It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week This week I am celebrating the Frog and Toad love! These girls are getting everyone in our class excited about reading Frog and Toad titles! The power of a reading community!
For our #classroombookaday, The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School led the way. Who wouldn’t want hair like 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.
On the blog:
Monday by Numbers for a Slice of Life
For Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: One Day on our Blue Planet . . . in the Antarctic
Must Read in 2016: Spring Update
Books I enjoyed:
Daniel Finds a Poem by Micha Archer
Simply the perfect mentor text for poetry writing. Enough said.
The Night Gardener by the Fan brothers
This is just a wow title. It has so much of what I love in a picture book – some surprises, a intergenerational connection, a sense of wonder, lots of creativity . . . Divine.
I’m New Here by Anne Sibley O’Brien
What a wonderful title to communicate all of the confusion and nervous feelings of a student new to a classroom community from another country.
Listen to Our World written by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Melissa Sweet’s illustrations are as usual, beautiful. Lyrical, poetic, repetitive text showcasing different animal habitats. Page orientation changes making this a wonderful read aloud.
One Day on our Blue Planet . . . In the Antarctic by Ella Bailey
I featured this lovely little book this week for nonfiction picture book Wednesday.
Written and Drawn by Henrietta by Liniers
What a fantastic Toon tale! ideal for Writer’s Workshop!
When I am Happiest by Rose Lagercrantz and Eva Eriksson
The third young novel in this series. Exploring friendship, family and strong emotions.
Reading Progress updates:
2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 14/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 107/400 books read
#MustReadin2016: 12/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 16/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 13/50 books read
Up next? I am almost finished Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Our family read aloud is Pax by Sara Pennypacker
There's a Book for That 
Daniel Finds a Poem was on Linda’s website too. This is one I’ll be searching for. What did you think of Salt to the Sea and Pax? Both books I was looking at in the bookstore a couple of weeks ago.
I am almost finished Salt to the Sea – now that I have had time to read a large chunk, I don’t want to put it down. It’s a WOW book!
I read Daniel Finds a Poem to 2 sets of 2nd graders last week and they had very different reactions. I think this one will end up on my Mock Caldecott list.
I loved the LInier book too 🙂
I am curious about the reactions! Such a beautiful book, I have decided to buy it.
Am familiar with many of these, Carrie, and enjoyed them too, like Daniel Finds A Poem and Written and Drawn by Henrietta-both terrific. I’m excited to see that new Melissa Sweet book, looks lovely. Glad your class is loving Frog and Toad. They are treasures!
They sure are! I love when book buzz happens like this in the classroom!
I love Frog and Toad. We even have stuffies of them. I have, on occasion, found students reading the books while holding the characters as if they are doing the talking. Isn’t I’m New Here beautiful? I adore the cover of The Night Gardener and must find a copy of it.
The Night Gardener is a must for the library. So much to this book!
Frog and Toad–each book is so exquisitely written. I was reading one aloud recently and struck by how very much the rhythms and pacing of the text in Frog & Toad matches what I aspire to in my own writing! I never realized how much of an influence Arnold Lobel has been! I didn’t realize there was a new book by Rose Lagercrantz–will have to look for it because I liked the first in that series quite a bit. Hope to find Daniel Finds a Poem soon–looks wonderful. Might end up caving and buying!!
Daniel Finds a Poem will call to you – it is a have to buy title. Hate to break it to you! I am so thrilled by this Frog and Toad love in my room right now!
Carrie, another lovely, uplifting post.
I hope your Frog and Toad advocates get a chance to read THE FROGS AND TOADS ALL SANG: https://www.harpercollins.com/9780061800221/the-frogs-and-toads-all-sang.
The back story on this is incredibly touching. Lobel’s daughter found this old manuscript with his line sketches and did the coloring herself for publication. She tells a heartwarming story in an interview.
She grew up thinking she had inspired her dad to write these books when she brought home a toad and he called it a frog. She patiently explained the difference to him. Only as an adult did she realize that his F&T books were already in the publishing process, but he had honored her young wisdom fully. Then, later, when she found this unpublished manuscript she recognized it as the genesis of the characters. You and the other readers will love it.
I am thrilled to begin a search for this title! Thank you Sandy!
The world is a much nicer place with Frog & Toad in it- as well their readers. I really enjoy your pictures. (ooh, and I’ll have to check the book Sandy recommended!)
Frog and Toad really does make everything better!
Our first graders do Frog & Toad plays every year, and they are a highlight! Older kids love reliving those books too. I love “I’m New Here” and hoping the start the year with it this fall. Love Melissa Sweet too, will have to check that one out!
Plays must be a lot of fun! I read I’m New Here to my class this week and they really liked it.
Based on all of the dots by The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School we have to read it!
It is pretty great! Missing its jacket as I have it posted up in the room!
I really love the look of When I am Happiest and The Hair of Zoe – I also pinned Listen to Our World – such gorgeous book covers. And I especially love your reading photo of the day. beautiful girls. 🙂
They are beautiful girls and so full of love for reading which fills me with joy!
All of these titles sound fabulous. I now have a longer TBR list. Thanks for sharing! Have a nice reading week!
Happy reading to you too!
I love Daniel Finds a Poem! Check out the link to this article by Mica Archer with some of the beautiful illustrations included: http://www.readbrightly.com/discovering-concept-poetry-daniel-finds-poem/ As usual, I’m off to request new-to-me titles from your post.
Thanks for this wonderful link Ramona!
Great minds think alike – I talked about The Night Gardener this week, too! 🙂
So beautiful! And Canadian!
I loved the Night Gardener and really enjoyed I’m New Here. Great books this week!
Thanks Beth!
Frog and Toad! Hooray!
I absolutely adored Daniel Finds a Poem. I forgot to included it on my IMWAYR a few weeks ago. It’s quite a charming book, and I agree it would make a great mentor text!
Isn’t it gorgeous. I ended up buying my own copy as I plan to use it a lot in the future.
I loved Written and Drawn by Henrietta!! The rest of your titles are new to me – Night Gardener looks amazing. Love the wonderful pics of kids enjoying Frog and Toad!
Holly you will LOVE The Night Gardener!
I really loved The Night Gardener. I’m looking forward to Salt to the Sea. I just finished my MustReadin2016 post. I didn’t get it done on time, but did finish the post tonight. 🙂
I am off to check it out!
I have Daniel Finds a Poem to read. It is getting a lot of good reviews. I am looking forward to it!
Enjoy Salt to the Sea. Ruta is brilliant.
So brilliant. I absolutely loved it!