Every Most Mondays, I send out a #booksaroundtheroom via Twitter, so my students can share what they’re reading with the world. “It’s Monday! What are you Reading?” is a meme co-hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts. Just like #booksaroundtheroom, it is a way to share books you’ve been reading, reviewing, and loving during the last week. I read a lot, both on my own and with my two kids, Corbchops (4.74) and The Iza (2.68). I’m excited to hear what you’ve been reading.
Two really exciting meetings last week, along with swim lessons, a Sounders game, and report cards, kept me from reading much last week. But the meetings were reading related! The first was a brainstorming meeting for the idea of a countywide middle grade read. We have some great ideas. The second meeting was my first as a member of the advisory board of the WWU Children’s Literature Conference. I was so honored to be invited to join this group. It was a lot of fun. You wouldn’t believe the author and illustrator names we were dropping!
I really feel like I am making a positive impact on readers in my community, and it feels…pretty darn good. Even if I have less time to read.
Here’s what I’ve enjoyed during the last week:
Middle Grade:
I finished just one middle grade novel last week.
- Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace, by Nan Marino. I really enjoyed Neil Armstrong Is My Uncle. This one was also good. It comes out soon.
Graphic Novels:
I finished one graphic novel last week.
- Extreme Babymouse, by Jennifer and Matt Holm. I will never not like a Babymouse book.
Picture Books:
I read 9 picture books last week. My favorite three were:
- Learning to Swim in Swaziland, by Nila Leigh. This memoir was written by a fourth grader. It is pretty great. We used it during a writing lesson on using a natural voice.
- The Beetle Book, by Steve Jenkins. The Corbchops and I loved the intricate illustrations in this nonfiction picture book.
- The Hueys in the New Sweater, by Oliver Jeffers. Funny. A little predictable.
Reviewed:
On the TMCE Guys Read blog, I reviewed Courage Has No Color, by Tanya Lee Stone.
AND
Right now When I finish this blog post, I’m reading:
Hide and Seek, by Kate Messner.
SO
What are you reading?