It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading.  For more information and to find out what other bloggers are reading check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. 

What I've Been Reading...

Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan 

This is the first in a series about Barkus, a loyal and loving dog, and Nicky, his owner. Five short chapters tell the tale of how Barkus became a part of Nicky's family and how that family grew to also include a cat named Baby. Each chapter is amusing and sweet. In one, Barkus follows Nicky to school. In another, Barkus's dog friends join him at his party where they eat cookies and dance in celebration. In the last chapter, Nicky tells Barkus the story of how he came to live with here, which is a retelling of the events that took place throughout the book. The illustrations are colorful and capture Nicky's joy and Barkus's energy. I'm always looking for new early reader chapter books and this one is perfect.

Elly and the Smelly Sneakers: A Rags to Riches Story by Leslie Gorin 

Elly does not like her royal life very much. She never gets to have any fun and, worst of all, she can't play baseball. Elly's dreams finally come true when she is visited by her fairy godfather, Lefty Lou. But when she races away to be home by noon, she loses a sneaker. Similar to the story of Cinderella, she is visited by a prince charming, of sorts, who is looking for the owner of the sneaker. This is a fun twist on the story of Cinderella and is a great addition to my collection of fractured fairy tales. I was lucky to receive a copy of this book from Michele Knott, who hosted a contest on her blog, Mrs. Knott's Book Nook. 

The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City by Jodi Kendall

Josie immediately falls in love with a pig her brother has rescued and brought home. Josie's large family is already crowded in their city apartment so her parents will only let her keep the pig, which she names Hamlet, until she finds him a home. The story of Hamlet is charming, with many connections to the book Charlotte's Web. The story is also about Josie, who being a part of a large family, often feels invisible. This is a lovely book about family and growing up. It won't be available until October, but it is definitely one to keep your eye out for. Thanks to T.P. Jagger who writes for the blog From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors and the author, Jodi Kendall, for an advanced reader copy of the book.