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...

Banana Dream by Hasan Namir and illustrated by Daby Zainab Faidhi

Mooz doesn't like his name, which means "banana" in Arabic, until he learns the story of why his parents chose it for him. Set in Iraq during the Gulf War, the story also tells about the trading restrictions that were in place which made it impossible for those in the country to enjoy bananas. The author based this book on his own experiences. A wonderful read.

Cape by Kevin Johnson and illustrated by Kitt Thomas

Oh, this book is a heart-wrencher. I had tears in my eyes by the end, but it's a beautiful story about dealing with loss and grief.

The Duck Never Blinks by Alex Latimer

The narrator wants a duck to blink and invites readers to help make it happen. Very silly and fun.

Lupe Lopez Reading Rock Star! by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Joe Cepeda

Lupe Lopez is a star drummer, famous for having started a band in kindergarten, but in first grade she stops feeling like a rock star when she has difficulty reading. Lupe doesn't want to be in a band or read until her teacher reminds her she can do anything and she realizes reading is like music. Lupe is a fun character who learns about the importance of effort.

The Masjid Kamal Loves by Ashley Franklin and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel 

Kamal is delighted to be attending masjid and in the style of "The House that Jack Built" readers learn what makes it special. This is a sweet celebration of community, culture, and one's faith. 

Go Camping (Wombats! #1) by Maddie Frost

Two wombats go camping and have an unexpected adventure after finding a baby koala. This is a fun graphic novel about friendship and courage. 

How to Catch a Polar Bear by Stacy DeKeyser

This is a fun and adventurous historical fiction read. It's set in the summer of 1948 in Wisconsin where Nick lives close to the city zoo. When his uncle is offered space at the zoo to set up his frozen custard cart, Nick jumps at the chance to help so he can be near any excitement that happens there. Helping his uncle becomes more challenging than he anticipated as a competitive custard seller has set up his cart right outside the zoo. I loved the entertaining plot and the characters. The front - and back - covers are cute and humorous, too.