It's Monday - New to Share!

   

    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!       

    The ALA Awards are this morning! Are you pleased or disappointed with those who received shiny medals? 

 

        I want to tell everything about The Squad, yet there are pieces of Christina Soontornvat's new story about her life, from the last book's cheerleading sadness in middle school to the next part of her life, more cheerleading drama, a cafeteria food fight, and high emotions in her family that must be personally experienced. Joanna Cacao's art takes readers into the story as the "squad" worries and supports, sighs about some others in the school and loves some new ones, too. I imagine every middle school student will love this one, embracing it as their lives being lived now. There is a tender letter at the back from Christina, especially nice for her readers, plus pictures of her growing up. Both Christina and Joanna share lovely acknowledgments, too. It is wonderful to read what followed after the earlier book, The Tryout!

      Rollicking rhymes tell this story of Sue, the Blue Kangaroo, who just moved to the zoo! She heard about a party but somehow no one can go until Sue finds her shoe. In addition to that problem, others also need help. Author Bradley Kind's name fits the story wonderfully, for as the story moves along, readers will find Sue to be helpful and kind! Even though she keeps asking and asking about that shoe, she doesn't stop helping others. The fun, fun rhyme will make a terrific read-aloud making the listeners giggle as they also love Shirin Hashemi's delightful brightly-colored illustrations. 

       "Did you see an orange shoe?/Say, "I found it!"/ when you do.

         There are also pages at the back with some activities and Bradley has created a stand-alone activity book to go with this story! Thanks to him for sharing an e-copy with me!

          It's a brief book about 12-year-old Samira who, with her mother, has been working for the resistance in Nazi-occupied France. The night before, her mother was captured and now Samira must hurry to save her because it's known that they shoot everyone at dawn. Through fields and woods, Samira rushes along with a little dog she's rescued for a neighbor. Rumors are that this is the day for the American invasion, and that surely will help, at least Samira hopes so. This keeps one reading fast, to see what happens during this new and desperate march to get to the destination in time!

        Remember Charlie Mackesy's marvelous book, now a movie, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse? I knew when I saw Tales from Muggleswick Wood, in marvelous verse by Vicky Cowie illustrated by Mackesy, that I would love it, and I do! Granny has come for a visit and with urgent pleas, tells five tales she remembers from the beautiful English countryside. You'll find a map in the end covers! There are troublesome moles with an ending that will make you laugh out loud, fairies and brownies with rules one must follow, or else!  from the text: "So off went the frog with the gargoyle pair,/the dragonfly, gnome, and the girl with blonde hair".

Now reading! Chroncicles of a Lizard Nobody - Patrick Ness and Tim Miller