Monday, November 4, 2013

It's Monday! What are you reading? 11-4-13

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?

First of all, did you know that Donalyn Miller's Reading in the Wild is out today? If you're a teacher and you haven't ordered it yet, what are you waiting for? This is not just reading for professional development. It is reading to inspire.




Also, check out my current giveaway for the Dystopian blog hop. It's a copy of Divergent by Veronica Roth. 



Last week I finished reading:


Finding the Heart of Nonfiction by Georgia Heard
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon


Last week I finished reading with my ears:

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
This book is simply stunning. I don't often read adult fiction because I find middle grade and YA to be more engaging, but wow did this book ever catch me spellbound.


Some picture books I really enjoyed last week:

Someday a Tree by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ronald Himler
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenfeld


The Beasties by Jenny Nimmo, illustrated by Gwen Millward
Simply beautiful. I loved the Van Gogh-like illustrations. I'll be writing a longer review of this one hopefully this coming week.

 
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?
14 different illustrators answered the old riddle "Why did the chicken cross the road?" in 14 different ways. There's so much you could do with this in the classroom. 


Still reading:

The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield by John Bemelmans Marciano
This book isn't much more than 100 pages but for some reason I can't seem to finish it. Grad school reading is holding up my ability to finish even a 100-page middle grade novel.  


Still reading with my ears:

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman 

I came really close to abandoning this one and I'm glad I didn't. The main character finally arrived in Prague (which was mentioned in the synopsis) and so the plot has picked up for me. If a book says it takes place in Prague, I read it, what can I say? It is such a gorgeous city. In fact, maybe I should write a book and set it in Prague just so I can have an excuse to go back. 


Also reading with my ears:

The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Not really diggin this book right now but I also don't dislike it enough to abandon it -- yet. 

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your reading with us! I just requested The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield after seeing it here. The cover speaks to me...I don't know why!

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  2. Waiting for Donalyn's book with great excitement. I loved the Georgia Heard book, too - such a wise teacher of writers.

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  3. Hmm. I watched a few videos/TED talks on Steal Like an Artist... Interesting guy! Can't wait for my copy of Reading in the Wild to arrive! :) Happy reading to you.

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  4. My nephews were just tell me a bunch of made up chicken crossing the road jokes. I need to get that book for them! Thanks for sharing, have a great week! http://wp.me/pzUn5-1J6

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  5. I loved Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer and finished it in 3 hours, I believe. I should find her newest book - Reading in the Wild. I agree, it's really inspirational reading about reading - how cool is that! :) Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler - they are such a powerful and amazing tandem. I should check out the title you shared here. They create such beautiful books. Have a great reading week.

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  6. Am reading the Georgia Heard book with a group at school-so far, very good. I know the first two picture books-both good to have, but not The Beasties, will look for it-looks terrific. Thanks for so many to look for, Beth!

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  7. I loved The Beasties! Bought a copy for my classroom. It is just so so beautiful. Agreed! I'm marking Burial Rites as a to Read title - I also don't often read adult titles so going on your recommendation! Thanks!

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