It’s Monday! What are you Reading?
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 reads! These #IMWAYR posts are a great place to “shop” for new titles.
Favourite picture books from the week:
The Hueys in It Wasn’t Me by Oliver Jeffers The second title in The Hueys books by Jeffers. Sometimes an argument becomes bigger than the original source of conflict. This simple little picture book highlights exactly this phenomenon. For anyone who spends anytime with children, this story rings very true!
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco An emotional historical fiction title set during the American civil war. Touches on themes of war, slavery, racism and survival. Definitely for older readers.
Carmine – A Little More Red by Melissa Sweet An extremely clever alphabetical retelling/fractured tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Wander through bolded words in ABC order and Sweet’s signature artistic style – part collage, part detailed panels and so expressive. Loved the vocabulary and the fresh approach to this classic tale.
A House is a House for Me written by Mary Ann Hoberman and illustrated by Betty Fraser I simply adore Mary Ann Hoberman and her gift for rhyme. And Fraser’s illustrations make me nostalgic for childhood ease. First published in 1978, this title is one long poem about everything that can be a house. All about homes/houses for just about everything. My favourite was no surprise: A book is a house for a story.
The Night Riders by Matt Furie One of my newest favourite wordless titles. This is some kind of adventure into the world of real and fantastical nocturnal creatures and amazing things that happen beneath the light of the moon. One of the best things about the book? The jacket unfolds into a double sided poster of images from the story. Here is a link to Matt Furie’s interview with The Beat (the daily news blog of comics news, reviews, and information) about this, his first book.
Looking for more wordless titles? I just created a Pinterest board with all of my favourites.
Bruno Munari’s ABC First published in 1960, a wonderful graphic ABC book.
Flora McDonnell’s ABC Bright, bold and beautiful. This has inspired some art project ideas . . . A study in letters, opposites and clever pairings. Each page has 2 objects beginning with a specific letter. Some of my favourites? The large giant with a tiny red glove perched on his thumb, a regal tiger with a teapot balanced on his head and a rhinoceros sniffing at a radish. So fun.
Anticipating fall book talks, I am trying to catch up on some graphic novels and early chapter book titles. This week I read two winners.
Violet Mackerel’s Natural Habitat written by Anna Branford with illustrations by Ellana Allen Loved the nature/science/ecology connection. Perfect for my Grade 2/3/4 readers just beginning to read chapter books. And how delightful that Violet names her ladybug Small Gloria.
Bird & Squirrel on the Run by James Burks What fun and absolutely full of silly escapades. Loved the contrast of the pessimistic and optimistic characters. Kids will love this!
I also finished two novels
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater A friend passed on her ARC of this book to me. I had resigned myself to impatiently waiting for September but, I was so thrilled to read it now! Let’s just say this – I am fully just as hooked and intrigued by these Aglionby boys and the character of Blue. Intrigue, mystery, twists, upsets, revelations. This second title has it all.
Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick Wow. This book subtly and not so subtly sneaks right up on you pretty quickly and holds fast. It is at times teary and heartbreaking, other times hilarious and witty and all the while, just plain good. A very human and honest look at a family hit hard by childhood illness and how they navigate the complicated business of hospitals, emotions and changing family dynamics. Stayed up half the night to finish this title. Now I get the Sonnenblick love. I’m in. Thank you to everyone who raved about this title to me. And yes, I am planning to read After Ever After – already requested from the library 🙂
Next up? Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner and some more graphic novels in my pile!
Happy reading everyone!
There's a Book for That 
Carrie –
It’s not quite Monday yet but I am excited to be reading this before I go to sleep on Sunday night! (It feels as if I got to open a Christmas present on Christmas eve!) So THANK YOU for all these great titles! I will be posting my IMWAYR bright and early tomorrow! I love anything by Oliver Jeffers – and I don’t know the Huey books. Love the ABC books you have included as I often have my students choose a theme for their own ABC books and these will add to my collection of ABC anchor books. I’m excited about Violet Mackeral Natural Habitat – and the links to the environment and science. Lucky you for getting an ARC of Dream Theives! Where DID you get that from????? As always, you are an inspiration! Thank you!
How lovely to get this comment so quickly after posting. Thank you my fellow book enthusiast and blogging partner in crime! I am a huge fan of ABC titles too! We should compare favourites! Violet Mackerel is a great new series – this is the second title I have read. So far there are 3 (I think) published in North American market. So where did I get that ARC? Hmm. . . from some lovely person who loves strong coffee, makes beautiful flower bouquets and devours books. Do you know her? Many thanks! 🙂
Hi Carrie–Another great post full of titles for me to go find. Thanks for putting up so many new and intriguing titles. I’m especially interested in Violet and Bird and Squirrel. So glad you liked Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie. That remains one of my daughter’s favorite books and one of my most tear-jerking books.
Have a good week,
Melanie
Loved Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie! Absolutely favourite material! Bird & Squirrel was quite delightful! Loved how the characters were so clearly hanging on to their different glass is half full or half empty views of the world. Great book to pair with Good News, Bad News
I loved the first Hueys book so I’m definitely going to have to read the second one!
My son read it and commented – that wasn’t a very long book. But did you like it, I asked. “Oh yea!” Kind of felt Jeffers had been spying on all of the children I know who get so involved in arguments but then when I try to intervene they don’t even know what they are upset about!
I ordered a set of the Violet books a few weeks ago and can’t wait to read them! There are four in the set. Several of your books are new to me. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by. I really like these Violet chapter books and the children in my room adore them. They have been very popular.
Pink and Say, and Drums ,Girls – two awesome books for entirely different reasons. Sonnenblick is a wonderful YA writer – my sixth graders love anything by him.
I can imagine that Sonnenblick is a favourite for this age group. He absolutely nails the voice of kids this age – their thoughts, anxiety, etc.
I love Pink and Say. I also read Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie this week and had a similar reaction. Thanks for sharing about Bird and Squirrel. It will be fun to look for that one at the library. Have a great reading week.
I am an instant fan of Sonnenblick! Can’t wait to read more of his titles and recommend to previous students as an author they must read.
Oh, I need to find that Jeffers book! We joke that we have a third child named Not Me at our house! 🙂 I am loving your Wordless Books Pinterest board — many favorites in there for me, too! If you haven’t seen it, Jez Alborough’s HUG, you should check it out. I love giving it as a baby shower gift where there is a bilingual family. I think Pink and Say is one of the few Polacco titles I have yet to read–must remedy that!
I do know and adore the book HUG! I have used it as an introduction for how we infer from pictures. Kids of all ages love it and what a lovely gift choice. Books always make the best baby gifts! I am so pleased that you like the Wordless board. I have a sort of obsession with wordless titles and use them frequently in my class.
Not Me lives at your house too? Ahh . . . kids! 🙂
I need to check out the Hueys books, I think. Just read Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot. What a great character!
Violet is a new favourite in my classroom! I love that she isn’t too “pink” and the interesting sibling dynamics. Also wonderful that she is so attentive to the little details of life!
My favorite Sonnenblick might be Curveball. He’s so funny and yet serious. Glad you understand now! You’re in for some treats!
I believe it! Thanks for this recommendation!
I so desperately want The Dream Thieves, but I am hooked on the audio, so I will impatiently wait….Enjoy!
http://wp.me/pzUn5-1Bk
Love everything about this Raven Boys series!
A House is a House for Me is one of my all-time favorites! I’ll be looking for Violet Mackerel’s Natural Habitat and Bird and Squirrel on the Run the next time I go to the library. Thanks for sharing!
Catherine
Have you read The Cozy Book – also by Hoberman and Fraser. I adore it!
Love how you described Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie! It was just right 🙂
Pink and Say is a classic – Patricia Polacco is a genius!
Bird & Squirrel is a huge hit in my classroom! So much fun 🙂
Happy reading this week 🙂
Kellee
http://www.unleashingreaders.com
Thanks Kellee! I think Bird and Squirrel will be hugely popular in my room. Recommended Drums . . . to Gr 5/6 teacher today. Both of us were in cleaning!
Hi Carrie, The Dream Thieves is the second book in the Raven Boys by Stiefvater? While I have read most of Patricia Polacco’s picture books, I haven’t heard or seen Pink and Say yet – reminded me a little bit of January’s Sparrow. Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie also sounds like its perfect for our coming of age bimonthly theme! 🙂 I visited the link you shared and borrowed around 12 books from the library last night, most of them are from your recommendations. I also have a deep fascination for wordless picture books. I created a list of that as well, have I shared that with you yet? Have a great week, Carrie!
Myra I have visited your wordless book page. Actually double checked it when I made my Pinterest board! Thank you! We have so many book choices/interests in common! Yes, The Dream Thieves is the second title in the Raven Boys series. Dangerous Pie would be perfect for your theme. I was just about to comment on your blog. Fly Away Home is one of my very favourite titles.
How I love The Hueys- I have “It wasn’t me!” on order… What a wonderful selection this week! Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie was one on my favorite books this year. I’m also have plans to read his other books as well! 🙂
I think I pick up After Ever After at the library today! Might be reading it soon! Trying to keep up with all of my TBR lists and holds!
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