It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. Now that it is summer, I am not surrounded every day with little readers so . . . I am choosing moments from the year not previously shared. I love this photo of these three girls so engaged writing about their Mock Caldecott choices.
From the classroom 2014/2015 archives:
I also have to share this group of books. My daughter is a reading buddy this summer, working with an eight year old girl. She came into my classroom library and selected some books to read with her buddy. Great taste don’t you think?
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.
On the blog this week:
Top Ten Titles that Celebrate Diversity for Top Ten Tuesday
For Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Water Connects us All: titles on a water theme.
Celebration: Talking Classroom Libraries
Sunday Reflections: Ten Things I will do again this school year
Books I read and loved:
Dory and the Real True Friend by Abby Hanlon
I am completely enamoured with Dory. I kind of want her to come to life so that I can teach her. I love her spunk, her wild imagination and her observations about the world. This title is just as much fun as the first Dory book. Both titles will be in my classroom library this fall.
Squishy McFluff Meets Mad Nana Dot written by Pip Jones and illustrated by Ella Okstad
I don’t always like rhyming text but Pip Jones makes it work in these Squichy McFluff titles about little Ava and her “invisible” cat. Nana Dot gets a pretty smashing hairstyle in this title!
George in the Dark by Madeline Valentine
So many children are so very afraid of the dark. This title captures how this fear plays itself out in the dark, trying to go to sleep time.
Banjo and Ruby Red written by Libby Gleeson and illustrated by Freya Blackwood
I love this story telling team from Australia. This is a tender story of friendship and compassion between farmyard animals.
Phoebe and her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle. Seriously? That should tell you everything about how wonderfully off the wall this graphic novel happens to be. Clever, witty and many shades of absurd. Love it!
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Completely engaging, I read this before getting out of bed Sunday morning. Two stories interweave in these pages. Salva’s story of walking from war, from family and from all that he knows and finally coming to America. And Nya’s daily walk for water, a tedious and exhausting walk that she and her family depend on.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 40/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 263/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 15/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 52/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 28/50 books read
Up next? I am still reading Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Wein as I was reading multiple novels at the same time. It is absolutely an incredible read. I find myself putting it down for a few days and reading something else just to let it all sink in. This is my book stack for my time away. Always, I bring more books than I will have time to read because you just never know . . .
Happy Reading everyone! See you in two weeks
There's a Book for That 
Banjo and Ruby Red looks like a lovely book. I’ll have to see if I can find a copy in the library system here in Michigan.
I absolutely adore Freya Blackwood’s illustrations in everything she does.
Enjoy your time away, Carrie – you have a stack of amazing books for company!
We are off to a beautiful spot for walking, reading and recharging! Excited to dip my toes in the ocean and get my nose into many a book!
Banjo and Ruby Red looks like a fun book, and I need to find that new Dory. I enjoyed the earlier one. I loved A Long Walk To Water, used it as a read aloud, have recommended it often. And Black Dove, White Raven-all those books by Elizabeth Wein are favorites-very special reads. I’m glad you are liking this latest one, Carrie. Enjoy your time on vacation!
I am a huge Elizabeth Wein fan. I find I read about 100 pages and then a short novel and then back to it. This one is so rich in history and family. Loving it.
I could not get into Black Dove. I ended up abandoning it. I’ve heard many people rave about it, but for me I couldn’t do it.
You have an amazing stack of books ahead of you!
I have the new Dory book and can’t wait to get to it. I have quite a few transitional chapter books to read before school starts up again!
Please keep me posted on any of these transitional chapter books that you love. I am always on the look out! We should trade some favourite titles! Too bad you didn’t like Black Dove. Such a book. But not all books appeal to all readers. do you like YA reads typically?
Great list, Carrie! My oh my but you are blogging a lot this summer! I’m inspired by your dedication! I’m reading a lot but my “summer mode” has me not wanting to open my computer, now that my revisions are finished! You have inspired me to participate in “Top Ten Tuesdays” – I love book lists! I ADORE the Dory books too – this one looks great! Don’t know about Squishy McFluff though so will be checking into this series as it looks like a good one! George in the Dark would be a good companion to The Dark by Lemony Snicket. Have a wonderful holiday – where are you headed?
We are off to the Sunshine Coast! Looking forward to time to read and “be” So my blogging will come to a full halt! Yes, George in the Dark would be great with The Dark. I had thought of that too 🙂 Top Ten Tuesdays is great – not all lists speak to me but most do. I do after all LOVE to make book lists! So happy for you that your revisions are done! That must feel so great.
Have a wonderful time reading, playing and enjoying life.
Thanks Crystal! Really looking forward to this time away. We just returned from a walk at the beach. So unbelievably gorgeous!
This is a great list of books! Hope you have a wonderful time with your family to rest before the hectic days of school begins!
Thanks Jana. We don’t go back until September but this time away will be special. Planning lots of reading but also lots of walking, beach wading and exploring.
Dory is super popular at my library. We haven’t gotten the second one in yet, but the kids are clamoring for it! Squishy McFluff looks so adorable. I must see if I can track that one down!
Dory is so delightful! I had to purchase this second one for my classroom. I know it will be very popular.
What a great stack of books for August! Can’t wait to hear what you think of those titles. Your description of George and the Dark reminds us of Orion and the Dark. Looking forward to reading it.
I have to find Orion and the Dark then! I think books that explore fear are really important for kids.
Enjoy your time away! I hope you love Openly Straight and Diamond Boy.
Loved seeing that you liked Long Walk to Water and Phoebe. Very different books, but both ones that I love.
Happy reading this week 🙂
Very different absolutely. But yes, I loved them both!
Banjo and Ruby Red looks like a book one of our regular customers might enjoy. I’ll have to track it down and let her know about it.
It is a lovely little book especially if you love farms and animals.
A Long Walk to Water is on my #mustreadin2015 list! I am even more excited to read it after seeing your review. I’ll admit that I am a bit behind on my list. I need to turn on the gas! Bah!
Well you have been a little bit busy! Just think how much reading you will read when your thesis is complete! A Long Walk to Water is a very quick but incredible read.
You really can’t take too many books with you! What a wonderful stack. I just bought the new Dory title last week and am hoping to read it this week. I adored the first book. So glad you liked Phoebe and Her Unicorn. I snickered out loud many times reading it–while my son was having surgery on his hand. So glad I had that story to distract me from worrying! Especially when the surgery took 3x longer than they said it would! I just got the second book in the series this week. Must get Banjo and Ruby Red–know I’ve seen other titles illustrated by Freya Blackwood. That cover is beautiful. Squishy McFluff is new to me–looks like one I need for my lending library. I, too, am enjoying all of your blogging this summer. Those lists of yours are very expensive for ME though! Have a wonderful trip–will miss you online.
Yes both Phoebe and Dory are wonderfully hilarious characters. I will have to get the second book of Phoebe too – think the humour is a little beyond my new students but I look forward to having my class from last year reading it when I have them for the first week of school. I know many will become addicted. I wont be blogging until we are back home but will be around a little on twitter. Maybe.
Hi, Carrie! Great list of titles. I am one of the few elementary school teacher/readers who has NOT read Dory at all yet. I think she is perfect for my 3rd graders, and need to get both books soon! I’m smack-dab in the middle of Phoebe and Her Unicorn right now. That book is hilarious! Honestly, I think some of the humor will sail over the heads of even some of my brightest kids– unless they look up a few choice words in the dictionary! Regardless, it is a book for kids on many levels to read and understand on various levels. I have A Long Walk to Water in my classroom and need to read that one.
I hope you have a great vacation! Looking at your stack, I haven’t read a single title in it– so you might have some valuable information for me when you get back! 😉 Travel safely and RELAX….
Oh, enjoy your vacation! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Blue Birds! And yes, your daughter has excellent taste in reading material, and you have an excellent selection to chose from!!