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:
Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon is an interesting picture book biography. Philip Freelon found reading difficult, but numbers, science, and drawing were strengths. One of his major accomplishments was the design for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Swim, Mo, Swim! made me laugh. Each of these Mo books are a delight and are great for beginning readers.
The Other Half of Happy is a middle grade novel dealing with family and that feeling of not quite fitting in with people. She's biracial and is trying to find out how to be herself. I had it on my #MustReadin2021 list because it was a Pura Belpré honor that I had missed.
I'm still reading a lot of rom-coms. Husband Material and Meet Cute were both entertaining. I'm not sure I'll remember them in a week, but they were enjoyable at the time. ;)
In addition, I read a lot of picture books with my students as we did our Mock elections. Here were their picks for winners and honors.
First Grade - Geisel Award Winner = Sun Flower Lion, Honors - Swim, Mo, Swim!, Astrid & Apollo and the Happy New Year, and The Old Truck
Second Grade - Caldecott Winner = Honeybee, Honors - Lift, We Are Water Protectors, & Hike
Third Grade - Coretta Scott King = Bedtime for Sweet Creatures, Honor - Just Like Me, Black is a Rainbow Color & You Matter
Fourth Grade - Pura Belpré Winner = ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat, Honor - A Journey Toward Hope
Fifth Grade - Sibert Winner = Honeybee, Honors - All the Way to the Top and How to Solve a Problem
The Coming Week:
I have about 100 more pages in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying so may finish it this week. I am reading several books at the same time right now. I am listening to the middle grade book Root Magic from LibroFM. I just got a copy of Foreshadow, a YA anthology, from a book exchange through the 88 Cups of Tea Facebook group and am enjoying the stories. I am still working through an Audre Lorde collection too. I wish you a great week filled with reading.
I love seeing the 'winners' from each grade, Crystal. Thanks for sharing. And I've put The Other Half of Happy & Dream Builder on my list. Your description reminds me of a granddaughter with reading struggles but always creating something out of junk things & cardboard! I bet she would love that book!
ReplyDeleteMock elections are such fun! Thanks for sharing those titles this week. I get rather frustrated when I read a book and wonder if I'll remember it in a week. I always worry that it's a sign of dementia (since that runs in my family) but I have to remember that by reading so many books each year, I can't possible keep all the storylines and characters in my head (unless they made a huge impact). Have a wonderful reading week, Crystal!
ReplyDeleteI'm especially intrigued the Dream Builder title. My older son wanted to be an architect at one point and my hubby also has a strong interest in that area. It's always fascinating reading about other artists processes.
ReplyDeleteI have to intersperse my heavy reads with light ones I'll probably forget rather quickly too. :)
The Other Half of Happy sounds like a great MG novel! Dream Builder also sounds excellent, and I'm glad you enjoyed some lighthearted romances as well—it's nice to just read something fun sometimes! I love your students' votes on the book award winners—that is such a clever idea! Thanks for the great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this list of books Crystal. I've added Swim, Mo, Swim! to my list of books for my grandkids. It sounds like these books for beginning readers are getting better and better!
ReplyDeleteI've added The Other Half of Happy to my list.
I'm surprised I still haven't read Honeybee. Or maybe I have. It's hard remembering things these days.
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