It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Join the #IMWAYR community participating in Kellee and Jen’s meme and share your reading from picture books to young adult novels.
Such a fantastic way to learn about “new to you” titles!
I enjoyed a lot of picture books this week including some board books for the collection I am building for Wednesday buddy reading with the Kindergarten class.
Picture books I loved:
The Bear in the Book by Kate Banks and illustrated by Georg Hallensleben. This book is so lovely. It’s a story within a story of sorts that captures the gentle quiet moments of bedtime story time between parent and child. As the mother and little boy settle into their bedtime routine, they read a story about little bear settling into his winter hibernation. Love how it portrays the intimacy of the mother/child interactions as they talk about the story, ask/answer questions, etc.
Duck Rabbit by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld Delightful!
Good News Bad News by Jeff Mack Sparse in text but full of humour and lots of space to infer, discuss and wonder. A fantastic book to teach about perspective, optimism/pessimism and patience.
I cannot wait to share this with my class. I can imagine that it will be one of those stories where we can’t get through a page without everyone talking and then it will travel from book box to book box as it is read and reread.
Nighttime Ninja written by Barbara DaCosta and illustrated by Ed Young Stunning illustrations by Young.
Bear Despair by Gaetan Doremus I can see many thinking this book is either atrocious or hilarious. When animals keep stealing his teddy, this bear does the first thing he thinks of to do in his angst and frustration . . he gobbles them up. In the There was an Old Lady style of . . . wow, how can anything else fit in that tummy? Curious to see how children will respond. I have the feeling they will think it is very funny and it will certainly prompt many discussions about choices and managing our anger/frustration. A wordless book.
Animal Masquerade by Marianne Dubuc Fantastic for independent rereads or sharing during buddy reading. Silly, creative illustrations with lots of room for discussion/comments.
Board Books I loved (and now own :-)):
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
Thank you Bear by Greg Foley
Nonfiction titles:
Who’s Like me? Nicola Davies Marc Boutavant
Who Has these Feet?
In other reading:
I finished Small Damages by Beth Kephart and absolutley adored it. The perfect first novel to complete in 2013.
Lyrical. Everything mixes up – the past, the present, the longing, the worry and the beautiful Spanish landscape and food. Slow and full – like a beautiful, well spiced meal over a long night. What was particularly lovely in this book was the strength of character and the wisdom in the main character. I also loved Kenzie’s relationship with Estela, the house cook who taught her much more than delicious Spanish cooking. Looking forward to reading more titles by Kephart.
I finished reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio to my own children. Must admit I enjoyed this novel just as much if not more on a second read – perhaps because I was sharing it with my own children who are ten years old – the same age as many characters in the book. I was surprised at how often my voice broke when I read this aloud especially since the plot was not a surprise. My son who is typically a “fantasy or not interested” reader loved this book. Hoping that this opens him up to more realistic fiction. My daughter who reads everything snatched the book away as soon as we were finished to go reread her favourite parts! Such a beautiful story about the power of human spirit.
I am currently reading The Diviners by Libba Bray and just started The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver as the new read aloud with my children.
There's a Book for That 
We loved Orange Pear Apple Bear, Nighttime Ninja, and Good News, Bad News. Bear Despair wasn’t one of my favorites — I wasn’t quite ready to read that one to my son. Maybe later? I’m definitely going to check out Who’s Like Me? That looks like a perfect book for my son.
I’ve started reading Wonder. I’m amazed and I’m not that far into it. I haven’t heard of Small Damages — I’m going to check that one out. It looks great!
Thanks for posting these!
Thanks for stopping by! I think you will love Wonder I imagine I will read it again for a third time with my book club and imagine I will enjoy it just as much!
It is the second time in two days I have heard about Orange Pear Apple Bear. I just added it to my wishlist 🙂
It is a sweet little story. I love Emily Gravett!
The Spindlers- shall look forward to your review, curious about it. Loved other books by her. I loved reading Wonder with my son, even more special the second time. Those bear books are adorable! Especially looking forward to reading The Bear in the Book… Happy Reading Week!
The Bear in the Book is just delightful. I would love my own copy. It would be a beautiful book to give to someone with a new baby – a beautiful message about reading with your child. So far we are loving The Spindlers – but just at the beginning. A strong beginning that hooked my kids!
Loved the look of some of the board books, Carrie, like Who Has These Feet? So cute. And the Good News Bad News sounds good. Thank you!
I just did Who Has These Feet with my class today We could have stretched it out for at least 30 minutes I think! So much fun guessing and discussing!
What an awesome bunch of picture books! Duck Rabbit is so fun and I love the illustrations in Nighttime Ninja.
I loved the picture books I read this week! Spent about an hour at the bookstore – reading new titles and chose some to come home with me!
I’d love to hear how they respond to The Spindlers! I loved it – it reminded me of Juniper Berry and Coraline. Nighttime Ninja looks awesome!
So far the book has hooked us! I am curious too. I always think of this author as YA
Another great reading week for Carrie! I still need to find a copy of Good News… The bookstore was out. I also recently finished reading Wonder to y 10 year old daughter. She doesn’t usually like me to read to her, but we LOVED reading this book together. Now reading to my 4th graders.
I am lucky that my ten year olds (twins in Grade 5) still love me to read to them, even love picture books! Of course they read lots on their own. Wonder is a joy to share.
My daughter also read and enjoyed Wonder last year (she was ten when she read it) and she loved it. I haven’t had a chance to read it myself. I love your collection of board books here. I’ve been meaning to create a Pinterest board specifically on board books for a friend who’s infanticipating, hopefully I get to it before she gives birth (haha). I also love your collection of picture books here. I have most of them in my to-borrow-from-the-library-list since almost all have been nominated for 2012 cybils. I didn’t realize that the ninja book was illustrated by ed young! should find that one too. 🙂 Have a great reading week, Carrie!
Oh Myra – Wonder is a must MUST read. You will adore it. There are so many fantastic board books out there and my students love sharing with them with the K students. I model how they can share the books – stretching even a book with minimal text out to an entire reading experience. They love learning strategies like this! All the best reading to you too 🙂
Super uber thanks for this! (And a shout-out on my blog, with apologies for my tardiness in expressing my gratitutde.)
My absolute pleasure. Your novel was fantastic! I have been recommending it to many of my favourite reader friends as I know they will adore it too!