It's Monday! What are you reading? was started by Sheila at Book Journey and was adapted for children's books from picture books through YA by Jen of Teach 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.
Last Week's Posts
- #3rdfor3rd: Wings of Fire. Third grader Joey shares his thoughts about this adventurous dragon series.
- Featured Illustrator for August: Ted Lewin! Part 3 features books both written and illustrated by Ted Lewin.
- Setting Up a Class in Google Classroom and Assignment Tips for Google Classroom. Now that I will access to a set of Chromebooks this year, I am sharing my findings about how to make the most of Google Classroom.
Board Book Edition
I got to spend some time this week babysitting my adorable 6-month old nephew, which means I also got to spend some time (voluntarily and involuntarily) reading a variety of board books this week too. Here are a few of the highlights (err, and lowlights).
Little Hoot (2007) by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jen Corace. I love AKR and am really looking forward to celebrating her work as part of the Global Read Aloud this year! This was an adorable story about a little owl who does NOT want to have to stay up late. Why should he stay up when all his friends are sleeping? I can see this one being a major favorite.
Below Us, Under the Earth and Sea and With Us, on the Earth and Sea by Eric Carle. I found these two at our local used book sale and brought them for my nephew. (They are apparently old and obscure enough that I couldn't even find an image for the other!) It is a very simple text of two-word sentences and an illustration on the following page. For whatever reason, my nephew found the Below Us book particularly hilarious. The page "Miners dig." never failed to crack him up.
Global Babies (2007) by the Global Fund for Children. A very simple story about daily life, illustrated with photographs of babies from around the world, with countries indicated. An adorable little diverse option for getting kiddos interested in the people of the world around them.
Farm Tails by Jellycat. Books have sure come a long way since I was a kid. This is a fascinating 3D crinkly book with animal tails sticking out every which way. And ... there is sort of a story, as the animals query each other about where their tails are. Fun for grabbing and stuffing in your mouth.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finm: a camping primer (2014) by Jennifer Adams and illustrated by Alison Oliver. Ok, this one, hands down, wins the most appalling baby book award. Just stare at the cover and think about this for a moment.
Huck Finn has somehow become a book of a few random, unconnected sentences about camping ... for babies. I can only assume "Little Master Twain" is rolling in his grave at this one. Just ... yikes.
Picture Books
Ma Dear's Aprons (1997) by Patrick McKissack and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. This touching historical fiction story is based on the author's own great-grandmother and the kind and tender relationships she shared with her family. An inside-look at turn-of-the-century life for a working African-American woman in the South.
Middle Grade
Betsy-Tacy (1940) by Maud Lovelace with illustrations by Lois Lenski. I had never read this series but have heard from many that it was a favorite when they were young. It very much exemplifies what I think of as the "classic" kind of children's book where very little happens aside from the everyday. Sort of the ethos in recent series like the Penderwicks.
Challenges and Summer Plans
#Bookaday Challenge FINAL update: days read a book 75/84, books read 130/90 !!
Award-Winning Books Reading Challenge update: 13 books, 2 dedicated posts
Dive into Diversity Challenge update: 164 books, 35 dedicated posts
Happy Reading!
Ha! I've seen the Huck Finn book, & have a friend who worships that book. I've thought about getting the board book for her, but am afraid she would throw it at me! Thanks for sharing the McKissack book, another one I don't know, but will look for it, sounds sweet.
ReplyDeleteI'm really appreciating all of your technical posts. We've been 1:1 with iPads for a while, but I only taught 1 or 2 classes during the time. Now, with 4 classes, I am trying to get more into the tech.
ReplyDeleteI have a set of Little Hoot, Little Oink, and another book. They are so cute yet teach important lessons.
Happy reading this week! :)
I love the cover of Little Hoot. I have a few nieces and nephews with babies, so I will have to check out Global Babies as a possible gift.
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ReplyDeleteLove your focus on board books - appalling or otherwise, hahaha. I realized over the years that I may not be the Penderwicks kind of girl, but then again, it truly depends on my mood. :) Ma Dear's Aprons looks lovely.
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