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Monday, January 1, 2018

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...


Be A King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford

Every two page spread of this book starts with the line, "You can be a King" followed by an idea about how to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Some illustrations show Dr. King and the actions he took to create a better world and others show a group of children creating a mural to honor Dr. King. This book can be used as a discussion starter when teaching about Dr. King and can be a source of inspiration for those who want to make change in the world. The publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing, is encouraging teachers to share what their students are doing to be Kings with the hashtag, #BeAKing. Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending a copy of this book to my book review group, #BookExcursion.

This Is Not a Valentine by Carter Higgins

A boy insists that he is not giving one of his classmates Valentines, but the gifts he gives her are very sweet nonetheless. The text is poetic while also sounding like the voice of a child. A lot of the story is told through the illustrations which are adorable. This is a charming book about friendship that is perfect for Valentine's Day or any day.

Hi, Jack! (A Jack Book) by Mac Barnett

A naughty monkey, some silliness, and delightful illustrations make this a book that early readers are going to love. Jack makes a friend, steals a purse and gives it back, and has fun with lipstick he didn't return. Jack redeems himself, somewhat, at the end of the story, but he will definitely bring a smile to the faces of those just learning to read. Readers can also follow the directions at the end of the book to draw Jack and the other characters in the book. This book will be published in February, as will the second in the series.

Sparks! by Ian Boothby

Charlie and August, two cats who go on rescue missions disguised as a dog, are trying to defeat the Princess, who is actually an alien, and her servants before they conquer the world. The action, nonsense, and humor of this fast-paced story of unlikely heroes make it one that many graphic novel and reluctant readers will enjoy. This is another book that publishes in February.

Raffie on the Run by Jacqueline Resnick

Raffie lives in a subway with his family and tells his brother stories of his heroic acts. When his brother is captured by a human, Raffie knows he must be the hero his brother thinks he is and rescue him. On his adventure, Raffie meets a pigeon who befriends him and helps him learn that he can be unstoppable. This is a fun and sweet story that shows the bonds of family and the power of friendship. Look for the book in Februrary.

4 comments:

  1. I love hearing about the book, Be A King, suspect it will be one that's great to have in every classroom! And all the rest are new to me, too. I liked reading about Raffie on the Run, one that might lead to good discussions about heroes. Thanks, Lisa & Happy New Year!

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    1. Be A King is definitely an important book for our times.

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  2. Oooh, new books! Raffie On the Run sounds like a good one for my urban library, we certainly see more than a few pigeons and rats about! Alas, they don't usually look as cute as Raffie and his friend! 😉

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  3. This is not a valentine looks perfect for our current reading theme this first quarter of the year - unfortunately, we still don't have it in our libraries. :(

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