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 novels. Follow the links to read about all of the amazing books the #IMWAYR community has read. One of the very best ways to discover what to read next!
This week I had serious plans to read a number of novels. These plan got put on hold when I went to the library Tuesday evening and came home with stacks and stacks of nonfiction picture books. I fell into a kind of nonfiction reading marathon. I share some of these titles here and some I will share on Wednesday for Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday hosted by KidLit Frenzy.
Here are the picture books (fiction and nonfiction) that I loved this week:
Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills written by Renee Watson and illustrated by Christian Robinson
Not only a glimpse into the life of Harlem Renaissance singer Florence Mills but a story of courage, commitment and the power to make change. Really enjoyed this picture book biography.
Sophie’s Squash written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
This book passed the “it’s so funny/charming I can’t help giggling” test when I read it aloud to my son. Cute, cute, cute. Charming and then some. A beautiful story about a child who does things a little differently. Not enough books celebrate persistence, creativity and passion in children so well. And whoa . . . the ending! LOVE.
The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jaques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino
After reading Manfish to my class, I had to read this title! We spent Friday afternoon reading this book and filling out a Knew/New sheet to reflect our learning. (Thanks Adrienne Gear! Love all of the BLMs for reflecting about thinking/learning) Another fantastic picture book biography sharing the life of the inspiring Jacques Cousteau.
My students adding some pictures to their thinking:
This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration written by Jaqueline Woodson and illustrated by James Ransome
Lyrical and lovely. A story of family across generations as they move to the big city from the South. The Great Migration represented the movement of African Americans from rural Southern towns to the cities in the North. This migration was inspired by the hope and promise of better treatment, better opportunities and better education. This story weaves a rope through one family’s experience and tells a beautiful story of connection, love and new beginnings.
Brownie Groundhog and the Wintry Surprise written by Susan Blackaby and illustrated by Carmen Segovia
A delightful winter story – full of humour, charm and spectacular surprises. Read my students’ reviews here. The illustrations are absolutely stunning.
The Raven and the Loon written by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley and illustrated by Kim Smith
In the time of before, both raven and loon had all white feathers. They decide to make beautiful coats for each other. The process and the result does not play out perfectly smoothly. An energetic and entertaining Inuit tale.
The Umbrella by Ingrid and Dieter Shubert
I adored this wordless fantasy title. A little bit of fear, a big bit of adventure and the largest bit of flying over stunning landscapes all over the world. I want my own copy of this book . . . Or at least a red umbrella that can take me travelling!
Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Well to begin with – these illustrations are vibrant, saturated with colour and interesting design. I read a few poems, really liked some, kept reading and soon realized, I liked a lot of these poems. And the why is the important part. They aren’t generally preachy and unrelated to the everyday. They are about the here and now. There are poems that reflect mindfulness (being in the moment), poems that talk about anger, poems that talk about PTS after experiencing war. A lot in this little book of poetry. Some of my favourite lines?
I have never fired a gun
but have shouted words
that pierced and stung.
Boot and Shoe by Marla Frazee
How have I not read this book sooner than this? I adore Marla Frazee. Adore. So I’m not sure how I had yet to pick this title up. Now it is heading off to school with me tomorrow to provide some Monday morning giggles for my students! Let’s just say when a “pee tree” is the cause for a happy ending, this title is guaranteed to have high levels of kid appeal.
Jemmy Button by Jennifer Uman and Valerio Vidali
Quite a title. The whole process of creating this book between two illustrators who didn’t share a language and talked via an online translator was fascinating to my students. The images are powerful and full of symbolism at every turn. This title is inspired by the true story of Orundellico (named Jemmy Button) who was taken from his home in Tierra del Fuego to England to experience “civilization.” I think this book is so well done and don’t want to say anymore – go into it with eyes wide open
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore created Libraries for Children written by Jan Pinborough and illustrated by Debby Atwell
Well. . . Anne Carroll Moore now has superhero status as far as I am concerned. Loved this story of how one woman acted as a champion for children’s access to books, libraries and beautiful spaces.
I also finished one novel:
Prodigy by Marie Lu
I am quite hooked into this fast paced dystopian tale. Drama. Psychological twists and turns. Unexpected outcomes. I plan to read the final book in this trilogy during the next few weeks.
What’s next? I think I will return to my list of novels from last week that I need to get to – Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick and The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour.
Reading Goal updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 5/100 novels complete
Goodeads Challenge: 46/650 books read
#MustReadin2014: 3/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 17/65 complete
Happy Reading everyone!
There's a Book for That 
Such a great list of picture books. I think I have read most of the list, but there are a couple I still need to find. And you are doing wonderful towards your reading goals. I love how you separated them out. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Alyson – with it all separate, I can see where I might have made a lot of progress in one area – like this week – I read 11 new nonfiction titles!
Your write up of Jemmy Button reminded me a little bit of Eric Carle’s collaboration with Kazuo Iwamura in Where Are You Going? To See My Friend! And, yay, for Miss Moore! I like your Reading Goal updates! I may have to do that.
Miss Moore is a hero for certain! Good luck with all of your reading this week!
Nice job. Have you seen Dan Yaccarino’s book trailer for the Cousteaux book? It is one of the best I have ever seen.
I haven’t see the trailer! But now I will be looking! Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks Carrie, had my list ready to add some. Love the idea of Sophie’s Squash & Jemmy Button. Have a good week! (will read your students’ writing tomorrow!
Jemmy Button is such a beautifully done book – I would love to see what you think about it.
Wonderful list! I have now added Harlem’s Little Blackbird, Sophie’s Squash and The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau to our must read list! We loved Manfish as well and my daughter loves anything about the ocean. It is possible that I like picture books even more then my children do!
I also really loved Miss Moore Thought Otherwise. I think it might have been my absolute favorite book from last year. Doesn’t hurt that deep down I want to be a librarian, but such a magical book.
Happy reading!
I know! Miss Moore is my hero! I want to create my own library from the ground up too! What an inspiration! This Cousteau title also full of lots of information with a totally different style of illustrations.
Your reading goals are so impressive! Good luck!
Thank you! I put this up weekly now to keep myself motivated!
Really enjoyed the first Brownie Groundhog book, can’t wait to read another! 🙂 Jemmy Button, nice to know the back story, thanks. Happy reading week to you!
I also loved the first Brownie Groundhog – this one is delightful! And again, gorgeous illustrations.
I now have 5 books on hold for me at the library 🙂 With so many bloggers who focus on middle grade, which I have to read too, but it’s great to see so many picture books! Thanks for being a great resource 🙂 And thanks for sharing the Knew/New link too!
Thanks for the positive feedback Michelle. I am so pleased that you found some titles that you want to read. Hope you enjoy them all!
I loved your student reviews of Brownie Groundhog. I also adored Miss Moore Thought Otherwise.
Thanks for reading the reviews! I love to see what they will focus on. It’s a charming little book.
Definitely a picture book bonanza for you this week! Some lovely titles I adore including Miss Moore , This is the Rope, and the adorable Sophie’s Squash. And of course it wouldn’t be a visit to your blog without adding a few titles to the TBR, including Harlem’s Little Blackbird and Brownie Groundhog!
So glad you found some new to you titles. Yes – bonanza is the perfect descriptor! Lots and lots of books!
Great pIcture book list! This is the Rope is new to me. I am excited to go find it. Thanks for the new ideas.
So pleased you found a new title to read! Thanks for visiting.
Great picture books this week. Off to put some on my TBR pile. 🙂
Have a wonderful reading week!
I LOVED Leonard Peacock. Definitely pick it up this week–you’ll love it!
I am really looking forward to reading another Matthew Quick title.
Hi Carrie, I also enjoyed Miss Moore and Harlem’s Little Blackbird. I love it when I stumble upon a biography of an important person I have never heard of. Poetry is a bookgap for me so i will look for peaceful pieces. Thank you for reminding me that I wanted to read Sophie’s Squash. Enjoy your week!
I also don’t read nearly enough poetry. Not sure why as I always enjoy it when I come across great writing. This is a lovely collection.
So many books I want to read in your post today! Boot & Shoe is one of my favorites. My boys love Marla Frazee’s work and so do I. I’d like to include a screenshot of your reading goals in a blog post I’m working on right now for my Adolescent & Children’s Lit students about reading plans. Would you mind?
Read Boot and Shoe today and kids so engaged. They were saying parts that repeated out loud, making inferences and lots of giggling too! Yes – go ahead and share!
Another great (and potentially expensive!) list, my friend! I had Jeremy Button on my list last week – an interesting book. I loved your post and student comments on Brownie Groundhog – and am already planning on reading this and doing a similar lesson next week! Peaceful Pieces looks wonderful, too! I adore anything by Marla Frazee! Thank you!
Thanks for reading my students’ comments! They really enjoyed this book and loved talking about the characters and their favourite pie! I think you would love this poetry book. I was really impressed.
Thanks again for the wonderful array of picture books! Just requested three new ones from the library! I love Boot & Shoe so much! You just reminded me to add it to my baby registry 🙂
The perfect book to have in your baby/child’s collection!
So many wonderful titles you have here, Carrie! I don’t even know where to begin! Cover design for The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau and This is the Rope are beautiful. Sophie’s Squash looks like a charming read, and I certainly would like to meet Miss Moore. While I’m not a big reader of YA novels, I do like dystopian tales. Thank you for sharing these titles!
Thanks for visiting Fats! I would like to meet Miss Moore as well and sit in her gorgeously designed children’s room for story time 🙂
Wow! You had a GREAT reading week, Carrie! I like how you have the updates to all your goals at the bottom as well. I need to decide if I am going to do a chapter book number or just leave it all together.. I loved Miss Moore… that’s a great one!
I do a chapter book just for me each year on the blog but Goodreads is just all together
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