Books I Planned to Read in 2018 Update #2

In January, I made a list of "must reads" for 2018 along with Carrie Gelson of There's a Book for That and a community of other bloggers. The #MustReadin2018 community is sharing another update on the progress they have made with their reading lists. I am sharing my progress along with them. Check Carrie Gelson's blog or the Twitter hashtag to find out what others are reading in 2018 and get ideas to add to your own to-be-read list.

My #MustReadin2018 List

Middle Grade Books

Previous to my last update, which you can read here, I had read the following books:

• Bat and the Waiting Game by Elana Arnold
• Breakout by Kate Messner
• Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender 
• Maggie & Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort by Will Taylor
• The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers
• Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth by Sheila O'Connor 
• You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly

As of this update, these are the books I have now read:

• Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff which is imaginative and engaging.
• Elephant Secret by Eric Waters, which is a book I absolutely loved. There is a twist in the story that makes it an intriguing read.
• The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr, which I got about half-way through because it just didn't grab me at the time.

Professional Books

As of last April, I had read two out of the four professional reads I had on my list. These are the books I read:

• Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes by Jimmy Casas
• The Reading Mind: A Cognitive Approach to Understanding How the Mind Reads by Daniel Willingham

I have since finished the other two professional books I had on my list. Both are excellent, insightful reads. 

Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners by Regie Routman

To find out more about this book, you can read the following posts:

Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman, Part I

Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman, Part II

Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman, Part III

Enticing Hard-to-Reach Writers by Ruth Ayres

Read my post here to find out more about my thoughts on this book.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is 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. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr.

Recent Reads...

Eat Pete! by Michael Rex

A monster with a hungry appetite appears at Pete's window. He's able to hold off eating Pete while they have fun playing cars, pirates, and blocks. But, eventually Pete's appetite gets the better of him. This book is pure fun with an element of surprise. I imagine that my first graders will want to hear this book again and again.

Holes in the Sky by Patricia Polacco

I was excited to see a new book by Patricia Polacco because quite a few of hers are favorites of mine. This is another heart-warming story based on her childhood. Read more about my thoughts here.

Kick It, Mo! by David A. Adler

The latest book in the Mo Jackson series for early readers is as charming as the previous three. Mo loves sports even though he is not the best player on the team. In this book, he is the smallest and youngest soccer player and is still learning to kick, but he doesn't let that stop him from playing and enjoying the game. Mo's practice and determination always pay off. I love the important message in these books, but the sports-related action is also entertaining. Thanks to the publisher, Penguin Young Readers, for providing #BookExcursion with a review copy.

The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

This is a book about loss, grief, and healing. Evan, a fox, seems unable to get over the loss of his dog, taking his anger out on his once beautiful garden. Eventually, a surprise in his garden leads him out of his despair. The illustrations are stunning with colors to match the mood of the text. This is definitely an emotional read, but gorgeous.

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana from Raymie Nightingale is back in this companion novel. It's definitely a heart-tugger, but also a whimsical, beautiful story. If you've heard this is an amazing book, it's because it is! Read more about my thoughts here.

Time Castaways #1: The Mona Lisa Key by Liesl Shurtliff

Three siblings find themselves on a mysterious ship that time travels. They arrive in the past where they become in involved in the theft of the Mona Lisa. The kids try to understand the reason they are on the ship and whether they can trust the captain. The curious ship with its eccentric crew and the different settings from the past provide for an interesting story. The cliff-hanger ending sets readers up to find out more in book two. Thanks to the publisher, HarperCollins, for sending my book review group, #BookExcursion, an advanced reading copy.

Holes in the Sky by Patricia Polacco Book Review

Patricia Polacco's books are among some of my classroom favorites. Her books, based on her own life, explore family and community and offer wisdom and life lessons. In Holes in the Sky, Patricia tells another story based on her childhood experiences, one that shows the importance of kindness and the power of the connections we make with one another.

Trisha's babushka has passed away and her family has moved to Oakland, California. There she meets Stewart, who soon becomes her best friend, and his grandmother, Miss Eula. Together, they hatch a plan to bring happiness to a neighbor by bringing her garden back to life. All the while, Trisha is waiting for a sign from her babushka until she realizes that she doesn't have to look any further than Miss Eula.

Holes in the Sky is a story with warmth, conveying the importance of caring for and being compassionate toward others.  It also celebrates the beauty of a diverse community. The illustrations, drawn with pencil and marker, bring the story to life, revealing the joy and love between the characters at its center. This is a sweet and realistic story.

Thanks to the publisher, Penguin Young Readers, 

for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with a copy of this book.

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo tells more of Louisiana's story, one of her characters from Raymie Nightingale, in a novel that can be read as a stand alone.

Louisiana's Granny woke her in the middle of the night and they started to drive away from her friends, her cat, her home. Louisiana is not sure where they are going, but it becomes clear they are not going back. They stop in Georgia, at the Good Night, Sleep Tight hotel and it is here that Louisiana finds out truths about her life that change everything.

Louisiana's story is one of transformation. She discovers who she is and finds her place in the world. There is sadness in Louisiana's life, but out of that sadness grows hope. This is a story about family and friendship and home. It gives a lot for the reader to think about including the power of kindness and forgiveness.

There is a whimsical quality to Kate DiCamillo's writing. Louisiana's voice shines as she observes life and those around her. She's a character with spunk and resilience who readers will be rooting for from the first page.

Both beautiful and hopeful, Louisiana's Way Home is a book that will tug at your heart strings.

Thanks to the publisher, Candlewick, for the advance reading copy.
The book publishes in October.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is 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. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr.

Recent Reads...

A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade

Pluto is proud of being a part of the Famous Nine until he gets the news that he is not a planet. Pluto feels rejected and he doesn't seem to fit in with any other group in the galaxy. Just as he's about to give up he finds someone who looks like him and makes new friends. This is a cute and clever story with a good message that also includes some factual information.

Best Frints at Skrool by Antoinette Portis

The best frints from planet Boborp are back! Students are always delighted with the make-believe words and the humor when I read Best Frints in the Whole Universe to them. In the second book, Omek feels left out when Yelfred makes a new friend. The characters are out of this world, but kids will be able to relate to Omek's problem and laugh along as he tries to resolve it.

Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell

Chloe gets very irritated when Adrian Simcox says he has a horse. She believes this can't possibly be true if he can't even afford lunch or keep his own desk tidy. When her mother takes her for a walk through Adrian's neighborhood, she begins to understand him better and make a friend. This book will spark discussions about acceptance, empathy, and open-mindedness. There's an interesting use of color in the illustrations which are gorgeous.

Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

This is an amazing, magical story about a chimney sweep and her mythical friend. They come together unexpectedly, but find out how much they need each other. I was captivated by both the historical fiction and fantasy elements. Read more of my thoughts here.

Tight by Torrey Maldonado

Bryan has made a new friend, but he's not always comfortable with the choices this friend makes. He finds himself following along when Mike does things that could get them in trouble, such as hopping subway turnstiles and cutting school. Bryan is torn between being friends with Mike and doing the right thing. Bryan also faces some challenges at home. His father, who encourages him to be tough, has recently gotten out of jail, but is arrested again when he gets into a fight. This book explores the struggles of a kid who's trying to make sense of the expectations his family has for him along with the expectations of the society he lives in. He learns about friendship and discovers that he has the power to make the right choices. Thanks to the publisher, Penguin Young Readers for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with a review copy of the book.

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

When I think of chimney sweeps, Mary Poppins comes to mind, but this book gives a whole new perspective on the profession that involves cleaning soot and ash from chimneys.

Nan Sparrow is an orphan who has no other choice but to spend her days working for the chimney sweep, Wilkie Crudd. She is at the mercy of Crudd and his cruel ways, risking her life by climbing into chimneys that are only narrow enough for a child. Nan, an expert at chimney climbing, has been very lucky until the day she gets stuck. When a treasured gift from her past master turns into a monster, actually a golem, her life is miraculously saved and a new and unusual friendship forms.

Charlie may have been born of a piece of char, but he makes a terrific friend for Nan. Their friendship is just delightful, odd yet sweet. As Nan researches golems she begins to think about his purpose and wonder about the duration of his existence. Their journey together shows the power of saving others to save ourselves.

Nan is a resilient and courageous character. Throughout the book, she changes from a girl controlled by a master to someone fighting to make things right for those who are suffering and treated unfairly. She has fears, but she faces them head on to survive and make things better for herself and others.

With its magic, there is a fairytale quality to this book. Set in Victorian England, I could also imagine traveling over the rooftops of London with Nan and Charlie. Sometimes dark, the story is also one of hope. It offers the reminder that there are many wonders within our world waiting to be discovered.

I read a digital review copy of this book on NetGalley, 

thanks to the publisher, Abrams Kids. 

The book publishes in September. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is 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. You can also follow on Twitter at #imwayr.

My Recent Reads...

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

This is an absolutely beautiful book. The message is one teachers will want to share with their students, so I think it will have a place on many classroom shelves. Read more of my thoughts about the book here.

Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters: The Questioners Book #1 by Andrea Beaty

The characters from Andrea Beaty's picture books, Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck, are all back in a fun chapter book series. Rosie is an engineer and, like her friends, loves working on projects. She is asked to help the Blue River Riveters, a group of ladies who built airplanes during WWII. Her task is to build a contraption that will help one of the riveters paint so she can participate in an art contest  It's a challenge, but Rosie is determined. Rosie demonstrates that she is a thinker, a problem-solver, and someone who keeps trying until she gets it right. This book spotlights creating and tinkering, but it also shows how friends can become family. Thank you to Abrams Books for providing my book review group, #BookExcursion, with an advance reader's copy. The book publishes in October.

The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss

Bicycle was mysteriously found at a monastery and taken under the care of Sister Wanda. She lives among the mostly silent monks and has no friends of her own age. Sister Wanda insists that Bicycle attend a camp where she will make friends. Bicycle would rather make a friend her own way so she sets off to cycle from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. This is a charming read. Bicycle's adventure is unique, the characters are quirky, and there's humor and heart. The author's inspiration for the book came from her own bicycle trip across the U.S. The book is a great read, but it may even inspire readers to hop on a bike themselves.

Monster Mayhem by Christopher Eliopoulos

This is a new graphic novel that I think will be a hit with many of my middle grade readers. There is plenty of action and humor, but the main character, Zoe, also learns about the importance of friendship. Read more of my thoughts about the book here.

The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff

Twin brothers Colm and Mal discover the apartment building they have moved into has a mysterious thirteenth floor that appears and disappears. Mysterious, spooky, and captivating. Read more of my thoughts about the book here.

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

June Harper loves reading, but her very strict parents do not approve of the books she reads. June's parents take away her books and her school begins a ban on books that are not deemed appropriate. June discovers a Little Free Library and then decides to break school rules to loan out books to other students. This book reminded me of Alan Gratz's Ban This Book, which has some similarities in the storyline. The message about allowing kids to read the books they choose and standing up for the right to read is one that librarians and reading teachers will appreciate. I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher, Random House, at the International Literacy Association Conference.