Holly Hatam | 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

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Each week I share at least one reading photo of the week. As I have been on Spring Break, I have no student photos to share. Instead, here is my gorgeous morning view as I read and had coffee at the place we rented in San Francisco.

And a little more bleak – an empty shelf in the library on Alcatraz.

#classroombookaday titles allowed us to explore endangered animals and human actions both positive and alarming.

Classroom Highlights

I do have to share some amazing photos of our school wide day of play on the last day of school before the break. The theme in my room was building. But often I found that the books called to little builders and the theme became reading. 🙂

Books I loved:

Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal illustrated by Holly Hatam

If you have read this book, then you know. It is a must own, must gift, must share title. If you haven’t read it yet . . . go! Find a copy!

I Am Enough by Grace Byers with pictures by Keturah A. Bobo

Beautiful message. Full of joy. Just loved the illustrations. Another title that would make a wonderful gift book.

The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Keufler

A testament to the power and beauty of nature. A sweet little book about an unexpected friendship.

Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and June Jo Lee with illustrations by Man One

Such an interesting story of how Roy Choi and a friend opened a food truck serving Korean tacos and their rise to popularity. The illustrations are so unique.

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

Oh little Harriet, what a girl you are! Everyday costume wearing Harriet has quite the adventure when she heads to the shops with her dads in search of party hats.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

I so rarely read adult novels but I kept seeing this title everywhere. I was quickly pulled into the many layered story lines.

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Yes! This title was every bit as compelling as The War That Saved my Life. Sometimes sequels are immensely satisfying. This is absolutely the case here. Ada is a character I will never forget.

The Key to Everything by Pat Schmatz

I got my hands on an ARC of this book and was excited as I had really loved Schmatz’s Bluefish. This one was not so memorable. I enjoyed parts of it but it just didn’t come together.

Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart

I am just going to say it – this is one strange book. Which is not a bad thing. In fact, it is quite a good thing. Not at all what I was expecting and quite like nothing I have ever read. High energy, fast paced and wonderfully endearing.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Wow. Just, wow.

Daisy Dreamer and the Totally True Imaginary Friend by Holly Anna

There are so many titles about imaginary friends and magical elements to real life events in the transitional chapter book market. I think this is a book my students will enjoy and will likely get the next few in the series.