It's Monday! What are you Reading? From Picture Books to YA - June 11, 2018

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.

In the past few weeks, I have been working through reading stacks of picture books and packing up ones to share with teachers. Here were several that jumped out of the stack...

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen, August 28, 2018) - Mark your calendars. You will want to pick up this beautiful book and share it with students. If I had unlimited funds, I would purchase it for all of the Elementary Principals in my district. 

Natsumi! by Susan Lendroth; Illustrated by Priscilla Burris (G.P. Putnam, March 2018) - This was just a fun read. I could see where it was leading but it still made me smile. 

Max and Marla Are Having a Picnic by Alexandra Boiger (G.P. Putnam, March 2018) - This is such a sweet friendship book. 

Julían is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick Press, May 2018) - Probably one of my favorite picture books of 2018. Text and illustrations are both gorgeous. 

A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker (Candlewick Press, May 2018) - Becker has a new wordless picture book and it is beautiful. I can see how reading this several times will make it a richer experience.

Rabbit Moon by Jean Kim (Arthur A. Levine Books, January 2018) - What a fun adventure story and connecting with new friends. 

Pignic by Matt Phelan (Greenwillow, March 2018) - I love Matt Phelan's art and this was simply a fun read.

Lost in the Library by Josh Funk; Illustrated by Steve Lewis (Macmillan, August 28, 2018) - I need to start a shelf on good reads for books that are essentially a love story to bookstores, and libraries, and lovers of books. Mark you calendar. This one comes out at the end of August.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs by Kate Messner; Illustrated Matthew Forsythe (Chronicle Books, April 2018) - Kate Messner has a new picture book that explores the world of coral reefs. 

Little Brown by Marla Frazee (Beach Lane Books, October 2, 2018) - Mark your calendars. This one may not be out until October but it is certainly one you will want to pick up and share with students. I suspect that there can be some good discussions arising from this one. 

Fox & Chick: The Party and Other Stories by Sergio Ruzzier (Chronicle Books, April 2018) - This early chapter book is a lot of fun. 

Here's what jumped out of Carolyn's stack...

Nice Try, Jane Sinner is the kind of book that you think is just a romantic comedy, but ends up painting one of the most accurate pictures of teenage mental health struggles and angst that I have had the pleasure to read (albeit in an incredibly absurd and comedic context). The book deals with romance, growing up, family dynamics, religion, and mental health (as well as the realities of reality television) in an altogether fresh, charming, witty (and at times, touching) way.

So, what are you reading? 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge:

Recently, Jillian Heise (Heise Reads & Recommends) put out a survey question to her #Classroombookaday Facebook page asking members to share their "go-to authors and illustrators" when planning purchases for classroom read alouds. There were many fabulous authors and illustrators on the list but it also reminded me that generally we think about fiction picture books for read alouds over nonfiction. 

So, I am curious. What are your "go-to" nonfiction authors? Which books do you track down by particular nonfiction authors? 

I realized that my list is pretty long. How do you choose? If you have an unlimited budget then I guess you can just order them all. Though by the number of shelves of nonfiction in my home, some may think that I have an unlimited budget. Sadly, that is not true. 

If you are like most of us and don't have an unlimited budget, you can put library holds on individual books as soon as they pop up in the system. 

Though some nonfiction may not read quite like a narrative text, it is still important to balance out the sharing of fiction picture books with all of the fabulous nonfiction picture books out there. 

In the comments below, I would love to hear your favorites that are must buys or must reads? Also, I would love to hear how you incorporate nonfiction into your regular read alouds in the classroom. 

Finally, you may notice that I haven't listed all of my favorites or my go-to authors because honestly I have so many. However, it has sparked some ideas for future blog posts.  

Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen ©2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews...

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 6/4/18

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.

Today's #IMWAYR is being hosted by YA Friday blogger Carolyn Gruss. Here's what she has to say: 

This is my first #IMWAYR post, and (to no one's surprise) my recent reading material skews pretty heavily towards young adult. Since I recently returned home for the summer, I've been organizing my room and I've realized just how many unread books I have lying around my room (some of which aren't even mine)! So, to combat this aggressive tsundoku, I've challenged myself to read a book a day this summer; this has been somewhat successful, as I've averaged only about half a book a day so far, but I have a couple of months to catch up before the summer is over. Without further ado, here's what I've been reading so far!

After getting my hands on the Selection series short story collection Happily Ever After earlier in this year, I reread the original Selection series. And since I already owned the sequel series, which follows Princess Evelyn (daughter of the Selection series' protagonist America), I figured I might as well binge all of the Selection series. Thanks to finals, however, I wasn't able to read The Heir and The Crown until I got back from college, but the rest of the series was fresh enough in my mind that I was able to slip right back into Cass' world of futuristic royalty without any confusion. This sequel series is well-crafted, and it offers readers a rare treat: getting to see, in an extended context, how the choices and events of the final book of the (original) series have impacted the world a generation later. Oh, and getting to see Evelyn turn the gendered tables of the Selection process around was also fun.

I originally read The Kiss of Deception when it was first released, but as I was merely borrowing the book from a friend, I never kept up with the series. When The Beauty of Darkness was released, I bought the entire series, but I never got around to reading it until now (partially as The Beauty of Darkness clocks in at a rather intimidating 679 pages). The Remnant Chronicles is a captivating series, filled with fantasy and, as the titles imply, plenty of deception, betrayal, and darkness. And although the hardcover editions are huge, they're well worth every word.

I normally don't gravitate towards books in verse, but when Alyson told me about Hidden's premise—intertwining stories of an accidentally kidnapped girl, the unwitting kidnapper's daughter responsible for keeping her alive, and their conflict-ridden reunion at summer camp years later—I knew I had to read Hidden. In an author's note at the end of the book, Frost reveals the way she wrote hidden messages in one character's verse, and the book was so good that I immediately reread it. Overall, HIdden is a beautifully written and brilliantly crafted masterpiece of a book. 

If I'm being completely honest, this was not my first attempt at reading the wildly popular I'll Give You the Sun. I've picked up the book a couple of times, but never could quite get into it (the first chapter was a little overwhelming for me). Finally, I sat down and told myself I owed it to all the people who gave the book glowing reviews to try it, and lo and behold—I loved it. This isn't the first time I've ended up loving a book it took me a couple of tries to get into—the same thing happened with me with Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl and Eleanor and Park. By no means is it an easy read, but I'll Give You the Sun is touching and beautifully heartbreaking and incredibly important.

While I'm a pretty big fan of historical fiction, I hadn't ever read any historical fiction focusing on Pompeii before, so I was intrigued by the prospect of exploring the tragedy of Pompeii through the lens of its residents. A good work of historical fiction is able to keep the reader guessing (and hoping) what the final fate of the characters will be, even when the reader already knows the historical ending, and Curses and Smoke is no exception. 

If you've been following my YA Friday feature, you know that I loved Red Queen and Glass Sword. So, when War Storm (the fourth and final book in the Red Queen series) was released this past month, I immediately got my hands on a copy. But first, in order to do the book justice, I went back to the very beginning and reread the entire series. I have so much to say about War Storm, which you'll hopefully be reading in my impending review, but let me say this about the Red Queen series: rarely have I seen such a carefully planned and meticulously executed series. Each book has a distinct portion of the overarching story, and other than a switch from Mare's single perspective in Red Queen and Glass Sword to multiple perspectives in King's Cage and War Storm, the series is perfectly precise and smooth while retaining a sense of individuality for each book.

I love short story/novella/prequel/sequel compilations, so naturally, I enjoyed Cruel Crown. I have a little bit of trouble figuring out where to place in terms of reading order—yes, it was published in between Red Queen and Glass Sword, but both short stories are prequels, and yet they both have some minor spoilers for Glass Sword (I think—I elected to wait to reread Cruel Crown until after I had finished War Storm, to better discern where I should place it the series). But regardless of placement, Cruel Crown offers an enlightening glimpse into two previously-unexplored characters and sheds light on their impact in the main novels. For any Red Queen fan, reading Cruel Crown is a must. 

In case you missed these posts from last week...

#Road2Reading Challenge: Early Chapter Books to Share

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Interview with Author Jennifer Thermes

Carolyn is a twenty-something-year-old blogger who shares her favorite YA reads and favorite book related finds with readers on Fridays.

#Road2Reading Challenge: Early Chapter Books to Share

It has been crazy busy with the end of the school year activities, but I managed to squeeze in a few books. These three chapter books with appeal to a variety of readers. 

Peanut Butter and Jelly (A Narwhal & Jelly Book #3) by Ben Clanton (Tundra Books, March 2018)

Narwhal and Jelly are back and this is the third book in the series and probably my favorite one.  The graphic panels provide beginning readers with a graphic novel style book just for them. 

I love how the two of these friends interact. Plus there are lots of waffles and peanut butter in this book along with lots of laughs. Whenever I finish a Narwhal and Jelly book, I feel like I have to count the months until the next one comes out. 

Lulu is Getting a Sister (Who WANTS her? Who NEEDS her?) by Judith Viorst; Illustrated by Kevin Cornell (Atheneum, April 2018)

Lulu is back! It's been a few years since the last Lulu book. And as Lulu has been growing the length of her stories are growing. Though the page length has remained relatively the same, the amount of text has increased. For readers, who join Lulu in the beginning with Lulu and the Brontosaurus, they will grow as readers. 

In the latest book Lulu's parents have a surprise for Lulu. She is getting a baby sister. As expected, Lulu doesn't respond well to the news and is sent off to Camp Sisterhood for an attitude adjustment. 

Amelia Bedelia Digs In by Herman Parish; Illustrated by Lynne Avril (Greenwillow Books, May 1, 2018) - This is book 12 in the Amelia Bedelia chapter book series. What is nice is that you don't need to read these in order. The latest adventure is just in time for summer fun. 

Look for these at your local indie bookstore or community library. 

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Do you work with readers who are starting their journey on the road to reading?  Join Michele Knott from Mrs. Knott's Book Nook and myself every Thursday as we explore books and ideas to help readers have a successful start to independent picture book and chapter book reading. If you blog or have a Goodreads page, please link up with us!

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Interview with Author Jennifer Thermes

Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail
by Jennifer Thermes
Harry N. Abrams (May 8, 2018)
Nonfiction * Biography * Women
Audience: Grades 2 to 5
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from Goodreads: Emma Gatewood’s life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day, at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail.
 
With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines. She braved angry storms and witnessed breathtaking sunrises. When things got particularly tough, she relied on the kindness of strangers or sheer luck to get her through the night. When the newspapers got wind of her amazing adventure, the whole country cheered her on to the end of her trek, which came just a few months after she set out. A story of true grit and girl power at any age, Grandma Gatewood proves that no peak is insurmountable.

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Thank you Jennifer Thermes for stopping by Kid Lit Frenzy and sharing about your newest book Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail. 

Kid Lit Frenzy: I was unfamiliar with Grandma Gatewood and her inspirational hike. I enjoyed getting to know her through your book. How did you discover Grandma Gatewood and what kind of research did you do on her life and journey?

Jennifer Thermes: While researching the history of the Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye’s vision for what it could be, I read about others who had hiked it, and came across the name “Grandma Gatewood.” Emma’s character and accomplishments were amazing. I had wanted to do a book about the trail for a long time, but couldn’t figure out how to make it a story with an emotional connection for readers. I thought that kids would feel a kinship with her.

As for research process, I read widely, and start writing as soon as the story takes shape in my mind. (Otherwise it would be too easy to keep researching and never write!) There’s visual research for the illustrations as well as the maps, and then weaving everything together into an interesting story, while sticking to the facts. 

I tend overwrite and add a lot of visual details, and then trim everything back. I always worry about what doesn’t make it into the book, because there’s so much good information! But more doesn’t necessarily mean a better story. Since picture books are short, I’m always reminding myself to think of the book as a doorway inviting the reader to explore more about the subject.

KLF: As part of your research, did you walk any of the Appalachian Trail? Or have you ever done any endurance walking/hikes? Were you inspired to put on a pair of hiking boots and get out there? 

JT: I haven’t done the A.T. yet, but am completely inspired to hike at least part of it if deadlines ever let up! (Or maybe I’ll just wait until I’m 67, for a real challenge.) We did more trail hiking when our kids were young, especially up in Maine, and I still walk almost every day, so I well know how the rhythm of it brings peace of mind.

KLF: While reading your description of what Grandma Gatewood wore and read that she had on canvas shoes, I was a bit shocked. Of course, I had to stop and think about the time period that she lived in and how footwear was very different from today, but I was still impressed with how she did this walk in canvas shoes. Were there other discoveries that really jumped out and surprised you?

JT: In general, what most surprised me was how she didn’t let fear get in the way of doing what she wanted to do. She had raised her family during the Great Depression, and was used to working very hard, so perhaps the walk was relaxing for her.

Also, learning about the movement to get back to nature during Benton MacKaye’s time, how the trail was constructed, how highways changed the landscape and culture of the country… researching any subject leads you down a fascinating rabbit hole of discoveries. Makes me want to be a historian in another lifetime.

KLF: I love how the illustrations move from illustrations of Grandma Gatewood to maps of the trail. How did you decide to balance out the two? Did you have any spreads that you particularly loved? 

JT: Designing maps into the flow of the book is similar to working out any picture book. The maps are another element to weave throughout the story. I think a lot about the rhythm of the illustrations, and how to keep the pacing interesting. For this book, I divided the trail map into sections that would roughly correspond with illustrations of where Emma was on the trail. I also thought of the maps as a visual resting point for the reader– a place to pause and ponder her journey.

My favorite spreads—always a hard question! Meeting the girl and dog after days and nights of walking the trail is one. I think kids could sense Emma’s kindness beneath her no-nonsense exterior. I’m also fond of her on the mountaintop, resting on a bed of moss in the moonlight. Given her independent spirit, I imagine she liked to be alone with her thoughts.

KLF: Can you share anything about your upcoming books or projects? 

JT: I’ve recently finished illustrations for a middle grade novel coming out early next year, and currently I’m writing and illustrating a nonfiction picture book about Manhattan Island. I’m about to start final art, and am beyond excited for both books to be out in the world!

Thank you so much for inviting me to do this interview! 

About the author: JENNIFER THERMES is a children’s book author, illustrator, and map illustrator. Jennifer’s book, Charles Darwin’s Around-the-World Adventure, was named a 2017 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12 and a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, as selected by the Children’s Book Council. It was also on Amazon’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list for 2016 in the category of non-fiction. Up next is a picture book biography about Emma Gatewood, the first woman to  thru-hike the Appalachian Trail solo at the age of 67! Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail will be released in Spring 2018 with Abrams Books for Young Readers.  For more information, check out her website: jenniferthermes.com

Artwork by Sarah S Brannen ©2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews...