It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week. I love finding readers perched everywhere during Reading Workshop time.
There was also some amazing art produced by my students this week. So many self-portraits were incredible. So I thought I would choose the one that belongs to that reader on the small stool above. I am in absolute awe of the artists in my room.
We have continued to explore themes for our #classroombookaday titles. This week we explored unexpected friendships and belonging.
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:
25 books: 2016 Picture Books to Gift this Season Is some picture book shopping on your list? #GiveBooks
Books I enjoyed:
The Big Snow by Jonathan Bean
Yes, waiting for the snow can feel endless but when the world is blanketed in white then . . . wow. This book captures exactly that.
Tell Me a Tattoo Story by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
While I still don’t love the idea of tattoos personally, this is sure a beautiful book of the many stories that make a life.
The Blobfish Book by Jessica Olien
Oh blobfish, 2016 seems to be your year in picture books! This is very amusing and informative.
Your Alien Returns by Tammi Sauer with illustrations by Goro Fujita
There are friends and there is home. Both have lots of appeal. A playdate that involves leaving the planet? Well, that is beyond exciting! But other places can make us feel literally like the other. Thankfully, our friends know how to make us feel at home. Home and away are both celebrated here in this sweet little story.
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Ekua Holmes
The illustrations here are incredible – I am hopeful that another picture book is in Homes’ future (looks like there is one in Spring 2017: Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets). This is an incredible picture book biography told through poetic and lyrical language. Fannie Lou Hamer’s life is captured here – her struggles, her triumphs and her many inspirations.
The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
Just an incredible read. Beautiful writing. A story about loss and hope and connection. Like a spotlight shone on one family when the world seemed to shut down. Highly, highly recommended. Gae Polisner you are a wonder. This story of 9/11 is unforgettable.
The Girl who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
In so many ways absolutely beautiful – what a story! That fantasy and nature intertwined was probably my favourite aspect. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars was the idea of audience. Some themes seemed too dark for a middle grade audience. When I think of my Grade 4 & 5 class even as readers next year, I can only think of one child who would totally devour this on her own. That being said, I would have read it to my children when they were 10 or 11 and we would have loved the experience. The characters are wonderful – I adored Luna.
Reading Progress updates:
2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 61/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 324/400 books read
Progress on challenge: 53 books behind! Can’t break that 50 mark!
#MustReadin2016: 22/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 44/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 47/50 books read
Up next? Reading Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff
There's a Book for That 
I really appreciate Tell Me a Tattoo Story – I know a lot of people who choose to adorn their bodies with tattoos, and it’s great that their children will be able to see their families positively portrayed.
So very true!
The Memory of Things sounds really good to me. I haven’t gotten to read that one yet. I really appreciated the Tell Me a Tattoo Story as well. I personally don’t have any, but know a LOT of people who do and it’s nice to see a book about that.
You will love The Memory of Things. What a gorgeous book!
I am with you, I am not a tattoo person, but I love the stories behind other’s tattoos. They are usually so interesting and I love that they found a way to put the story into art. Not what I would do, but I can appreciate a good story!
Exactly!
I loved The Memory of Things, too, a hard story so beautifully told. And I still need to read The Girl Who Drank The Moon, glad to have your ideas about it! Have a good week Carrie!
I might be totally wrong re the age thing. Loved the book don’t get me wrong – just feeling out the MG label.
I think it depends on the sophistication of the reader. I had 6th graders who read far beyond what was middle grade.
Agree that The Memory of Things is wonderful. I heart Gae Polisner.
Me too! LOVE her!
My middle schoolers ADORE the Girl Who Drank the Moon, so maybe you just need that extra year or two to really love it!
Maybe. I think it is beautiful. But yes – maybe more of a Grade 6 and up read?
We have to get The BlobFish book – Sounds like a text kids will love
Yes, wonderfully amusing. Would be a great mentor text.
You’ve got a terrific round-up of books this week. I’ve ordered Your Alien Returns from the library. It looks like a lot of fun. I’ve got The Memory of Things sitting in my growing stack of books on my dining room table. Thank goodness Winter Break is coming up, and I’ll have a little time to get caught up on reading. Have a great week!
I also can’t wait for the reading time a break allows us!
I just posted about Tell Me a Tattoo Story over at the Nerdybookclub today. I love that one. Voice of Freedom is simply amazing. I adored The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Happy reading!
I saw your post Crystal! Really great 🙂
I do love tattoos, and I wish this book had been around when I taught high school. Most of my students had tattoos and I think this would have made a great mentor text and writing prompt. The art in Voice of Freedom is incredible. So glad to hear Holmes has a new book in the works. I am still trying to get to Gae Polisner’s LAST book! So behind on YA and middle-grade reading. Memory of Things sounds like one I would love. So funny that the blobfish of all creatures is having a moment this year! Will have to get this one for my collection. Thank you for sharing! Love that artwork from your student too. Wow!
Memory of Things is just wow. I love Gae’s work a LOT. Isn’t this art so beautiful? I tweeted some more of the pieces. Just stunning.
That self portrait is just stunning! I’m excited about the Jonathan Bean title and Your Alien Returns. Loved Voice of Freedom so much I got a copy for Dickens last year. And Ya, The Memory of Things was some book!
Some book indeed! Isn’t this self portrait stunning? They all were so so good!
We still don’t have Voice of Freedom in our library, but just borrowed Tell me a tattoo story from the library yesterday, very excited to read it when I get home from work today.
Voice of Freedom is an incredible book.