It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - October 7, 2019

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.

Here is what jumped out of the stack recently…

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang, Illustrated by Charlene Chua (Simon & Schuster, October 1, 2019) - A delightful picture book about the family’s tradition of making bao and what might work for adults doesn’t always work for children.

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison (Simon & Schuster, October 1, 2019) - A beautifully illustrated story about color, self-acceptance and what is important.

The Evil Princess vs. the Brave Knight by Jennifer L. Holm vs. Matthew Holm (Random House Books for Young Readers, August 6, 2019) - A fun look at the relationship between siblings as told by the sibling team of Jennifer and Matthew Holm.

fly! by Mark Teague (Beach Lane Books, September 17, 2019) - I love the power of wordless books and this one about a mother and baby bird is both humorous and endearing.

Five Minutes (That’s a lot of time) (No, it’s not) (Yes, it is) by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon, Audrey Vernick, Illustrated by Olivier Tallec (G. Putnam & Sons Books for Young Readers, September 17, 2019) - How can 5 minutes feel at one time to take forever and another time fly by too quickly? Parents and children will relate to this book.

Terrible Times Tables by Michelle Markel, Illustrated by Merrilee Liddiard (Cameron, August 6, 2019) - Add this to your collection of math themed books. Done in the style of a Victorian math primer, with a focus on multiplication facts from 2 to 10.

Snail & Worm All Day: Three Stories About Two Friends by Tina Kugler (HMH Books for Young Readers, September 24, 2019) - I love Kugler’s Snail and Worm series and the newest one is just as fun.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart (Henry Holt, January 8, 2019) - I was late to this one partially because I was waiting on the audiobook. I will say I had mixed feelings about it. I know everyone loved it and though I enjoyed the audiobook and liked Coyote and the collection of travelers on their journey, I had to suspend reality a lot. My adult self found it a bit problematic, but I do think children will enjoy it.

Currently reading with my ears…

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts, Narrated by Ann Marie Lee (Random House Audio, February 12, 2019) - I am listening to this one for an upcoming book club. Fascinating historical fiction about the wife of the author of The Wizard of Oz and the making of the movie.

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 5/6/19

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.

My reading recently was a bit interrupted due to some deadlines and a small construction project in my living/dining room that turned into something a bit bigger.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

You Are Light by Aaron Becker (Candlewick Studio, March 26, 2019)

Poof a Bot! by David Milgrim (Simon Spotlight, January 2019)

Bunny Will Not Smile by Jason Tharp (Simon Spotlight, January 2019)

Can You Find a Pup? by Vincent X. Kirsch (Holiday, October 2018)

Superbuns! by Diane Kredensor (Aladdin, July 2, 2019) - Mark your calendar for this one. Comes out in July 2019.

Audiobooks…

Dig by A.S. King (Listening Library, March 26, 2019)

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga (HarperCollins, May 28, 2019)

In case you missed it…

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge - Titan and the Wild Boars - Review & Giveaway

So, what are you reading….

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - April 22, 2019

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.

There is not enough hours in a week to get through all of the books that I want to read. I am trying to narrow it down to a reasonable number of books but my “to be read” pile is still growing out of control. I tackled a stack of picture books, a couple of cookbooks, and several audiobooks this past week.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

The Truth About Grandparents by Elina Ellis (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 2019)

Lana Lynn Howls At the Moon by Rebecca Van Slyke, Illustrated by Anca Sandu (Peachtree, September 2019)

I Am Not a Fish! by Peter Raymundo (Dial Books, June 2019)

This Book of Mine: A Picture Book by Sarah Stewart, Illustrated by David Small ( Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, August 2019)

Sign Off by Stephen Savage (Beach Lane Books, May 2019)

From Tree to Sea by Shelley Moore Thomas, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (Simon & Schuster, February 2019)

The Good Egg by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald (HarperCollins, February 2019)

Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan, Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo (Simon & Schuster, 2018)

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2018) - I can’t believe I have to wait for the fall for book 3.

In case you missed it…

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Borrowing Bunnies

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 4/8/19

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.

Over the past several months, I have found it difficult to focus on reading and felt like maybe I was in a reading rut. However, I believe that there are times when I am just overwhelmed and don’t know which book to start or I begin to juggle multiple books. Yet, I am really not savoring what I am reading. Lately, I decided to focus on audiobooks and getting to titles that I have already purchased and listening to about one a week along with a stack of picture books and cookbooks.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

The 5 O’Clock Band by Troy Andrews, Illustrated by Bryan Collier (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2018)

Up the Mountain Path by Marianne Dubuc (Princeton Architectural Press, 2018)

Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Katherine Tegen Books, January 15, 2019)

One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read (Peachtree Publishers, Fall 2019)

Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord (Scholastic, March 26, 2019)

Audiobooks:
I started the audiobook of Circe by Madeline Miller but put it on hold since I didn’t feel like I could focus enough to keep all of the characters straight in my mind. I will come back to it when I have a longer drive and can focus more for the initial part of the book.

I decided to switch over to The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018) and loved the book, and loved the narrator of the audiobook. If you haven’t read this one, add it to your list of audiobooks. I really have enjoyed seeing how Johnson has been growing as a writer since The Great Green Heist.

Next up: Internment by Samira Ahmed (Little, Brown Audiobooks, 2019)

Adult Titles:
I discovered that the Los Angeles Public Library has a fantastic collection of cookbooks and I have been placing holds on all of the books i have been hearing about or wanting to read. Some books have been available more quickly and others have longer holds but I am in no rush. I just enjoy when they show up. Here are the two from this past week.

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman (Knopf, 2012) - I love Deb Perelman’s blog and thought I would take a look at her cookbooks to see if I need to own them or not. I liked this one but I want to see her newer book before deciding which one I want to buy.

Bottom of the Pot: Persian Recipes and Stories by Naz Deravian (Flatiron Books, 2018) - I moved school districts in August and my new District has a very large Middle Eastern population. Our office potlucks have been a new experience for me with dozens of dishes that are new to me. I heard Deravian on The Splendid Table and thought it would be fun to read her book. Now I want to make Tahdig (the rice dish on the cover of the book).

In case you missed these posts from last week…

Vacation for Dexter by Lindsay Ward - Review & Giveaway

Nonficition Picture Book Challenge: Recent Releases

So, what are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 4/1/19

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.

Some weeks are just super busy and I find myself hunkering down with a stack of picture books as a way of refueling. This week’s stack has some new releases and some older titles from 2018.

Here is what jumped out of the stack…

Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris, Illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe (Philomel Books, January 2019) - I have been curious about this one since Harris is a senator from my state and also running for president. The book focuses on those family members and friends that were “superheroes” in her life.

Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote by Kirsten Gillibrand, Illustrated by Maira Kalman (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2018) - Gillibrand, another presidential candidate, released this book late in 2018. It is a nice collection of tributes to women who were instrumental in the fight for women’s right to vote.

My Papî Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, Illustrated by Zeke Peña (Kokila Books, May 14, 2019) - I saw this briefly a couple of weeks ago and finally got to spend some time with the book. Mark your calendars - this book comes out in May.

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison (Kokila Books, May 14, 2019) - A celebration of a dad and his daughter and finding just the right hair style. This one comes out in May as well.

Because by Mo Willems, Illustrated by Amber Ren (Hyperion Books for Young Readers, March 5, 2019) - This is a different kind of book from some of Willems other books. It is beautiful in both message and illustrations.

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, Illustrated by Steven Salerno (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 19, 2019) - I have never thought about who invented crayons and this was informational and fun.

Narwhal’s Otter Friend (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #4) by Ben Clayton (Tundra Books, February 5, 2019) - Yay for Narwhal and Jelly and their new friend Otter. I love this series.

See Pip Flap (The Adventures of Otto) by David Milgrim (Simon Spotlight, 2018) - There are so many different early readers and some get it right and others struggle to find their mark. The Adventures of Otto series gets it right.

Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor (Balzer & Bray, 2018) - I so understand why this one won a Geisel Award. it is fantastic. I just love this early reader.

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri (First Second, 2018) - Love the twist on the typical monster under the bed stories.

Currently reading with my ears…

Circe by Madeline Miller (Little, Brown Books, 2018) - In December, I asked friends what was their favorite adult book from 2018 and this one came highly recommended. I just started the audiobook. The narrator, Perdita Weeks has an amazing voice. I think I could listen to her read a phone book. However, there are a lot of characters in this story based on Greek Mythology.

In case you missed it…

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Yogi The Life, Loves and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra

Born to Ride: A Story About Bicycle Face - Guest Post by Author Larissa Thuele

So, what are you reading?