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Monday, February 22, 2021

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...

The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach

This is a humorous follow-up to The Very Impatient Caterpillar about persistence. The dialogue between the butterfly and whale and illustrations are fun. Thanks to the publisher for sharing a review copy with my book review group, #BookExcursion. The book publishes in March.

The Dragon in the Library by Louie Stowell and illustrated by Davide Ortu

Three friends discover there is magic at their library and then must work together to save it from Mr. Salt who wants to destroy it. This is a charming and humorous chapter book with a positive message about reading. This is one of the books from the #MustReadin2021 list I made at the start of the year and have been making great progress with. Thanks to the publisher, I read a digital review copy. The book publishes in March.

Shoe Wars by Liz Pichon 

There are flying shoes, an evil villain, and two brave siblings in this illustrated middle grade novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy silly and fun stories.

Adult Reading Recommendation


The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson

Ruth lives in Chicago with her husband who is eager to start a family. After revealing to him that she gave a baby up for adoption when she was seventeen, she returns to her hometown in Indiana to find out what happened to her child. This is a thought-provoking read that explores themes related to racism, social class, and family. 

Monday, February 15, 2021

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...

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor

A kingfisher decides it is time to learn to fly, so with bravery and self-confidence she jumps from her nest. As readers turn the pages, they follow Mel as she falls from the tree, splashes into the pond, and makes her way back up to her siblings and Mama. The illustrations and the way the book is oriented to open vertically is really clever. Charming and fun.

How to Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley

Roy is patiently waiting for his delicious clover patch to bloom, but a thief has been stealing it. When Roy realizes he's been outwitted, he gets a little help from a book and devises his own ingenious plan to catch the thief. This is an amusing story about problem solving and the usefulness of books. 

Crocodile Rescue! (Wild Survival #1) by Melissa Cristina Márquez

Adrianna's family travels to Cuba in search of a Mega Croc as part of their TV show. Adrianna is determined to prove that she is capable of participating in the wildlife rescues in spite of the fact that her parents think otherwise. There is lots of action and adventure in this book and it will appeal to readers who like survival stories that take place in the wild. There is also factual information about mangroves and various animals that can be found in Cuba.

Adult Reading Recommendation


The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

This is a heartbreaker of a book, but an amazing read. It takes place during the Dustbowl in the 1930s and tells the story of a woman and her children migrating to California. I was captivated by this story of survival, which gave me insight into what people had to endure during a very tough time in U.S. history. One of my favorite reads of this year.

Monday, February 8, 2021

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...

Seaside Stroll by Charles Trevino and illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

Told entirely with words that start with the letter s, this is the story of a girl, her doll, and her mom taking a walk at the beach on a winter day. The use of sensory and action words and the lovely illustrations capture the beauty and wonder of exploring the seaside. 

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness 

Wolfboy is hungry and on a hunt for rabbits. As he journeys through the woods, rabbits can be seen hidden and out of his view. Readers will be delighted with the happy, surprise ending. The artwork is great - the creator shaped clay sculptures by hand which were then photographed and digitally painted. 

Starla Jean: Which Came First: The Chicken or the Friendship? by Elana K. Arnold and illustrated by A. N. Kang

This is an entertaining and charming early reader chapter book. When Starla Jean's dad tells he she can keep the chicken she finds at the park if she can catch it, that is just what she does. She brings the chicken home and from there their friendship grows. Beginning chapter book readers will appreciate the short chapters and illustrations.

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

Readers who enjoy realistic graphic novels about growing up will love this one. It's a story about a girl who is about to get a dog and then realizes she is allergic. It also explores friendship and sibling relationships. Really sweet.

The Star Outside My Window by Onjali Q. Raúf 

Aniyah and her younger brother are in foster care after their mother has died. Aniyah is convinced her mother is now watching over them as a star. A contest to name the star, leads Aniyah and the friends she's made at the foster home where she lives on an adventure to get to the observatory in London before someone else names the star. This book deals with sensitive issues related to foster care and domestic abuse, but it is a beautiful story.

Monday, February 1, 2021

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...

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne and illustrated Julia Kuo

Based on the author's experiences, this is a story of a girl moving to the United States from Taiwan and the connection she maintains with her popo even in spite of the physical separation. It's a poignant story.

Moose, Goose, and Mouse by Mordicai Gerstein and illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein and Jeff Mack

This silly rhyming book about a moose, goose, and mouse searching for a new house will give early readers a chuckle. Jeff Mack includes a note at the end about how he collaborated with Mordicai Gerstein, who passed in 2019, to create the illustrations.

No Buddy Like a Book by Allan Wolf and illustrated by Brianne Farley

As a book lover and reading teacher, books about books are always near and dear to my heart. This is a fun book that celebrates books and their power to fuel the imagination. Very fanciful illustrations.

The Year I Flew Away by Marie Arnold

Ten-year-old Gabrielle goes to live with her uncle in New York City, leaving her family behind. She finds living in America harder than she thought and desperately wants to fit in. When a witch offers to grant her three wishes to help her fit in, Gabrielle takes her up on the offer, but soon realizes that this creates even bigger problems for her and her family. This is a sweet story about belonging and self-acceptance with a twist of magic.

An Adult Book Recommendation...


Chatter: The Voice in Our Heads, Why it Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross

I found this to be an insightful and helpful book about our inner voice and what we can do to better control it. The combination of stories and research make it an interesting and readable nonfiction book. There are some practical strategies related to calming anxiety and increasing happiness.