Wow, I haven't posted since April! I got caught up and got so busy with the end of school. Something had to give and unfortunately it was this blog. I have missed posting, so I taking this summer to get back in the habit. I think that I might need to make a sticker chart on the calendar. Every day that I post, I'll put a sticker on the calendar.
A few weeks ago some nerdy friends and I were talking about, what else books and blogging. We came up with the hashtag #booksmiles. We agreed to post about books that make us smile. But we wanted to wait until school let out.
I'm finally on summer vacation, so I'm really smiling now! I also have more time to read, which also makes me smile.
Here is the first book that made me smile this summer:
Growing up I always loved the bloopers on television and in the movies. This book brought me back to my children and made me laugh out loud.
I just found a blog post at Design of the Picture Book going behind the scenes with Tom Lichtenheld the illustrator of this book. It is a great post about how he came up with the illustrations.
What book has made you smile? Use the hashtag #booksmiles on Twitter, leave a comment on the blog so we can find more books that make us smile. Also don't forget to check out Daydream Reader's post on her blog. The book that made her smile is now on my to read list! Also keep a eye on King and Kids blog for her first #booksmiles post.
Happy Reading!
Stacey (@libraryjo92)
This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey. The kid's version was started by Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.
This has been a VERY slow week of reading! It is now that busy busy time of year and I'm just struggling to keep my head above water. I did fit in a few books.
I finished one chapter book, When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens. Click her for a summary on Goodreads. This was such a fun read, once I started it I had to finish reading it. Audrey Rhodes has moved into the White House or 1600 as she calls it. She is not truly sure how she fits into this new political arena that is now her life. Audrey is adrift until she finds a diary that belonged to Alice Roosevelt. Audrey finds all of Alice's antics entertaining, but also helpful because she finds someone else who has felt the same way she is feeling right now. this book has made me want to find out more about Alice Roosevelt. She lived her life by her own terms, which makes me interested to learn more about her.
I also read the graphic novel Gabby & Gator by James Burks. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I really enjoyed this book a lot. I identified with Gabby because I'm always looking to try and find people who will accept me for me and find a friend. I finding stories that show great examples of being a good friend because so many students don't know how to be a good friend. This one is very hard to keep on my shelf, it's very loved.
Later in the week I'm going to be reviewing the books below, because I can hear my bed calling my name!
Also, I have a guest post about some of my favorite books of 2014 (and a few from 2013) on the Elementary Librarian Blog. If you haven't been to her site, it is a wonderful resource for Library Media Specialists!
Happy Reading!!
Stacey (@libraryjo92)
This meme was started by Sheila at Book Journey. The kid's version was started by Jen at Teach Mentor Text and Kellee at Unleashing Readers.
Even though I've been on Spring Break I haven't done a lot of reading. I've got a few titles to share that I've been reading. I've been too busy visiting family and catching up on grading. It's amazing how fast Spring Break goes!
I've been waiting to read Ungifted by Gordon Korman for most of this school year because it is on the Maryland Back-Eyed Susan Award nominees this year. I finally had the time to pick it up and read it. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I had mixed feelings about this book. Overall I enjoyed the book, but I did have a few problems with the story. I felt many of the characters acted how we would typically expect the "smart" kids, the "average" kids, the "bumbling/clueless" adults to act. I can see why my students really liked the story, but I wanted a bit more. It held my interest, but it is not one that I would find myself picking up again and again.
Another book that I picked up on a lark was Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. I knew nothing about this book before I started, but the cover drew me in. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I always love a good mystery and this was no exception. Theodora (Theo) is a strong main character doing what she has to do to keep her family home. She comes across a very old, but hidden Renaissance masterpiece. This could be the answer to her prayers, but is worried about if it was stolen. The story behind the painting leads her to learn a lot about her grandfather and a terrible time in Jewish history. Any students who love mysteries will love this story. The ending was a little to perfect for me, but I had to keep reminding myself this was a kids book.
The last book I was able to read was Captain Awesome to the Rescue by Stan Kirby. I had to check this book out of the Public Library because it is always checked out from my library. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. This was such a fun book. I can see why my kids have it checked out. There is not a lot of meat to the story, but it deals with problems that those younger students have. For example moving to a new town, finding a new best friend, and dealing with a baby sister who is starting to move everywhere. I'm going to be promoting these books even more to some of my reluctant readers in second grade who don't want to try chapter books.
I go back to school tomorrow and it is now the mad dash to finish everything before the end of the year. I'm going to try and get as much reading done as I can. Right now I'm reading an ARC from NetGalley, The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill by Megan Frazer Blakemore. I haven't gotten very far into yet, but I'm enjoying the story so far. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I've also got Jinx by Sage Blackwood at the top of my to-read pile. Click here for a summary on Goodreads. I've been hearing such good things about this book, I can't wait to dive in.
Happy Reading!!
Stacey (@libraryjo92)
Wow, I haven't posted since April! I got caught up and got so busy with the end of school. Something had to give and unfortunately it was this blog. I have missed posting, so I taking this summer to get back in the habit. I think that I might need to make a sticker chart on the calendar. Every day that I post, I'll put a sticker on the calendar.
