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 (1805 days) and The Iza (1049 days). I’m excited to hear what you’ve been reading.

Still reading. Been some colds making their way through our house. Which sometimes means, “Sit around reading because you’re sick,” and other times means, “Too tired to read because you’re sick.”

We also went camping in the pouring rain. Before we had kids, I would have just stayed in the tent all day and read or played games. But now we have two little kids, so reading can only happen for so long. I can’t wait for when my kids are old enough to read in a tent all day.

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed during the last week:

Middle Grade:

I finished one middle grade novel and one middle grade activity book last week.

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. I reread Hugo for this week’s Guys Read meeting. It is always awesome.
• Art2-D2’s Guide to Folding and Doodling, by Tom Angleberger. So good.

Graphic Novels:

I finished two graphic novels and two mini-graphic novels last week. I love graphic novels!

• Amelia Rules! Vol. 4: When the Past is a Present and A Very Ninja Christmas, by Jimmy Gownley. Amelia is my favorite realistic fiction kids graphic novel series. The Christmas one is just a few stories repackaged into a Christmas special.
• Little Mouse Gets Ready, by Jeff Smith. It’s no Bone, but I liked this “early graphic novel.”
• Jack and the Box, by Art Spiegelman. It’s no Maus. This early graphic novel was a little creepy.

Picture Books:

I read 13 picture books last week. My favorite three were:

• A Big Guy Took My Ball, by Mo Willems. There will never be a bad Elephant & Piggie book.
• A Funny Little Bird, by Jennifer Yerkes. The not-picture makes the picture!
• Chicks Run Wild, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Ward Jenkins. Silly.

Reviewed:

On the TMCE Guys Read blog, I didn’t review anything last week. Which means I will try to write two this week.

AND

Right now When I finish this blog post, I’m still reading:

A Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle, by Christopher Healy

and

Book Love, by Penny Kittle

SO

What are you reading?

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 (1798 days) and The Iza (1042 days). I’m excited to hear what you’ve been reading.

It was a slow reading week. But I also got to go to my childhood independent bookstore, Eagle Harbor Books, and enjoy its fantastic children’s section. I love reading books in a bookstore. We bought Kel Gilligan for a birthday present.

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed during the last week:

Middle Grade:

I finished one middle grade novel last week.

• The Year of the Baby, by Andrea Cheng. I liked this book, but I liked the first one, Year of the Book, much more.

Graphic Novels:

I finished one graphic novel last week. I love graphic novels!

• Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain, by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. I’m so sad that there will only be ten Lunch Lady books.

Young Adult:

I finished one YA book this week. I rarely read YA.

• Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell. It was good and I am all up to date on my swear quota.

Picture Books:

I read 11 picture books last week. My favorite three were:

• Dog in Charge, by K.L. Going and Dan Santat. I love Dan Santat. I think I’ve said that before. It’s worth repeating.
• The Boss Baby, by Marla Frazee.  It was fun to see a different artistic style from Frazee. It is still recognizably Frazee, but different.
• If You Want to See a Whale, by Julie Fogliano and Erin E. Stead. Fogliano and Stead are a great team.

Reviewed:

On the TMCE Guys Read blog, I reviewed Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry, by Dave Roman.

AND

Right now When I finish this blog post, I’m reading:

A Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle, by Christopher Healy

and

Book Love, by Penny Kittle

SO

What are you reading?

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 (1791 days) and The Iza (1036 days). I’m excited to hear what you’ve been reading.

I have no idea what happened last week. Looking back, I read, sure, but I’m not sure how or when it happened. I tried to start A Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle like four nights in a row, and just couldn’t get going. I’ve set it aside for a moment, but I loved the first book, so I’ll get to it soon.

Anyway, it was a weird week.

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed during the last week:

Middle Grade:

I finished three middle grade novels last week.

• Aliens in Disguise, by Clete Barrett Smith. Clete lives in my town. He is great and his books are hilarious middle grade science fiction. This is book 3 in his Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast series.
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary. I finished reading this aloud to the Corbchops. It took us two months. He is more of a picture book and comic kid right now.
• Holes, by Louis Sachar. I finished reading this aloud to my fifth graders. They loved it, of course.

Graphic Novels:

I finished two graphic novels last week. I love graphic novels!

• Mouse Guard: The Black Axe, by David Peterson. It was awesome, just like all the Mouse Guard books, which are beautiful and epic and awesome. Twice awesome.
• Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Comics: Tales of the Worlds Wildest Beasts, by Rudyard Kipling. It was OK.

Poetry:

I finished one novel in verse this week.

• Etched in Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet, by Andrea Cheng. I like most novels-in-verse, but this one didn’t seem particularly verse-y. I didn’t find much power in the words, which is the whole point of novels-in-verse, yes?

Picture Books:

I read 13 picture books last week. My favorite three were:

• That Is not a Good Idea!, by Mo Willems. We love all Mo, but I wonder about the repeat readability of this one.
• Peanut and Fifi Have a Ball, by Randall de Sève and Paul Schmid. Clever and fun.
• Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?, by Eve Bunting and Sergio Ruzzier. Fun and clever.

Reviewed:

On the TMCE Guys Read blog, I didn’t review anything last week, even though I promised I would. But I’m writing a review tonight!

AND

Right now When I finish this blog post, I’m reading:

Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell

and

Book Love, by Penny Kittle

SO

What are you reading?

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 (1784 days) and The Iza (1029 days). I’m excited to hear what you’ve been reading.

Screen Free Week was a success. I stayed completely screen free at home. At school, I closed Twitter, and checked email sparingly. I checked my personal email just once a day. And did I read more? Wel…not really. The weather was sort of ridiculous in a stunningly amazing way. Most of the time we were outside, and most of that was in the garden.

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed during the last week:

Middle Grade:

I finished one middle grade novel last week. That’s all.

• Rebel McKenzie, by Candice Ransom. This is a CBC Children’s Choice nominee. Though my class will vote 100% for Pickle, I thought I’d read it, just to see how it stacks up. It was fun!

Graphic Novels:

I finished two graphic novels last week. I love graphic novels!

• Flight, Vol. 8, edited by Kazu Kibuishi. I love Kazu’s short story anthologies. Now I’ve read them all! Time to find more works by the artists involved.
• A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse, by Frank Viva. This was the first of these TOON eaarly reader graphic novels that I’ve read. It was fun.

Poetry:

I finished one book of poetry this week. I read it outside my classroom door during planning time. I got a bit sunburned.

• National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry, edited by J. Patrick Lewis. Fantastic. I can’t wait to share this with students, especially since we just went to the zoo and are in the midst of an animal research project.

Picture Books:

I read 9 picture books last week. My favorite three were:

• Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum, by Megan Mccarthy. Easy, fun nonfiction picture book. My gum-obsessed son liked it.
• Baloney (Henry P.), by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. I love Jon Scieszka so much, I know how to spell and pronounce his name.
• First the Egg, by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. This is probably my favorite LVS book so far. Did you know she is coming to Bellingham, WA next March 1, for the WWU Children’s Literature Conference?

Reviewed:

On the TMCE Guys Read blog, I didn’t review anything last week. This week for sure, though!

AND

Right now When I finish this blog post, I’m reading:

Aliens in Disguise, by Clete Barrett Smith

and

Book Love, by Penny Kittle

SO

What are you reading?