It’s Monday! What are you reading?
I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. Here are some of my students (and new friends) from last year who came by for a recess reading of Josh Funk‘s Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast. It was lots and lots of fun to share with them. One little one missed it and came by for her own reading the next day. Also, delightful!
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.
l have continued to be kind of missing in action from the book and blogging world. Hoping that will change in the next month. Really hoping, This is my second post in two days so looking a little promising . . . I have fallen back into the reading often and always habit so another good sign.
Books I loved:
The Bear Report by Thyra Heder
I don’t even have words. A must own. Really. truly beautiful. This title makes me cry and sigh and sit in absolute awe. I refuse to even write about the plot. Just trust me and go buy this book.
I Really Like Slop! by Mo Willems
Always highly entertaining. I am not sure if these are more fun to read alone or read aloud but I can never resist multiple reads both ways! This is quite hilarious. Gerald has some seriously entertaining reactions to Piggie’s slop concoctions.
Rhinos Don’t Eat Pancakes written by Anna Kemp and illustrated by Sara Oglivie
So what if you have very busy parents and then a rhino comes to stay? Are your parents going to listen? Isn’t is a little obvious? Rhinos are big and not exactly suited to living in a house! This is highly amusing and there are some definite enthusiastic pancake eating scenes.
Ten Flashing Fireflies written by Philemon Sturges and illustrated by Anna Vojtech
A beautiful counting book filled with light and surprises.
Elephant in the Dark (Based on a poem by Rumi) written by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
I cannot wait to share this book with my class and hear their reactions. So I will save my words about this lovely book until then. 🙂
Monster Trouble! written by Lane Fredrickson and illustrated by Michael Robertson
Rhyming and adorable. Winifred Schnitzel discovers what makes monsters run for the hills!
We did some beautiful art to accompany this title. I will share more photos soon. But this little striped tight monster was a particular favourite of mine.
Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
A powerful, engrossing read about 17 year old Naila who finds herself trapped into a forced marriage when her family brings her back to Pakistan. I couldn’t put this book down and immediately began recommending it to everyone. Definitely a young adult, not to be missed, title.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
This book is about many things – a young girl whose rare disease traps her in her home away from the outside world, first love, huge risks and secrets that you never saw coming. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:
2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 57/80 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 350/415 books read
#MustReadin2015: 16/24 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 64/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2015: 42/50 books read
Up next? I am reading I’ll be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
There's a Book for That 
All the picture books you read sound great. The Bear Report is a book I’m trying to get my hands on. The Elephant and Piggie books are so entertaining! When I saw Mo Willems speak a few weeks ago he said the last book of the series will be in May. There were a lot of disappointed sighs when he said that. I love the monster drawing!
It is pretty unbelievable to think I may not need a larger Elephant and Piggie bin. These titles are the very BEST. Our monster art was so much fun!
So glad to see you today 🙂
And jealous that you have already seen the new Elephant and Piggie. I’ll get it in the mail tomorrow.
I’m looking forward to The Bear Report. It’s on hold for me 🙂
You will love The Bear Report – you might need to own it . . . I read this new Piggie and Gerald title yesterday – we used it to do a mini lesson on predicting unknown words and looking at body language and visual clues. Of course, it was a huge hit!
Loving your weekly recommendations, Carrie!
So great to see those happy fans of Josh Funk’s delicious Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast…
Thanks! I loved our recess read aloud!
I have not even heard of The Bear Report but I will definitely try to get my hands on it now! (Polar Bears are my FAVORITE). I checked out Written in the Stars a while ago because the author was visiting a bookstore nearby, but never actually got around to reading it. I should probably check it out again, it sounds so interesting.
You will love both books!
My Elephant and Piggie comes today! Another bear book, & you’re saying it’s great! Will find it, Carrie. I found new pic books from you today, so thank you, & will also find Written In The Stars, have been reading more & more books with middle east stories, so this sounds like one I will like but worry over too. Thanks!
Oh yes – you will worry over it. It is an emotional read.
I’ve missed you, and sure am glad you are finding time to blog. I’m so envious that you have the new Elephant and Piggie book. I think I need to get Monster Trouble. I love the artwork – I think I have a pair of those tights…. I also want Rhinos Don’t Eat Pancakes because I love Anna Kemp. Have you read The Worst Princess?
Love The Worst Princess! And those tights are pretty delightful aren’t they?
A fine list for just about every avenue! You said you love what you do! I understand. I have been retired but now tutor one-on-one to several primary-aged children who are struggling with all that is expected of them. And I, too, fill my heart and those pockets with love and hope for these precious young children. So glad I found you.
Wonderful to meet you here 🙂
Your review of Written in the Stars inspired me to go on a hunt for the book. I can’t find it on my shelves (although I swore I had it!), so I am going to see if I can hunt it down at NCTE! If not, off to the library I go! Thank you!
It’s a really important read Ricki. I hope you can track it down.
Welcome back! We missed reading about your classroom and about the books you love. Thanks for telling us about The Bear Report – ordering it right now 🙂
Yippee! You won’t be disappointed.
So glad that you are finding more books to love. I too hope you are able to blog more in the coming days. Monster Trouble looks so fun. I too love Elephant & Piggie aloud or on my own. They always make me smile.
I am trying Crystal. Hoping to get another post in this week. I have some titles and art to share.
Both the YA books you read are on my to-read list. I agree with Ricki in wanting to go find Written in the Stars!
Happy reading! It is a fantastic title.
What a great collection of picture books. They all look like such fun. Written in the Stars also sounds good.
It is really an incredible title – I highly recommend it.
I love the sound of first loves in Everything Everything – will have to find that one, seems like a coming of age novel. Written in the Stars also looks beautiful. The picturebooks you have here are must-finds definitely! The Bear Report sounds exquisite!
Both novels were fantastic Myra. For different reasons. But yes, Everything, Everything is a coming of age title. I think you will love The Bear Report.
Oh, the thought of Elephant and Piggie coming to an end is bringing a tear to my eye! We read them with my early readers book club, and it was priceless – they really enjoyed acting out the different characters. Monster Trouble! looks like another great title – I loved seeing the kids’ artwork! I love books that work themselves nicely into extension activities. 🙂
Me too! Often when I first read a title, an art project jumps out at me!