Favorite Books of 2016

In 2016, I set the goal to read 500 books.

 I read 534.

60 were novel-length and of those 60, half of them I read with my eyes and the other half I read with my ears.

Of those 534 books that I read in 2016, here were some of my favorites. In the interest of full-disclosure, links will take you to my Amazon Affiliate page, so if you buy any of them, I receive a small percentage.


Favorite Picture Books - Inspirational
 
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
In order to get through the next 4 years, I'm gonna have to read a whole lot more books about inspiring and heroic women like RBG.


Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
John Lewis represents all that is good and right in our country. Before he was making Good Trouble, as a child, he was taking care of his family's flock of chickens and also preparing for his aspirations as a preacher at the same time. An endearing look at the childhood story of the man who has become known as America's moral conscience and who has always been on the right side of history. 


A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
This book is EVERYTHING. If you love books, it will resonate strongly with you and hopefully it will make you want to share it with every child in your life.  
  

Ideas Are All Around by Philip C. Stead
If you teach writing, you're going to want this book because once you finish reading it, you will want to write and create. A book that manages to inspire readers to say, "I want to do that and I CAN do that!" is a rare gem indeed.


School's First Day of School by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson
A book that is an absolute must-read on any first day of school, no matter how old your students are. And if any picture book of 2016 were to be considered for a Newbery and not just a Caldecott, it would be this one. Adam Rex's writing has that exact distinguished quality that the Newbery committee saw in Matt de la Pena's Last Stop on Market Street. 


The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield
David Litchfield, you had me at piano. And you kept me turning pages at this tender, quirky prodigal son story. 
 

Favorite Picture Books - Humor

Penguin Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith
A cranky penguin who complains about everything gets a lesson on appreciating what you have from a wise walrus. I loved the juxtaposition of the short, simple text on all the pages, coupled with the wise walrus's lengthy soliloquy toward the end of the story.  


Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli 
How do you tame the savage beast? That's what the king, the knights, and the villagers are trying to figure out. A hilarious story that will no doubt be a read aloud hit. I may even be able to use it as a mentor text about supporting your thesis (just HOW was dragon so terrible?) :)   


Favorite Middle Grade Novel:

Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar  
I didn't read much middle grade this year but what I did read was pretty amazing. This book is simply stunning. It is magical realism at its finest. Despite being middle grade fiction, I wouldn't hesitate to put this book in a high school classroom. In fact, I'd recommend it to anyone who read and loved Bone Gap.  


Favorite YA Novels

The Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely
I had the pleasure of hearing Brendan talk about the premise of this book at a Simon & Schuster dinner at NCTE and it immediately became my plane reading on my flight home. It did not disappoint. This modern retelling of The Odyssey takes place on a roadtrip and has a feminist spin. Kiely's desire to celebrate consent, coupled with his protagonist's honorable desire to help his grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, visit the place where he was married so he wouldn't forget his wife, makes him one of the most memorable protagonists of 2016.


Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
In her new novel, Ruta Sepetys does just as she did in Between Shades of Gray -- brought to light a moment in history that no one ever knew about. In this case, it's the biggest disaster in maritime history. Told in short chapters via four characters' alternating points-of-view, this book will leave you staying up late into the night to finish as you say to yourself, "Just one more chapter."

The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
 This is a book that takes place during 9/11 but manages to not be ABOUT 9/11. It's a reminder to us all that despite great tragedy, life goes on and the world keeps turning. It's a book that took me back to that fateful day in September of 2001 and what I was feeling, but it reminds me that the students I now teach weren't even born yet when it happened.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 12-26-16

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas yesterday. Now that I am on Christmas break, I am hoping to catch up on some reading.

Last week I finished reading with my ears:

Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff  
As someone who is from Michigan, this book hit the right notes of confirming what I already knew and learning more about the tragedy and corruption that continues to plague this once prosperous American city. LeDuff's inclusion of his own family history and vignettes at first seems out of place, but as the narrative unfolds, you come to see that it's what grants him the implicit permission and authority to editorialize and also tell the story of Detroit.


Picture books that stood out in the pile last week:
 
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
In order to get through the next 4 years, I'm gonna have to read a whole lot more books about inspiring and heroic women like RBG.

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack
A fun, funny, and lighthearted romp through a world where dinosaurs are quite convenient and useful pets.


Edible Numbers by Jennifer Vogel Bass 
I dare you not to be hungry for a colorful salad after reading this. Great companion to Edible Colors. 


Still reading:
 
March: Book 3 by John Lewis an Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell 
I read this book between all of my Walden committee reading so that's why it's taking me so long to finish this one. Otherwise it would have been finished a long time ago. John Lewis is one of my heroes.


Currently reading with my ears:

The Crown by Kiera Cass   

It's Monday! What are you reading? 12-19-16

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.

This has been such a bad reading week for me. The only thing I finished reading was:

A Pug's Guide to Etiquette by Gemma Correll
So that tells you the kind of fluff I needed to read this week.  But as a pug owner, I have to tell you, this guide to etiquette is both hilarious and enlightening. Just when you think your pug is the only one to behave in such a strange manner, you come to find out that all along, it was just good etiquette for your pug to behave in such a way. :) 

Still reading:
 
March: Book 3 by John Lewis an Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell 


Currently reading with my ears:

Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff 

Gift Ideas for the Nonfiction Loving Kid in Your Life

One thing I have discovered in my first year as a K-8 librarian is that young kids are hungry for nonfiction. They are constantly looking to learn new facts about topics they love (such as sports or pets) or topics they know absolutely nothing about (the Titanic, for instance is incredibly popular in my school library right now).

With that, I would like to recommend a few fantastic titles from National Geographic Kids that the nonfiction fan in your life might just love:


Rise of the Lioness: Restoring a Habitat and its Pride on the Liuwa Plains by Bradley Hague

Publisher Description:
Poaching and war damaged an isolated wilderness in West Zambia, reducing its lion population to just one: Lady, the last lioness. Witness Lady's fight for survival in this evocative narrative on the decline, fall, and rebirth of the Liuwa Plains. Follow Lady as she grapples with a landscape altered by human hands and discover how both Lady and humankind restore balance to the environment.
More than a story about one brave lion, The Lioness offers a great introduction to life science by looking at the workings of an ecosystem, the methods of scientists and environmentalists, and explaining the interconnection between the plant, animal, and human systems.

Dining with Dinosaurs: A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching by Hannah Bonner

Publisher Description:
Sure you know that T-Rex was the meat-eating king and that brontosaurus muched on leaves, but what else was on the dino dining menu during the Mesozoic era? In this hilarious book, paleontologists reveal all! Meet the 'vores: carnivores, piscivores, herbivores, insectivores, "trashivores," "sunivores," and omnivores like us. Readers will be surprised and inspired to learn about all the crazy stuff dinos ate and they'll get insights into how scientists can tell which dinosaurs ate what just from looking at fossils! Journey through artist and author Hannah Bonner's whimsical world to learn how the dinosaurs and their contemporaries bit, chewed, and soaked up their food.

Tales from the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love, and Betrayal by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Christina Ballit 

Publisher Description:
Classic stories and dazzling illustrations of princesses, kings, sailors, and genies come to life in a stunning retelling of the Arabian folk tales from One Thousand and One Nights and other collections, including those of Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, and Al Baba and the Forty Thieves. The magical storytelling of award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli dramatizes these timeless tales and ignites children's imaginations.

Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space, and More!

Publisher Description:

Food chemistry, atom crashing, wave power, food chemistry, and robots! These are just a few of the topics covered in this fantastic new science encyclopedia, which presents a comprehensive overview of physical and life sciences from A to Z. Super smart and kid-friendly, it’s packed with full-color photographs, weird but true facts, amazing statistics, do-it-yourself experiments, plus profiles of scientists and National Geographic's explorers who rock the world of science. Keep up with the changes happening all around us with this stellar science reference book.

Ultimate Oceanpedia by Christina Wilsdon 

Publisher Description:
From tsunamis and sea turtles to riptides and reefs, learn all about the creatures, science, and ecology of our oceans, which cover more of the planet than all the continents and are just as important! Travel through all parts of the ocean to learn how it affects of our world, including storms and climate. Amazing facts, photos, illustrations, and diagrams are found throughout this book, along with conservation tips, weird-but-true facts, and a mini ocean atlas. Challenges to the health of our ocean and its creatures are also presented along with what people are doing to keep it pristine for generations to come. 

Famous Fails! The Greatest Mistakes, Mess Ups, & Mishaps of All Time by Crispin Boyer

Publisher Description:
This fun book of quirky failures and famous flops will keep kids laughing while they learn the importance of messing up in order to get it right. Science, architecture, technology, entertainment -- there are epic fails and hilarious goof-ups from every important field. Silly side features help to analyze the failures: "Lesson Learned," "It Could be Worse!," "Losing Combinations," and a "Fail Scale" to help readers navigate the different kinds and scope of the mistakes made. The stories will include what went wrong, what went right, and what kids can learn from each failed attempt.

How Things Work by TJ Resler
 
Publisher Description: 
Ever wanted to take apart the microwave to see how it works? Crack open your computer and peek inside? Intrigued by how things work? So are we! That's why we're dissecting all kinds of things from rubber erasers to tractor beams! Read along as National Geographic Kids unplugs, unravels, and reveals how things do what they do. Complete with "Tales from the Lab," true stories, biographies of real scientists and engineers, exciting diagrams and illustrations, accessible explanations, trivia, and fun features, this cool book explains it all!

The Book of Heroines: Tales of History's Gutsiest Gals by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

 Publisher Description:
Everybody needs a role model! Discover true stories of superstars, war heroes, world leaders, gusty gals, and everyday girls who changed the world. From Sacagawea to Mother Teresa, Annie Oakley to Malala Yousafzai, these famous females hiked up their pants and petticoats or charged full-speed ahead to prove that girls are just as tough as boys...maybe even tougher. Complete with amazing images and a fun design, this is the book that every kid with a goal, hope, or dream will want to own.
 

The Book of Heroes: Tales of History's Most Daring Guys by Crispin Boyer

Publisher Description:
Everybody needs a role model! Discover the true stories of superheroes, rebels, world leaders, action heroes, sports legends, and many more daring dudes, all of whom played their part to make their mark, make a contribution, and make the world a better place.

From Abraham Lincoln to Sitting Bull, Stephen Hawking to Galileo, these cool guys had the boldness, bravery, and brains to meet the challenges of their day. With a fun design, engaging text, and high-quality photographs, this is ultimate hero guide and keepsake for 21st century kids.



What are YOUR favorite nonfiction books to give as gifts? 

It's Monday! What are you reading? 12-12-16

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.

Hello, friends. It's been a while. I just haven't felt like blogging since the election happened. I'm at a point right now where I'm trying not to let the despair take over but it's hard. I never even wrote a post-NCTE wrap up post, which usually gives me great joy to relive the wonderful experiences I had at such a fulfilling conference. I've also been busy with Walden committee reading so it's been hard to blog about books that I've been reading on my own given the volume of YA titles I'm reading for consideration right now. Needless to say, I've been in a bit of a blogging funk lately. But I'm here. And I'm determined to get back in the swing of writing and sharing my passion for books. So here's a snippet of my reading from the past month:


I finished reading:

The Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely
I had the pleasure of hearing Brendan talk about the premise of this book at a Simon & Schuster dinner at NCTE and it immediately became my plane reading on my flight home. It did not disappoint. This modern retelling of The Odyssey takes place on a roadtrip and has a feminist spin. Kiely's desire to celebrate consent, coupled with his protagonist's honorable desire to help his grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, visit the place where he was married so he wouldn't forget his wife, makes him one of the most memorable protagonists of 2016.

The Art of Holding On and Letting Go by Kristin Bartley Lenz
I loved that the characters in this novel felt real -- like they were your own friends. A book I will definitely be recommending to my middle school readers.  


I finished reading with my ears:

The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman
A book about the price of magic -- and not the monetary price.  The book has kind of a We Were Liars vibe to it, so if you loved that book, chances are you will enjoy this one. 


Still reading:
 
March: Book 3 by John Lewis an Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell 
 

It's Monday! What are you reading? 11-7-16

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.

I've been such a neglectful blogger lately. I guess I'm just finding it hard to do ALL THE THINGS lately. and have let some things slide. Hopefully I can get back in he blogging groove soon. In the meantime, here is what I've been up to reading the past two weeks.


I finished reading with my ears:

The Heir by Kiera Cass    
I'm seriously irked with how this book ended, which is basically with no resolution. Cliffhangers are one thing, but just refusing to resolve a story because you know there's going to be another book really raises my hackles. But I guess I'm a glutton for punishment because I still want to read the next book in the series.  


Picture books that stood out in the pile:

A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson 
Lovers of classic children's literature will fall in love with Andrea Davis Pinkney's A Poem for Peter, which pays tribute to Ezra Jack Keats's Snowy Day. The writing is simply stunning, though this book feels like it's more for adults and scholars of children's literature than the children themselves. Regardless it is an absolutely gorgeous piece of art. 


The Snurtch by Sean Ferrell, illustrated by Charles Santoso
Kids behaving badly? Blame the snurtch. It's kind of like a bad behavior monster that follows us around like a deranged guardian angel. 


Penguin Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith
A cranky penguin who complains about everything gets a lesson on appreciating what you have from a wise walrus. I loved the juxtaposition of the short, simple text on all the pages, coupled with the wise walrus's lengthy soliloquy toward the end of the story.

Lane Smith's illustrations are simple yet highly stylized and are most certainly worthy of Caldecott consideration.  


Currently reading:

March: Book 3 by John Lewis an Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell 


Currently reading with my ears:

The Cost of All Things by Maggie  Lehrman

It's Monday! What are you reading? 10-24-16

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.

My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.

Last week was exhausting but rewarding. I had parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday, which went really well. The parents at my school are always a pleasure to talk to. Then on Friday this happened:

That's right. I was in the room where it happens.  It is safe to say that Hamilton has ruined musicals for me. Nothing will ever be better than that. By the end, I had tears streaming down my face and I couldn't even cheer for the cast because I was so stunned by what a brilliant work I just witnessed. I was tired by the end of the show, but I didn't care. I wanted to see it all over again. I'm still trying to figure out how I can see it again soon. As if it wasn't hard enough to see it the first time.

Then yesterday, my husband and I participated in our very first 5K. We've been training with the Couch to 5K app all summer and finally ran a 5K. It's hard to believe I went from someone who couldn't even run for 30 second at a time to running a 5K.

You'd think with all the excitement of this past week that I wouldn't have any time to read, but lo and behold, I had a great reading week. Let me share it with you...

I finished reading:

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse 
A sold, page-turning historical fiction/mystery

 
 Snow White by Matt Phelan
 An interesting and provocative retelling of Snow White set in the roaring 20s. Instead of seven dwarfs, Snow White encounters a group of seven young rapscallion who try to protect her from her wicked stepmother.


Picture books that stood out in the pile last week:

Pirasaurs! by Josh Funk, illustrated by Michael Slack
Nobody drops dope picture book rhymes better than Josh Funk. He manages to elevate rhyming picture books from cheesy and groan-worthy to cheer inducing and wanting to give him and the person reading the book the biggest hive five ever. 


The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field
We all have a little mouse and lion inside us. I'm already thinking of all the ways I can use this book in the library with students. 


Dirty Rats? by  Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
After reading a book about the virtues of rats, I'm wondering if maybe the author could write one about mosquitoes, because I can't imagine there being anything to justify the presence of those bloodsuckers on the planet. ;) 


The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest by Steve Jenkins 
As much as I find reading books about climbing Mt. Everest fascinating, I also can't help but think that the people who do are straight-up cray. Would be a good non-fiction supplement to give students reading Peak by Roland Smith.  


Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman, illustrated by Steve Moors 
As Mr. Rogers says, when bad things happen, look for the helpers. That's just what this book celebrates on the most tragic day in our nation's modern history.


Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis  
Told in a completely made-up language, readers in Du Iz Tak will have to spend a lot of time reading the pictures to interpret the story. But with Carson Ellis's beautiful and endearing illustrations, readers will have no problem with that. I could see this book being a Caldecott contender.


Currently Reading:
 
The Light Fantastic by Sarah Combs 


Still reading with my ears:

The Heir by Kiera Cass