It’s Monday! What are you reading?
My favourite reading photo of the week is another gem from buddy reading. I captured this little guy mid-point. I love how my students interact and have such fun with the K class. It is a highlight for all of us!
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. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
Oh you should see my beautiful piles of books to read – they are spread out in multiple places around my house. I did dip my toe into reading some of them. But people in my house were sick and I wasn’t = lots more housework for me. Housework and soup making. People in my house needed to go to lots of dance rehearsals = less time for reading for me. It’s the way it goes! My reading plans are still all about meeting my goals for the year but the countdown to 2015 is certainly on . . .
I did manage to choose my must own/must share picture books for my Gift Books 2014 post. Check it out if you missed it and see if your favourites are there. Would love to hear which books would make your list if you would like to leave a comment. #Booklove shared is the very best kind!
And I read some lovely books:
Haiti my country: Poems by Haitan Schoolchildren Illustrated by Rogé
This title is stunning. The portraits are incredible – full of joy, somber, movement and stories. And the poems . . . Written by Haitian teenagers – these poems celebrate nature. They touch all of your senses with the images of Haiti – pink flowers, ripe mango, dancing Haitian trees, humble little huts, a garden of gold . . . One of the New York Times Best Illustrated Books I had to purchase this title. I want to share it with my students and immerse them in the images these young poets create.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade written by Justin Roberts and illustrated by Christian Robinson
I like how the power of observation and the eye for detail are honoured here. But not just of the external, extraneous details. Instead, details of our interactions and our intentions. One little girl misses nothing and reminds everyone about how we treat each other.
Are you a Ladybug? A Backyard Book by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries
I have many of these Backyard Book titles in my classroom collection and was happy to add this one. I posted about using these titles in my classroom here.
I Loathe You by David Slonim
If you are a monster, you might express your deep feelings by substituting the word loathe for love. Fun to read aloud and giggle over. A perfect addition to my list of monster stories.
Lord of the Forest written by Caroline Pitcher and illustrated by Jackie Morris
Oh, trust me, this cover is a mere peek. Each illustration is absolutely this stunning throughout the entire book! Little tiger goes in search of the Lord of the Forest. When he is grown and has cubs of his own, the secret of who is Lord is revealed.
Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
Add me to the list of Albie fans. Being kind is still absolutely underrated which is ridiculous but true. Albie reminds us all of many things. Most of all – how very challenging it is to be true to yourself.
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
This was a reread for me as I read it aloud to my children. Easily one of my favourite novels of all time. Both of my children loved it. Incredibly written. Doug Swieteck is our hero. If you have read this book, you are nodding your head. If you haven’t, go, find a copy and soon. Can’t recommend this book highly enough. Middle grade perfection.
Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
A novel in verse. Again, I will say, that novels with sparse words often haunt us with the most powerful images. This book made me very sad. Not quite ready to articulate the many reasons why. An important read.
Next up? I have started I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. I am also still reading The Turtle of Oman: A Novel by Naomi Shihab Nye. With my children, I have begun Twerp by Mark Goldblatt
Reading Goal Updates:
2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 77/100 novels complete (yes, more than 20 to go! I have faith!)
Goodreads Challenge: 560/650 books read (48 books behind)
#MustReadin2014: 21/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 128/65 complete
There's a Book for That 
Sorry to hear you’ve had sick people in your family. I hope they are recovered now and that you recover some of your lost reading time. Thanks for sharing these titles. I agree that books always make good gifts. There appear to be some good ones here.
Thanks Norah! I always love coming up with book gift lists 🙂
Feel the same about Home of the Brave. Makes my heart ache. Haiti my country looks lovely, thank you…
It is so lovely. Hope you can find a copy and enjoy!
I need to get the Haiti book. Like the other one you shared earlier, it looks wonderful. I’ve missed Home of The Brave, will look for it, too. I just read The Smallest Girl, will share it with primary teachers this week. Sorry about the illness, Carrie. Hope all is good this week!
Thanks Linda This Haiti book is so wonderful – I know you will love it!
I hope all the feeling yuckies are gone before Christmas! So, so many good books out there right now! We just finished Wonderstruck – and I am wonder-struck! That Mr Selznick is a wonder indeed. Happy Reading!!!
So excited that he has a new one coming out in 2015!!!
Oh I agree. An absolute wonder!
Love many of the titles you’ve shared. I’m really hoping the Newbery committee will take a hard look at Absolutely Almost.
Albie is a winner.
I have faith too–in both of us! Even though I still have 28 to go…. I am in the middle of 10 or so right now, LOL. I don’t have to go to work tomorrow, so I am planning to stay home and READ. And maybe even FINISH something! I thought that Home of the Brave was very powerful too. It’s one I’m still thinking about. Raises so many rich and hard questions about home and identity. The cover of Lord of the Forest is so gorgeous–will be looking for that one for sure!
Yes. The home and identity thing. The connection to rhythms of natural life that exist in certain places and then don’t . . . Lots in this book.
I so loved Albie – it’s making the reading rounds in my sixth grade class, and I have to smile every time it changes hands. The Haiti book looks like a must have, too.
It is a MUST have. Really gorgeous.
I have I’ll Give You the Sun from the library right now!
I just finished reading Absolutely Almost for the second time. I fall in love with Albie every time I read his story!
I am loving I’ll Give you the Sun. Hope you are going to get to read it.
Okay for Now was and still is one of my most favorite books. It is so multi dimensional. I had to sit for an hour after each read and really go over what happened and how I felt about it. I think Paperboy and Al Capone does my Shirts did that for me as well. I think I’m going to have to read Home of the Brave, but you scare me. I can’t feel too deeply right now or I might not stop crying. You know?
I know. Sometimes we need to be careful which books we choose. Okay for Now really is a fantastic book. I am so glad I got to share with my children.
I have had a signed copy of Home of the Brave on my shelf for a while now but haven’t read it yet. I need to get around to that one.
You do! Will be interested to see what you think.
I have The Turtle of Oman here at home from the library and am looking forward to cracking it open. I have loved her poetry for a long time and am eager to see her novel writing.
I can’t sit and really get into this title. Not sure why. Keep picking up other books.
Fats, one of the GatheringBooks ladies, spoke highly of Home of the Brave – I really am looking forward to reading it myself. My eye was caught by Haiti – I shall ask our librarian to purchase a copy of that one so I can include it in my multicultural children’s literature course module! Will pin it right now! 🙂
This Haiti title is really incredible! Enjoy