It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week. This week I have two! Since I will be without students for a bit, I thought I should share an extra one.
This photo was taken about 20 minutes before school began on the last day before the break. Story time led by a Grade 6 student from next door. This scene brings me a lot of joy.
Could this face be any more serious? Which is wonderfully ironic as he had just told me:
“Oh I am just so happy. I finally learned how to speak Cave Man.”
Seriously, this kid! Made my whole day.
And one more self-portrait as I still haven’t recovered from how talented my students happen to be.
We have continued to explore themes for our #classroombookaday titles. This week we read some of my favourite holiday/winter themed books.
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:
I shared the twenty 2016 titles I think a Grade 4 & 5 library must have here
Celebration: A special morning read aloud It’s taken a term and my new school is feeling like home!
Books I enjoyed:
Penguin Problems by Jory John and Lane Smith
A quietly comical tale of pessimism and getting back on track. Well at least mostly . . .
The Cranky Ballerina by Elise Gravel
We all just need to find our thing. Charming.
The Bossier Baby by Marla Frazee
What happens when baby number two comes on the scene? This. Exactly this.
How This Book was Made written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Adam Rex
Incredibly clever and thoroughly informative. Learn all about book publishing while being completely entertained.
The Artist and Me written by Shane Peacock and illustrated by Sophie Casson
A serious story of how Van Gogh was perceived and treated in a small French town. This book just made me so sad. Would need to be unpacked with kids.
Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
I am so happy I read this on a very snowy day – it made it all the more magical. And magical it is!
Cleopatra in Space:Target Practice by Mike Maihack
I know this series is going to be very popular in my classroom when I introduce it in the new year. A graphic tale full of adventure, action and Cleopatra!
Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff
Full of delicious magic, sweet honey, the complications of friendship and the stories that weave all around us, this is part adventure, part fairy tale and part testament to the connections we have to each other over a lifetime. A special story, Ms. Shurtliff!
Reading Progress updates:
2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 63/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 334/400 books read
Progress on challenge: 51 books behind! Still can’t break that 50 mark!
#MustReadin2016: 23/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 45/100 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 47/50 books read
Up next? Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley
There's a Book for That 
I really liked Jack, too. There are a lot of fairy tale novels, but few with boys as the main characters. Nice to see once in a while. I never think to put out snow or Christmas books, not that I have many. Did do holidays around the world last week!
Great for kids to learn about and investigate holidays around the world!
Penguin Problems and Cranky Ballerina were both cute. Best in Snow is not a book I’m familiar with. The cover looks beautiful. I’m not a fan of snow at all, but I’m going to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a gorgeous book of photographs and lyrical language and then nonfiction information in the end pages. Lovely.
Great “must have” list! Just used Counting Thyme as a book club with my seventh graders, and they had some great discussions.
I just loved that book. Can imagine it would have been a fantastic one for a book club.
Red is my favorite of Shurtliff’s series. I hope she’ll have a new book out soon: my son LOVES this series. Artist and Me is on hold for me at the library right now, although I don’t know if I can take a sad-making book! I have loved every book by April Pulley Sayre that I’ve seen, and Best in Snow looks gorgeous. I think your students’ self-portraits should be in galleries somewhere, because they are AMAZING. Wow.
I also wonder what is next for Shurtliff! Such great books. I agree re these self portraits. Biased and all, I still say they are INCREDIBLE!
Wonderful books this week, as always 🙂
I’m glad you’re starting to feel settled and have a positive feeling in your new school. What a weight off your shoulders!
Let us know when we’re updating and posting our next #mustread lists. I’m falling short, as always, but will keep at it!
I want to read The Boss Baby series for sure. It’ll be interesting to see the Netflix (?) series. Or is it a movie? It’s too early for me to be commenting!
Great list of books! I still need to check out The Artist and Me and Best In Snow. Hope you have a wonderful and restful Winter Break!
We can see why your student made your day. Who wouldn’t want to speak like a cave man? We have to read that book – Cave Boy Dave is going on the top of our TBR list.
This is actually from Ook and Gluck but then you will be well prepared for Caveboy Dave!
I absolutely LOVED Penguin Problems. Such a great book!
Next to Cleopatra, which I love!, I haven’t read any of the others though I do have Penguin Problems for Trent for Christmas!
Happy reading this week 🙂
Penguin Problems is too funny. Emily Arrow even did a song about penguins in her Facebook Live holiday special and focused on that book. I had to smile.
Since I’m out of the library my picture book reading life has been seriously neglected. I appreciate the vicarious thrill I get reading your posts about all these lovely books. I’m expecting a box of books to arrive just after Christmas for The Chocolate Lily awards and am looking forward to all these picture books! In the new year I’m definitely comping for a visit!
Will be reserving Bossier Baby and will try to find Penguin Problems soonest! Thank you for a delicious spread of books yet again.