Each week I share a reading photo of the week. Here is my classroom in its middle of the summer state – mid-organizing, mid-library redo, mid-sort-of-everything.
JoinJen from Teach Mentor Texts andKellee 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 bestway to discover what to read next.
This is the first post in a series. Next post will be later this week.
Books I read:
Waiting for High Tide by Nikki McClure
I will be honest – I am going to have to go back and reread this one. I was so enamoured with the illustrations of the Pacific Northwest shore line that I can’t remember the text. This book is a stunner.
Seven Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the Cafeteria by John Grandits and illustrated by Michael Allen Austin
This has got to be one of the longest titles out there for a picture book! A fun look at being anxious beginning somewhere new. Such engaging and colourful illustrations.
Owl Diaries #1 Eva’s Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliot
In preparation for moving back to primary, I am reading a lot of transitional chapter book titles. This is a cute series in the Branches series from Scholastic. Very accessible for readers building their stamina for longer stories.
Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split by Anica Mrose Rissi and illustrated by Meg Park
I really liked this title and purchased two more in the series for my classroom. A very realistic portrayal of friendship struggles and dynamics at this age.
The Amazing Crafty Cat by Charise Mericle Harper
Visually really fun. But must admit, for me, this book was just odd. Would like to kid test it.
Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry
A must read middle grade novel in verse about a young girl with Tourette syndrome.I learned so much. This is also a wonderful read about friendship, moving and complicated family dynamics. If I was still teaching Grade 4 and 5, I would be purchasing this one.
Reading Progress updates:
2017 Chapter Book Challenge: 40/75 complete
Goodreads Challenge: 168/365 books read
Progress on challenge: 42 books behind schedule (one better than last week)
#MustReadin2017: 18/30 complete
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 23/50 titles
Diverse Books in 2016: 28/50 books read
Up next? I continue to have a few novels on the go.
Nature is pretty amazing no matter what the season. I will admit to be particularly impressed in the fall. I love that evidence of the changing seasons literally falls at our feet. The leaves, the nuts, the seed pods. I love the colours of the leaves, of the last flashes of fall flowers and of the stormy skies. And I especially love bringing all of this into my classroom. I bundle up herbs and flowers and stalks for us to draw. We have a fallen wasp’s nest under glass. There are collections of leaves, chestnuts and acorns in various piles and baskets around the room.
Nature soothes. It calms. It is quiet. This energy is particularly appreciated in my room.
In this post, I wanted to share a few books we have been looking at for more inspiration. Sometimes just a page or a section and other times the whole book. Some of these books are not necessarily children’s books and some are not nonfiction. But there is a general theme so, please indulge me. Happy fall! Happy nature.
Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman with help from John Niedkrasz (2015)
I fell a little in love with this book when I met it. I plan to use it to inspire flower painting, to highlight the power and the simplicity of a labelled diagram and to go leaf exploring. And about a million more things. Perfect for a classroom, for an artist’s studio, for homes with little and big learners.
More than a picture book – this is a handbook, an amazing collection of nature details.
Collect Raindrops: The Seasons Gathered by Nikki McClure (2007)
Paper cut images strong and striking with an accompanying word to take us through the seasons. I love particular images especially. One egg on a woven nest with the word RESUME. A blue bird in the jaws of a black cat: WITNESS. Little hands peeking out around a tree branch: DISAPPEAR. What a book to get us talking about the images of nature, the emotions, the associations, the memories.
What in the World?: Numbers in Nature written by Nancy Raines Day and illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (2015)
Perfect to inspire looking closely at the world and finding numbers everywhere we look.
The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes (2015)
Yes, this is a fiction title. But I can’t wait to have my students recreate a little gardener space and while these illustrations will us to get lost in their deep colours and details, they also lead us to seed and garden books to learn more.
A Garden of Oridinary Miracles: An Alphabet Book by Robert R. Zakanitch (2012)
We have been using pages of this book to inspire flower collages out of various materials – math blocks, stones, beads, glass. Just gorgeous.
Thanks to Alyson fromKid Lit Frenzyfor the inspiration to read and share more nonfiction picture books in 2015. Follow the link to Alyson’s blog to read about more nonfiction books you need to read!
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.
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.
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.
My favourite reading photo of the week is of these two boys acting out Elephant and Piggietitles during buddy reading. They got completely into the roles!
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.
I found a wonderful bunch of picture books this week. Sharing my favourites here:
Countablock written by Christopher Franceschelli; art by Peskimo
This book is literally a block. A chunk of interesting pages in a sort of board book format but think super size. Count up to 100. Throw in a little cause and effect (Three boxes become. . . (turn the page) three forts) Lots of counting. Bright colours. And a surprise at the end. So much fun that I had to buy it for our classroom buddy reading collection. I know the kindergarten kids will delight in sharing this title with my students.
Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
Piggie has a surprise and Gerald needs to wait to find out what it is. If you know Gerald, you can imagine that waiting is not a talent he has. His impatience is very amusing. What exactly is the surprise? Well . . . it is worth the wait. And, no, I’m not telling.
Norman, Speak! written by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Qin Leng
So what happens if the dog you get from the animal shelter doesn’t understand your language? Well, Norman’s new family are willing to do a lot so that they can begin communicating with Norman. My students found this book very interesting!
May the Stars Drip Down written by Jeremy Chatelain and illustrated by Nikki McClure
A beautiful, soothing lullaby. A work of art.
Watch this video of Nikki McClure talking about making the images for this book. Soothing. Calm. Slow. Beautiful.
Big Bad Bubble written by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Rubin and Salmieri are quite the team. They make quirky books. This one is especially silly and the monsters especially fetching. It will not appeal to everyone. Some might find it too odd. I think as a read aloud it has big potential and will be one of those books that certain kids will obsess over.
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
More monster love. Leonardo may not be the best monster but he has some pretty great endearing qualities.
Small Medium Large: A Book about Relative Sizes written by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by Tomek Bogacki
Amazing title to support the vocabulary around describing sizes from minuscule to enormous. So very clever.
Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle
Oh Flora, on ice and with an energetic penguin, you are the perfect blend of graceful and flummoxed as your skating partner appears and reappears mid move. Absolutely charming.
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Reading Sam & Dave Dig a Hole pulls you deep into a “theorizing hole” and digging in, around and out is highly satisfying. Picture book brilliance through and through.
I loved that after reading this title, I could finally read Travis Jonker‘s fantastic post:
I am not going to add any of my theories here. I just love that 1) Right from the cover, the wondering begins.
“I hope they don’t bury the dog,” my husband commented when I handed him the book to read.
And 2) as soon as you finish, you have to start again to deal with that “Huh? Hold on” kind of feeling.
Can’t wait to share this with my class.
What Can a Crane Pick Up? written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Mike Lowery
I bought this book for many reasons. So many that I will actually start a list.
I love the rhyming text. And I don’t usually like rhyming text.
I think this is a perfect book to read and reread to get the rhythm right.
So . . . it is the ideal buddy reading book and will go in our buddy reading bin.
Any excuse to visit the nostalgic place of construction equipment that I no longer get asked to read since my son is 12 and not a toddler anymore. Sigh.
The bright illustrations.
And . . . there is a page of cartons and cartons of library books (held up by cranes using chains and hooks). Yep!
So with number 6, I was pretty much sold. Which is probably obvious.
I need this crane to come with me to the library 🙂
I also finished the brilliant Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Verse novels hold so much power to literally wrap us up in evocative images and in this case, personal history. In some senses, it feels like spying to be so close. A beautifully written memoir of a time and a place – oh so personal but yet, with connections and links to many more than young Jacqueline Woodson. A gift to readers.
Next? I am in the middle of Nest by Esther Ehrlich and then plan to read Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
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. One of the very best ways to discover what to read next!
A favourite comment I received last week was from Elisabeth Ellington who after reading that I had had a week full of 2/5 and 3/5 books, wrote:
Enjoy your week! Hope it’s filled with 5/5 books!
Such a lovely wish and I am happy to report that it certainly was a week full of wonderful books! And so, please pardon the large number I will be sharing here – I narrowed it to my ten favourite picture books of the week!
I had a lot of book celebration this week. Earlier in the week I met my Chapter Book Challenge goal and finished my 95th novel of the year! (Now I am going to try to reach 100 by the 31st! Thankful for the #bookaday challenge!) And this morning I completed my Goodreads goal of 625 books read this year! Now I have just one more reading challenge – to read the last 2 titles on my list of My Must Read Novels of 2013. These two titles are on my shelf as I type ready to be devoured by December 31st! Much to celebrate 🙂
I feel grateful for the wonderful #IMWAYR community that makes celebrating reading such a priority. Such a honour to be part of this passionate community of readers.
So . . . back to the books! My top ten picture books of the week:
These first 6 titles are all about finding joy, honouring acceptance and celebrating calm. It is an understatement when I say the last few weeks in my classroom have been challenging. These books all found me at just the right time.
Red Sled by Lita Judge
A little red sled brings an evening of adventure for some adorable forest creatures. Basically wordless except for the delicious sound effects
Scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch
Gadung Gadung Gadung Gadung
Whoa!
My children and I Ioved the illustration of the porcupine clutching on to the antlers. Delightful!
Homer by Elisha Cooper
I don’t have a dog. But this book is not just a dog lover’s book. It is also a book about family. About spending happy time. About waiting for everyone to return and about knowing someone is waiting. Love, love, love Cooper’s soothing illustrations.
A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes
A funny little bird who learns to appreciate his “invisibility” as an asset rather than a deficit. Unique. Definite book I want to share with a group of children to see what is discussed.
Augustus and his Smile by Catherine Rayner
Stunning bold black lines on the gorgeous Augustus. This tiger discovers in his smile, the simple hidden happiness we carry with us always as long as we let it in. An important message about how we all navigate the world.
All in a Day written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Nikki McClure
Truly a book that highlights the importance of being mindful – of understanding that each day is a gift of multiple small and meaningful moments. Would be wonderful to share with All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee.
Whimsy’s Heavy Things by Julie Kraulis
A quirky little title I have never heard of – a true find at my public library. Some fairly hefty themes here of facing what weighs us down, of rethinking obstacles and finding ways to cope with what is heavy in our lives. Much to ponder. I am still thinking about how I might share this with a class.
Other titles I loved:
Toot & Puddle –Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie
I am always a sucker for Toot and Puddle. The comforts and coziness of home are always depicted in the most soothing of ways by Hobbie. Thinking about Christmas gifts. Quiet time. A beautiful winter ski through freshly fallen snow. A beautiful holiday book!
Spuds written by Karen Hesse and illustrated by Wendy Watson
A serious title in many ways. A family who has little has each other and big plans. Maybelle leads her two younger siblings into the night and into Kenney’s potato field. The children dig up potatoes and drag them home. When they arrive and stack their loot on the kitchen floor, they have quite a surprise.
Sophie’s Fish written by A.E. Cannon and illustrated by Lee White
This is a hilarious story that grows more and more funny and finishes with a bang. Jake has huge worries about looking after Sophie’s fish Yo-Yo. Why, oh why, did he agree to take care of him in the first place? Do fish need stories read aloud? Do you need to play games with them? What if they cry? My, oh, my the things to wonder about. The last page of this book makes it absolutely awesome! Such fun.
The Long, Long Line by Tomoko Ohmura
What a wonderful book for the younger set – a great way to learn animal names. Amusing. Interesting. Lots to look at on every page. What is this line up for? An amusement ride you certainly were not expecting! And one younger readers will want to visit again and again!
Novels I finished:
The Fire Chronicle by John Stephens
I finished this sequel to The Emerald Atlas with my children as a read aloud. Hugely suspenseful. Full of adventure, mystery, intense drama and intrigue. The perfect family read aloud. We are eagerly anticipating the third book in this trilogy which now finally has a release date!
Crossed by Ally Condie
I don’t often get to read a trilogy one title after another but that is exactly what I am doing with this set of YA dystopian titles by Ally Condie. And it’s kind of great! Matched hooked me with the characters and philosophical questions. Crossed is full of much more adventure, drama and survival – a perfect set up for the third novel which I am just about to start.
What’s next? My children and I are reading Rump by Liesl Shurtliff I have launched into the final book in the Matched trilogy, Reached by Ally Condie. I then plan to read the last two titles on my Must Read for 2013list: The Hero’s Guide to Saving the Kingdom by Christopher Healy and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.
I had an amazing week for picture books. Amazing. I am pretty sure I met some of the picture books that will make my favourites of the year list.
Here are the books I’ve been raving about this week:
Building our House by Jonathan Bean This book had special meaning for me because a few years ago we renovated our house. By we, I mean our contractors, but we spent many days wandering around the construction site that once was and would again be, our home. We climbed up ladders and visualized stairs and walls and rooms and life. I love how the illustrations in this book document a story as much as the text does. And the author’s note in the back with photographs of Jonathan Bean’s own history of a childhood spent amongst foundation and fields and beams made this story all the more special. Head over to Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast to see more: sketches, storyboards and photographs. Amazing!
Papa’s Mechanical Fish written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Boris Kulikov I saw the cover of this book and had to have it. I loved what it hinted at: creativity, focus, absurdity, inventiveness . . . I was not disappointed. The language is fun. The entire family is involved and Papa models the curiousity and persistence of an inventor. This book is “almost true” based on the life of Lodner Phillips who really did build The Whitefish, an actual functioning submarine.
Once Upon a Northern Night written by Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault One of the most beautiful books I have read in a long time. Lyrical, soothing and visually beautiful. Let the text lull you to sleep with dreams of the magic and quiet of winter. Arsenault’s illustrations are exquisite.
The Mighty Lalouche written by Matthew Olshan and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. I found this story absolutely delightful!The illustrations are stunning and add much to an already engaging story. The messages here are important: perseverance, being true to yourself, finding happiness . . . But there are also levels to this story that are just going to engage children in the joy and humour of boxing adventures and the triumph of the underdog. I cannot wait to read this aloud to my class!
Mama, is it Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure A simple but gorgeous story about the waiting for summer through the seasons. Celebrates the joy of outdoors, the changing seasons and the wonder of nature.
The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco There is so much I love about this story. I love that Grandpa is actively involved (leading in fact) the adventure of racing over fields and country roads in search of a bee tree. I love the spirit of community. And of course, that it ends with a message about the wonder of books and reading . . . Well! 🙂
The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman A story of friendship, of adventure and of bravery. My favourite page is snail looking over the page and down, down, down . . . just before he considers leaping. It’s really a fantastic reminder that courage is not in the doing but in the moments of contemplation leading up to the decision.
No Fits, Nilson! by Zachariah Ohora So many books try to capture the essence of the preschool age child and they don’t come close to doing any justice. They have too much sweet. Or too much whiny. Or precociousness that isn’t cute. Only some nail the tantrum and the moments leading up to it with any sort of sense of realism. This book is divine. It really reveals what it is like to be a small being and have to navigate the world while attempting to contain emotional highs and lows. Absolutely adorable. I think this might be my new “must have it” gift for new parents. Captures the preschool mind, heart and will beautifully.
Some nonfiction titles I loved:
The Boy who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos written by Deborah Heiligman and illustrated by LeUyen Pham Wow. This is a fascinating biography that not only makes math seem absolutely engrossing but gives us a glimpse into a mind that was truly one track. A beautiful balance between the mathematical life and the other life of Paul Erdos. Accessible and intriguing for younger readers/listeners. A definite book to be explored multiple times.
Healthy Kids (A Global Fund for Children book) by Maya Ajmera,Victoria Dunning and Cynthia Pon I shared this title (and other related books) on my Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesdaypost.
I also finished two novels.
Maggot Moon written by Sally Gardner Sigh. This YA read was not an easy one. It literally made my skin crawl. Part of me wanted to shake this book off – it is full of horror and upset and pain. If the text and happenings weren’t enough to make the reader tremble, the black and white illustrations lining the bottom of pages serve to ensure that one is always uncomfortable. This book is a mystery. It is set in an alternative history – tells us a powerful dystopian fable. But it is also about courage and the power of friendship. I have really never read anything quite like this story – even though it has clear parallels and not so subtle nuances that speak to our own recent and atrocious history of war, oppression and brutality. Clearly young adult, fully compelling, this story is not one I will soon forget. Gardner delivers a very important story. Highly recommended.
After Ever After written by Jordan Sonnenblick I read (and loved) Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie a few weeks ago and couldn’t wait to read this companion book. It made me cry. And laugh. And appreciate life. What more does one need from a story? I am fast becoming a huge Sonnenblick fan.
There's a Book for That 