Virginia Brimhall Snow | There's a Book for That

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

I have been sharing a reading photo of the week each week. Now that it is summer, I am not surrounded every day with little readers so . . . I am choosing moments from the year not previously shared. I love this sweet little peek into a buddy reading partnership.

From the classroom 2014/2015 archives:

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.

Less blogging and less reading this week. I was very busy working in my classroom library. I am hoping to share a few details in an upcoming post or two.

On the blog:

For Top Ten Tuesday: Ten plus Ten equals Twenty Auto-Buy Illustrators

A Celebration post about clearing out paper from my classroom!

Books I read and loved:

Taan’s Moon A Haida Moon Story by Alison Gear with felt illustrations by Kiki van der Heiden with the children of Haida Gwaii

Such a beautiful book that is a wonderfully collaborative effort. Read here for more information about the process. In the Haida language Taan means bear. This is a story of Taan’s experience of the seasons. Just so lovely.

A Bird Is a Bird by Lizzy Rockwell

The perfect nonfiction picture book for a story time with little ones or as a reference title for early primary students.

Spring Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow

Spring flowers are my very favourite so I adored this title.

When I was Born written by Isabel Monhós Martins and illustrated by Madalena Matosa (First published in Portuguese in 2007)

I love the vibrant colours and the interesting premise of this book. Thinking about the world experienced as a variety of new experiences. Treasured sensory collections.

“These are the smells I love:

the smell of my grandmother’s lao,

the smell of warm chicken soup,

the smell of paints in school . . . “

Perfect to inspire some of our own mindful writing.

Bears Don’t Read! by Emma Chichester Clark

Bears don’t read. But what if you were a bear and you found a book and you wanted to be able to read it? This is that story. Delightful!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

I liked this book in the beginning. Liked the characters. Liked the format. Liked it all around. But half way through it really grabbed me. I began to totally adore these characters. I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. I finished it hours and hours ago and I already miss specific characters. Simon has a supportive family, wonderful friends and a “kind of” boyfriend he has not actually met. Oh and he’s not actually openly gay. Such a honest, vulnerable and charming novel.

Updates on my 2015 Reading Goals:

2015 Chapter Book Challenge: 47/80 complete

Goodreads Challenge: 294/415 books read

#MustReadin2015: 15/24 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 57/100 titles

Diverse Books in 2015: 32/50 books read

Up next? I am reading The Queen of Water by Laura Resau

It’s Monday! What are you Reading?

My favourite reading photo of the week comes from buddy reading Wednesday afternoon:

It’s Picture Book Month!

So far, I have shared two posts in celebration:

Same of Different? featuring The Hueys in The New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers.

Picture Books to Help you Giggle 20 titles to read aloud (and laugh along with) to little listeners (Kindergarten/early primary and beyond)

But back to sharing my reading from the week: 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.

The picture books that stood out:

The Girl who Heard Colors written by Marie Harris and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

I have been quite curious about synesthesia after reading A Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass. I had no idea there was a picture book about it that could introduce synesthesia to children in a way that makes sense. I think this book does a brilliant job. Highly recommend this as a read aloud in primary/early intermediate classrooms.

Some Bugs written by Angela Diterlizzi and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

The text is delightful and the illustrations, divine! I see why this title is getting Caldecott buzz. I want to shrink down to insect size and crawl about this insect world.

Fall Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow

Wow. What a simply gorgeous title. Lyrical and full of wonder. A beautiful book to highlight the magic and vast variety of falling leaves. I found myself searching the ground for diverse leaves on my walks all last week after reading this book.

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma written by Diane Fox and illustrated by Christyan Fox

Hilarious. This one is going to haunt me until I am able to read it aloud – such a craving! Funny, funny, funny – kind of like having a backseat driver “helping” tell a story. Annoying for the narrator. Amusing for the readers.

I saw this trailer on KidLit Frenzy this week and immediately sought out the book.

The Very Inappropriate Word written by Jim Tobin and illustrated by Dave Coverly

So very clever. I love the word collecting. The power of the “inappropriate” word and how a word lover is intrigued by the sounds, the images and the impact!

The trailer is quite amusing:

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) written by Barbara Bottner and illustrated by Michael Emberley

After reading Ms. Brooks’ Story Nook (where tales are told and ogres are welcome!) last week, I realized I hadn’t read this title yet. How was that possible? LOVE this book. Love Miss Brooks. I covet her book piles. Her inspired outfits. Her lounge about and read moments. And of course this book is worth reading just for the stick on warts page.

The Monsterator by Keith Graves

Mixed reviews on the story in my classroom but the mix up a monster flaps at the end got lots of attention.

When a Monster is Born written by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Nick Sharratt

I book talked this title early in the week and heard it be read over and over during buddy reading. Lots of fun to read aloud. Has the “if – then quality” of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

I also read:

The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso

I have a thing for witch characters with lots of spunk. Maybe because they aren’t the stereotypical pink girly girl? Not sure. But Salem will be popular in my room. I am sure about that.

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

Like others, I am hoping there will be other books to follow this title because these characters and this world are just too intriguing to say goodbye to. As I was reading, I kept thinking how great this title would be as a read aloud – mystery, adventure, suspense, fantastical characters. I could also put it in the hands of so many previous students and know that it would be loved. But it also has wide appeal – I know both my 12 year old daughter and son would fall into this book. It hooks you quickly and keeps you intrigued throughout. Perfect middle grade fiction.

Up next?

This is a challenge! I have so many great titles that just came in at the library. But I think The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm is the one calling loudest to me!

Reading Goal Updates:

2014 Chapter Book Challenge: 70/100 novels complete

Goodreads Challenge: 508/650 books read (continue to remain 36 books behind, now under 40 titles! Take that you 55 from a month ago!)

#MustReadin2014: 21/30 complete

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: 118/65 complete