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. You are guaranteed to find something new to add to your list.
Lots of picture books in my reading week. The ones I loved:
The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett
I always think that when I read a really fantastic wordless title that I should have many words. But my review is just about raving. This book has everything I love, love, love about picture book magic. Sigh. Soar. Divine.
Mr. Frank by Irene Luxbacher
I always love books about connections between grandparents and grandchildren. This book is nostalgic and tender. Just lovely.
Give and Take by Chris Raschka
Well, well, well . . . This book holds some great potential for some fascinating philosophical discussion inside of its 32 pages. How far can greed go? What is selfish? Is there a line? What about giving? Can we give too much? Such an interesting little book.
My Pet Book by Bob Staake
Bright, book adoration. What can be better?
Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke
This book went on a wish list of mine after reading some great reviews. Now I have read the book and am sure I need to get it into my classroom! Delightful is the best way to describe this title. I adore the unique creatures. I am impressed by Julia’s problem solving finesse. And who doesn’t love a journey into someone else’s imagination? Such fun.
I’m My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein
I did a lot of book store therapy this week. Not book shopping because that is not currently in the cards but bookstore “being” – perusing titles, recommending to friends, making lists. I actually laughed often while reading this book. And I need some laughs. A book that throws the usual “human = owner animal = pet dynamic” on its head. Giggles are underrated.
Mr. Brown’s Fantastic Hat by Ayano Imai
I loved the illustrations in this book. An incredible hat that grows to accomodate a number of birds come to nest. Themes of loneliness, making friends, growing community.
I also read some fantastic nonfiction titles:
A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Everything about this title is inspiration. What a story, first of al,l of a poet that had to share his perspective with the world. This book is full of art and words and images. It nudges the reader – go . . . write . . . share . . . create. A beautiful, beautiful book.
Who Was Here? Discovering Wild Animal Tracks by Mia Posada
Loved the guess and read to find out aspect of this story. Would be perfect to share a few pages at a time.
Bizarre Dinosaurs: Some Very Strange Creatures and Why We Think They Got that Way by John Updike and Christopher Sloan
Whoa dinosaurs are wild creatures! This title shares photos of fossils and digitally modeled images along with scientific explanations of why dinosaurs were structured the way they were. Fascinating.
I am sick of typing it so you must be sick of reading it but the mess of BC Education is still happening. We still have no contract. The mediator declared an impasse. Tomorrow is NOT the first day of school as it should be. So my reading time has continued to be interrupted by things like remembering to breathe. I am almost finished and thoroughly enjoying Revolution by Deborah Wiles. Hoping to be able to escape into more books this week after picket line shifts and beginning to home school (temporarily I hope) my own children who should be beginning Grade 7 tomorrow.
Happy Reading to all of you. Thank goodness for the land of books!
Reading Goal Updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 60/100 novels complete
Goodreads Challenge: 406/650 books read
#MustReadin2014: 20/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 104/65 complete
There's a Book for That 
Your blog is interesting and helpful. I’m so sorry about the serious education system problems in BC. I have just completed Austenland which is a simple read, mind candy. It was a summer reading book at my son’s high school.
Thanks for the concern re BC Education. It is a big mess. I need some simple reads right now to escape into!
I love Mark Pett’s works! Raschka is very hit or miss with me but I should read Give and Take.
I love Raschka pretty much always. One of my favourites is Little Black Crow. This one is really interesting – worth finding.
So many great books! My students love River of Words, which I share every year when we study WCW.
It is absolutely stunning. I love this pair and the books they create together.
Shoot, I was really hoping you’d have a different post for today 😦 I’ve been thinking of you guys. I CANNOT believe this is still going on! Just ridiculous!
However, great reading this week! I have I’m My Own Dog from the library. Will hopefully get to it soon. I think Who Was Here looks great, but it’s not released here until Oct. 1. On the TBR list 🙂 Julia’s House comes to me this week, I’ve heard great things! I’ve had Girl/Bicycle since last spring, just haven’t gotten to it! Soon I hope 🙂
Fingers stay crossed for you!
Michele – thank you so so much for all of your care from afar. I do really appreciate it. It is ridiculous and then some. Can’t stand much more of it honestly. So thank goodness for the books! You need to read The Girl and the Bicycle – it is so wonderful.
Isn’t A River of Words a wonderful nonfiction bio?! I love how it was put together. So creative and intriguing. I read Girl and the Bicycle as well this week. Beautiful!
I just requested Julia, Pet, and Dog from my library–can’t wait!
And happy reading this week!
Hope you like these titles as much as I did! Julia is lots of fun – think it will be a read again and again title in the classroom. And happy reading to you too!
It’s a beautiful list again, Carrie. I will for sure look for the Give and Take book; perhaps your mediator should read it! I got Revolution back from the library! Will try to start it soon. I have Julia’s House… but still haven’t read it, & I adore River of Words, actually all of Jen Bryant’s work. If I can help in any way with connecting when you’re home-schooling, let me know. Maybe your two can hook up with some students at my school? One colleague is already starting the students blogging. Best wishes as always!
Linda – you are truly the best. I may take you up on that – have to get my kids used to new routines of school at home. They are getting kind of keen about it but always hard to step into “teacher” role and have them respond. Hoping it works well. Of course, everyday will have a big element of independent reading time!
This is the first I’m hearing of Mr. Brown’s Fantastic Hat and two people on my #imwayr list have read it this week. I guess I need to put that one on my to-read list!
It’s a visually gorgeous book.
I have added a couple of these to my list to read. And wasn’t Give and Take a good surprise?
I liked Give and Take a lot. I am a big Raschka fan. Glad you found some new to you titles.
I was very sad to read the news that the mediator walked out of negotiations. Wondering what is next. A River of Words is one of my favorite books–beautiful, innovative, inspiring. I am also eager to read Julia’s House for Lost Creatures. Mr Brown’s Fantastic Hat has a beautiful cover. I am all for book therapy at bookstores! It sounds like your next week will be very busy, but I’m guessing that lots of reading time will be part of homeschooling. Hoping to hear some good news about the strike…
Hi Elisabeth. The mediator is well respected and extremely good at what he does. He walked out because 2 sides too far apart. We are in a real mess. Sigh. Julia’s House is really lovely. Lots of reading is definitely on the agenda – some reading aloud and some independent time. It will be a strange week. I am very sad.
So sad that you are not getting to start school yet. All your poor kids. Something has to give. This is a super book list. As always! All these titles are new to me — I’ll be searching them out. Thanks!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the list of books. I did so some really wonderful reading.
OK – LOTS here I haven’t seen before! I love the look of… A River of Words, Who Was Here? and Mr. Brown’s Fantastic Hat. Have seen Chris Raschka’s book – this book is certainly one that invites a lot of thinking! Love My Pet Book – not as powerful as Bluebird but delightful! Books bring me joy – even when my heart is breaking.
I know Adrienne. It is a sad, sad time. Thank goodness for all of these wonderful titles. I will admit though being in Kidsbooks twice this week made me feel better and worse at the same time. All so very strange.
I am so very curious about Julia’s House for Lost Creatures! I will need to find it. And I’m on the lookout for The Girl and the Bicycle also. I have not yet shared My Pet Book with my students, but I think perhaps it’s turn might be coming soon-we’ll start talking about what a reading life is this week!
Great reads…thanks for sharing!
The Girl and the Bicycle was a wonderful surprise. Quite brilliant really. I hope you can find it!
What a fun bunch of books. I love The Girl and the Bicycle. My Pet Book was fun for me. A River of Words is one that really wowed me. The text and illustrations are both fantastic. I agree – it made me want to go create.
I think we share a lot of similar taste in book titles! Happy Reading!
So sorry to hear that BC teachers still have no contract. Hope the impasse ends soon. I think I’m just going to order every one of these books. They all sound wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing!
So pleased to hear that you found this list appealing! I enjoyed the reading I did get to do. I am sorry about what is happening too. It is very sad all around.
Carrie, I also loved the bright pictures of My Pet Book. As a mother to a child who probably won’t have a pet for awhile (his father isn’t too keen on animals), I think it will be a great resource. We may need to attach leashes to books. I also appreciated your review of The Girl and the Bicycle. I have had this one on my TBR list, so I am looking forward to reading it.
I would love to hear what you think about The Girl and the Bicycle. I am so impressed by these wordless titles by Pett.
I forgot to add that I am sorry to hear about BC Education. I hope you can escape into books to keep your mind off of it.
Thanks so much Ricki. I hope so too. It is hard to focus and sit still. It is so heartbreaking. All of it.
The state of BC education is really such a mess right now but you have the right attitude…breathe and home school! We will be back where we love to be soon. I love the sounds of Give & Take – it sounds like it might be similar to The Philosophers Club in terms of stimulating discussions…and I love getting those going! If you love grandparent books, check out How to Babysit a Grandpa. Cute & funny, with lots of potential for connections! Thanks for all the wonderful recommendations!
I fear soon is not going to be soon enough. Really just too much. Hope you can manage to enjoy some great reading this week!
To keep focussing on the positive – Carrie, you are such a wonderful resource. You have provided me with so many excellent new book choices. Today was our first day of school, and although you couldn’t be in your classroom, I hope it helps, in a small way, to know that you are helping in so many other classrooms and school libraries. I placed a large book order today and many were titles that you recommended. Best wishes, and again, a big THANK YOU!
Julie. I can’t tell you how much this comment means to me. I just read it four times in a row. Thank you. This means everything.
What a wonderful assortment of books! More to add to my ever growing list! having been through a 2 week teacher strike here in Ontario under Mike Harris, I commend you all for the courageous stand you are taking for children’s education! Courage.
Thanks so much Bev. It is a terrible time here in B.C. Glad you enjoyed the book titles!
Hi there Carrie, I feel bad hearing about what’s going on in Vancouver. I am sending you positive energies and light thoughts. I do pray that things will get better soon. Love the picture books you shared here – most I haven’t read yet. I keep seeing The Girl and the Bicycle – I just checked our online library database, we have it! Will make a more purposeful effort to find it this weekend. I so loved A River of Words – Melissa Sweet is immensely talented.
Myra, I am very happy to catch all of those lovely energies and thoughts. It is a sad, sad place in BC Education (our entire province is on strike – well teachers) You will love The Girle and the Bicycle. It is one of my absolute favourites of the year.
I am so sorry to hear about the mess still going on with the contract. UGH! I love to see all the books you find, though. I put in a request for the Girl and the Bicycle and the Hatke picture book 🙂
Hi Maria. UGH! is one of many things I say. I’m sure you can imagine that my responses are often a little more descriptive (and colourful). Glad you found some titles of interest! Happy reading!