Monday April 4th, 2016

Posted on April 3, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week This is taken during Reading Workshop. It kind of speaks for itself don’t you think? These two on the bench organized themselves into a little reading partnership, “Let’s each read a page.” I also love the message on the board that a child wrote. It captured the feel in the room – happy readers everywhere.

Our #classroombookaday titles this week were especially lovely.

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:

I finished up my Slice of Writing challenge for the month of March. 31 days of published writing on the blog! Phew.

Night Before Thinking Musing about back to work after a break

Inspired by student poetry writing and When Green Becomes Tomatoes Poems for All Seasons (listed below) I wrote my own poem about writing spring poems today we picked spring

Words A Slice of Life post about being grateful that words find me

My first post with the meme Diverse Children’s Books featuring the book: My Two Blankets (pictured below)

Books I enjoyed:

This week it was alll about the picture books!

Where’s the Elephant? by Barroux

Sometimes on this blog I insist that a book must be purchased so it can be shared again and again. Well, okay, sometimes seems like a rare occurrence. I just might do it often. But, take my word for it, I won’t steer you wrong! This book is one of those books. It is beyond a search and find which it seems to be just a few pages in. Not at all. It is a statement about development encroaching on habitat. Of what this means to our world and the animals in it. Powerful. So, powerful. The perfect book to introduce environmental studies. To begin conversations. To worry about. And maybe to inspire change.

When Green Becomes Tomatoes Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Julie Morstad

This book of poetry is kind of pure perfection. Julie Morstad’s illustrations. Julie Fogliano‘s beautiful images. I can’t pick a favourite poem. But I have many a favourite line.

A Hungry Lion or a dwindling assortment of animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins

This book is very funny. It requires that wonderful page flipping back and forth phenomenon – “Did that really happen?” I don’t want to give anything away but will say the surprises delighted me. Can’t wait to read this to a group of children.

Before I Leave by Jessixa Bagley

Such a sweet (but not at all over the top) story of what it is to move away and leave a friend. Bagley tackles emotions so beautifully.

My Two Blankets written by Irena Kobald and illustrated by Freya Blackwood

I wrote about this book in this post. Themes of immigration, new friendships, learning a language, adjusting to a new culture and new place.

Always Remember by Cece Meng and illustrated by Jago

This is a story of loss, of what it is to lose a loved one and remember. Full of hope and emotion and the illustrations are STUNNING.

My Heart Fills with Happiness written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett

I bought this for our board book collection. A book about finding joy! Illustrations by Flett are beautiful. I love that this title features Indigenous children and families. This book is perfect for my classroom.

Snappsy the Alligator Did Not Ask to Be in This Book! written by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Tim Miller

Oh so very clever! The under-enthused and annoyed main character, the irritating narrator, the dynamic between the two of them. What an amusing little book!

The Fun Book of Scary Stuff written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Hyewon Yum

This book! A little guy talks about his fears with a dog and the conversations are SO hilarious. I couldn’t leave the book store without this one.

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

Thelma is a pony with unicorn aspirations. When a unicorn transformation happens to her (this is a great scene) life seems grand. But is fame and attention really a wonderful thing?

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 14/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 97/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 12/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 15/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2016: 12/50 books read

Up next? I continue with Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Our family read aloud is Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Monday March 28th, 2016

Posted on March 27, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. I haven’t been teaching for the past two weeks (Spring Break) so I don’t have any reading photos from my classroom. Instead, I will share a view I had on holiday for a week. This was what I looked at when I sat in my reading and writing place. This is early morning after a night of rain.

As we were away last week, I didn’t share a #IMWAYR post so this post includes 2 weeks of reading. Lots of novels!

On the blog:

I have written everyday for the Slice of Life challenge. All of these posts can be found here.

If you missed it, I celebrated our week long author/illustrator study of Melissa Sweet here: Riding Through an Artist’s Life

Books I enjoyed:

The Dead Bird written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Christian Robinson

This is the newly illustrated (2016) edition of Brown‘s 1938 title. I think it is beautiful. Perfectly captures children’s fascination with death and their gentle care. I purchased this one for my collection of books on death and grief.

Spare Dog Parts written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Spires

A little girl imagines how her dog must have come to be. Lots of charming in Spires’ illustrations.

Pink is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals written by Jess Keating with illustrations by David DeGrand

I shared lesson ideas for this title in my #nfpb2016 post this week. A must own.

The Princess in Black and the Angry Bunny Horde (Princess in Black #3) written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Seriously this is wacky. Purple bunnies that can destroy a landscape or worse in mere moments, on masse. But the best kind of wacky! Love this series for young readers!

Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart

Some kind of everything in this book. Fantastic, engaging, emotional, full of heart, full of adventure. This would make the ideal middle grade read aloud or book club selection- truly something for everyone! One of the first books of 2016, I won’t stop talking about!

Some Kind of Courage Monday March 28th, 2016 There's a Book for That #IMWAYR

Stand Off (Winger #2) by Andrew Smith

Ryan Dean West continues to be one of my all time favourite characters. The characters in this book . . . Just fantastic.

Stand Off (Winger #2) Monday March 28th, 2016 There's a Book for That #IMWAYR

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

I read this aloud to my family – my 13 year old twins and my husband. Such a powerful story to share. We had moments of silence. On a few pages, I wept. It prompted many conversations. Incredible read.

All American Boys Monday March 28th, 2016 There's a Book for That #IMWAYR

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

This may be one of the all time most wise and wonderful book about preteen/young teen relationships ever. Friendships, choices, worries, decisions, forgiveness, care . . . Stead is an incredible writer.

Goodbye Stranger Monday March 28th, 2016 There's a Book for That #IMWAYR

Paper Hearts Meg Wivott

A novel in verse based on the true story of a group of young women who were forced to work at the munitions factory in Auschwitz while they were imprisoned in the camps. A story of incredible courage, friendship and survival. I couldn’t put it down.

Paper-Hearts Monday March 28th, 2016 There's a Book for That #IMWAYR

This is the Story of You by Beth Kephart

Someone passed an ARC on to me and I opened the book and never looked up. I love Kephart’s writing more with each book. Reading her words is like being immersed in something beautiful. Everywhere you look is an image you want to hold on to and savour. Released in April 2016. Highly recommended.

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 14/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 84/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 12/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 15/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2016: 9/50 books read

Up next? I am reading Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Our family read aloud is Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Monday March 14th, 2016

Posted on March 13, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. This week I had a morning visitor who told me after looking through the shelves: “Wow, animals sure are grumpy!” She has a point!

Books we have recently read:

On the blog:

A celebration post: Now Here

Daily Slice of Life posts:

Collections from a Day

When the day starts with a pop up heart

Other Things

Let’s talk about this child: written after 2 nights of parent/teacher conferences

The Reading Warrior

Writing Truth – the comments on this post are so interesting

The season of dreams

Books I enjoyed:

Lost. Found. written by Marsha Diane Arnold and illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Every book I read illustrated by Matthew Cordell makes me love him more. This is a perfect book to prove that images can carry a story with just a few repeated words. My only complaint? I loved it too much. I need my own copy.

All the Dear Little Animals written by Swedish author Ulf Nilsson and illustrated by award winning Eva Eriksson. Translated by Julia Marshall.

This book is about three children: Esther, the boy who is our narrator and Esther’s little brother Puttie. Esther finds a dead bee and decides to dig it a little grave. Our narrator confesses that he is afraid of everything, especially of dying but after a few disparaging comments from Esther, decides that he can write things, like about how horrible death is. Off they go, shovel, poem and little coffin in hand to bury the bee. “Poor little bee”, says Esther, “but life must go on.” Then a plan hatches. There must be dead things everywhere – shouldn’t they find these things and bury them all? The children’s idea grows into an idea for a business. They call it Funerals Ltd.

I read this book years ago but shared it with this class after the scene in The Year of Billy Miller where the bird flies into the window and dies. I believe that we need to allow children to explore books about death and books like this make the cycle of life not so scary. Highly recommended.

InvisiBill written by Maureen Fergus and illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Busy, busy, busy. Everyone is busy. Too busy it seems to notice what happens when you are not well . . . noticed. Charming and kind of hilarious. My class loved this one!

Kyle Goes Alone written by Jan Thornhill and illustrated by Ashley Barron

Goes meaning “gotta go” as in to-the-bathroom. So you can imagine how fun this will be for kids! Layer upon layer of rainforest in these rich illustrations and information about sloths and camouflage in the back of the book.

The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Such an intriguing book. I spent part of it terrified by jellyfish (a new phobia I think) and other parts immersed in Suzy’s grief. A story of courage and confusion and the deep, hard work that is navigating grief. The science included here was fantastic.

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 8/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 71/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 6/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 13/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2016: 8/50 books read

Up next? I have packed a lot of novels for a week away on the coast. Can’t wait to share a week from now (or possibly in two depending when we are back) First up? Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart

Monday March 7th, 2016

Posted on March 6, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. This week I have two to share.

I love the joy and focus these girls showcased during buddy reading.

And I appreciated being shown the best page in Ballet Cat according to this little reader.

Our #classroombookaday titles this week received lots of book love!

I haven’t shared a #IMWAYR post for two weeks. I have been to two full day Literacy conferences (one in Bellingham and one in Vancouver) and one nErD camp in the past two weeks. I just finished report cards. And, I am writing daily for the March Slice of Life challenge. Busy, busy, busy. Not as much reading as I would like but . . . enough to share happily here!

On the blog:

A number of Slice of Life posts: The Promise of a Day, Threes and Repeats, Those Everyday people, Freedom Arms, A Mom theme, Writing Happens Here, Eyes on the Corner, Hey Little One

A Q & A post with author Tara Lazar to launch Normal Norman

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: The Way to School

Books I enjoyed:

Ribbit! written by Rodrigo Folgueira and illustrated by Poly Bernatene

Themes of connection, community and inclusivity. All of these themes are addressed in the most clever of ways. What happens when a little pink pig exclaims “Ribbit!” while sitting amongst the lily pads?

Ben Says Goodbye written by Sarah Ellis and illustrated by Kim LaFave

Losing a friend to a move is a huge loss for so many children. This title addresses those big emotions in a lovely, believable way.

Bloom written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by David Small

I adore David Small and it was so much fun to see his work here in a fairy tale like setting. A story of mud and rolling up your sleeves to get the job done! Loved the girl power here!

If I Had a Gryphon written by Vicki VanSickle and illustrated by Cale Atkinson

Pet wishing, imagining and pondering – wonderfully off the scale! I want a gryphon!

Over-Scheduled Andrew by Ashley Spires

Spires addresses such a growing problem for so many children: schedules that take over children’s lives – leaving little time for friendships and down time.

Steve Raised By Wolves by Jared Chapman

So, wolf like habits don’t really match an elementary school setting. Or do they? Hilarious!

Skunk on a String by Thao Lam

You have probably never thought about how you would react if a skunk floated by. In this wordless tale, spy as one does just that . . . All kinds of reactions and commotion ensue. Quite delightful!

Mom, Dad, Our Books, and Me written by Danielle Marcotte and illustrated by Josée Bisaillon

A home where books and reading are treasured and reading is modelled and celebrated. This child is raised with all that stories can provide. This title also touches on all that we read – the faces of clocks, expressions, the sky . . .

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 7/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 66/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 5/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 13/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 8/50 books read

Up next? I am still reading The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin and continue reading All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely with my family.

Monday February 22nd, 2016

Posted on February 21, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. That has grown to a few reading photos from the week . . . This week they are everywhere!

I love this moment during Reading Workshop where a student got comfortable to read some Bink and Gollie!

The amazing Adam Lehrhaupt (author of Warning: Do Not Open this Book and Please, Open This Book!)sent us a box of goodies after I shared with him how much we loved his books. We didn’t open the box right away because it didn’t come with instructions! Should we open it? Keep it closed? We spent some time talking about this! But wow, were we excited when we made our decision! We were particularly pleased to not find any bruised bananas!

“Hey, you! Don’t be a book closer!” @Lehrhaupt #wearsthisbuttondaily pic.twitter.com/2ct6ESlpLy

— Carrie Gelson (@CarrieGelson) February 20, 2016

Our #classroombookaday titles this week were wonderful!

Writing about this favourite: Donovan’s Big Day

Tea Party Rules was a huge hit! A great story for predictions and lots of smiling!

On the blog:

My 3rd Slice of Life: The kid on the piano

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: B is for Bear

Nonfiction 10 for 10: Travel the World

Books I enjoyed:

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

This book was very much a visual sensation. Sweet’s illustrations perfectly complemented a series of perfect poems to let us travel through the seasons. I got this book from the library but think I need to have my own copy so it is extra convenient that I will be going to see Melissa Sweet in Bellingham next week and can buy this book and get it signed!

We worked on our own Night poems with art inspired by Melissa Sweet

Take Away the A written by Michaël Escoffier and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo

I love that with all of the ABC titles out there, there is still so much room for originality! I giggled my way though this one. It is quite delightful!

Awesome is Everywhere by Neil Pasricha

Absolutely awesome and completely interactive. It reminded me of Steve Jenkin‘s Looking Down and Tullet‘s Press Here. A title to be experienced (best read aloud!)

This may be the number one fan of this book!

My Cousin Momo by Zachariah OHora

I really appreciate Ohora‘s illustrations – they have a wonderfully nostalgic feel to them. This title is all about appreciating someone for exactly who they are and it is really charming.

B is for Bear: A Natural Alphabet by Hannah Viano

I featured this title in my nonfiction post this week.

The Story Blanket written by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz and illustrated by Elena Odriozola

This is a wonderful story of community and generosity. Babba Zarrah tells the children of her village imaginative stories as they sit on her story blanket. When she notices that a child has a need that only the yarn from her blanket can fix, she begins to knit together both kind gestures and stories. Will her blanket disappear? What then?

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

This novel has won numerous awards including being a Schneider Family Book Award winner this year. Adam meets Robyn at an OCD support group for teens. A simple love story with every kind of complication going. Adam navigates first love, his own OCD, a clingy little step brother and a Mom with her own issues s well as small doses of regular teenage issues. Adam is a special character and he offers us a candid glimpse into the life of someone dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder. A must read YA novel.

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 7/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 53/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 5/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 11/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 8/50 books read

Up next? I am reading The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin and continue reading All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely with my family.

Monday February 15th, 2015

Posted on February 14, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. That has grown to a few reading photos from the week . . .

We have continued to enjoy looking at nonfiction titles during our book sharing circles.

I love the energy in each of these circles and how it spreads out around the room.

This was taken during a read aloud of Orion and the Dark shared by a guest reader. The kids couldn’t get close enough!

On the blog:

My second Slice of Life: Bad Irony (I will admit that I find this writing kind of terrifying)

For Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: The nonfiction effect Here, I talk about beginning to introduce more nonfiction titles to my current class.

My weekly Celebration post: Afternoons: the good, the not so great and the green

Books I enjoyed:

Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett

This book is all kinds of gorgeous. The story is delightful – forming a friendship with the very thing that scares you most and learning a new way to see the world in the process. But the illustrations and artistic choices, simply fabulous.

Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants! by Bob Shea

Giggle. Giggle. Giggle. Can’t wait to read this aloud to a whole class. I started with one little guy not yet picked up in the office one afternoon and he thought it was pretty amusing. Well, very amusing. I asked him if he thought my class would listen without laughing. “No way, not possible,” he told me.

Strictly No Elephants written by Lisa Mantchev and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Kind of adorable. And a beautiful message of inclusivity.

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

Quiet. Gentle. Full. Loved this title. Think I will love it more and more as I read it and share it.

Welcome, Precious written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier

An ideal new baby celebration book. Gift it to new parents – it celebrates all of the amazing of a baby joining the family.

Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng

This title is weighty in its simple, missing pieces kind of narration. Nothing is specifically clear but this is what I enjoyed about this title. Rich in emotion, its multitude of stories and our human need to find home and safe.

Thank You and Goodnight by Patrick McDonnell

Perhaps the perfect bedtime book. I love the pure exhaustion that eventually triumphs.

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 6/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 45/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 5/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 11/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 8/50 books read

I continue reading (almost done) The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten and have just started All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely as a read aloud with my family.

Monday February 8th, 2016

Posted on February 7, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. Again, I have had a 2 week gap so I might have to share a few photos!

First, I always love to share our #classroombookaday Friday vote results (fewer voters this week as many children away ill)

#classroombookaday

I loved this photo of one of my students reading her book review to an adult visitor.

#IMWAYR

I also love this reading moment – picture walking a wordless book together.

IMWAYR

On the blog:

A nonfiction post about our Mock Sibert group on Goodreads

Two Celebration posts Last week’s The Moments and this week’s Proud!

A Sunday Reflection post thinking about relationships in the classrooms: 6 hours x 5 days x 10 months

My very first Slice of Life post: Should Be

Books I enjoyed: (2 weeks worth so just my favourites)

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian and illustrated by Mike Curato

I think this picture book has shades of pure perfection within it. A spotlight on the ridiculous must be wedding planning that occurs when love should just prevail. And please note, this is love for love’s sake. Not love that fits in any cookie cutter mold. I adore this book. I see much raving in my future.

WormLoves Worm

Be a Friend by Salina Yoon

Well, I am absolutely smitten. This book speaks of friendship and individuality and acceptance and patience. I am kind of in love.

Be a Friend

I thought this in process picture drawn by my newly arrived from Saudi Arabia student was particularly meaningful after reading Salina’s Nerdy Book Club post

BE a FRiend

Many students drew and wrote about this title this week when we voted for our favourite picture book of the week.

Be a Friend

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Well, well, well. A celebration of books, of voice, of change. Such a book.

The Book Itch

Funny Bones:Posada and his Day of the Dead Calveras by Duncan Tonatiuh

The 2016 Sibert medal. An incredible biography of an artist who spoke to and of the people of Mexico.

Funny Bones

Lickety-Split by Robert Heidbreder and illustrared by Dušan Petričić

Nonsense words can be ever so delightful.

Lickety-Split

What this Story needs is a Hush and a Shush by Emma J.Virján

These Pig in a Wig titles are must haves in a primary classroom. This one explores the necessity and challenges of bed time.

What this story needs is a hush and a shush

Sprout Helps Out by Rosie Winstead

Helping is not always a neat and tidy thing.

Sprout Helps Out

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I read this aloud to my family and all of us were addicted. Absolutely engaging and fast paced. Highly recommended.

A Night Divided

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Wow. This book hits on so many themes: perseverance, coming of age, friendship, finding one’s place. All with a roller derby backdrop. Pretty spectacular.

Roller Girl

More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera

So, hmmm. I did really like this book. 4 stars and lots of thinking worth of liking. But, I didn’t like the main character all that much. I liked him less and less and less as the book went on. That doesn’t make a book not great for me but it leaves me unsettled. However, I loved many of the other characters. A lot. A LOT, a lot. This book rotates around some serious depression and in such a long title, I found it exhausting. Again, not a reason to not like a book. But I would say the reading experience is more unhappy than not if truth be told. Also, there are some wild kind of plot lines here. It all works but it is a journey. So in the end, would I highly recommend this title? Not so sure. Glad to have had the experience. Glad to put it down.

More Happy Than Not

Reading Progress updates:

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 6/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 38/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 5/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 11/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 6/50 books read

Up next? I am reading The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

Monday January 25th, 2016

Posted on January 24, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. I haven’t blogged for a while so I will share a few . . .

Here we are pointing to titles we would like to read after participating in a book sharing circle.

IMWAYR There's a Book for That

Buddy reading moments are amazing to capture.

IMWAYR There's a Book for That

This story is a special one. These two are taking turns reading aloud to each other. At the beginning of the year, one student read and one listened. Now they both have the skills to share in the oral reading together. A beautiful supportive reading experience that I was thrilled to capture.

IMWAYR There's a Book for That

On the blog:

I have been absent from this blog for just over a week (illness, busy, stuff . . . ) so just one post to share:

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Whose Hands are these?

Books I enjoyed:

Rufus the Writer written by Elizabeth Bram and illustrated by Chuck Groenink

What a very special title. It’s all about stories and creativity so it’s an automatic wow. But, what I love most is that the stories are so accessible. They whisper to children, “You could do this too . . . come on, try!”

Rufus the Writer IMWAYR There's a Book for That

If I had a Million Onions by Sheree Fitch, with illustrations by Yayo

Fun, wonderful poetry! Fitch is a master of word play!

If I had a Million Onions

Dear Hot Dog by Mordicai Gerstein

I love both the illustrations and the poetry here. Poems that are ode to everyday things. Toothbrushes, drinking cups, the rain and of course hot dogs.

Dear Hot Dog

Sing a Season Song written by Jane Yolen with illustrations by Lisel Jane Ashlock

A gorgeous lyrical title about the seasons. The illustrations have a timeless feel – like they could have been lifted from a book of fine art.

Sing a Season Song

Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

This book is “issue-y” What doesn’t it address? It hits almost everything. Self harm, dysfunctional relationships, bullying, grief, young romance, self-worth . . . I was a little bit irked by “teenage speak” because really, do people talk like that? Maybe . . . Thank god I’m old. But there were many powerful, heart wrenching pages which make it a title well worth reading.

Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 3/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 26/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 3/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 8/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 3/50 books read

Next up? I continue reading More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera and have almost finished reading A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen aloud to my family. We are all addicted! Just a few more chapters!

Monday January 11th, 2016

Posted on January 10, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. This week, it was all about #MockCaldecott joy! Here are our winners! 3 honor ttiles and the medal went to The Bear Ate Your Sandwich!

Our #classroombookaday titles were gorgeous this week – all about the forest and animals in the woods Next week we will be reading a number of nonfiction titles about animals in winter. These books helped build our background knowledge and vocabulary.

On the blog:

Ready for a year of reading? I am with my Must Read novels of 2016

Would you like to make a list and join the community? Link up here: #MustReadin2016 So far there are 24 lists!

For my first Nonfiction Picture Book post of 2016, I shared some #MockSibert predictions

My Celebration post was all about our #MockCaldecott 2016 results

Books I enjoyed:

I am reading for the Cybils (nonfiction titles) and readjusting to being back at work (Anyone else finding this exhausting?) but I did manage to read some lovely books I would like to share.

Who’s that Knocking at My Door? by Reinhard Michl and Tilde Michels (1993)

A colleague lent this to me as she said it reminded her of Out of the Woods by Rebecca Bond – another interesting animal encounter with animals that typically aren’t near each other. This is a rhyming book and a work of fiction but if you can get your hands on it, it pairs wonderfully with Out of the Woods.

Beautiful Birds by Jean Roussen and E. Walker

A stunning, poetic ABC book by Flying Eye Books – a publisher I adore more and more. This title is simply stunning. A perfect gift for bird lovers.

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

I finally got my hands on a copy of this title and shared it with my family over dinner one evening. We talked for a long time about just the cover which I think is so striking. Such an important story about a family’s fight for their children’s equal education.

Tad and Dad by David Ezra Stein

A cheerful little title of parent/child attachment.

Her Mother’s Face by Roddy Doyle with illustrations by Freya Blackwood

Blackwood’s illustrations are the perfect complement to this story of trying to remember details of a mother who has passed away. Honest, real and important. Tells the story of a little girl who experiences sadness and grief as she grows from a child to an adult. While sad, it also offers hope and promise of healing.

Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters by Oliver Jeffers

Really? Really, how great is this?! An absolutely unique and amazing alphabet story book.

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L Holm and Matthew Holm

I listened to all of the podcasts about this (The Yarn) over the summer and was eagerly anticipating finally reading this graphic novel. It did not disappoint. This book captures not just a time period that is meaningful to me but many things that I feel are brave in a novel (graphic or otherwise): intergenerational relationships, tough family dynamics, strong emotions, life that isn’t all pretty (in this case substance abuse issues).

2016 Chapter Book Challenge: 2/75 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 12/400 books read

#MustReadin2016: 2/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 2/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 3/50 books read

Next up? I continue reading More Happy than Not by Adam Silvera (so captivating) and am reading A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen aloud to my family. We are all addicted!

Monday January 4th, 2016

Posted on January 3, 2016 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. I haven’t been teaching for 2 weeks, so sharing from my house. This week I am sharing a photo of our Christmas book stack 🙂 Lots of reading in our house!

On the blog:

For #nfpb2015 I shared my 20 favourite nonfiction titles of 2015

Our #MustReadin2015 community shared year end update posts

Please note: If you want to share a #MustReadin2016 list, we will begin sharing lists (connect here) January 6th, 2016

My Celebration this week was all about Simplicity

On the eve of back to school, I made some wishes. Sunday Reflections: Wolves and Wild Wishes This post is inspired by the novel The Wolf Wilder (discussed more below)

Books I loved:

I read a lot of picture books this week, I am going to share just my favourites of the bunch.

Picture books:

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck and Yasmeen Ismail

A superb lesson in persuasion and just the right words for the argument you are trying to make. Also a “Can I get a pet?” story with so much new and amusing. Loved this title.

Lizard from the Park by Mark Pett

I always find Pett’s illustrations very, very charming and this book is no exception. When you find an egg and vow to look after the hatchling, you just never know. Lots of fun!

Mother Bruce by Ryan T Higgins

Funny. Funny. Funny. I laughed out loud in the book store. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard. This is a serious charmer. The perfect combination of curmudgeonly and adorable characters.

Mother Bruce

The Dog that Nino Didn’t Have written by Edward van de Vendel and illustrated byAnton Van Hertbruggen

Something about this book. First of all, I would like to hang all of it on my walls. Each page. Blown up to huge proportions. And the story. . . It is a little out there. It is about lonely and longing and then having and adjusting. And then wondering. I loved it. In fact, I gifted it to myself. Couldn’t resist.

Dog that nino didn't have

The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton

I confess that I just never thought about picking this book up. I saw great reviews but it just didn’t speak to me. Finally, I found it at the library and started reading. It is quite wonderful and yes, I was missing out. I can see that this would have pretty fantastic read aloud appeal.

Frances Dean who Loved to Dance and Dance by Birgitta Sif

The illustrations are completely divine. The story, pretty cute.

Puffling Patrol by Ted and Betsy Lewin (2012)

I learned so much in this nonfiction text. Absolutely fascinating account of a the authors’ visit to a town in Iceland during 2008 to watch how a community helps young pufflings confused by the town’s lights make their way to the sea.

The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert

Bold, full of colour. Such a fantastic autobiography!

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear written by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Such an interesting format. Really a lovely little book.

Finding Winnie

Novels:

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

This book. This book. This book! I fall more and more in love with Rundell’s writing with each novel I read. Part adventure. Part fairy tale. Many parts brave and wonderful. Russia. Winter. Snow. Wolves. And beautiful, bold children. A must, must read!

Monday January 4th, 2016 The Wolf Wilder

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

A novel in verse. Highly recommended. What is life like when you don’t look like everyone else and your dreams and aspirations are “not what we do here”? This book, set in 1969 Vermont, is an incredible story of one young girl. Courageous, vulnerable, amazing.

Full Cicada Moon Monday January 4th, 2016