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...

Pangolina by Jane Goodall and illustrated by Daishu Ma

A pangolin tells about her life and how she was captured by a hunter and then saved by a human child. Readers will learn information about this unique creature and gain insight into the dangers they face. The author shares tips for helping to protect pangolins at the end of the book, but the broader message is to care for all animals in our world.

What I Am by Divya Srinivasan

This is a lovely picture book to help readers explore identity and understand that how they describe themselves may change depending on the situation. I'm adding it to my list of books that are useful to read aloud at the beginning of the year. 

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! (Ready to Read Graphics) by Maggie P. Chang

Geraldine loves her lunchbox and the lunches her Amah packs for her until her 

classmates exclaim that what she is eating is gross and weird. When another student has the same problem, Geraldine shows the benefits of having an open mind about the food others eat. Written as a graphic novel, this book has an interesting format, but it has an importance message, as well. 

Monday Into the Cave of Thieves (Total Mayhem #1) by Ralph Lazar

Dash's day of mayhem begins before breakfast and continues throughout his school day as he becomes involved in investigating the mysterious theft of a trophy and one of the world's most expensive bottles of perfume. This is a fast-paced story with adventure and lots of absurdity that will appeal to kids. It's not quite a graphic novel, but illustrations make up a majority of the book. 

Forever This Summer (Love Like Sky #2) by Leslie C. Youngblood

Georgie is spending the summer in Louisiana with her mother because her Aunt Vie who has Alzheimer's is in need of care. Georgie meets and befriends Markie Jean and becomes involved in helping her find her biological mother. She also decides to raise awareness of Alzheimer's with a community talent show. This is a charming story that explores friendship, family secrets, and activism. Books with great characters and a great setting are always a win for me. 

Adult Reading Recommendation

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

I started listening to this on audio after receiving it through the Libro.fm Educator ALC Program, but also got a print version because I wanted to devote more concentration and deep thought to it than I'm able to do while driving or doing chores. It's an eye-opening and thought-provoking examination of how slavery is understood, revealing truths about its role in American history. The author visited memorials and landmarks throughout the U.S. and one in Dakar, Senegal and wrote a chapter about each, describing his experience. I learned something from each chapter. The author's lyrical writing is beautiful, both for listening and reading.

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...

Begin with a Bee by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs, and Phyliss Root and illustrated by Claudia McGehee

This is a fascinating book about the life cycle of the rusty-patched bumble bee, with a focus on the importance of the queen bee. The notes at the end of the book include information about the rusty-patched bumblebee and ways that readers can help protect them. Very informative.

Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz and illustrated by Micah Player

A child runs down an L.A. street, passing the many vendors, in search of the Paletero Man, so he can get a paleta on the hottest day of the hottest month. Careful, observant readers will notice the child loses his money along the way. Luckily, the generosity of neighbors means everyone is able to enjoy a paleta. This is a fun book about community with bright, lively illustrations. The song the book is based on can be found here.

Trouble with Tattle-Tails (The Fabled Stables Book 2) by Jonathan Auxier and illustrated by Olga Demidova

Auggie is a boy who cares for beasts, whether or not they are strange, dangerous, or hard-to-love. In the second book in the Fabled Stables series, he has to rescue the Tattle-Tails. The portal in a new stall in his stable, brings Auggie to a village where the Tattle-Tails have attached themselves, like tails, to the villagers and are causing chaos by tattling on them. This is another adventurous, magical, and funny book in the series. Very entertaining.

J.D. and the Family Business by J. Dillard and illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

J.D. is an eight-year-old barber working at a shop in his neighborhood. When he decides he wants to be known beyond his town of Meridian, he agrees to start a YouTube channel with his sister to highlight their skills doing hair and nails. This is another delightful book about J.D.'s adventures as he follows his passion. Thanks to the publisher for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with a review copy. The book publishes in August.

Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz and illustrated by Fahmida Azim

Samira and her family are living in Bangladesh, after fleeing their home in Burma. Adjusting to her new life, she makes new friends, overcomes a fear, and decides to learn to surf so she can enter a contest and help her family. This novel in verse gives insight into the life of a refugee family and shows the power of friendship.  

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...

Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder

A celebration of all kinds of bodies, this book is positive and affirming. The rhyming text and the bright, detailed illustrations give the book a joyful feel. The book explores an important message about embracing one's uniqueness and also promotes inclusivity. 

If You Were an Elephant by Leslie Staub and illustrated by Richard Jones

By helping readers imagine themselves as elephants, this book provides information about the fascinating creature. Readers will learn lots about what an elephant does and how it lives, but also that they are smart and caring animals. The text and illustrations are both beautiful. 

Fetch! (Peanut, Butter, and Crackers) by Paige Braddock

My students loved the first graphic novel about Peanut, Butter, and Crackers so they'll be pleased to see there's a second in the series. When Peanut starts dog school and is mistreated by the other dogs, his dog and cat siblings are there to help him out. Very cute.

Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai by Debbi Michiko Florence

Jenna is a seventh grader whose parents have divorced and she has just broken up with her boyfriend. As she navigates the school year and adjusts to her family life, she learns the importance of letting others in. This is a fun read that middle school students will be able to relate to. Thanks to the publisher for providing by book review group, #BookExcursion, with an advanced reader's copy. The book publishes in August.

Professional Read

My first professional read of the summer was Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Supporting Our Immigrant and Refugee Children Through the Power of Reading by Don Vu. You can read my thoughts about the book here. 

First Professional Read of Summer

For the past few years, before the start of summer, I have made a list of professional books I plan to read during the break. Like many educators, I was overwhelmingly exhausted at the close of this very unusual school year and I never made a professional reading TBR list for this summer. Although I haven't posted a list here on my blog, my summer reading will include some professional books.

The first professional title I have read this summer is Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Supporting Our Immigrant Refugee Children Through the Power of Reading by Don Vu. One of my favorite quotes from the book, which is encompassing of the rationale for why this book is necessary is the following:

Vu's book is about how to build a school culture of literacy that will support all students, but especially immigrant and refugee children, as they become proficient readers. It's about the power of reading and the need to promote lifelong literacy to build a more equitable society. It's about the belief that literacy is life-changing for all.

In the book, Vu explains six conditions that are necessary to build a culture of literacy. There is a chapter about each condition which includes ways for educators to reflect and practices that can be implemented to foster a lifelong love of literacy for all students. The practices range from those that can be implemented at the classroom level to those that could be implemented school-wide. 

Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness is a professional resource for educators, offering ideas to improve practice, but Vu also includes stories from his own life, providing insight into his experience as an immigrant and refugee. The stories are personal and powerful and helped to deepen my thinking about inclusion and equity and further strengthened my belief that compassion is a driving force in making the world a better place.

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...

Areli is a Dreamer: A True Story by Areli Morales, A DACA Recipient by Areli Morales and illustrated by Luisa Uribe

Areli Morales shares her story of immigration in this moving and beautiful book. It's a must-have for classrooms. Gorgeous illustrations, too.

Kitty Quest by Phil Corbett

Two felines have decided to become monster hunters although they don't have any experience. They may not be experts, but they still save the day. This is a graphic novel that will appeal to those readers who enjoy adventure and humor.

Luna Howls at the Moon by Kristen O'Donnell Tubb

This is a sweet story about a therapy dog and the kids who are part of a support group to help them manage their emotions. There is adventure, but also an important message about appreciating differences. Luna's story shows that every day friendship can make someone (or some dog) a hero.

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Rez Dogs is about the experience of living through the pandemic and gives insight into the history of indigenous Americans. It's a poignant and important middle grade novel written in verse.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

Valora wants to go to America even though she knows Chinese people aren't allowed, so she stows away on the Titanic. Stacey Lee writes amazing historical fiction and I definitely have more insight into this historical event after reading the book.

Summer Reading Recommendation

Falling by T.J. Newman

This is a book with lots of action, tension, and suspense about a pilot whose family is being held hostage until he crashes the plane he's flying. It's not my typical type of read, but I found it engaging. The author's story as to how the book came about is interesting. She's a flight attendant who wrote much of the book while on red-eye shifts and had forty-one rejections before the book was sold.