It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This photo perfectly captures what happens when a new, impatiently waited for title arrives in our classroom library! An instant list posted to the cover and a happy little smirk for the first reader!
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 wasn’t able to post a #IMWAYR post last week so this post captures two weeks of reading.
Favourite picture books (fiction and nonfiction)
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
One of those read alouds that must begin again as soon as it ends – this isn’t the story it first appears to be. Adorable, hilarious and full of delight.
Have You Seen my Monster? by Steve Light
There are monsters everywhere – look very closely. You might also find a triangle, a circle and a quatrefoil. Yes, really.
Henny by Elizabeth Rose Stanton
A chicken. With arms. Wings? Nope, none of those. Henny learns to embrace her unique possibilities. Quirky but sweet.
I Don’t Like Koala written by Sean Ferrell and illustrated by Charles Santoso
Is your stuffed animal watching you? This little koala just might be. An odd little book about a stuffed creature that is not beloved but is everywhere.
I, Fly The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are written by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Jennifer Plecas
Wow, such learning happens when a fly arrives to plead his interest quotient to a bunch of children studying butterflies. Such voice! I can’t wait to share this with a class.
Outstanding in the Rain by Frank Viva
So very, very clever.
A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries. Four Families. One Delicious Treat. written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Sophie Blackall
This book does so much. As we travel through time with a recipe for a simple summer dessert, we are treated to a history lesson that is much more than how kitchen utensils and appliances have changed. I am in more than a little bit of awe.
Emu written by Claire Saxby and illustrated by Graham Byrne. Papa Emu plays a starring role in this nonfiction title. Read my review here.
Drive: A Look at Roadside Opposites by Kellen Hatanaka
There is a commercial I have seen a few times that celebrates a driving experience that has the children in the back seat fully plugged into their devices while the parents sit peacefully in the front seat pleased as can be to be avoiding noise, arguments, etc. from their children. While I will admit to ordering my children at times to “Be quiet!” I don’t want them zoned out on a device while we are in the car. I would prefer that they are watching the passing scenery, drawing or listening to an audio book. Even, oh my goodness, using the time to think and be. So I love this book that honours the view out the window and connection to the world as we travel through it. Tuned out to be tuned in is not my idea of the way things should be. Look out the window and notice! This book gives one a great starting point for lots of examples.
In novels, I read . . .
A graphic title
Zita The Space Girl by Ben Hatke
I don’t always love graphic novels with lots of adventure and action. But this one? It’s a keeper! I now want all three titles for my classroom collection.
Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Yes, it is really as good as you’ve heard. Beautifully written, beautifully imagined. An absolute must, must read!
Watch the Sky by Kirsten Hubbard
I read this in almost one sitting. One family, almost completely cut off from the rest of the world have their lives shaped and controlled by a step-father’s prophecies about the future. What happens when the one who protects might also put you at risk? How can one boy live a double life? Haunting. Upsetting. Utterly addictive.
Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
A story about family and connection, grief and moving on. Ari and her older brother Gage are basically homeless – couch surfing and staying in shelters while trying to turn their lives into something stable with a real future. The secrets, the instability, the worries are huge. Can they keep their little family together and still hope for the future? I couldn’t put this one down.
The Shadowhand Convenant by Brian Farrey
I read this title aloud to my children. We read the first in the trilogy about a year ago and were completely captured by these unique characters in such a fresh fantasy story. This story continued to keep us guessing right until the last pages.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 25/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 188/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 10/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 40/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 18/50 books read
Up Next? Wish Girl by Nikki Loftin My children and I waited (and waited and waited some more) for the 3rd title in The Books of Beginning trilogy to be released. Finally, it is here and so we are happily reading The Black Reckoning by John Stephens. The Emerald Atlas was published in 2011 and The Fire Chronicle published in 2012 so as you can see, our wait was long!
There's a Book for That 
That bear on the cover of The Bear Ate My Sandwich is irresistible! I think I’ll have to order that today! Can’t wait to read Echo, and Outstanding in the Rain look like so much fun. Going for drives on Sunday afternoons was an event when I was a kid, so I’m looking forward to Drive, too. Thanks for sharing, Carrie!
That bear is adorable – he is cuter on the inside pages as he carries out all of his adventures. Echo is such a beautiful novel. I highly recommend it!
The Bear Ate My Sandwich is lots of fun, agreed. Thanks for all of these, Carrie. I will look for Paper Things and Watch The Sky. I have Echo, will get to it as soon as I can. Have a good week!
Paper Things is very special – I think one title you would really enjoy. I loved all 3 of these novels though. And also loved reading this fantasy title to my children.
You’ve had a great reading week! I love many of the picture books. I read Koala at ALA and purchased it. I need to reread it for a good laugh.
I love seeing the list of students post-it note who are waiting for Salem Hyde! She’s a fun character 🙂
Paper Things is on my list. One day….
My class loves this series (Salem Hyde) I read the first one and agree that she is fun! Paper Things is a must read. Really!
I really enjoyed Have You Seen My Dragon so I’m looking forward to reading Have You Seen My Monster.
I didn’t think I was going to like Henny at all — I mean, a chicken with arms? That spelled disaster written all over it. But I found it surprisingly endearing.
Henny is very charming I agree. I ended up purchasing this book for my classroom collection – found it on sale at the bookstore and it won me over on the first read.
More PBs to add to the ever-growing TBR list! I saw the Frank Viva title at the bookstore this morning but didn’t pick it up. Now I’m kicking myself, LOL.
So many picture books convince me that they need to come home with me. Others yell loudly that I forgot them! Often, they find a way of becoming mine!
I was marveling at your selection of picture books, and then I came to your YA books – each of which looks amazing. This was an expensive visit for me!
I would recommend all of these novels! I think you would LOVE Echo – the historical elements make this book all the more special.
Wow Carrie, you have really been reading! Wish Girl just arrived in the library. Watch the Sky, Paper Things, and The Vengekeep Prophecies are new to me so I’ve added them to my list. Echo was already there. I’m hoping to get it as an audiobook for the summer. I love the covers of Outstanding in the Rain and Emu. Hope you are enjoying your long weekend!
Emu was such a great nonfiction picture book for me – can’t wait to share it as a read aloud. Echo is a beautiful read – am sure it will be a beautiful listen. I am also loving Wish Girl so far. We will have to compare notes.
Wow! SO many books this week in your post that I want to read! I love Koala – so funny. Henny looks adorable and I’m very interested in A Fine Dessert and the Emu book, which I also read about in Kid Lit Frenzy last week. You have read many wonderful novels too! I have heard so much about Echo – so that is on the top of my pile! Watch the Sky sounds amazing. Thank you!
Echo is such a beautiful book. I know you will love it. A Fine Dessert will also be a book you must own. Predicting it now!
I like the sound of several here. Drive is catching my attention the most. I will definitely have to find that one. 🙂
It would be a great title to gift a family going on a road trip.
Our post is about Echo this week -Such an amazing story. We also just finished listening to Paper Things – That book pulled at our heart strings. Watch the Sky sounds incredible – Can’t wait to read it.
Paper Things is certainly one to fall right into. I couldn’t put it down as I worried too much about the characters!
Goodness, there are so many good books here! Which to comment on? I was particularly excited about Henny. That is my nickname for my son. 🙂 This will be an Xmas gift, I think! I am glad to hear you liked Echo. It seems that 80% of people (rough percentage here) love, love, love it, and then 20% couldn’t finish it. I have been nervous to start it, but I trust your judgment very much!
Sorry I didn’t stop by yesterday. I was not feeling very well. But I am back in action! I am glad I got to see these gems!
Hope you are feeling better! I loved Echo – all of the history and each character. Beautifully written book.
You’ve done it again Carrie – singlehandedly increased my TBR pile exponentially! I wouldn’t have it any other way. Looking forward to these novels. Love Frank Viva.
Love to share the book love! Novels are fantastic. Happy reading!
I’m so envious that you finally got to read Echo – really looking forward to reading that this year. And Margarita Engle’s Enchanted Air too. Paper Things also sounds like a book I should add to my multicultural middlegrade/YA class that I am teaching in August.
Echo is fantastic. I loved the historical aspects of the story and the weaving of multiple stories together.