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.  For more information and to find out what other bloggers are reading check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

What I Read This Week...

One Proud Penny by Randy Siegel

Told from the perspective of a penny, this story is both imaginative and informative. A penny tells what has happened to him throughout his life, such as where he has traveled and the places he's been left lost and forgotten. Interspersed throughout the book, are facts about the penny. The illustrations are unique and give the book humor. This book would make a great read aloud, especially in the younger grades when students are learning about money. The book includes end pages explain more about the history of the penny.

Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes by Mary Lambert

This book was so much more than I expected. The story is one of a girl, Annabelle, who is dealing with her dysfunctional family. The fact that Annabelle's mother is a hoarder makes the story interesting. Annabelle was a character I just loved - her voice is true to life of that of a kid, she is funny, and her relationship with her sister is heartwarming. The topic of this book is a serious one, but it's addressed with humor and presented in a way that makes Annabelle's problems relatable. 

The Matchstick Castle by Keir Graff

Brian's summer is extremely boring until he and his cousin discover a very unusual house in the woods they have been forbidden to enter. Brian finds himself in the middle of an adventure that is anything but boring. With its quirky characters and eccentric plot this was a fun read. It was also interesting to imagine the house that is unusual, but also a little mysterious.