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 want to know more about what I've been reading, visit my Goodreads shelf.

The Past Week on the Blog:

Review: American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott

The Past Week in Books: 

 #Classroombookaday books

Pre-K - Hello, Baby Animals by Lorinda Bryan Cauley & My Friends Make Me Happy by Jan   Thomas

Kinders - Teddy's Favorite Toy by Christian Trimmer illustrated by Madeline Valentine

First grade - Love by Matt de la Peña illustrated by Loren Long

Second grade - Leaves & Honey by David Ezra Stein

Third grade - All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman and Drawn Together by Minh Lê illustrated by Dan Santat

Fourth grade - A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

Fifth grade - Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal & Run Wild by David Covell

 

It was especially fun to integrate outdoor learning with many of our #classroombookaday books this week. Several grades went outside after reading. Fifth grade went out to name some plants after reading Alma.

 

 

I also managed to fit in some adult and YA reads.

 

On Thursday night, Kao Kalia Yang spoke at Viterbo University. It was wonderful to hear her and get to meet her too. For that event, I re-read The Latehomecomer which is an excellent memoir. I was excited to find out that she has picture books coming out too.

 

We had our librarian Battle of the Books this past Friday. For that, I finished re-reading and giggling through American Panda.

American Road Trip [via Netgaelley] was intense, but also fun. See my review above for more info.

The Coming Week: After hearing Kao Kalia speak, I started reading her book The Song Poet about her father. I will likely finish that. I may also start the graphic novel Pashmina since it's on my #MustReadin2018 list and it just came back to the library on Friday. I might also grab This Will Be My Undoing. Happy reading!

Reading Challenge Updates: 
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 481/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 145/300
#MustReadin2018 - 18/30

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 want to know more about what I've been reading, visit my Goodreads shelf.

The Past Week on the Blog:

#MustReadin2018 Fall Update

Author Spotlight: Zetta Elliott

The Past Week in Books: 

 #Classroombookaday books

What If... by Samantha Berger, illuatrated by Mike Curato
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson illustrated by Rafael López
The Big Umbrella co-written by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

I finally finished An American Marriage. The audio was a little annoying, but it was my only option if I wanted to read it for our Battle of the Books competition coming up at the end of the week. The story is intense and a heart-breaker. It's one I'm glad I read though. The 57 Bus is also intense. These were both on our Battle list and both worth the read. 

Another book I read (as a re-read) for Battle was The Birchbark House. I love this book of family and survival. 

Finally, I read the Digital ARC (via Netgalley) of American Road Trip (another #MustReadin2018 book) which comes out next week. I loved Patrick Scott-Flores' book Jumped In, so I was really looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint. I'll review it later this week for Rich in Color.

The Coming Week: I'm re-reading The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang because she will be in town later this week and it's also the monthly pick for our neighborhood book club. I have her book The Song Poet too, so may get to that. I'm also re-reading American Panda for our battle on Friday. I hope you have a great week!

Reading Challenge Updates: 
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 455/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 143/300
#MustReadin2018 - 19/30

#MustReadin2018 Fall Update

This is my fifth year participating in Carrie Gelson's #MustRead challenge. I love it. This is a way to encourage myself to read books I have wanted to read, but never quite get to. It's also a way to keep certain books on my radar that haven't been released yet. Carrie does a great job encouraging us and reminding us to post about our progress.

This year I chose 30 books. In the spring, I posted about the first nine books I had finished. Since then, I have finished another nine for a total of eighteen. Yay!!

 

I loved a lot of these books. I reviewed the Our Stories, Our Voices and recommended it. The stories are inspirational and remind readers that we are not alone. Convenience Store Woman was an adult novel and was perfect for reading while on my trip to Japan this summer. We went to so many, many convenience stores. Also, the main character is unique and has a fabulous voice. From Twinkle, With Love was funny and fabulous. The Way You Make Me Feel also had me in laughter. Dread Nation was intense. We did a discussion about it at Rich in Color. There were also some Native representation issues that were brought up by Debbie Reese. I enjoyed the action and adventure, but it wasn't my favorite. Pemmican Wars is a YA graphic novel and was an interesting way to read about Native history. Give Me Some Truth was awesome as I expected. It was a sequel or companion to If I Ever Get Out of Here. The author does a fantastic job with place and characters. I reviewed it here.  Not the Girls You're Looking For is another super fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I reviewed it here. Amal Unbound is a gorgeous book of family and how strong some young women prove to be. I reviewed it here.

I'm looking forward to reading more on my list. Thanks for stopping by!

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 want to know more about what I've been reading, visit my Goodreads shelf.

The Past Week on the Blog:

Celebrating Summer

The Past Week in Books: 
I've read quite a few picture books for the award committee I'm on. I also re-read The First Rule of Punk and Piecing Me Together. These are two books I have now read three times each. I love them so much. I was happy to see them on our adult Battle of the Books list. We have our competition in two weeks and it will be fun to talk about great books with each other. I'm almost finished with An American Marriage. One word - intense. It's also on our list.

Charts ready to fill in with our read alouds.

The Coming Week: I'm re-reading Birchbark House (also for the competition) and will likely revisit some of the others on my list. I'll also be reading my #classroombookaday books as school begins again. If you checked out #classroombookaday, started by Jillian Heise, you can find more information here. Have a great week!

Reading Challenge Updates: 
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 431/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 137/300
#MustReadin2018 - 18/30

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 and I appreciate the community we have through this link-up.

Celebrating Summer

This summer has held so many lovely moments. I can't even begin to share them all in one post. There were moments of wonder, laughter, amazement, excitement and much more. 

Early in the summer I was able to travel to South Korea and Japan to visit the families whose children we had hosted in our home. We shared food, drinks, conversation and even some adventures. 

Seoul, South Korea

Tokyo, Japan

Within a few days of my return, I was off to NerdcampMI. It's always a precious time with friends new and old. It's a time of learning, sharing, and connecting.

I stayed with my mother and spent time with my grandmother who no longer recognizes me. That was hard. I knew it was coming, but it was still hard. I appreciated the time we had even so....

Then, I spent a week learning with people from the Ho-Chunk Nation. We learned about tribal culture, indigenous plants, culturally responsive teaching and more. Again it was a time of learning and connection. 

Lots of fun and learning with @EarthPartners Ho-Chunk Indigenous Arts & Sciences class via @UWMadison pic.twitter.com/Yy6HBLfTe2

— Crystal Brunelle (@librarygrl2) July 24, 2018

My husband and I, along with another couple, also rode across Wisconsin. The guys were on bicycles and the two ladies were in a car. We got to do a little shopping and eating between cheering the guys on all the way to the finish line.  

I also spent most of a week with my sister who flew from Texas to meet me in Chicago. We had a fabulous time together including a ride on a "pirate ship."

Finally, our international student has arrived from South Korea and will be with us until June. It's a transition time for us all as we get to know each other and even learn a new school. We live near a private high school and she is attending there. 

I'm thankful for the opportunities to travel and connect with people. Being with so many people this summer has definitely been a blessing.

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 want to know more about what I've been reading, visit my Goodreads shelf.

The Past Weeks on the Blogs:

Review: Our Stories, Our Voices

 

Group Discussion: A Thousand Beginnings and Endings

Author Spotlight: Maurene Goo

The Past Week in Books:

 

 

I have been reading picture books like mad, but it's for a book award so I feel a bit awkward talking about them online. So far this year, I've read more than 250 for the award. Aside from all of that, I've read books for Rich in Color (see above links) and then a few graphic novels. Active Voice is an interesting memoir style GN for older teens or adults. Molly Danger is a fun younger comic. Exquisite Corpse is for older teens and adults and was funny in a slightly twisted way.

The Coming Week: 

I'm starting An American Marriage and am already reading The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street. I'm not sure how much reading I will accomplish as I will be in Chicago for part of the week with my sister and will pick up our Korean exchange student on Saturday. It's an exciting week for us. Have a great week full of reading.

Reading Challenge Updates: 
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 402/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 132/300
#MustReadin2018 - 18/30

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 want to know more about what I've been reading, visit my Goodreads shelf.

 The Past Week in Books:

Wishtree is a very different kind of middle grade since the narrator is actually the tree. It's what I'd call a quiet book as not a lot happens. 

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings is a fantastic short story collection. It's re-tellings of traditional stories from Asia. I loved the variety and many were written by favorite authors like Cindy Pon so it was fun to see their shorter work. I see lots of possibilities for use with students too. Like picture books, short stories are a great way to share literature with students without investing weeks of time on a novel and you can still have a common text everyone can experience. (We'll be discussing this book at Rich in Color next week - with spoilers so be warned.)

Children of Blood and Bone is amazing - and long. I loved it though it is difficult to read. Tomi Adeymi wrote this in response to violence on Black bodies in the present time. Even though it is set in another time and place, there are clear similarities.

The Coming Week: I'm still reading picture books for an award committee. I am also reading books for the librarian Battle of the Books coming up next month. My next book for that is An American Marriage. Wishtree and Children of Blood and Bone were both for that. Have a great week!

Reading Challenge Updates: 
Goodreads Challenge 2018 - 345/800
Diversity on the Shelf 2018 - 126/300
#MustReadin2018 - 17/30