Favorite Book of the Week!
Grace and I are huge fans of Elephant and Piggie! We own about half of the books in the series, so of course, we had to preorder the final book! I think the final page is the perfect conclusion to this incredible collection! Thank you, Elephant and Piggie, for helping my daughter to fall in love with reading!
New Middle Grade Novels
I agree with all of the book buzz on Twitter - I loved Raymie Nightingale! The characters reminded me of India Opal and her friends in Because of Winn Dixie. Everyone needs friends like the Rancheros! Kate DiCamillo's character development is beautiful as the story evolves. I would highly recommend this book as a read aloud!
I enjoyed Maybe A Fox, especially the alternating perspectives between Jules and the fox. This book was a page turner for me!
I love Fenway and Hattie! I've been recommending it to all of our third grade teachers as a read aloud for next year. I think it would be a wonderful read aloud in any grade, especially as an introduction to an alternate perspective. One of my favorite elements of this adorable book is that it is narrated by Fenway, the energetic Jack Russell terrier! Thank you to Kali Wallace @kaliphyte for sharing the book love!
New Picture Books
I love the message of this beautifully designed picture book! Ideas Are All Around is the perfect title to share in writing workshop to encourage students to open their eyes to the ideas surrounding them everyday.
Hermelin is an adorable mouse detective, who solves mysteries in his neighborhood. I love the design of the picture book, which is perfectly narrated by Hermelin. Students will love this book!
Grace and I are enjoying the adventures of Red Riding Hood in this true story by the amazing Liesl Shurtliff. This book may be my favorite in the collection!
Jacob is just starting the Mystery of the Missing Fox by Maine author Tamra Wight. I can't wait to get my hands on it when he's finished! If you have not checked out the Cooper and Packrat series, I highly recommend it! I have my fingers crossed that we can arrange an author visit with Tamra to our school next year!
Jacob recently finished A Whole New Ballgame by Phil Bildner. He would highly recommend that teachers include this title in their classroom libraries, especially for sports fans! I'm looking forward to reading this book this summer.
Professional Reading
Next in my stack is DIY Literacy which I hope to start later this week!
Currently Reading
Thank you to Susan Dee @literacydocent for sending me a copy of this incredible book! I read half of it this weekend and wish I didn't have to put it down to go to school today. My heart is breaking for Annabelle and I can't wait to find out how her problem with Betty is resolved. Thank you for sharing this book love! I will be passing this book on to fifth grade teachers when I am finished.
My library just ordered Ideas Are All Around (which is strange it took them so long since I live in Ann Arbor and Phil Stead is FROM Ann Arbor) so I haven't had the chance to read it yet but I'm really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI've got many of these books on my to read list, but the only ones I've finished are Raymie Nightingale and Hermelin . I loved the latter but wasn't too excited about Raymie. This is the second post today about Wold Hollow. I need to get this book.
ReplyDeleteI've just started Who's Doing the Work? I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm definitely in love with it already. I'll be checking back to hear your thinking about it! Thanks for sharing the other books as well - I didn't know the Cooper and Packrat series.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the Bildner sequel since it won't drip sadness like Wolf Hollow and Maybe a Fox. I did like the baton twirling in Raymie-- no one believes me how big a thing it was. Everyone I knew had at LEAST one baton! If you're interested in the 48 Hour Book Challenge for next year, let me know! http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2016/06/sic-transit-gloria-mundi-48-hour-book.html
ReplyDeleteOh, those professional development titles look inspiring, I'll be interested in hearing any major takeaways you might have from them.
ReplyDeleteI still bring home the Elephant & Piggie books for my boys, and they are in high school! My nephew also started reading with them; they are such perfect co-readers.
ReplyDeleteI liked Ideas Are All Around as I read it but I wasn't sure how kids would take it. It seemed to address problems adults have more than children -- kids have no problem seeing the wonder around them. But I bet a good reader could spark a discussion with a class.
I also read Maybe a Fox and would be posting my review alongside Pax and Wolf Wilder. :)
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