May | 2018 | There's a Book for That

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week. Here are a few.

Lone reader, lost in her book.

A Todd Parr reading binge.

The heart of Reading Workshop. Readers perched everywhere totally engaged in reading.

Student book talks are so very powerful!

Two weeks of #classroombookaday titles to share. Gorgeous titles about plants and gardens.

Books that help to transform our thinking.

Classroom Highlights

During our recent Celebration of Learning, two boys delighted in reading aloud to a captive audience. Their choice? Naked! written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

I loved watching students share student writing and voices about some of our recent read alouds.

Titles and student reactions on display for the Celebration of Learning.

Drawing our incredible structures created in the Art and Discovery studio.

Work on display during Celebration of Learning.
Last minute preparation before parents and caregivers are invited to explore our work.

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 loved

Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

This is the latest book I cannot stop raving about and reading to anyone who happens to enter our classroom. Absolute picture book perfection. This title shows us “that anyone can be anything they want to be,” explained one of my students. It is about self expression. Dreams. The love of a grandparent. Creativity. The end pages are divine. This will be one of my Mock Caldecott selections for 2019.

A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker

More wordless amazing from Aaron Becker. This one is multi-layered and will require multiple rereads to absorb. An absolute stunner. Becker explores time, grief, history and chance in this beautiful book.

The book trailer gives a lovely sneak peek

A Seed Is the Start byMelissa Stewart

This book! You want this book! Primary teachers, this is the perfect title to share when discussing planting, seeds and gardens. Full of rich, descriptive language and incredible close up photography. Highly recommended!

But the Bear Came Back by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Dan Taylor

Adorable. No persistent bears allowed until said bear no longer shows up.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

I sometimes do read adult novels – here is proof! Incredible writing. So very sad. Which is maybe why I don’t read a lot of adult novels.

Up next? I am reading The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley by April Stevens and Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

Reading Progress updates:

2018 Chapter Book Challenge: 21/60 complete

2018 Transitional Chapter books: 8/40 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 100/300 books read

Progress on challenge: 20 books behind schedule

#MustReadin2018: 12/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 10/40 titles

Diverse Books in 2018: 17/40 books read

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week. Here are a few.

Nonfiction sharing circles to generate excitement about nonfiction reading!

Quiet moments during Reading Workshop.

This little Dory Fantasmagory fan can’t put this series down!

How I love independent reading time!

I need to play catch up with sharing #classroombookaday titles Here are the books we have been reading. See if you can guess each weekly theme.

Classroom Highlights

Making mini homes in the Art and Discovery studio. These are just incredible!

Drawing our creations.

Nonfiction fact detectives.

Making nature art in the garden with fallen materials.

Gorgeous flower gardens painted for Mother’s Day cards.

Books I loved:

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët

This book is a must own, must share title. One of the loveliest titles to talk about what it is to stand up and stand with someone who has been bullied. Wordless and absolutely wonderful.

Yak and Dove written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Esmé Shapiro

I love the quirkiness of Maclear’s books – this one still has some eccentric elements but it is a wonderful collection of three friendship stories.

One Family by George Shannon with illustrations by Blanca Gomez

One family might be so many things.

Albie Newton written by Josh Funk with illustrations by Ester Garay

Josh Funk introduces us to little Albie Newton, boy genius. Little Albie has concocted quite the plan to make some new friends. Will his classroom survive a day of his tinkering and imagining? Told in Funk’s signature rhyming style.

I’ve Got Feet!: Fantastical Feet of the Animal World by Julie Murphy with illustrations by Hannah Tolson

The perfect story time nonfiction read aloud for younger listeners. The unique feet animals have and how they use them.

Alfie: (The Turtle That Disappeared) by Thyra Heder

Kind of brilliant. Tells a pet story like none I have ever read.

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

Middle grade perfection. Connor just keeps getting better and better. I dare you not to want to root for Mason Buttle as every kind of grief soaked kind of bad luck gets thrown at him. This story has so many layers. Would be a fantastic read aloud in a middle grade classroom. (Grade 5 and up)

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

This young adult novel does not shy away from any of the harrowing details that are part of a refugee’s journey. Follow Tareq and his family as he leaves Syria in search of safety and hope.

Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai

I learned so much about the Syrian crisis in this book about Nadia and her desperate search to become reunited with her family as her city is being bombed. This is a middle grade read.