My Monday posts are generally just a highlight of what I've been reading during the week so if you'd like to see all that I've been reading, follow my Goodreads page.
Last week I reviewed:
Brunette Ambition by Lea Michelle
I finished reading:
Noggin by John Corey Whaley
I'll be writing a longer review of this book but I wanted to share my first thoughts of this book: Even though the premise of this book is about a teenage boy who comes back to life after his head has been cryogenically frozen, it is about so much more than that. Anyone who has ever felt left behind by friends and/or family by going away and then coming back from somewhere or something will completely relate to Travis Coates's story. I will be recommending this book to teens and adults for the rest of my life.
I paused reading for now:
Smek for President! by Adam Rex
As excited as I was to read the sequel to The True Meaning of Smekday, I found myself longing to listen to the audiobook rather than read the book because I really want to hear Bahni Turpin tell more of Gratuity Tucci's story and narrate for J.Lo the Boov alien. The first Smekday book is my favorite audiobook of all time so I'm praying that Turpin also narrates the sequel too.
Picture books I enjoyed last week:
Pardon Me! by Daniel Miyares
Fans of I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat are likely to enjoy this story of a cranky bird who gets his comeuppance. What I loved about this book is how the pictures told more of the story than the text did.
My Teacher is a Monster (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown
I love how Bobby's perspective of his monstrous teacher changes throughout the story. Would be a fun read aloud.
Currently reading:
Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good: A Memoir of Food and Love from an American Midwest Family by Kathleen Flinn
Food is a great form of storytelling, as evidenced by the layout of this book, which tells a family story and then includes a related recipe at the end of each chapter. I envision reading a couple chapters to students and then having them write their own story of a family recipe.
Currently and still reading with my ears:
After the End by Amy Plum
The Elite by Kiera Cass
Some posts from my teaching blog:
Changing the narrative -- one story, one workshop at a time
My EMWP portfolio
Noggin seems interesting. I need to get past the cover- and the plot- and maybe I'll like it!
ReplyDelete:) Love that you included "pausing" a book, hmm, had to pause The Night Gardener- hoping to listen to it instead of read it...
ReplyDeleteWell, Noggin will certainly go on my list, Beth. It sounds great, & thanks for Pardon Me, too. Looks cute. I love the idea of Burnt Toast, too. I've had students write favorite food stories before-always a pleasure & they don't lack words to write, have many stories to choose from. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJust read your review of the Lea Michelle book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. My 12 year old loves Lea, but I don't think I'll get this for her. I don't love the focus on appearance. My Teacher is a Monster is waiting for me to pick it up at my library. I just requested Pardon Me because of your review. Anything like Jon Klassen's books sounds good to me. Thanks Beth!
ReplyDeleteIntrigued by "Pardon Me" - my students fell in love with "This is Not My Hat" last year.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that you liked Noggin so much. I LOVED Where Things Come Back and Noggin just came in at the library for me - I will be reading it soon. Pardon Me is a picture book I really want to read. Love the cover!
ReplyDeletePardon Me looks really good, but it's not at my library. May have to purchase that one since I loved I Want My Hat Back so much!
ReplyDeleteNoggin looks so good! I liked his last book, so I want to get this one.
ReplyDeleteI need to check out Pardon Me and My Teacher as I love Peter Brown and Hat Back.
Happy reading this week! :)
Yours is the first review I've seen on Noggin. I've been eyeing it on the shelf at my tiny local library--will have to check it out next time I'm in. Really want to read the new Peter Brown--love his work so much! I know just what you mean about favorite audiobooks. I am thinking about getting an Audible subscription just so that I can listen to books 2 and 3 of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone series on audio because I love the narrator so much!
ReplyDeleteYour instagram is a tease for me, and then I come on here and enjoy the full reviews! I added Noggin to my list after seeing your positive comments. I wasn't drawn to the premise of the book, but you've changed my mind!
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