It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. These are three of my girls pretending to be bored after they read I’m Bored and declared it “the best” and “Why haven’t you read this to us already?” I do try to read everything but every so often I miss something! Thankfully, I redeemed myself by putting this out on display.
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 am surprised I got reading in this week as I have continued to be happily spending my weekends immersed in literature conferences, but I did find some time to read some fantastic books.
My favourite picture books of the week:
Surprise by Mies van Hout
So tender and sweet. Birds. Parenting, nurturing and loving. Love all of these bright on black illustrations. I have Happy and Friends and would love to add this to our collection.
Perfectly Percy by Paul Schmid
Porcupines and balloons do not mix. Until, a solution is figured out. And then, of course they do!
Naomi’s Tree by Joy Kogawa and illustrated by Ruth Ohi
Rich in B.C. (in fact Vancouver) history and family stories, this is a beautiful book about a special tree planted in a yard that represents home. This title tells a piece of the stories of Japanese Canadians during the war.
Inside this Book by Barney Saltzberg
Released next month, this title tickled the fancy of my many artists and writers in the room. Making books, books within books, child authored works . . . very appealing in my classroom!
The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie by Chris Van Allsburg
I was worried about this title. In fact, I had decided not to read it after reading many reviews. But, it came into our room with a guest reader and my students were quite engaged. It provoked lots of discussion and some amazing book reviews with thoughtful writing. I will be sharing these soon on our classroom blog.
In other reading . . .
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
My eye is now firmly on this author. Loved this book. What characters. So much grief and challenge but the humanity shines bright. Highly recommended.
How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon
A shooting of a young teenage boy. Is it racially motivated? Who is at fault? What is the truth? All important questions. More important though -the grieving and the moving on of a community and family impacted by the loss of one of their own. Powerful.
Up next? I have a huge pile of books coming with me on a week away with my family. First up? When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds and then We Were Here by Matt de la Peña and All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 10/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 81/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 5/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 17/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 11/50 books read
There's a Book for That 
I love your posts Carrie! Thanks for sharing –lot’s to add to my TBR pile!
Great! So glad to see you participating in the IMWAYR meme!
I’m in the middle of Boy in Black Suit right now. I love Jason Reynolds. I feel like I must be living under a rock not to know about that Chris Van Allsburg title. I’ll look forward to reading your students’ reviews. I’m on break this week and look forward to many wonderful hours of reading!
I have a 2 week break and a huge pile of novels with me. We are in Seattle for the week and I plan to read a lot and book shop a lot! Jason Reynolds is fantastic, agreed.
Some very interesting-sounding texts here. Love the ‘bored’ photo too! #imwayr
My students are very dramatic- and constantly amuse me!
Ha, love your Bored picture! So cute. I’m really interested in Naomi’s Tree but can’t seem to find it in our library. Will have to keep looking …
Wonder if it is because it is Canadian? It is a really lovely title.
I read Jason Reynolds’s first book WHEN I WAS THE GREATEST but I haven’t gotten to THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT yet. I really need to. He is definitely going to be a go-to author for me.
And I am doing the opposite-just about to start When I was the
Greatest Agreed, I am a big fan already.
The Boy in the Black Suit sounds so intriguing What age group do you think should read it?
it’s a YA novel – I would say 14 plus. Well worth reading.
Jason Reynolds is why I love blog reading! I never would have run across him if it wasn’t for blogs. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder to look him up.
He is a must read author!
Enjoy your upcoming time away!
I’m intrigued by Inside This Book. It hasn’t been ordered at my library yet. What is your opinion – one I should purchase, or hold off until my library gets it?
This is a book that you need to be gentle with. My students were very inspired by the idea of this title. I might look at it first And see if it is a fit.
I keep The Boy In The Black Suit on my table, but still haven’t read it. Too many books are pushed in front (mostly student recommendations & I’m trying to honor those). I will get there, thought! Love the look of Naomi’s Tree, hope I can find it! Finally, love the bored girls. Tell them they’ve got the look!
These girls are pretty funny aren’t they? When you do get to The Boy in the Black Suit, I think you’re going to love it.
How it Went Down and The Boy in the Black Suit both sound powerful. I will definitely need to put them on my TBR list. Have a great reading week!
Definite must reads!
Hi Carrie. I’ve been off the grid for numerous reasons and and am just getting around to reading at least some of the #imwayr. I am intrigued by The Boy in the Black Suit. I love the cover of Surprise. I sure hope you are getting more reading done than I have. Being surrounded by family can really cut into your reading life.
I hope you can find some extra time to read in this week coming up. I am fast becoming a Jason Reynolds fan.