Reading Slices, & A Few Books! 25 of 31

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS.  Visit to find posts about terrific books!  Plus, there is a terrific meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers more reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children.  

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                 Have you found a book this week that fits this description by John Green?

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” 
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

And-it’s slice 25 of 31 in the March Slice of Life Challenge at TwoWritingTeachers.   

     Reading this week has consisted of loads of blog posts,  which I’ve enjoyed very much, half of Bomb, by Steve Sheinkin (marvelous) and a few picture books.  I’m on spring break, so hope to have much reading time this week too.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies – written and illustrated by Jan Thomas

         I can’t imagine anyone not breaking down into hilarious laughter after reading this, where the dust bunnies show the fun part of rhyming, all except Bob, who just cannot seem to get it right.  He does save the day in other ways, however, so all ends up happily, just as it should be.  This could be a good addition for poetry, easy to understand for younger readers, but it’s also a good example of laugh-out-loud silliness.  The illustrations just enhance the story.  They are bright, colorful and full of action! If you think your class needs a good boost of happy, have this book ready!

Open This Little Book – written by Jesse Klausmeier, illustrated by Suzy Lee

          It’s just wonderful to discover another book that celebrates books and reading.  This book does more, it shows how enticing a book is because each time one turns the page, another surprise is there.  The circular organization of the book pleases, along with the happiest of endings.  Suzy Lee’s illustrations change as the book itself changes, and offer new looks on every page.  I wish I could frame that final page.  Readers need to read this book!

Animal Poems - written by Valerie Worth, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

           This is a wonderful discovery to me, another book with those gorgeous collage illustrations by Steve Jenkins and he’s illustrating exquisite poems about animals by the late Valerie Worth.   She writes of a whale floating easily in the sea, “light as dust in sun-baths”, a wasp as a ‘sharp flake of night” and a porcupine “held fast in the thicket of its own thorns”.  Her poems don’t just teach us the basics of the animals, but hold questions to consider.  It’s a book of poems that older students could enjoy and study.

Infinity and Me - written by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

           A little girl gets new red shoes, is excited and cannot sleep, goes outside because she believes looking at the sky and the stars will help her get sleepy.  It doesn’t, but only creates questions about infinity.  Uma, the little girl moves through her story, asking many  others about their thoughts on infinity.  There are some wonderful and thoughtful replies, and Uma also comes to her own conclusion about infinity.  In the backmatter, the author suggests thinking of one’s own creative way to imagine what infinity is.  This is a thoughtful book that I can imagine using for a variety of ages.  

              My TBR List is long, it is spring break, so I'll finish Bomb, move on the The False Prince, then Navigating Early plus I have a new pile of picture books from the library!  I hope I'll have time to read a lot!