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Monday, July 19, 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...


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.  

10 comments:

  1. I am always looking for good read-alouds for my son and the Fabled Stables series looks perfect. Thanks!

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  2. Begin with a Bee is now on my list. I just read that a bumble bee can sting more than once! I am a huge fan of Jonathan Auxier's new series and have purchased it for my grandkids. Happy reading this week.

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  3. I received a copy of Samira Surfs from Penguin but haven't read it yet. I'm looking forward to reading it though because I always love a good novel in verse.

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  4. What a great set of books! Paletero Man looks like such a fun story—I love the illustration style on the cover! J.D. and the Family Business looks like a great read as well. Thanks so much for the great post!

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  5. These all sound great! I'm particularly intrigued by Begins with a Bee and the Trouble with Tattle Tales--which sounds like it has a lot of humor!

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  6. Lots of fun reads -- I will look out at my newly opened library for them

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  7. I loved the first JD story and I'm so glad there's another one! I read the first Fabled Stables book a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. This second one is on my list to find!

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  8. Fable Stables and JD both look like good series that I do not have. Thankful for a month more of summer to check them out!

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  9. I want to pick up the new Auxier chapter book series! I think my son will really love it! Thank you for sharing that the second book is just as good as I heard the first was.

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