It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This week I have a wonderful moment from buddy reading – sisters – one in Grade 2 and one in kindergarten, totally engrossed in their book. Elephant and Piggie are early reading heroes!

We have been reading previous Caldecott titles in preparation for our Mock Caldecott this week. Students loved the whimsy of the hedges in Grandpa Green.

I am also celebrating this little moment.

This. Makes my heart melt It is desperately trying to say “I love Ms. Gelson.” It says so much more. pic.twitter.com/jTFQAMmqd3

— Carrie Gelson (@CarrieGelson) November 28, 2015

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 am about to begin Mock Caldecott with my class! Here are the 12 titles we will be considering. I am fantastically excited! Mock Caldecott 2016

An important celebration: Happy, happy, joy, joy for #celebratelu hosted by Ruth Ayres This post is about everything finally coming together for my class. It also represents some bigger things for me: knowing what the truth means and where my heart truly is. This isn’t in the post, but it is out there in my world.

Report cards are handed in tomorrow so I am hoping to be sharing lots of book love and other thoughts on the blog in weeks to come!

Books I loved:

Here’s a Little Poem collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters and illustrated by Polly Dunbar

Some of my very favourite poets. Polly Dunbar. This is heavenly. Made for younger listeners but perfect for my little readers embarking on their reading lives and looking for lots of repetition, delightful rhymes and comforting, familiar topics.

An Occupational ABC:  Work by Kellen Hatanaka

Quirky, unexpected occupations featured here. Very cool graphics. Wonderful all around.

The Thundermaker by Alan Syliboy

I was thrilled that Nimbus Publishing sent this title my way. My students are going to love this!  I love the petroglyph inspired illustrations by Syliboy as he tells the tale of Little Thunder who will one day be the Thundermaker. Inspired by the Mi’kmaq legend of “The Stone Canoe”

Mayann’s Train Ride written by The Honourable Mayann Francis and illustrated by Tamara Thiebaux-Heikalo

Mayann’s family travels to New York City from Cape Breton. MAyann feels so very grown up with her new purse. When she loses it, she gains an opportunity to do some unexpected learning.

At Night by Jonathan Bean

A Bean title I didn’t know. Soothing, nostalgic, gentle. Loved.

Oi Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field

I ordered this title after seeing Margie Myers-Culver tweet about it – in the U.S. it is called Frog on a Log. I got the UK version titled Oi Frog! Absolutely amusing – full of rhymes and silly. Perfect, perfect, perfect for my classroom. Thank you Margie!

How Many Legs? – another title by Kes Gray and Jim Field

Primary teachers – reach for this one for a wonderful math story and inspiration. How many legs do you have if you have . . .?  So much fun!

The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski

I am not sure I have words for just how breathtaking I find this title. It is a book lover’s dream. Seriously. Stop dead illustrations. Of course, I had to own this one. And ahem, you should too . . .

With report card writing, I didn’t get to finish any novels – so hoping for a few over this week. I am currently reading Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 61/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 399/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 16/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 70/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 47/50 books read