It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - August 25, 2014

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?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - August 18, 2014

t'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.

Last week, I read a number of books that I found on other people's blogs for #pb10for10, as well as, some more from my TBR pile.  A number of these are older but  a few newer.  Many of the books had to do with the topic of courage, and others focused on imagination. 

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

The Wolves are Back by Jean Craighead Moore; Illustrated by Wendell Minor (Dutton, 2008)

Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad by James Rumford (Roaring Brook Press, 2008)

Melissa Parkington's Beautiful, Beautiful Hair by Pat Brisson; Illustrated by Suzanne Bloom (Boyds Mills Press, 2006)

Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Adventure by Alex Milway (Candlewick, 2014)

The Raft by Jim LaMarche (HarperCollins, 2002)

Musk Ox Counts by Erin Cabatingan; Illustrated by Matthew Myers (Roaring Brook Press, 2013)

Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin; Illustrated by Anne Spudvilas

Imagine a Day by Sarah L. Thomson ; Illustrated by Rob Gonslaves (Atheneum, 2005)

Willow Finds a Way by Lana Button; Illustrated by Tania Howells (Kids Can Press, 2013)

So, what are you reading this week?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - August 11, 2014

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.

Last week, I read a number of nonfiction books around the topic of space, and also, catching up on books that I have been looking for. 

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

Jane Brocket's Clever Concept Books (Millbrook Press 2011-2014) -  I really love these early concept books and plan on doing a full review soon.

Miscellaneous books related to Space - I still have a stack of space related books to read.

One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley (National Geographic Kids, 2009) - A day in the life of children all over the world. Despite our differences, we are also very much alike. 

Sleep Tight, Anna Banana by Dominique Roques; Illustrated by Alexis Dormal (First Second, June 17, 2014) - A fun early graphic novel about a little girl, bedtime, and her bedtime buddies. 

Telephone by Mac Barnett; Illustrated by Jen Corace (Chronicle Books, September 9, 2014) - An interesting twist on the telephone game coming soon from Chronicle Books. 

The First Drawing by Mordicai Gerstein (Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013) - A wonderful story about what it might have been like to draw the first cave drawings. 

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - August 4, 2014

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.

Thanks to one of my bookseller friends letting me into her box of F&G's, I actually read 72 books last week. Granted most were picture books but there were some great ones in that stack.  Also, thanks to Carrie Gelson, I found some super wonderful ones. 

Here is what jumped out of the stack and probably a few more that I left off because I couldn't decide what to add....

Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken by Sarah Dillard (Aladdin, February 11, 2014) - I found this early reader about a super chicken while hanging out at Vromans. It's a lot of fun. 

Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki; Illustrated by Qin Leng (Kids Can Press, August 1, 2014) - Carrie recommended this book to me and oh it was so charming. I was thankful to be introduced to a new author. 

Inside My Imagination by Marta Arteaga; Illustrated by Zuzanna Celej (Cuento de Luz, April 1, 2013) - This was another great recommendation from Carrie Gelson. The illustrations and text were great and I loved the focus on imagination.

What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada (Compendium Inc, February 1, 2014) - I love this book about how an idea grows and expands. 

Every Day is Malala Day by Rosemary McCarney (Second Story Press, March 8, 2014) - Thank you Carrie Gelson for sending this one to me. I loved the book and can't wait to create some kind of school-wide activity around this book. 

Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose About Chinese Musical Instruments by Emily Jiang (Shen's Books, March 17, 2014) - The poems were great but the information about musical instruments is what really fascinated me.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (Margaret K. McElderry, July 15, 2014) - For fans of books like Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm, this is filled with several short, dark and creepy tales with equally creepy illustrations. 

Julia's House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke (First Second, September 2, 2014) - I love this newest book from Hatke.  Great illustrations and a fun story. Put it on your TBR list.

Hug Machine by Scott Campbell (Simon & Schuster, August 26, 2014) - I really like Scott Campbell's work and well a hug machine? How can you not like it. 

Give and Take by Chris Raschka (Simon & Schuster, August 26, 2014) - Sometimes Raschka surprises me and this is one that I really like. It is a bit fablesque and I enjoyed that about the book.

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents by Lita Judge (Roaring Brook Press, October 2014) -  I really like Lita Judge's books, and this one is no exception. I can't wait to see the final version.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 7/28/14

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 Wednesday I am heading back to work, and I am trying to squeeze in a few more books before I call time on summer #bookaday.  Since May 30th when I started summer #bookaday, I have read 165 books and made a serious dent in several categories of books that I have been meaning to read. One category was nonfiction, which I have been trying to catch up on new and older releases.  I managed to read 53 nonfiction titles this summer (29 nonfiction titles from 2014 * 5 nonfiction titles from 2013 * 19 nonfiction titles from 2012 or older).  

Here is what stood out from this past week's stack....

Drop It, Rocket! by Tad Hill (Schwartz & Wade, July 8, 2014) - I love the Rocket books and this new early reader is a fun read. I really enjoyed this one.

The River by Alessandro Sanna (Enchanted Lion Books, March 4, 2014) - This nearly wordless book has the most amazing illustrations.  It really is an amazing collection of paintings. 

Fear the Amoeba (Squish #6) by Jenni Holm and Matt Holm (Random House, July 21, 2014) - I simply love Squish. 

This One Summer by Mariko Tamika; Illustrated by Jillian Tamika (First Second, May 6, 2014) - I love the artwork in this book, though I am still processing my thoughts about this one. 

My Country, 'Tis of Thee: How One Song Reveals the History of Civil Rights by Claire Rudolf Murphy; Illustrated by Bryan Collier (Henry Holt & Co., June 3, 2014) - I was fascinated with the approach that Murphy took by looking at the progression of this song and the history of civil rights. 

Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet (Chronicle Books, September 16, 2014) - Yes, there is a follow up to Press Here and it is just as much fun. 

So, what are you reading?