IMWAYR: Banned Books

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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It’s Banned Books Week, and I’m not celebrating; I’m writing to state officials and school boards on behalf of my students and my granddaughter. I believe that children (and adults!) should be able to read whatever they want. There are so many actions AGAINST reading right now, it makes me angry. (I’ll have another post this week on banned and challenged books/censorship.)

Here’s what I’m reading and sharing this week. I hope you have a great week of reading, too!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Memoirs

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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I’ve been on a memoir kick again lately because my friends have written excellent books and I MUST get the word out for others to read, too! Thank you for your brave and beautiful writing, Chasten Buttigieg, Kwame Alexander, Jarrett Krosoczka, Omar Mohamed (w/Victoria Jamieson), and Nikki Grimes.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: A Labor of Love…Reading!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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Happy Labor Day! I’m catching up on some reading and reviews today, my day off. Reading truly is a labor of love for me, and I’m happy to share. I updated my Goodreads reviews for today’s titles. Check them out!

I love that there are so many different kinds of families, even those that don’t last forever, like a school class, camp friends, or a sports team. I also love that families are made up of all kinds of people. This book is a joyous celebration with wonderful illustrations and endpapers. A must-share title for back-to-school time.

Tracy at Publisher Spotlight sent me some excellent books. Thank you for sharing, @pubspotlight!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: PD and Priorities

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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I’m back to work! This is professional development week before students come next week, and I’m ready! This week my priorities are to finish A Work In Progress by Jarrett Lerner (soooo important! soooo needed!) and get some PD materials reviewed to start the school year. I’m also reviewing our district’s Library Manual to make sure everything is correct and up-to-date for our library staff.

I had a blast today sharing information about independent reading time inside the classroom. Thanks to #SBCSC for the opportunity to present! This is me, reading TRUMAN (Reidy, Cummins) to a group of teachers. It’s one of my favorite picture books to use in the classroom. (Thank you to my friend and colleague, Vicky, for snapping the picture!)

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: End of Summer

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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This is it! I cannot believe it’s the last day of July, the end of summer. This is such a bittersweet time of year, as I’m holding on to summer but I’m also looking forward to the fall season, school, and working full-time again. I’m finishing up my summer books this week and looking for new titles to grab once school starts.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: “We Were On a Break!”

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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I need a break to finish a title this week that is not Kid Lit. Thank you for your understanding.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Lots!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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Summer is in full swing and I’ve been reading some excellent books! I’m still finishing up with the “Litapalooza Lot” I received in June. I’ve also reread some ARCs so that I can order for the school library in the fall.

This week I’ll be reading more picture books, of course, including…

And finally (I DO mean finally), I brought home Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd from the school library. I never got to finish it during the school year, so I’m finally reading it this week.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

Book Review: Like Lava In My Veins by Derrick Barnes

“Bobby Beacon’s got fire flowing through his veins.” At school, Bobby wants to be a good student, but he leaves his seat, taps on the desk, and raises his hand after every question posed by Ms. Flores. A week goes by, and the teacher can’t take it anymore. Bobby’s lack of control of his power lands him in the principal’s office. There’s no denying his reputation as a “hot head,” but instead of being expelled, Bobby is given a second chance in Miss Brooklyn’s class at the Academy of Kids With Awesome Abilities (AKWAA).

Miss Brooklyn is patient, kind, and knowledgeable, and she loves Langston Hughes’ poems, just like Bobby. She sees students for who they are, regardless of their past failures, and helps them to control their powers. In the class “chill zone,” students become friends. This is where Bobby meets Sincere, a cool dude with asthma whose power is making others tell the truth.

When a former student, Pause (who was expelled from AKWAA), and the evil headmaster, Chaos, from the Institute of Supervillains show up at an awards assembly, it’s up to Bobby to save the students and be the BEACON of light he knows he is.

This comic/picture book was written by the award-winning author Derrick Barnes, with art by Shawn Martinbrough and Adriano Lucas. I found the format exciting to read and hovered over the brightly-colored illustrations with awe. I love how Mr. Barnes’ love of children shines through the pages, and how his loving messages of peace and power send LIGHT out into the world. Special adults who care and take time for otherwise struggling students made my teacher’s heart happy.

Students who love comics, superheroes, and graphic novels are going to love this title — we will need multiple copies in the library. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

This book was published by Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin – always a good place to look for good books.

IMWAYR: After Litapalooza Learning

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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Last week I attended Litapalooza in Naperville, IL. It was FABULOUS! I learned so much at the sessions — authors shared their expertise and librarians and teachers soaked it all up. I was able to see bookish friends again and I brought home some excellent new books.

I’m reading those in the next couple of weeks as well as…

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR: Juneteenth

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from 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 each week.

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I’m so happy to live in a city where Juneteenth is celebrated! You know me: I love nonfiction and picture books! Here are three of my favorites for Juneteenth.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?