It's Monday, What Are You Reading? July 11, 2022

 

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

Here are a couple books I read last week.  

We Are Shapes

by Melinda Beck

Published April, 2022

Phaidon Press

32 Pages

Board Book

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

A playful and clever board book about shapes and teamwork by a two-time Emmy-nominated children's content creator at Nickelodeon

Pitch-perfect for a preschool audience, this board book introduces shapes and explores themes of teamwork and resilience. Square, rectangle, triangle, circle, squiggly and lumpy all work together to build a house. Each shape makes a unique contribution, and collectively they achieve something that they could not do alone. With an emphasis on interpersonal development, and visually inspired by the children's books created by Russian Constructivists, this is an artful, fresh take on the evergreen topic of shapes. This charming book teaches young readers everywhere that we are far stronger together than alone.

My Thoughts

I am already thinking about using this book in my library for K-1. It offers the concept work of shapes and the attributes of shapes while also capitalizing on the theme of teamwork. The illustrations are intentionally simplistic, and each shape has its own unique personality. This will be a book kids want to hear over and over again. 

Here are some other books I read last week. Click on the cover to go to the book's page on Goodreads. 

From the 2022-2023 Maine Student Book Award List

Loved this graphic novel for younger students from the author of Mel Fell. And it's a series! 

I am kind of obsessed with all the Elephant & Piggies Like Reading series. 

 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? July 4, 2022

 

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

Here are a couple books I read last week.  

Birdie's Billions

by Edith Cohn

Published December 2021

Bloomsbury Children's Books

274 Pages

Hardcover

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

A savvy young girl finds half a million dollars and wonders if she can keep it in this charming middle grade mystery that asks big questions about right, wrong, and what you'd do for family.

For as long as eleven-year-old Birdie can remember, it's always been just her and her mom, which means there's not a lot of extra money to spend on things like new clothes and batons from the fancy gymnastics store. Still, they always find a way to make ends meet. Then Birdie makes one silly mistake that has a big consequence: Mom loses her job. Now things are more dire than ever, and Birdie knows it's up to her to fix it.

When Birdie discovers a huge stash of cash in an abandoned house, she just knows it must be the answer to their problems. But the people who left that money behind aren't willing to give it up so easily. Does “finders, keepers” count when it's half a million dollars?

In this heartfelt small-town story from beloved author Edith Cohn, Birdie learns how to balance what's right for her family-and herself-with what's the right thing to do.

My Thoughts

I am a big fan of the author's book, Spirit's Key so I was very excited to read Birdie's Billions. At first glance it seems like this is a book centered around spending and concealing the money and the mystery of who the money belongs to. It is about all of that but what I like most about this book is how it shows how a lie grows and grows and eventually take son a life of its own. Birdie gets so far into her lies that she eventually forgets which lies she has told. She gets in deep and doesn't know how to get out. Students in grades 3-6 will enjoy reading Birdie's story. I will be adding it to my school library for sure. 

Our Seasons: The World in Winter,  

Spring, Summer, and Autumn

by Sue Lowell Gallion

Illustrated by Lisk Feng

Published April 20, 2022 by Phaidon Press

Boardbook

26 Pages

Nonfiction

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

A stunning companion to the bestseller Our World, this extraordinary book is a beautiful and accessible introduction to the world’s seasons, which, after reading, transforms into a 3D globe

The youngest readers are invited to identify and experience the Earth’s amazing seasons around the globe through rhyming verse and lush illustrations: frosty winter, blossoming spring, bountiful summer, colourful autumn. Secondary text offers detailed curriculum-focused facts that encourage children to consider their own environments, making the experience personal yet set within a global backdrop. This informative homage to Earth’s seasons is sure to inspire children to learn more about their planet – and to engage with the world around them.

My Thoughts

This book about seasons is a lot of fun! First, its unique shape will surely engage your readers. It is made of sturdy board book material and opens up into the shape of a globe. The top portion of each page contains colorful illustrations depicting the season. The bottom left side is written as a poem about seasons that spans the entire book. The bottom right on each spread tells a bit more about the season. 

Image from Amazon.com