Qin Leng | There's a Book for That

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

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. You are guaranteed to find something new to add to your list.

My favourite picture books of the week are all kinds of amazing! I figured since I didn’t share any last week, highlighting a number of them this week will be okay!

Two Speckled Eggs by Jennifer K. Mann

Lyla Browning is different and when you are having a bunch of girls to a birthday party, that doesn’t seem like a good thing. As Ginger’s party progresses, it turns out that in close proximity, true colours shine through. And some seem to be shining a little more brightly after all. Lovely story about choosing friends for how they make you feel.

Turtle Island by Kevin Sherry

A cute little story about having friends and being part of a community. An ideal story time title for younger students.

TAP TAP BOOM BOOM written by Elizabeth Bluemle with illustrations by G. Brian Karas

I adore any illustrations from G.Brian Karas and this rainy journey through the city has many charming images. But the rhythm of the text makes this book a delightful read aloud! It would be a book you want to practice before reading aloud so that it can be delivered with all of the drama it deserves. Lots of fun!

Knock Knock My Dad’s Dream for Me written by Daniel Beaty with illustrations by Bryan Collier

Made me cry. What a story of loss and hope, upset and deep love in 32 beautiful pages.

Captain Cat by Inga Moore

Gorgeous cover and illustrations. While I don’t necessarily love this story, I can see this being such a popular book for students to read and enjoy independently or with a buddy. A longer story perfect for upper primary students. And the rat chase is lots of fun!

You are Stardust written by Elin Kelsey with illustrations by Soyeon Kim

Simply breathtaking illustrations. The message is a huge one – every living thing is connected – in perfect, child friendly text. Beautiful to read over and over – to savour the art and let the words swirl around.

Julia, Child written by Kyo Maclear with illustrations by Julie Morstad

This is kind of a cheeky little book. Pay attention reader. The title is not Julia Child but Julia, Child. Yes, we see a little girl in an apron surrounded by cooking utensils, herbs and berries. Yes, this book is inspired by the idea of Julia Child and her passion for food and cooking. But this is hardly a biography. This is a playful book, full of joy and friends and butter. The message? Hang on to the best parts of being a child. For those adults who need some help with this, recipes are adjusted accordingly.

The Owl and the Pussy Cat written by Edward Lear with illustrations by Stéphane Jorisch

This was a gift for my husband who loves this poem and used to recite it to our children often when they were little. He also loves illustrator Stéphane Jorisch so it was a must. Just a beautiful book to treasure.

Wow of the week:

Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin written by Chieri Uegaki with illustrations by Qin Leng

This book was on my picture book wish list. I am not supposed to be book shopping. But I happened to find a little money tucked away in a bag I hadn’t used and found money should be for wishes, don’t you think? Anyway this title is now mine!

I absolutely adore it for so very many reasons. I have favourite pages, favourite series of illustrations and am completely enchanted by the green grass that we see one night at dusk. Wow. And then there is the story. A story of determination, perseverance and creativity. Absolutely about courage and dreaming. Connection to family – Ojiichan (Grandfather) in Japan who played Second Violin in front of the Imperial Family and his influence on little Hana who wants to play the violin too. Hana enters a talent contest. Little girl with medium sized violin walks out onto the huge stage. I dare you not to hold your breath! What happens when she begins to play is pure delight and probably not at all what you are thinking. Suki’s Kimono by Uegaki is a favourite picture book on our family bookshelf. This book will sit, also beloved, one space over.

I also read lots of great nonfiction that I will highlight on Wednesday’s #nfpb2014 post

I finished two novels:

Son by Lois Lowry

The fourth and final title in The Giver books. As I was reading it, I wasn’t loving it, yet I just couldn’t get the story out of my head. If you have read all of the other titles, yes, read it. I’m still deciding what I think. One thing bothered me and so . . .

Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrara

I was quite charmed by this story. And oh so happy that it was written. So many of my students are impacted by poverty in so many ways. In our community, it is just the norm. So there isn’t a lot of judgement. But I remember once one of my students was going to move to a community where low income didn’t define the community in general. She was bright and spunky and didn’t miss a thing. I knew she was going to be okay but I worried about the getting there to that place of okay. In this book, Star Mackie moves to California and she is the girl from the trailer park. Standing out for something that doesn’t even seem to be about her. I love Star’s stubborn streak, her voice and her passion for the written word. I love how friendship and family dynamics are explored. A middle grade novel that is really going to resonate with readers.

Ironically, just as I finished this review, my eleven year old (I gave her this book to read this morning) came charging into my room.

“Mom! It’s not long enough! Is there a sequel? I can’t wait for it. My favourite characters are . . ” Natter, natter, natter. Yep, the perfect book for middle grader readers!

Next up? I have a huge, huge pile of books – holds that have all arrived at once. Top of the pile? Winger by Andrew Smith

Reading Goal updates:

2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 53/100 novels complete

Goodeads Challenge: 363/650 books read

#MustReadin2014: 20/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 86/65 complete

Summertime is the time I bury myself in picture books – frequent library visits, sifting through my class collection and reading books I haven’t read and yes, often some book buying. All in the name of stocking my classroom library because you can never, ever, have too many books for avid readers! Right?

Unfortunately, this summer a what seems to be endless teacher’s strike has given me this status: In Limbo/Book Buying Hiatus

And I don’t like it one bit.

But, book lists don’t cost a dime . . .

And if I can’t be shopping and pre-ordering titles, I can be making a list. When pay cheques are coming into our house again (two teacher family = no cheques x two), I just might be able to go book shopping. Luckily, I will have a list 🙂

My top ten list of picture books I currently covet . . .

Here I am written Patti Kim and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (September 2013)

I read this brilliant wordless title a few weeks ago and was wowed. All about the emotions of moving somewhere new. Just gorgeous.

What do you do with an idea? written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mac Besom (February 2014)

A celebration of imagination and the courage to think big and small and everywhere in between. I sort of fell in love with this book in the bookstore and It broke my heart a little to put it back on the shelf.

Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison (February 2014)

Sometimes being just who you are is the exactly right kind of extraordinary. Delightful messages of kindness and compassion.

Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman (May 2014)

There is a brilliant picture of the ocean and the boat full of bears and whales. I am such a sucker for whale illustrations that just knock you over. But then, there are a number of other absolutely stunning images. And . . . the story is lovely. Can’t lose.

Quest by Aaron Becker (August 2014)

I remember sharing Journey with my students. The wonder. The awe. The quiet. More of that in another beautiful book? Yes, please.

Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin written by Chieri Uegaki and illustrated by Qin Leng (August 2014)

In our house, Suki’s Kimono by Uegaki is a favourite title to read and to gift. This book promises more lovely connections to a grandparent from Japan, lessons in perseverance and the beauty of music played by a young child.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen (October 2014)

These guys. These books. I am just automatically in!

Blizzard by John Rocco (October 2014)

Loved Blackout. Loved Super Hair-o and the Barber of Doom (Especially the station wagon capture scene). Loved them so much, I bought them both. So I think, I will love this. Look at the cover: one kid, one sled and one big white world!

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee (October 2014)

Oh Marla Frazee. How do I love her? I can count the ways! This cover just has me so unbelievably curious. Oh and did I mention that it is wordless?

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla written by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by G. Brian Karas (October 2014)

I don’t think I need to give any reason for wanting this book. But I will give 22. Those would be my students who absolutely shrieked when I showed them this book trailer after we read The One and Only Ivan. This book MUST come live in my classroom. I made a promise that it would.