It's Monday! What are you reading? 7-30-18

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 we announced  ALAN's Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalists. This week, WE HAVE A WINNER! 

Being part of this committee is a true labor of YA lit love. 


Last week I finished reading:

Teaching Reading with YA Literature: Complex Texts, Complex Lives by Jennifer Buehler
In this book, Dr. Jennifer Buehler writes of the myriad ways that teachers can use YA lit in their pedagogy, not just as a supplement, but as examplar texts. This book includes explanations for how YA lit is complex, ways to assess the reading of YA in the classroom, and talking points for the naysayers who don't think YA should be taught instead of the classics (AKA, old dead white guys).


(Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health edited by Kelly Jensen
Jensen's first anthology about feminism blew me away and was visually stunning. This book about mental health is equally as engaging, visually appealing, and important. Add this to your YA nonfiction collection in October.


Mac B. Kid Spy: Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Mike Lowery

If you haven’t watched Mac Barnett’s TED talk, do that before you read this book; The absurdity will make more sense. Absurdity that includes, the Queen of England, stolen Crown Jewels, the queen’s corgis, the Mona Lisa, and the KGB. A great new transitional chapter book series for students in grades 2&3.

Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings by Naseem Hrab, illustrated by Josh Holinaty
Ira Crumb’s chin wibbles and the tears fall when his friends and classmates choose to play tag over his preferred hide and seek. A sweet story about allowing grace for yourself when you’re feeling sad.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 7-23-18

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'm excited that at noon EST, the finalists for ALAN's Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award will be announced. Check back on my Twitter or Instagram for the finalist announcement later today. 


Last week I finished reading:

Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement and More by Mallika Chopra
While this isn't a book I would recommend to read on your own because it's hard to meditate and read at the same time, a teacher wanting to adopt mindfulness meditation in their classroom, this could read the meditations aloud.


Picture books that stood out in the pile:

A Drop of the Sea by Ingrid Chabbert, illustrated by Raul Nieto Guridi

A young boy who lives with his great grandmother goes in a journey to find the ocean to bring some of it back to her since that is the only dream she has not fulfilled in her life. I Got a Chicken for My Birthday by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Sarah Horne Ana asked her abuela for tickets to an amusement park for her birthday but instead she got a chicken. Her disappointment may not last long, however when she sees what the chicken is planning in their backyard. Just Being Jackie by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos Jacqueline Kennedy is the closest thing to American Royalty we have ever had. She was more than just an accessory on the president’s arm. When they traveled abroad, her conversation and diplomacy was often preferred over that of her husband. She might have appeared to be the perfect politician’s wife, always standing by her man, but she had a mind and career of her own and she brought all of her intellect and social prowess to her role as First Lady. I enjoyed learning more about Jackie in this well-written, breezily illustrated biography of one of the most beloved First Ladies in American history. Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey In a book that initially seems like it’s going to be another criticism of “kids these days” and their addiction to technology, Shanda McCloskey instead turns it into a tale of a young girl with some kick-ass coding chops. Jerome By Heart by Thomas Scotto, illustrated by Olivier Tallec A beautiful story about two boys who are best friends and aren’t afraid to express their affection for each other. Idea Jar by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Deb Pilutti “It’s important to create stories for your ideas or else your ideas get rowdy... when it’s part of a story, an idea is happy.” A great mentor text to use with students about doing something with all those gathered ideas we store away in notebooks, jars, or even our heads. Currently (still) reading: Teaching Reading with YA Literature: Complex Texts, Complex Lives by Jennifer Buehler

It's Monday! What are you reading? 7-9-18

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 I finished reading:

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
This book. It is so beautiful and important. I can’t believe the tenderness and love with which Krosoczka handles his incredibly difficult childhood. The nuance in his perspective on his mom’s addiction and grandparents’ alcoholism is something I hope everyone takes away from reading this graphic memoir. Humans are flawed and complex. Love them anyway. Pre-order this if you teach middle school or high school. In the mean time, watch Krosoczka's TED Talk, which is basically this book but in TED Talk form.

Rebound by Kwame Alexander

The prequel to the Newbery-award-winning The Crossover, we now get to read the story of Chuck Bell, father of Josh and JB, main characters of The Crossover. This book was good, but nothing will ever beat the magic and swag of the first book. 

How I Resist: Activism and Hope for the Next Generation edited by Maureen Johnson

Wonderful compilation of essays, interviews, poems, and stories of resistance

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Dan Harris

I liked the idea of this book more than the execution. There was a lot of good information but you had to sift through a lot of the anecdotes and self-indulgence to get to the meat of the book. I still recommend it for people who want to try mindfulness meditation, just know you’re likely going to be doing some skimming. Picture books that stood out in the pile: What is Chasing Duck? There's a Pest in the Garden My Friends Make Me Happy My Toothbrush is Missing by Jan Thomas An adorable new early reader series that will speak to the heart and humor of Elephant and Piggie fans. Just like The Pigeon is hiding somewhere in all of the Elephant and Piggie books, this series' shtick is that each book mentions a turnip completely out of left field. Currently reading: Teaching Reading with YA Literature: Complex Texts, Complex Lives by Jennifer Buehler