Recent Reads

Every Monday, I share books I have recently read. I also participate in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?, 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, or follow on Twitter at #imwayr.

Recent Reads...

Lilah Tov Good Night by Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G) and Noar Lee Naggan

This is a gorgeous story. With few words, it tells a meaningful story about the resilience of a refugee family. It also celebrates the beauty of nature.

The Nest That Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine and Anne Hunter

Another book that celebrates nature, this one is both gorgeous and informative. The rhyming text, based on the poem, "The House That Jack Built," is lyrical and descriptive. The author has included facts about wrens at the end of the book that I found fascinating and I'm sure kids will, as well.

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

I have a few books that I've read this year that I would definitely put on my "Best of 2020" list and this is one of them. It alternates between the Chernobyl explosion in 1986 and World War II. It's a beautiful story of friendship and resilience. In the note at the end, the author expresses the thought that even in the most trying of times there are good-hearted people to be found. This is a particularly timely and comforting message for the times we are currently living through. Thanks to the publisher for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with a review copy.

Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan

This book has an important message about being oneself. It will appeal to those readers who enjoy graphic novels focused on friendship and challenges associated with growing up.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

This is a story of resilience, courage, and hope that will help many young readers understand the experience of living in a refugee camp. It's based on Omar Mohamed's story of living in a refugee camp in Kenya with his brother. The graphic novel format makes the story accessible for many readers. It'll tug at heart strings, but it's powerful. Thanks to Penguin Young Readers for a review copy. It publishes in April.

Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham

One of the reasons, I found The Blackbird Girls so intriguing is that I recently read this nonfiction book about what happened with Chernobyl. It's a chilling and engrossing read.