Monday, March 25, 2013

What I am Reading-Monday, March 25


Please visit the amazing blog: Teach Mentor Texts 
who host this terrific meme each week. 

I did not post last Monday so here is 
what I read over the last two weeks. Click 
on the title to go to the book's Goodreads page.

Picture Books
I would like to thank my friend Laurel Parker from 
The Windham Public Library for always helping 
me get my hands on great books.


Boot and Shoe by Marla Frazee. A very cute story about two dog brothers who do everything the same until a they chase a pesky neighborhood squirrel and  things change. 

Goldilocks and Just One Bear  by Leigh Hodgkinson.   An adorable adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears where a bear goes into the house.  There's a really neat twist at the end.




  Jimmy the Greatest by Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng. Jimmy loves boxing and idolizes Muhammed Ali.  He finds out there is more to life than training and helps his community by running the gym and creating a library.


 The Other Side of Town by Jon Agee.  When a cab ride goes to the "other side of town", everything is different. There is the Finkon Tunnel and the Spankees baseball team.  It's a very silly fun little book.
This Moose Belongs to Me. by Oliver Jeffers. A really sweet story of a boy who claims to own a moose.  However he meets another person who claims to also own the moose.  How will they determine the true owner? Sweet story.

 Squeak, Rumble. Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton MarsalisA terrific book to show the "music" that surrounds us in everyday things.  Would make a fun read aloud. Nice way to show onomatopoeia.
 
 It Jes' Happened. by Don Tate
This is a fascinating non-fiction read about the life of Bill Traylor, a former slave who began drawing at the age of 85. His pictures were all based on memories of his family and his life experiences.


 Mary and Her Little Lamb. by Will Moses
Did you know that the famous poem/song was based on a true story? Neither did I. There was an actual girl named Mary who saved the life of a baby lamb. The two had such a bond that the lamb would follow Mary everywhere.  A visiting poet saw the lamb at school and wrote the poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb".



Middle Grade

by Holly Kowitt
The third in the Loser List series.  
Review to come later.


by Barbara Brauner and James IverMattson
Release date May 14
 I really enjoyed this book and I think many of my 4th graders will too.  I liked that it is a middle grade book, but the characters are in middle school (12 years old). Lacey Unger-Ware (yes, an unfortunate name) is a pretty average, not-too-popular girl at school. She has a close, supportive family and a loyal best friend.  However, she envies the new girl and cheerleader, Paige, who shot to super-popularity in record time.  Through a series of magical events, Lacey must act as a fairy godmother to Paige or both girls' future dreams will not come true. But why would Paige, who seems almost perfect, need a fairy godmother?
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.  I will be sharing The Glitter Trap with my 5th grade daughter. Children who love stories of fairy tales, magic, friendship and glitter will love this book.


Young Adult Graphic Novel
by Vera Brosgol
I had originally thought that this books was a middle grade book, but it is VERY YA. It is a bit spooky and filled with teen drama. I didn't love the fact that the main character 
smoked, but I did like the book. 

 Currently Listening

by Laurie Halse Anderson
LOVING this book.  
Such a sad story, beautifully told. 

Molly and I have abandoned Splendors and Glooms for now.  
Just too "heavy".  We may go back to it someday. 


Thank you for reading my post. 
Please share what you are reading!

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14 comments:

  1. I've added Anya's Ghost and It Jes' Happened to my library list. And I've had Chains forever and haven't read it so I guess I should get to it. There are too many great books to read! (I good problem to have, I suppose.) If you haven't read Jen Bryant's A Splash of Red, it's really good. Your summary of It Jes' Happened made me think of it. Have a great week!

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  2. Thanks for stopping by. I have had A Splash of read on my TBR list for a while, but I did not want to buy it. My librarian is supposed to try to get a copy. I finished listening to Chains this morning. The audio is very good.
    Have a great reading week!

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  3. Great list Gigi! I love anything Marla Frazee writes...Two Boys Have the BEST Week Ever! is my all time favorite of her's! I hadn't heard of The Glitter Trap. I'm adding to the ever growing TBR list! Thanks for highlighting it!

    Have a great week!

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  4. Love the list. I have started and given up on Splendors and Glooms so many times! Glad someone else had a difficult time reading it.

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

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    1. It must get better, but it is too creepy for us right now. Maybe an audio?

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  5. I hear you on S&G -- I enjoyed it, but I have a really hard time thinking how it'd appeal to kids. So dark and full of manipulation.

    All of your picture books look great. Many are already on my TBR, but I think I'll be adding a few more to the list today! :)

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    Replies
    1. I really wonder what age group is enjoying S&G. Definitely not my 4th graders.

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    2. I hear that is the trend . . . kids start it, but abandon. Maybe middle schoolers looking for moody, "thinker" type books. It totally reminded me in tone to The Night Circus.

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  6. Loved your reading this week! I've read Chains a couple times aloud to 5th graders - they loved it and I love it! Need to read Forge, the follow-up. Anya's Ghost has intrigued me, and I've heard good things. I need to read it. Try listening to Splendors and Glooms. The audio is awesome!

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  7. I finished Chains this morning and just loved it. I did not realize there was a second book. I have thought about getting the audio of Splendors and Glooms. I bet it is easier to get through. Thanks for the suggestion.

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  8. Boot and Shoe is super cute. We really liked Goldilocks and Just One Bear at our house, too. I love the artwork in that book. Anya's Ghost is creepy but well done. can see how you could give up on Splendors and Glooms...I'm not sure how I even made it through it. Chains is a great one! Those characters really stuck with me. Enjoy!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for visiting and commenting Jen.

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  9. I really enjoy discovering books I do not have in my library. Goldilocks and Just One Bear and Jimmy the Greatest both appeal to me. Of course anything by the fabulous, and really nice guy, Don Tate is wonderful. I agree with you about Anya's Ghost. I purchased it for my middle school collection but then felt it was a wrong fit for my school so I passed it along to a high school. I recently set up a historical themed display that included many of Laurie Halse Anderson's books-such a gifted storyteller. Nice posting.

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  10. Thanks for visiting and commenting Julee. Chains was my first Halse Anderson book. I just loved it and hope to read more from her.

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