It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week. During the summer, these photos will be about getting my classroom library up and running for a room full of readers in September. Moving spaces and grade levels and sourcing bookshelves has been a lot of work!
So basically going from this (the classroom collection of books sat in these boxes until the floors were done and I could completely unpack).
To the beginning of unpacking and organizing . . .
One shelf all ready for books – this will be where nonfiction titles end up.
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 Titles I would buy right this second
Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Cloth Lullaby
Books I enjoyed:
Return by Aaron Becker
This trilogy is very special. I love each book for particular reasons. This title must be experienced so that you can see how it continues the stories started in the first two titles. I think this cover image is my favourite of the three.
Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson
This has a Blueberries for Sal vibe to it. Since that was my favourite book from my childhood, I will say I loved many elements in this title!
The Not So Quiet Library by Zachariah Ohora
Non-book-appreciating monsters do not make for a peaceful reading environment. Let’s just say that all works out in the end and that there is a lot of book love in this book!
Tidy by Emily Gravett
Now, I must admit, I do appreciated tidy and neat environments. But, I can also be productive with mess all around me. This title shows us what happens when we want the wrong locations to be too neat and clean.
Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp
When a little one hates reading because reading does not come easily . . . When there is an opportunity to read aloud to a dog . . . Lots can shift with the right opportunities.
It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton
This book is absolutely delightful. Since actual letters and personal mail is quite the novelty in this day and age, surprises arriving by post really are special. Maybe too much so . . .
The Toad by Elise Gravel
The seventh in the Disgusting Critters collection – I was thrilled to find this at the bookstore the other day!
Marty McGuire Has Too Many Pets! by Kate Messner
I think I might like this Marty McGuire title best of all. Marty is so earnest and often has the worst luck but I sure appreciate her spirit. A wonderful series of early middle grade novels.
Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
I featured this title for nonfiction Wednesday – see the link above. Just stunning.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
Okay, yes, it’s true. I had never read this book. I own two copies. My children have read this book. But me, nope! And then I picked it up and didn’t put it down. I have a class of grade 4/5s this fall and want to make sure I am up to date on many middle grade titles. This is middle grade perfection.
As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds
Jason Reynolds writes incredible characters. Unforgettable believable characters. In this middle grade title, he delivers characters and relationships in a rich, quietly humorous story full of questions, wisdom and love.
Reading Progress updates:
2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 31/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 213/400 books read
#MustReadin2016: 20/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 31/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 26/50 books read
Up next? I am reading a number of titles including Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
There's a Book for That 
What a great list of books! I loved reading Blueberries for Sal with my kids so I will have to check out Explorers of the Wild. My copy of The Not-so-Quiet Library is in the mail (I’ve no bookstores to wander through near enough to me) and I am looking forward to that one. I am just getting into Elise Gravel but I haven’t read The Toad yet. We have been enjoying a lot of Kate Messner in my house lately and we will have to add that one to our list. Thanks for the post!
Kate Messner writes such varied titles! I do love the Marty McGuire character a lot. I love when others also love Blueberries for Sal.
You have some great books in your list. The Not So Quiet Library is really cute. I always love a book about a books. Just this summer I read my first Elise Gravel book, the one about head lice. Such a great series. I’ll have to check out Toad. I just read Origami Yoda not too long ago. It’s so strange, it’s funny.
The Toad is one of my favourites. Yes, Origami Yoda is odd but beautifully so!
Hi Carrie, Moving classrooms AND grade levels is a ton of work. What grade level will you teach? Your books look great. I did not know there was a new Marty McGuire book. I am very much looking forward to As Brave as You. Good luck with you new venture!
Grade 4/5. I have taught 4 (when it has been 3/4 or 2/3/4) but 4/5 is a little old for me! So lots of new! And a new school after 21 years.
Love these PBs! A few new to me, I’ll be on the lookout for them!
I hope you continue to post pics of your classroom. I’m planning on a bit of an overhaul, still working it out in my mind!
The Jason Reynolds MG is in my stacks somewhere. Hope to get to it by the end of the year!
Loved this Reynolds title. I will continue with the photos! You might get sick of them!
I think in the fall I’m going to request all of the disgusting critters series. I still haven’t read even one! There are lots to love here, Carrie. I’ll be sure to find Madeline Finn and The Library Dog, sounds like one I need to know about. Hope those shelves are filling up!
It’s a great series. I do love this latest one. And yes, the shelves are filling up! Such fun!
I’m always surprised to see 3rd graders with Origami Yoda (especially at book fairs) because it seems like a more middle school book, with the romance, etc. Has its moments. I liked Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus best, I think!
I will have to read that one.
Oh my goodness, I want As Brave As You, Shoot! Here I go, again, to Amazon.
It’s worth it! Really!
I have yet to read Explorers of the Wild. I hadn’t heard it compared to Blueberries for Sal yet so now I’m intrigued.
Let me know if you see the connection!
Love Marty McGuire and looking forward to As Brave As You Are. Good luck with the rest of your library setup! Transitioning from 3rd to 7th is bringing a whole load of library to dos into my life!
Classroom switches and grade level switches mean lots of rethinking!
I used the Disgusting Critters series with my Early Readers Book Club, and it was so much fun! So excited to add a new title to the collection.
I was really excited to see it because I had heard rumours that the first 6 were going to be it . . .
Oh these beautiful picture books! I still haven’t read the second in Becker’s trilogy. I’m glad you enjoyed as brave as you. You are absolutely right in that it is a quiet book, but it sure packs a wallop! I haven’t read one of the Origami Yoda books either! When I am back in town, I will contact you to see if there is anything I can do to help you with setting up your classroom. (So long as I don’t get trapped reading all those great picture books)
Really? I thought everyone had read Origami Yoda but me! Would love to have you visit my room! I could use your ideas for which titles to include and which to pack away . . . And you can get lost in picture books as often as you like!
I love Emily Gravett’s books so I will definitely have to seek out a copy of Tidy. My library doesn’t seem to have it at the moment.
It is quite different than some of her others. I just saw it at bookstore so must be very recent.
I am so glad that you loved RETURN. I am hoping to get it soon, and I simply can’t wait! Those classroom pictures are great. It’s crazy how a classroom transforms, isn’t it?
So exciting to help transform a space for students and learning! And yes, love Becker’s trilogy!
Believe it or not, I still haven’t read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda either. I have several copies, but I have so many books in front of it waiting to be read; and I’m running out of summer! I’m not sure if I’ll ever get everything read! Yikes! You’ve got a great list this week!
Thanks Jana! I also have more books than there is time to read them . . .
I, too, love Origami Yoda. I’ve only read the first one, but I really wish I’d read more.
Return was very special–I’m glad you agree 🙂
I haven’t read the others–thank you for sharing!
Happy reading this week 🙂
I adore all of these Becker titles. Can’t wait to see what is next for him!
It Came in the Mail looks fun. I want to read Cloth Lullaby and can’t wait to get my hands on Return. It looks gorgeous.
I think you will love all of these titles. Happy reading!
So many new picturebooks here! I have to find them next time I visit the library, now that I am back home. I borrowed Cloth Lullaby before I left Singapore but didn’t get a chance to read it – so will have to borrow it again this weekend.
Oh – it is so incredibly beautiful!
I have a feeling I am going to be able to relate to Marty McGuire has too many pets. My son and I read a couple of the books in that series, and I really liked them. So many lovely PBs that I want, want, want. I do have Cloth Lullaby home with me from interlibrary loan right now and will retrieve it from the piles and read it today.
You might very well relate to this latest Marty title! I think you will really enjoy Cloth Lullaby