Monday May 4th, 2015

Posted on May 3, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This photo was taken during my book club meeting on Thursday at lunch. We had a visitor from a Grade 1 student who decided to read a picture book to the group. He started with Sam and Dave Dig a Hole and then moved onto Todd Parr books. He had a captive audience who loved it! We watched the magic of picture books delight students of all ages 🙂

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.

This has been a busy Sunday and I have only a few moments to share some of my reading for the past week. So I am just sharing a quick selection of titles I have read: an early picture book, a nonfiction title, an early chapter book and a novel.

What’s Your Sound HOUND the HOUND? by Mo Willems

I love these simple picture books for beginning readers. They are perfect for our buddy reading collection.

Trapped! A Whale’s Rescue written by Robert Burleigh and illustrated by Wendell Minor

This was our Friday p.m. read aloud. A beautiful, lyrical story with stunning paintings by Wendell Minor. Students appreciated the happy outcome and the detailed back matter for additional information. We just did art pieces featuring humpback whales so students are feeling particularly connected.

The Life of TY Penguin Problems by Lauren Myracle

Love this chapter book series! The cat under the bed, full bladder, Dustbuster scene is hilarious!

The Truth about Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh

This is some book. Emotional. Meaningful. Centred on family and truths and lots of sugar.

Up next? I am reading Watch the Sky by Kirsten Hubbard and have started Jack by Liesl Shurtliff as a classroom read aloud!

Monday April 27th, 2015

Posted on April 26, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. I love the energy of the interactions and the reading that this photo highlights – another moment from buddy reading with the Ks. Books and children, they go together . . . 🙂

And because I just can’t resist: Some Richard Scary love.

If you didn’t get to read about our amazing visit with author/illustrator Calef Brown, read here.

His fantastic new book of poetry is a must read, must share, must own: Hypnotize a Tiger: Fantastic Poems about just about Everything The pages are full of fascinating word play and delightful illustrations. Hard to pick a favourite here. Miriam, who works with me loves Lazy Head and the children are particularly fond of Pigeon Frogs. Today, I am very charmed by Interview with a Termite, but by tomorrow I might have a new favourite!

Some of my favourite titles from the week:

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear that Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh written by Sally M. Walker and illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss

My students wrote reviews of this book that I will be posting soon. We loved the story and the history. What a relationship between Winnie and Harry Colebourn! It is easily apparent why Winnie made her way into the stories of A.A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin. The real Winnie was a sweet little bear.

Unnatural Selections by Wallace Edwards

This book squeaks and speaks and hollers: Art project! Ahem . . . art inspiration! What fun!

The Stick by Clay Rice

These woodcut images are incredible. I like the story’s theme of imagination but this is not a book I would rave about or necessarily choose for my classroom collection. Potential but just not quite there . . . Yet the images stay with me.

Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by Leuyen Pham

How I love the illustrations by Leuyen Pham! This is a fun little story perfectly suited to little dancers. Can Vampirina stay focussed on her dancing and resist turning into a bat?

Josephine written by Patricia Hruby Powell and illustrated by Christian Robinson

Such a detailed, poetic biography of Josephine Baker. The colours, the illustration, the use of language – all things make for an incredible middle grade picture book biography.

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

There is reason for all of the raving about this YA title. The characters are so very unique – different, mysterious but so very appealing. The story is full of intrigue, suspense, mystery and magic. It is haunting and sad yet full of hope and transformation. It is one of those books that must be experienced and the less you read about it in advance, the better because each surprise, each “around the corner” is so delicious. So I will stop here. Except to nudge you . . . go, read this book.

Up next? I am devouring The Truth about Twinkie Pie by Kat Yeh (and not because it makes one hungry). My class just finished Each Little Bird that Sings by Deborah Wiles (which I would recommend over and over and over as a beautiful read and even better read aloud) so we are up for a new read. Happy to announce that it will be Jack by Liesl Shurliff. We read Rump last year and kids are over the moon that we get to share another book by Liesl together!

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 20/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 165/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 9/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 36/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 18/50 books read

Monday April 20th, 2015

Posted on April 19, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This one captures a particularly sweet moment. One of my students and Miriam (who works with me) got to witness one of our little K buddies showcase her beginning reading skills. Wow, did she work hard to read this book aloud. It was precious to watch!

Lots of interesting titles this week. My favourites included:

Wandering Whale Sharks by Susumu Shingu

Absolutely stunning illustrations. Lyrical text describing details of the largest fish in the ocean.

Wild Ideas: Let Nature Inspire Your Thinking written by Elin Kelsey and illustrated by Soyeon Kim

This book is magical. The illustrations have inspired an art project that my students are in the middle of . . . And the text suggests all kinds of connections between ours and the animal world. Prompted discussion about perseverance, creativity and inspiration.

Goodnight Already! written by Jory John and illustrated by Benji Davies

Lots of silly and full out charm. Both of these characters – bear and duck will amuse any little (or big) reader. The Kindergarten class brought this up to me with big recommendations! Their teacher had had to read it aloud multiple times.

The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak

I took this out from the library and am thinking I need to bring it into my classroom to actually try it. I’ve heard great things about its read aloud effect.

I Know Here written by Laurel Croza and illustrated by Matt James

A beautiful book about place and home.

Little Humans by Brandon Stanton

Each of these children has personality leaping off the page.

Smelly Louie by Catherine Rayner

I have a real soft spot for Rayner’s loose lines and smudgy images. Louie loses his “smell” in a bath and goes in search of some deliciously stinky places to find it again.

Listen, Slowly by Thanhhà Lai

I can already say with quite a bit of confidence that this will make my favourites of 2015 list. I adored the relationships in this story – between Mai and her grandmother, Mai and her family in Vietnam, many of the characters and their grief and cultural connections. A powerful story about the pull of home, the strength of family, the importance of culture and the complexities of personal and family histories. Highly recommended.

As a family, we also finished Doll Bones by Holly Black on audio. This was a second “read” for me and so enjoyable to listen to! Cheriee, if you are reading this, you can do it! We have faith.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 19/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 157/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 8/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 33/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 17/50 books read

Up next? I am about to begin Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Monday April 13th, 2015

Posted on April 12, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This picture makes me completely smile. This is one of our readers from the BLG law firm that visits with a new book each week. He is reading us Strongheart: The World’s First Movie Star Dog. I love that one listener couldn’t remain seated and stood next to him through the entire read aloud.

This week it has to be two photos as it just gets cuter! My class so loves to be read to!

This week I also shared details of some very special buddy reading we did when we had a K class visit us from another school.

I read a wide variety of picture books this week:

Gaston written by Kelly Dipucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson

What makes family? Having your Dad’s blue eyes or feeling like you belong? This book lets us ask those important questions. There will also be some giggles and smirks along the way.

The Way to the Zoo by John Burningham

I love all that John Burningham does! He captures vivid childhood imagination so very well.

Strongheart The World’s First Movie Star Dog by Emily Arnold McCully

What an interesting story about a retired police dog that started acting in silent movies. We learned about Strongheart’s training, how he needed to be taught how to play and about his deep connections to his owners. My students were captivated.

Coyote Run by Gaëtan Dorémus

Wild wordless about the wild west. Won’t be for everyone but should be experienced.

Sam’s Pet Temper written by Sangeeta Bhadra and illustrated by Marion Arbona

This book explores many aspects of anger and self control – some really quite well. Others, still not sure as I haven’t had a chance to “kid test” this book. Love how strategies of calming down are explored.

Camp Rex by Molly Idle

This book made me nostalgic for story time with my own children – I can see this being a read it again and again title when they were small. Charming. Sweet. Silly.

The Enemy by Davide Cali and Serge Bloch

I can see this book being used in a high school class and keeping conversation going for days. Not a book I would pick up and read without previewing with a primary class. Could intermediate classes manage this? Absolutely. There is much to talk about. It poses such large and important questions about war. Just who is the enemy? What and whose purposes does war serve? How do we remember the humanity behind each soldier? Powerful.

In other reading:

Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon

I literally laughed out loud multiple times reading this book. It is absolutely silly and full of fantasy, imagination and “made-up-ish-ness” attached to many things. It is over the top at the same time as absolutely accurately portraying sibling dynamics, parent frustration and little child antics. Full of wonderful illustrations, this has ADORED written all over it.

The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern

Whoa Maggie. What a girl you are. Voice bellows from the pages. What a family. So much that is challenging. Not much that is perfect. So very endearing.

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

If you just read the poems in this book, I suspect it would garner its fair share of 5/5 ratings. But then there is Gabi and her story. Her story is everything. She is surrounded by issues via her family, her friends, her own experiences. Drug addiction. Teenage Pregnancy. Coming out. Family rejection. Teenage hormones. Teenage dreams. Grief. Angst. Passion. Gabi is . . . such an out there character -not out there as in extreme or strange but out there in terms of honest and real and relatable. Loved this novel for so many reasons. Highly recommended.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 18/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 145/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 8/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 30/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 14/50 books read

Up next? I am about to begin Listen, Slowly by Thanhhà Lai

Monday April 6th, 2015

Posted on April 4, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This is buddy reading at its best. Kids everywhere. Engaged. Reading. Talking. Laughing. Did I say engaged? Because, really, that’s what it’s all about.

I also shared an emotional Celebration post this week. All about how very much I have loved having my current class for (for many of them) a third year. There is much to be said for teaching children over multiple years.

The picture books I loved this week:

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith

Wordless perfection. I love everything about this book. And I own it. I pick it up everyday and swoon.

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah written by Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls

A fantastic nonfiction picture book biography. True inspiration.

Big Red Kangaroo written by Claire Saxby and illustrated by Graham Byrne

I shared this book in my nonfiction post this week.

My Pen by Christopher Myers

I left this at the bookstore but haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I always say there is power in the pencil (or pen, or marker, etc) – this book celebrates the creativity on the page. But on the page is so much more. I know this book will soon become part of my collection. I want to share it with each group of children I teach for forever . . .

I Wish You More written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

I want any of these wishes to be true. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

See You Next Year written by Andrew Larsen and illustrated by Todd Stewart

The illustrations are beautiful – such magic in the way light is shown. Nostalgia, memory inducing book. Power in the “same every year” summer vacation.

The Cardinal and the Crow by Michael Moniz

The message? Pride and foolishness go hand in hand. Inspired by Aesop’s fables. For bird lovers, the illustrations are divine.

Chicken Big by Keith Graves

Kids LOVE silly. This book is bursting with it.

NonRandom Acts of Kindness (Life of Ty #2) by Lauren Myracle

I am so excited that this young chapter book exists. I started with #2 but will be finding number one and adding both to my classroom collection. Ty is believable, the story line is relevant and I liked the friendship/family dynamics explored.

We Were Here by Matt de la Peña (YA)

Where to begin? These characters, sigh. I feel like I could go for a walk and I might find them standing on a corner, watching people go by. I would want to run up and talk about courage and honesty and deep morals and true loyalty. I would want to buy them a sandwich. I would want to know that their worlds are all going to be okay. I’m hopeful. Which doesn’t really tell you anything about this book. I will say this, I am fast becoming a de la Peña fan. If you haven’t read any of his books, start here. Soon.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 16/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 134/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 29/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 13/50 books read

Up next? I am almost finished The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern And then it is to Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Monday March 30th, 2015

Posted on March 29, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. This photo was taken during Nonfiction Reading day in Reading Workshop. The adults in the room were circulating and listening as children read aloud from their nonfiction texts and posed questions about what they were reading. We are working at moving beyond commentary and connections to asking questions which extend our learning. Slowly but surely . . . I love the connection in this photo – it is so wonderful to have these few moments of one on one time with students. I try to bring in as many adults as possible during Reading Workshop time.

This week has been about lots of literacy related things! We had Camp Read on Friday and I highlighted many of the amazing things we did here. Lots of reading and lots of yoga!

I also got to go book shopping. Plan to share more about some of these books in the next few weeks.

New books for my classroom thanks to a Vancouver Kid’s Books Gift card #booklove pic.twitter.com/Q3grTP4fjF

— Carrie Gelson (@CarrieGelson) March 29, 2015

My favourite picture books of the week:

Marilyn’s Monster written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Matt Phelan

What do you do when everyone gets a monster and yours never arrives? Marilyn grows impatient with the endless waiting. This book wormed its way into my heart. I left it at the bookstore but it seems to be calling me. I may have to go back for it.

Room for Bear by Ciara Gavin

Persistence. Persistence. Persistence. Sometimes finding where you are meant to be is starting with the who. Utterly sweet.

Where Bear? by Sophy Henn

Just where can this bear go to be “bearish and big”? Finding the perfect place is certainly not easy. Charming.

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

How does Kadir Nelson make pictures like this? Saturated in colour and signs of spring, this story reveals many things about the amazing power of seeds to grow – vegetable seeds, seeds of generosity . . . .

Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Jean Jullien

Oh this Hoot Owl is one big talker. Hilarious. This would be a perfect read aloud. I can see the children shouting and shaking their heads even now. Little Hoot Owl, wannabe big hunter eventually finds the perfect prey.

A Fish Named Glub written by Dan Bar-el and illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

There are small questions and there are big questions. When a small fish poses the big ones, many people find some important answers.

Library Lion written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

It turns out that this particular lion is perfectly suited to the library. Quiet, helpful and very, very needed. My students adored this title.

Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall

It is so easy to judge when we are looking through the incorrect lens. A beautiful book about identity, acceptance, self-expression and what a waste of everyone’s time labels really are.

In other reading, I finished:

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I don’t have a quick summary of this book but yet I am not ready to write on and on to include all that I am thinking. I will just say this: How the heck did Jennifer Niven fill up my heart and leave me feeling so light while at the same time, leading me through sadness I did not want to wade into? Somehow, she did just that.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 15/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 124/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 28/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 12/50 books read

Up next? I continue reading We Were Here by Matt de la Peña and will be starting Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero next. This week I also started rereading Drums Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick as it is our new title for my student book club. What a book this is!

Monday March 23rd, 2015

Posted on March 22, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. It is Spring Break so I haven’t been teaching this week. But in anticipation of being back in the classroom with students today, I am sharing a photo from this time last year. This is at the book selecting table during buddy reading. I love all of the book love that happens at this time 🙂

Some picture books I enjoyed this week:

The Pet Project Cute and Cuddly Vicious Verses written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Zachoriah Ohora

I don’t know how I missed this book published in 2013- it is hilarious and an amazing text to inspire some fun poetry writing. Thinking it would be great to pair with titles like Prudence wants a Pet and A Pet for Petunia to have students examine all of the ways children ask for pets. Sometimes, as this title reveals, they come to their own decisions about just how wonderful (or not) a particular pet might be. Both poems and illustrations are awesome in this book.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Yes, just as amazingl as I imagined it would be. With all of the gardening I have been doing this week, this title was perfect. Simply gorgeous illustrations. I really liked the intergenerational connections and time spent across seasons. Great additional information about various creatures in the back of the book.

Home by Carson Ellis

So very beautiful. And of course, I instantly think art and writing and what will this inspire. A treasure that I had to buy. A must own.

I Had a Favourite Hat written by Boni Ashburn and illustrated by Robyn Ng

Cute little book about expressing one’s self through various seasons and for various reasons. One hat can be so many things . . .

The Spider by Elise Gravel

I know my class will be “crawling” over each other to get at this latest Gravel title!

Head Lice by Elise Gravel

Oh, head lice, how we don’t love thee! But this book lets us grin about a pretty constant annoyance. So, we’ll take it!

Hands & Hearts with 15 words in American Sign Language written by Donna Jo Napoli and illustrated by Amy Bates

Lyrical text. A wonderful day between mother and daughter.

My plan was to get many more novels read but our house has been bit by the spring cleaning bug and we are clearing out the basement and weeding the garden and my reading time was eaten up . . . I did organize some book shelves though and redid my TBR stacks so here’s to the upcoming books!

I did finish Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell.

This title was just published in North America in the fall of 2014 but was first published in 2011 under the title The Girl Savage and was actually Rundell’s first book. My daughter and I each read this book this week and had similar reactions to specific characters. We loved Will’s spirit and rooted for her throughout the book.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 14/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 110/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 25/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 12/50 books read

Up next? I am almost finished We Were Here by Matt de la Peña and will then start All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. We have a family listen aloud happening right now – Doll Bones by Holly Black. I have read the book in the past but it sure is fun experiencing it with my family! I love how there is always somebody claiming, “This isn’t scary.” Which usually means we have just heard a particularly creepy part!

Monday March 16th, 2015

Posted on March 16, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. Because I am on Spring Break and have no student photos to share, I will share a photo of part of my reading stack at the Seattle Public Library Saturday afternoon. We just returned from six days in Seattle – and spent lots of time with books – at the library, at book stores and at cafes with novels in hand. Happy, happy, happy.

I worked very hard to limit the picture books I want to share here to ten. And then I couldn’t. So there are eleven. All of these are fantastic. I will limit my comments though so that this post is not endless 🙂

In by Nikki McClure

So, well, McClure is insanely talented. I look at the images in her picture books and just shake my head in awe. This book was full of childhood passion and perseverance. Reminded me of some of the lovely long days when my children were younger.

Special Delivery written by Phllip C. Stead and illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Oh my goodness. How exactly does one send an elephant to a Great Aunt named Josephine? We absolutely need this picture book to help us wonder. Love!

Lucky by David Mackintosh

Kids have some very big imaginations. And once you begin to think one thing . . . Assumptions, dreams and pineapple. How I adore David Mackintosh.

The World According to Musk Ox written by Erin Cabatingan and illustrated by Matthew Myers

My students love this particular Musk Ox. His antics in this tale will need to come and be a part of our classroom library. And while we are giggling, we will brush up on our geography.

I Don’t Want to be a Frog written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt

I do have a thing for frog books. A frog book about a frog who doesn’t embrace the wonderful “froginess” of frogs? Oh no! But oh yes, how very, very clever! Well, well done Dev Petty.

Hunters of the Great Forest by Dennis Nolan

Let’s just say that if my children were these little hunters and they found this treat to this scale, well, a sweet kind of heaven, indeed!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School written by Davide Cali and illustrated by Benjamin Chaud

Benjamin Chaud. Love, love, love him. And this book reminds me in the best of ways of a favourite title of mine: John Burningham’s John Patrick Norman McHennessy – the boy who was always late So this means, a winner. Yes, I had to buy it. Did I mention that it is teeny, tiny in size? So it will be perfect for a book basket in our room labelled: A Funny Little Book Box. All kinds of meant to be.

Red, Yellow, Blue by C.G. Esperanza

A colour mixing masterpiece. Stunning visually.

The Zoo by Suzy Lee

I am not quite sure how Suzy Lee does what she does. She continually knocks me over.

Extreme Opposites by Max Dalton

Oh so very funny. Go experience this book. Simple in concept. Big on clever.

Standing in for Lincoln Green by David Mackintosh

Another Mackintosh? Yep. Because more than one is better. Or is it? Hold on, am I now talking about this book?

I read some great novels this week.

Arcady’s Goal by Eugene Yelchin

A book you can pick up and read in one sitting. But images will follow you around for days. Wow.

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

An absolutely lovely middle grade read. Full of imagination, hope, courage and the magic of the unnoticed.

When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

I have so much to say about this book. But I am only going to say this. What characters. What quietly bold and beautifully human characters. Jason Reynolds, these characters you write . . .

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 13/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 102/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 7/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 22/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 12/50 books read

Up next? I am reading Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell. Loving this author. And she has a new title coming out in September.

Monday March 9th, 2015

Posted on March 8, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. These are three of my girls pretending to be bored after they read I’m Bored and declared it “the best” and “Why haven’t you read this to us already?” I do try to read everything but every so often I miss something! Thankfully, I redeemed myself by putting this out on display.

I am surprised I got reading in this week as I have continued to be happily spending my weekends immersed in literature conferences, but I did find some time to read some fantastic books.

My favourite picture books of the week:

Surprise by Mies van Hout

So tender and sweet. Birds. Parenting, nurturing and loving. Love all of these bright on black illustrations. I have Happy and Friends and would love to add this to our collection.

Perfectly Percy by Paul Schmid

Porcupines and balloons do not mix. Until, a solution is figured out. And then, of course they do!

Naomi’s Tree by Joy Kogawa and illustrated by Ruth Ohi

Rich in B.C. (in fact Vancouver) history and family stories, this is a beautiful book about a special tree planted in a yard that represents home. This title tells a piece of the stories of Japanese Canadians during the war.

Inside this Book by Barney Saltzberg

Released next month, this title tickled the fancy of my many artists and writers in the room. Making books, books within books, child authored works . . . very appealing in my classroom!

The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie by Chris Van Allsburg

I was worried about this title. In fact, I had decided not to read it after reading many reviews. But, it came into our room with a guest reader and my students were quite engaged. It provoked lots of discussion and some amazing book reviews with thoughtful writing. I will be sharing these soon on our classroom blog.

In other reading . . .

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

My eye is now firmly on this author. Loved this book. What characters. So much grief and challenge but the humanity shines bright. Highly recommended.

How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon

A shooting of a young teenage boy. Is it racially motivated? Who is at fault? What is the truth? All important questions. More important though -the grieving and the moving on of a community and family impacted by the loss of one of their own. Powerful.

Up next? I have a huge pile of books coming with me on a week away with my family. First up? When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds and then We Were Here by Matt de la Peña and All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 10/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 81/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 5/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 17/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 11/50 books read

Monday March 2nd, 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by carriegelson

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. I loved how intently these two boys shared favourite aspects of their picture books. Lots of #booklove and talk happening about books!

I just returned from the absolutely amazing Children’s Literacy Conference at Western Washington University. Wow. Wow. And more wow. I will share more details later this week.

So while my weekend was all about books. Buying books. Listening to authors and illustrators talk about books. Discussing books. Sharing favourite books. Did I mention buying books . . . ?

Anyway, the reading of books didn’t happen a whole lot.

But when it did . . . A few favourite titles of my week.

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales

This is a stunning book. Absolutely stunning. But hearing Yuyi talk about the book and about the incredible process of creating it, it is now even more stunning to me. At the conference during Yuyi’s presentation, she read this book with the audience. She read the words in Spanish, we read in English. This sparse text surrounded us in the room. It was a read aloud experience I will never forget.

Wolfie the Bunnie written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Zachariah Ohora

I was so excited to find this book and it did not disappoint in any way. Charming, humorous and sweet. Perfect author/illustrator team!

You Call that Brave by Lorenz Pauli and Kathrin Schärer

The illustrations here are so much fun. This title asks the question: What is brave? Its answers pose all kinds of questions. I love the discussion that happened in my classroom with this book.

Shin-Chi’s Canoe written by Nicola Campbell and illustrated by Kim LaFave

An emotional story of two Aboriginal children (siblings) who are sent to residential school. Accessible for younger readers. The emotional pain endured by the families and children impacted by residential schools is powerful in this book. Beautifully illustrated.