Sunday, July 13, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

These are memes started by Teach Mentor Texts and Book Journey, and I'm excited to participate, along with many other bloggers, in reviewing books I read the previous week. I'll be reviewing picture books through adult books. 

 
PICTURE BOOKS
 
Camp Rex
 
 

 
Another entertaining story with T. Rex by Caldecott Honor winner Molly Idle. Kids will love the discrepancies between the text and illustrations. Great for inferring! This story reminds me of some of my camping experiences.;-)
 
Hooray for Hat!
 
 
 
 
 
So cute! Don't underestimate the power of friendship, kindness, happiness...and a fun hat! I've heard some Geisel buzz over this one.

 
 
Rosie Revere, Engineer
 
 
 
 
I love the message that a mistake or failure is not something to view as tragic, but one step closer to success.
 
My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.)
 
 
 
Hahaha! I love it! This would be a great picture book to share on the first day of school.:-)

How to Cheer Up Dad
 
 
 
This is the perfect book for parents of young children! It's an endearing story of an exasperating but adorable young elephant who thinks his father needs cheering up (his father is cranky because of all the trouble Little Jumbo is creating!).
 
MIDDLE GRADE/YOUNG ADULT
 
Hope Is a Ferris Wheel
 
 
 
 
 

 
This is a great example of look at #weneeddiversebooks in an expansive way - not just as multicultural or in terms of sexuality, but in socioeconomic situations. Barbara O'Connor referred to a Kirby Larson quote about this in this blog postHope Is a Ferris Wheel speaks to this kind of diversity and the sometimes pain that is associated with it. It also addresses teenage pregnancy, and while that doesn't seem like intermediate grade material, and I agree this book is probably better suited to 6th grade and up, we cannot ignore that some students may have a family member in this predicament, and even more relevant, if they are a little older, could even be in that situation themselves. I think it is a beautiful story about an endearing fifth grader who lives up to her name, Star. She  IS a star and certainly gives me hope that kids can dream big, no matter what their circumstances.  I love the poetry club and references to Emily Dickinson.
 
All Our Yesterdays (All Our Yesterdays #1)
 
 

 

 
I loved listening to this science fiction story involving time travel and power. It was so well crafted and brought up many questions about human nature (can some things completely change your character, like power, greed, or control), and the past, present, and future. Like the Time Traveler's Wife, adult characters meet up with their younger selves. That intrigues me! What would that be like?! What would you say to your younger self? What advice would you give? Would you like what you saw in your older self? Fascinating. Great twists and turns in this story. I was riveted.  Now I have to wait for book two - aargh!
 
ADULT
 
Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1)
 
 
 
I ended up reading this book because Katie, my 18-yr-old, read it over spring break and loved it. I can see why now! It's an epic story spanning decades, following the friendship between Tully and Kate, two VERY different girls from VERY different backgrounds. I loved the time period because the characters grew up in the same decades as I did, so I connected to the 70s and 80s references. This made a terrific summer read, and I think anyone with a long-lasting friendship and an affinity for a great yarn would love it. There were a few things that preventing me from giving it a 5, like some over-the-top and sappy moments (similar to Steel Magnolias), but who doesn't love a good cry once in a while? The romance is a good one, too.

 
 

Come back Wednesday when I review the children's nonfiction books I read this week:
 

How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous If: A Mind-Bending New Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Numbers My First Day
 
CURRENTLY READING
 
 
 
CURRENTLY LISTENING TO
 
Countdown
 
My family loves to read, too!
 
Katie (18)
The Glass Castle
 
Libby (21)
Seraphina (Seraphina, #1)
 
My mom:
 
My dad:
 
What are YOU reading this week?

 
 

31 comments:

  1. Sometimes we must read a book that our family members recommend. That's always a good experience for me.

    Here's my It's Monday!

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    1. Yes - same with students. I've enjoyed some unexpected reads because of student or family recs! :-)

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  2. I love that you share what both you and your family are reading!

    Have a great reading week,

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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  3. Countdown makes for an interesting LISTEN, doesn't it?

    I can't wait to see Rosie Revere.

    And I notice that you are checking out more Austin Kleon!! Love his work!!

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    1. I am! I liked Show Your Work so much, I wanted more! :-)

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  4. You put so much into these posts, Holly--thank you! Hope is Ferris Wheel has been on my list for a while and I am moving it up. Thanks for the reminder. Clare and Tammy just wrote about My Teacher is a Monster--I'll work on finding that one, as well. I can't wait to hear about The Storied Life. THat one is getting on my radar--will be watching! Have a great week.

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    1. I'm halfway through Storied Life, and I love it. It's funny, smart, and sweet.

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  5. Firefly Lane is such a great friendship book, I loved it. Hope your daughter enjoys Glass castle.

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    1. This is actually her second time reading it. She was glad it was her freshman common read for OSU because she was happy to read it again! :-)

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  6. Great books this week! I've read a lot of them and some are on my radar. Hat and Monster are 2 books I can't wait to use with kids this year! I'm really excited about doing some potential mock groups this year. I even want to try a mock Geisel! I saw Yesterdays at Anderson's this week, but didn't pick it up. Might have to go back and get that one! Did you know there is a follow up to Firefly Lane? I read it last year, it was pretty good. Enjoy your week!

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    1. I did! Katie read it, but didn't like it as much as the first. She said it was a lot darker. I've got so many other things I want to read - I think I'll probably skip it.

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  7. So many great books listed, I have my review for If ready to post also :) So glad I found your blog, new follower now :)

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    1. Thanks so much for following!! :-) Wasn't IF a neat book?!

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  8. I like all the picture book suggestions. They are all the type I am in the mood to read right now. All Our Yesterdays sounds like something I would really enjoy but that video kind of turned me off. I am going to try to find a copy it of especially since you lamented about having to wait for the next book. I like and despise that feeling.

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    1. Sorry about that video! I even debated not putting it up since it didn't really capture the great story of the book. In fact, I'll take it off right now. I don't want to put people off to the book!

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  9. Great assortment of books. I liked Countdown but haven't been able to convince any kids to read it. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy,
      I had a small group read it last year for our unit on FEAR, and they loved it. Several of them read Revolution as soon as it came out. I'm re-listening to it because I want it to be fresh when I start Revolution. Deborah Wiles is one of my fav middle grade novelists.

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  10. I finished AJ Fikry this week and absolutely loved it. Thank you for all the great picture book suggestions. I think a trip to the library is on the horizon for me. Have a great reading week!

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  11. I just bought My Teacher is a Monster but haven't read it yet. I need to get to that this week.

    I love The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry so much. I can't recommend that book enough.

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  12. Hi Holly, love all of your picture book suggestions. I'm adding to my wish list. I just finished reading The Goldfinch, and I'm working on some 2nd grade appropriate mysteries today. Happy Monday and happy reading! :)

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  13. I am a huge fan of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. I hope you are enjoying it.

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  14. Great selection! This is my first IMWAYR, and I'm picking up so many great ideas. Especially interested in checking out "Rosie Revere Engineer," as my third graders can always use this kind of encouragement. Thanks!

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  15. Hope is a Ferris Wheel is a lovely story - some surprising twists, which actually made for a much richer story, I thought. Great collection of enchanting picture books, too, Holly - plus the wonderful family reads.

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  16. Hope Is A Ferris Wheel sounds very good, Holly, thanks for the good review of that. I keep seeing about it else where. I liked Rosie Revere-very well done. So many shared here to enjoy. AJ Fikry is a new favorite adult book-I thought it just wonderful. Glad you're enjoying it so far! Thanks much for all!

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  17. Holly, thanks for reminding me that I have Rosie Revere hanging out in one of my TBR stacks--I must go find her! Also, about Hope is a Ferris Wheel: I've seen a lot of people commenting about how they enjoyed it, but I am stuck in it--or NOT in it, really. Did you love it from the very beginning?

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  18. Plus one to Rosie Revere--I love books with smart female lead characters. That said, Iggy Peck Architect is also pretty awesome. (Doug @ http://highvariance.net)

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  19. :) Thanks... can't wait to read How to cheer up dad and Camp Rex... soon! :) Happy reading week to you!

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  20. Now I really, really want to read Hope is A Ferris Wheel! Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck were both popular in my room this year. A great author/illustrator team.

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  21. We're going to have a scifi-speculative fiction reading theme soon, so "All our Yesterdays" would seem like the perfect fit. Hope is a Ferriswheel sounds like a truly beautiful novel - would have to find that one. I own Storied Life of AJ Fikry but haven't read it yet. Hopefully before year ends, I get to it. :)

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  22. Camp Rex and My Teacher is a Monster both look fabulous. I love the cover of Hope is a Ferris Wheel. I love books that feature STEM careers. Rosie is a great one for that besides being very fun. It looks like it was a great week. I want to read Steal Like an Artist too. So many cool titles.

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