It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share a reading photo of the week.
Here are a few from this past week. Little readers. Lots of 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.
It has been weeks since I published a #IMWAYR post. I have been busy falling in love with my new Grade 3 class and settling back into fall routines. So I am sharing weeks of reading and just highlighting my absolute favourites.
Of course, in this past week I read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds and we completed some incredible dot art displayed as a community art piece.
This display still needs the themes we are taking on from The Dot – these are the take aways the students came up with. Take aways that launch our year together.
Our #classroombookaday titles were all about friendships and relationships.
Be a Friend inspired a discussion about qualities we would like in a friend.
On the blog:
I completed the fifth and final post in this blog series: Summer Maintenance in the Classroom Library. Step 5: Sourcing
I also shared a #MustReadin2017 update post.
Books I enjoyed:
Cricket in the Thicket: Poems about Bugs written by Carol Murray and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
I will be sharing this title in the next few weeks to inspire some of our own poetry, fact finding and art. The perfect mentor text!
The Bad Seed written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald
I know I shouldn’t have smiled through reading this. This is really one (cute) Bad Seed. Unless, he isn’t . . .
Why Am I Me? written by Paige Britt and illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko
I loved this lyrical, beautiful book full of questions and musings about self, identity and the wider world. I bought a copy for our classroom collection.
You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Danielle Daniel
This title is pretty special. Sparse words, gorgeous illustrations and a message of strength.
Now by Antoinette Portis
Being in the moment has never been celebrated with such lovely wonder and beauty.
Another Way to Climb a Tree written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Oh this book. Sweet. Inspiring. Creative. A perfect mix of text and illustrations.
Sam Sorts by Marthe Jocelyn
Teaching early primary? Want a book for your math collection about sorting and categorizing? This is your book.
Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door by Hilary McKay
I absolutely adored this title and ordered a number of titles from this series for my class!
Walking with Miss Millie by Tamara Bundy
Oh Miss Millie. I wish that I could come along for these walks. I loved the pace of this book. How it is quiet. Personal. Emotional.
Wish by Barbara O’Connor
Another title from O’Connor that I can’t wait to read aloud. Thinking this might be a read aloud in my class later this year. So much here – this books explores the amazing and the challenging about family and friendships and allows us to question what matters when it comes to home and security. What is important enough to wish for?
Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami
Truly an ode to sharing the love of books and reading. A young middle grade novel about persistence and learning how to fight for what you believe is right.
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 49/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 211/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 48 books behind schedule. Oh my!
#MustReadin2017: 22/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 28/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 33/50 books read
Up Next? I am starting A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
There's a Book for That 
Great list! I have added Bad Seed to my list, that probably says more about me than the book. I am looking forward to adding Why am I Me? to my library at some point soon. Also excited that you are reading A Tale Dark and Grimm, from your #mustreadin2017 list, I think. I have a couple kids at school reading it and they love it for its eccentricities.
I love your dots and the themes that came out of the book. The Bad Seed is fun. Wish is one of my favorite books. I loved the story, the characters, everything about it.
At some point, I will have to understand Dot Day! I bought a copy of Miss Millie because I need historical fiction set during the time, but students might think it is TOO quiet. The Book Uncle was interesting, but ultimately too young for my readers. Lots of great books!
I’ve heard lots of good things about Walking With Miss Millie, so I definitely need to find a copy of that. So glad that you’re off to a great start with your third graders!
We just finished Now and The Bad Seed this past week and loved them both. I’ll have to check out some of the other books you recommended. Thank you!
Wonderful to see your list, Carrie. Several are already on the list to find, including Miss Millie. It sounds wonderful. Glad you’re having a wonderful time with your third graders! I wish Ingrid was in your class!
It took me a long time to get through reading this since I kept getting sidetracked to go and add books to my list and check the VPL. I love Monique Gray Smith and Danielle Daniel’s art so I am most looking forward to You Hold Me Up. Expect me to come for a visit since it won’t be published for over a month!
I just picked up Now this past week from my library holds shelf (thinking you had recommended it). But it must have been one of my other blogger friends. I loved it, and also love Wish. I think it would make a great read aloud. Adding Book Uncle and Me to my WTR list.
There are so many books on this list that I want to read–especially Why Am I Me? and You Hold Me Up! Thanks for sharing these and the beautiful pictures of your classroom. ❤
We love seeing photos of your 3rd graders and all of their work – Wish is one of our favorite read alouds for grade 3. Have you read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate yet? We think that will also be a great one for third graders.
So much to love here! I’m reading The Bad Seed this week to a 3rd grade class! We’re going to do some plot comparisons with Arnie the Doughnut!
Had you not read Wish before? For some reason I thought you had. It’s definitely a Carrie story! I knew that was one you would enjoy.
You Hold Me Up does look pretty special. I just added it to my TBR list along with Cricket in the Thicket. Thanks as always for bringing new titles to my attention.
I loved Miss Millie, too – for just the reasons you described.
I have yet to read Another Way to Climb a Tree. I liked her other books though.
Oh how fun The Bad Seed looks! I want to read Cricket in the Thicket too along with You Hold Me Up. Now is so wonderful!
Wow! What a great collection of books this week, Carrie! So many titles I haven’t seen! I love who M I? It’s on my blog this week too! I am drawn to Book Uncle and Anotger way to climb a tree. Thanks for the great list!
Book Uncle and Me seems perfect for our current #metareading theme. 🙂