It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you go to my Goodreads account, you can see what I have read recently & click on the books to learn more.

Last week on the blogs: 

Review: The Dragon Thief by Zetta Elliott

Review: When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur

Last week in books: 

My favorites of the week were YA: When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur (see review above) and The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (I'll review that on Friday at Rich in Color). Stacey Lee has done it again with a great historical novel that had me in thrall. Slay was fun and we'll have a discussion about it soon over at Rich in Color. I enjoy books that involve gaming and tech once in a while. This one was certainly intriguing.

The Coming Week:

I'm about to start the youth edition of Trevor Noah's book. I also started Troublemakers by Shalaby. I'm still reading Mindful of Race and Waking Up White. Have a great week!

Reading Challenge Updates: 

Goodreads Challenge 2019 - 769/550

Diversity on the Shelf 2019 - 273/275

#MustReadin2019 - 21/30

Year of the Asian 2019 - 32/30

Review: The Dragon Thief

Title: The Dragon Thief
Author: Zetta Elliott
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 176
Genre: Fantasy
Availability: Oct. 22, 2019
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley

Summary: Stealing a baby dragon was easy! Hiding it is a little more complicated, in this sequel to reviewer favorite Dragons in a Bag.

Jaxon had just one job–to return three baby dragons to the realm of magic. But when he got there, only two dragons were left in the bag. His best friend’s sister, Kavita, is a dragon thief!

Kavita only wanted what was best for the baby dragon. But now every time she feeds it, the dragon grows and grows! How can she possibly keep it secret? Even worse, stealing it has upset the balance between the worlds. The gates to the other realm have shut tight! Jaxon needs all the help he can get to find Kavita, outsmart a trickster named Blue, and return the baby dragon to its true home.

Review: I was so excited to get my hands on this sequel to the wonderful Dragons in a Bag. There simply aren't enough dragon fantasies for the early chapter book readers. And it is truly awesome to see more Black magic and Black history on our shelves.

These children are young and get themselves into all kinds of difficult situations, but they work together to solve their problems. So much of the book is about being in community with one another, building bridges, and redemption too. Humans are complicated and make mistakes, but when we love each other, we stick together.

I appreciate that the children have caring adults in their lives. So many authors try to write the adults out so the children can have agency, but that's not necessary. Children can still have adventures, make their own choices, and solve problems with adults as part of their story. The intergenerational relationships are really a strong point here. Respect is shown to elders and readers can see that everyone wants to feel needed and valued regardless of age. We can all be part of solutions no matter how young or old.

Another interesting part of the book is the historical aspect. Early in the story, Kavita's aunt shares about her ancestry and why her skin is so dark. I had not known of the Siddis in India or that the slave trade had been active in that part of the world. This is a piece of history that many children and likely many adults in the U.S. do not know. It's one more reminder that there is so much that we don't know we don't know.

Recommendation: I will definitely be including this in our elementary school library. Children will love the adventure and magic and may even learn a few things along the way. Don't miss out.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It's a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children's literature - picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit - join us! We love this meme and think you will, too. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

If you go to my Goodreads account, you can see what I have read recently & click on the books to learn more.

Last week in books: 

There were a lot of great books in my hands this past week. Here are the ones that stood out:

Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai - Historical novel in verse (ARC via Netgalley)
Does it Fart? by Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti - funny NF PB about farts
The Dragon Thief by Zetta Elliott - sequel to Dragons in a bag - fun early chap book fantasy
The Line Tender by Kate Allen - middle grade look at grief and sharks
Who Are You Calling Weird? by Marilyn Singer is an engaging NF PB about strange animals
A Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai is a fun YA rom com
Spencer's New Pet by Jessie Sima is quite a unique PB
IntersectionAllies by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, Carolyn Choi - is a NF PB & would be a fantastic conversation starter about intersectionality and ways to be allies and support each other.
Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker - a middle grade novel about a trans girl with serious computer skills who has relocated and is finding friends and working on family relationships.
Sadiq and the Desert Star by Siman Nuurali is an early chapter book about a boy developing an interest in astronomy
A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy is a celebration and lifting up of boys and the wide varieties of being a boy

The Coming Week:

I'll be reading When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur for a review next week. I am still reading Mindful of Race and Waking Up White for two different groups I'm part of so those will be on my list for many weeks since we go slowly. Have a great week!

Reading Challenge Updates: 

Goodreads Challenge 2019 - 758/550

Diversity on the Shelf 2019 - 268/275

#MustReadin2019 - 21/30

Year of the Asian 2019 - 31/30