It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This week I had a LOT of amazing reading related photos. I managed to narrow it down to these two.
Here are some of my boys during Reading Workshop. I love their focus. I love the little community they formed for this morning of reading. I love that they just read and read and read.
This photo is about a little bit of Ballet Cat love. I shared Ballet Cat by Bob Shea with my class. During buddy reading, one of my students read it to Ms. Ishihara. She shared it with her K class and had them go outside and draw ballet cat in chalk. After school, two girls showed me their drawings. I asked if I could take their picture. “Yes!” they agreed. Then, they lay down beside their art, “We’re dancing with her,” they explained! Can’t possibly get more charming than this!
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.
Report cards are due this week and so I have read less (because of the writing) and blogged more (because I would rather be writing what I want) so I am sharing some recent posts and only a few books.
This week I shared a collection of beautiful nonfiction titles perfect for the family bookshelf. Gifting books? Choose one of these
Nonfiction Picture Books- Grow a beginning collection
I also participated in Top Ten Tuesday for the very first time and shared a list of books I am happily anticipating in the rest of 2015.
And we all know book love – we fall into it often. But here is some wonderful pre-book love shared in my classroom for Josh Funk‘s first picture book: Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast
Celebration: Predictions, Book Love and Syrup
The books I read this week:
The Story of Life: A First Book about Evolution by Catherine Barr and Steve Williams, illustrated by Amy Husband
I just read Island: A Story of the Galápagos by Jason Chin to my class to introduce the concept of evolution. Many children were enthralled. I would happily book talk this title and let them carefully examine all of the details amongst themselves. Fun illustrations and lots of information.
The Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose
I really don’t like squirrels. I appreciate how complex the photography was for this book. But I really don’t like squirrels. The amusing was lost on me as I was just irritated by the thought of squirrels running up the side of my house, raiding my bird feeders, etc.
You are (Not) Small by Anna Kang and illustrated by Christopher Weyant
A simple little title with huge humour. Absolutely brilliant. I don’t want to give anything away but I do highly recommend picking up this book if you haven’t read it.
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
I am falling more and more for this author. Just a delightful young chapter book. Perfect for new chapter book readers or a classroom read aloud in primary. This title has so much going for it that it beautifully unique – set in Africa, full of family celebrations and each chapter is a tiny story.
Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles
Grandmothers and granddaughters, small town charm, chickens and Deborah Wiles. Oh did I love this one.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 29/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 216/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 11/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 46/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 22/50 books read
Up next? I am reading Call Me By My Name by John Ed Bradley
There's a Book for That 
Guess I will need to find Love, Ruby Lavendar if it’s about grandmothers and granddaughters, Carrie! I’ve enjoyed a few other Wiles’ books, too. I love those pictures of your students; they are in love with books, you can tell! Thanks for sharing those each week.
Anything by Deborah Wiles is AMAZING Love her voice, her characters, the sweetness I love sharing the photos – glad you enjoy them
Oh, I love Love Ruby Lavendar… such a beautiful book. 🙂 I’m not fond of squirrels either… hmm. Hooray for Ballet Cat love!!! 🙂
Isn’t Deborah Wiles the best?
Yes. Meeting her a few months ago was darn incredible and inspiring… 🙂
I love the Ballet Cat photo – talented artists you have!
After reading Countdown, I want to read all of Wiles books!
Yippee!
Ha! I don’t have anything against squirrels per se, but I thought The Secret Life of Squirrels was trying to fit the squirrels’ actions into some sort of storyline, but was done so in a very forced way. I did not care for it at all.
I wasn’t a huge fan either must admit.
Yours is the second positive review I’ve seen of You Are (Not) Small. I think I’m going to try and get my hands on that one! Though you were reviewing a different book, I got all excited when I saw Jason Chin’s name– off to add Island: A Story of the Galápagos to my “to read” list! Thanks for the good suggestions. Have a great week, Carrie!
And happy reading to you! Jason Chin is so very talented!
I love Anna Hibiscus too! Funny you mentioned squirrels. Spent a good deal of time yesterday watching a squirrel build a huge nest in a tree right outside our upstairs window. Crazy to see something like a squirrel weaving!
That would have been amazing. I like squirrels only when they are very far away from my house
I’m going to have to get the evolution book. It will no doubt be controversial in my classroom because, yes, I teach in an area where we still haven’t all accepted evolution. SIGH. I adore the Ballet Cat drawings. I am simply crazy about that book and glad to see that others have just as much love!
We can’t wait for the next Ballet Cat! Love, love, love!
Oh my goodness. The pre-book love for Josh Funk makes my heart swell. That was an awesome post, Carrie!
Thanks so much Ricki. It was a lot of fun to share!
Love Ruby Lavender and Each Little Bird that Sings are the books that turned me into a Deborah Wiles FAN. I’ve managed to track down The Aurora County All-Stars, the third in that trilogy, but had to send it down to the board for cataloguing. I still haven’t got it back and was hoping to get to it this summer. If it comes before the end of the year, I will loan it to you. I can’t wait to get hold of The Story of Life: A First Book about Evolution.
PS. you forgot to mention the worst thing about squirrels: they gnaw holes in your roof!
I can’t mention that worst thing about squirrels as it makes my blood boil! I would love to read the next Wiles title in this trilogy! So whenever it’s ready I would love to borrow it. I too love Deborah Wiles!
I just picked up Anna Hibiscus to read for my first book this summer. Now I’m excited! I will definitely read Ruby Lavender as well. Thanks!
We have some titles in this Anna Hibiscus series in our library – thinking of reading this first one as a read aloud early in the year. So lovely.
I read it last night. I am going to read it early in the year as well. I think reading the first in a series can be a powerful motivator.
Isn’t it incredible? I also love No 1 Car Spotter by Atinkuke
The Story of Life looks absolutely great. 🙂
Love Ruby Lavender sounds like a book that would have been a great addition to our grey and golden reading theme which we have just concluded.