Monday Reading - Favorite Books

      

        Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow! It's been a warm, wonderful spring-like week with a few green leaves popping. Tonight, as I write, it's snowing! That's March! 

         

Newbery winner!

           I think I took so long to read, then finish this because it is a beautiful, creative, and unique story where I savored each page. How can readers not love Johannes? How can readers not love his community of friends, his love of running, and the love of his home? I would love to read this aloud with young readers who might be unable to read it independently! Don't you agree that they, too, would adore the adventure? I also loved the paintings where Shawn Harris places Johannes in his wild places and that they are, according to a note from the author, "classical paintings by others long departed." It's a treasure of a book!

         Max, an only child living in Berlin with his parents, Jewish, is sent, unwillingly, on the Kindertransport to England. He hates it; he's sad and lonely. However, two voices appear to be talking to him, and when he looks, they are tiny creatures sitting on each shoulder: a kobold named Berg and a dybbuk named Stein. They say their true calling is to make mischief, but in this story, anything can happen, and it does. It's a whirlwind of an adventure with a young boy named Max that readers do not want to miss. Set in the first years of World War II, extraordinary Max, though he really wants to be at home with his parents, lands right "in the House of Spies". It's a treasure of a story!

         This is certainly a great time to share this book for young basketball fans. March Madness is happening! Young Maxwell loves to play and dreams about basketball every night. One morning, he wakes up and finds himself in a glorious place–Basketball Town. It's everything basketball, even basketball waterfalls! It's where he plays and learns and practices until he nearly succeeds, yet the Mayor tells him he needs to work on his three-pointer! What happens next in the championship game feels very good indeed, especially when there's one more part to remember, TEAMWORK! Darnell Johnson's illustrations are full of colorful action, nearly feeling like one can hear the bouncing balls, the cheers of the crowd. In addition to the fun story, Scott Rothman adds a page explaining some of the game's terms for those who aren't 'in the know'. It's great to have right now!  

 

                Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!

          One might giggle at the thoughts this title brings. How can it happen that a furry spider wants to be a kitten? Michelle Knudsen shows us in this heartwarming story of a spider who crept into a house to find a dark and cozy space to make a home. However, things went a little differently than planned. A kind, older woman found  him, named him Luigi, and simply said he was an unusual kitten, but she fed and played with him, as if he WAS a kitten. Luigi rather liked it! The relationship grew, although Luigi thought that any time he would be discovered, as a spider! Kevin Hawkes' illustrations with a soft color palette use his skills to transform Luigi, page by page, into a kitten-like, yes, spider! And the woman offers more kitten treats and kitten toys. Luigi's debut as who he really is creates a loving surprise and a big conversation about loving who we are! It's clever and a delight to read! 

Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy! 

Next! I'm reading Ferris by Kate DiCamillo and am about halfway through.