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It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 1/9/17

January 9, 2017 Alyson Beecher


It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date.  Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and  Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them. 

_______________________________
If you have read my Happy New Year post, you will know the second half of 2017 was a bit of a challenge for me. As a result, I haven't been doing my typical IMWAYR posts. It's a new year and I am working to get back into a regular blogging routine and participating in communities that I love. My titles for today are limited since I will be sharing some tomorrow and others on Wednesday as part of the weekly challenges (see below). 

Here are some of the books that I have been reading recently...

One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance  by Nikki Grimes (Bloomsbury, January 3, 2017) - A beautiful collection of poems to celebrate the Harlem Renaissance. 

A Greyhound, A Groundhog by Emily Jenkins; Illustrated by Chris Appelhans (Schwartz & Wade, January 3, 2017) - This tongue-twister read aloud will be one to get a few chuckles. 

I Am Not a Chair by Ross Burach (HarperCollins, February 14, 2017) - A humorous read aloud about the confusion between a giraffe and a chair. 

The Princess and The Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh (Harry N. Abrams, September 2016) - A fascinating legend about two of Mexico's volcanoes. 

Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim; Illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Nancy Paulsen Books, October 2016) - A wonderful picture book biography about John Lewis. 

If you are interested in several book challenges, check out the following posts from this past week:

#Road2Reading Challenge with Michele Knott of Mrs. Knott's Book Nook

Recently, I discovered that for many of us, we rely on the same few early readers and transitional chapter book series. Michele and I hope to introduce everyone to many new books over the course of the year. Check out the first post here. 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge #NFPB2017

Artwork by Sarah S Brannen (2017) 

The Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge just kicked off its sixth year. Check out the post from last week here. 

So, what have you been reading....

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YA Friday book review: Heartless

January 6, 2017 Carolyn Gruss

Heartless
by Marissa Meyer
Audience: Young Adult
Feiwel & Friends (November 8, 2016)
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

"Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.

Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans."

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

The Lunar Chronicles was a fantastic series, and I was excited when I first heard about Heartless: another fairy-tale adaptation from Marissa Meyer, but focused on the villain, not the original protagonist; instead of a futuristic sci-fi setting, more of a classic fantasy setting.
Marissa Meyers captivates in her most ambitious book yet: a prequel showing the dark path of the future Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Similar to Fairest, the book is more a psychological exploration of the main character, rather than an action-packed installment of a series (though Heartless certainly has its fair share of adventure and danger). 

One of the best things about prequels, especially prequels that seek to explain villains, is that you know the ending - you already knew that Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader when you watched The Phantom Menace. You already knew that Levana would grow up to become the merciless villain-queen of the Lunar Chronicles when you read Fairest. And now, when you read Heartless, you already know that the main character Catherine will become the despotic Queen of Hearts featured in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is not a question of who she becomes, but rather how she becomes the Queen of Hearts.

Catherine is, at first glance, a classic fantasy trope: a daughter of nobility soon to be betrothed to someone she hates, when all she wants is freedom and independence. But Catherine’s opposition to her intended isn’t her affection for someone else, but her own passion for baking - an independent ambition that makes for a refreshing change. Her Mrs. Bennet-esque mother, though, has far greater ambitions for her daughter than owning a bakery (or even allowing her only child to inherit the family title and become the Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove); no, she wants her daughter to wed the insipid King of Hearts and become the Queen.

While attempting to escape the King’s attentions, Catherine takes refuge in the palace gardens; there, she meets Jest, the new, enigmatic court joker. The two form an inseparable bond, and sneak out to attend mad tea parties; their adventures together only lead Catherine to fall more in love. But Jest is not all that he seems: from a different world, serving a different queen, with his own agenda and motives.

And in the meantime, all is not well in the kingdom of Hearts. A mysterious, sinister couple appear at the ball, only to scare Catherine off their property when she visits them. The Jabberwock ravages the kingdom, and no one is safe - especially those traveling at night together.

Of course, Catherine is still being courted by the King of Hearts, who, while vapid, is not oblivious...

This all culminates in a dark and tragic altercation that will change the course of Catherine’s life, forever.

Meyers uses her trademark world-building to give depth and life to Carroll’s Wonderland, also blending several tales: while Alice in Wonderland is heavily utilized for the setting, as well as the plot, Meyers branches out from there, incorporating everything from nursery rhymes to the works of Edgar Allen Poe. The end result is a beautiful amalgamation of classic literature and fantasy.

While Heartless is a standalone book, Marissa Meyers already has some more projects up her sleeves - Wires and Nerves, a graphic novel starring Iko from the Lunar Chronicles, and The Gatlon School for Vigilantes, the start of a new, superhero YA series. I look forward to the release of both.

Carolyn is a teen blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays. 

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Happy New Year 2017!

January 5, 2017 Alyson Beecher

It is always interesting to take a look at what you wrote a year ago and see how things have changed or remained the same. 

Here is what I wrote a year ago: 

"Anyone who knows me well knows that I am straightforward and direct when I talk about things. So, if I am being direct, 2015 was a particularly challenging year on so many levels, and that is the polite way of describing the year. Were there good things? Of course. However, most of the year felt like I was in some kind of weird alternative universe. So, though I can't predict what 2016 will bring, I am hoping that it will be a bit gentler and kinder to everyone."

As I started the year, I selected HOPE as my one little word....

"I realized that several years ago I lost hope. Lost the hope that things would and could be different. Lost the hope that allows someone to set a goal and move forward. I even realized recently when talking with my friend that I had started saying "I was afraid to hope for ____."  

I am not sure what 2016 has in store for me but I will be looking for hope in small things and big things." 

What I didn't realize when selecting HOPE for my OLW would be how I would be challenged. In May, during a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thirty-three weeks later, I am celebrating my last radiation treatment. In between diagnosis and today, I have had one incredible learning experience in hope and courage. Thank you to friends who are cancer survivors, I learned that though you may never wish for this, cancer is an incredible teacher if you allow it to be one. 

Early on in this journey, I realized that I could either chose to be positive or to whine and complain. Though I am not a natural optimist, I realized that chosing the positive would be best for my overall health and healing. And as a natural pragmatist, I was determined that I could learn to be more positive. 

Additionally, I knew that I needed my friends and family and their support. I am very thankful (and often a bit overwhelmed with gratitude) for the amazing women (and a few men) who have been there every step of the way with positive words of encouragement, advice, prayers, meals, walks and visits, gifts, and accompanying me to doctor appointments and treatment. I truly believe I could not have made it through the past six plus months without all of their support. 

Being positive, only goes so far and I have needed to develop some strategies along the way. Just prior to my surgery in July, a friend suggested guided visualization to help me to prepare for the surgery. I was never much of a believer in visualization or meditation. However, I didn't think it would hurt and decided to give it a try. After surgery, I found that sleep was evading me and I discovered the Calm app. 

Initially, I tried the guided meditations twice a day to help decrease anxiety and get some sleep but I have become a big fan of this program and recommend it often. 

As I was going through chemotherapy, I was unable to work. With a compromised immune system, exposure to germs is not advised and working with young children would be constant exposure to germs. I discovered that this unexpected time off from work was really so I could do the job of healing, which is truly a full-time job. 

To remind me of my OLW and also what I needed to get through this journey, I ordered a bracelet from MY INTENT. In addition to HOPE, I added the word COURAGE. 

The bracelet arrived the day after my hair began to fall out. I know it is a bit vain but loosing my hair was one of the hardest things of this journey. Driving home from an appointment, the tears that I had not shed since my diagnosis flowed freely. I remember wondering if I really had the strength and courage to make it through everything I was facing. Along with the bracelet was this handwritten note from the woman who created it. I posted the note by my bed so I would see it every day. It was small things like this that happened when I least expected that reminded me that I was never alone. 

There is much more that I have learned over the past weeks and months but I will share some of those lessons in Slice of Life posts. 

One Little Word:

In contemplating my one little word for 2017, I settled on the word FOCUS. In the past few months, my normal ability to focus seemed to abandon me. I am not sure I fully blame it on "chemo brain" but do think that it is natural to become somewhat distracted when going through a major health challenge. 

In addition to just regaining my ability to focus. I also realize what I focus on is also important. 

My goal is to focus on continuing on the path of healing and getting healthy, but there are so many other areas of my life that need me to be more focused. I am not sure what all of this will look like but will report back. 

In the world of reading and blogging, I need to get back into a regular routine. For the past several months, I decided that the most important thing was to keep the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge going but I let most other posts take back seat. My goal is to get back to posting at least three times per week. As for my reading, this year's focus will continue with nonfiction picture books but I will be increasing the number of early readers and transitional chapter books as part of a new challenge called #Road2Reading.  Also, I would like to bring greater focus to what I choose to read and though I love books, I want to make time for more journal reading and a few adult books. 

Finally, I want to wish everyone a wonderful 2017 and my you find your own word and focus for the new year. 

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Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Begins Sixth Year

January 4, 2017 Alyson Beecher

Welcome to the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge! When I began this journey in 2012, I never anticipated where it would lead me.  Over the past five years, I have read many amazing books, met wonderful authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, and bloggers, and watched others become excited about new nonfiction books that they discovered as a result of my posts and the others that connect through this community. I am thankful for the way this has enriched my life and hopefully yours as well. As we embark on the sixth year, I am inviting you to join once again.

First, though, I want to share my gratitude to Sarah Brannen for designing the art for this year's logo. I first learned of Sarah's work through the illustrations she did for Feathers Not Just for Flying written by Melissa Stewart.  Never would I have imagined that she would one day create an image that we could use as the logo for the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge. I need to thank Melissa Stewart for suggesting the idea and facilitating the connection. And of course, very grateful for Sarah's willingness to create a design for the challenge. 

Sarah is the award-winning illustrator of seventeen books for children. She is the author and illustrator of Madame Martine and Madame Martine Breaks the Rules, both published by Albert Whitman & Co., as well as Uncle Bobby’s Wedding (G. P. Putnam's Sons). Brannen also illustrated Feathers: Not Just For Flying (Charlesbridge) written by Melissa Stewart, which was an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner and an ALA notable book. Future projects include another book with Stewart, Seashells: More Than A Home. You can find her at her website or on twitter. 

Once again, my deep gratitude to Sarah for her work in capturing in the details of her art what I believe represents the essence of the challenge. 

Next if you missed the Mock Sibert posts and would like to share some of the best of 2016 nonfiction titles with students, please click here: Mock Sibert #1 | Mock Sibert #2 | Mock Sibert #3

To check out additional book recommendations from 2016: Best Book List links | Few of My Favorites

Stop by next week to learn about new releases that I am anticipating in 2017.

For those of you, who are new to the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, I want to welcome you and encourage you to read the guidelines below. 

If you would like to participate in the challenge in 2017, here are the details:

 1. Set a goal as to how many nonfiction picture books (or nonfiction MG or YA books)  you would like to read over the course of 2017. Maybe you want to read one a month or one a week. Will they all be from 2017 or will you be reading ones previously published? Do you have a gap with a particular area of nonfiction? The important part is to set a goal that will be fun and not stressful.

2.  My nonfiction book reviews and posts will be on Wednesdays.  There will be a link if you want to connect up one of your reviews or progress towards your goal. If you post on Mondays (Nonfiction Mondays) or Fridays (STEM Fridays), please feel free to link up on Wednesdays with us, we would love to get to know more bloggers talking about nonfiction.

3. There will be interviews, guest posts, giveaways, and new release posts for you to check out.

4. If you would like to participate in this challenge, please link up your blog or GoodReads Shelf using the Widget at the very bottom of the post. Please know that you can join in at anytime throughout the year.

5. If you tweet about what you are reading as part of this challenge, please use the twitter hashtag #nfpb2017.

6. You are welcome to grab the image at the top of the post to use in your weekly posts. Please add a credit to the art (Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen). 

On behalf of this community, we welcome your participation and look forward to learning about the books that you have discovered. 

Please use the link up widget below to link up a review or your challenge goals. 

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#Road2Reading Challenge

January 3, 2017 Alyson Beecher

Early readers? Does this refer to a child or a book? Transitional books? Early Chapter Books? Do you ever wonder what all those terms mean? Or do you think it is all confusing and glad that someone else has to worry about it? Well, there are those who do “worry about it”. After writing the recent Nerdy Book Club announcement post on Early Readers and Chapter Books, I shared with Michele Knott how I wanted to host a book gap challenge to help teachers and librarians learn more about new books and new series. With some additional conversation, we decided to partner together for a new book gap challenge called #Road2Reading.  Our intent is to provide blog posts that would seek to inform and educate and also celebrate books for students just embarking on the journey of reading.

Michele and I talked about doing a monthly post about new releases in the early reader and chapter book categories.  The lists from these posts can assist teachers, librarians and parents in selecting new titles that may be of interest to children in grades K to 3. Another week will be dedicated to reviewing and featuring books within the category of early readers. A third week will focus on reviewing and featuring books within the category of transitional chapter books. And a fourth week is optional and may highlight graphic novels for this age group.

We are inviting you to come on this journey with us. How can you join in?

1. Stop by on Tuesdays and check out our posts, leave comments and link up your own reviews of early readers and transitional chapter books.

2. Set a goal for how many books in this category you would like to read. Since these books tend to be short, you may find it easy to read one or two a week. Or you may just want to focus on one book from a new series or author per month. Keep your goal realistic and fun.

3. Share your posts or what you are reading on twitter with the hashtag #Road2Reading - this will also allow others to find everyone’s posts.

4. There will be interviews, guest posts, giveaways, and new release posts to check out.

5. If you would like to participate in this challenge, please link up your blog or GoodReads Shelf using the Widget at the very bottom of the post. Please know that you can join in at anytime throughout the year.

6. You are welcome to grab the image at the top of the post to use in your weekly posts.

We look forward to expanding our reading lives with this new book challenge and hope you will join us on this new adventure.

Recent and upcoming releases to check out: 

Super Fly vs. Furious Flea! by Todd H. Doodler (Bloomsbury, October 2016)

Little Shaq: Star of the Week by Shaquille O'Neal; Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III (Bloomsbury, October 2016)

The Bad Guys (The Bad Guys #1) by Aaron Blabey (Scholastic Press, December 27, 2017)

Misty Copeland (You Should Meet) by Laurie Calkhoven; Illustrated by Monique Dong (Simon Spotlight, December 27, 2016)

Bad Kitty Takes the Test by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook Press, January 3, 2017)

What This Story Needs Is a Bang and a Clang (Pig in a Wig) by Emma J. Virjan (HarperCollins, January 3, 2017)

I am Jim Henson by Brad Meltzer; Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos (Dial Books, January 10, 2017)

Inspector Flytrap in the Goat Who Chewed Too Much (Inspector Flytrap #3) by Tom Angleberger; Illustrations by Cece Bell (Amulet Books, January 10, 2017)

My Kite is Stuck! And Other Stories (Duck, Duck, Porcupine! #2) by Salina Yoon (Bloomsbury, January 10, 2017)

Agnes and Clarabelle by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel; Illustrated by Sara Palacios (Bloomsbury, January 17, 2017)

Agnes and Clarabelle Celebrate! by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel; Illustrated by Sara Palacios (Bloomsbury, January 17, 2017)

Going Places (Piper Green and the Fairy Tree) by Ellen Potter (Alfred A. Knopf, January 17, 2017)

Jesse Owens (You Should Read) by Laurie Calkhoven; Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic (Simon Spotlight, January 17, 2017)

Ballet Cat What's Your Favorite Favorite? by Bob Shea (Disney-Hyperion, February 7, 2017)

Harry Miller's Run by David Almond; Illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino (Candlewick Press, February 7, 2017)

Snail and Worm Again by Tina Kugler (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 28, 2017)

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.

Join in the conversation at #road2reading.


Link up your blog or goodreads challenge shelf to indicate that you are interested in joining in: 

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