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.

 

 

 

 

Friday was the first official day of fall, and it's starting to even look like it a little bit in the backyard. But, it sure doesn't feel like it! Our weather forecaster said we haven't had a string of 90 degree days at all during the summer, but we're certainly making up for that now! Anyway, the hazy, hot, and humid weather gave me a great opportunity to stay inside (in the air conditioning) and read. Maybe in a few weeks we'll be able to think about curling up next to the fireplace with our books! 

Here's what I've been reading this past week:

Middle Grade Fiction

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

 

 

This Newbery Honor winning, middle grade historical fiction novel did an awesome job of sweeping me away to Key West in 1935, to become a Conch with Turtle and her cousins and to enjoy the adventures of The Diaper Gang. The story takes place during the Depression, when hard financial times made it difficult for families to stay together. Because Turtle's single mother is housekeeper for a woman who dislikes children, Turtle comes to Key West to stay with her mom's sister and her family. Turtle has no problem keeping up with the rough-and-tumble boys who have a business tending to the neighborhood babies, enjoy playing pranks on the Curry Lane residents, and try to come up with new ways to scam the ice cream man. I love the references to one of the most famous writers that lived in Key West at the time, Ernest Hemingway! Ironically, I just finished this story in which the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 played a major role; and 82 years later, Hurricane Irma has just devastated Key West and residents are only just now returning to recover from this awful storm.

 

 

 

 

Babymouse Burns Rubber (Babymouse #12) by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm  

 

 

Babymouse books have always been very popular with my students. I'm sure this one will be well-loved, also. Babymouse's friend, Wilson, is building a car to race in the soap box derby. Babymouse talks him into building a car for her, too, so she can win the race. This is a fun graphic novel, and I'm sure the race car storyline will make it a book that will be hard to keep on the shelf!

 

 

 

 

Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #11) by Jeff Kinney  

 

 

Books from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series have always been very popular with my students! I could never keep them on the shelf for more than a minute, and some just never made it back to the collection. Whenever I pick one up and read it, I can see why! These books tap into the way middle grade kids think and behave and they're hilarious. In this particular volume, Halloween is coming and Greg is working hard on scoring some candy early, getting invited to a popular party, and creating his own horror film. Along the way, he manages to run into all sorts of problems at home and at school. And I will admit that there are several places in the book where I found myself laughing out loud. Greg's unexpected toot the first time he tried to play his French horn in band class brought tears to my eyes! 😂 

 

 

 

Picture Books

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak  

 

 

Beautiful illustrations created with watercolor and pencil, along with a call-and-response type of text, make this a lovely concept book to share with young readers. A brother and sister go for a walk on a chilly day in the late fall. They greet the falling leaves, the birds flying south, the long shadows, and the thickening clouds as they make their way through their neighborhood. All of these signs of changing seasons give way to the snow, frost, and ice of winter as they wake up to winter. This would be great to have in a primary classroom library as part of the seasonal collection. 

 

 

 

 

Flashlight Night by Matt Forrest Esenwine, Fred Koehler (Illustrations)  

 

 

Beautiful illustrations show just what a flashlight can help you see with a little bit of imagination. The three boys in the backyard tree-house at night use a flashlight to see strange paths, wild animals, and exciting adventures. I love how the illustrations have a limited palette in the "darkened" areas of the backyard, but colorful details show up in the illumination of the flashlight. This could serve as a great mentor text for creative writing and drawing - what might your own flashlight show?  

 

 

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas by Greg Pizzoli  

 

 

This will be a fun book to have as part of a seasonal/holiday collection on any bookshelf! This favorite Christmas song always gets smiles and giggles, and the illustrations really make this an awesome treat. Greg Pizzoli includes some of the best characters from his other works as we see an elephant family inundated with all of these crazy gifts. The silkscreen and digital collage images have a retro chic quality to them that give the book a nostalgic boost.  

 

 

 

Big Sister, Little Monster by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum, Ed Fotheringham (Contributor)  

 

 

My sister is three years older than I am and we fought all the time when we were younger. Young readers with siblings will definitely recognize themselves in this story about two sisters who are very different from each other and sometimes don't get along. Mia follows Lucy everywhere and is always in her stuff. Sometimes Lucy just wants some peace and quiet and Mia always seems to be making a mess. So one day, Lucy's had it with Mia and calls her a monster and tells her to go away. Be careful what you wish for! At first Lucy enjoys relaxing without all of Mia's racket, but after a while it becomes clear that Mia's taken up with a bunch of real monsters and Lucy isn't welcome. Young readers will enjoy finding out what it takes to bring out Lucy's inner monster. This could be a great mentor text to help kids write about their own siblings and family members. 

 

 

 

Hooray for Books! by Brian Won 

 

 

As a teacher who has always loved to share books with students, friends, and colleagues, I can totally relate to Turtle's frustration as he tries to track down his favorite book. All of our favorite characters from Brian Won's first two books, Hooray For Hat! and Hooray For Today!, are back and joyfully sharing books with each other and celebrating their favorite stories. Vibrant, cheerful illustrations make this a great book for a primary bookshelf!

 

 

 

 

In Your Hands by Carole Boston Weatherford, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)  

 

 

This book is a beautiful prayer offered from a mother to her newborn baby. With gorgeous illustrations rendered in watercolor, gouache, and India ink on Strathmore watercolor paper, the prayer asks God to hold the child and protect him when she can't be with him. This book was written "in memory of the sons we've lost; in prayer for the sons we love" and "to the whole wide world;" and is a very important book to share with children. This book could be part of a very important conversation about what the world is like and what kind of world we want to have for children, and their children, and so on. It would be terrific to use it as a mentor text to help write a prayer or a poem to and for children, as they grow and become the next leaders. 

 

 

 

 

Big Machines: The Story of Virginia Lee Burton by Sherri Duskey Rinker, John Rocco (Contributor)  

 

 

This picture book biography tells about Virginia Lee Burton, the children's author. The most amazing part of this book is the stunning illustrations. John Rocco created paintings that are in the exact same style as Burton's in her famous books. There is an author's note that gives more detail about Burton's life and photographs of her. This would be a terrific book to include with her other works if you were doing an author study.

 

 

 

 

  Dumpling Dreams: How Joyce Chen Brought the Dumpling from Beijing to Cambridge by Carrie Clickard, Katy Wu (Illustrations) 

 

 

This rhyming picture book biography had my mouth watering as I read about how Joyce Chen introduced some of the most delicious food from her homeland to friends and neighbors in her new hometown. Joyce Chen grew up in China, but war forced her family to come to America to live. In Cambridge, her food was so popular that she opened a restaurant and starred in her own cooking show on TV. There is a timeline and a list of resources at the back of the book for further research. This would be a great nonfiction resource to have in an elementary classroom library. 

 

 

 

 

Little i by Michael Hall  

 

 

This cute picture book tells the story of little i and how one day he lost his dot. His dot fell off and rolled into the sea. All letters grouped together to tell i how strange and awkward he was without the dot. Young readers will have fun following i's adventure to find his dot. Very clever with bold collage illustrations make this a fun book to have in the classroom library. 

 

 

 

 

The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way) by Patrick McDonnell  

 

 

This fun, nearly-wordless picture book takes readers on a crazy romp through the alphabet chasing a cat who ran away from home. Young readers will have a terrific time figuring out what each letter represents and how it contributes to the story. It would be awesome to use this book as a mentor text to help young writers create their own ABC stories. 

 

 

 

 

Manjhi Moves a Mountain by Nancy Churnin, Danny Popovici (illustrator)  

 

 

When we hear of the kind of faith that can move mountains, the story of Dashrath Manjhi is a terrific example. This picture book biography is about a man in India who was fed up with having to climb over a treacherous mountain everyday in order to work on the other side. Manjhi's side of the mountain was poor and the other side had plentiful food and resources. Manjhi decided that he would dig a road through the mountain, creating a passage that would allow folks access to the other side. With just a hammer and a chisel, he took 22 years to accomplish his dream. This is a great story of faith and perseverance; definitely a great book to help develop a growth mindset.  

 

 

 

 

Ruby Rose, Big Bravos by Rob Sanders, Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Illustrations)  

 

 

Kids love to put on performances for the people that they love. So most will definitely recognize themselves in this sweet picture book about an energetic little girl who is determined to stage a dance recital for her family and friends. Young readers will enjoy finding out how she prepares and what she does when the afternoon turns stormy and her program is threatened. This book has terrific illustrations by Debbie Ridpath Ohi! Definitely a nice one for a primary book collection. 

 

 

 

 

Strong as Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became the Strongest Man on Earth by Don Tate 

 

 

Every March the Arnold Fitness and Sports Festival is held here in Columbus. Arnold Schwarzenegger comes to town and so do all of the body builders. This would be an awesome book to share with young readers here to learn how one of the earliest body builders got his start. Born in Europe during the late nineteenth century, Eugen Sandow had a different name and was a very weak and unhealthy kid. As he studied about the body and exercised, he became stronger. He pursued body building and became famous. This book has engaging and easy-to-understand text, along with great illustrations. It also has a note at the end in which the author describes how he became interested in body building. The end notes also include exercises kids can do to become stronger. And there is a nice list of resources for further research. This is a terrific picture book biography to have in a classroom library.  

 

 

 

 

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown, David Díaz (Illustrations)  

 

 

Young children who are anxious to be big enough and old enough to do the things that the grownups do will definitely be able to relate to this beautiful picture book. Margaret Wise Brown wrote the story many years ago, and David Diaz has created awesome, vibrant paintings to really show what happens when the little scarecrow boy goes out on his own early one morning to scare away the crows by himself. His father has worked hard to teach him the six scary faces, but now he's put to the test. 

 

 

 

 

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White, Megan Lloyd (Illustrator)  

 

 

During this time of year, it seems that there are pumpkin flavored items everywhere you look: coffee, cereal, pastries, and even pumpkin-scented hand soap. Rebecca Estelle had more than her share of pumpkins when she was young. Her family was poor, and all they had to eat was pumpkin. As she got older, pumpkins were an unpleasant reminder of her past. So she avoided pumpkins. Until an accident left her with a bumper crop of them. She had to find a way to get rid of them, and so she found a tasty way to do that and share with all of her friends in the process. This book has terrific message of sharing and friendship that will make this a good book to have as part of a seasonal collection in a classroom library. It'll also make you hungry for pumpkin treats!