A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

Monday, April 4, 2016

It's Monday! What are you reading? 4-4-16

Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Last week I finished reading:

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
A compulsively readable graphic memoir of Backderf's half-hearted friendship with serial killer Jeffery Dahmer in high school. It is a book that one almost feels ashamed to read (and enjoy) as your morbid curiosity keeps you turning the pages. What I found so tragic about this book is how the adults in Dahmer's life failed him in such an epic way. It makes you wonder if someone had noticed and got him help if things could have ended differently.

I finished reading with my ears:

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Heartbreaking and hopeful. This is a book that will involve more than one reading to fully comprehend its magnitude.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker My head knows this is a great work of children's literature. My heart just wasn't into it. I know I'm the minority, but I can live with that.

Favorite picture book from last week:

Museum Trip by Barbara Lehman
A wonderful wordless picture book that immediately put me in mind of Journey by Aaron Reynolds.

Still reading:

Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar

Currently reading with my ears:

The Cage by Megan Shepherd
Oh my goodness. This book is so addicting! I can't wait to see how this sci-fi thriller plays out. If you liked The Maze Runner, give this book a try!

Friday, April 1, 2016

Twenty Yawns blog tour + giveaway

Today we are celebrating the publication of a wonderful new picture book from author Jane Smiley and Caldecott honor illustrator Lauren Castillo. It is the perfect, gentle picture book to read to your wee ones (or your big ones) at bedtime. It's a book that reflects the satisfaction of crawling into bed after a long, hard day of play, which perfectly complements with Lauren Castillo's signature illustration style of thick, bold lines paired with soft, serene colors. But don't take my word for it. See what a kid has to say about Twenty Yawns:

About the Author:

Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well as five works of nonfiction and a series of books for young adults. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 2006 she received the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. This is her first picture book. She lives in Northern California. To learn more, visit her Facebook page

Lauren Castillo is the illustrator of many books, including The Reader by Amy Hest. She has also written and illustrated several books, including Caldecott Honor book Nana in the City and The Troublemaker. She lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on Twitter: @studiocastillo

Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive an adorable door hanger (one side for quiet time, one side for play) along with a copy of Twenty Yawns.

Terms and conditions:
Must be 13 or older to enter and have a U.S. mailing address
One winner will be selected
Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to visit the other stops on the Twenty Yawns blog tour:

Thurs, Mar 17 Watch.Connect.Read

Fri, Mar 18 Sharpread

Mon, Mar 21 Children's Book Review

Tues, Mar 22 Kid Lit Frenzy

Wed, Mar 23 Cracking the Cover

Thurs, Mar 24 Unleashing Readers

Fri, Mar 25 5 Minutes for Books

Sat, Mar 26 Booking Mama

Mon, Mar 28 A Rup Life

Tues, Mar 29 Children's Book Review

Wed, Mar 30 Once Upon a Story

Thurs, Mar 31 NC Teacher Stuff

Fri, April 1 A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

Mon, Apr 4 Where Imagination Grows

Wed, Apr 6 Teach Mentor Texts

Tues, Apr 12 Jean Little Library

Monday, March 28, 2016

It's Monday! What are you reading? 3-28-16

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
In the same tradition of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Way I Used to Be is one girl's journey as she deals with the aftermath of a sexual assault. This book is much more visceral and intense than Speak and is recommended for older high school readers, but it is highly readable despite the difficult subject matter.

I finished reading with my ears:

Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer
This would be a good book to give to students who loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.

Picture books I read last week:

Ick! Yuck! Eew! Our Gross American History by Lois Miner Huey
Fabulous picture book with lots of great text features, but is done with voice and doesn't feel like you're reading a dry textbook. A highly recommended nonfiction text.

Beatrice Doesn't Want To by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Libraries are magical places — even for those who don't realize it until they've already sucked you in. Beatrice has one such experience at the library.

Currently reading:

Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar

Currently reading with my ears:

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Treat by Mary Sullivan

Mary Sullivan's picture book Ball is a favorite of mine, so I was elated to discover she had another one-word story, Treat, and it is just as charming as her first. I especially love that both Ball and Treat say "Word and Pictures by Mary Sullivan." That just makes me giggle every time I see it.

As you would imagine, Treat is the story of a highly food-motivated dog who thinks of nothing but where he can find his next snack. As he begs several different members of his family and is teased mercilessly by the family toddler, this French Bulldog walks off dejected and has a series of odd dreams that all revolve around objects he encountered during the day. The big question readers are left wondering as they turn the pages is: will this neglected pooch find something to sate his hunger?

To say the dog in this book reminds me of my pug Frank would be an understatement. He has spent his entire life trying to think of ways to acquire his next meal or snack. And if he's not looking for a snack, he's looking for a lap. So I think I'm definitely going to have to own this book.

Was Mary Sullivan inspired by my pug Frank? :)

Treat by Mary Sullivan
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
Disclosure: Library Copy

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.

Monday, March 21, 2016

It's Monday! What are you reading? 3-21-16

It's Monday! What are you reading? Is a wonderful community of readers, teachers, and librarians. Hosted by Jen over at Teach Mentor Texts along with Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers, participants share their reading adventures from the past week along with their reading plans for the week ahead.

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.

*Sigh* Moving into a new house has certainly messed with my reading life this week. I'm so busy unpacking boxes and arranging furniture that I've been neglecting reading. (Also: among the unpacked boxes and unorganized mess of furniture, brick-a-brac and unhung pictures, I can't seem to find the book I've been reading for the past three weeks. So there's that.) So here's a very short It's Monday! post for you.

Author interview + giveaway:

The Typewriter by Bill Thomson

I finished reading with my ears:

Paperweight by Meg Haston
If you liked Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson or Perfect by Natasha Friend, this book would be up your alley.

Picture books I read last week: