It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Join Jen and Kellee’s meme and share what you are reading from picture books to young adult novels. The #IMWAYR community consistently has wonderful suggestions if you are looking for new book ideas! This week, I read everything from board books to adult novels.
A little “bookish” news:
I was thrilled to have a post about my student book club on the Nerdy Book Club blog this week. Click here if you would like to read it. I appreciated all of the comments and enthusiasm for the joys of sharing the love of reading with groups of students.
I also appreciated being mentioned in Assistant Superintendent Shelley Burgess’ (@burgess_shelley) blog post: Becoming Leaders of Readers Thank you Shelley for including so many links back to my blog (posts that detail favourite books)! I always love talking and recommending books.
My reading this week . . .
I am currently collecting board books to set out when the Ks come up for buddy reading. Board books I read this week and added to our bin:
Hooray for Fish! by Lucy Cousins Bright, colourful engaging! Would love to use this as an inspiration for buddy art making . . .
Hello, Doctor written by Michael Coffier and illustrated by Matthieu Maudet Seriously clever. If a board book can make you laugh in just a few pages, you know it is good.
I’m the Biggest thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry Loved watching my Grade 2/3s try this out on their little K buddies. They were so excited to see if it had registered that the giant squid continued his boasting from inside the whale. Adorable!
I read a number of fantastic picture books this week. Too many to narrow down so my reviews are brief!
The Other Side written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis This author/illustrator combination create absolute magic. So much in one little picture book with huge implications for discussion. A fence that represents the division of race becomes just a fence at the end of the story when a whole row of girls perches atop it. I want my own copy of this book.
Me Want Pet written by Tammi Sauer illustrated by Bob Shea Definitely cute but when kid tested, it gets a better response. My own children laughed and laughed. Obviously the urging a parent for a pet is an age old issue 🙂
Chloe, instead by Micah Player An amazing book to share with a child dealing with conflicting emotions about a new sibling. Simple, bright and effective.
The Museum written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds As always Peter H. Reynolds makes movement and magic on the page. Such a wonderful celebration of art. I am not a total fan of rhyming text but the playful, joyous images allowed me to get over being slightly irked . . .
Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka I know not everyone loves Raschka but I really do. Few words are used and they are barely needed – the illustrations relay all of the emotions, pride and accomplishment in the process of learning to ride a bike.
The Red Hat by Lita Judge Basically wordless but tells such a story. Wow. Playful and smile provoking.
Oy Feh So? written by Cary Fagan illustrated by Gary Clement Sometimes a picture book is great because kids will like it but adults will love it and will therefore read it with so much expression and joy that it is enjoyed all the more by the listeners. Thus, it becomes elevated to “better” after the repeated, happy readings. Read this book. You will see what I mean.
A Leaf Can Be . . . by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Violeta Dabija Wow. Stunning imagery. Turns the imagination up to high.
All of these wonderful picture books and . . . I still had some time to read and finish some amazing novels.
One Crazy Summer written by Rita Williams-Garcia 1968. California. The Black Panthers. Civil Rights. Three little girls who need to know about their mother. I loved the relationship between the sisters and everything about Delphine. An important read. I can’t wait to share with kids. Thinking a future book club book . . .
The Runaway King written by Jennifer A. Nielsen Oh, did I set the bar high with my children! We finished this Saturday and on Tuesday we have tickets to see Jennifer Nielsen in person! This is a read aloud/book experience that I doubt I will be able to match. When reading this aloud with my children I must admit there were times I wanted to continue reading after I sent them to bed. Had to use a lot of self-restraint not to do so! This book continued the high drama, adventure and intrigue that we loved in The False Prince. We are big Jaron fans. My son finds his spunk hilarious and we are continually impressed by his loyalty, quick thinking and brilliant plans. We loved many other characters too – Imogen of course and also Fink. We are now very anxiously awaiting the third book in this trilogy.
Little Bee written by Chris Cleave I don’t often read adult novels. Not sure if it is that they sometimes just feel too heavy . . . I had heard a lot about this title though and was glad to read it. The highlight of the book is the narration (in her sections) by Little Bee herself. Strength. Survival. Resilience. She is immersed in all of it. Hard to discuss any aspects of this novel without giving away important plot points. I did love the message that collecting and telling stories can save us. I believe this fully.
Next up? I’m reading my children Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan which is the book I am doing with my student book club. Love this title! Tonight I will start Requiem by Lauren Oliver. I feel in the mood for some dramatic fantasy. I’m sure this will deliver.
What are you reading?
There's a Book for That 
When did you have time for anything else? That was a long list of books. I thought I read a lot. It’s funny because after I post the books that I have read each week, I start to remember several others read here and there. I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean is one of the most fun books to read to young students. The Other Side is also a favorite to share. I want to read that little cutie Me Want Pet. How adorable is it?
I actually shared Me Want Pet with my students today and it flew out of my hands and around the room during quiet reading. Kids loved it! Lots happens in a week but I’m always more content if I’ve had big chunks of reading time!
You had an AMAZING week of picture book reading. WOW!
Definitely many picture books to make me smile. Library visits. Book store outings. And some new books arriving through Scholastic!
What gorgeous books Carrie! Oy Feh So? Looks hilarious and The Other Side looks beautiful too. I put One Crazy Sumer on my summer reading list. I am also anxiously awaiting the third book in the False Prince series, so good! Have a great week!
Thanks Gigi! One Crazy Summer was a wonderful read. I hope you will enjoy it when you get a chance to read it. We LOVE the False Prince series in my house! I think book three comes out next spring. I will find out for sure as we go to see Jennifer Nielsen tomorrow eve!
Hi Carrie,
You’ve piqued my curiosity with A Leaf Can Be. The Other Side is one of my yearly read alouds, a wonderful, powerful and beautiful story! Can’t wait to hear about the Nielsen event!
Yes, The Other Side is amazing. I want my own copy as would love to share this title often! We are SO excited to go as a family to meet Jennifer Nielsen. We all listened to The False Prince on audio and I read The Runaway King to my children. My husband needs to catch up!
I read The False Prince last week, and I’m starting The Runaway King today. I passed TFP right on to my son for him to read. I’m planning to have a school book club next year and start out with that book.
This would be a great title for a student book club! And then interested kids will go on to read the series. It certainly has lots of intrigue!
FYI: The author is on Twitter, and she does free Skype visits with schools who read the book!
I know I keep saying this, but I’ve got to find more time to read the Nielson books-so far I like The False Prince, but I’m only 100 pages in! Lots to love here Carrie-I have a young granddaughter’s birthday coming, so will look for some of those board books for her-so cute. Thanks for all you tell us about books. And, I loved your Nerdy Book Club Post!
The Nielsen books are certainly action packed. We loved The False Prince on audio – maybe an option? I so enjoy all of the board book selections out there now. So much to choose from! Thanks for commenting on my Nerdy post! Much appreciated!
Wow! What a great list of books!
I love Each Kindness so I look forward to reading White/Woodson’s other book. I didn’t realize there was another one.
Happy reading this week 🙂
Yes, The Other Side is older. I had wanted to find it for a while and came across it at my children’s school in their library. So powerful.
Hi there Carrie, as per usual I am pinning most of your titles here. Fabulous finds as always. And yes, I have also seen your post in the nerdy book club as I have subscribed to their mailing list – lovely write up! I had to smile when you made mention of the rhyming text – I am not a fan either!! Haha. Most are cringe-worthy – and even in poetry, I do not particularly enjoy rhyming lines. I am glad to see that your kids enjoy The False Prince – I am getting a tad convinced that I should give it a try. I am a little wary when it comes to experimenting with new authors, particularly in YA.
Speaking of read-alouds, my eleven year old daughter and I are enjoying Bradbury’s short stories. She just fell in love with his lyrical text that just begs to be read aloud. We have started on his short stories – I borrowed this huge volume of his that contains 100 short stories. We read parts of The Illustrated Man last night and my daughter is begging that we finish it tonight. We see how this one goes. She is riveted and she positively gushes at the poetry in his description – with such bright bright eyes. If only for that, Bradbury has done something right indeed. 🙂
Glad to know I am not the only one who has these issues with rhyming text! Sometimes it can be done well. But I always get anxious when I see the text is rhyming about what it might be like . . . some things just don’t work! How wonderful to be having this read aloud experience with your daughter. I am thinking that I should sometimes have a different book going with each of my children! But so far (at age 10) we have been able to keep up with reading books we all love. It is such a pleasure to share stories with them,
Gorgeous picture books listed! Loved that powerful Little Bee… Can’t wait to read The Museum… Enjoy Listening for Lions. I really enjoyed the book.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I have actually read Listening for Lions a few years ago with a Grade 3/4 class so really looking forward to reading it with my book club and my own children!
What a super week of reading you had!! With a crazy schedule we’ve stalled out on False Prince, but hopefully my youngest and I will carve out some time this week. Your reactions to A LEAF CAN BE and RED HAT were very similar–great books. I’m catching up on my Nerdy Book Club titles that I missed while on vacation . . . your post was terrific!
Thanks so much Lorna. I enjoyed sharing my book club experience! I hope you can get back into The False Prince. We really loved it.