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...

Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty and illustrated by David Roberts

A mischievous cat, who wants to get out of being bathed, rearranges the words on the list of tasks the family must do to get ready for Grandma's visit. Cleaning up turns into chaos until the family finally gets it right. Very amusing.

A Boy and His Mirror by Marchánt Davis and illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo

A magic mirror helps Chris when other kids tease him about his hair. This rhyming story has an important message about confidence and kindness.

The Gentle Genius of Trees by Philip Bunting

This is an informative book about trees that shows just how amazing they are. The author also compares trees to humans, imparting important lessons about how to live and be.

Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar by Mojdeh Hassani and illustrated by Maya Fidawi

This is a sweet story featuring a relationship between a grandchild and her grandmother set in Tehran. Samira is worried about going to the bazaar for the first time so she wants to hide under Mama Shamsi's chador. The story is based on the author's childhood.

You Are Loved: A Book About Families by Margaret O'Hair and illustrated by Sofia Cardoso

The companion to You Are Enough, this book is inspired by Sofia Sanchez, an actress with Down syndrome, and explains how families are all different and special. A very sweet book.

Reina Ramos Works it Out! by Emma Otheguy and illustrated by Andrés Landazábal 

I love this delightful beginning reader book about Reina Ramos who learns what it means to be a good friend and a strong person. There are a few Spanish words in the book that are included in the glossary at the end. This is an engaging story with a social emotional theme related to problem-solving.

The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing by Molly B. Burnham and illustrated by Fanny Liem

Ten-year-old Dottie's grandfather has come to stay with her family after her grandmother has died. Dottie misses her grandmother a lot, but has difficulty related to her grandfather. She does not understand why he is spending so much time talking to the can that contains her grandmother's ashes. He is also interfering with her plans to build a treehouse with her friend Sam. This is such a charming book that explores loss, healing, change, and friendship. 

Adult Reading Recommendation 

If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook

This book opens with a funeral as family and friends are gathered in Eulalia, Georgia mourning the loss of Gerry, the Williams family patriarch. The story takes place over the course of a week during which the Williams family is together processing the shocking revelation about Gerry that is revealed during the eulogy given by a neighbor and close friend, but also dealing with issues and surprises of various family members. There are many characters introduced very quickly, so it did take some effort to remember how they were connected, especially at the beginning of the book. It's a quiet, unique, and uplifting story. I enjoyed the theme related to family and how the story imparts a message about the messiness of families and the ways they hold each other together. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy. The book publishes in April.

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...

Bad Drawer by Seth Fishman and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley, Armand Baltazar, Anna Bond, Travis Foster, Jessica Hische, Tillie Walden, and Ethan Young 

The narrator has an awesome adventure story to share, but is not good at drawing the illustrations. The book has a worthwhile message about collaboration and being okay with asking for help. The artwork in the full page spread toward the end of the book, which is a collaboration of the illustrators of the book, is amazing. 

Make Way for Butterfly by Ross Burach

This is another book in The Very Impatient Caterpillar series that kids are going to adore. The silly butterfly's antics are humorous, there is a great lesson about being oneself, and readers will even learn a bit about pollination. The book publishes in April. Thanks to the publisher for sending my book review group, #BookExcursion, a review copy.

One Chicken Nugget by Tadgh Bentley

Inspired by Demi's mathematical folktale, One Grain of Rice, this story is about a monster who agrees to eat one chicken nugget the first day and for the next thirty days double the number from the previous day. Readers will be amused and very eager to find out if Frank will succeed in the challenge. 

New Pup on the Block (Wednesday and Woof #2) by Sherri Winston and illustrated by Gladys Jose

Wednesday and her dog Woof work to solve the mystery of a missing drone in this early chapter book. There are colorful illustrations throughout the book and information about how to solve a mystery. The characters and the mystery are both interesting.

Welcome to the Island (Isla of Adventure) by Dela Costa and illustrated by Ana Sebastián 

This is a sweet chapter book about a girl who lives on an island and has the ability to speak to animals. When a new girl moves to the island, her mother encourages her to make a friend, but this makes it difficult for her to keep the secret about her animal friends. There are lovely illustrations on most of the pages which give readers insight into Isla's life on the island. 

Adult Reading Recommendations

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

One day while working at her aunt's antique shop, Angela finds a letter that was misplaced years earlier. After opening the letter which reveals a secret about the intended recipient, Angela is determined to find the person to whom it belongs. The story alternates between the lives of three different women in three different time periods. It's a book about motherhood, reproductive rights, and choices. It's a wonderful work of historical fiction. 

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...

Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear by Nadine Brun-Cosme and illustrated by Olivier Tallec

This story about three friends who do everything together shows the joys of being with others, but also spending time alone. 

Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai 

Gigi can't wait for her grandfather to arrive from Japan, but when he arrives he acts different than she expected. This is a sweet story about understanding cultural and intergenerational differences.

The Pancake Problem (Weenie Featuring Frank and Beans Book #2) by Maureen Fergus and illustrated by Alexandra Bye

A dachshund named Weenie wakes up hungry for pancakes, but when he uses the supersonic pancake maker he invented he ends up with an abundance of brussels sprouts. Weenie, along with a cat and guinea pig friend, scheme to solve their problem. This is a silly graphic novel with action and kid appeal.

Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner

A girl wishes she was somewhere else and her wish is granted when she is drawn into the pages of a book. This is an absorbing story with imaginative and clever illustrations. A stunning book about books.

Wallflowers by Mackenzie Joy

I can relate to this book and I'm sure there are many readers who will, too. It's empowering and validating with a message that it's okay to be quiet and to be oneself.

You Are a Story by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell

A child is many things, such as an animal, a sponge, a friend, but a child is also a story that is not yet finished. This empowering book prompts readers to think about what they are and what they can be.  

Adult Reading Recommendation

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

Bea, an eleven-year-old living in London, is sent to live in Boston so she will be safe during WWII. The story starts with her life in Boston and continues when she returns to London and follows her into her adult years. This was the second book that I have read recently focused on the evacuation of children at the start of the war. The other was The Lost English Girl and I enjoyed reading them together. This book provided an interesting perspective on how such an event could shape one's life. It is a beautifully written and a captivating read. The book publishes this month.