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.
At long last, my favorite time of year is here! The birds are my alarm clock, but I don't have to hurry. I can grab a cup of coffee and head outside! I now spend a lot of time sitting outside, writing and reading. My biggest problem now is where to begin! So, here's what I've been reading:
Middle Grade Fiction
I
had the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel through my #BookRelays
friends (and also a digital ARC through NetGalley) and I think that
middle school readers will definitely be attracted to the unique plot
line and the well-voiced characters. Zinnia has just finished seventh
grade by getting herself in trouble for yarn-bombing the school mascot
with her older brother, Adam. But when she gets home from school, he has
left the family mysteriously, without so much as a note. Adam's abrupt
departure from home doesn't help Zinnia's tense relationship with her
mother, and to make matters worse, a colony of bees has taken up
residence in her hair.
The idea of a mass of bees living on my
head certainly makes me cringe, but, while Zinnia doesn't like the
situation at all, she is amazingly calm about it. The character
development is awesome as Zinnia goes from being a depressed loner, to
realizing that sometimes it's good to have friends to help out. The book
also has messages about reaching for your dreams, being vulnerable or
"letting your hair down", and the interdependence of nature.
This
book will be available in August. I would recommend it for middle
school students, but it would also be fine for upper elementary
students.
This
graphic novel is awesome because it has stories in it that so many kids
will identify with - elementary students, middle school students, and
even high school students. I know that this book totally reminded me of
my own elementary school experience, and it also made me nostalgic for
the eighties! Shannon and her best friend, Adrienne, have been together
since kindergarten. But as they get older, they start hanging out with a
clique known as "The Group" and led by Jen. Like all cliques of this
age group, one day you're cool, and the next day no one likes you. Kids
will definitely understand the anxieties and issues Shannon faces with
these on-again, off-again friends. I also think that the kids who enjoy
books by Raina Telgemeier, Jenni Holm, Cece Bell, and Victoria Jamieson
will eat this book up and beg for more!
Picture Books
This
picture book biography tells the life story of Eugenie Clark, a pioneer
in the study of sharks. The text is fascinating and accessible to
middle grade readers, making it perfect for classroom libraries.
Children this age are very attracted to books about sharks, and this one
celebrates a woman who contributed so much to what we understand about
these animals. Clark became interested in sharks when she was a child.
She spent a great deal of time reading and studying at a time when most
women didn't go to college or become scientists. End-of-the-book notes
and resources make this book a great starting point for further
research. Also, the illustrations are just terrific!
This
heartwarming picture book is a celebration of the love, hopes, and
dreams that parents have for their children. "On the night you were
born, our world shined bright as the sun," begins the poetic text. The
narrator shares the joy felt upon the arrival of the child, and of a
dream about what the child would become and who the child would be.
Illustrated beautifully using bamboo pen, India ink, and watercolor,
this book would be a wonderful gift to new parents at a baby shower,
Mother's Day, or Father's Day!
Young
readers will definitely get a giggle or two as they read this picture
book that shares the story of a little elephant who definitely prefers
not wearing pants as he runs about trying to figure out where he belongs
and who will play with him. This book might be a fun way to introduce
primary age kids to characteristics of things and classification as Pete
compares himself to boulders, squirrels, clouds, and a pigeon.
This
cute picture book begs to be read aloud, with a French accent! This is a
fun adventure that has an adorable snail on his way to a yummy salad at
the end of the book. This little creature is quite friendly, and
invites young readers to tell him about themselves and to kiss him.
Colorful illustrations with close-ups of the table, the salad, and the
sweet snail will make this a favorite book on a young child's bookshelf.
This
is a very sweet picture book, with heartwarming illustrations, that
shares with young readers all the different places to be: happy, sad,
mad, bravery, etc. This would be a terrific book to share with young
readers at bedtime or any other quiet story time.
With
simple rhyming text and stunning photographs, this poetic look at
nature and new life appearing all around make this a wonderful book to
share with young readers. An author's note at the back that briefly
explains each photo helps with further research for kids that might use
this book as a starting point for their own informational writing. This
would be a terrific resource to have on any bookshelf.
This
charming picture book has a great message about young children
exploring the world around them, while still enjoying the safety and
protection of a caring parent. When Joey was born, he spent all of his
time in his mother's pouch. But now he's gotten big enough to stick his
head out and look around. He wants to hop about, but each time he goes
out he gets frightened and returns to the pouch. Young readers will
appreciate being shy around new people and the joy of making a new
friend. Warm, cheery watercolor illustrations help make this a great
book to share with primary aged children at story time.
This
fun picture book has a great lesson about listening to everyone's ideas
when planning something fun. Pig, Mouse, and Duck are planning a
birthday surprise to include an awesome cake. Pig and a Mouse go at it,
but when Duck wants to add an ingredient that isn't in their recipe,
they refuse to even consider it. Young readers will giggle when they get
to the cute twist at the end. Bold, colorful illustrations will help
make this a terrific book to share with primary students.
Freckleface Strawberry (Freckleface Strawberry #1) by Julianne Moore, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)
This
is a charming picture book that would be a great way to start a
discussion about being comfortable in your own skin and accepting the
special qualities that make people unique. The little girl in the story
wants to be just like everyone else around her, but she feels very self
conscious about her red hair and freckles. She tries several different
ways to make them disappear, until she makes an important discovery
about herself. This would make a great read aloud for young readers at
the beginning of the school year.
This
fun book in the Freckleface Strawberry series shares with young readers
the stress of dodgeball, especially when playing with someone who's a
powerhouse at the game. Freckleface Strawberry loves days when she gets
to go to school early because she loves all of the playground games. But
on rainy days, the only choice is dodgeball in the gym. Windy Pants
Patrick plays brutally and she is sure that getting hit with the ball
will be painful and traumatic. Young readers will enjoy finding out how
Freckleface Strawberry overcomes this fearsome problem. This might be a
good read aloud at the beginning of the school year when students need
reminders of how to play so everyone can have a good time.
This
volume in the Freckleface Strawberry series would be terrific to share
with kids at the beginning of the school year. Freckleface Strawberry
and Patrick Windy Pants are best friends because they have a lot in
common. But the kids at school give them a hard time because boys and
girls don't play with each other and they lead them to believe that they
have too many differences to be friends. This story could lead to some
good discussions about what makes a good friendship and why people
should celebrate differences.
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, David Catrow (illustrator)
Budding
young artists and fans of the book, No David! by David Shannon will
love this colorful picture book. The rhyming text is written to the
rhythm and tune of the familiar folk song, "It Ain't Gonna Rain No
More", making it a fun, rollicking book to share with young readers.
