Monday Reading - Wow!

Every Monday, it's a pleasure to link up with a group that reviews books they want to share with others. If you visit, you'll be sure to find a book or more that you know you'll want to read!  I'm headed for the beach at the end of the week, will post from there next week, then take some time off. Happy Reading!

          Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who link up.   

Tweet #IMWAYR

Picture Books

A funny short story, bold and colorful,  about a boy catching a dragon flying by, and the challenge of dressing the dragon, especially in the favorite underwear, and shoes! My youngest granddaughter thought this was hilarious. We've read it more than once. There is something about underwear. . .

         There is nothing better than anticipation, and this time it's all about the cake. At least it's exciting until the cake goes missing, and one of these friends has crumbs on his shirt! Along with the dismay, and someone's embarrassment, it finally all works out. Aren't those three friends adorable? There is a wonderful review here at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

All the rest of the family is snoring, deep asleep, but not one young girl! She decides she will take her thoughts to the rooftop, along with the bedding and pillow. The dear cat follows along too, and the girl watches the stars, with her mother who has evidently followed along. Ink and watercolor sketches invite slow gazing for readers while turning the pages. When reading this to the granddaughters, it was fun to explain about rooftop gardens.

          Tuck this away for winter, and pair it with A Snowy Day for reading in a warm cozy house or classroom. Published in China, the pages themselves look cold and snowy. A little boy tramps out into the wonderland with his sled, manages to go whirling down a hill, loving all this winter fun. The artist shares that oil pastels, gouache, acrylic colors and colored pencils were used to create the artwork, which is amazing. 

 Just out in April, this new book by wonderful Lois Ehlert could be one to enjoy the poetic speculation about rain fish, or one that shows the delightful collage creations of fish, fish and more fish. Using easily-found materials, Lois Ehlert again wows with the art. Crumpled paper, a found feather, and a card with two "dabbed" dots of white makes a fish swimming. . . I don't know where.  This would make a terrific mentor text for poetry-writing and collage-making! 

A page of art "supplies" shared at the back. What
could you or your students make from these objects?

Middle Grade Or YA

Wolf Hollow - Lauren Wolk

          Set in a rural area during World War II, holding the sweet flavor of "To Kill A Mockingbird", about judging someone without really knowing them. Young 11 year old Annabelle's life changes in the fall, the beginning of the school year when a new girl, Betty, arrives. She is mean, and turns Annabelle's, then others' lives upside down. The involvement of a troubled man from the first world war era mixes up the story even more, and Betty takes advantage of community frailties. I enjoyed the beautiful language used to describe the setting, a place that firmly supports young Annabelle in her struggles. She lives with parents and brothers, grandparents and a great aunt in the home where her family has lived for years. It's a beautiful place, but also one with sadness in its history, which Annabelle discovers when the asks about the name "Wolf Hollow". Told in first person, we readers are privileged to hear her thoughts when she works through distress, and then firm convictions for actions to help a friend. Here is one passage I marked. She has said goodbye to that soldier, both going to their homes. "I stayed for a bit and watched him make his way back across the turned ground between the strawberry patch and the woods, dipping and rising a little as he walked against the grain of the furrows, like a boat crossing a small sea." The story is not simple, just like life, and Annabelle learns that lesson well.

Adult - From my "Must Read in 2016" list!

            I waited a long time to read this, another incredible book from Laura Hillenbrand. I have a personal connection and it was not an easy read, but I enjoyed every part nonetheless. This man, Louis Zamperini, represents so much strength that is in all those experiencing the horrors of war.

Just starting - Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman