Minor and Wendell Minor (Katherine Tegen Books) - Sometimes a cover is a bit misleading. When I saw this, it had a Little Golden Books feel, but the story was much more. An enjoyable bunny hero story to be read over and over.

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs; Illustrated by Nizar Badr - Books are a way that we can share with children (and adults) the world around them. It opens windows and helps to build empathy and compassion. Definitely a book to read.

Yvain: The Knight of the Lion by M.T. Anderson; Illustrated by Andrea Offermann (Candlewick Press, March 14, 2017) - Different from what I expected from M.T. Anderson, this upcoming graphic novel tells the story of Yvain as part of the King Arthur's Legends. Beautifully illustrated.

Currently listening to....

Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit (Knopf Books for Young Readers, January 2016) - Winner of the Odyssey Awards (best audiobooks for children and teens). I started this book and was immediately drawn into the story. The writing is rich and beautiful and you already know that despite that this is going to be an emotional read you won't be able to stop thinking about the story. (Note: For 13 or 14 years old and up)

Upon my return from Midwinter, I decided to read through some of the ALEX Awards. These are adult reads that will appeal to teen readers. Since I don't get to read many adult books, I thought this would be a fun way to introduce some new reads into my life. I have decided to start with IN THE COUNTRY WE LOVE: MY FAMILY DIVIDED by Diane Guerrero and Michelle Burford (Henry Holt and Co.)