Reading Teacher Writes

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

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

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!”

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!

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

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

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?

IMWAYR: Listening on Libro.fm

I decided to spend this week listening to Libro.fm downloads; it’s quiet at home and the dog doesn’t mind. I’m also re-reading some research from the past that I find pertinent to my current position. I know it’s summer break, but a true teacher is never truly off work. IYKYK.

I’m caught up in the return to Rainbow Realm. Mihi Whan Park and her friends, Reese and Savannah head back through the library refrigerator in book 2, “A Giant Problem,” to save Genevieve (Mihi’s nemesis)…and others. Tae Keller is such a storyteller! This plot loosely resembles a “Jack in the Beanstalk” giant encounter, but even more creepy. My students love fairy tales/scary stories, and this title is so good! The narrator, Triya Leong, really brings this story to life. (Published May 15, 2023, by MacMillan Audio/Henry Holt & Company.)

I love the idea that to teach reading, teachers should be readers themselves. But why? How? Teachers already have no free time, and many don’t see that reading has an impact on their students’ lives and their own lives. This document from 2003 is still interesting and important today.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

Book PREview: Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz

Dani made the (formerly all-boys) baseball team at school and she’s ready to pitch! Sharing the celebration is her lifelong best friend, Eric. Now it’s summertime, and Eric’s family is off to the Cape in the RV. During the night, there’s an accident, leaving Dani unable to do the one thing she has dreamed of forever – pitch for the team.

Eric feels bad for Dani, especially because he might have caused the accident. Did he? He’s so forgetful! Determined to find the truth, Eric is caught up in hiding the perceived facts until he can prove what really happened. But people talk and rumors spread. Eric hasn’t always been reliable in the past. To make things worse, the bullies and social media influencers are giving him too much attention – he wants to get back to normal as much as Dani does. As the two head back to school in the fall, Dani wants to get on with her life – without Eric. She’s hanging out with Meadow, a new friend who is popular and seems to understand Dani’s physical and emotional pain. In the meantime, Eric teams up with Rachel, a fellow student who can help him research the case and prove the accident was not his fault. Or was it? Everyone has something at stake.

This story is told from alternating points of view, with the reader finding out the hidden truths along the way. Readers will love discovering the facts as the story moves, and each chapter seems to bring another plot twist that shakes things up. Readers will enjoy advocating for the characters, who need to be brave and do things they normally wouldn’t do to resolve mistakes.

This is a MUST-READ for fall! Teachers should read this book aloud with their classes and librarians should add this title to their shelves. Recommended for ages 9 and up. A great family read, too. Publishing on October 31, 2023, by Delacorte Press. Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the early peek.

5 Stars!