What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (15)

March 12, 2012 Alyson Beecher

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from

Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

Each week I'll recap what I've read/reviewed the week before

and then look ahead to what I am planning on reading/reviewing in the upcoming week.

Last week's book adventures:

Have you ever had a week where you read a lot but very few of the books stand out? This is how I would characterize my reading week. However, there were a few that really stood out for me.

Here are my favorites from the past week:

Lester Fizz, Bubble Gum Artist by Ruth Spiro
I had been looking for this book for awhile and excited when I actually found it. The story was a bit different than I expected but I really enjoyed the book and all the great references to artists and classic art.

Mega Mash Up: Robots Vs. Gorillas in the Desert by Nikalas Catlow
This is not necessarily a book you would put in your library, but as a gift to a child - excellent choice. Children are encouraged to write directly into the book; add text and illustrations.

Marty McGuire Digs Worms by Kate Messner; Illustrated by Brian Floca
I love Marty and this time she is out to Save the Planet - by composting. I'll be working on a review. This is a definite favorite for the week.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
I started this on audiobook back in April and wasn't enjoying it. I also think I had mixed feelings about the series moving beyond what I thought was a well wrapped up trilogy that now was turning into a six book series. So I gave it some space. I needed to get back into the right mindset to read it. I think after finishing Clockwork Prince last week I was sufficiently back into the Shadowhunter world. I will be looking forward to City of Lost Souls when it comes out in May.

Caldecott Challenge Update:

I am going to be so excited when I have moved beyond the 1940's. These have not been my favorite books, but I am plugging away slowly.

Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling

The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth Sawyer; Illustrated by Kate Serdy

Nonfiction Picture Books:
Remember - Nonfiction Picture Book reviews will be posted on Wednesday (and maybe some other days as well since I am starting to have too many books to post on just one day).

So, what are you reading this week?

Please share! And remember to check in at Sheila's or Jen & Kellee's blog to see what they and others are reading!

Kidlit Celebrates Women's History Month - Don't Miss this Resource

March 11, 2012 Alyson Beecher

I just discovered a great blog resource for Women's History Month. In 2011, authors & illustrators & bloggers came together to write 31 blog posts focused on book reviews and guest posts related to famous women or topics related to Women's History. Don't miss out on this year's 31 special blog posts.

Information about the organizers taken from the blog:

This second annual celebration of Women’s History Month through literature for children and young adults is organized by bloggers Margo Tanenbaum, of The Fourth Musketeer, and Lisa Taylor, of Shelf-employed. Margo, who blogs about historical fiction and history books for young people at The Fourth Musketeer, recently earned her master's degree in library science.She works part-time at two public libraries in Southern California, and hopes to secure a position as a children's librarian. Lisa lives in New Jersey, where she is a youth services librarian in a county library system. She may be found blogging at Shelf-employed or the ALSC Blog. Both Lisa and Margo review for School Library Journal and are currently serving as Round Two Cybils judges in the nonfiction categories.

Check out their blog, Kidlit Celebrates Women's History Month and all of the great posts.

World Read Aloud Day 2012

March 8, 2012 Alyson Beecher

Yesterday the students and staff at San Rafael Elementary had an opportunity to celebrate reading and their right to read as they participated in a schoolwide Read Aloud activity. According to Pam Allyn and her organization Lit World over 793 million people remain illiterate. Lit World wants everyone to imagine a world where everyone can read. By joining together to celebrate World Read Aloud Day, we demonstrate that the right to read and write belongs to everyone.

Thank you to Mr. Schu (@mrschureads) and MaryAnn Scheuer (@maryannscheuer) for skyping with a group of students at San Rafael. We read aloud together, shared the NEA's Reader's Oath, and even listened to MaryAnn's students sing for us.

We also had the chance to Skype with Iza Trapani. Kindergarteners at San Rafael not only got to hear Iza's new picture book, The Bear Went Over the Mountain, but listen to her sing the worlds to the story. They had lots of questions for Iza too.

In the afternoon, the whole school gathered on the front lawn to read aloud. Big kids read to little ones. Teachers read to classes. Heather Biggs from Scholastic Book Fairs dropped in to read to first graders. Tanganica Turner from Assemblyman Anthony Portantino's office dropped by with a donation of dozens of books for our library and read to a couple of classes.

Thanks everyone for a wonderful World Read Aloud Day!

Nonfiction Picture Book Releases - March 2012

March 7, 2012 Alyson Beecher

The Nonfiction Detectives and I are hosting a Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge. At the beginning of each month, my goal is to post all of the new non-fiction picture books being released over the next 30 days.

Here are a few books that have already been released in January and February that I just discovered:

*His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg by Louise W. Borden (January 2012)

Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor; Illustrated by Laura Beingessner (February 2012)

How Many Jelly Beans by Andrea Menotti; Illustrated by Yancey Labat (February 2012)

*We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson (February 2012)

And now for the March titles -

March 1, 2012
*The Louisiana Purchase by Peter Benoit

Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy

March 13, 2012
Bird Talk: What Birds are Saying and Why by Lita Judge

Life in the Ocean by Claire A. Nivola

National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas: Maps, Games, Activities and More For Hours of Backseat Fun by Crispin Boyer

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Melissa Sweet

March 27, 2012
Just Ducks! by Claire A. Nivola; Illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino

The links for the above books will take you directly to the IndieBound.org book page for purchasing information, unless otherwise noted. Please note, I do not make anything off these links or profit in anyway from posting the links. If you know of a book that should be included in this list, please include the title and author in the comments section and I will update the list.

* Indicates Non-fiction children's books that are not specifically picture books.

Feel free to link any of your nonfiction picture book reviews in the Mr. Linky below...

What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (14)

March 5, 2012 Alyson Beecher

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from

Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

Each week I'll recap what I've read/reviewed the week before

and then look ahead to what I am planning on reading/reviewing in the upcoming week.

Last week's book adventures:

March has started off as a stronger reading month from February. This past week I read 32 books - most were picture books and several are Nonfiction Picture Books which I will share on Wednesday.

Here are my favorites from the past week:

Up, Tall and High by Ethan Long
This one made me chuckle aloud in the bookstore. Simple story but a fun one.

Zero the Hero by Joan Holub; Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
My kindergarten teachers are going to love this one as part of celebrating Zero the Hero every 10 days. This book will appeal to kids on one level and for adults - especially all the small speech bubbles/secondary text.

Migrant by Maxine Trottier; Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Some books just feel special and are written beautifully. This one fits that category.