It's Monday, What Are You Reading?-October 17, 2016

A couple more day left to enter to win a Pug Meets Pig gift pack ! 

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

Click on the covers to learn more about each book.

Last week I reviewed A Bike Like Sergio's by this author/illustrator team. This book would be excellent to share with elementary students and offers many opportunities for discussion about fairness, wants and needs.

Visit tomorrow to hear more about this sweet picture book!

Currently Reading

Really enjoying this novel in verse.

Pug Meets Pig by Sue Lowell Gallion and Joyce Wan

Pug Meets Pig 
by Sue Lowell Gallion
Illustrated by Joyce Wan
Published Sept. 27, 2016
Beach Lane Books
40 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

An unlikely pair—a pug and a pig!—realize that it’s better to be together.

Pug is a very happy pup. He has his own yard, his own bowl, and even his own cozy bed! That is, until Pig moves in and starts eating from Pug’s bowl, interrupting Pug’s routine, and, worst of all, sleeping in Pug’s bed. Will Pug and Pig ever learn to live together as friends?

This sweet and silly story about a darling duo celebrates the timeless themes of embracing change, being kind to others, and finding friends in unlikely places.

My Thoughts
This book had me with its cover. The big, adorable faces of Pug and Pig will have kids begging to read this book. The text is simplistic and predictable. I can see little ones asking to hear it over and over again. 
Pug Meets Pig shows that feelings can change and there is always room for another friend. There is always room for more happiness. 
I would describe the illustrations as smooth and chunky. The characters have faces that you just want to squeeze. 

I would highly recommend Pug Meets Pig for children ages 2-6. 

Image from simonandschuster.com

See what others have to say about this book:
Kirkus

Visit Sue Gallion's website and view the activity kit which includes resources for teachers.
Visit Joyce Wan's website. 

Enter to win a copy of the book and a Pug Meets Pig tennis ball and doggie treat. 

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A Bike Like Sergio's by Maribeth Boelts and Noah Z. Jones

A Bike Like Sergio's 
by Maribeth Boelts
Illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Published Oct. 4, 2016
Candlewick Press
40 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Ruben feels like he is the only kid without a bike. His friend Sergio reminds him that his birthday is coming, but Ruben knows that the kinds of birthday gifts he and Sergio receive are not the same. After all, when Ruben’s mom sends him to Sonny’s corner store for groceries, sometimes she doesn’t have enough money for everything on the list. So when Ruben sees a dollar bill fall out of someone’s purse, he picks it up and puts it in his pocket. But when he gets home, he discovers it’s not one dollar or even five or ten—it’s a hundred-dollar bill, more than enough for a new bike just like Sergio’s! But what about the crossed-off groceries? And what about the woman who lost her money? Presenting a relatable story told with subtlety and heart, the creative team behind Those Shoes pairs up again for a satisfying new picture book.

My Thoughts
This is a story that many kids will find relatable. All kids can relate to wanting something that a friend has, a bike, a toy, a pet and not having the money to purchase it. They can also relate to the dilemma of "finding" something that doesn't belong to them and deciding whether to keep it or return it to its owner. 
A Bike Like Sergio's offers several opportunities for debate and discussion with children. 
~What is the right thing to do? 
~What would YOU do? 
~How would you feel if...? 
It would be fun to stop before reading Ruben's decision and have students predict what he will do. 

This author-illustrator pair have teamed up before on the book Those Shoes which involves a similar situation of wanting something and not having money enough to get it. 

Despite Noah Z, Jones saying that he is "bad at drawing bikes", the illustrations are great. He has a way of purposely using uneven lines, thick, black outlines and shadowing that gives his work a unique quality. 

Image from Candlewick.com

I would highly recommend A Bike Like Sergio's for grades 1-4. It would also make a nice text to use for opinion/debate with upper grades. 

Check out the book trailer.

See what others have to say about this book:

Publishers Weekly (Starred review)

Kirkus

Visit the Maribeth Boelts' website. There is also a teacher's guide. 
Visit the Noah Z. Jones' website.