It's Monday! What are you Reading?

Jen & Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts host a meme every Monday that invites people to share the children's and young adult books they have been reading over the past week and what they plan on reading the following week.

The Past Week

Caldecotts: I have finally gotten back to reading the Caldecotts. I had taken a break for awhile. Of the five, I enjoyed Nothing at All and In the Forest the most. They were both imaginative and very playful.

Newberry: The only one I got to was The Island of the Blue Dolphins, but I loved it once again. Survival stories are so intriguing. They make me wonder how I would do in such a situation. 

Non-fiction: I enjoyed both of the children's non-fiction books, but did wonder how they would go over with my students if they were reading them on their own. I think both work with adult support, but the book about Islam was a bit dry sometimes. The book about the artist was such different art than most of my students are used to and the text is choppy. 

My favorite non-fiction was Michele Norris' memoir The Grace of Silence. She does a wonderful job of pealing back the layers of her family history. She provided much to think about. This would be an excellent pick for an adult book group because there is so much to discuss and ponder about race.

Picture books: My absolute favorite picture book this week was Olivia and the Fairy Princesses. Olivia just cannot fathom why all of the other girls want to be exactly the same and be princesses. Olivia tries to express her individuality. There are some hilarious lines in this book and I was forced to laugh big old belly laughs. Olivia won my heart with this one.

Fables: For the Common Core, we will be teaching fables at the fourth grade level and I have been asked to look for more materials. I found a great one this week. Beverley Naidoo believes that Aesop may have been a slave from Africa so these fables are set there. The introduction is well worth reading. I enjoyed the African setting and the use of some unique vocabulary (always explained at the end of each fable). These are not Disney stories with perfectly happy endings every time. Beware if reading to the very young. Know your audience or there may be tears. Some will love it, but the more tenderhearted may be bothered by the deadly consequences in some of the fables.

YA: I finished Hattie Big Sky and loved it! Review here. Kirby Larson picked me up and dropped me right back in time. I am SO glad that Mr. Schu and Colby Sharp picked it for their August book club. I can't wait for the Sept. 5th Twitter discussion.

Altogether it was a busy reading week and I am so happy that I was able to participate in #bookaday and #summerthrowdown this year. I was able to read more books this summer than I ever have before. 

The Coming Week

I'll be starting The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare. This is another Newberry re-read for me. I will try to finish Show Me a Story and Diverse Energies. I am also planning to read Liar and Spy. That may be all I get to with school starting. In fact, I am not sure I will even get through those, but I will give it a shot. Happy reading!