It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-27-21

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.

Hi friends! Over on TikTok this week, I was busy making some fun book-related videos:

@bibliophilebeth

But also, I’m gonna interrogate you about your likes and dislikes cuz I got lots of recommendations but we’re gonna need to narrow it down ##booktok

♬ Its What I Do by teezeesounds - teezeesounds

@bibliophilebeth

When you have to replenish book displays after 7th grade leaves ##happylibrarian ##librariansoftiktok ##schoollibrarian ##booktok

♬ Happy - Pharrell Williams

Last week I read and enjoyed:

When We Make It by Elizabet Velasquez

Fans of Elizabeth Acevedo will devour this novel in verse by Elisabet Velasquez. This is the story of Sarai and the daily struggles of living in poverty in Brooklyn as the child of first generation Puerto Ricans. The writing in this novel in verse is beautiful; I particularly love that Velasquez uses Spanglish throughout the narrative, but doesn't feel compelled to translate for her monolingual readers, choosing instead to ask them to use context clues or to seek the translations on their own. While the writing was beautiful and kept me turning pages, the story is a difficult read and one that felt short on hope, which is ultimately why it took me longer to read this book than it typically does for a novel in verse. Sarai's family situation -- an emotionally distant mother in addition to their dire financial situation-- is one that many young (and not-so-young) readers will certainly identify with, but doesn't make it any less difficult to read about. I chalk this up to a book that is a necessary but difficult read. Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Christian Robinson A stunning tribute to Nina Simone. The writing is engaging while the pictures draw you in and beg you to pore over them and ask questions. I could totally see a Caldecott sticker on this in January. Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Geneva Bowers A book filled with all kinds of Black Girl Magic as a young girl admires all the ways her hair is adaptable as it is styled by her mama.

The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Kids love reading about poop. And this book pairs poop with a water-borne disease epidemic that is certain to make this an interesting and timely read for kids. War by Jose Jorge and Andrea Letria With both spare text and illustrations, and each page a new metaphor for war, this book will get (older) kids thinking about the toll and cost of war and lead to fruitful discussions. Currently reading: The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu Currently reading with my ears:  Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai

It's Monday! What are you reading? 9-20-21

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 recently read and loved:

When I See Red by Britta Teckentrup

A book that reflects on the importance of embracing anger as a healthy emotion when it is worked through in healthy ways. I love that the message of this book is that no longer should women and girls show only pleasant emotions, but that anger is helpful and can even make you powerful. Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth, illustrated Romina Galotta The story this book is based on was featured on NPR's This American life. If you love libraries and librarians, this book will make you tear up. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long Amanda Gorman writes a moving testament to inclusivity and embracing change. This beautiful story begins with one young girl playing her song with just a guitar, and as the story progresses, many different faces, voices, and instruments join her as a reminder that our diversity is what makes us great. A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sara Palacios A young girl helps her grandfather sell fruit when she visits him in Cuba. Don't miss the author's note at the end which gives great background on what inspired the author to write the book in Spanglish from the travel restrictions that families must endure as a result of our strained relationship with Cuba. Sharice's Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman by Sharice Davids & Nancy L. Mays, illustrated by Joshua Mangeshing Pawis-Steckley A wonderful and engaging picture book biography of one of the first Native American women to be elected to Congress. Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall When a young boy pesters his parents for a cat, they finally give in, but are disappointed that the cat they bring home and name Max is a “negative cat.” So the family considers sending him back to the shelter, until the young boy discovers something special and redeeming about Max… Currently reading: When We Make It by Elizabet Velasquez Currently reading with my ears: When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur