It's Monday! What are you reading? 8-5-13

Originally hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers also host a kidlit version of It's Monday! What are You Reading?

I read a lot of picture books this week. So many that I'm only going to highlight some of my favorites:

Nikolai, the Only Bear by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Renata Liwska
Oh my goodness!  An absolutely beautiful story with equally stunning illustrations about the only bear in an orphanage in Russia. As you continue reading this unusual little story, the way Renata Liwska illustrates Nikolai in such a human way despite the fact that he's a bear, makes you realize that Nikolai isn't really a bear at all and this is a story about a real boy looking for a real family. It is heartbreaking, gentle, and joyous all at the same time. I highly recommend this one. 

 
Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos
There's just something about Audrey Hepburn and this simple picture book biography is a great introduction to her life and work. For kids who are into fashion and old-time Hollywood glamor, this is a great book for them. 


Vivaldi's Four Seasons by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by Joan E. Kitchel
Vivaldi not only composed the Four Seasons concertos (which are some of my favorite pieces of classical music), but he wrote a set of sonnets to go with the music. I could see a music, social studies, and English teacher working together on a unit that examines the history of the time, the poems, and the music.  Lots of cross-curricular connections happening here. The book also comes with a CD of the concertos.


Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon 
What can I say? I'm a sucker for dog books. I love that David Shannon wrote and illustrated this book inspired by his own dog Fergus. 

Wilfred by Ryan Higgins
This one made me tear up at the end. What a wonderful, heartfelt story about a boy who finds a friend in a big, hairy monster.  

Blue Chameleon and Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett
Well Emily Gravett is slowly becoming one of my favorite illustrators. What clever, thoughtful books she creates!  


I finished two audiobooks last week:
 
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
Doll Bones by Holly Black
I think I'm in the minority because I didn't love Doll Bones the way everyone else did, but I absolutely ADORED Monstrous Beauty. The audiobook is absolutely stunning. I'm posting a review of it this week.

Currently (still) reading:

Timepiece by Myra McEntire 


Currently listening:

Every Day by David Levithan
I'm enjoying Every Day but I'm having a really hard time suspending my disbelief because there's no explanation as to WHY the protagonist inhabits the body of a different person every day. At the same time, I know that's not the point of the book and I should just sit back and enjoy the beautiful writing. But still. The realistic fiction girl inside of me can't help but wonder how this is all possible.  

I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza 
Tony Danza will be a key note speaker at NCTE in Boston this year so I wanted to read his book before going just to see if he's legit. I'm not far enough in yet to know that for sure but I can't doubt his sincerity. He's someone who has the heart for teaching and seems to be a fierce supporter of teachers. 


Last week I reviewed:

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan, illustrated by Maria Kalman


Other posts from last week:
Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award winners
A fishy comparison

Over on my other blog, Use Your Outside Voice, I write about my conflicting emotions over not returning to the classroom in September.


Current giveaway:
 
Two ARCs of middle grade sequels: When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket and The Lonely Lake Monster by Suzanne Selfors