It's Monday! What are you reading?

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.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Cover images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Last Week On the Blogs: 

Celebrate!

Last Week in Books: 

We're getting ready for a visit from author Michael Hall so I've been cruising through his books. They are generally quite clever and since he's a graphic designer, the illustrations are wonderful. In Cat Tale he plays with words. There are homonyms galore. Frankencrayon is pure fun. We made scribble monsters to go with this one. 

#classroombookaday Frankencrayon by @michaelhall66 with 2nd grade which inspired the creation of our own scribble monsters. pic.twitter.com/KQeiz6qmxG

— Crystal Brunelle (@librarygrl2) September 23, 2016

Goodnight Songs: A Celebration of Seasons is simply sweet. I love the poetry and the CD that goes with it is calm and peaceful - perfect for bedtime.

Gone Gone Gone is a contemporary romance told in alternating chapters between the two young boys. They each have a lot going on in their lives and the relationship is rocky, but well worth the read. It was a Stonewall Honor book and was on my #MustReadin2016 list.

Shame the Stars is a fantastic work of historical fiction. It's being billed as a Romeo and Juliet remake and it is that to a certain degree, but I think it stands on its own as a good historical romance without that connection. I'll review it later at Rich in Color.

The Coming Week:

I'm listening to The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Du Bois and just started reading Full of Beans after hearing Jenni Holm talk about it on a podcast. I really enjoy her historical fiction. I'm not sure what else I'll get to this week. Have a great week filled with good stories.

Reading Challenge Updates:

Goodreads Challenge - 447/550
Diversity on the Shelf 2016 - 207/225 (goal = 50% of my books by and/or about POC)
LGBTQIA Challenge - 29/31
ReadPOC Challenge - 144/125
#MustReadin2016 - 24/54
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge - 80/100
Around the World with Books 2016

Celebrate!

Ruth Ayres has a link-up on weekends where people link to posts that are celebrations about their week. I love this reminder to celebrate every week.

This week Linda posted a lovely list of small things and it seemed like an excellent idea for today's post. Here are some of the small things that made me smile this week.

@inkyelbows @jridpath My dog and I wish you a short wait and safe travels. pic.twitter.com/qiCFLmkNPi

— Crystal Brunelle (@librarygrl2) September 24, 2016

For @librarygrl2 and her furry friend: pic.twitter.com/sc9gwJdJ2d

— Debbie Ridpath Ohi (@inkyelbows) September 24, 2016

• Twitter interaction with Debbie Ridpath Ohi as she waited for her flight
• watching our exchange student get ready for Homecoming
• being followed by a great author on Twitter
• finding a forgotten yummy chocolate treat in my purse from a trip last week
• diving into Michael Hall's picture books with students as we prepare for his visit
• Homecoming week dress-up days including my favorite - pajama day
• working with our 5th grade video crew
• invitation to a library meeting in another school district to talk about inclusive resources
• hot chai on a rainy night
• students with purple hair
• finding out about another Yuyi Morales book coming very soon
• getting columns in Googledocs
• the beginning of fall in all of its glory
• a student gushing about Roller Girl when she returned the book
• texts and conversations with my adult children
• date night with husband at a new restaurant we enjoyed

There are many reasons to smile in spite of some of the not so lovely things happening in the world and in my personal life. I really appreciate this group because it keeps me looking for the good.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

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.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Cover images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Last Two Weeks On the Blogs: 

Author Highlight: Phillippe Diederich

Celebrating Finishing a Half Marathon

 Review of Rani Patel in Full Effect at Rich in Color

Last Two Weeks in Books:

 

Since I live in an area with many dairies and farms, I think Moo is a mandatory purchase. I typically enjoy Creech's novels-in-verse anyway, but the topic is one that will work fabulously in WI. I already had students and teachers in mind for it as I read. Of course there is plenty of humor because - cows.

Victoria Goes to Brazil was interesting to me since we're hosting a student from Brazil right now. She confirmed that the photos and info seemed to represent her country. Some of the pictures of food were almost taunting her since it will be a long time before she gets to partake again.

The Boring Book is pretty clever - maybe even too clever, but I enjoyed it.

Chick Chak Shabbat is a wonderful story of neighbors and community. I will need to try the cholent recipe sometime. 

The Drummer Boy of John John tells a story of a boy, Winston "Spree" Simon creating steel drums. It would be a nice inclusion in a music lesson.

Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story is a tough, but helpful telling of the events of September 11 through the eyes of four children.

Granddaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballet Box tells of a boy and his grandfather going to vote for the first time and being turned away. Readers learn about voter suppression.

I re-visited Harold and the Purple Crayon as part of Dot Day. I think I'll follow up with Journey by Aaron Becker.

Finally, I read Girl's Dance Boys Fiddle. I really enjoyed this community story that deals with gender roles.

What Can't Wait is a coming of age novel that I appreciated. Marisa has many family obligations, but wants to do well in school. She's juggling responsibilities and relationships. She makes mistakes and has doubts, but keeps trying.

The Coming Week:

I may start reading Shame the Stars for a later review, but other than that, I am not really sure what will happen this week.

Reading Challenge Updates:

Goodreads Challenge - 441/550
Diversity on the Shelf 2016 - 201/225 (goal = 50% of my books by and/or about POC)
LGBTQIA Challenge - 28/31
ReadPOC Challenge - 140/125
#MustReadin2016 - 23/54
Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge - 80/100
Around the World with Books 2016

Celebrate!

Ruth Ayres has a link-up on weekends where people link to posts that are celebrations about their week. I love this reminder to celebrate every week.

The Mini Donut Half Marathon

Today I celebrate finishing another half marathon. Around mile ten things were a little grim - my tummy wasn't cooperating, but I made it.

The run was created to provide suicide awareness and education. My father died by suicide when I was in my late 20s so the run is meaningful on several levels. There were others to remember along the run too: a community leader, the nephew of a friend, the father of a friend and a student from the local high school. I was remembering all of these people and their families along the way. It was a beautiful day and there were lots of donuts at the end. Fortunately, my stomach was doing better by then.

Author Highlight - Phillippe Diederich

Phillippe Diederich was born in the Dominican Republic and was raised in Mexico City and Miami. His parents were forced out of Haiti by the dictatorship of Papa Doc Duvalier in 1963. As a photojournalist, Diederich has traveled extensively through Mexico and witnessed the terrible tragedies of the Drug Wars.

He recently wrote a YA novel, Playing for the Devil's Fire. I wrote a review of this intriguing book over at Rich in Color. I was also fortunate enough to be able to interview him over at Rich in Color. His photography experience seems to help him tell a story that is easy to visualize.

To learn more about Phillippe and his new book, visit other stops on the blog tour:

Aug 31: My review at Rich in Color
Sept 1: The Pirate Tree review & interview
Sept 4: Guest Post for Clear Eyes, Full Shelves
Sept 5: Review, The Brain Lair
Sept 6: Rich in Color author interview & book giveaway
September 7: Edi Campbell CrazyquiltEdi review
September 8: Anastasia Suen, #KidLitBookoftheda
Sept 9: Guest Post, The Brain Lair
Sept. 12 Linda Washington
Sept. 13 Excerpt, review, and guest post at Mom Read It

It's Monday! What are you reading?

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.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Cover images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Last Week on the Blogs:

Sept. Update for #MustReadin2016

 Review of Playing for the Devil's Fire at Rich in Color

Zetta Elliott Book Discussion Reminder and Giveaway at Rich in Color

(3 copies of The Door at the Crossroads are up for grabs until 12 tonight)

Last Week in Books:

This was the first week of school and we just got back from a camping trip over the long weekend so reading has been limited. I did finish Still a Work in Progress. It was a tough subject, but I thought Knowles handled it well. I really appreciated the additional humor provided by the cat. I'm reading Rani Patel in Full Effect for review later this week and am enjoying it so far. As expected, my digital copy of Alexander Hamilton expired before I was even half way through. I found it very interesting, but it's just too long and there are holds so I couldn't renew. It'll keep though. 

The Coming Week: 

I hope to finish Rani Patel today and re-read during the week for reviewing. After that, I may read Nine, Ten. Other than that, I am not sure what will come my way.  I think I'll work some more on my MustReadin2016 list. Happy reading!

#MustReadin2016 Update

Thanks to the wonderful Carrie Gelson for hosting this challenge. I started with a list of 54 books this year. By mid-April at our first update, I had read 14. Since then, I have read another 9 for a total of 25. I am more than a little behind schedule, but am chipping away at the list.

 

The standouts for me were Booked, Rhythm Ride, Death by Toilet Paper, Thunderboy Jr. and Last Night I Sang to the Monster. I would say more, but tomorrow is the first day of school and I need to get to sleep so I can be bright-eyed and cheerful in the morning.