Emma J. Virján | There's a Book for That

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

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:

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

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. Now that it is summer, I am not surrounded every day with little readers so . . . I am choosing moments from the year not previously shared. I love this Henry and Mudge love!

From the classroom 2014/2015 archives:

On the blog:

For Top Ten Tuesday: Titles that feature wonderful male/female friendships in MG literature

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: A Room Full of Nonfiction A mini tour of the nonfiction in my classroom

A Celebration post about #booklove starring The Good Little Book

Sunday Reflections: Literary Nest Building 101

Books I read and loved:

A Rock Can Be . . . by Laura Purdie Salas with illustrations by Violeta Dabija

I love this nonfiction series – lovely poetry, stunning illustrations and interesting and detailed back matter. A must have for classrooms and/or libraries.

What this Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig by Emma J. Virján

Super silly. Super simple. Perfect for kids just learning to read – lots of repetition – a quality little book.

The Good Little Book written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Marian Arbona

I adore this book on many different levels. What a perfect book to get us thinking about heading back into classrooms! The end pages are incredible!

To the Sea by Cale Atkinson

Love the tones in this sweet little book about friendship and being noticed.

Ask Me written by Bernard Waber and illustrated by Suzy Lee

I actually hugged this book in the bookstore after I read it. A regular conversation between a father and his young daughter perfectly captures the energy and wonder of a particular time of childhood. Love this book! And the illustrations, wow!

Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley

Yes, Josh Funk if you are reading this, this book made me teary. A book about the every day moving on process of grieving the loss of a loved one and wrapping yourself up in the love of those still with you. Just beautiful.

Leo a Ghost Story written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Christian Robinson

Leo is a charmer. A ghost that needs to find out where he is appreciated.

Bug in a Vacuum by Mélanie Watt

So clever Ms. Watt! This is one thick picture book – full of the stages of grief (hilariously conveyed) and lots of humour. Just delightful. Can see using this with older grades and having students write about their own self-talk through the stages of grief attached to a particular event.

Blue on Blue written by Dianne White and illustrated by Beth Krommes

Rain, beautiful rain. This book celebrates the dark colours and images of a rain storm. The illustrations are incredible.

The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi

This is a wonderful title. Such creative twists on Little Red Riding Hood – crafted into quite a different tale. Love the shades and repetitive colours.

Leroy Ninker Saddles Up written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

I read this to myself and had to whisper certain lines aloud because I was certain they would be a treat to say. Yep! Wow Kate DiCamillo can write!

Survival Strategies of the Almost Brave by Jen White

An emotional middle grade novel about two sisters who need to take care of each other when their Dad leaves them at a gas station. I couldn’t put this book down.

Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart

From the title and the cover, one would think this is a light hearted novel. There is humour but it is full of emotions. In fact, I woke up early one morning worried about the character and had to finish the book to make sure all was okay. What do you do when you are twelve, you have lost your Dad and money is an issue? This title explores this reality in creative, but always authentic and sensitive ways. Fantastic characters and family dynamics.