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 Fears You Fear by Rachel Rooney and Zehra Hicks

This is a rhyming book that is also informational. Readers will learn about different fears and understand that having them is a normal part of being human.

 

Fiona Builds a Fairy House by Kristen Dickson and illustrated by Celia Krampien

Fiona is determined to build a fairy house and prove to her brother that fairies are real. She has gathered supplies she will use for her house, but as members of her family pass by her they are knocked out of the basket she is carrying. She feels hopeless and begins to think her brother is right until she gets a little help from some friends. This is a fun book about imagination with a touch of magic.

Kicks in the Sky by C. G. Esperanza

Shoes hanging from the telephone wires are knocked down to the street. These are no ordinary shoes as they magically transform kids' abilities when they try them on. This is a joyful book with really cool illustrations.

Seals Are Jerks by Jared Chapman

Lorelei loves lot of thing about seals, especially the fact that they are friendly with penguins. When she hears that seals might eat penguins she questions her understanding of her favorite animal and starts to think they are not so great after all. A clever story with some fun twists. 

Squash, the Cat by Sasha Mayer

This story about two friends, one human and the other a cat, who work through a misunderstanding highlights the importance of forgiveness. It's a cute and amusing book about friendship.

The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby by C. Z. Schmidt

The last time there was an All Hallows' Eve party at a mansion in Inkwoods forest, Beatrice, a child of six disappeared. Thirteen years later, guests of that party have been invited back for a celebration on the evening of October 31st. When the guests arrive they find out that they are not there to celebrate, but to help figure out which one of them is responsible for Beatrice's disappearance. This is an entertaining mystery with quirky characters who each have a secret.

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...

Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

A mouse, named Fred, narrates this retelling of the Cinderella story. Cinderella, also known as Ella, meets a prince at the ball, but decides to forge her own path to happiness. There is a fairy-tale ending, but with a wonderfully surprising twist. Great storytelling and vocabulary. 

Oh No, the Aunts Are Here by Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho

The narrator's aunts are visiting and they can be overwhelming, but they also bring lots of love. It's a mostly realistic story that includes silliness and a bit of fantasy. 

The Scariest Kitten in the World by Kate Messner and illustrated by Mackenzie Haley

Kids will love the suspense and humor in this book about a kitten and some other animal friends who are more adorable than scary.  

Spicy Spicy Hot! by Lenny Wen

Lintang is excited to meet her grandmother, who is visiting from Indonesia, for the first time. When her grandmother makes her famous sambal, Lintang discovers it is too spicy. Not being able to eat the sambal, she feels like she doesn't fit in, but her grandmother has a way to help. A sweet intergenerational story.

Snail and Worm, Of Course by Tina Kügler 

This is the fourth book in the Snail and Worm early reader series. The three short stories that show the joy of friendship are charming. 

Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell

A group of seventh graders in an honors English class are assigned a project which involves a debate about their school's mascot. The diverse group of students have varying opinions about whether the mascot should stay or be changed. Written in verse and told through multiple perspectives this book shows how a group of young people grapple with a social issue that is relevant and timely. A powerful read exploring identity and social justice. 

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...

Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich and illustrated by Tom Toro

Readers who have anxiety about the first day of school will be able to relate to how the backpack feels in this story. Written from the perspective of a backpack who is scared, lonely, and feeling different from everything else, this is a sweet story about friendship.

Cake vs. Pie by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and illustrated by Stephani Stilwell

An amusing story about a cake who is jealous that pie seems to be getting all the attention. Lot of puns and fun illustrations make this an entertaining book. 

Martina Has Too Many Tías by Emma Otheguy and illustrated by Sara Palacios

When Martina's tías visit they make a lot of noise with their booming voices and salsa dancing. This gives Martina, who would rather sit and tell stories, a headache. When she finds herself on a magical adventure she learns to appreciate that her tías are different from her. This is a heart-warming story with illustrations that are both joyful and magical.

Pirate & Penguin by Mike Allegra and illustrated by Jenn Harney

A confused pirate mistakes a penguin for a parrot. The antics of the pirate and penguin are amusing and the ending is sweet. Lots of fun language that will amuse readers, too.

There's a Beach in My Bedroom by Kevin Jonas and Danielle Jonas and illustrated by Courtney Dawson

When Bella is disappointed that it's raining and she can't go to the beach, her family finds a way to bring the beach to her. This book has a sweet message about making the best of a situation and imagination. 

Ali the Great and the Market Mishap by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Debby Rahmalia

Ali and his little brother, Fateh, go to the market with their Dada to get snacks when they run out. When they get there, Ali's job is to watch Fateh and find the chips his Dada likes, but Fateh is not such a good listener. Luckily, Ali is a good problem solver. This is a charming early reader that is one of four in a series. 

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..

A Family Like Ours by Frank Murphy and Alice Lee and illustrated by Kayla Harren

This book celebrates the many definitions of family. A sweet story that encourages inclusivity with lovely illustrations.

The Good Hair Day by Christian Trimmer and illustrated by J Yang

Noah longs for long, wavy hair, like his sister and mother, that he can braid and twist. Noah knows he can let his hair grow, but he is afraid of what others will think and say. For his birthday, Noah's parents acknowledge his wish with the perfect gift. An empowering book.

Penny & Pip by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Out of a mysterious egg at the natural history museum, a baby dinosaur hatches. Penny, being the only one who has witnessed this, befriends the dinosaur and comes up with a clever idea to bring the creature home with her. An unexpected, and sweet, story of friendship.

Tumble by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom

Told in mostly two-word sentences, this book tells about the journey of a tumbleweed. For what seems like a simple story, readers can learn a lot about this plant and the environment where it lives.

What a Map Can Do by Gabrielle Balkan and illustrated by Alberto Lot

When I was growing up, going on a road trip meant using a paper map. Those maps could never be folded up as they originally were! We may live in a world where our phones can show us how to navigate somewhere, but knowing how to use a map is still pretty useful. In an entertaining way, narrated by a raccoon, this book helps readers learn about many different types of maps. A very informative book.

Fox Has a Problem by Corey R. Tabor

Fox has an idea to solve his problem, but it results in one animal after another having a problem of their own. Fox's cleverness is not appreciated until one animal has an idea about how they can all work together. An amusing read.

The Puppets of Spelhorst (A Norendy Tale #1) by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Julie Morstad

Two sisters receive a trunk with five puppets - a boy, a girl, a king, a wolf, and an owl - as a gift. As the puppets talk with one another they reveal their feelings and dreams. Their adventures include being part of a story that one of the sisters has written as they are used in a puppet show performance. This is a whimsical, fairy tale-like story that is the first in a series of books set in the same fictional land. The book publishes in October. Thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader's copy.