It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This was taken during buddy reading with the K class. Don’t you just love how completely enthralled this little guy is in this story? Absolute focus. It helps that his buddy is an expressive, keen reader. Ah, book love shared!
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 reading this week included:
The Bear’s Sea Escape by Benjamin Chaud
Another adventure of the busy, bustling searching high and low kind. Papa Bear must find Little Bear who has again disappeared. This time, some of the searching happens on a tropical island. What fun!
The Fly by by Petr Horáček
Highly amusing. The story of the highly misunderstood and under loved house fly.
A Nest is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
I love all of these books by Aston and Long. This is particularly gorgeous and full of fantastic information about various nests. I loved the neighbourly nests.
The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond
I preordered this book based on its gorgeous cover and the buzz I was hearing about it being a beautiful book about whales and oceans and measurement and wow. And, wow! An incredible read aloud for children who love to be amazed by nature. I loved the illustration of the blue whale’s mouth with 50 people standing in its lower jaw! Hoping Jenni Desmond decides to do more books with a nonfiction flair. This is a must own.
Lulu Belle and the Sea Turtle written by Belinda Murrell and illustrated by Serena Geddes
This is the second Lulu Belle that I have read and I am so impressed with this young chapter book series. Perfect for primary students to read independently or a fun read aloud for those little readers not quite able to read on their own. This title is about sea turtles, art shows, a family adventure and a small Australian Aboriginal community.
Son of a Gun by Anne de Graaf
Whoa. A fast read. Haunting. Powerful. About civil war in Liberia and children who are kidnapped and forced to become soldiers. Based on interviews with former child soldiers. Lines in this book stopped me cold.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 28/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 211/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 11/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 46/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 21/50 books read
Up next? I continue to read Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles At school, my students and I are more than half way through Jack by Liesl Shurtliff
There's a Book for That 
Have you read Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone? Son of a Gun reminded me of it. Benjamin Chaud is definitely an illustrator whose works I cannot wait for!
Hi Carrie – this is the book I was thinking of when I read your post. If you haven’t read it, you will find it heartbreakingly powerful.
I have ordered A Long Way Gone from VPL – I am sure it will get me and good.
Just requested it from my public library – thank you Earl. I think there will be another Chaud book about these bears don’t you?
Still need to find and read A Nest Is Noisy. Those books are wonderful. Also, The Blue Whale is on its way from the library, and thanks for the review of Son of A Gun. I know I will be interested, but those stories are so tragic. Thanks, Carrie!
Tragic indeed. The Blue Whale is lovely – I had to buy it of course!
I like Dianna Hutts Aston but we don’t have all of her stuff. This one sounds like a perfect pair up with Nest by Jorey Hurley and Ward’s Mama Built a Little Nest. The VPL doesn’t have the Lulu Bell series. If you own a copy can I borrow it during the summer to preview?
Yes – I can send one in with B if I remember . . . And remember I did – on the way into you for tomorrow 🙂
Hurrah!
Bear’s Sea Escape and The Fly are new titles for me. LOVE the Blue Whale and know how much you love whale books! Son of a Gun looks very intense – would it be appropriate for Grade 7’s or more for older? I do a Lit Circle unit with Gr. 7’s using books that focus on children from war-torn or slavery so wondering if it would be a good addition. LOVE Dianna Hutts Aston – birds certainly seems to be a trending theme this year for books! Have you started your report cards????
I would preview Son of a Gun before you make your decision – it may be okay for Grade 7 – maybe a little older really borderline. It is an intense read and some incredible writing. May be better appreciated with older students. You will love The Fly for its voice so look for it! Report cards – yuck. Started but just.
Son of a Gun looks amazing — and haunting. I need to check that one out soon!
It is a read in one sitting title. But then it doesn’t leave you . . .
I think so, too. Adding to my TBR list.
Thanks for sharing these titles Carrie. We will have to read Lulu Bell and the Sea Turtle. We are always looking for good read aloud so for K-2 classrooms. We can’t wait to read The Blue Whale – sounds amazing too
The Blue Whale really is amazing. Lots of fun for everyone and I do have a serious thing for whale titles! Lulu Belle is perfect for younger classroom read alouds.
Some great reads! Will have to pick up The Blue Whale for my library. Son of a Gun looks very intense, who is the intended audience?
I think high school – there is a lot that is alluded to that is pretty disturbing but such an important read.
I thumbed through A Nest is Noisy when I bought it, but haven’t really read it yet. Now that summer is here I’ll get to it soon!
The Lulu Bell series looks good, but I’m having trouble finding it since it’s not published here!
I wonder if Australian titles come to Canada faster than the US? Do you have Violet Mackerel books?
I love that he is holding another book while listening to her read!
Son of a Gun is such an amazing book! (I just realized that I did not review it when I read it! I need to reread and review!) I think it would be a great companion to Never Fall Down, Caminar, and A Long Walk to Water.
I haven’t read any of the others–adding them to my TBR now!
Happy reading this week! 🙂
I think I might have read Son of a Gun because you talked about it – somehow I ended up requesting it. I loved all of the picture books I read – hope you can get to them over the summer!
As always you have multiple titles that intrigue me. Lulu and Son of a Gun are two that I will definitely be tracking down soon. Thanks for sharing so many great titles.
Glad you found something you were interested in reading!
Agreed on Son of a Gun. Happy to learn about Lulu Bell series… thanks! 🙂 Happy reading to you!
It is a wonderful little series – happy to discover it.
Many titles here I haven’t heard of yet and of course need to add to the list. I LOVE the Aston-Long series. Such incredibly gorgeous books, beautifully written too. I am always looking for new chapter book series and am excited about Lulu Bell!
I immediately added Son of a Gun to my multicultural reading list for a new course I am teaching this August. Great hearing about this. The new Benjamin Chaud book looks amazing, plus The Blue Whale! 🙂 Thanks for sharing all these treasures, dear Carrie.