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Monday, December 4, 2017

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've Been Reading...


Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers wrote this book when his son was in his first two months of life. In the book, Jeffers talks directly to the reader, telling about the planet earth and giving tips on how to live and be within the world. The simplistic, but meaningful advice Jeffers gives is just what our children need to know to navigate our world. The illustrations are as wonderful as the message. The details within them show much about life. I've already bought a second copy of this book to gift to parents-to-be.

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgess

Dragons, chocolate, and adventure! This is a delightful fantasy. Aventurine is a dragon who leaves her family's mountain cave to prove she is big, fierce, and can take care of herself. Instead of catching a human like she intended, she is turned into one. As a human girl, who has developed a passion for chocolate, she sets out to become an apprentice at a chocolate house. Aventurine learns about friendship, finds her place in the world, and becomes a heroine.

Snow Lane by Josie Angelini

Annie's life is challenging. She is the youngest of nine siblings and she has some learning difficulties, but she also does not want her friends to know what her family life is really like. The book shows how a young girl deals with some tough issues in her life. This book turned out to have a much more serious topic than I first thought. It is set in 1985, which I found interesting having grown up during the 80's. The book is marketed for grades four to seven, but I think the sophistication of the themes and the language used throughout the book make it more appropriate for the upper end of this range. This book publishes in January.

Granted by John David Anderson

This is a book I put on my to-read list as soon as I heard about it, so I was glad to pick up an advanced reader copy at NCTE a few weeks ago. It's an enchanting and magical fantasy. It's very different from the last two books I read by Anderson, but just as interesting and well-written. Read more about my thoughts here. This book publishes in February.

12 comments:

  1. I still haven't read Here We Are, but I will, Lisa! Thanks for the other titles, and all sound good. I know I'll be interested in the new Anderson book. Thanks!

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    1. Here We Are is a book you'll read and want to read again immediately! Also have to read it a few times to notice all the details in the illustrations.

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  2. I’m looking forward to checking out Snow Lane. I guess now that the folks of my generation are the ones writing a lot of books, there are more of them set in the 80s. These books are fun for me, as it allows me to be nostalgic for a bit. Thanks for sharing and have a terrific week!

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    1. Same for me with 80's books for me, too. It's definitely a trip down memory lane!

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  3. Dragons, chocolate, and adventure? Sounds good to me!

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    1. I don't know who could possibly read the book without wanting to eat some chocolate afterwards!

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  4. I just started Granted, but still need to finish reading another book. Hard to multi-read!
    I keep hearing about Here We Are so must check it for myself!

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    1. Here We Are is beautiful. One of those picture books you want to read over and over again.

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  5. Looks like a fun set of books. I like when authors try something different; I will go look at your review of the Anderson book.

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  6. I have been promising myself to read more middle grade novels - but to no avail - thank you for reminding me that I should get on it soonest. Here We are also sounds like a lovely lovely read.

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  7. As a chocolate-loving fantasy fan, The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart sounds right up my alley. :-)

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  8. I'm looking forward to Granted. It's been in my pile for awhile.... Snow Lane is a book I have coming. Thank you for your thoughts, I had not heard much about it.

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