It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. I loved how intently these two boys shared favourite aspects of their picture books. Lots of #booklove and talk happening about books!
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.
I just returned from the absolutely amazing Children’s Literacy Conference at Western Washington University. Wow. Wow. And more wow. I will share more details later this week.
So while my weekend was all about books. Buying books. Listening to authors and illustrators talk about books. Discussing books. Sharing favourite books. Did I mention buying books . . . ?
Anyway, the reading of books didn’t happen a whole lot.
But when it did . . . A few favourite titles of my week.
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
This is a stunning book. Absolutely stunning. But hearing Yuyi talk about the book and about the incredible process of creating it, it is now even more stunning to me. At the conference during Yuyi’s presentation, she read this book with the audience. She read the words in Spanish, we read in English. This sparse text surrounded us in the room. It was a read aloud experience I will never forget.
Wolfie the Bunnie written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah Ohora
I was so excited to find this book and it did not disappoint in any way. Charming, humorous and sweet. Perfect author/illustrator team!
You Call that Brave by Lorenz Pauli and Kathrin Schärer
The illustrations here are so much fun. This title asks the question: What is brave? Its answers pose all kinds of questions. I love the discussion that happened in my classroom with this book.
Shin-Chi’s Canoe written by Nicola Campbell and illustrated by Kim LaFave
An emotional story of two Aboriginal children (siblings) who are sent to residential school. Accessible for younger readers. The emotional pain endured by the families and children impacted by residential schools is powerful in this book. Beautifully illustrated.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson
A wise nana. A regular bus ride. The importance of neighbourhood and noticing. Oh how I adore this book.
I am in the middle of a number of novels and hope to report some completed titles next week as well as reading goal updates.
Happy Reading everyone!
There's a Book for That 
I think Wolfie is gonna be this season’s bestseller. Super adorable.
Super adorable indeed.
The cover of Shin-Chi’s Canoe pulls me right in. How lovely. Good to have a book with emotional heft now and then.
It is a really well done title. About an important (although devastating) part of North American history.
So many great books! I am really curious about the bravery book. That is our reading theme for this month.
I don’t want to spoil it. Will just say that the conversations were fantastic.
I didn’t read much last week either–prepping for the trip that wasn’t meant to be. 😦 And the weekend was NOT conducive to reading! (Though my son and I did finish The Lost Hero and started Louis Sachar’s Small Steps and Riordan’s Son of Neptune.) I was planning to do lots of reading in Bellingham–had already scoped out ALL the bookstores. At least I know just where I want to go next year! Off to order the brave book. It’s something we talk about a lot at home. How I loved Last Stop on Market Street! I think it will be one of my favorite titles of 2015. Can’t wait to read more about the conference last in the week and learn vicariously!
It was such a great weekend. We talked of you often. So busy that except for picture books, I read nothing! But it was all about books! Next year. Next year. Next year.
Next year!
I can’t even tell you how much I would have loved to be in that room with you and Yuyi Morales. What a great experience. I’m eagerly waiting for my copy of Last Stop on Market Street. Shin-chi’s Canoe is definitely a moving book along with its companion Shi-shi-etko. I still haven’t gotten to read Wolfie. I need to get on that. You Call that Brave sounds like a great way to open up conversation. Thanks!
It was very special. Yuyi is so beautiful – inside and out. I loved all of her stories and her amazing work.
The reading of Viva Frieda sounds like an amazing experience! Can’t wait to hear more about your conference.
This conference is so very special. And yes, many incredible moments – this reading was a highlight.
Shin-Shi’s canoe & You Call That Brave look good, Carrie. Your conference sounds amazing-love being at those meetings-so much to enjoy, including books, of course!
Absolutely – the books, the people, the learning, the books 🙂
Love your little review of Market Street. It is perfectly concise.
I have Wolfie and Frida in my soon TBR pile right over there —-> 🙂 I look forward to reading them!
I love conferences, but I completely understand not being able to read when you are at one. You get so busy!
Happy reading this week! 🙂
P.S. I always LOVE your photos! This one is especially wonderful.
Aren’t these boys adorable? I love their intense listening and listening in on their conversations was fabulous! Market Street is a wow and I love that the cover is bright orange!
I just read Wolfie the Bunny today. Loved it.
Oh my goodness. I can’t even imagine what an amazing experience that must have been to have Yuyi read Viva Frida in person. That book made me feel ALL THE THINGS. It’s like a living, breathing poem. I just can’t properly explain how much I love Viva Frida.
I so wish you could have been there with us. It was unforgettable.
I can’t wait to hear more about your conference! Wish I had been there with you! I’m sure between the two of us, we’d would have filled many book bags! I LOVE the look of Do You Call That Brave? – adorable illustrations! I am hearing lots about Wolfie – looks cute! Last Stop on Market Street – quiet wisdom – I love this book! Are your report cards finished???
Oh did I fill book bags . . . ! You would have so loved every bit of it. Yes, reports are DONE!! They went home today. Planning now to fit in lots and lots of reading.
I just love Nicola Campbell’s books. I really want You Call that Brave. Amazon let me see a bit inside and that just wet my appetite for more. And Wolfie, who wouldn’t love a story like that?
The illustrations for You Call that Brave are just fantastic. You would really like it. I am sure.
Wolfie looks utterly gorgeous! I’ve never heard of Viva Frida before, it looks really unusual, your comments have definitely made me want to search it out!
If you can try and find the video of some of the process of making this book – it’s well worth it!
The Wolfie the Bunny cover made me laugh out loud. The book looks very charming! Thank you for sharing it. I am so glad you liked Last Stop on Market Street. It was one of my favorites this year. Sorry I didn’t stop by yesterday evening–I wasn’t feeling well. I am glad I came back today to see what I missed. 🙂
Loved Market Street – like it even more as my copy is signed by the author! 🙂 Hope you are feeling better.