Karen Rivers | There's a Book for That

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been absent from #IMWAYR for a few weeks and oh, how, I have missed it! I am back and thrilled to be here. How I adore this community.

Each week I share a reading photo of the week. As you might have anticipated, I have a few to share this week.

Here is my Reading Warrior surrounded by her morning reading 🙂

An engaged buddy reading moment.

More buddy reading joy.

For our #classroombookaday, I have three weeks of titles to share.

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 have been processing leaving my school and this seems to be the only blogging I have done.

I am leaving – – > Changes Ahead: Slice of Life

It’s confusing – – > Not Enough Feet: Slice of Life

Trying to find peace – – > Celebration: Standing in the Middle

Books I enjoyed:

In three weeks, there have been many books! So I worked hard to narrow it down to my ten favourite recently read picture books. In no particular order:

Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat

So very clever. Literal twists and turns! Quite the reading experience exploring the feeling of time’s passage on a road trip.

Rules of the House written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Matt Myers

Never open the red door! This is the firm rule of the house. So, what would you do? I can see kids actually finding this kind of scary . . .

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Willems is more than brilliant and doesn’t disappoint in any way in this last Elephant and Piggie title.

Horrible Bear written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah OHora

I love this title more and more as I think more about how truly smart it is. Exploring immediate reactions, mistakes and forgiveness. Another wonderful collaboration from Dyckman and OHora.

Nerdy Birdy written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Matt Davies

Reynolds and Davies? I couldn’t wait to lay eyes on this one. I love all that it explores – these birdies navigate social norms and emotions rather than the skies. Lots to talk about.

Thunder Boy Jr. written by Sherman Alexie and illustrated by Yuyi Morales

I have been waiting for this book since I heard Morales discuss it at Western Washington’s Children’s Literature Conference more than a year ago. Now, I am thrilled to have just purchased tickets for my husband and I to go hear Alexie speak here in Vancouver! (June 21st – tickets via Vancouver Kidsbooks if you are local) This book is all kinds of special. All about identity, family, who we are and what our name represents.

Loved listening to this interview.

Puddle by Hyewon Yum

Is there anything better than puddle jumping? Likely not! This book is full of rain and creativity.

This is Not a Picture Book by Sergio Ruzzier

100% charming. A book that celebrates the beautiful process of reading.

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art written by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mary Grandpré

So fascinating! Made me go and look at multiple images of Kandinsky’s work.

Stay! A Top Dog Story by Alex Latimer

I can see some children becoming absolutely lost in the detailed notes and letters in this book. Lots of fun!

Novels:

Booked! by Kwame Alexander

This is the second Alexander title that made its rounds in my family – both children, my husband and I read it. I think we all took different things from it to love. There is lots to love!

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

This is some book. Dramatic family relationships, young love, coming of age, and New York in 1977 and all that that means . . . the Son of Sam murders and the fear surrounding this time, fires, black outs, financial hardships. I highly recommend this YA title.

The Girl in the Well is Me by Karen Rivers

This is one of those titles that you can pick up and not put down until done. On the one hand, this is the story of a girl trapped in a well and all of the scary and terrible about this. But this little book also contains lots about the ugliness of middle school relationships, the vulnerability of children, our inner voices and introspection . . . .