It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 12/1/14

December 1, 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.

Things have slowed down recently and I was able to celebrate the end of Picture Books month with a bookstack of great picture books. Some from this year and some coming in 2015.

Here is what stood out in the pile (Please note date of release, some are 2015 releases.):

Catch That Cookie by Hallie Durand; Illustrated by David Small (Dial, August 14, 2014) - A great twist on the Gingerbread Man story.

Coming Home by Greg Ruth (Feiwel & Friends, November 4, 2014) - A tribute to military families.

Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw; Illustrated by Eugene Yelchin (Henry Holt and Co, March 17, 2015) - Won Ton gets a buddy in this haiku follow-up.

Orangutanka by Margarita Engle; Illustrated by Renée Kurilla (Henry Holt and Co, March 24, 2015) - Instead of Haiku, this one is composed of tanka poems.

I, Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are by Bridget Heos; Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas (Henry Holt and Co, March 10, 2015) - Humor and facts combine for a great informational read on flies.

Winnie: The Remarkable Tale of a Real Bear by Sally M. Walker; Illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss (Henry Holt and Co, January 20, 2015) - There is a bear behind the bear. Fans of Winnie the Pooh will enjoy this one.

Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems (Disney-Hyperion, November 4, 2014) - Loved the ending on this most recent Elephant and Piggie book.

Kittens by Laura Ellen Anderson (Boxer Books, March 4, 2014) - Anderson obviously has lived with kittens.

Animalium by Jenny Broom (Candlewick, September 9, 2014) - This is a wow book from the size to the illustrations to the information.

Full Speed Ahead: How Fast Things Go by Crushiform (Abrams, November 4, 2014) - Curious about what goes slower or faster? This one provides quite a few answers.

Wild About Bears by Jeannie Brett (Charlesbridge, March 11, 2014) Eight types of bears and lots of facts about all of them.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 11/10/14

November 10, 2014 Alyson Beecher

In addition to it being a "What Are You Reading?" post, I am also celebrating Picture Book Month. Below you will find some book adventures from last week and some upcoming reviews.

Did you see my post on John Rocco and his new book Blizzard? If not, check out the interview here?

I mentioned last Wednesday that Jeanette Winter has a new picture book biography out. Actually a 2-in-1. It features Malala Yousafzai on one side and Iqbal Masih on the other side. The story tells about the bravery about these young people and the stances they took. Though they had different outcomes for each one, the stories are powerful.

Malala A Brave Girl From Pakistan/Iqbal A Brave Boy From Pakistan by Jeanette Winter (Beach Lane Books, November 2014)

This book would pair up nicely with Dear Malala, We Stand With You by Rosemary McCarney (Note: The book also has the other name of Every Day is Malala Day)

Last Wednesday, I was at Once Upon a Time bookstore and picked up three new books. The one by Jeanette Winter, but also Beetle Busters by Loree Griffin Burns and Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman. I will be reviewing both of these on Wednesday.

On Friday, I had the honor of hosting and introducing author, Julie Berry at her West Coast Book Launch for The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place.

Check out the book trailer for the book:

Finally, I received a copy of A Christmas Wish for Corduroy by B.G. Hennessy (Viking Juvenile, October 2014). Corduroy came to a school with me on Friday so I could tell the kids about him and his newest book.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 11/3/14

November 3, 2014 Alyson Beecher

I know that this is A What are Your Reading? post but this past week was spent preparing for my first conference call for the Schneider Award. Since my reading selections are confidential, I am going to use this post to celebrate Picture Book Month.

So, I am sharing a favorite author/illustrator with everyone this week...

A few years ago, I read my first Bob Graham book. Since then I have read several more. Even though I haven't read all of the books by Graham, I have loved those that I have read. There is something gentle and kind and special about Graham's work. Graham can make every day events such as tasting ice cream for the first time or bringing together a neighborhood or the first step of a baby be both every day and momentous.

If you haven't picked up one of Bob Graham's books, Picture Book Month is a great time to discover these fabulous books.

Vanilla Ice Cream

The Silver Button

A Bus Called Heaven

How to Heal a Broken Wing

April and Esme Tooth Fairies

So, what are you reading and how are you celebrating Picture Book Month?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 10/27/14

October 27, 2014 Alyson Beecher

Since most of my reading this week and next will be books I can not share, I will leave you with a couple of fun titles and videos to enjoy. Also, my post yesterday, APPLES, PUMPKINS AND READ ALOUDS has a list of books that I have been reading around the topic of apples, pumpkins, and leaves.

Here is what jumped out of the pile...

The Cat, The Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf and Grandma by Diane Fox; Illustrated by Christyan Fox (Scholastic, August 26, 2014)

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett; Illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick, October 14, 2014)

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween by Mélanie Watts (Kids Can Press, August 2013)

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 10/20/14

October 20, 2014 Alyson Beecher

It has been over a month since I have been able to do a "What are you reading?" blog post. I was lamenting with Kellee Moye about how busy it has been this fall. However, I was determined to do a post for today no matter what. My reading time has been a bit limited but I have been able to sneak a few piles of books in over the past several weeks.

Here is what jumped out of the pile...

Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon (Dial, October 9, 2014) - Dory is called Rascal by her family and boy does she fit her name. This would be a fun read aloud in 1st or 2nd grade.

Bramble and Maggie Spooky Season by Jessie Haas; Illustrated by Alison Friend (Candlewick Press, August 2014) - This early reader looks at friendship and also how we help each other overcome fears.

A Bean, A Stalk and a Boy Named Jack by William Joyce (Atheneum, October 7, 2014) - A fractured fairy tale focused on Jack and the Beanstalk as well as a few others woven into the book.

Here Comes Santa Cat! by Deborah Underwood; Illustrated by Claudia Rueda (Dial, October 21, 2014) - Easter Cat is now back as Santa Cat. I really enjoy Underwood's books.

Leaves by David Ezra Stein (Putnam, 2007) - A bear learns about leaves and fall and what is waiting for him when he wakes from hibernation.

Looking Closely Trough the Forest by Frank Serafini (Kids Can Press, 2008) - A fun riddle type of "I spy".

The Tweedles Go Electric by Monica Kulling; Illustrated by Marie LaFrance (Groundwood Books, 2014) - Historical Fiction in a picture book format that looks at the electric car.

Druthers by Matt Phelan (Candlewick, September 2014) - Imagination and play at it's finest.

Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light (Balzer & Bray, September 2014) - More imagination plus art and siblings in this book.

The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo (Running Press, September 2014) - Humor in single page comics. This book is essentially a non-age book but will be better appreciated by adults.

Check back over the next several days for some additional posts clustering other books that I have read in the past month.

So, what are you reading?

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