It's Monday! What Are You Reading?? 6/10/13

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

These memes were started by Teach Mentor Texts and Book Journeys, to inspire readers to share books they have read and will be reading. I have found many of my current reads by following bloggers participating in It’s Monday! What are you reading? Be sure to check out their sites for more information on what they are reading, and learn how to participate. 

                  



Last Week’s Favorites:

 

Title:  Embers
Author:  Amy Keen
Review: I am getting reading to write a review for a blog tour of the second book in this series, Ashes, so I decided to read the first book in the series before beginning. Not knowing what to expect, I was beyond pleasantly surprised with this story line.  I have had my fair share of vampire and werewolf stories, and really have no desire to read another one.  However, this story is about witches, more specifically, modern day Salem Witch Trials.  The young love story, which develops along side the paranormal witch activity, is just enough for a reader who doesn't want to be too overwhelmed with the paranormal aspect. I will admit there were some flaws within the story line.  However, that being said, I would still recommend this book to a young adult reader, especially one whose parents may be leery of sexual content and too much paranormal blood and guts, within the story line.

Title:  Nobody's Princess

Author:  Esther M. Friesner

Review:  This is one of those books that I have picked up and put back down, multiple times.  Once I finally started this one, I really enjoyed the story.  Readers get to know Helen of Sparta (Troy) beginning in her childhood and teenage years, during the events within the first book in this series. Having read multiple Percy Jackson books, I felt I had a strong enough background to understand the relationship between the gods and the mortals. This would be a great series to recommend for readers whom have read all of the Percy Jackson stories, and are looking for more.  Mythology is never something I enjoyed, but between Esther Friesner and Rick Riordan, I am beginning to actively seek out more books involving mythology.  

Title:  A Long Way Away

Author/Illustrator:  Frank Viva

Review:   My kids (ages 5, 4 and 2) absolutely loved this story, which helped me increase my liking of it.  The first time I read it, I wasn't super impressed.  However, hearing my children interact with the illustrations, as they move from space to ocean life, I enjoyed the two way aspect of the story.  For sure, the illustrations make this story have life! 

Title:  That Is NOT a Good Idea!

Author/Illustrator:  Mo Willems

 Review: The Shouldis Children unanimously gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.  My two year old sat on the end of the bed, with wide eyes, the entire time I was reading this unforgettable story.  However, by the end, all three kids were rolling with contagious laughter!  Mo Willems never fails when it comes to his stories, and this one definitely ranks up there with one of his best!  I suggest you read this hilarious book about a not so good idea, involving a wolf and a chicken.

Title:  Exclamation Mark

Author:  Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Ilustrator:  Tom Lichtenheld

Review:  Amy Krouse Rosenthal delivers another brilliant and hilarious book, by turning the Exclamation Point into a real character.  If you haven't read any of her other titles, I highly recommend them!  The is definitely a text I would use when teaching young writers about the importance punctuation, and the role it serves within writing.

Title:  Make Way for Ducklings

Author/Illustrator:  Robert McCloskey

Review: A friend of mine was shocked when I told them that I have never read this story, so I decided to pick it up from the library.  While reading it, I kept thinking about Lucky Ducklings, which I read last week (and is ranking high in my vote for 2014 Caldecott). Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are looking for the perfect home for their new ducklings, and with the help of a local policeman they are able to find just the right location.  If you haven't read this one, don't be ashamed, go pick up a copy and enjoy the heartwarming story of two mallards and their new ducklings.

 

Title:  Henry and the Cannons :  An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution
Author:  Don Brown 

Review: This is a great story to use when introducing the Revolutionary War to students.  Readers learn about Henry Knox's perseverance, in finding and relocating, the cannons used to help win the Revolutionary War.  Don Brown does a great job describing the hardships, and determination to overcome those hardships, using words and illustrations.  Personally, I have never been interested in history and wars, but I think if I would have been exposed to more text, like this one, that interest would be more developed and appreciated. 

 

Title:  Take Me Out to the Yakyu

Author:  Aaron Meshon

Review:   A young boy's perspective on baseball in America compared to Japan.  Readers are exposed to many Japanese words, in context with the America terminology and baseball.  I was surprised at the similarities, yet differences within those similarities, between the two cultures.  The overall tradition, of a baseball game, tends to be the same.  Yet the food, souvenirs and even transportation to and from the game are different.

Reading Plans for this Week:

 

Title:  Bulu:  African Wonder Dog
Author:  Dick Houston
 


Title:  Ashes
Author:  Amy Keen 



Title:  Boy Wonders
Author:  Calef Brown



Title: Detective Blue
Author:  Steve Metzger
Illustrator:  Tedd Arnold





Title:  A Tangle of Knots
Author:  Lisa Graff



Title:  The Happy Hocky Family
Author:  Lane Smith 







Title:  Twelve Kinds of Ice
Author:  Ellen Bryan Obed
Illustrator:  Barbara McClintock

Title:  Notice and Note:  Strategies for Close Reading

Authors:  Kylene Beers and Robert Probst

**Special Note: Join a three part Twitter chat, discussing Notice and Note, on June 6, 13 and 20 at 8pm #NNNchat.  I also linked the picture of the book to the Facebook group, related to the chat. I started this last week, and am still working through it.  So much great information, but that just means it takes me longer to read and process!