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.

 

 

Here are the books I read last week. 

 

PICTURE BOOKS

 

 

The Story of Fish & Snail by Deborah Freedman

 

	2013-book, animals, bookaday2013, conflict, fears, friendship, imagination, mock-caldecott-2014, picture-book, theme

 

I LOVED this book! When Fish and Snail are yelling at each other (after Fish tries to convince timid Snail to join him on his story adventures and Snail refuses), and Fish "stomps" off anyway, then Snail feels lonely and sorry, then both forgive each other, it reminds me of my childhood best friend and me. We used to love playing together, then we'd get into a fight and yell at each other, both stomping off to our respective houses.  Once we got home, we immediately felt regret.  What a great testimony to friendship, compromise, and forgiveness in this book.  The illustrations are glorious. I'd love to read this at the beginning of my fear and conflict unit! Yay, Deborah Freedman!     Journey by Aaron Becker   2013-book, adventure, art, bookaday2013, creativity, curiosity, imagination, journey, kindness, mock-caldecott-2014, picture-book, sharpschu, symbolism, wordless

 

 

This is a gorgeous book! I read it to prepare for the September #sharpschu book club, and I think it's my favorite picture book of 2013 so far. The beginning reminded me of John Rocco's Blackout because a bored, lonely girl can't find anyone in her busy family to spend time with her. When she discovered a red marker and draws a doorway on the wall, an incredible adventure ensues. The illustrations are beautiful and intricate, and I love the girl's modes of transportation through her travels, eve...more This is a gorgeous book! I read it to prepare for the September #sharpschu book club, and I think it's my favorite picture book of 2013 so far. The beginning reminded me of John Rocco's Blackout because a bored, lonely girl can't find anyone in her busy family to spend time with her. When she discovers a red marker and draws a doorway on the wall, an incredible adventure ensues. The illustrations are beautiful and intricate, and I love the girl's modes of transportation through her travels, eventually leading her to a grand act of kindness. I think I will use this book to open my unit on journeys/quests.  I liked this book so much, I did a whole blog post on it over the weekend.     Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger   2013-book, animals, anti-bullying, bullying, character-development, conflict, humor, picture-book, play-on-words       This simple story shows how bullying might get started. Bull is told to "GO AWAY!" by a bigger bull, so he turns around and starts bullying Rabbit, Chicken, and Turtle when they ask him to play. Fun word play ensues as Bully insults each animal according to their characteristics. When they all DO go away, Bull feels badly. Kids will laugh at the humor, but will understand the implications of bullying. Good conversation starter for the beginning of the year for young children. This is my last sum...more This simple story shows how bullying might get started. Bull is told to "GO AWAY!" by a bigger bull, so he turns around and starts bullying Rabbit, Chicken, and Turtle when they ask him to play. Fun word play follows as Bully insults each animal according to their characteristics. When they all DO go away, Bull feels badly. Kids will laugh at the humor, but will understand the implications of bullying. Good conversation starter for the beginning of the year for young children. This is my last summer #bookaday!   MIDDLE GRADE     Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz 2013-book, audio-book, bookaday2013, character-development, character-motivation, conflict, family, fears, grandparents, intermediate-kids-book, loss, mock-newbery-2014, realistic-fiction, symbolism, theme     Annie is supposed to write about three wishes for her teacher, so she makes them up, but her real wishes are to be taller, have an adventure, and meet her father. She thinks all three are impossible, especially the last one because her father is dead. Her mother left them so she and her little brother, Lew, live with their dysfunctional grandmother. She has good days and bad days, and Annie has to take care of a lot of things around the house. There comes a day when everything changes, though, a...more Annie is supposed to write about three wishes for her teacher, so she makes them up, but her real wishes are to be taller, have an adventure, and meet her father. She thinks all three are impossible, especially the last one because she thinks her father is dead. Her mother left them so she and her little brother, Lew, live with their dysfunctional grandmother. She has good days and bad days, and Annie has to take care of a lot of things around the house. There comes a day when everything changes, though, and her father shows up as an escapee from prison and holds them hostage. It sounds like an implausible plot line, but Gewirtz somehow makes it realistic and redemptive. Through long conversations, an understanding comes about, and Annie learns to understand her unorthodox family. I love the symbolism of the black and white forest where Annie's stories come alive. Don't you LOVE the cover?! The audio's narrator is excellent!     Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein   2013-book, allusion, bookaday2013, books-about-books, character-traits, gifted-character, humor, intermediate-kids-book, libraries, mock-newbery-2014, mystery, problem-solving       Allusions galore in this delightful mystery set in a fantastical library! This is definitely a homage to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Mr. Lemoncello playing the part of Willy Wonka, constantly talking in book-speak. Kyle wins an essay contest to spend the night in a lock-in at the new Alexandriaville library with a group of kids. What they didn't bargain for was the fact that they have to find a way OUT of the library by solving puzzles in an elaborate game designed by the ultimate ga...more Allusions galore in this delightful mystery set in a fantastical library! This is definitely a homage to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Mr. Lemoncello playing the part of Willy Wonka, constantly talking in book-speak. Kyle wins an essay contest to spend the night in a lock-in at the new Alexandriaville library with a group of kids. What they didn't bargain for was the fact that they have to find a way OUT of the library by solving puzzles in an elaborate game designed by the ultimate game-maker himself, Mr. Lemoncello. I really enjoyed all the references to children's books, and readers will enjoy trying to solve the puzzles along with the characters.     YOUNG ADULT       If I Stay by Gayle Forman   audio-book, character-development, character-motivation, character-traits, death, family       Seventeen-year-old Mia is celebrating a snow day with her family, driving along the Oregon Road when we suddenly realize she's been in a terrible accident, and she's narrating from outside her broken body. Forman does an amazing job with point of view in this spare novel, telling us back stories through Mia's voice - her dreams of playing cello at Julliard, her romance with Adam, her hippie parents, and beloved little brother, all while she is disembodied, watching the family drama take place in...more Seventeen-year-old Mia is celebrating a snow day with her family, driving along the Oregon road when we suddenly realize she's been in a terrible accident, and she's narrating from outside her broken body. Forman does an amazing job with point of view in this spare novel, telling us back stories through Mia's voice - her dreams of playing cello at Julliard, her romance with Adam, her hippie parents, and beloved little brother, all while she is disembodied, watching the family drama take place in the hospital. She has to decide whether to stay or go. Is facing the tragedy worth the pain, or would it be easier to let go? Watch out - this one is a tear-jerker!  There is a sequel, Where She Went, that I need to read next!       I like to let you know what my family is reading, too!   My mom:

 My dad:

 

 

I just brought this home for my husband from the library based on a recommendation from his dad:

 

 

My 20-year-old:

 

 

Poor thing - she's been so busy this summer, and this book is SO long, it's taken her the whole summer to read it!

 

My 17-year-old (summer AP English assignments):

 

 

 

What I'm currently reading:

 

 

What I'm currently listening to:

 

 

Professional books I'm working on:

 

Unlocking Complex Texts is our professional book club book this quarter, so I will be studying it for awhile.

 

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What are YOU reading this week?