It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - July 21, 2014

July 21, 2014 Alyson Beecher

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.

There are so many books that I still want to read this summer but I start some and move some around and return to some at later times. I loved Donalyn Miller's post about Hit Pause on the Nerdy Book Club on Sunday. It very much describes my reading life right now. If you haven't seen it, go check it out and then come back here. We will wait for you.

Here are some of my favorites from last week...

Comics Squad: Recess! by Jennifer Holm, Matt Holm, Jarrett Krosoczka, Dan Santat, Raina Telgemeier and more (Random House, July 8, 2014) - In a similar format to Babymouse or Lunch Lady, some of my favorite cartoonists come together with a collection of short stories. A fun read that children will love.

Miss Emily by Burleigh Muten; Illustrated by Matt Phelan (Candlewick, March 25, 2014) - Part biographical and part historical fiction, Muten pens a story in verse about the poet, Emily Dickinson and several neighborhood children.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin, August 28, 2014) - Woodson's memoir in poems and verse is a powerful and moving look at the influences that made Jacqueline Woodson who she is today. It also provides readers with a sense of the Civil Rights movement during the 1960's & 1970's.

Shelter Pet Squad #1: Jelly Bean by Cynthia Lord (Scholastic, August 26, 2014) - The first book in a new early middle grade series by author Cynthia Lord. Children who are particularly fond of animals will enjoy the book.

It's Monday! What are your reading? From Picture Books to YA - July 7, 2014

July 7, 2014 Alyson Beecher

In looking at my posts, I realized that I have been so busy that I have not done an IMWAYR post since June 9th. I think that is the longest I have gone without doing one. However, I have been reading. Over the course of that time, I have read 65 books and since I started #bookaday, I have read 126 total books.

Here are my favorites from the past several weeks:

Nightingale's Nest by Nikki Loftin (Razorbill, February 20, 2014)

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate; Illustrated by Brian G. Karas (Clarion Books, October 7, 2014)

Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust by Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano; Greg Salsedo (Ink); Alexis Siegel (Translator) (First Second, April 2, 2014)

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier (Graphix, August 26, 2014))

My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I am Not.) by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, July 1, 2014)

The Troublemaker by Lauren Castillo (Clarion Books, June 3, 2014)

The Hueys in None the Number: A Counting Adventure by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel, July 1, 2014)

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won (HMH Books for Young Readers, June 3, 2014)

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (Dial Books, September 30, 2014)

Swamp Chomp by Lola M. Schaefer; Illustrated by Paul Meisel (Holiday House, January 14, 2014)

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant; Illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Eerdman's, September 15, 2014)

The Bathing Costume: Or the Worst Vacation of My Life by Charlotte Moundlic; Illustrated by Olivier Tallic (Enchanted Lions Books, 2013)

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - June 9, 2014

June 9, 2014 Alyson Beecher

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 week was a good reading week, though not quite to the same level as the previous week. I continued with book-a-day with a focus on reading as many picture books and some other things off of my very long TBR list.

11 - nonfiction or informational text

2 - Early Readers

25 - picture books

2 - Adult graphic novels

Total

: 40 books

As with last week, much of what I read this week has come from checking out the

What are You Reading?

and

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

posts from all of you.

Here is what jumped out of the stack...

The Herd Boy

by Niki Daly (Eerdman's Books for Young Readers, 2012) - A young boy has dreams of becoming a great leader. A powerful message.

The Silver Button

by Bob Graham (Candlewick Press, 2013) - I love Bob Graham's work. It is a bit quirky but with an incredible message. A baby takes his first steps and what is everyone else doing at the same time. Great perspective.

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World

by Selby B. Beeler; Illustrated by G. Brian Karas (HMH Books for Young Readers, 1998) - Enjoyed this book about "tooth fairy" traditions around the world.

Windblown

by Édouard Manceau; Translated by Sarah Quinn (Owlkids Books, 2013) - A few shapes and a concept that is pulled off marvelously.

Mister Bud Wears the Cone

by Carter Goodrich (Simon & Schuster, June 3, 2014) - Dogs and the cone. A fun story that pet lovers will enjoy!

The Red Book

by Barbara Lehman (HMH Books for Younger Readers, 2004) - Wordless but filled with perspective. Love this book.

Adult (or at least 16+)...

Pride of Baghdad

by Brian K. Vaughn; Illustrated by Niko Henrichon (Vertigo, 2006) - I am a fan of Vaughn's work with

Runaways

and his new series

Saga

. So, when I was at a comic book store recently and saw this one discounted I knew I had to pick it up. It is based on a true story of 4 lions who escaped from the zoo in 2003 after a bombing. Definitely has adult content/references.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - June 2, 2014

June 2, 2014 Alyson Beecher

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 week was an awesome reading week. I started book-a-day a bit early and have read over 50 books this past week.

16 - nonfiction or informational text

1 - poetry

6 - Early Readers

30 - picture books

2 - MG graphic novel

Total

: 55 books

Much of what I read this week has come from checking out the

What are You Reading?

and

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

posts from all of you.

Here is what jumped out of the stack...

New Releases...

Camp Rex

by Molly Idle (Viking Juvenile, April 1, 2014) - I love Molly Idle and Tea Rex is back and this time camping.

Number One Sam

by Greg Pizzoli (Disney-Hyperion, May 13, 2014) - A great story about learning how to loose.

The Day I Lost My Superpowers

by Michael Escoffier; Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo (Enchanted Lion Books, April 1, 2014) - Every child thinks that they have superpowers and even parents have superpowers.

This is a Moose

by Richard T. Morris; Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 6, 2014) - How should a moose act? Or any animals for that matter? Love the twist at the end.

Upcoming books...

Hunters of the Great Forest

by Dennis Nolan (Roaring Brook Press, October 28, 2014) - This wordless picture book has a great twist and some hidden details if you look carefully.

Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads

by Bob Shea; Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press, October 7, 2014) - One pint-sized sheriff take on some big bad "toads".

Sebastian and the Balloon

by Philip Christian Stead (Roaring Brook Press, October 7, 2014) - Stead has a new book coming out. His storytelling is quiet but special.

You Are (Not) Small

by Anna Kang; Illustrated by Christopher Weyant (Two Lions, August 5, 2014) - A fun look at size and perspective.

Nonfiction books...

Best Foot Forward

by Ingo Arndt (Holiday House, 2013) - A fun exploration of animals based on their feet, paws, flippers, and claws.

How Big Were Dinosaurs?

by Lita Judge (Roaring Brook Press, 2013) - Judge introduces the size of dinosaurs by comparing them to current day animals and objects/things.

Manfish: The Story of Jacques Cousteau

by Jennifer Berne; Illustrated by Éric Puybaret (Chronicle Books, 2008) - A wonderful introductory biography to Jacques Cousteau.

What to Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy

by Barbara Kerley; Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham (Scholastic, 2008) - Alice Roosevelt was a firecracker of a personality and this book captures her spirit.

Miscellaneous...

The New Girl...and Me

by Jacqui Robbins; Illustrated by Matt Phelan (Atheneum, 2006) - A wonderful story to have in a classroom when talking about introducing a new student.

My Father's Arms are a Boat

by Stein Erik Lunde, Illustrated by Oyvind Torseter, Translated by Kari Dickson (Enchanted Lion Books, 2013) - I wasn't sure what I was expecting from this one, but this wasn't it. However, this was a very special story of loss and comfort.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 5/26/14

May 26, 2014 Alyson Beecher

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

As I get wrapped up with the final days of the school year, my reading for fun takes a back seat. Looking forward to starting #bookaday on June 1st.

Here is what jumped out of the stack...

Zoe's Jungle

by Bethanie Deeney Murguia (Arthur A. Levine, May 27, 2014) - Zoe and her sister have more fun and this time an adventure in the park. I love how Murguia captures exactly the feelings of the children and the mother in her Zoe series.

The Scraps Book: Notes From a Colorful Life

by Lois Ehlert (Simon & Schuster,

March 4, 2014)

Many of us have used Lois Ehlert's books in our classrooms. With her characteristic style, she has created a memoir of sorts that tells some of her life and lots of the stories behind her stories.