It's Monday! What are you reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Jen Vincent over at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye from Unleashing Readers decided to put a children's and YA spin on it and they invite anyone with an interest to join in. You can participate by creating your post then visit one of their sites to add your site. Finally, visit at least three participant blogs and comment to spread the love.
The Past Week:
Picture Books
After meeting Jon J. Muth at Anderson's Children's Lit Breakfast, more on that here, I found myself reading more of his books when I got back to school on Monday. I found what we had and enjoyed them immensely. He gives readers so much to think about. Desmond and the Very Mean Word was another book to encourage thinking - this time about conflict and forgiveness. Infinity and Me is an intriguing look into the concept of infinity and so it gets your brain churning too. The Night the Moon Fell was a nice folktale, but it wasn't my favorite Pat Mora folktale - that honor goes to Doña Flor.
Middle Grade
After meeting authors Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver at the Children's Lit Breakfast, I was eager to start reading about Hank Zipzer. He had me laughing. It is a great chapter book for kids who like humor. I know I will be sharing this series with a lot of students.
Young Adult
I haven't been to a book club in person for a long time. A local group was going to read The Book Thief so I grabbed a copy. I was just going to skim it since I have read it (listened to the audio) a few years ago. That didn't work. I was completely sucked in and read every word. Some more than once. Such a good book! And meeting in person with people to talk about books is so much fun. Gonna have to do that more often. Battle of the Books is just about over so I can have a lunchtime book club again soon at school. Article 5 is a dystopian book. I liked it enough, but I am not sure if I will read the next one. I didn't get very invested in the characters. The title Midwinterblood scared me because it sounds creepy and then, it won a Printz. I just wasn't sure what to expect, but I understand why it got the award. It's unique and striking. This is why I like award lists though. I never would have picked it up otherwise. Open Mic is a collection of short stories and I really enjoyed them. I will review it later this week.
The Coming Week:
I think I may actually finish The Lacuna this week. I've been listening to it for quite a few weeks. Frida Kahlo is one of the characters and she is my favorite. What an interesting woman. The others I will try to finish this week. I am also likely to start Akata Witch and Killer of Enemies. What will you be reading?
We also love Jon Muth's books. We think they are terrific for showing students how to incorporate a story within a story when writing. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to use the books. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.
DeleteI've always been fond of the Marcia Brown Stone Soup book, although I need some more folk and fairy tales, and might as well look into newer ones. My students love the Article 5 series.
ReplyDeleteI was happy to find this version of Stone Soup since the teachers have been wanting to compare & contrast different versions of folktales. I can believe Article 5 is popular with the teens.
Deleteer..tweens too.
DeleteI read half of Midwinterblood and then had to return it! Can't wait to get to the other half. I love what you said about how awards lists encourage us to pick up books we would not normally read. That happens to me so often and, 9 times out of 10, I end of loving the book!
ReplyDeleteOh, that would be hard to stop in the middle. ;)
DeleteI love how the Anderson's Children's Lit Breakfast inspired you to read books by Jon J. Muth and Henry Winkler. :-) The Book Thief is one of my all-time favorite books. I usually love Barbara Kingsolver, but I couldn't get through The Lacuna. Maybe I'll try it on audio. I bought Midwinterblood and can't wait to get to it!
ReplyDeleteI have been listening to The Lacuna for what seems like more than a month. It is interesting on a certain level, but I know I wouldn't have finished it in paper.
DeleteAhh Jon Muth! So many great titles. I am also a big fan of Desmond and the Very Mean Word - this was so powerful in my classroom. I can see that skimming The Book Thief would be impossible!
ReplyDeleteI am eager to buy Desmond so I can use it with students. Glad to know you have used it successfully in the classroom.
DeleteI read the Zen series in the library several years back and was completely blown away. Jon Muth is simply amazing and you're so lucky to meet him. Interesting that you also have a book club about The Book Thief - two of my book clubs here in Singapore (one with adults and another one with young readers) read the novel this February! I should definitely check out Desmond and the very mean word as it sounds perfect for a course I'm teaching. My 12 year old daughter had a Hank Zipzer phase a few years back. She loved it!
ReplyDeleteThe Book Thief was even better the second time through. He is one amazing writer.
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