It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 3/25/19

March 25, 2019 Alyson Beecher

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kid lit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kid lit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

After some crazy weeks at work, I am getting back into my reading routine. Love all of the F&G’s (advanced copies of picture books) that I have been fortunate to read. I have also been on an audiobook kick and have finished up a few.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Nancy Paulsen Books, July 2, 2019) - Perfect for the first day read aloud.

Circle (The Shape Trilogy #3) by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick, March 5, 2019) - I think I might like this the best out of the three shape books.

Hum and Swish by Matt Myers (Neal Porter Books, June 11, 2019) - Beautifully illustrated and captures the artistic process that is only done when it is ready to be done.

Saturday by Oge Mora (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, October 22, 2019) - A young girl learns that sometimes things change but it doesn’t have to ruin the day.

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali, Illustrated by Hatem Aly (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, October 22, 2019) - A much needed book for our current times.

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, October 15, 2019) - A companion novel to A Big Mooncake for Little Star.

Adult Titles…

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon (Simon & Schuster, Audiobook, 2018)

In case you missed these reviews…

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: Susan B. Anthony (The Making of America #4) by Teri Kanefield

Blog Tour: In the Middle of the Night Poems From a Wide-Awake House

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 3/4/19

March 4, 2019 Alyson Beecher

Last week, we a super busy week, so I didn’t get through as many books as I hoped. Also, I started several books and rotating through them.

Here’s what I read this past week…

Another by Christian Robinson (Simon & Schuster, March 5, 2019) - This comes out tomorrow and is a wonderful wordless picture book.

Becoming by Michelle Obama (Random House Audio, 2018) - Audiobooks tend to take awhile for me to read since I don’t have a particularly long commute and I tend to save them for when I will be in the car for a bit longer. I enjoyed Obama’s narration of her memoir.

Currently reading…

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend (Little, Brown Books for Young Children, 2017) - A friend recommended the audiobook and I am only listening to this on longer drives. It definitely has a wonderful narrator and the premise of the book is fascinating.

Iliad by Gareth Hinds (Candlewick Press, March 12, 2019) - I recently received this book from Candlewick and it is a beautiful companion to Hinds’ Odyssey graphic novel.

The Library Book by Susan Orleans (Simon & Schuster, 2018) - This is one of 12 books on my adult book reading challenge for the year.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport (Grand Central Publishing, 2016) - My one little word for this year is FOCUS. I have a few books that I have marked to read on the topic and this is the first one. I will probably follow up with a separate blog post in the future.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to Young Adult - 2/25/19

February 25, 2019 Alyson Beecher

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kid lit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kid lit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

It has been too long since I joined up with this wonderful community and I am hoping to participate again on a weekly basis.

Here’s what I have been reading in the past month or so…

The Visitor by Antje Damm, Translated by Sally-Ann Spencer (Gecko Press, 2018) - I missed this in 2018 and so glad I found it. Truly a special story.

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates, Juniper Bates (Simon & Schuster, 2018) - Add this one to your collection of inclusive stories.

Hazelnut Days by Emmanuel Bourdier, Illustrated by Zau (Mineedition, 2018) - I don’t want to spoil the ending of this one but it is definitely worth the read.

They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books, 2018) - This is Tamaki’s first picture book and it is lovely way to explore colors.

First Laugh — Welcome Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe, Nancy Bo Flood, Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2018) - I am trying to build my collection of books by Native American authors. Add this one to your collection.

The Eye That Never Sleeps: How Detective Pinkerton Saved President Lincoln by Marissa Moss, Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes (Abrams, 2018) - I was fascinated by this picture book biography about Allan Pinkerton.

Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival by Lindsay Moore (Greenwillow Books, January 22, 2019) - This fictional text would pair nicely with a nonfiction text on polar bears and climate change.

The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford, Frank Morrison (Little Bee Books, January 8, 2019) - Wow! The text and illustrations in this book are amazing.

The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach (Scholastic Press, February 26, 2019) - This would pair nicely with a nonfiction text on the life cycle of a butterfly. And this one will make a very funny read aloud.

What If...? Then We...: Short, Very Short, Shorter-than-Ever Possibilities by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Fred Koehler (Boyds Mills Press, February 19, 2019) - Click on the title for my recent review of the book and a giveaway.

Lubna and the Pebble by Wendy Meddor, Illustrated by Daniel Egneus (Dial Books, March 5, 2019) - If you have a refugee shelf, you will want to add this one to it. I read it to a group of teachers and got all choked up.

The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Hannah Marks (Dial Books, April 2, 2019) -This will be a fun read aloud.

¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Raúl Gonzalez III (Versify, April 2, 2019) - A new picture book coming from Kwame Alexander’s imprint. VERSIFY. The kids I shared this one with really enjoyed it.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Versify, April 2, 2019) - A new picture book by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson. You will want to pick this one up.

Fox & Chick: The Quiet Boat Ride: and Other Stories by Sergio Ruzzier - I really enjoy Ruzzier’s Fox and Chick characters. This one is as good as the first one.

How I Became a Spy: A Mystery of WWII London by Deborah Hopkinson (Knopf Books for Young Readers, February 12, 2019) Click on the link for my review of this book.

Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis (Bloomsbury, April 30, 2019) - I am still trying to figure out how to sum up this book. I do think that books about children in foster care are needed and also hard because every child has such a different experience. I was definitely drawn into this book and glad I read it. More to come.

For those who like cookbooks, I have gone back into a phase of reading them. I was excited to see that the Los Angeles Public Library has such a fabulous collection of new or newish cookbooks and cooking memoirs.

Cravings: Hungry for More by Christy Teigen and Adeena Sussman (Clarkson Potter, 2018) - This one I think I will pick up. Lots of recipes I want to try.

Thoroughly Modern Milkshakes by Adam Reid, Photographs by Andre Baranowski (W.W. Norton, 2009) - This was recommended on a podcast I listen to and I was curious to check it out. I am still craving milkshakes.

The Grand Central Baking Book: Breakfast Pastries, Cookies, Pies, and Satisfying Savories from the Pacific Northwest's Celebrated Bakery by Piper Davis, Ellen Jackson (Ten Speed Press, 2009) - This one also came from a podcast recommendation and right now I am going sugar-free and gluten free so I was just enjoying this but have no plan to make anything for awhile.

Buttermilk Graffiti: A Chef’s Journey to Discover America’s New Melting-Pot Cuisine by Edward Lee (Artisan 2018 - I enjoy travel memoirs especially those that talk about culture and food.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 9/10/18

September 10, 2018 Alyson Beecher

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kid lit focus. We encourage everyone who participates to visit at least three of the other kid lit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

This week's stack is a collection of titles that I have been wanting to read and finally got my hands on them. Each picture book is one that will make a wonderful read aloud or a mentor text or a springboard for a discussion.

We are Grateful: Ostaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac (Charlesbridge, September 4, 2018)

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung (Henry Holt & Co, July 3, 2018)

Cute as an Axolotl: Discovering the World's Most Adorable Animals by Jess Keating, Illustrations by David DeGrand (Alfred K. Knopf Books for Young Readers, August 28, 2018)

Albie Newton by Josh Funk, Illustrated by Ester Garay (Sterling, May 1, 2018)

I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon (Simon & Schuster, June 26, 2018)

I am listening with my ears an older adult title and loving the narrator of this one...

Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce #1)

In case you missed it...

Explore Academy Blog Tour

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: First Generation

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? - From Picture Books to YA - September 3, 2018

September 3, 2018 Alyson Beecher

Before I share what I have been reading, I just want to remind everyone that the application process for the call for CYBILS judges is now open.

If you are a teacher or librarian and blog and thought you might be interested in being a CYBILS judge, check out the FAQ on the CYBILS website, here and the application here.

Here's what jumped out of the pile these past couple of weeks....

Good Rosie by Kate DiCamillo; Illustrated by Harry Bliss (Candlewick Press, September 4, 2018) - A new early reader chapter book by DiCamillo. Sweet story of friendship between three dogs.

The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer; Illustrated by Ekua Holmes (Candlewick Press, September 4, 2018) - I think I was completely dazzled by the illustrations in this book. Holmes makes the text sparkle.

The Day the War Came by Nicola Davies; Illustrated by Rebecca Cobb (Candlewick Press, September 4, 2018) - A powerful and emotional book about the impact of war. Important to read the author's note at the end.

Night Job by Karen Hesse; Illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Candlewick Press, September 11, 2018) - Touching story of a father and son and what happens on the night shift as a janitor.

Two Problems for Sophia by Jim Averbeck; Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail (Margaret K. McElderry Books, June 12, 2018) - Sophia is back with a new set of big words and a problem to solve.

I Hate My Cats (A Love Story) by Davide Cali; Illustrated by Anna Piroli (Chronicle Books, October 2, 2018) - Oh this captures what it is like to be owned by cats.

The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clarke; Illustrated by Van Thanh Rudd (Candlewick Press, September 11, 2018) - The street art in this book is wonderful. A look at life of two brothers at the edge of the desert in Australia.

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