December | 2019 | There's a Book for That

It’s been a while my reading friends . . .

But happy to celebrate my love of books and some recent reads with this community!

#kidsarereading independently and with their buddies. Reading growth is happening and reading joy is blooming.

Homemade bookmarks.

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.

Some recent reads:

Small in the City by Sydney Smith

All the feels. This book is exquisite and has so many levels and perspectives. Can’t wait to share it with children!

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero and illustrated by Zeke Peña

A celebration of love, community and the joy of a ride!

Explorers by Matthew Cordell

A wordless peek into a family’s day at the museum. All kinds of magical.

Happy Right Now by Julie Berry and Holly Hatam

Lovely message about choosing happiness!

The Very Last Castle by Travis Jonker with illustrations by Mark Pett

I have a thing for castles so the premise of this book is very appealing. Mysteries, courage and the possibilities of friendship.

The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette with illustrations by Julie Flett

An engaging and beautiful twist on a known fairytale – in the woods, a lost girl, a wolf – but this one leads us down a different path. Delightful.

Don’t Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller

The title is pretty clear. Loved this one,

Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg’s Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter

Very powerful as a read aloud in my room. My students can’t get enough of Greta and her choices to stand up and be heard.

Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot! by Cece Bell

Super duper silly stories with high kid appeal served up in an early reader. Very popular in my Grade 2 and 3 classroom.

Rabbit’s Bad Habits by Julian Gough and Jim Field

A sweet title in this transitional chapter book series. Rabbit learns what it is to have and be a friend.

Up next? The True Story of Lyndie B. Hawkins by Gail Sheppard

In January, I had 30 titles on my #MustReadin20189 list and a plan: read at least 20 books on the list. Permission to read most of the titles makes for a more enjoyable year of reading. I still have unread titles on my list. And that’s okay! It was, as always, a happy process to make a reading plan and try to commit to it.

Making a list like this is about being enthused about a year of reading ahead. It is also about building community. 28 other bloggers joined me in making #MustReadin2019 lists of their own. Many people remained connected all year, posting (purely optional always) updates. Others only occasionally glanced at their lists. It doesn’t matter. It’s all about being excited about an ever growing and changing book list. And sometimes, just making the list signifies a commitment to being a reader even if you don’t read a single title from your list! Other reading happens. And life happens. And so we do our best.

This year I finished only 18 of the 30 titles on my list. All things considered, this is amazing. Something to celebrate even if it is not the progress I usually make.

Since the fall update, I completed these titles.

Wonderland by Barbara O’Connor

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

My dear #MustRead community, I am hoping to get it together enough to host this challenge for 2020. Please look out for signs that I pulled it together by January 1st. If it doesn’t happen, know that I am with you in reading spirit.