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. Always my favourite? Buddy reading laughter!
From the classroom 2014/2015 archives:
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:
For Top Ten Tuesday: Ten MG and YA authors I read the most
Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Natural Mysteries, Solved
A special Celebration post about updated allergy testing
Sunday Reflections: The power of observation
Books I read and loved:
Night Animals by Gianna Marino
This book is absolutely adorable. The perfect book for reading aloud at a story time for younger listeners. The perfect bedtime book to remind all soon to be sleepers that they are brave. A wonderful read aloud for any classroom to appreciate how clever and beautiful picture books can be.
Bad Bye, Good Bye written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Jonathan Bean
Oh how I was impressed with this book. The illustrations were incredible. Maybe my favourite so far from Bean. And the sparse text – full and powerful and conveying so much emotion. Moving is hard. Plain and simple. For kids, it’s a different kind of hard. As a child who moved 9 times before my 7th birthday, I get it. Would pair beautifully with Neville written by Norman Juster and illustrated by G. Brian Karas
It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee
Odd, quirky and “rhyme”y.
Ben Draws Trouble by Matt Davies
I LOVED Ben Rides On when it first came out. So I have been waiting for this title. And it didn’t disappoint. It captures the joy of drawing, the dynamics of worry and the power of being noticed.
Piper Green and the Fairy Tree written by Ellen Potter and illustrated by Qin Leng
Well, I would like to start by saying that I want to go back in time and be Piper Green. I want to ride a boat to school. I want to eagerly anticipate fresh baking each morning. Quirky little brothers? Yes, please. And a teeny school, absolutely! And I could write paragraphs on how much I want a fairy tree. I am SO excited to share this title with my new class. I predict it will get a lot of love. The perfect early chapter book series. Well written with dynamic characters, gorgeous illustrations and just the right amount of text.
Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller with Susan Kelley
I have actually been reading this book for over a year. I have read many parts multiple times. Finally, this summer, I sat down and read it cover it cover. Of course, there is much here that I celebrate. I also really appreciate how Donalyn is so honest about her journey as a teacher. I know there is more figuring things out to come and that we will all benefit. But what she has figured out already? So wise, so wonderful and so full of celebration of books and readers.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
I can’t believe I had never read this book. Now, I see why so many insist it is an absolute must read title for high school classrooms. Brave. Upsetting. Necessary.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 46/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 286/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 15/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 54/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 31/50 books read
Up next? I am reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
There's a Book for That 
Now you are making me want to read Speak. I have a copy of this somewhere in my shelves, as far as I know. I loved Reading in the Wild too!
Seriously Myra, it is a must read. You, like me, will wonder why you didn’t read it sooner.
I remember reading Speak in a graduate class-so glad I did. What a powerful story, and a powerful author who does a lot to speak up about her beliefs! Side note-I love the pink drawers in the picture 😉
Yes, wow to Speak. And really – you like the pink drawers? I have no control over the painted cabinets in my room and pink is not necessarily the colour I would have chosen . . . So glad to hear you like them!
Nice assortment of books. I was inspired by Reading in the Wild. I still haven’t read Speak. I do have a copy on my TBR mountain though. Here is my reading week. Happy reading!
Speak is an absolute MUST read. Happy reading to you as well!
Piper Green and the Fairy Queen is going on my list. I still need to read Donalyn Miller’s book, it’s in my stack.
Piper Green is a find! Such an ideal new series for young readers!
Reading in the Wild is so amazing. I love Donalyn’s work. I will definitely have to seek out Piper Green. Night Animals looks fun too. Thanks!
Night Animals is really wonderful. Donalyn is just fantastic – she has done so much for readers.
Night Animals is in my pile for this week.
I loved Piper Green too! Did you know a second one came out that same day? I think it’s called Too Many Wishes, or something like that.
Yes, I know there are now two Piper Green titles. I will be adding both to my class collection. Perfect for my new students!
Speak has been on the syllabus for my Adolescent Lit class every time I’ve taught it. (The only other book I’ve never gotten tired of teaching? Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.) It is an important book–and a wonderfully written one too. So many sections work brilliantly as mentor/model texts to inspire writing. I have got to get Piper Green and Ben Draws Trouble! I’m a huge Donalyn fan. Reading in the Wild was a big help to me in figuring out where best to focus my energy in my Children’s Lit course, given that I have basically 4 months to turn non-readers into readers who will then go on to be responsible for children’s reading lives! Bad Bye Good Bye is the one book I still have some Caldecott regrets for–really think it was incredibly deserving. Brilliant illustration work there. And a strong text too.
Yikes 4 months. Huge task. But if anyone can do it! Yes, I think Bad Bye, Good Bye could easily have received some Caldecott love. Really great. Speak and True Diary – both excellent. I don’t think I would tire of these either.
Reading in the Wild and Speak. Two of my faves. 🙂
I can see why!
Speak has been on the freshman reading list at our high school for a long time. Did like Piper Green, even though it’s a bit young for middle grade.
Piper Green will be perfect for my new class – a younger group of students. Excited to share it.
Speak is just one of those books that must be read. And, what can I say about Donalyn’s books – so crucial for all teachers to read, and think about deeply. It changed so many of my classroom practices.
I agree with you about both. Donalyn has impacted readers in so many classrooms by giving teachers the confidence to provide a lot of choice reading.
Thanks for sharing about Piper Green, Carrie. I am trying to learn about some of the great early readers so I can be ready for the granddaughters as they move into that phase of reading. Yes, Speak is an important book. I also thought she dealt with the tragedy of eating issues well too in WinterGirls. Glad you read it. Love the idea of Bad Bye Good Bye, too. I will share that with some colleagues.
Piper Green will be perfect! When the time comes, you can always ask me and I can share what is popular in my classroom. I also love Violet Mackerel for this age group.
I am so glad you read Speak! Such an important book. Halse Anderson is brilliant.
I am so glad you liked Night Animals–I cannot wait to read it to Trent at bedtime.
Piper Green looks great! Another early chapter book I need to read 🙂
Happy reading this week!
Yes, another early chapter book for you! Speak is really fantastic. I love this author.