Sunday, February 23, 2014

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? February 24


Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

My last Monday post was on Feb. 3. 
So here are the highlights from the last few weeks.

Picture Books
 
by Desmond Tutu 
Illustrated by A. G. Ford
An excellent book about the power of forgiveness.
Grades 1-5

by Greg Pizzoli
This adorable crocodile swallows a watermelon seed. He becomes more and more afraid as he imagines what the seed might do inside him. Fun book for younger kiddos pre-K-2. 

by Germano Zullo
Illustrated by Albertine
It is difficult to summarize this book. A young boy goes an a journey of sorts to see his grandmother. It is a picture book with many layers to it. If you liked Journey by Aaron Becker, then you may like this one as well. Could be used with many different ages. 

Poetry
by David Elliot
Illustrated by Holly Meade
A beautifully illustrated book of short ocean animal poems. Great for grades K-3. 

by Takayo Noda
These poems are told through a child's letters to the Earth. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, this book is sure to interest kiddos in grades K-4. 

Middle Grade
I finished reading....
by Cynthia Lord
 I love Cynthia Lord and her latest book is wonderful! 
She is a master story-teller. This book is a story of new friendship, loss, change and 
coming of age. I highly recommend it for grades 4 and up. 

by Jaleigh Johnson
I may need to do a full review of this complex book and even then I won't be able to do it justice. It is a dystopian fiction novel that I recommend for grades 4 and up. 

Finished listening....
by Cynthia Lord
I LOVED this book. A small island in Maine decides to have families take in children in the foster care system to increase the enrollment at their school. The state has threatened to close the school because of the low population. 
If you liked One for the Murphys this one is for you. Grades 4-8. 


Currently Reading
by Dave Burgess

Starting soon
by Natalie Lloyd
A big group of kiddos, my partner teacher and myself will be reading A Snicker of Magic together as a book club.  Excited!

What are you reading friends?

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for the recommendations. Can't wait to read Desmond and the Very Mean Word. Sounds like an amazing story

    Best
    Tammy and Clare

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  2. I am getting ready to start Ever After High. One of my students did a project on it and she did such a good job that she convinced me to read it! I guess it is kind of like Monster High, which I don't really know anything about!
    Can't wait to get my hands on A Snicker of Magic!

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  3. I can't wait to hear what you think about A SNICKER OF MAGIC. I don't think there's a book coming out in 2014 that I will love more than this one.

    LINE 135 was such a fantastic book. I loved how unusual it was but still emotionally resonant.

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  4. You hooked me with Line 135 when you said, "If you liked Journey..." ;-) I've been meaning to read Half a Chance, and Mark of the Dragonfly looks great. A Snicker of Magic is next on my list!

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  5. Yay to a new Cynthia Lord book! Looking forward to getting it and reading. I'm also looking forward to A Snicker of Magic. So many readers I trust have just loved this book, so I'm ready to love it too!

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  6. Some wonderful books Gigi I just read Touch Blue and we have Half a Chance but my daughter has wandered away with my copy. I loved Desmond and the Very Mean Word - it is a book my students refer to constantly. It had many messages that resonated with children.

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  7. Gigi - I found several on your list that I haven't read. Need to go check them out. Hope you love A Snicker of Magic. And glad you liked Cynthia Lord's new book. I still have to get to it.

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  8. Such beautiful books, Gigi - especially the one by Desmond Tutu - that's a must have, I think.

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  9. Lots to love here, Gigi. I have The Mark of The Dragonfly from NetGalley, & your description makes me want to read it now! I am just beginning a group that will read Rules-all the books by Cynthia Lord are well worth reading for sure. I need to get this newest one. And, I love In The Sea-such beautiful illustrations with those good poems. Thanks!

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  10. I making a pile on my Amazon account. Have put Snicker of Magic and Touch Blue in my cart. Book fair is at school this week. Dangerous for making new piles.

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  11. A wonderful collection of books, Gigi! I am also looking forward to reading Snicker of Magic. Line 135 is intreguing - I will definitely be looking for that title! Dear Earth sounds like a wonderful anchor book for having students write their own "Dear Earth" poems! Thanks for all the great suggestions!

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  12. Hi Gigi, I can't wait to read Cynthia Lord's newest book, I've always enjoyed her works. Desmond and the Very Mean Word looks like a nice read aloud. Life's too short to hold on to negativity, and kids are never too young to start working through the concept of forgiveness. Have a great week!

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  13. Hi there Gigi, I have yet to familiarize myself with Cynthia Lord's novels. Thank you for highlighting two of her books here. I've read a lot of good things about Desmond and the Very Mean Word - I would be borrowing this book from our library during the weekend. Dear World also looks like something I could add to my text-set when we talk about the environment, etc. Thanks for sharing so many great titles here! Have a great reading week!

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