Monday, December 31, 2012

It's Monday! What are You Reading? 12-31-12

 
Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen and Kellee  over at Teach Mentor Texts also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

Happy New Year's Eve! I can't believe  another year has just blown by! 2012 was an amazing year. I'm anxious and excited to see what 2013 has in store!

With this being Christmas break and all, I've finally had time to catch up on my reading and this past week. I'm looking forward to another week of rest, relaxation and good books!

Last week I read:

Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
I found myself skimming through quite a bit of this book though there were a few treasured nuggets of wisdom I'll be using in my classroom.

 
You Tell Your Dog First by Alison Pace
Alison Pace not only gets dogs, she gets dog-people too. I think I might call her the quintessential dog person. Love, love, love this book. I'll be writing a longer review of this one after the first of the year.

 
Just One Day by Gayle Forman
This book lagged in the middle but had a great beginning and ending. Gayle Forman just knows how to weave a page-turning story and craft unique, interesting characters.


Picture books I read and loved last week:

Hello! Hello! by Matthew Cordell
This book reminds me of one of my student's 6-word memoir from last year:

Forget i-everything. Go climb a tree.


Hello! Hello!
is a nice reminder to us of the beautiful world beyond our gadget screens.



Sit, Truman! by Dan Harper, illustrated by Cara and Barry Moser
Oh Truman, you are just a great, big, lovable oaf, aren't you? I read this book in the car and laughed the whole time, thus my husband kept looking over at me wondering what was so entertaining. A giant bull mastiff, that's what.

I also reviewed five titles in a speed review post (kind of like speed dating, but for book reviews).


Currently reading:
 
The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy
My students can't wait to read this one so I promised I'd read it over break so I could finally start passing it around after the first of the year. (Even though I tell my students no one can call dibs on anything, I sure get to call dibs on books. It's good to be the teacher. :-P)


Currently listening:
 
A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink
I listened to the audiobook of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates us probably like two years ago and have been meaning to read/listen to this book for a while now. I'm finally getting around to it and it is no less brilliant and mind-blowing than Drive was.


Since my blog hasn't seen so much activity in a while, I thought I'd also give you a recap of all I posted last week:
Audiobook Review: The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond
My Top Ten Favorite Books of 2012
The best gifts are unexpected: Moorenko's Ice Cream
And the Babymouse Thief was...
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good book!

 


10 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a great reading week! I enjoyed your speed review. Happy New Year!

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  2. Oh, now I want to check out Sir, Truman! I love your blog! :) Happy New Year!

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  3. What a nice variety of books you read. I have A Whole New Mind somewhere on my TBR mountain but haven't had a chance to start it. I'll be eager to hear what you think. Here is my Monday Report. Happy reading and Happy New Year.

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  4. You read lots of great books this week. I just love Hello! Hello! I'm going to have to find Sit Truman. I am waiting for A Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle, along with some of my students.

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  5. You Tell Your Dog First and Letters to My Daughter both really appeal to me. And I love the cover of Sit Truman! Even though my youngest child is outgrowing picture books, I can't resist them. :-) Happy New Year!

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  6. I had no idea that there was a second Christopher Healy title. My son just got the first A HerosGuide and he can't wait to begin it! Looks like so much fun!

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  7. So jealous you have the ARC of the Hero's Guide book 2! I'm excited to read that one.

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  8. I want to read The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy! I really enjoyed the first. Hello! Hello! is one I've been wanting to try as well. I read a glowing review about it somewhere.

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  9. I have often thought about reading a book by Maya Angelou and perhaps one day I will. The other one that appeals is the Daniel Pink one, so many talk about it. Drive that is as I haven't even read that one. Possibly will put that on my NF list for reading this year I think.

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  10. Hi there Beth, my eye was caught by the Maya Angelou book. I have several of her books here with me, most I've read already, but this one is unfamiliar to me. Will look this one up. Have a great reading year ahead!

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