It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week. Here is my classroom in its middle of the summer state – mid-organizing, mid-library redo, mid-sort-of-everything.
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:
Summer Maintenance in the Classroom Library: Step 1: Relocate
This is the first post in a series. Next post will be later this week.
Books I read:
Waiting for High Tide by Nikki McClure
I will be honest – I am going to have to go back and reread this one. I was so enamoured with the illustrations of the Pacific Northwest shore line that I can’t remember the text. This book is a stunner.
Seven Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the Cafeteria by John Grandits and illustrated by Michael Allen Austin
This has got to be one of the longest titles out there for a picture book! A fun look at being anxious beginning somewhere new. Such engaging and colourful illustrations.
Owl Diaries #1 Eva’s Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliot
In preparation for moving back to primary, I am reading a lot of transitional chapter book titles. This is a cute series in the Branches series from Scholastic. Very accessible for readers building their stamina for longer stories.
Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split by Anica Mrose Rissi and illustrated by Meg Park
I really liked this title and purchased two more in the series for my classroom. A very realistic portrayal of friendship struggles and dynamics at this age.
The Amazing Crafty Cat by Charise Mericle Harper
Visually really fun. But must admit, for me, this book was just odd. Would like to kid test it.
Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry
A must read middle grade novel in verse about a young girl with Tourette syndrome.I learned so much. This is also a wonderful read about friendship, moving and complicated family dynamics. If I was still teaching Grade 4 and 5, I would be purchasing this one.
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 40/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 168/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 42 books behind schedule (one better than last week)
#MustReadin2017: 18/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 23/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 28/50 books read
Up next? I continue to have a few novels on the go.
There's a Book for That 
Anna Banana and Crafty Cat both look like perfect series for my young readers! I’m always looking for fun new series. 🙂
Anna Babana is really well done. I bought the first four for my classroom.
Lilac girls !
Happy Reading!
I have students who just love Owl Diaries. Super popular! I have Forget Me Knot in my library pile. I hope to get to it this week. It sounds amazing.
It really is.Hope you enjoy it.
I loved Waiting for High Tide, too! The illustrations are wonderful! I’ve heard great things about Forget Me Not, so I’m anxious to get ahold of that one, for sure! Have a great week!
It is a quick read as it is in verse. Enjoy!
Fun to see the ‘in process’ classroom, Carrie. I’m sure you are excited! Thanks for reminding about “Forget Me Not”. It’s on my list!
Hope you enjoy it!
Waiting for High Tide looks great. I’ll have to add that to my list. My 7yo daughter just discovered the Owl Diaries. She really enjoyed it. Have you checked out the Princess Pink and the Land of Fake Believe series? That is another Branches series that my daughter devoured.
I will look for it. Thanks!
Crafty Cat is our book club pick for August. I hope I like it.
It’s quirky. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Forget Me Not is what I will look for next. Thanks for sharing the title. Have fun prepping for school. 🙂
Thanks Crystal! I hope you enjoy Forget Me Not
Also going to check out Forget me Not, and probably Owl Diaries as well. Craft Cat is intriguing, that’s how I feel about the MG/YA series The Riverman. Odd, but my kind of odd, and I did find other readers who feel the same way. Others did not like it at all.
You are right – some odd is wonderfully odd. And sometimes – just too out there! Not completely sure about Crafty Cat.
I have Forget Me Not on my list, Carrie – this is not an issue written about at all, so anxious to see what this author has done.
Agreed. I learned a lot.
Crafty Cat was fun 🙂 There is another coming out soon.
I am waiting and waiting for Forget Me Not from the library–hopefully it becomes available soon!
Happy reading this week 🙂
I hope you enjoy it!
Forget Me Not has been on my list for SO long – hoping I can get around to it soon! Thanks for sharing this awesome list!
It’s well worth reading.
Forget Me Not was just fantastic. I’m debating whether I want it for 4th grade.
Yes, I’m on the lookout for the book that has that long title!
The romance aspect puts it that little bit older. I think 5 and up for sure. 4 maybe.