It’s Monday! What are you reading?
Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week. Since it is summer, I have no photos of little readers to share. So here are a few photos of my room, patiently waiting.When students arrive, this space transforms into a space for book love galore!
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
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James
Wow. Ah yes, I see why this book has all of those stickers affixed to the cover. This is a stunner. Incredible celebration of the magic that happens in the barber’s chair.
Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen by Deborah Hopkinson with illustrations by Qin Leng
Inspiring biography for young writers. Leng’s illustrations are delightful.
Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines written byJeanne Walker Harvey and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
Beautifully illustrated title about Maya Lin, whose entry was chosen in a national (US) design contest for the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington. Some of these illustrations made me catch my breath.
On Our Street: Our First Talk about Poverty by Dr.Jillian Roberts and Jaime Casap with illustrations by Jane Heinrichs
One of those books you wish didn’t have to exist. But it does. And this book navigates first discussions of poverty with honesty, compassion and respect. I see that there will be more books in this series: The World Around Us by Orca Publishing and I will seek out upcoming titles.
Lion Lessons by Jon Agee
Sometimes you need a little bit of a nudge to be brave.
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
Strangely, I had a bit of a difficult time getting into this book and then I was fully, completely hooked. A mystery. A testament to a racist and troubled history. Family ties. Beginning friendships. Modern day mystery is woven through history. Absolutely fantastic.
Up next? I am reading Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
Reading Progress updates:
2018 Chapter Book Challenge: 30/60 complete
2018 Transitional Chapter books: 9/40 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 138/300 books read
Progress on challenge: 40 books behind schedule
#MustReadin2018: 18/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 19/40 titles
Diverse Books in 2018: 25/40 books read
There's a Book for That 
I’ve heard lots of good things about The Parker Inheritance…I definitely need to check it out. Hope you’re enjoying your summer!
It is really such an engrossing title. I highly recommend it!
Your classroom is beautiful. What an inviting space! Thanks as always for the book recommendations. I can’t wait to check out these titles.
Thanks so much! Happy reading!
My mom has a deep connection with the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial wall, so I really need to get my hands on Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. And I seem to remember having a similar experience with Parker Inheritance, but I’m glad I kept going because I completely fell into the mystery once it got going. I love the light in your classroom! Have a wonderful week, Carrie!
Yes, try and find Maya Lin. I think you will adore it.
I still need to read The Parker Inheritance–so trying to get to it this summer, but my summer is winding down. I need to get On Our Street–we need more PBs about this topic. I think I loved the writing in Crown even more than the illustrations! I need to remember to read that one aloud in my classes. I also can’t believe I haven’t caved and bought the Jane Austen PB yet. If I were to make one of the fantasy lists of “you can bring 10 books to the desert island; which 10 would you bring?” I’m pretty sure at least 3 of my 10 slots would be taken by Austen novels. The Maya Lin book was fabulous–one I’d really like to own.
Crown is just incredible!
Oh I’m so glad you loved Crown. When I read it I just knew it had the potential to be in Newbery contention. 🙂
Absolutely! Such a book and so much story there.
I wish The Parker Inheritance were a little shorter. I did like it, but there was a LOT going on, which diluted the main message for me a bit.
It is a long book for sure.
On Our Street is such a valuable book, I absolutely agree that I wish we didn’t need books like this, but I’m glad we have it.
Me too.
I read and enjoyed the first three you shared, Carrie. Crown was an enlightenment for me, but I shared it with my granddaughters, who took it as the usual, saying it was like when they got a haircut. I know it’s more than that, but it was fun to share with them. I still need to read The Parker Inheritance, imagine I will like it! Will look for On Our Street, too! Thanks!
I think you would really enjoy The Parker Inheritance Linda.
I love your photos, and your book recommendations. I love The Crown, and can’t wait to read the other books you mentioned. Thank you so much for this post!
Thanks Maureen!
I still really need to get to Crown, The Parker Inheritance and Lion Lessons. Your classroom looks great, as usual, but of course it will look better in a month (with kids reading). Enjoy the rest of your summer!
It will! Looking forward to a new class but am definitely enjoying the down time of summer.
I am reading The Parker Inheritance as well! I love when the chapters go back in time and I see how those stories fit in with the present day on!
It’s such a well done book.
YOUR ROOM! My heart is singing! So beautiful! So inviting! I want to spend my days there!
Thank you so much Julie! I am happy with how it is shaping up this year. Working on the large bookshelves now – weeding out older (as in for older readers) titles readying for a Grade 2 & 3 class.