Monday, July 30, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Wow, it's Monday already!! The past week just FLEW by!!  I did some reading, but not as much as I would have liked.  I've slacked a bit in our Round 2 of the #summerthrowdown!  I have to step it up for the League of Librarians, maybe since I have my League of Librarians t-shirt, designed by Jarrett J. Krosoczka I might be motivated again!


I did read a few great book this week.  I got a chance to read an ARC of Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead, thanks to @sylvie_shaffer.  I found this to be a very interesting story.  I love books where the author can still surprise me.  This one did many times.  My Twitter pals highly recommended another Rebecca Stead book, When You Reach Me.  So I've now added it to my ever growing to-read list!


I read four great picture books this week the first was Darth Vader and Son!  I love Star Wars a lot, so I knew this was quickly going to become a favorite of mine.  I have to get at least two copies of this for my library.  I think it will be a very popular book!  The second book was A Gold Star For Zog by Julia Donaldson.  This book is about a dragon named Zog who is in dragon school.  Each year he learns a new skills and practices with help from a little girl.  I'm a sucker for any books about school.  The illustrations by Axel Scheffler really made this great book even better!  The third book I read was Is Everyone Ready for Some Fun? by Jan Thomas.  I have been a fan of Jan Thomas since I read the book What Will Fat Cat Sit On? to my students.  Her books are so much fun.  I can see myself using this with my PreKindergarten students this year.  The last picture books was a nonfiction one called Animals...and Their Families by Barbara Nascimbeni.  This was a very simple nonfiction book, but provides a lot of information.  On the left page is a black picture of the animal with its name.  On the right page there are color pictures of the mommy, daddy, and baby animal with specific names if they have them.  For example, on the owl pages it has owlet written by the baby.  It also tells their sound, their home, and their meal.  I just loved this book and can't wait to get a copy for my library.


I also read one other chapter book that came highly recommended by one of my fifth grade students this past year.  It was The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas.  This book is about a thief who is drawn into a life of magic and adventure after picking the pocket of a powerful wizard.  This book was a bit of a slow start for me, since I was coming off of reading a lot of grown up books.  I had to get into the "kid book" mode again.  Once I got into the book, I was captivated.  I picked up the second and third book for my library.  I have a student in mind who I think will really like this one.  It reminded me of The Land of Elyon series by Patrick Carman.


Up next for me is some more picture books that I picked up at the library on Saturday.  I also picked up the newest Lois Lowry, Gooney Bird on the Map.  I'm a big fan of Gooney Bird.  She is the type of person I always wish I could be!


Happy Reading!!


Stacey (@libraryjo92)


5 comments:

  1. I love it when kids recommend a book to you! I still have yet to read Rebecca Stead, but she does have quite the following. Both When You Reach Me and Liar and Spy are higher up on my TBR. Your picture books look great too. Have a great week!

    Lorna

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  2. I enjoyed The Magic Thief. The series is only three books long, too, which is a nice change! Kids who like that also like the Angie Sage Magyk series. (Which is a little longer.)

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  3. Oh my gosh, DEFINITELY read When You Reach Me. It is very strange, but oh so brilliant. One of my top 5 MG novels of all time. I've read it multiple times and love it more each time I read it. It's a great audiobook too.

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  4. I've had When You Read Me on my TBR forever, but just haven't gotten around to it. I've heard nothing but good things about Liar and Spy!
    I really want to get the Darth Vader and Son book for MY son...he loves Star Wars!
    Happy reading this week!

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  5. The summer is flying by much less this week.
    You have to read When You Reach Me. It is such a special book. I too read Liar & Spy this week- it really shows how great Stead is.

    Happy reading this week! :)

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