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 is having a terrific day, but be careful of all of the pranksters out there! Thankfully this year we're in for more spring like weather! I thought about trying to come up with a good joke for my blogpost, but there are just too many good books to talk about! So, here's what I've been reading this past week:

Middle Grade Fiction

Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn

I had the opportunity to read a review copy of this middle grade fiction book that was shared with my #BookRelays group. This realistic novel tells the story of a girl and her younger brother with special needs who have the opportunity to experience a wonderful summer with their grandparents. Caterpillar is a twelve-year-old who has taken on much of the responsibility for caring for her little brother, who’s impulsive behavior has her constantly on edge. Their mother, a respected children’s picture book author, works hard to make ends meet after their father passed away.

The book begins on the last day of school. Caterpillar is looking forward to the family’s trip to Atlanta to visit friends while her mother teaches a three-week writing seminar. When a sudden change of plans requires her mom to take Caterpillar and her brother, Chicken, to stay with their grandparents in their beach home in North Carolina, Caterpillar is very disappointed.

But as her relationship with the grandparents that she had never met before develops, she starts to relax and really enjoy her time on Gingerbread Island. She makes a friend, Harriet, and she enters a fishing contest. She realizes that her mom needs to rebuild her broken relationship with her father, and she’s determined to help.

Caterpillar is an awesome character that will resonate with middle grade readers. She cares deeply for her mom and her younger brother, often taking on more than she can handle in order to make everyone happy. She tends to be overprotective of her brother, believing that she is the only one that can take care of him when he experiences a meltdown. The story of the older sibling taking care of a younger brother or sister with special challenges make this a novel that would pair well with books like Rules by Cynthia Lord or Just Under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno.

Personally, I was drawn into the beautifully described setting of the story. A long time ago I visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina on a family vacation and that’s exactly how I picture the town in this story. Sandy dunes on wide open beaches, touristy town with fun shops and places to eat, and the salt smell in the air. I’m ready to get in touch with Caterpillar’s grandparents and see if they’ll let me stay in the guest room!

This is definitely a good book to share with young readers as spring takes hold and summer break is just around the corner. And if you happen to live in the Midwest (as I do), this book will be a good way to transport yourself to a nice spot on the beach where you can spread out a towel and build sand castles!

The Astonishing Maybe by Shaunta Grimes

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade novel in exchange for a review. The description of the book that was provided – “Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress” – led me to believe that this book was going to be a lighter story about a quirky adolescent girl. And while I liked it all right, the story was a bit heavier than what I thought it was going to be.

Gideon and his family have moved across the country from New Jersey to a small town in Nevada. It’s the summer before seventh grade for him and he doesn’t have any friends. Roona, a plucky, peculiar girl from next door, becomes friends with him quickly. Roona and her mother, Mrs. Mulroney, are fun-loving folks who sing at the top of their lungs during animated kids’ movies at the movie theater. Gideon loves that they are so different from his uptight, overprotective parents.

But it doesn’t take long to realize that there is a serious backstory to Roona and Mrs. Mulroney. Roona has never really known her father, believing he’s in the military. She talks Gideon into taking a long-distance bus trip to Las Vegas to try to find her father at Nellis Air Force Base. But when they get there, all of Roona’s family’s secrets start unraveling. Gideon has some tough decisions to make as he realizes that Roona’s not living in safe circumstances, but he has promised to keep all of her secrets from his parents.

I think that middle grade students will be able to relate to these characters. Unfortunately, there are many kids who have unstable circumstances at home that involve parents that are suffering from mental illness and addiction. And oftentimes, kids think they’re helping one another by keeping secrets about abuse and other dangerous situations. The tension in the plot events keeps the reader turning pages. I like that Gideon finally figures out how to confide in a trusted adult and find help for Roona.

Roona’s discovery of her parents’ deceit about her fathers’ true circumstances at Nellis Air Force Base reminds me of Macy Hollinquest’s discovery of her father’s “important” secret work for the Marines in Eleven and Holding by Mary Penney. And Roona’s insistence that Gideon not tell his parents her secret about what’s happened in her family kind of reminds me of Sean’s insistence that Owen keep his abusive situation a secret in The Summer of Owen Todd by Tony Abbott.

Picture Books

How to Two by David Soman

This awesome picture book uses counting up to ten and back down again to illustrate such a lovely message for young readers. The book starts with one little boy playing on a playground, but as he is joined by friends, everyone is welcomed and the activity is adjusted to include each child. The beautifully painted illustrations along with the simple text really show how simple it is for everyone to play together. This is definitely a terrific book to share with young children during the warm weather months when everyone is headed outdoors and will need to be able to share space and activities.

Angry Cookie by Laura Dockrill, Maria Karipidou (Illustrations)

This cute picture book takes young readers inside the world of a cookie that's having a horrible day and is in a terrible mood because of it. The interactive nature of the book will have kids giggling a bit. The humorous illustrations and the way things turn around for the cookie make it a nice story to share to help start a discussion about managing one's emotions.

B Is for Baby by Atinuke, Angela Brooksbank (Illustrations)

What, at first glance, seems like a simple ABC-style book, is actually a clever story that will have readers looking back again and again to pick up more of it. With simple text - "B is for Baby, and for the bananas bouncing their way to Baba's house in a basket..." And along the way the reader encounters butterflies, birds, baobab trees, and baboons. But as the reader gets to the end of it, one realizes that all of these "B" words are connected to each other, illustrated gorgeously with mixed media art, and tell a clever story. This book gives young readers so much of a window into the life of an African community. It also could be a terrific mentor text for young writers to tell their stories with spare, alliterative text. I love this book and I think I wouldn't limit it to primary readers.

Be a Maker by Katey Howes, Elizabet Vukovic (Contributor)

The lovely, whimsical illustrations along with the simple, rhyming text will help young readers consider all of the possibilities for making good things during the day. This book is full of terrific ideas for kids during the upcoming summer months, when there is more time to explore and get involved in community-based projects. This is definitely a good book to help develop a growth mindset.

Fox & Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride and Other Stories by Sergio Ruzzier

These stories are simple and sweet but really drive home the message that friends don't always see eye-to-eye, but those differences complement each other. The stories in this book remind me of the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel, where each situation shows the give-and-take and the patient affection each of them have for each other. The comic book style illustrations help tell the stories frame by frame.

Not Your Nest! by Gideon Sterer, Andrea Tsurumi (Illustrations)

This cute picture book shows what happens when friends take advantage of each other's kindness. The little bird works hard to build a nest, but each time she finishes her home, some huge animal comes along and takes it over. Young readers will be pleased to see that eventually these animals see that they've been taking too much without giving back. There's a cute twist at the end that will have everyone smiling. This would be a good way to talk about balance in friendships, giving and taking without taking advantage of each other.

The Proper Way to Meet a Hedgehog and Other How-To Poems by Paul B. Janeczko, Richard Jones (Illustrations)

This collection of how-to poems is an awesome treasure - with beautifully illustrated works by Kwame Alexander, Margarita Engle, Douglas Florian, Nikki Grimes, and so many more. And the topics range from how to which camels have how many humps, how to build a poem, how to scare monsters, and so on. I was lucky to borrow a copy from my library, but I definitely think I need to get my own copy so I can enjoy it over and over.

The Amazing Idea of You by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, Mary Lundquist (Illustrations)

Springtime is a great time to share this lovely picture book that celebrates all the stages of life. The seeds inside an apple that hold the idea of an apple tree, the bird's egg that holds the idea of a bird and all the places it will see, etc. As the little girl in the story considers the wonder of all of the natural world, she's struck with an idea. As she undertakes her plan, young readers will be pleased to see what hard work, patience, and an idea can produce.

Hope by Matthew Cordell 

This book seems especially poignant to me because a few weeks ago my last remaining grandparent passed away at the age of 98. And while my grandmother lived a good, full life, I've really been struck by the passage of time and how I am so very similar to her. The beautifully painted illustrations along with the heartfelt words passed between grandparents and grandchild make this a wonderful book for families to share with each other. It would be wonderful to follow up the sharing of this book with writing letters to the family members that mean so much to us.

Elvis Is King! by Jonah Winter, Red Nose Studio (Illustrator)

This interesting picture book biography tells the story of one of the most famous rock stars of all time by focusing on the musician's younger days being raised in poverty. He was born in Mississippi and lived in a shack with his parents who barely had enough money to feed him. Later his mother gave him a thrift store guitar for his birthday and that gift awoke his love of music. Fascinating 3-D illustrations handcrafted from wire, fabric, wood, and found objects help young readers picture what the world of young Elvis Presley must have been like. The text of the book includes Southern dialect, which might need some further explanation for young readers that are from other regions. It might be fun to supplement a reading of this book with recording and videos of some of the early performances of Elvis Presley.

 

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade novel in exchange for a review. The description of the book that was provided – “Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress” – led me to believe that this book was going to be a lighter story about a quirky adolescent girl. And while I liked it all right, the story was a bit heavier than what I thought it was going to be.

Gideon and his family have moved across the country from New Jersey to a small town in Nevada. It’s the summer before seventh grade for him and he doesn’t have any friends. Roona, a plucky, peculiar girl from next door, becomes friends with him quickly. Roona and her mother, Mrs. Mulroney, are fun-loving folks who sing at the top of their lungs during animated kids’ movies at the movie theater. Gideon loves that they are so different from his uptight, overprotective parents.

But it doesn’t take long to realize that there is a serious backstory to Roona and Mrs. Mulroney. Roona has never really known her father, believing he’s in the military. She talks Gideon into taking a long-distance bus trip to Las Vegas to try to find her father at Nellis Air Force Base. But when they get there, all of Roona’s family’s secrets start unraveling. Gideon has some tough decisions to make as he realizes that Roona’s not living in safe circumstances, but he has promised to keep all of her secrets from his parents.

I think that middle grade students will be able to relate to these characters. Unfortunately, there are many kids who have unstable circumstances at home that involve parents that are suffering from mental illness and addiction. And oftentimes, kids think they’re helping one another by keeping secrets about abuse and other dangerous situations. The tension in the plot events keeps the reader turning pages. I like that Gideon finally figures out how to confide in a trusted adult and find help for Roona.

Roona’s discovery of her parents’ deceit about her fathers’ true circumstances at Nellis Air Force Base reminds me of Macy Hollinquest’s discovery of her father’s “important” secret work for the Marines in Eleven and Holding by Mary Penney. And Roona’s insistence that Gideon not tell his parents her secret about what’s happened in her family kind of reminds me of Sean’s insistence that Owen keep his abusive situation a secret in The Summer of Owen Todd by Tony Abbott.

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade novel in exchange for a review. The description of the book that was provided – “Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress” – led me to believe that this book was going to be a lighter story about a quirky adolescent girl. And while I liked it all right, the story was a bit heavier than what I thought it was going to be.

Gideon and his family have moved across the country from New Jersey to a small town in Nevada. It’s the summer before seventh grade for him and he doesn’t have any friends. Roona, a plucky, peculiar girl from next door, becomes friends with him quickly. Roona and her mother, Mrs. Mulroney, are fun-loving folks who sing at the top of their lungs during animated kids’ movies at the movie theater. Gideon loves that they are so different from his uptight, overprotective parents.

But it doesn’t take long to realize that there is a serious backstory to Roona and Mrs. Mulroney. Roona has never really known her father, believing he’s in the military. She talks Gideon into taking a long-distance bus trip to Las Vegas to try to find her father at Nellis Air Force Base. But when they get there, all of Roona’s family’s secrets start unraveling. Gideon has some tough decisions to make as he realizes that Roona’s not living in safe circumstances, but he has promised to keep all of her secrets from his parents.

I think that middle grade students will be able to relate to these characters. Unfortunately, there are many kids who have unstable circumstances at home that involve parents that are suffering from mental illness and addiction. And oftentimes, kids think they’re helping one another by keeping secrets about abuse and other dangerous situations. The tension in the plot events keeps the reader turning pages. I like that Gideon finally figures out how to confide in a trusted adult and find help for Roona.

Roona’s discovery of her parents’ deceit about her fathers’ true circumstances at Nellis Air Force Base reminds me of Macy Hollinquest’s discovery of her father’s “important” secret work for the Marines in Eleven and Holding by Mary Penney. And Roona’s insistence that Gideon not tell his parents her secret about what’s happened in her family kind of reminds me of Sean’s insistence that Owen keep his abusive situation a secret in The Summer of Owen Todd by Tony Abbott.