It’s Monday! What are you reading? Link up to Kellee and Jen’s meme and share what you are reading from picture books to young adult novels.

So many early morning meetings, evening preparation (cutting laminated labels is very therapeutic but wow, it takes a long time!) and the day to day of being back in the classroom and my reading time has been eaten up! Sigh. But . . . still managed to squeeze in some fun picture books and a few non-fiction texts. Yet, this is the first week in a long time where I haven’t completed any novels! I have happily started Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore though!

Five picture books I really enjoyed:

Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton The power of temptation and the struggle for self control are depicted here in a bright, funny story of George the dog. You have to feel for George who just can’t resist the sights and smells of things like chocolate cake and dirt and trash . . .

The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers A simple little story about courage, finishing what you’ve started and the reassurance that you will always get home. I just adore Jeffers’ illustrations.

Fabian Escapes written and illustrated by Peter McCarty. Hondo and Fabain are back! Their adventures are big in their little world linked to house and neighbourhood.

Chicken Butt’s Back! written by Erica S. Perl and illustrated by Henry Cole. Okay, I don’t find this ode to the bottom and silly expressions that might mean something different all that funny. But, I certainly see how students would and for that reason would share it as a read aloud. Hilarious illustrations.

One Hen (How one small loan made a big difference) written by Katie Smith Milway and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Can’t wait to explore this book in detail with a class. Fascinating as it is based on a true story.

Nonfiction titles:

What is Migration by John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman I just recently purchased some Bobbie Kalman titles to give my non-fiction bins a boost. I am particularly excited about this book as I plan to do a little mini-unit on migration.

What is an Omnivore? by Bobbie Kalman My favourite pages in this book? The photographs and drawings of the jaws/teeth of a carnivore, herbivore and omnivore. Students will be so intrigued.

My class is loving Clementine and the Family Meeting (written by Sara Pennypacker and illustrated by Marla Frazee), our first chapter book we are reading together. I adore Clementine and she is the perfect character to hold the attention of a new group of Grade 2 students, many of whom have never listened to a chapter book before.