Monday, June 24, 2013

It's Monday...What Are You Reading?!? 06/24/13

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. 
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Last Week’s Favorites:

The Fault in Our Stars

Title:  The Fault in Our Stars
Author:  John Green 
Review:  LOVE!  That pretty much sums up everything I have to say about this story.  Everything about this story screams love (and tears...lots of them). In usual John Green fashion, the characters are thoughtful, intelligent and painfully inspiring.  Okay?  Okay.

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1)

Title:  The Raven Boys 
Author:  Maggie Stiefvater
Review: This is the first book I have ever listen to as an audiobook, and overall I was pleased.  However, as I am sitting here trying to think of an appropriate review, I am struggling.  I think this is more in the fact that I I found myself occupied with other thoughts, as I was listening, so I missed a lot of the heartfelt moments I used when writing a review.  I am excited to read Dream Thieves, despite not having a lot to say about The Raven Boys, but will make sure I read the book and not listen to it as an audio book.
 
Paperboy

Title:  Paperboy
Author:  Vince Vawter
Review:  I have read many great books this year, but this is the first book where I wished I could give it more than five stars. Vince Vawter says this book is "more memoir than fiction". I still have chills thinking about the challenges the main character was faced to overcome, all because of a stutter. The choice of words Vince Vawter used, within this story, gives me hope for the world around us. 


Mustache Baby 

Title:  Mustache Baby
Author:  Bridget Heos
Illustrator:  Joy Ang
Review:  The Shouldis children give this book 5 out of 5 stars, overwhelmingly.  A baby is born with a mustache...it could be used for good, but it could be used for evil.  The illustrations make this book enjoyable for children and adults.  I highly recommend reading this to students grades K-12. 
Crankee Doodle 

Title:  Crankee Doodle
Author:  Tom Angleberger
Illustrator: CeCe Bell 
Review:    Yankee Doodle is very crankee!  He doesn't want to ride to town, he doesn't want to stick a feather in his cap, and for the life of him he can't figure out why he would he want to call it macaroni.  The conversation that takes place between the pony and crankee doodle had my children in tears.  I must say, this is a very fun read aloud!
A Big Guy Took My Ball! 
  
Title:  A Big Guy Took My Ball!
Author:  Mo Willems
Review: Elephant and Piggie did not disappoint! Dare I say it, but this may be my favorite Elephant and Piggie book.  Someone took Piggie's ball, and Elephant tries to help retrieve the lost object.  However, a REALLY big guy, really did take Piggie's ball, and Elephant is not sure if he can help Piggie.  This would be a great story to read with This is Not My Hat

Fake Mustache 

Title:  Fake Mustache
Author:  Tom Angleberger
Review:  Hilarious!  Who knew a fake mustache could be the cause of so much laughter?! I really enjoyed Tom Angleberger's word choice, and almost dry sense of humor throughout this book.  Add this to your beginning of the year, read aloud list!


Hound Dog True

Title:  Hound Dog True (audio book version)
Author:  Linda Urban 
Review:  I must have found my focus for audio books, because unlike Raven Boys, I LOVED this story!  This story came at a perfect time in my life, as I am starting Teachers Write this week.  Mattie's notebook meant the world to her, and helped her through a tough transition.  It was where she recorded what she thought was important to her, even though others might not have found it important.  This would make a great read aloud for introducing writer's notebooks!

Reading Plans for this Week: 

I realize that most of these books are left over from last week. I had really high expectations for myself, despite knowing I would be attending All Write 2013. I'm hoping to finish them this week, but we will be moving, so these books may be staying down here for a couple of weeks.
   
The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy, #2)

Title: The Runaway King
Author:  Jennifer A. Nielsen
 
What Came from the Stars

Title:  What Came From the Stars
Author:  Gary D. Schmidt

  Beholding Bee


Title:  Beholding Bee
Author:  Kimberly Newton Fusco

 Once (Once, #1)

Title: Once (Audio Book)
Author:  Morris Gleitzman
Special Note:  The audio version of this book is free through SYNC until June 26.

Lessons from a Dead Girl

Title:  Lessons From A Dead Girl
Author:  Jo Knowles

Contaminated

Title: Contaminated
Author:  Em Garner

 The Favorite Daughter

Title:  The Favorite Daughter
Author:  Allen Say 


The Story of Fish and Snail

Title:  The Story of Fish and Snail
Author: Deborah Freedman 



Courage of the Blue Boy

Title:  Courage of the Blue Boy
Author:  Robert Neubecker
 



A Little Book of Sloth

Title:  A Little Book of Sloth 
Author: Lucy Cooke
 
Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism

Title:  Ian's Walk:  A Story About Autism
Author: Laurie Lears
Illustrator:  Karen Ritz
 
Title:  Notice and Note:  Strategies for Close Reading
Authors:  Kylene Beers and Robert Probst

11 comments:

  1. I also loved The Fault in Our Stars. One of my students said they heard they're making it into a movie. They always know that kind of stuff before I do!

    I also love the Pig and Elephant books. They remind me of a modern day Frog and Toad.

    And, I will definitely have to check out Mustache Baby to read with my daughter (and then maybe my students!)

    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Looks like we felt the same way about Paperboy. Truly a powerful story. I suppose because it was so autobiographical we were privy to such raw reflection. A favourite of mine as well. I read Ravenboys one weekend when I was very ill. The magic and my fever all mixed up and wow, what a story. I eagerly await Dream Thieves. Beholding Bee is another very special read. I couldn't do What Came from the Stars even though I am one of the biggest Gary D Schmidt fans - I had major abandoning the book guilt. Great titles on your list!

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  3. I was raving about Paperboy, after I read the first twenty or so pages. Once I read, in the author's notes, about this being more of a memoir than fiction my level of admiration increased tenfold. I'm really thinking this book has a great chance at winning the Schneider Family Book Award.

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  4. Wow! Amazing books and reading plans. I so need to find a copy of Paperboy. I enjoyed Ian's Walk and just love anything by Mo Willems.

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    1. Thank you! Lester Laminack recommended Ian's Walk in his new book on bullying, so I'm excited to read it.

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  5. Loved The Fault of Our Stars and couldn't stop sobbing! Now Raven Boys I didn't like at all. I felt led on through the whole book knowing that it would be a sequel and end in a cliff hanger. I'm sure kids won't be distracted by this. My first time here from the Monday meme!

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    Replies
    1. I almost felt guilty for not loving The Raven Boys, so I'm relieved to hear someone else felt the same way.

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  6. I am excited for Dream Thieves too! Will you give listening another chance? Maybe it just takes practice and getting used to for you? I listen all the time so I am happy to recommend books! http://wp.me/pzUn5-1Av

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    Replies
    1. I listened to Hound Dog True and LOVED it! Currently, I'm listening to Once and Marty McGuire Digs Worms and I'm enjoying both titles. I've learned, I listen best in the car or when the kids are sleeping.

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  7. I MUST get a copy of Fish & Snail, hadn't seen it until now, looks so sweet :)

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  8. Wow! There is so much I want to comment on! I loved Raven Boys, but I also struggle with audio books because I get distracted. This was a complex title, and I think I appreciated it a lot because I read it in print.

    My students LOVE Lessons from a Dead Girl. They always find the ending to be confusing, so I find I am explaining it every week.

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Once. I bought all of the books in the series, and my students also love them. It is a book that is accessible to all ages, in my opinion.

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