Monday, September 8, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?


It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from pictures books through YA by Jen of Teacher Mentor Texts and Kellee of Unleashing Readers. You can visit either site for a round up of blogs sharing their weekly readings and thoughts or search Twitter for #IMWAYR.

Other Posts this Week


This week I shared Part 3 of my Classroom Library Series: Labeling and Tracking the Classroom Library. This post focuses on the small details that make a big difference - labeling your books (inside and out) and how to keep track of your growing collection.



I received several questions about how I created the interactive "Where Are We Reading Map?" (above) so I put together a how-to post that explains exactly how to create, save, share, and embed custom Google maps. Can't wait to hear how you use them!

Picture Books


This week I shared Part 2 in my new series Around the World in a Single Book: cultures around the world. This series presents some of my favorite nonfiction resources for studying world cultures. Part 1 focused on books exclusively about children around the world. Part 2 looks at cultures around the world, and Part 3 will examine specific aspects of culture, including books about languages and schools around the world.


Going Places by Peter and Paul Reynolds. Finally got this one - will definitely be sharing with my students. So many great points to discuss about creativity, working together, and celebrating the accomplishments of others. Love it! (H/T #PB10for10 multiple folks.)


Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough and illustrated by Debby Atwell. I really enjoyed this introduction to Anne Carroll Moore and her work to establish room for children in public libraries. I think students will be surprised to learn about how much libraries have changed since then, and this book might also help kids better value their own libraries and library access. I also appreciated the detailed historical information, biography, and bibliography that accompany the book. (H/T Holly at Reading, Teaching, Learning.)

Middle Grade


Sequoyah and His Talking Leaves is a new play aimed at middle grade readers. I had a few questions about the history, as presented in this version. You can read my critical review here.


Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord. This is the charming story of 12 year-old Lucy's move to New Hampshire and her struggle to make a good impression with her new neighbors and with her famous photographer father. Lucy discovers the power of photography (both positive and negative) through her images, the moments that she captures, and the reactions they evoke. This story also treads lightly on important issues like friendship, environmentalism, and early onset dementia. A lovely book. (Aside: but as an avid photographer myself, it drives me nuts that they went with such an unrealistic looking, over-processed image for the cover. Why not use an out-of-camera photograph?)

Young Adult


Nest by Esther Erhlich (ARC provided by Net Galley, publication date Sept. 9, 2014). Young adult is not always on my radar, as a third grade teacher, but I had the opportunity to review Nest in advance and would not be surprised if it appears in some Newbery conversations.

Nest is the lovely but heart-rending story of eleven-year-old Chirp (neƩ Naomi), an avid bird watcher who lives on Cape Cod in the 1970s. Chirp struggles to deal with her changing family situation as medical issues begin to arise with her mother. She is an engaging and plucky character, and you as the reader are immediately drawn in to her world and unique point-of-view on all of these outside events. Recommended for middle school and up (some tough scenes and hints at adult content).

Happy Reading!

12 comments:

  1. I'm seeing a few posts about Nest this week - it looks like one I must read! I've been enjoying your nonfiction Around the World series! Going Places is a great book - loved that he wrote this one with his brother. Half a Chance is on my TBR list - your review has made me move it closer to the top of my pile! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Adrienne! I'm curious to hear what others think of Nest too. Glad you are enjoying the Around the World series - so fun to introduce students to other kids!

      Delete
  2. Nest is definitely on my TBR list. I loved Half a Chance but like you, didn't care for the cover. I really enjoyed Going Places too--love the focus on thinking outside the box and working together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely. Trying to figure out how best to work Going Place in with some kind of teamwork effort with my students ...

      Delete
  3. I admire the idea of going round the world in books, Katie-great resources you're sharing. I want to read Half A Chance, too. I have it, but it'll be a while before I'm reading it. Love the topics Cynthia Lord takes on, always interesting to many kids!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Linda. Agreed, I really enjoy Cynthia Lord's Rules as well. I'll keep adding to the 'around the world' theme through the year, once we jump into our continent units of study.

      Delete
  4. I like Peter Reynold's books as they always have a bigger picture to them. Will check it out! k

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Emily. We are celebrating his work for Dot Day on Monday, so I might share this one instead.

      Delete
  5. I enjoyed Half a Chance a lot. Lord just writes with such believable voice. I shared Miss Moore Thought Otherwise with my students this spring and they were so intrigued. Have you read this aloud yet? Lots to talk about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Carrie. No, I haven't shared yet about Miss Moore. May pair her with My Librarian is a Camel for more comparing/contrasting about how we think of libraries.

      Delete
  6. Nest does sound like a lovely read, I've been reading so many good reviews about it. We did a Library reading theme sometime last year and Miss Moore escaped my radar. Looking forward to finding a copy in our library this weekend. The Google Map as combined with one's reading looks really ingenious, will check out your post on how it's done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Myra. Hope you found the map explanation helpful. It's a little tricky trying to decide where to place some books, but I'm not going to be too picky. Hope you enjoy Miss Moore too!

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...