Reading Teacher Writes

IMWAYR: Mixing It Up

Fall break provided rich, relaxing reading time! Last week I finished books; this week I’m listening to a book and reading an adult title I’ve been waiting for.

I finished I Can Make This Promise, the debut by Christine Day. I loved the touching, complicated story of Edie and her family (and their secrets).

I finished Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds. (Check out my review later this week.) A five-star must read for those who love short stories and for those who love how characters interact throughout a text, weaving in and out of each other’s lives.

I’m listening to Thirteen Doorways: Wolves Behind Them All, by Laura Ruby. I love her work! This one is wonderful so far. It’s not what I expected!

Next up: The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Isn’t the cover beautiful? I heard about this one a while back, and now I think I have time to savor it.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is 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 Kathryn 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.

IMWAYR: Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Fall break is this week — lots of reading to do! Happy Reading!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and I 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.

IMWAYR: New Book Birthdays!

It’s another big week for reading! Fall Reading is Fabulous this year!

I decided to focus on graphic novels this week, since they are getting a hit from teachers across the country (again). Reminder: READING GRAPHIC NOVELS IS READING! These are some good stories, too, so let the kids read! (Teachers, you can read them, too!) I also HAD to have Jacqueline Woodson’s new book, even though it’s an adult read. (Yes, sometimes I read adult books, especially when my author friends write them.)

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Banned Books Week 2019

Happy Banned Books Week! Read a banned or challenged book this week. Happy Reading!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: I’m a Winner! Thank you, Susan Ross!

I’m a winner! Thank you, Susan Ross (@SusanRossAuthor) for sending me Kiki and Jacques: A Refugee Story and Searching for Lottie from your #giveaway on Twitter. I can’t wait to get started! Searching for Lottie sounds perfect for my middle school students. Knowing that the characters are based on Susan’s own family will make this a personal Holocaust story I won’t forget, I’m sure.

I will finish Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me this week. I don’t want to give away too much, but whoa! This is another excellent book by Gae Polisner (how DOES she do it?) with characters that you want to yell at and hug all at once. JL Markham is one of my new favorite characters this year.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: “Picture Books are Perfect” and Special Book Mail

This is a big week of reading, since I’ll be presenting my introductory professional development session, “Picture Books are Perfect for Middle School & High School” on September 14th at the Indiana State Literacy Conference in Noblesville, IN. I will read MANY picture books this week to finalize my presentation. Which books should I pack? Which ones are best for teaching theme? Which ones are best for teaching multiple perspectives? How about vocabulary? Setting? I have some ideas. If you are able, join us! Click here for more details. #ISLA19

I also received a special “book mail” package today. I am reading the upcoming Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner (Wednesday Books, 04/2020). Thank you to everyone at Macmillan for sending me an advanced reader copy. I’m honored.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Short Week – Happy Labor Day!

This is a short school week, so there’s plenty of time for reading. This past weekend I finished Maybe He Just Likes You, Things You Can’t Say, and More to the Story (Hena Khan’s newest comes out tomorrow!). All three of these are going into the middle school library as soon as possible. All three of these are excellent stories. All three of these are important books.

I received a beautiful book over the weekend and I’m absolutely in love. Ashley Bryan’s picture book autobiography, Ashley Bryan: Words to my Life’s Song is joyful, creative, and wonderful — just look at the cover! I can’t stop smiling when I glance over at the book. I can’t believe I haven’t read it before; it was published in 2009 (Atheneum). Thank you, Donalyn Miller, for the #bookaday giveaway.

Next up is The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty. It’s coming out tomorrow, too. (Random House Books for Young Readers) There are LOTS of book birthdays in September and October, by the way. Get ready! (That’s my pep talk to myself.)

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Catching Up

I’m catching up this week — finishing Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee (SO needed in our middle schools and high schools) and Things You Can’t Say by Jenn Bishop.

I am gathering more wordless picture books right now for various uses. The Fisherman & the Whale by Jessica Lana is an important book about humans taking care of the animals of the world, and how humans can show more empathy in the middle of struggle.

The Hero Next Door is the newest #WNDB (We Need Diverse Books) collection, and it’s a good one! The school library has it now. I’m sure it will be checked out by tomorrow afternoon.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Back-to-School Reading Begins

Will you look at this mess? LOL Yes, I staged it (a little). This stack of books on my desk grows each day, and I love it! This week:

Maybe He Just Likes You, by Barbara Dee — Barbara Dee has a way of making must-read books for middle graders. This one will be perfect for our students. Needed. Important. Timely. Thank you for sending this to me, Barbara! October is going to be a busy month for reading.

Things You Can’t Say, by Jenn Bishop was also in my #giveaway prize mail from Barbara Dee (Thank you again!) recently. Coming in 2020 from Aladdin Books, I’m sure you’ll want to add this to your list now.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Picture Books, a Story Collection, and a Bonus

Bonus comes first today — THE SILENCE BETWEEN US by Alison Gervais (Blink YA Books) comes out TOMORROW! Maya Harris must leave Pratt School for the Deaf and attend a hearing school — for her senior year in high school! It’s bad enough being the new girl, but she needs a personal interpreter for every class. (summary from Blink) I got to read this book as an ARC (advanced reader copy) and it is amazing! I’ve been waiting for-ev-er (Well, it seems like forever) for this one to publish, and now it’s here. Get your copy tomorrow from your nearest Indie bookseller, or order from The Brain Lair Bookstore (South Bend, IN).

Fall Picture Books are here! I was lucky to receive these and I will devour them this week (Thank you to FirstBook.org for the gift!): Truman by Jean Reidy, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca, Where Are You From? by Jaime Kim, My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, and When You Are Brave by Pat Zietlow Miller (which also gets the “coolest cover award,” from me, this week).

The #WNDB (We Need Diverse Books) story collection, The Hero Next Door (edited by the fabulous Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich) was also in my gift box today. I’ll need another copy of this for the school library, I’m sure.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?