It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This was taken during buddy reading with the Ks. What I love about it? That children are everywhere. All reading. Under things. On the carpet. At tables. Walking around. Reading, reading, 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. It’s the best way to discover what to read next.
Loved some special books this week – here are a few of my favourites:
My Teacher is A Monster (No, I am Not!) by Peter Brown
Everyone has read this book, I know, I know. I kept not reading it thinking I might buy it. How I love Peter Brown! Then I tried to reign in my book purchasing and requested this title from the library. Now, of course, I really want it . . . My logic around not buying books usually fails. Miserably.
I adored this book. It’s sweet and funny. But also tender and kind of vulnerable. That’s how it struck me at least. All about perspective of course but also about opening yourself up to viewing someone in a new way.
Sebastian and the Balloon by Philip C. Stead
Ode to imaginations and pickle sandwiches. Absolutely charming.
Toys in Space by Mini Grey
What happens if you leave your toys outside all night? Well, they’ll be abducted by aliens of course.
Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature poems by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Mark Heard
Oh these illustrations. This book is a treasure. The poetry is varied – many poems became my favourites. I tried to list them but kept changing my mind! A beautiful book to give, to have, to read.
I also finished Girls Like Us by Gail Giles
I find myself strangely without words on this title. The pages are seeped in vulnerability for so many reasons. There are some hard and heartbreaking pages. It’s a quick read that follows you around for days. I can see why the Schneider committee selected this book. A YA read.
Up next? I am reading The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 8/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 61/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 5/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 15/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 5/50 books read
There's a Book for That 
Hi Carrie, I just requested Sebastian and the Balloon. It looks so sweet! I loved My Teacher is a Monster and so did my 4th graders.
I can see it having huge appeal. Will have to share with my students.
I am so very curious about Girls Like Us. And you may have convinced me to look for Outside Your Window. I wish I did more work with poetry.
My students and I love My Teacher is a Monster, too.
Outside Your Window will be full of inspiration! My students love listening to poetry. Sometimes we just listen to a poem and talk about our favourite lines or images. The savour factor.
This link-up has my reading plan for 2015 going off in so many fun directions! I’ll be looking for Girls Like Us. You need to buy My Teacher is a Monster. 🙂 It’s a must have, as you know. We loved that book, and it brought us together in the fall.
Girls Like Us is an important read. Let me know what you think if you find it.
I brought The Boy In The Black Suit home to read this vacation, Carrie. Several of my students enjoyed it. I want to read Girls Like Us-seems important. I loved Outside Your Window, one to have and savor!
I wish I had more time to be reading it. I have a workshop I am preparing for and report cards looming. I am longing for a few stolen hours of just reading but afraid it might be a while . . .
I typically do the same thing – I request a book from my library, fall in love with it, and end up buying it! Peter Brown is a favorite of mine too 🙂
“Talk” to you tonight!
Yes 🙂 Looking forward to discussing this book. It has really stuck with me.
I JUST read My Teacher is a monster a week or two ago. I love it! I completely forgot about Sebastian and the Balloon I’m going to put a hold on it right now!
Peter Brown is pretty amazing. I love his book The Curious Garden most of all.
Interestingly enough, Phillip Stead said recently at an event in Ann Arbor that he’d never had a pickle sandwich when he wrote the book. He just liked the way it sounded. 🙂
You know, I can see that. I liked the way it sounded too. 🙂
I am in love with Outside Your Window: A First Book Of Nature just because of the glorious cover. We have My Teacher is a Monster in the library. It is usually checked out! Girls like us sounds like a powerful read.
That cover is so beautiful and so are many of the inner pages. Love this book through and through.
I just ordered Boy in Black Suit! (Reading When I Was the Greatest right now and loving it.) I had to laugh at your no-book-buying logic. It’s about as successful as mine! I make these wonderful resolutions that I’m certain I can stick with, but then something happens and I MUST BUY. Curious Garden is also my fave Peter Brown. Toys in Space is so funny!
And see we also both love The Curious Garden – more book connections! 🙂 Yes, my no book buying works for about 5 minutes – sigh. Did you see my #celebratelu post this week? About the book cycle. Very cute.
Wow – intriguing words for Girls Like Us, which make me want to purchase this book right away.
I do highly recommend it.
We just ordered Girls Like Us and Sebastian and the Balloons. Thanks for telling us about these books. Girls Like Us sounds like a powerful book.
So powerful. Would love to know your thoughts when you finish.
I want to read Boy in the Black Suit – I liked When I Was the Greatest. I am curious about Toys in Space. And you know that I loved Girls like Us. Can’t wait to chat.
I wish I had more time to be reading it. So far fantastic but I am just a few chapters in.
You hit the nail on the head about My Teacher is a Monster: it’s all about “opening yourself up to viewing someone in a new way.” Such an important message! I’m a huge fan of Philip C. Stead, so Sebastian and the Balloon is going on my list now, and the Mini Grey book looks like fun. Girls Like Us looks a little old for the kids I work with, but I’m intrigued by your comments.
Girls Like Us is definitely a YA read. There are some serious scenes. Upper high school for sure, I think.
While Girls Like Us isn’t technically on my #mustreadin2015 list, it is definitely on it for sure. I appreciated your review. It seems incredibly compelling. Thank you for sharing!
And we just had an incredible chat about it – ask Kellee!
Love anything and everything by Philip Stead – this looks like a winner! Girls Like Us – this is a new title for me so I am definitely going to search this one out! Nicola Davies – sigh – I love her. I totally agree with you about the Monster book – I didn’t expect the tenderness.
The tenderness makes it even more special. Girls Like Us an important book.
Loved chatting with you about Girls Like Us tonight! What a special book.
My Teacher is a Monster was one of my favorites from last year. I love Peter Brown.
Happy reading this week! 🙂
Yes, what a great chat! Peter Brown is one of those guaranteed to love authors for me.
Can’t wait to read Toys in Space! 🙂
It is really fun!
I read My Teacher is A Monster to my group of teacher-trainees and allied educators and they love it. Truly a play in perspective and an overall lovely read. I have to find Outside your Window – it does sound like something I’d enjoy. Will have to find Girls Like Us – I love narratives that are courageous in its vulnerability. 🙂
Exactly true – overall very lovely!