It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (27)

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.

I have to admit that with school out it is much easier to get reading time in.  This past week, I actually managed to get in some decent reading.  Don't forget to check out my Hot Off the Press! post from yesterday for several additional books and also stop by on Wednesday for several others.  I divided up my reading between the three posts.

Here are some favorites from this past week:

Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes
An around the world look at a variety of schools in all kinds of settings and environments.  The pages are a bit crowded and the text can be a little "text-booky", but I can see this one being good for discussing diversity and also expanding children's views of what school looks like.

Small Bunny's Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney
This one is for all those kids who are attached to a blanket (and even adults who remember their blanket) - it captures the emotional attachment to a blanket perfectly...I loved it when the mother said it "would only be 1 minute while the blanket washed and it was really 107 minutes" - This would be a good read aloud too.

The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng; Illustrated by Abigail Halpin
As I read this one, I kept thinking of students that I thought would like it or relate to the characters. It is one of those books that I can't wait to share with students in the fall.  I might even email a few of them to share sooner.  

Notes From the Dog by Gary Paulsen
A quick Middle Grade/Upper Middle Grade read and good for those kids who don't want something long and drawn out. Finn wants to just spend the summer holed up reading books, but when he meets Johanna - a twenty-something young woman battling cancer - life changes. 

So, what will you be reading this week?

I will be heading off to ALA later in the week and not exactly sure what I will be reading.  However, I expect to find some great stuff. 

Hot Off the Press! (20)

Hot Off the Press is a weekly feature of picture books that are recent releases.  I usually base the post on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore but this week's visit features books from Mrs. Nelson's Bookstore in LaVerne. 

Happy Like Soccer
Author: Maribeth Boelts
Illustrator: Lauren Castillo
Publisher: Candlewick (May 8, 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

Often times, we forget that Saturday soccer games may be difficult for some parents or guardians to attend given work schedules.  In this book, Sierra loves soccer, but she would love for someone to be there to shout out her name.  However, Sierra's aunt works in a restaurant and isn't able to get away on a busy Saturday.  When the one game that Sierra's aunt is able to attend is rained out, Sierra comes up with a possible solution.  I really liked the message in this story. It presents the challenges that a working single guardian faces in order to attend the Saturday soccer games of her niece. Not preachy and not negative...loved the final resolution.

Squid and Octopus: Friends for Always
Author/Illustrator: Tao Nyeu
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (June 28, 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

Squid and Octopus join the ranks of Mouse & Mole, Frog & Toad, Elephant & Piggie as friends that children will want to read about. Part picture book and part early reader, Tao Nyeu infuses the story with fabulous illustrations and just the right amount of humor  I love the hat, and scarves, mittens and socks worn by our two friends.   The story is fun but the little side notes are almost funnier. For example, on the side, two little fish are watching an underwater sea cruiser. Fish One: X-ray vision! Now wouldn't that be grand? Fish Two: Grand Indeed.  And yes, Squid and Octopus are "grand indeed".

Oh No! Not Again! (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) (Or At Least My History Grade)
Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Publisher: Hyperion (June 5, 2012)
Audience: Ages 5 to 8

Our protagonist from Oh No! is back.  This time in an effort to improve her History grade she creates a time machine to go back into history to change the facts so that her answers will be correct.  Of course, nothing is ever that easy. As with the first book, Santat's illustrations take Barnett's illustrations to a new level.   

Check out the official book trailer here:

I Have the Right to be a Child
Author: Alain Serres
Translator:  Helen Mixter
Illustrator: Aurelia Fronty
Publisher: Groundwood Books (June 12, 2012)
Audience: Ages 4 to 7

In 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of a Child.  Ratified by 193 countries, the United States and Somolia have still not adopted it.  This is the second book that I have seen which seeks to share what the rights are in a child friendly format.  The text is simple and clear and the illustrations are bright, and fun. 

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (26)

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, I missed posting on Monday!  With Fifth Grade promotion happening and a bunch of other things, blogging just wasn't happening. Now that school is out, I am hoping to get back into a regular posting schedule and reading schedule.   

Here are some favorites from the last two weeks:

Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown - This is a fun one for Star Wars fans and dads.

Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky: Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School by Timothy P. McLaughlin (editor) - Why didn't I find this one during National Poetry Month? The illustrations are beautiful and the poems touching.

It's a Tiger by David LaRochelle - This isn't out yet, but I really like this one for a read aloud.  Review coming soon.

The Hueys in the New Sweater by Oliver Jeffers - I think I love everything Jeffers does.

North: The Amazing Story of Artic Migration by Nick Dowson; Illustrated by Patrick Benson - Beautifully illustrated and informative.

A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead - I loved when I came to the end of this one.  Just fun!

So, what are you reading this week?

Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter: Conversations with 21 of the World's Most Celebrated Illustrators by Leonard S. Marcus (editor)

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday (15)

As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year.  Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews.

This past week felt like a bonus for discovering nonfiction picture books that I have been looking for or even discovering one or two new ones.  As a result, I decided to do a mini-review of one book and include a bunch of other books.

Invitation to Ballet
Author: Carolyn Vaughan
Illustrator:  Rachel Isadora
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (May, 2012)
Audience:  Grades 2nd to 5th

Sometimes art-style books don't quite work, and sometimes it comes out just right.  In Invitation to Ballet, Vaughan & Isadora get it right.  The text provides young readers with basic information about the history of ballet and ballet poses and more.  The informative but readable text combined with a mixture of Isadora's illustrations of young children in various ballet poses and Degas' artwork of ballerinas make this a book a wonderful gift for young ballet enthusiasts. 

Here are some of the other nonfiction picture book standouts from the past week...

 

Robin, Where are You? by Harriet Ziefert; Illustrated by Noah Woods - This lift the flap book was a lot of fun.  A young girl goes bird watching with her grandfather.  Behind the flaps are various bird facts.  At the end, there is a flap with a surprise.

How Things Work in the House by Lisa Campell Ernst - Each page is dedicated to a different household item and great little facts for each thing.  My favorite was the two page spread that had a sock on one side and a sock monkey on the other.

Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland - I had mixed feelings on this book.  The writing was fun and the illustrations just the right kind of quirky, but the format/lay-out of the text was hard to follow.  Regardless, this made me want to go watch Julie & Julia again.

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

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (25)

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.

There is just two weeks left to the school year and then summer reading can commence.  I am eager to start on my stack for the summer.   

Here are some of my favorite reads from last week:
Don't forget to check out yesterday's Hot off the Press! post that has 4 other favorites from the past week.  Also, check back in on Wednesday for my favorite nonfiction picture books from last week.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst - My bookclub read this for our May selection.  Great cover.  A funny, fast read.  Vampires, unicorns, and high school. 

Every Cowgirl Loves a Rodeo by Rebecca Janni; Illustrated by Lynne Avril - The third book in the Every Cowgirl series and I am still liking them.  This time our cowgirl enters a rodeo; a bike rodeo.

Scribbles and Ink by Ethan Long - This cat and mouse pair don't exactly see eye to eye on what is "good art".  With the help of a colored pencil and a paint brush, our duo duels it out and eventually discovers that they may actually be good together.  Also, introduces children to several famous pieces of art.

You are My Work of Art by Sue DiCicco - This lift-a-flap board book introduces young readers to various pieces of art work.  For the format - very well done.

So, what are you reading this week?

I am going to finish up -

The Templeton Twins Have An Idea by Ellis Weiner; Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes - I didn't get to finish this mystery, adventure book yesterday but hope to finish it up today.

The Five Lives of our Cat Zook by Joanne Rocklin - I have been hesitant to read this.  I have no doubt that I will likely shed a few tears.  However, it has come highly recommended so I will do my best to finish it this week.

Let me know in the comment section what you are reading....