Last week I reviewed:
Red Kite, Blue Kite by Ji-Li Jiang, illustrated by Greg Ruth
Augustus and His Smile by Catherine Rayner
Other picture books I enjoyed last week:
I'm a Frog! by Mo Willems
It's hard to ever go wrong with Elephant and Piggie and I love their newest adventure. It's all about the importance of pretending.
Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne
A perfect book to use when talking about character point of view as this story is told from the perspective of four different characters. In addition, the off-kilter illustrations of using apes instead of humans, along with some other surreal elements makes for one intriguing read aloud.
I Dare You Not to Yawn by Helene Boudreau, illustrated by Serge Bloch
Think yawns aren't contagious? Just read this book in front of a group of kids and watch the yawning ensue. I'm yawning right now as I write this.
This Monster Needs a Haircut by Bethany Barton
Silly book about a little monster named Stewart in desperate need of a haircut but likes his hair just the way it is. The illustrations are a riot and the story is fun and entertaining. I didn't quite get why Stewart and his dad wrote letters to each other on walls and doors, but it was still fun regardless of my head-scratching on that one.
When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Diane Goode
Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten!: The Story of Little Red Riding Hood as Told by the Wolf by Trisha Speed Shashkan
Both of these would be great mentor texts to use in the classroom, the first one could be a writing prompt, letting students write about "When I was young in..." and the second one could be used to discuss point of view, unreliable narrators, and also adding detail to writing.
Books I'm currently (still) reading:
The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield by John Bemelmans Marciano
Finding the Heart of Nonfiction by Georgia Heard
Books I'm reading with my ears:
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman
Love "reading with your ears"! :) Really interested in reading that "Honestly Red Riding Hood"... title, another book added to my growing TBR pile! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love to use Red Riding Hood + The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs for a lesson on POV. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhen you finish Alexander Baddenfield, I would love to discuss. I read it this summer and met the author at TweensReadFest last weekend!
Will need to find the Red Riding Hood book. I agree with that together with The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs might be a great point of view unit!
ReplyDeleteI loved the newest Elephant & Piggie too. Is it possible that Mo Willems just keeps getting better? I just bought Finding the Heart of Nonfiction last week--hoping to get started on it this week. I love Georgia Heard!
ReplyDeleteI loved the newest Elephant & Piggie too. Is it possible that Mo Willems just keeps getting better? I just bought Finding the Heart of Nonfiction last week--hoping to start it this week. I love Georgia Heard! I use a couple of her writing exercises from her book, Writing Toward Home, every semester in my writing classes.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Georgia Heard, too - wonderful book!
ReplyDeleteBeth - thank you for your recommendations! I'm so excited to see the Georgia Heard book on you list. It's been on my "must read" list and you have re-inspired me to get to it ASAP! I love her books! Red Kite, Blue Kite looks great and so does Ausustus and His Smile!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth! I was so excited to see Georgia Heard's book on your list. I'm a huge fan and that book is on the top of my "must read" pile! Also interested in Red Kite, Blue Kite and Augustus and His Smile. Great recommendations!
ReplyDeleteHow is the Book of Blood and Shadow? I have that one and keep meaning to get to it!
ReplyDeleteThis new Mo Willems title just arrived for me at the end of the day and I rushed out without unpacking it. Can't wait to read with the children tomorrow! Just read your lovely little review of Augustus and his Smile - looks like a book I need to share with my students!
ReplyDeleteJust read your lovely little review of Augustus and his Smile and I am convinced this is a title I MUST share with my students! Thank you for highlighting it here. The new Mo Willems book arrived today in my class - planning to surprise the kids tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteFinding the Heart of Nonfiction sure sounds like a winner. I shall have to look for that one. Voices in the Park is one of my favourite Anthony Browne books. Love that. Red Riding Hood also looks intriguing. Thanks for sharing all these.
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