It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week. I have been in my classroom for a few hours here and there. Look at how lonely my empty bookshelves look. They are patiently waiting to be filled up as I begin reading with a new room of readers!
Scrolling back through photos from June 2016, I am reminded about how excited I am to work with primary students again.
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.
Books I enjoyed:
Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
Jason Chin is incredible. I believe that more and more with each book I read. Take a journey back and forth through time as you hike down, up and around the Grand Canyon.
Fabulous Frogs written by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Tim Hopgood
These illustrations are absolutely fantastic! An ideal book to share in the primary classroom. Learn about the diversity of frogs and all kinds of cool and interesting facts.
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
I immediately passed this book on to my husband because, quite simply, everyone should read it! These characters. This isolated setting. The mystery and intrigue and simplicity that makes a can’t put down story. Highly, highly recommended!
Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan
And such voice! Amina is an incredible middle grade character. This would have been a beloved title for my Grade 4 and 5 class this year. Amina struggles with family pressures and expectations, friendship dynamics and finding her confidence. So much to this novel.
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 39/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 162/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 43 books behind schedule (Yikes!)
#MustReadin2017: 18/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 23/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 28/50 books read
Up next? I am in the middle of many books and hope to be writing about them next week.
There's a Book for That 
Amina’s Voice is an amazing book. I loved the setting of Beyond the Bright Sea. For some reason, I love books set on an island. Jason Chin’s books are so beautifully illustrated.
I like books set on islands too. Everything is contained and things can go deeper. Chin is an incredible illustrator!
All of those have such lovely covers. And I’ve heard good things … I need to get copies!
Happy reading!
Did love Amina’s Voice, and I have had a lot of students in the last few years with that name, so I’m excited to have the book in my library!
Beautiful name. It’s a wonderful middle grade novel with wide appeal.
I need to read Amina’s Voice soon!
Yes! It’s a lovely read. Perfect for Grade 4 and up.
Loved all of the books here! That was a good reading week 😉
It was!
I loved Amina’s Voice and Beyond the Bright Sea… have you read Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder yet? So interesting and I still have so many questions!!!
It’s on my list!
Beyond the Bright Sea is one of my favorite summer reads – I think it will be our first read aloud, too.
It would make a wonderful read aloud.Great choice!
I loved The Grand Canyon, too. And have a few books to read first, then Beyond the Bright Sea will be my read! So many of you are shouting about it! Thanks, Carrie!
For good reason – it’s a wonderful title!
I must get Grand Canyon. Since retirement I know I have fallen behind on the fabulous nonfiction picture books that are out there and I love Jason Chin. I might need to purchase Fabulous Frogs because I am a bit crazy about anything to do with them.
Both of these novels are two of my favourites this year.
This frogs title is especially wonderful! Would be a great one to read to your littles in a few years.
Amina’s Voice and Beyond the Bright Sea are two I own and will get to soon! And I need to get Grand Canyon–I love Chin’s work.
Happy reading this week!
And P.S. Can’t wait to see your new readers and their joy!
Thank you Kellee!
Yay for frogs! I’m starting a nonfiction book club for younger kids this fall, so I’m always on the hunt for fun nonfiction picture books to share with them!
This is a great one!