It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. Because I am on Spring Break and have no student photos to share, I will share a photo of part of my reading stack at the Seattle Public Library Saturday afternoon. We just returned from six days in Seattle – and spent lots of time with books – at the library, at book stores and at cafes with novels in hand. Happy, happy, happy.
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 worked very hard to limit the picture books I want to share here to ten. And then I couldn’t. So there are eleven. All of these are fantastic. I will limit my comments though so that this post is not endless 🙂
In by Nikki McClure
So, well, McClure is insanely talented. I look at the images in her picture books and just shake my head in awe. This book was full of childhood passion and perseverance. Reminded me of some of the lovely long days when my children were younger.
Special Delivery written by Phllip C. Stead and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Oh my goodness. How exactly does one send an elephant to a Great Aunt named Josephine? We absolutely need this picture book to help us wonder. Love!
Lucky by David Mackintosh
Kids have some very big imaginations. And once you begin to think one thing . . . Assumptions, dreams and pineapple. How I adore David Mackintosh.
The World According to Musk Ox written by Erin Cabatingan and illustrated by Matthew Myers
My students love this particular Musk Ox. His antics in this tale will need to come and be a part of our classroom library. And while we are giggling, we will brush up on our geography.
I Don’t Want to be a Frog written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt
I do have a thing for frog books. A frog book about a frog who doesn’t embrace the wonderful “froginess” of frogs? Oh no! But oh yes, how very, very clever! Well, well done Dev Petty.
Hunters of the Great Forest by Dennis Nolan
Let’s just say that if my children were these little hunters and they found this treat to this scale, well, a sweet kind of heaven, indeed!
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School written by Davide Cali and illustrated by Benjamin Chaud
Benjamin Chaud. Love, love, love him. And this book reminds me in the best of ways of a favourite title of mine: John Burningham’s John Patrick Norman McHennessy – the boy who was always late So this means, a winner. Yes, I had to buy it. Did I mention that it is teeny, tiny in size? So it will be perfect for a book basket in our room labelled: A Funny Little Book Box. All kinds of meant to be.
Red, Yellow, Blue by C.G. Esperanza
A colour mixing masterpiece. Stunning visually.
The Zoo by Suzy Lee
I am not quite sure how Suzy Lee does what she does. She continually knocks me over.
Extreme Opposites by Max Dalton
Oh so very funny. Go experience this book. Simple in concept. Big on clever.
Standing in for Lincoln Green by David Mackintosh
Another Mackintosh? Yep. Because more than one is better. Or is it? Hold on, am I now talking about this book?
I read some great novels this week.
Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin
A book you can pick up and read in one sitting. But images will follow you around for days. Wow.
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
An absolutely lovely middle grade read. Full of imagination, hope, courage and the magic of the unnoticed.
When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds
I have so much to say about this book. But I am only going to say this. What characters. What quietly bold and beautifully human characters. Jason Reynolds, these characters you write . . .
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 13/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 102/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 22/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 12/50 books read
Up next? I am reading Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell. Loving this author. And she has a new title coming out in September.
There's a Book for That 
Your post took me a long time to read because I was also putting each one on my wish list, Carrie. Happy you enjoyed your week off in Seattle. Lots to enjoy there. Every book looks good, but the cover of The Zoo is so interesting. Thanks!
The Zoo is an older title. And just beautiful. I love all that Suzy Lee does.
Wow Carrie! You have really been reading this week! Like Linda, it takes me a while to read as I add everything to my lists of books I want to read. I too have a fondness for frogs, so I Don’t Want to be a Frog goes to the top of my list! Arcady’s Goal arrived from the VPL but I didn’t have time to read it. After reading your comments, I think I will have to to either purchase a copy or reserve it again.
You will love this title – I Don’t Want to be a Frog. Yes, Arcady’s Goal is a must read I’m afraid. Worth reserving again.
Another post full of books and authors and illustrators I’ve never heard of! I’m also frantically adding to my Goodreads wish list. How delightful to spend a week in Seattle. Such a fine city. Such good coffee! (And strong!) I am so glad to learn that I am not the only person who takes outings to libraries while on vacation. (All the better when they’re also special architectural destinations!) I very nearly checked Arcady’s Goal out from the library last week and now I wish I had. I didn’t get quite as much reading time as I imagined last week–but then that’s often the case. I am in the middle of several really good books right now and needing to find more time to read. But first, the dreaded grading!
Loved all of the coffee and the reading! Arcady’s Goal made me so very sad. It is an important read. Wishing you luck with your grading and hoping you can find more reading time!
I am so very excited to hear your thoughts on Mermaid Queen. It’s a favorite of mine! Thanks for all the new titles…can’t wait to get my hands on them! Enjoy the rest of your break!
And you too! Mermaid Queen is quite incredible. The only problem . . . I want to own it!
I have a major author crush on Jason Reynolds. And I haven’t even read his second book yet. But I just know based on the kind of books I love, that I will also fall in love with The Boy in the Black Suit too.
Oh you will. Its these characters. So beautifully human. Important. Believable. Just so so good.
We loved Arcady’s Goal too – It is a story that so many students can relate to. Thanks for telling us about the new Musk Ox books. Students of all ages can’t think they are absolutely hysterical.
So pleased you are also Arcady’s Goal fans. What a book. I also loved Breaking Stalin’s Nose and look forward to more titles from this author.
I can always count on you for new titles Carrie! Your description of Arcady’s Goal has me convinced that I need to read it.
It is a fantastic title Gigi. Very emotional for many reasons.
Oh wow–In, Special Delivery, and Rooftoppers, and Arcady’s Goal caught my eye. Sigh–the TBR pile gets bigger! I’m blaming you!
I fully accept the blame 🙂 Book love is a beautiful addiction!
I loved Arcady’s Goal. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down. Your description was perfect! When I was the Greatest is on my #mustreadin2015 list. I can’t wait to read it! Happy reading this week!
So glad to hear you will be reading Jason Reynolds. I know you will love his work.
Okay I need to find so many of these titles. I love that I find new titles when I check your posts.
🙂 Glad to hear this! I had a wonderful reading week!
Don’t you love time to read during breaks?? Mine is next week, I can’t wait!
In and Rooftoppers came in at the library, I’ll pick them up on Wednesday.
I’ve got Arcady’s Goal on my list to read, but you make me really want to get to it!
Can’t wait to hear what you think about Rooftoppers. Such a book! Loving this author so much. A perfect MG read in my opinion.
I love breaks except it means I am missing your weekly photo. They make my Monday! Thank you for the book stack photo though 🙂
I love what you said about Greatest. Such a thought provoking, quiet, special book.
I am intrigued by Arcady’s Goal. (I need to read it AND Breaking Stalin’s Nose!)
Thank you again for the picture books! I always go straight to Goodreads.
Happy reading to you this week! 🙂
I do appreciate my break but I also miss my weekly photo which means I miss the reading I can be doing with kids. Although I have loved my bookstore wandering and my gardening and all of the reading . . .
Hi, Carrie,
I’m amazed at your list this week! You have been a busy reader. I’m glad (and jealous) for your vacation AND the chance to peruse books and read during it. Our spring break always coincides with the Heritage PGA Golf Tournament over on Hilton Head– so we still have 3 more weeks until break (but I’m collecting a stack of stuff to read during that week!)
I’m adding A Funny Thing Happened… and Extreme Opposites to my list for sure… and am also interested in Rooftoppers. Thanks for all the good ideas! Have a great week. 🙂
Rooftoppers was a delightful surprise. Loved it more than I thought I would and highly recommend it! Lots of time to read is always such a treat!
I am very happy that you are getting to know more of Suzy Lee’s wonderful picturebooks. She was our featured storyteller when we had our Wordless theme several years back and when she was still based here in Singapore. We invited her to do a keynote for the Asian Festival of Children’s content in 2013 and she was simply amazing. Did you know that she has a truly creepy version of Alice in Wonderland? That one has limited copies, I believe, but I do hope you’d be able to get your hands on it. I’ve done a fairly extensive review here, along with a few pages from Suzy’s sketchbook that she was generous enough to share:
http://gatheringbooks.org/2011/04/27/alice-in-wonderland-suzy-lee/
She is quite incredible.My students are in awe of The Wave and other titles she has done. I will be on the lookout for Alice and am now going to check out this link. Thanks!!
Really enjoyed Rooftoppers as well! So many “oh my, I want to read that too” books on your share this week, thank you! Happy reading week to you…
Isn’t it wonderful to be able to have extra time to read!?
Getting my time in 1.5 weeks, can’t wait! 🙂
I have not read a single one of these picture books, but you have me eager to get all of them! I loved Arcady’s Goal and When I was the Greatest. Two excellent books there too. It sounds like you had a most wonderful break full of book love. 🙂
I had a lot of fun reading this week! These picture books are all wonderful – hope you can find a few of them!