It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (19)

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.
 
Last week's book adventures:
During Spring Break, I had an awesome book week.  Not only did I get 13 blog post completed (including 7 book reviews), but I was able to read 67 (from March 31st to April 8th).  Here is the break down:

36 Picture Books (including some that were nonfiction)
17 Early Readers
2   Early Chapter Books
4   Poetry Books
2   MG Novels
1   YA Novels
5   Graphic Novels

I did start about 6 more books but for whatever reason they didn't hold my interest.  Most I will come back to, but sometimes I just need a little time.

Favorite Picture Book of the week:

I actually had lots of favorite picture books this week.  Check out my Hot Off the Press post for three other picture books.  The Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky is a picture book version of Salt: The World History (for adults) also by Mark Kurlansky.  I was amazed by how much I learned from this book.   

Favorite Early Reader of the week:

Sadie and Ratz by Sonya Hartnett has a winner on her hands with her early reader/chapter book.  Hannah has named her hands Sadie and Ratz and they can be a bit mischievous.  However, when her little brother starts blaming Sadie and Ratz for his wrong-doings something has to change.  Hartnett brilliantly captures the voice of Hannah and her little brother. 

Favorite Poetry Book of the week:

I read a number of poetry books this week.  Check out my review of Nasty Bugs by Lee Bennett Hopkins.  A completely different book of poetry is Requiem by Paul B. Janeczko.  This is a haunting book of poems reminding us of the lives of the men, women, and children who suffered in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
   

Favorite Middle Grade Novels of the week:

There were two standouts from this week for completely different reasons.  Helen Frost's novel in verse, Hidden, is a powerful story about how two girls lives intersected at two different times in their lives.  A must read.  

Of course, fans of Tom Angleberger should not miss his newest novel - Fake Mustache.  Lots of humor, adventure, and a need to suspend reality but readers won't mind since they will be having so much fun reading this one. 

Favorite YA of the week:

If you are looking for a completely mindless, fun read, Scott Speer's debut novel, Immortal City will fit the need.  Fans of angel stories and paranormal romance will love this. 
 

Favorite Graphic Novel of the week:

I read several graphic novels this week and though all were fun. However, I believe Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes was my favorite of all.  I wish I had this one prior to our Math Field Day competition.

Two that I started and am still reading:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (release date June 2012) - This debut novel is getting early praise from bloggers.  I found myself in possession of an ARC and started to read it and am already hooked. 

Barbara Wright's middle grade historical fiction, Crow, is getting high praise from teachers and librarians.  The story follows the life of Moses Thomas and the events leading up to the Wilmington Massacre of 1898.  I am about halfway through with this one and finding myself quite caught up in this one. 

So, what are you reading this week? 

The first week back from any break is always crazy.  I will be happy to squeeze in a middle grade novel and a YA novel.  What are your reading plans for the week? Please share! And remember to check in at Sheila's or Jen & Kellee's blog to see what they and others are reading!

Hot Off the Press! (16)

Hot Off the Press is a weekly feature of picture books that are recent releases.  I base the post on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore and browsing through their wall of new picture books. Normally I try to select 5 titles but this week I only have 2 from Vroman's to feature.  I do have one additional new release that I found this week that I hope at some point will be available at Vroman's.

Magritte's Marvelous Hat
Author/Illustrator:  D. B. Johnson
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Audience: Ages 4 and up

I love picture books that can be used with various ages groups and for various purposes.  Magritte's Marvelous Hat is one of those books.  I could use it with preschool and kinder students with one focus and then pick it up with high school students to represent a different focus.  I was so inspired by this book that I want to use it for a Literacy Café.  The Café would feature surrealist artists from the 1920's and 1930's.  This book would be the center of the Café.  Can't you tell I am excited?  Aside from just being such a creative book (which you can see in the book trailer), I loved the addition of clear film pages to add an extra layer to the story. 

Check out the book trailer for Magritte's Marvelous Hat.

The Cat and the Bird: A Children's Book Inspired by Paul Klee
Author/Illustrator: Géraldine Elschner
Publisher: Prestel Publisher (Random House)
Audience: Ages 5 and up

The theme for this week's new releases just may well be surrealist art inspired books.  The beautifully bold and bright colors of this book simply made me happy.  The story is one where a cat dreams of being free like the bird.  With the bird's help, the cat does get a chance to escape and to play.  The book finishes with a reproduction of Klee's Cat and Bird.  Works well with Magritte's Marvelous Hat. 

Step Gently Out
Author: Helen Frost
Photographer: Rick Lieder
Publisher: Candlewick
Audience: Ages  4 to 7

Yesterday, I posted a review of Nasty Bugs by Lee Bennett Hopkins.  I then found this book.  First, I love the novels in verse by Helen Frost.  Think of Step Gently Out as a picture book in verse.  Beautifully done with photographs of insects that are simply lovely. At the end, there is a reference section that explains each of the insects featured on the pages of this book.  Where as there is a certain aspect of humor featured in Nasty Bugs, the opposite would be true of Step Gently Out.  I think the two books would partner well as part of a science unit or to celebrate National Poetry Month.     

Book Review - Nasty Bugs

Author/Editor: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrator:  Will Terry
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (March 15, 2012)
Source:  Personal Copy
Audience: Ages 7 and up
Poetry * Insects

Description of book from publisher website:
A collection of creepy, crawly poems by some of today's most beloved children's poets This tribute to the delightful nastiness of bugs features sixteen poems by accomplished children's poets, including Marilyn Singer, J. Patrick Lewis, and Rebecca Andrew Loescher. From "Ode to a Dead Mosquito" to "Termite Tune," this brightly illustrated, kid-friendly collection riffs on the details of the world's most infamous insects. Fun facts about the featured creatures round out this sure bet for poetry fans and bug enthusiasts alike. 

My thoughts on this book:
A poetry book with a decided ick factor!  Where was this book my first year of teaching when I had to do a unit on insects?  This collection of sixteen poems featuring the work of sixteen poets including Bennett Hopkins spotlights everything from stink bugs to mosquitoes to lice and bedbugs.  The last few pages of the book has a reference section that lists each of the bugs and some general information on them.

When I began to read this book, I initially expected all of the poems to be by Bennett Hopkins.  Instead, I quickly discovered that each poem was written by a different poet. (Yes, I did not look at the table of contents before I started reading it.) As soon as I realized that the poems were from various poets, I was on the look out to see who had contributed and which bug they would be writing about.  Imagine my delight to discover some of my favorite poets such as Marilyn Singer (Disagreeable Fleas) and Kristine O'Connell George (Bedbug Has a Bite to Eat).

The poems in this anthology are great.  However, I must give kudos to Will Terry for some truly fabulous illustrations.  I just may be taping shut the two page spread with giant size lice crawling through hair which creeped me out and made me want to scratch my head.  To be fair to Terry, the bright cartoonish drawings add a certain fun to each of the poems and certainly ties them all together.

This is one book of poems that can be taken off the shelves for more than one purpose.  Teachers and librarians can use it as part of a collection of books to celebrate National Poetry Month.  The poems found within the covers of the collection can be used to mentor young poets and inspire them to create their own poems about their favorite buggy bug.  Additionally, the book can be used to accompany a science unit on insects.  With the need to focus on writing across the content areas, books such as Nasty Bugs are particularly helpful.

I can't wait to share this one with teachers and students when we return from spring break.  If you have used it with students already, please share how you used the book in the comment section.      

If this review hasn't convinced you to check out the book, click here to read an interview done by Two Writing Teachers with Lee Bennett Hopkins specifically about this book.            

Book Review: Everything Goes On Land

Author/Illustrator: Brian Biggs
Publisher:  Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins (September 13, 2011)
Source: Copy for Review
Audience: Ages 4 to 7
Fiction * Interactive Concept Book * Vehicles

Description from Publisher:
Cars and trucks and bikes and trains! Rvs and construction vehicles too! Everything goes Ride along with Henry and his dad as they visit the big city and check out all the amazing vehicles around them. Full of mini-story lines, endless seek-and-find activities, and hundreds of funny details, Everything Goes: On Land is an interactive book that provides hours of fun!

My thoughts on the book:
Some books make excellent read alouds. Other books are perfect for curling up in a chair and reading alone or with 1 or 2 friends.  Everything Goes: On Land is the later.  Even though the book is oversized and there are lots of larger illustrations, there is just so much wonderful details that children are going to want to linger over this one.  I can see an older child sitting with a younger child, heads bent over the book, finding numbers, or examining the various vehicles.

When I first sat with this book, my brain immediately thought back to the old Richard Scarry books, and when I looked at Brian Biggs' website, I noticed that he was a fan of them as well.  If you can improve on Scarry's work, then Biggs has done it.  I loved that the two page spreads with lots of detail were broken up with two page spreads on a particular mode of transportation.  For example, you will have a two page spread with lots of different kinds of bicycles followed by a two page spread with an individual bike and labels for all of the parts of the bicycle.  And there is a fun surprise towards the end. 

This will be a hit with preschool and primary grade students but I do expect to find older children pulling this one off the shelf.

Check out the book trailer:



For more information about author Brian Biggs, click here to go to his website.
Follow him on twitter: @mrbiggsdotcom
Like his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Biggs-Illustration/257196412600 

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop

Kathy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Yara from Once Upon a Twilight is hosting the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop.  This is a big hop with over 250 bloggers participating.  Don't forget to visit the Mr. Linky below to check out all of the other great giveaways.

I have been pondering what to do as a giveaway and then it hit me.  It is National Poetry Month.  So I am giving away a book of poetry or a novel in verse of your choice.  Complete the entry form below and indicate what book you would like to receive.  (Please note - all book choices must be less than $15 on Amazon.)  Here are some examples of books that I would recommend.






Rules for the Giveaway:
1.  Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any personal information in the comments section (including your email, website, etc.).  If you do enter personal information, your comment will not be posted.
2.  You must complete the entry form to official enter the giveaway.
3. The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. Easter Time on April 6th to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on April 12th.
4. You must be 13 years or older to participate.
5. If you are selected as the winner, you will be notified by email.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6.  US residents only for this contest.