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 check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the New England Reading Association conference in Portland, Maine.  The conference was great - sessions were thought-provoking, insightful, and inspiring.  In addition to the conference, I spent some time exploring downtown Portland and happened upon a wonderful, little bookstore.  There was a great selection of picture books.  I could have spent hours there!  So this week, my list is all picture books.

What I Read This Week…

The Airport Book by Lisa Brown

This picture book would be a great mentor text for young writers working on a nonfiction unit of study.  In the book, a boy tells what happens as his family begins a trip by going to the airport.  It's very informative as it tells step-by-step what happens when taking an airplane.  The illustrations are detailed and interesting and they add to the text by telling a parallel story, that of a missing sock monkey.  I have some readers who love books about moving things, such machines and trucks, and I think they will enjoy the information in this book.  

One Hundred Bones by Yuval Zommer

This book combines two things that my students are always interested in reading about, dogs and dinosaurs, and does so in an interesting way.  Scruff is unlike the other dogs, who all have collars and human friends.  Scruff loves to dig and the other dogs are not impressed until one day he digs up one hundred bones.   The bones seem unusual, so the dogs take them to the Natural History Museum and they find out Scruff has made an important discovery.  I think this will be a fun story to read aloud to my first and second graders.

President Squid by Aaron Reynolds

Squid wants to be president, but his reasons are anything but presidential.  The other sea creatures seem uninterested in Squid's desires to be president, but a clam and a sardine help him learn what it really takes to be president.  This book has humor that children and adults will appreciate.

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexi

Thunder Boy Jr, nicknamed Little Thunder, hates his name.  He has many ideas for other names, like Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth and Mud in His Ears, because they show something about who he is.  Since Little Thunder was named after his dad, he doesn't know how to tell him how he feels.  But, his dad seems to know he needs a name all his own. There is both warmth and humor in this story.  

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 check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

What I Read This Week…

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't! by Elise Parsley

This is a picture book that I can see young readers wanting to read again and again.  Magnolia insists on bringing her piano to the beach and she is quite determined as she pushes and drags it and finds a way to get it there.  Her mother warns, "you'd better not lose it!"  One would think you couldn't lose a piano at the beach, but it is a whole other story for Magnolia.  It's an adorable and entertaining story that I'm looking forward to reading to my students at the end of the school year as we look forward to summer.

Mr. Particular: The World's Choosiest Champion! by Jason Kirschner

Mr. Particular is a hero, but one who, "liked things the way he liked them - and only the way he liked them."  All non-dessert food must have ketchup, no humming, shirts should be tucked in, and mud (and also oatmeal) is too squishy.  When the Super Duper Group no longer want Mr. Particular in their group because he is too picky, he shows them that he is a true hero.  This is a picture book written and illustrated in comic book style that tells a fun story of an unlikely hero.

Rules of the House by Mac Barnett

The cover of this picture book intrigued me and when I saw the author was Mac Barnett I knew I had to read it.  It is imaginative, a little weird, and, with frightening monsters, a bit suspenseful. It's also a story that anyone who's ever been annoyed by their sibling will probably relate to.  Ian is a rule follower, but his sister, Jenny, is a rule breaker and neither one seems to understand the other.  While they are staying at a cabin, Jenny breaks the house rules and there are frightening consequences.  Ian realizes there is a very important, unwritten rule, "always save your sister from being eaten by monsters" and that sometimes rules have to be broken.  Rule breakers and rule followers alike will enjoy this one.   

Wolf Camp by Andrea Zuill

This picture book about Homer, a dog, who must go to Wolf Camp where he will live as a wolf for a week will make readers laugh.  After Homer carries around the flyer for Wolf Camp, "his people" finally let him attend.  Homer learns about being a wolf, but not everything about being a wolf is what Homer expected.  Homer is sweet and funny.  The illustrations are fun and add to the humor. This book would be a good one to read to a child going to camp, but it's also one to read just for the fun of it.  

The Curious Cat Spy Club by Linda Joy Singleton

When Kelsey discovers abandoned kittens in a dumpster, two schoolmates help her to rescue them and together they form The Curious Cat Spy Club.  They take care of the kittens, but also work to solve a mystery that involves missing pets.  Although the three friends are very different from each other, their love of animals joins them together.  In the story they must work together and learn to understand their differences and get along with one another.  This is the first in a series that mystery readers and animal lovers will enjoy.

The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price by Jennifer Maschari

Charlie's mom has recently died and both he and his sister, Imogen, feel like they have lost everything.  Then Imogen discovers a secret world where their mom still exists and it seems that they can get back the happiness they all had together.  Charlie soon learns that this other world is not as it appears and there is a possibility that Imogen could be lost to it forever.  With the help of a good friend and a dog, Charlie is determined to bring his sister back. There are sad parts to this story, there are important themes related to loss, memories, and courage, there is a bit of fantasy and magic, and there are endearing characters.  It's heart-breaking, but also full of hope and warmth. Such a lovely book and I'm looking forward to the next novel by this author.

x

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 check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

What I Read This Week…

The Storm by Akiko Miyakoshi

The boy in this story has been looking forward to a trip to the beach, but an impending storm threatens to interfere with the plan.  This is a small moment story, as it simply tells about the boy's concerns as he waits to discover if the storm will pass.  As I was reading this book, I thought it would make a great mentor text when teaching primary grade writers to write their own small moment personal narratives.  The text is sparse and straightforward, but it eloquently captures the voice and feelings of the young narrator.  

Fluffy Strikes Back (A P.U.R.S.T. Adventure) by Ashley Spires

Fluffy Vandermere is a cat with a big job - to protect the planet from alien domination.  When his headquarters are under attack, he and his right-hand cat, Click, are up against an angry swarm of insects. There is a lot of silly humor and action as the "good guys" take on the "bad guys" in this graphic novel.  I know many of my students find this kind of story fun to read and it is an easier-to-read graphic novel making it appropriate for younger readers.   

The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly

Two sisters from the Philippines have been abandoned by their father and are now living with their very cruel stepmother in the United States.  Sol takes on the responsibility for caring for her sister Ming, who believes they are going to be rescued from their unhappy living situation by an imaginary aunt.  The girls have a very difficult life, but their story shows the power of strength, hope, and sisterhood.  The book is written for grades three through five, but it touches upon some difficult themes that may be more appropriate for the higher end of this grade band.

Slacker by Gordon Korman

Cameron's parents force him to get involved in some type of club or sport after he almost burns down their house and they get tired of all the time he spends playing video games.  Cameron has no interest in doing anything that is going to require time that could be better spent playing his games so he invents an imaginary club.  But, soon others want to join and he can no longer shirk his responsibilities as the president of the Positive Action Group.  The story is funny, but there is also an important message about helping others.

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 check out the host blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers. 

What I Read This Week…

Little Cat's Luck by Marion Dane Bauer

This novel in verse is about Patches, a house cat who roams away from home.  Although Patches enjoys the adventure and discoveries she makes in the outside world, she finds herself missing her owner and the safety of her home.  The story starts off slow, but picked up halfway through the book. The story turned out to be a sweet tale about home, love, and unlikely friendship. This is a companion to Bauer's Little Dog, Lost.  Both are heartwarming stories and will appeal to pet lovers.

Summerlost by Ally Condie

Cedar is spending the summer in Iron Creek with her mother and younger brother, Miles, a year after her father and brother, Ben, were killed in an accident.  Cedar is still dealing with her grief and the memories she has reveal the emotions she feels about the sudden loss she has experienced.  A new friendship and the series of events that take place over the summer help Cedar work through her sadness and confusion.  Condie has a style of writing that captures so much emotion; it's an engaging and meaningful story.