It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. I love the energy of the interactions and the reading that this photo highlights – another moment from buddy reading with the Ks. Books and children, they go together . . . 🙂
And because I just can’t resist: Some Richard Scary love.
If you didn’t get to read about our amazing visit with author/illustrator Calef Brown, read here.
His fantastic new book of poetry is a must read, must share, must own: Hypnotize a Tiger: Fantastic Poems about just about Everything The pages are full of fascinating word play and delightful illustrations. Hard to pick a favourite here. Miriam, who works with me loves Lazy Head and the children are particularly fond of Pigeon Frogs. Today, I am very charmed by Interview with a Termite, but by tomorrow I might have a new favourite!
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.
Some of my favourite titles from the week:
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear that Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss
My students wrote reviews of this book that I will be posting soon. We loved the story and the history. What a relationship between Winnie and Harry Colebourn! It is easily apparent why Winnie made her way into the stories of A.A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin. The real Winnie was a sweet little bear.
Unnatural Selections by Wallace Edwards
This book squeaks and speaks and hollers: Art project! Ahem . . . art inspiration! What fun!
The Stick by Clay Rice
These woodcut images are incredible. I like the story’s theme of imagination but this is not a book I would rave about or necessarily choose for my classroom collection. Potential but just not quite there . . . Yet the images stay with me.
Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by Leuyen Pham
How I love the illustrations by Leuyen Pham! This is a fun little story perfectly suited to little dancers. Can Vampirina stay focussed on her dancing and resist turning into a bat?
Josephine written by Patricia Hruby Powell and illustrated by Christian Robinson
Such a detailed, poetic biography of Josephine Baker. The colours, the illustration, the use of language – all things make for an incredible middle grade picture book biography.
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
There is reason for all of the raving about this YA title. The characters are so very unique – different, mysterious but so very appealing. The story is full of intrigue, suspense, mystery and magic. It is haunting and sad yet full of hope and transformation. It is one of those books that must be experienced and the less you read about it in advance, the better because each surprise, each “around the corner” is so delicious. So I will stop here. Except to nudge you . . . go, read this book.
Up next? I am devouring The Truth about Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh (and not because it makes one hungry). My class just finished Each Little Bird that Sings by Deborah Wiles (which I would recommend over and over and over as a beautiful read and even better read aloud) so we are up for a new read. Happy to announce that it will be Jack by Liesl Shurliff. We read Rump last year and kids are over the moon that we get to share another book by Liesl together!
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 20/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 165/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 9/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 36/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 18/50 books read
There's a Book for That 
I have to read Winnie even though it’s a picture book. Looks like such fun. I loved the cover of Twinkie Pie, but am tired of books that are so depressing! So many people have posted about Bone Gap that I may have to pick that one up, too!
I am not finding Twinkie Pie depressing at all so far! It’s a fantastic MG read.
I think I need to get my hands on Bone Gap!
It’s so compelling! Wondering what you will think!
Need to get Jack & Bone Gap, both are definitely on my list, Carrie. Thanks for all, loved the Calef Brown post earlier, will look for Unnatural Selections for sure-sounds terrific.
Bone Gap is an interesting read. Will be interested to hear what you think.
Ok, ok, I was just looking at Bone Gap on my Kindle, read the first few pages and wasn’t sure I was up for it then, maybe I am now. 🙂 Thanks for the nudge…
Nudge, nudge, nudge!
Hypnotize a Tiger looks great! Winnie has been on my list, too, and of course, I need to read Bone Gap – everyone else is!! 😉
I love Calef Brown’s work and this collection of poems might be my favourite yet. Yes, Bone Gap is a must read. Very, very interesting!
Great books Carrie! I need to have Hypnotize a Tiger, and I’ve got Twinkie Pie sitting here next to me from the library so will have to read that this week. AND Bone Gap!! Must read it this week! Thanks as always for sharing your book love. 🙂
I look forward to sharing impressions of Twinkie Pie I can’t wait to get back to reading it tonight! Such voice in these characters already. And the recipes described . . . out of another time! Some nostalgic feelings they inspire . . .
Now I need the Calef Brown book! Josephine was one of my favorite books last year. I thought Christian Robinson’s art was absolutely brilliant and was disappointed it didn’t receive more awards this year. Of course I also loved all of the books that were honored. The cover of Unnatural Selections is so intriguing! I’m sensing a visit to Amazon in my very near future….
Calef Brown is a lot of fun. His art is so interesting and accessible for kids! And I love all of the silly word play 🙂 Agree with you about Robinson. Such amazing illustrations.
I agree with The Stick. Great illustration but the text is somewhat lacking. I like to recommend Josephine for fans of Ladybug Girl.
🙂 This book about Josephine is beautifully about energy and individuality!
Great picture books, here, Carrie. I haven’t heard of this particular YA title – but it sounds intriguing. A summer read!
This would be a great summer read! Great when you didn’t have to pause and could just read in big chunks!
I adore the cover of Hypnotize a Tiger: Fantastic Poems about just about Everything, and enjoyed reading your post about Calef Brown’s visit earlier this week. I agree with everything you have said about Bone Gap – one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. Each Little Bird that Sings is such a fantastic book! While we were in Bellingham last weekend I picked up a copy of The Aurora County All-Stars, which is connected to that one and Love, Ruby Lavender. Happy reading!
A Deborah Wiles title I don’t know? I might have to borrow it from you – see that the public library doesn’t have it 😦 Calef Brown books are great additions to the poetry section! So much fun.
We don’t have it in our school system either. I’ve had to send it down to the board to be catalogued. Waiting is so very hard.
Thanks for the recommendations! Jack is at the top of my TBR pile, and I need to make some time for him!
I am so excited to be reading this title with my class!
I think I’ve missed Each Little Bird that Sings. I need to get to it.
You do! It is beautiful. And the characters – wow!
Bone Gap sounds amazing. I am hearing a lot of good things about Winnie so am excited to get my hands on it. Isn’t there another PB book about Winnie the Pooh? Or am I thinking of a movie? I’m still on Sweden time and am in a bit of a fog!
There is another one out now too. I think it is called Finding Winnie. I can imagine it takes a while to adjust from that trip!
I can’t wait to read the Winnie the Pooh book – So many kids are going to love it. Bone Gap is definitely on my summer reading list. Everyone was tweeting about it during #titletalk last night.
Thanks for all of the recommendations
Yes, for good reason! Such an interesting and beautifully written book (Bone Gap) Winnie is lovely – my students loved the history and all of the photos in the end pages.
I’m hoping to get to Jack next week too! I’ve heard good and eh things about Bone Gap. I have it, and I usually agree with you, so I have high hopes 🙂 Love love love Twinkie Pie!
Bone Gap is odd – so know that. But so beautifully written and such stories in all of it. I loved many of the characters.
I love Richard Scary, but had forgotten about him!!! I need to get some for Trent!
I’m glad you like Josephine. I loved learning about her!
Bone Gap is everywhere! I guess I need to get on it 🙂
Happy reading this week!
Busy Town is so busy in my room that I have two copies – it is hands down the most popular book during buddy reading every week!
I’m listening to the audio of Bone Gap which is making for an even more haunting experience.
Oh my – I can’t quite imagine. It is definitely very scary in parts.
There is a reason I can’t visit here too often–I lose money each time! But I walk away richer in intelligence. 🙂 That’s what I tell my husband anyway. Off to get that book of poems, and maybe a few others.
Great choice! And good line for your husband and the book buying 🙂
Bone Gap sounds like a must-read! I do hope we get a copy soon here in Singapore. 🙂 I pinned Hypnotize a Tiger – we need more poetry for children!! 🙂
Calef Brown’s poetry is a fantastic addition to any class or school library!
Thanks for the usual awesome line up! I just requested Hypnotize a Tiger 🙂 Can’t wait to read it and view it!
It is such a fun book of poetry. Lots of pure silly and great word play.