It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This photo was taken during Nonfiction Reading day in Reading Workshop. The adults in the room were circulating and listening as children read aloud from their nonfiction texts and posed questions about what they were reading. We are working at moving beyond commentary and connections to asking questions which extend our learning. Slowly but surely . . . I love the connection in this photo – it is so wonderful to have these few moments of one on one time with students. I try to bring in as many adults as possible during Reading Workshop time.
This week has been about lots of literacy related things! We had Camp Read on Friday and I highlighted many of the amazing things we did here. Lots of reading and lots of yoga!
I also got to go book shopping. Plan to share more about some of these books in the next few weeks.
New books for my classroom thanks to a Vancouver Kid’s Books Gift card #booklove pic.twitter.com/Q3grTP4fjF
— Carrie Gelson (@CarrieGelson) March 29, 2015
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.
My favourite picture books of the week:
Marilyn’s Monster written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Matt Phelan
What do you do when everyone gets a monster and yours never arrives? Marilyn grows impatient with the endless waiting. This book wormed its way into my heart. I left it at the bookstore but it seems to be calling me. I may have to go back for it.
Room for Bear by Ciara Gavin
Persistence. Persistence. Persistence. Sometimes finding where you are meant to be is starting with the who. Utterly sweet.
Where Bear? by Sophy Henn
Just where can this bear go to be “bearish and big”? Finding the perfect place is certainly not easy. Charming.
If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
How does Kadir Nelson make pictures like this? Saturated in colour and signs of spring, this story reveals many things about the amazing power of seeds to grow – vegetable seeds, seeds of generosity . . . .
Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Jean Jullien
Oh this Hoot Owl is one big talker. Hilarious. This would be a perfect read aloud. I can see the children shouting and shaking their heads even now. Little Hoot Owl, wannabe big hunter eventually finds the perfect prey.
A Fish Named Glub written by Dan Bar-el and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon
There are small questions and there are big questions. When a small fish poses the big ones, many people find some important answers.
Library Lion written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
It turns out that this particular lion is perfectly suited to the library. Quiet, helpful and very, very needed. My students adored this title.
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
It is so easy to judge when we are looking through the incorrect lens. A beautiful book about identity, acceptance, self-expression and what a waste of everyone’s time labels really are.
In other reading, I finished:
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
I don’t have a quick summary of this book but yet I am not ready to write on and on to include all that I am thinking. I will just say this: How the heck did Jennifer Niven fill up my heart and leave me feeling so light while at the same time, leading me through sadness I did not want to wade into? Somehow, she did just that.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 15/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 124/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 28/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 12/50 books read
Up next? I continue reading We Were Here by Matt de la Peña and will be starting Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero next. This week I also started rereading Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick as it is our new title for my student book club. What a book this is!
There's a Book for That 
Did love Lulu, but the size of the book makes my middle school readers hesitant to pick it up. At least it’s HAPPY, unlike so many YA and MG books out there!
Very happy and very silly! I do love Lulu.
I brought home All The Bright Places to read over break, but have others to read first-hope I get to it! And, more bear books-delightful. I did adore Red, and read it to my class too. I think they enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s hard to tell with middle schoolers trying to be big, wondering if they should ‘love’ picture books. Thanks, Carrie!
It’s true – my children are also afraid to gush about picture books – especially my son but I can tell when he really likes them!
I’ve been meaning to read Marilyn’s Monsters since I enjoy Knudsen’s stories and love Matt Phelan’s illustrations.
I love both – the illustrations and the story! I am a big fan of author and illustrator too.
Yay for Gabi! That’s one I’m enjoying sharing in Children’s Lit and Adolescent Lit this semester. And somehow that cover sells itself! And an extra big yay for book shopping! I managed to take a few weeks off from purchasing anything new, but then caved and had to order a few new things that just arrived. How I love new books!
I really am trying to curb the shopping. The gift card at least made me feel less guilty! But I did order a few things my bookstore didn’t have as I need them for a unit . . . Sigh. Always book shopping. I would rather do without certain things so that my book collection can keep growing.
Room for Bear sounds like a wonderful text to read aloud when we want to talk with kids about sticking with a task – Can’t wait to read it. We completely agree about with you about Kadin Nelson’s illustrations – They are incredible.
Always I look at his illustrations with my mouth open – just in awe. Although they are not always my favourite in these animal books, I do appreciate his brilliance.
i just adore Jordan Sonnenblick and Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie is one of his best. I’ve decided to listen to All the Bright Places and it should be in soon. I’ve got Red in my cart, for when I have money to spend. The cover of Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise is gorgeous so I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Aren’t you glad we get four days off soon so there will be time for more reading?
I think it was because of you that I read Drums, Girls and . . . . It is incredible. Read i perfect title for the library and Hoot Owl such a fun read aloud. Yes, looking forward to this extra reading time!
I know Library Lion is an older one, but I LOVE that book. We have read it so many times.
It is very special. Not sure how I haven’t read it in the past.
LOVE the cover of If you Plant a Seed, and I still have to get Red. And what can I say about All the Bright Places. Jennifer Niven did indeed lead us where it is difficult to go–and yet somehow leaves us with a sense of hope. And, I did the same thing with Marilyn’s Monster–reminded me of Beekle. I’m thinking I have to go back and get it too.
Funny how certain books just won’t leave our thoughts. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one makes it into my classroom . . . Jennifer Niven and this book. Just wow.
Yay! Your photos always make my week!
Camp Read looked wonderful! I love the idea of mixing literacy and yoga! I wish I worked with you!
Congrats on your new books 🙂 I love Lulu, Mutts, and Fairy Tales Comics.
Matt Phelan’s illustrations are always so beautiful and soft. I’ll have to check out Marilyn’s Monster.
Yay! I’m glad you liked Library Lion. I love that book loving lion 🙂
I’ve heard about Red a lot recently. Some say it’d be a good companion with The Day the Crayons Quit—thoughts?
I cannot wait to read All the Bright Places!!!
Happy reading this week! 🙂
I find Red has quite a different vibe than The Day the Crayons Quit. Before I read it, I wondered if they would work together but now I like the idea of them being separate. All of the yoga on our Camp Read day was a lot of fun! I am so blessed to have Miriam share her amazing yoga with us each week. I also wish we could work together! Can you imagine?!
I just picked up Room for Bear at my library but haven’t read it yet. I didn’t realize until last week that Kadir Nelson had a new picture book out. Nelson is always on my must-read list any time he puts any picture books out. His work is just so stunning.
It certainly is! I find the work stunning in these animal stories but I love some of his other work even more – like Henry’s Freedom Box and Nelson Mandela.
Lots of great picture books! Red and Hoot Owl are wonderful. I have Marilyn’s Monster on hold for me. I quickly read Kadir’s new one, but I need to go back and reread before I review that one. Can’t wait for our upcoming chat!
Me too! I loved this book but look forward to some time to gather my thoughts.
I’m re-reading Gabi right now and am loving it all over again. Thanks for the wonderful picture book titles. I wish I could buy them all!
I wish I could too! Many wanted to go home with me but I was trying to stay true to only some particular titles for my gift card spending.
Ah! I am so happy you loved All the Bright Places. Your description was simply perfect. I felt the same way! I also adore Library Lion. It was one of three books I asked my parents to get Henry for Christmas. I can’t imagine a bibliophile or kid who wouldn’t like it!
Library Lion is a book to have on the shelf. One to grab over and over. Are you going to join us for All the Bright Places chat? I sure hope so!
Carrie, so many of these titles look great! I have Michael Hall’s Red already, but I haven’t shared it with my students yet. A couple that look great for use with my middle grade kids are Hoot Owl and A Fish Called Glub. I’m going to see if I can find them in my public library, and then– if I love them (which I probably will)–make a purchase!
Happy reading!
Sometimes, it is impossible to resist certain titles! Happy reading!
Library Lion reminded me of Margaret Wild’s The Stone Lion – you may want to look that one up too. Gorgeous illustrations. So many picturebooks that I haven’t read yet! Thanks so much for sharing them. Will pin a few that caught my eye. I am intrigued by the Kadir Nelson title, been reading mixed reviews about it as it’s not his usual style.
Absolutely fell in love with All the Bright Places. Was sobbing my heart out last night.
All the Bright Places is such an important book. It will stay with me for a long time. Thanks for the suggestion about The Stone Lion.
If You Plant a Seed, Hoot Owl and Glub-I want to add them all to my little one’s library now 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Isn’t it so wonderful to be building a home library? Books are a treasure!
After finishing All the Bright Places weeks ago, Violet and Finch are still lingering in my mind. I miss them, especially Finch. Characters that touch your heart with the challenges of our society. I knew you’d love it! I hope I’ll Give You the Sun is on your TBR list.
I miss him too. Totally know what you mean. I have read I’ll Give You the Sun! Yes, loved it!!!