IMWAYR: Nonfiction and Banned Books

There’s so much to read right now! Last week, I read a bunch of nonfiction picture books — I just LOVE picture books! I’m also celebrating Banned Books Week — Look for my “Banned Books Focus” posts this week.

I’m still reading Turning Point by Paula Chase (so good!) and I need to get to Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser next!

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, so I’m continuing to seek out those titles. Next up is Letters From Cuba by Ruth Behar (author of Lucky Broken Girl).

I’ve read some nonfiction books to pass along to my granddaughter when I see her. Voting, remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and studying climate change are topics of interest.

 

 

 

 

It’s Banned Books Week! Keep reading whatever you want to read, no matter the content, and don’t let anyone stop you. Censorship of any kind is wrong, and I’m happy to celebrate all reading this week.

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop with kidlit co-hosts Jennifer (at www.teachmentortexts.com) and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

IMWAYR: Hispanic Heritage Month

I fell behind again in my reading life. There’s school, committee meetings, virtual events, and camping to do before I go back to in-person school, so my own reading took a back seat last week.

I finished My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee. Such a good family story! Look for my review this week. I’m still reading Turning Point by Paula Chase and Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser this week.

I also need to get back to my Net Galley reading. I was approved to read This is How We Fly by Anna Meriano, but I haven’t started it yet.

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, which is exciting because many of my favorite authors have awesome books out there that we need to promote right now. Here’s a tiny glimpse of my school’s selection (books I’ve read recently):

 

 

 

 

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop with kidlit co-hosts Jennifer (at Teach Mentor Texts) and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Updated Book Lists

Dear Reader Friends,

I finally had a chance to play around with my Bookshop.org lists today, updating my book list for “Picture Books are Perfect for Writing Workshop” to reflect current books I used for my #ISLA20 presentation last weekend.

I also loaded a list called “My Favorite Memoirs/True Stories.” I think you should read all the books on that list; it’s a good one (my opinion, of course).

If you’re looking for a good book to read next, check out my lists. Happy Reading!

Jennifer

https://bookshop.org/shop/readingteacherwrites

 

IMWAYR: Exciting New Books Coming Soon!

After a long day, I had a grand opportunity to see Paula Chase, in conversation with Renee Watson, thanks to Brain Lair Books virtual events! Thank you, Kathy Burnette, for hosting a fabulous chat! There are many new books coming out this week, and I want to read them all! I’ll start with…

Turning Point by Paula Chase

My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee

Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser

 

 

 

I also need to get back to my Net Galley reading. I was just approved to read This is How We Fly by Anna Meriano.

 

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop with kidlit co-hosts Jennifer (at www.teachmentortexts.com) and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

“Picture Books are Perfect” – Review of I Am Every Good Thing

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James is the newest must-read picture book for middle school, and everyone else! This is a joyful celebration of all good things: gravity, moonbeams, cinnamon rolls, skateboarding, using a microscope, being polite, paper airplanes, swimming…and being human! I love the language — “I am a lightning round of questions…” reminds me of my former 6th grade students and my current grandchildren. The references to family, creativity, respect, worth, and love make this the feel-good book of the year.

Happy Book Birthday, Dusti Bowling!

The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling

Nora’s therapist asks, “What do you fear?” (Dying.) and “Are you likely to die in this situation?” (Yes.)

It’s been a year since Nora and her dad lost her mother in a violent, unprovoked event. Dad has been grieving by taking Nora out of school and avoiding people; Nora doesn’t want to deal with the questions, either, and has pushed away her best friend in the process. After a year, it’s time to start healing. Dad and Nora take the Jeep to the canyon, where the family spent their lives climbing and hiking — a favorite bonding activity. To move forward, Nora and Dad must come to understand “why,” avoiding the “what-ifs” of this new life. Nora writes in her notebook to capture what was, what is, and what might be in the future.

As the father/daughter team climb through the canyon, terrible things happen. When a flash flood smashes them against a wall and sweeps her father away, Nora is left alone to face the scorpions, snakes, and The Beast. Can she use what her therapist taught her (breathe, move, hope) to find her father again, or will the canyon take what is left of her family?

Dusti Bowling is a master of words in this gripping and suspenseful new middle-grade Southwest story. Students should study the character development, writing engaging scenes, figurative language, and poetry (I love haiku, too!). Any reader who loves outdoor adventures will love this book.

Happy Book Birthday, Dusti Bowling! I’m so happy to see this book out in the world!

IMWAYR: Reading for School and Home

I am reading for school and home purposes this week.

I finished…

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. What joy! I recommend this for every reader, young and old! Amazing and inspiring!

Flamer by Mike Curato. FIRE! Flamer is going to win awards, I’m sure. Trigger warning: it’s a tough one, and has foul language. I think late middle school through adult MUST read this. Thank you for writing, Mike! We needed this story in our lives.

This week I will read…

The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love, and Truth, edited by Wade Hudson

For school, I read…

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes and

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia.

Both awesome stories — my students will be happy to receive these in their book boxes this week! Thank you to Scholastic for providing access to books for our middle schoolers.

It’s MONDAY! What are YOU reading?

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop with kidlit co-hosts Jennifer (at www.teachmentortexts.com) and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

 

IMWAYR: BIG Book Birthday Week!

This week is a BIG Book Birthday Week! I’m looking forward to so many new books that release on September 1, 2020. These are just some of the newly published books I will read…

   

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop with kidlit co-hosts Jennifer (at www.teachmentortexts.com) and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

 

IMWAYR: First Days of School Picture Books

I made it through the first few days of school (teachers are in the buildings while students are remote learning). I’m exhausted! I did manage to gather and re-read picture books for read alouds and mentor texts for this first quarter.

One special new book is Nana Akua Goes to School, written by Tricia Elam Walker and April Harrison. Grandparents Day is coming, and Zura wants to bring her Nana Akua to school. Zura is worried that her classmates won’t be able to accept the traditional tribal marks on Nana’s face, but Nana knows how to handle the situation. What happens that day is lovely! (No spoilers!) Read this one and share it with your class as you celebrate Grandparents Day this fall.

I’m getting ready for “Picture Books are Perfect for Middle School Writing Workshop” — what are your favorite mentor texts for writing in your middle school classroom? Share in the comments!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop with kidlit co-hosts Jennifer (at www.teachmentortexts.com) and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.