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Monday, April 29, 2019

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. To find out what other bloggers are reading, check out the host blogs or follow on Twitter at #imwayr.

Recent Reads...

Dandy by Ame Dyckman

Anything by Ame Dyckman is sure to be funny and this book does not disappoint. Daddy spies a dandelion, a weed that must be gotten rid of. Sweetie, on the other hand, has made friends with what she sees as a flower and even named it Charlotte. Daddy tries hard to get rid of the dandelion, but Sweetie always seems to be around, napping, reading, or eating with the flower. Daddy finally gets the perfect opportunity, but by now even he is seeing the plant as more than just a weed. The illustrations are very humorous. This book will have readers laughing, but the relationship between Daddy and Sweetie (and Charlotte) is sweet, too.

The Great Indoors by Julie Falatko

Julie Falatko is another author I love for her humorous stories. In her newest book, the forest animals are taking a vacation inside the house of a family who are away on vacation themselves. With a roof over their heads, the animals relax and engage in many human activities. They have dance parties, eat ice cream and casseroles, and take advantage of the cell phone reception. Although they find some peace, they also realize life in the great indoors is not so simple. This is an amusing read.

Just Like My Brother by Gianna Marino

Two giraffe siblings play a game of hide-and-seek. As the younger giraffe asks other animals if they've seen his brother, he expresses the admirable traits of his bigger brother. The illustrations are fun, clueing in readers to a surprise that's coming for the young giraffe. This is a sweet tribute to big brothers.

Home is a Window by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard

The lyrical text of this book describes the many things that a home is. From a hug to the washing, rinsing, and drying to a book before falling asleep, home is everything that is familiar and warm and cozy. The illustrations also tell the story at the heart of this book by showing a family moving to a new place. This is lovely story that explores the true meaning of home and celebrates the joy of making a new place one's home.

Tree of Dreams by Laura Resau

Coco loves being at her mother's chocolate shop and concocting her own chocolate delicacies. Now that a donut shop has opened up nearby and the chocolate shop has less customers, her mother is likely going to close it up for good. When Coco dreams about an ancient tree in the Amazon rain forest, she thinks she has found a way to save the shop. Coco then gets the opportunity to travel to the rain forest so she can search for the tree of her dreams, but where she ends up learning a lot about the destruction and harm that's taking place there. This book, highlighting the environmental issues surrounding the rain forest, shows the importance of caring for our world and also how it's possible to make a difference. It's also a story of friendship and hope. At the end of the book, the author describes her extensive research of the Amazon and the inspiration for her story.

Monday, April 22, 2019

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. To find out what other bloggers are reading, check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr. 

Recent Reads...


I Will Race You Through This Book! by Jonathan Fenske

Book-It Bunny is racing the reader through his book and he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to try to take the lead. This book brings readers along for an adventure and has plenty of humor. Early readers will have success with the short text. I'm looking forward to sharing it with my first graders because I know they will love it and want to read it again and again. Thanks to the publisher, Penguin Young Readers, for a review copy.

Papa Put a Man on the Moon by Kristy Dempsey

Marthanne's father has gotten a job making the fabric that will be part of the Appollo spacesuits. While her father thinks of it as just a job, Marthanne knows what he is doing is special. This book honors the small contribution of an everyday person that helped to put the first man on the moon. It also is a sweet story of young girl who is proud of her father.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

Having both read it and heard him recite it, I think Kwame Alexander's poetry is amazing and this book, written as a poem, is nothing short of that. It's a powerful tribute to black Americans who have triumphed throughout history. Kadir Nelson's illustrations, full of strength and hope, are gorgeous. There's a glossary at the end of the book providing some additional information about the historical figures and events that are featured throughout the pages of the book.

The Story Web by Megan Frazer Blakemore

Like Megan Frazer Blakemore's The Firefly Code books, I was hooked on this one from the beginning. Alice's father has gone away and she believes it's her fault. She doesn't talk about him much, but she remembers his tales about the story web. When animals in the woods of her town start acting strangely, Alice realizes the story web is more than a tale. This is a magical book about how stories connect us and the importance of honoring the truth. It's also the story of a girl who knows the power of being brave, bold, and fierce. Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury, for an advance reader's copy of the book. It publishes in June.

Monday, April 15, 2019

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. To find out what other bloggers are reading, check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr. 


Recent Reads...

The Little Red Stroller by Joshua Furst

Luna has a little red stroller to go to school, the playground, and the shops she visits along the avenue with her mother. When she outgrows it, she passes it on to a neighbor. The red stroller continues to be passed from family to family. This book is a celebration of sharing and community and highlights the diversity of families and neighborhoods.

¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Raúl the Third III

Follow Little Lobo and his dog as they deliver supplies to the market. They make many stops at the busy Mexican market, which is both warm and inviting, where they interact with the various vendors throughout their day. This book offers insight into the Mexican culture and an introduction to the Spanish language. The illustrations are very detailed. This book will be read again and again and readers will notice new details every time.

Flubby is Not a Good Pet! by J. E. Morris

Flubby is a rather unmotivated cat. He doesn't sing, catch, or jump like other pets do. He doesn't even run when it starts to rain. Flubby doesn't seem like a good pet, until the storm makes Kami realize just why they need each other. Told with short sentences and dialogue, this is a book that early readers will find success with and help build their confidence as they build their reading skills. There is an additional book in the series, Flubby Will Not Play With That. Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with review copies.

Greytone Secrets #1: The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Siblings, Chess, Emma, and Finn, learn that three children who live states away, but share the same birthdays and first and middle names as them have been kidnapped. The next day their mother mysteriously leaves for a work trip. The situation gets even more mysterious when Chess, Emma, and Finn begin to realize their mother isn't coming back and they discover a tunnel in their house that leads to an alternate world. The story keeps the reader guessing as the mystery of three children and three strangers to whom they may have a connection unfolds. There is suspense and action and an ending that leaves the reader wanting to read the next book.

Monday, April 8, 2019

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. To find out what other bloggers are reading, check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr. 

Recent Reads...

High Five by Adam Rubin

There's going to be a lot of high-fiving going on during the reading of this book. The 75th Annual High Five tournament is coming up and Sensei, the greatest high-fiver in his day, is training the reader for the competition. The tournament begins and the reader is up against some tough competition. This is a book that invites kids into the story and the illustrations, which look kid drawn, are fun. Thanks to the publisher, Penguin Young Readers, for providing my book review group with a review copy.

The Line Tender by Kate Allen

I was immediately drawn into this book because of the setting which is a small seaside town in Massachusetts. It turned out that the story and characters were amazing. Lucy lives next door to her best friend, Fred, who she is helping to create a field guide to the wildlife in their town. Lucy is often reminded of her mother, a biologist, who died a few years earlier. When a tragic accident occurs, Lucy is overwhelmed with grief and she immerses herself in her mother's research on sharks as her heart is mending. Her story makes your heart ache, but it also shows the power of friends, family, and community to help one heal. It's a beautiful story.

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

This is another book with a great setting because it also takes place by the ocean in Massachusetts. Delsie lives on Cape Cod with her grandmother. When a friend asks her what it's like to be an orphan, Delsie begins to wonder about her mother and why she left. It's also the beginning of summer and her friend, Brandy, seems to have outgrown their friendship. As Delsie works through her feelings, she learns about true friendship and the meaning of family. Delsie's story is heart-warming. Thanks to the publisher, Nancy Paulsen Books, for a review copy. The book publishes in May.

Monday, April 1, 2019

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. To find out what other bloggers are reading, check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr. 

Recent Reads...

Felipe and Claudette by Mark Teague

All the pets at the animal shelter have been adopted except for Felipe and Claudette. Felipe, a bit of a grump, is convinced that Claudette, who barks and snores a lot and always has food stuck to her nose, is the reason why. In spite of their differences, the pair eventually realizes how much they need each other. This is a sweet story of friendship about two pets with lots of personality. The illustrations add humor to the story.

Fenway and Hattie in the Wild by Victoria J. Coe

In the fourth book in the Fenway and Hattie series, Fenway accompanies Hattie and her family on a camping trip. Both Fenway and Hattie deal with challenges related to fitting in and making friends. Fenway is as adventurous, loyal, and lovable as in the previous books in the series. If you haven't read any of the books in the series, they are told from the perspective of Fenway and are a lot of fun. Thanks to the author for an advance reader's copy of the book. It publishes in May.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

Jingwen and his younger brother, Yanghao, have moved to Australia with their mother. Not being able to speak the language of his classmates, Jingwen feels like a martian. He also thinks his brother can be a little annoying and it doesn't help that Yanghao has an easier time learning English and making friends. While their mother is at work, the boys bake cakes. Baking the cakes is especially important to Jingwen because they remind him of his father, who died before they moved, and he thinks cooking them will fix everything. Jingwen will go to any lengths to continue baking even if it means disobeying his mother. Jingwen's story is sad, but there is humor, as well. The illustrations are really unique. Thanks to the author and publisher for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with an advance reader's copy.