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.
This last week the weather turned cold, the first measurable snow fell from the sky, and we decked the halls here at home. Putting up the tree officially kicks off the holiday season here. In the evening, I love to turn off the lamps, light the tree, and play Christmas music. And even though it cuts into my reading time a bit, I love listening to my favorite songs and looking up and down the tree at the ornaments that have been with me for years and years. I highly recommend taking some time during the next few weeks, to pause and relax for just a few minutes and enjoy the season.
But since the weather is awfully cold and unpleasant, there still is plenty of time to curl up under a blanket and enjoy some reading! Here's what I've been reading this past week:
Middle Grade Fiction
I’ve had this middle grade novel on my To Read List for quite some time. I’m glad that I’ve finally gotten around to reading it. The protagonist is an eleven-year-old boy who has a tough time fitting in at his new school. Albie was kicked out of his prestigious private school because of his poor academic performance. As a new student at P.S. 183 in New York City, he tries really hard to be “cool”. But he still has difficulties with his school work, with making friends, and with pleasing his parents. Along the way, some of the adults in his life (his babysitter, his math teacher, the clerk at the neighborhood bodega) help him to learn to accept himself and others. There is a good message that resonates throughout the book about being kind to others and choosing kind. This is a good book for those that like Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
I think that middle grade kids can definitely relate to the confusing issues that Albie faces. It’s hard to try to fit in with friends, especially if you have academic or development issues on top of it all. I was very frustrated by Albie’s parents, however. While they constantly seem to be telling Albie how much they’re trying to be good parents, they seem to be completely indifferent, obtuse, and lacking any sort of empathy for his problems. For example, his mother is aware that he has trouble reading (his counselor wanted to test him for dyslexia) and yet insists that he read Johnny Tremain (instead of Captain Underpants) without offering to help him at all. But while I was put off by the parents, I’m sure that many kids face that exact situation at home. Albie’s problems and interactions with the other characters in the story will ring true for lots of young readers.
I think that middle grade kids can definitely relate to the confusing issues that Albie faces. It’s hard to try to fit in with friends, especially if you have academic or development issues on top of it all. I was very frustrated by Albie’s parents, however. While they constantly seem to be telling Albie how much they’re trying to be good parents, they seem to be completely indifferent, obtuse, and lacking any sort of empathy for his problems. For example, his mother is aware that he has trouble reading (his counselor wanted to test him for dyslexia) and yet insists that he read Johnny Tremain (instead of Captain Underpants) without offering to help him at all. But while I was put off by the parents, I’m sure that many kids face that exact situation at home. Albie’s problems and interactions with the other characters in the story will ring true for lots of young readers.
Picture Books
A lot of kids today are busier than ever! The over-scheduled children are involved in so many activities, that they often don’t have time to just relax and be kids. Mizz Lizzie has so much going on that she rarely gets to spend time with her friend, Mizz Daizy. Young readers can learn a lot as they find out what happens when Mizz Lizzie becomes too exhausted. This is a cute book from the author of No, David!
Just about every kid will be able to relate to trying to catch Santa in the act. Maxwell is determined to see Santa Claus this year, and he’s set an elaborate trap to do it. Young readers will love the lengths Maxwell goes to in order to catch a glimpse. With humorous text and awesome illustrations that incorporate found paper into the scene, this will be lots of fun to share with kids in the days leading up to Christmas.
This is a fun holiday book that shares with young readers the joy of owning a big, furry monster. Sung to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, two children desperately want a monster for a Christmas, and even write a letter to Santa requesting one. When the monster arrives, chaos ensues. Lively, digital illustrations make this a terrific picture book to share with young readers during the days leading up to Christmas.
With a simple narrative and illustrations with a palette limited to red, brown, and gray, this book is a celebration of the hope and imagination that so many enjoy on Christmas. Ollie, who obviously is quite fond of reindeer, goes to sleep on Christmas Eve, and she is awakened by a mysterious jingling sound. The pages, with cutaways in just the right spots, and sparkles along the way, show us Ollie’s magical journey to the woods and back home again. Young readers will get a kick out of seeing that her bedroom is a bit different at the end of the book. This would be a great book to share with kids during the holidays.
With lyrical, rhyming text and lovely illustrations rendered in pencil, chalk, and paint and colored digitally, this awesome picture book celebrates the joy of picking the perfect tree and decorating it with friends and family. This is definitely a terrific book to have as part of a holiday collection to share with young readers.
Christmas is a very exciting time of year and little Otto is simply beside himself! Otto is super energetic and a bit mischievous as he “helps” decorate cookies, hang ornaments on the tree, and keep a lookout for snow! But despite all of the messes he creates, nothing seems to dampen the holiday spirit in this sweet story. Cheerful illustrations and a fun, predictable story make this a great book to share with young children as the holidays approach.
This is a really sweet picture book to share with young readers in the days leading up to Christmas. Little Hedgehog invites his friends to stay at his house, decorate the Christmas tree, and enjoy the holiday with him. There are a few bumps along the way: someone has been nibbling on the cookie ornaments, Hedgehog’s hat is missing, and someone’s loud snoring has been keeping everyone awake. The mischief winds up coming from a surprising source. Warm, welcoming illustrations makes this a lovely, cozy book for the holidays.
With sweet, childlike illustrations and simple rhyming text, this beautiful picture book celebrates all of the everyday blessings around us. While this seems like an obvious book to share with young readers during the holiday season, I really think this is a terrific book to have on the shelf to revisit year round.
There is so much that is festive and exciting about the holiday season, and sometimes it’s important to be able to settle down and appreciate the quiet moments. This gorgeous picture book is perfect for those times. With beautiful drawings by the same artist who illustrated Dormouse Dreams and Waiting for Snow, this book shares with readers some of the most cozy and delicious quiet moments: reading by the fire quiet, hoping for a snow day quiet, cocoa quiet... This could be a fun mentor text to help young writers create their own lists that celebrate unique qualities of a particular time or season. This book definitely goes on my list of favorite seasonal books!
Written in both English and Spanish, this picture book shares a little girl’s hopes and dreams of growing up and being in charge of her own tamale company. As the little girl helps in kitchen to prepare the Christmas tamales, she imagines the increasing responsibilities she will have every few years. This would be a good book to pair with Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto (see below).
The holidays are definitely a time for hope and wishing. Children stand on line to visit Santa Claus and present him with wish lists for all of the toys they want. Every year, it seems there is some toy that’s on everyone’s list. I remember when Barbie dolls and Cabbage Patch kids were all I ever wanted. This wonderful, heartwarming story shows that during the Depression, when families couldn’t afford much, there were still dreams of that one fabulous toy. In this book, Nella wants a Baby Betty doll more than anything. When Christmas morning comes, her parents present her and her two sisters with the new doll - for the three girls to share. There are some awesome lessons in this book about hoping, dreaming, and sharing. This is would be a terrific book to share with young readers during the days leading up to Christmas.
Wow! What a beautiful story, but make sure you have your tissues handy! Patricia Polacco looks to her own family to tell a heartwarming tale of the true meaning of Christmas. Polacco’s grandmother’s youngest brother, Frankie, is so excited for Christmas, because he is going to play an angel in the pageant. But the whole family is worried because Pa isn’t home from his annual trip to Lansing to get the traditional family oranges to go on the mantelpiece on Christmas Eve. A winter storm has held him up, and Frankie isn’t so sure they’ll have a happy holiday. With Polacco’s gift for gorgeous artwork and wonderful storytelling, this book has so many wonderful messages of kindness, hope, and selflessness. This is an awesome book to share with young readers during the holiday season.
Maria learns a powerful lesson about being truthful even if you think you’re going to be in trouble in this heartwarming Christmas story. Maria and her parents work together to make tamales for their holiday get-together. Maria tries on her mother’s diamond ring while she’s kneading the dough. She forgets all about the ring until later on when she notices that it’s no longer on her finger. She and her cousins start eating a tray of tamales in the hopes of finding the missing ring. Young readers will be able to relate to the problem of trying to get out of trouble that Maria faces. The illustrations are beautiful. According to the book jacket, “during the course of producing the oil paintings for this book, Mr. Martinez and his wife cooked and ate more tamales than they ever dreamed possible.”
I agree about Absolutely Almost and wrote in my review that I wanted to shout at them to pay attention! I know some of the books you shared, but put others on my list, like the McKissack book. There seem to be so many that I've missed. Thanks Jana, lots to love here! Merry Christmas to you and the family!
ReplyDeleteSo many great books here! I loved Absolutely Almost - it's been a classroom favorite for some time.
ReplyDeleteI love David Shannon's bold, fearless images - will have to find the book you shared here. And Too Many Tamales (now I am hungry - too bad we can't find that many tamales here in Singapore).
ReplyDeletePatricia Polacco just has it in for me - each book I've read of hers has me in tears! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the Christmas theme! I just borrowed Ninja Claus from the public library. Thanks for the other holiday recommendations. Only 7 school days to go!
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