It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading? February 23, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Shelia over at Book Journey.

Be sure to also visit Jen at Teach.Mentor.Text  and Kellee at Unleashing Readers for links to all of the blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of It's Monday! What Are You Reading!

February Vacation afforded me time with family, staying up late, sleeping in, and of course time for reading. One of the highlights of my week was traveling to Blue Bunny Books & Toys in Dedham, MA for my friend, Lynda Mullaly Hunt's Fish in a Tree Book Signing. This was my first visit to this fabulous independent book store, owned by twin brothers Peter & Paul Reynolds. Yes, THE Peter and Paul Reynolds! Book friends, if you are ever in the Boston area, you really must make an effort to visit their store. I felt like I had "come home"! And the place was PACKED with readers eager to meet Lynda and hear more about her newest middle grade novel; which will be featured in a upcoming post here with a giveaway, so stay tuned!  I've heard her speak about writing multiple times, and yet every.single.time. she brings me to tears. Lynda is such a champion for children and for teachers. 

My first visit to @bluebunnybookstoys today for @lyndamullalyhunt's Book Signing definitely won't be my last. Felt like coming "home"! Added bonus that I got to meet @peterhreynolds & @fablepaul too! #indiebookstoresrock

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 21, 2015 at 5:46pm PST

Some great reads this week from picture books to another adult title!

Day 47: Two books that couldn't be more dissimilar...laugh out loud MG humor on the left; gut wrenching YA emotion on the right. Both include friendships found in unlikely places. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 16, 2015 at 2:38pm PST

Day 48: Books like these introduce readers to important people & pieces of history they might otherwise never read. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 17, 2015 at 6:13pm PST

Day 49: Read a "grown up" book. For fun. It was good. I will do "this" again. 😉 #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 18, 2015 at 4:55pm PST

Day 50: This is NOT my cup if tea. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 19, 2015 at 6:06pm PST

Day 51: Did some series "hunting" work for USM Summer Reading/Writing Clinic. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #usmreadingclinic #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 20, 2015 at 5:38pm PST

Day 52: REALLY love how this new series is focusing on creative "thinkering" & curiosity through ALL art forms! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #wonder #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 21, 2015 at 5:32pm PST

Day 53: I'm excited to add both of these to my mentor text collection! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 22, 2015 at 4:06pm PST

So there you have it....another week of reading is in the books!

Have a great week among the pages! 

It's Monday! What are YOU Reading? February 2, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Shelia over at Book Journey.

Be sure to also visit Jen at Teach.Mentor.Text  and Kellee at Unleashing Readers for links to all of the blogs participating in the Picture Book to YA addition of It's Monday! What Are You Reading!

Winter weather was slow to arrive here in southern Maine, but is certainly making up for lost time! With a blizzard dropping 26" of snow last Tuesday, we added another 6" on Friday and are now bracing for another 10-15" today! What's keeping me sane through all of this is knowing that each day brings me closer to this....

While I much prefer surfside/poolside reading to fireside reading, I did read some fantastic books in the past week. Here's a look at what I enjoyed. 

Day 26: @deborahwiles1 you are MASTER of the documentary novel! Blown away! #readwithmyears #nerdybookclub #readingtime #booklove

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Jan 26, 2015 at 4:27pm PST

Day 27: Written from 11 yo Maggie's POV, this RF middle grade is a poignant reminder of the importance of love, laughter, & family. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Jan 27, 2015 at 7:38am PST

Day 28: This MG high fantasy novel will be a big hit w/ the 5th-7th grade crowd. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Jan 28, 2015 at 5:55am PST

Day 29: Adventure that will appeal to the MG reader while providing them a window into life in another part of the world. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #photoaday #bookagram

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Jan 29, 2015 at 5:09pm PST

Day 30: Gripping story of overcoming loss & anger, finding forgiveness, acceptance, & friendship in unlikely places. #nerdybookclub #bookaday #readingtime #bookagram #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Jan 30, 2015 at 1:53pm PST

Day 31: 585 pages of pure HF magic! Could NOT put it down! #nerdybookclub #booklove #writingmagic #photoaday

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Jan 31, 2015 at 7:12am PST

Day 32: Can always count on @candlewickpress for awesome #readingtime! Loved all four of these! #nerdybookclub #bookaday #photoaday #bookagram

A photo posted by literacydocent (@literacydocent) on Feb 1, 2015 at 5:58am PST

So, I'll be snuggled on the couch today, watching the Youth Media Awards and reading, thankful that I'm not the now who has to be outside doing this...

What can I say...we don't mess around with snow removal  at my house. ;-) 

So there you have it...another week of reading is in the books!

Have a fantastic week among the pages!

#bookaday Wrap Up

I love my job but I have to admit I also loved every day of my Christmas vacation.  I took a true vacation from school.  I think this is the first time in my teaching career I didn't step foot in the building over the break.  Participating in Donalyn Miller's (@donalynbooks) Book-a-Day challenge was one of the highlights of my break. The other highlight was spending time with my family as well my dear friend, Ksenia, who was visiting from Russia. So, while I didn't make it through all the books in my piles, I did manage a nice BALANCE, and isn't that what we are all trying to achieve?

My #bookaday reads included:
Middle Grade Novels

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

What a beautiful book! Told from 12 year old Lanesha's perspective, this book captures the anxiety and fear that Gulf Coast residents must have felt during Hurricane Katrina, without resorting to overly graphic details, or laying blame for the horrific flooding that resulted. The winner of Allen Country Public Library's Mock Newbery Award, I'm surprised it's not getting more Newbery "chatter".

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Synder

This a delightful story of a rich, bored little girl who makes a wish that changes everything for her family. I loved all the mentions of other books that Penny reads, wishing her life was more like them!  With appeal to both girls and boys, I think this book would make a great read aloud!

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Giwitz

When are heads are chopped of in the first chapter, kids can't help but be hooked!  This book continues to deliver blood and guts...all the way to the end...and boys especially are going to love it!   It was dark and gory with the perfect amount of humor. I love how snarky the author was and how he broke that wall between the reader and the book so often, without being annoying. His comments alone make this book stand out!

 

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

Although I missed Isabel (she is mostly in the background in this second book of a trilogy), I did cheer for Curzon as he ran for his freedom, fought at Valley Forge, and continued to navigate prejudice/racism. I loved the perspective of an African-American slave fighting for American freedom, and finding friendship and acceptance among his fellow soldiers. I look forward to the third book, in which I hope Isabel will be reunited with her sister Ruth. 

Picture Books
*indicates my favorites

Lost Boy: The Story of the Man Who Created Peter Pan by Jane Yolen (illus. Steve Adams)

Soar, Elinor! by Tami Lewis Brown (illus. Francois Roca)

*The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) by Barbara Kerley (illus. Edwin Fotheringham)

*Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan (illus. Brian Folca)

The Christmas Giant by Steve Light

*Switching on the Moon by Jane Yolen & Andrew Fusek Peters (illus. G. Brian Karas)

Tell the Truth B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra

*The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

Disappearing Desmond by Anna Alter

*Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum by Meghan McCarthy

But I Wanted a Baby Brother by Kate Feiffer (illus. Diane Goode)

Kylie made it through her entire pile...twice!  Her favorite book from her #bookday pile was The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee!  To quote her, "Auntie, Marla just cracks me up!"  I have to agree!



Beautifully illustrated biography!



A pack of bubble gum will be needed after reading this informational book aloud!

Another great read aloud!

Biography of Mark Twain using excerpt from his daughter Suzy writing.

A wonderful collection of bedtime poems, perfect for any child's bedtime routine.

Let the #Bookaday Reading Begin

This past summer I joined many readers across the blogosphere by participating in Donalyn Miller's (@donalynbooks on Twitter)  Book-a-Day Challenge.  I knocked many books off the TBR list and added many titles to it too! About three weeks ago Donalyn suggested a Holiday Book-a-day on Twitter and everyone started jumping on board for some more reading fun!  I took some time to review my Goodreads lists, visited the Scholastic Warehouse Sale in my area (talk about good timing)  and gathered titles I wanted to read over my Christmas vacation.  Then something amazing happened...I actually had a FREE weekend last weekend!  That's right...all my Christmas shopping, wrapping, and decorating was finished and other than church on Sunday morning, I had not ONE commitment!  So I decided to start my #bookaday reading even though I wasn't actually on vacation yet. Sunday night my pile was gone.  So I had to start all over! I know, what a terrible problem to have, right? So I have spent the last three days gathering more titles. Thank you Inter-Library Loan for delivering my requests to quickly, btw.  So here are my piles...yes, you read that right...piles!  My six year old niece wanted to create her own Book-a-Day pile after I explained why I had so many books. She asked me to share it with you.  In my opinion, you're never too young to start making reading plans!

 MG Novels I plan to read include:

Ninth Ward  by Jewell Parker Rhodes (almost done)

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me by Nan Marin

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberger

Trackers: Book One by Patrick Carman

Tales Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Alabama Moon by Watt Key (re-read)

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

Skywalkers: Mohawk Ironworkers Build the City by David Weitzman

Picture Books I plan to read include:

Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems
Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies
The Christmas Eve Ghost by Shirley Hughes
But I Wanted a Baby BROTHER! by Kate Feiffer

Disappearing Desmond by Anna Alter

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

Pop! The Invention of Bubblegum by Meghan McCarthy

Tell the Truth, B. B. Wolf by Judy Sierra

Switching on the Moon by Jane Yolen & Andrew Fusek Peters

The Christmas Giant by Steve Light

Lost Boy: The Story of the Man Who Created Peter Pan by Jane Yolen

Soar, Elinor by Tami Lewis Brown

The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg

  

 Kylie's #bookaday pile includes:

Fancy Nancy Pajama Day by Jane O'Connor

The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend

Fancy Nancy Explorer Extraordinaire! by Jane O'Connor

Best Baby Ever by David Milgrim

The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee

There are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz

Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems

Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies

Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart

The Christmas Giant by Steve Light

The Christmas Eve Ghost by Shirley Hughes

Rover by Michael Rosen

But I Wanted a Baby BROTHER by Kate Feiffer

Disappearing Desmond by Anna Alter

Now it's not too late to join the Book-A-Day holiday fun...blogging isn't required!  You can read picture books, middle reader/YA books, professional books, or adult books.  It really doesn't matter...the point is to read!  Share what you're reading by using the #bookaday hashtag on Twitter, Goodreads, or blog posts. Feel free to leave a comment on this post with links to your blog posts and Twitter names so I can see what you're reading.   I would love to hear about your vacation reading plans.  What books will be in your Book-A-Day pile?