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.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our neighborhood. Many folks have been taking advantage of the warmer, dry weather to get their holiday decorations up. As you can see, some of the neighbors go all out. I love it! It makes our daily walks a lot more lively. One of these days we'll go after dark and see all of the festive lights! Hope you're having fun getting into the spirit, too. Even though this is a busy time, don't forget to take time to take a walk and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season! And if it gets too cold or nasty outside, retreat inside to a warm, cozy spot and READ! Here's what I've been reading lately:

Octopus Stew by Eric Velásquez 

Young readers get an exciting narrative with a nice surprise in the middle with this fun picture book. Ramsey's grandma is ready to make some octopus stew (which I had no idea was really a thing). After a quick trip to the fish market, she scrubs up the octopus and puts it in a pot on the stove. Strange noises coming from the kitchen warn grandma and Ramsey that there is trouble. Readers get to see Ramsey put on his superhero cape and get to work. There is an author's note at the back of the book, sharing the origins of the story. There's also a glossary that explains many of the non-standard Spanish words used in the book. And for adventurous chefs, there is an octopus stew recipe (although I stopped reading when I came to the direction "Remove the eyes and beak and rinse with water and vinegar"!

What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold, Linda Davick (Illustrator)

This lovely picture book helps young readers see that not every child conforms to gender identification expectations and that's all right. The child in this book picks outfits to wear each day based on the day's activities and the emotions they stir up. Other children in the book are curious about Riley's clothes and one even asks if Riley is a boy or a girl, but the question is brushed aside and everyone is just happy to play and be friends. This could generate some good conversations about community, relationships, and tolerance for those who don't conform to everyone else's expectations.

Soccerverse by Elizabeth Steinglass

Young soccer fans will enjoy all of the action-packed poems in this collection. Bright, energetic digital illustrations complement these poems that celebrate all aspects of the sport of soccer with imaginative thoughts from a pair of shin guards, sensory descriptions of the fields, advice for defenders and goalkeepers, and appreciation for teammates and coaches. The author used 13 different forms of poetry with a page of notes at the end to help young readers understand.

A Good Day for Ducks by Jane Whittingham, Noel Tuazon (Illustrator)

The children in this sweet picture book don't let a rainy day get them down in the dumps. With simple, lyrical text and warm, inviting illustrations young readers get to enjoy the fun of putting on raincoats and boots, splashing in puddles, and watching the ducks play in the rain. When the gentle rain turns into a thunderstorm, it's time to head inside for hot cocoa. This is a lovely book that would be a cozy read aloud for inclement weather days. It also could inspire young writers to write their own rainy day stories.

Wild One by Jane Whittingham, Noel Tuazon (Illustrator)

This fun picture book will have young readers ready to go outside and have fun being wild. The little girl has a busy day playing in the park, swimming in the pool, and eating dinner at home. In each situation, bouncy rhyming text and brightly colored illustrations show her stretching like a cat in the grass, hanging like a bat on the monkey bars, swimming like a guppy in the pool. At the end of the day, she's all tuckered out and sleeps like a bear. This would be a fun way to talk about similes and metaphors. Young writers might even be inspired to share their own wild stories using comparative language.

Come with Me by Holly M. McGhee, Pascal Lemaître (Illustrations)

It seems like everywhere you look - television, social media, heated discussions around the holiday table - so many people are angry and frightened. The little girl in this story has seen so much awful news on TV, that she worries if there is anything a person can do to help bring about peace. The comforting text and images in this book help young readers see that, if you look carefully and bravely, you can see the good in neighborhoods and communities. The little girl also learns that we don't have to tackle these issues alone. This book could be a good way to start conversations about helping each other and living in community with each other. This could also be a great book to calm fears during what promises to be a rancorous election year.