It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey as a way to share what you have read and/or reviewed in the past week. It's also a terrific way to find out what other people are reading.

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers have given this meme a children's literature focus: picture books, middle grade novels, etc. They "encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting the other bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

 

 

 

Hopefully everyone had a restful and fun holiday weekend. There's so much work and fun stuff to do at the end of the school year, there isn't as much time for reading. There's end-of-the-year grade cards, field trips, parties, and the struggle to keep busy even though the weather feels like summer! I did manage to get a few picture books read; here's what I've been reading:

The Case of the Stinky Stench (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #2) by Josh Funk, Brendan Kearney (Illustrator)  

This fun, rhyming picture book is a terrific follow up to Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast. Everyone's favorite breakfast duo are trying to relax on a much needed vacation, when Inspector Croissant summons them to help him figure out the source of a nasty smell in the fridge. With rollicking, rhyming text and hilarious artwork, readers are taken on another crazy odyssey through the refrigerator and run into some old and new friends in the process. Young readers will definitely enjoy hearing this again and again at story time.

Plankton is Pushy by Jonathan Fenske  

This is a fun picture book from the author of Barnacle is Bored. Plankton says "hello" to Mussel, but becomes very bothered when Mussel doesn't answer back. Plankton won't give up and continues to try to get a "hello" back. There's a fun twist in the end that will have young readers giggling for sure. 

Be Quiet! by Ryan T. Higgins 

This book is very funny and I know there will be lots of giggles from young readers. Rupert is very excited to be making his own wordless picture book. Wordless picture books "are very artistic." But then his chatty friends come along, and he has a difficult time getting them to stop talking and take his project seriously. This will be a favorite in classroom libraries. Note to teachers and parents choosing this as a read aloud: there is some potty humor in this book. Be careful if you're sensitive to that.   

Keep a Pocket in Your Poem: Classic Poems and Playful Parodies by J. Patrick Lewis, Johanna Wright (Illustrations)  

I really enjoyed reading this poetry picture book that takes classic poems by well known writers and tweaks them to make parodies of the original. This looks like a fun way to introduce some of these poems and inspire creativity by having kids try their hand at creating their own parody tributes of their favorite poems. The illustrations, done in acrylic paint and ink on canvas and scanned and digitally fine-tuned, are very whimsical and colorful. This is a book I'd definitely like to have on my bookshelf!  

The Wolves Return: A New Beginning for Yellowstone National Park by Celia Godkin  

This is an interesting nonfiction picture book that helps to explain how the introduction of one new animal into an ecosystem can have such a significant impact. The ripple effects of the introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park are very apparent now that over twenty years have passed. The illustrations are lovely, and many of my students have been fascinated by books about wolves. This would be a good resource to have in any classroom library.

Me First (Laugh-Along Lessons) by Helen Lester, Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)  

This fun picture book is a really cute way to start a discussion about good manners, waiting one's turn, and sharing. Pinkerton Pig is always pushing and shoving in order to be first for everything. One day there is a misunderstanding that leads to him being first for something that he would rather not have at all. Bright, colorful illustrations and humorous text will make this a popular book with young readers.