It’s Monday! What are you Reading?
My favourite reading photo of the week comes from buddy reading Wednesday afternoon:
It’s Picture Book Month!
So far, I have shared two posts in celebration:
Same of Different? featuring The Hueys in The New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers.
Picture Books to Help you Giggle 20 titles to read aloud (and laugh along with) to little listeners (Kindergarten/early primary and beyond)
But back to sharing my reading from the week: Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
The picture books that stood out:
The Girl who Heard Colors written by Marie Harris and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
I have been quite curious about synesthesia after reading A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass. I had no idea there was a picture book about it that could introduce synesthesia to children in a way that makes sense. I think this book does a brilliant job. Highly recommend this as a read aloud in primary/early intermediate classrooms.
Some Bugs written by Angela Diterlizzi and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
The text is delightful and the illustrations, divine! I see why this title is getting Caldecott buzz. I want to shrink down to insect size and crawl about this insect world.
Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow
Wow. What a simply gorgeous title. Lyrical and full of wonder. A beautiful book to highlight the magic and vast variety of falling leaves. I found myself searching the ground for diverse leaves on my walks all last week after reading this book.
The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma written by Diane Fox and illustrated by Christyan Fox
Hilarious. This one is going to haunt me until I am able to read it aloud – such a craving! Funny, funny, funny – kind of like having a backseat driver “helping” tell a story. Annoying for the narrator. Amusing for the readers.
I saw this trailer on KidLit Frenzy this week and immediately sought out the book.
The Very Inappropriate Word written by Jim Tobin and illustrated by Dave Coverly
So very clever. I love the word collecting. The power of the “inappropriate” word and how a word lover is intrigued by the sounds, the images and the impact!
The trailer is quite amusing:
Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley
After reading Ms. Brooks’ Story Nook (where tales are told and ogres are welcome!) last week, I realized I hadn’t read this title yet. How was that possible? LOVE this book. Love Miss Brooks. I covet her book piles. Her inspired outfits. Her lounge about and read moments. And of course this book is worth reading just for the stick on warts page.
The Monsterator by Keith Graves
Mixed reviews on the story in my classroom but the mix up a monster flaps at the end got lots of attention.
When a Monster is Born written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Nick Sharratt
I book talked this title early in the week and heard it be read over and over during buddy reading. Lots of fun to read aloud. Has the “if – then quality” of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
I also read:
The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso
I have a thing for witch characters with lots of spunk. Maybe because they aren’t the stereotypical pink girly girl? Not sure. But Salem will be popular in my room. I am sure about that.
The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
Like others, I am hoping there will be other books to follow this title because these characters and this world are just too intriguing to say goodbye to. As I was reading, I kept thinking how great this title would be as a read aloud – mystery, adventure, suspense, fantastical characters. I could also put it in the hands of so many previous students and know that it would be loved. But it also has wide appeal – I know both my 12 year old daughter and son would fall into this book. It hooks you quickly and keeps you intrigued throughout. Perfect middle grade fiction.
Up next?
This is a challenge! I have so many great titles that just came in at the library. But I think The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm is the one calling loudest to me!
Reading Goal Updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 70/100 novels complete
Goodreads Challenge: 508/650 books read (continue to remain 36 books behind, now under 40 titles! Take that you 55 from a month ago!)
#MustReadin2014: 21/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 118/65 complete
There's a Book for That 
The Fourteenth Goldfish was REALLY good. Definitely take a look at it. Holm has such a wide variety of titles.
I heard Jenni Holm read a selection of this book aloud last year at a conference and have been very excited to begin this book.
some really great books this week. I definitely need to check out that Red Riding Hood book with the really long title 😉
The Girl Who Heard Colors is a definite must-read for me. I am fascinated with synesthesia. Have you read The Noisy Paint Box? That book talks about how the famous artist Kandinsky likely had synesthesia (though they didn’t have a name for it back then).
I loved The Very Inappropriate Word. Would be a great book to pair with A Snicker of Magic since both protagonists collect words. 🙂
Word collecting is a wonderful thing! I haven’t yet read The Noisy Paint Box but know it also deals with synesthesia. The Red Riding Hood long title is a delight!
Congrats on the reading goals, Carrie-amazing. I’ve nearly completed my goal, probably should have increased it earlier–next year! I did love The Mark of The Dragonfly, hope that another is coming… Thanks for the picture book titles, especially The Girl Who Loved Colors and Some Bugs. I’ve had two students in the past with synesthesia & a picture book shared at the primary level might identify some earlier. The Red Riding Hood book does look funny-will look for it! Thanks for all!
Glad some titles jumped out at you Linda. I am trying to catch up with my reading – during that horrible long school strike I should have had lots of time to read but was often numb and not reading. So ridiculous. Anyway – lots of books to remedy that! The wonder of books 🙂
You have turned me on to more delightful books. I’m waiting for The Fourteenth Goldfish to arrive from the library, but I’ve also got in on order with Kidsbooks for the school. Salem Hyde looks like a great choice for younger readers. I’m going to look at the series, as well as The Girl Who Heard Colours and Some Bugs when I go to Kidsbooks to pick up my order.
Salem Hyde ideal for this age group I teach now – kids who like Lunch Lady, Baby Mouse etc are big fans. Some Bugs is just gorgeous! I was thrilled to find The Girl Who Heard Colours – asked Diane to look into getting for our library too.
So many books… thank you! Especially excited about The Girl Who Heard Colors… after Mango Shaped Space, cannot wait to read! Happy reading week to you!
You will love it. Wasn’t Mango Shaped Space a great title?
Yes… brilliant…
The Mark of the Dragonfly sounds like a must have. This is the weakest area of my library , so I am always eager to learn of new books.
It is a must have for middle grade readers – a quick sell and can almost guarantee will be loved.
So many great books mentioned, so many I want to read! I had no idea The Cat…… book was going to be as humorous as it was! It’s a book I need to add to my collection! I love Salem Hyde too! The combo of her and Percival are too fun! Can’t wait to get to Dragonfly myself. Hope you love 14th Goldfish. Another spunky character in that one.
The Cat . . . is hilarious. I think I need a copy for my classroom collection too. Well, no, I KNOW I need a copy! Enjoy Dragonfly!
Seconding the 14th Goldfish! Definitely a must read.
I am hooked within the first few pages 🙂
Wow! What a TON of great reading this week! I also have kids fascinated by synesthesia, so I’m excited to hear about that picture book! Especially since I’ll probably include the Noisy Paint Box in my mock Caldecott.
Great to see so many books talking about synesthesia. Fascinating for us to learn more about. I need to read Noisy Paintbox!
Mark of the Dragonfly is a favorite of mine from this year. The Red Riding Hood spin-off looks great! Now I am off to go look up the definition of synesthesia”.
You have got to find this book on synesthesia! So interesting. A Mango Shaped Space is a fantastic middle grade read to learn more about it.
I have heard a lot of good things about The Girl who Heard Colors. It sounds somewhat similar (but different) from The Noisy Paintbox, which I loved. Thank you for recommending Don’t Play with your Food. I got it from the library and loved it. 🙂 🙂
I was just going to say the same thing (kinda!). The Noisy Paintbox is about synthesia as well. They’d be great to read together. Now I want to read Mango Shaped Space as well.
*synesthesia
Mango Shaped Space is wonderful. I think you would really like it.
So happy that you liked Don’t Play with Your Food! It was a recommendation to me from a student 🙂
Already have ordered The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma from the library and now I added The Inappropriate Word and Miss Brooks.
Also, didn’t you like Salem Hyde? I love those books. Such clever writing and a spunky young lady. (I wrote a teaching guide for the series, if you’d like to check it out http://www.abramsbooks.com/academic/GraphicNovels_TeachingGuide.pdf)
Happy reading this week and thank you again for sharing such amazing books! 🙂
Thanks for the link Kellee! So pleased you will be reading all of these picture books. Looking forward to seeing what you think.
Fourteenth Goldfish is one of my favorites this year. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for telling us about The Girl Who Heard Colors. I didn’t know it existed. Thanks also for the trailers. Have a great week!
The Girl who Heard Colors is a great title to have and share! Enjoy.
14th Goldfish is one of my favorites of the year too–it’s currently circulating among my college students and getting much #booklove. Mostly new PBs for me in your post this week–hooray! I do love Miss Brooks. I usually read that first in Children’s Lit. So many of my students in that class start out NOT loving books, so that’s job #1 for me: spread the #booklove! If I ever finish the horrible book my son and I are reading aloud right now, we might try Mark of Dragonfly. He is intrigued by cover. I will be so glad to get back to a quality book!
The Mark of the Dragonfly would be a GREAT read aloud. Lots of action, intrigue but also great character connections/development. Miss Brooks is my new hero.
As always, you push me over the edge with books I want to gather close to read, read, read! Not a bad thing at all! Never seen The Girl who Heard Colors, but I bet it would be a cool book to share with students if teachers are reading aloud Out of My Mind.
Absolutely. It is a fantastic title. I hope you can find it.
Was intrigued by Who Heard Colors – you may want to check out Duke Ellington, a picturebook biography by the Pinkneys ( http://gatheringbooks.org/2011/09/05/nonfiction-monday-duke-ellington/ ) – they portrayed Ellington’s synaesthesia in such a brilliant manner. Another book you may want to explore would be Pseudonymous Bosch’s secret series – also about synaesthesia.
Miss Brooks loves books caught my eye as well as The Monsterator and The Very Inappropriate Word – so many great picturebooks! 🙂
Thanks so much for these recommendations Myra. Much appreciated!