Monday, July 29, 2013

It's Monday, What are You Reading, July 29, 2013




It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it at Teach Mentor Texts. 

This week, I took a trip to my public library and pulled some really wonderful titles from the shelves.


Pssst! by Adam Rex

I saw the name Adam Rex as author and immediately thought YES! This book is so funny. All the animals at the zoo seem to be in need of a little something to make their life easier and happier in the zoo so they ask a young girl to get them tires, trash cans, wheelbarrow, paint, corn, and more! She agrees and delivers the goodies but this ending might surprise you. A terrific read aloud book.








That is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

If you like a clever twist to your stories, then this is your book. I can hardly wait to read this aloud to little ones. They will shouting "Nooo, don't do what the fox says" or "He will eat you!" It is going to be so much fun. I plan to use this for my stranger danger lesson this year.



Non-fiction: Bubbles Float, Bubble Pop by Mark Weakland
Publisher: Capstone

What makes a bubble float? Are the bubbles in your soda the same as the bubbles in your tub? What makes a bubble pop? Discover the wonder and science of bubbles in Bubbles Float, Bubbles Pop.

and graphic novel: Amelia Rules: True Things Adults Don't Want Kids To Know by Jimmy Gownley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster




Make a Wish Bear by Greg Foley
Mother Goose Tales to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman
Percy's Neighborhood by Stuart J. Murphy
Percy and his father take a walk through their neighborhood and become acquainted with all the community helpers that live there. Stuart J. Murphy books are helpful when teaching hard to grasp concepts like community. Percy's Neighborhood includes a set of discussion questions.





My guilty read this coming week: 
Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood

Author Abby McDonald channels Jane Austen in this twist on Sense and Sensibility.



My audio book for this week is Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. I have read the book before but wanted to get a sense of the characters more deeply by hearing them speak. Audio books offer interesting perspectives and new windows into a story. I taught myself a new lessons this week when I accidently left my case with the extra CDs at home and was left with only disc 1. When disc 1 ended, I was suddenly faced with listening to the radio or replaying disc 1. I choose the latter and glad I did. As I listened again, I picked up on new details that lead to enriching my experience in the story. 















22 comments:

  1. Loved Mo WIllems' new book as well and it is a great one for Stranger Danger! Pssst also looks like one to check out, as well. Thanks for the recommendations.

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  2. Good for you for squeezing in a "guilty read" too!

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  3. One of our first grade teachers went out and bought That Is Not A Good Idea and invited me (their librarian--our copy hadn't arrived yet) to hear him read it aloud. The kids had already heard the ending and were thrilled that I was stumped when they asked me to predict the ending. What a fun book! I'd pair this with other surprise ending PBs like Aaron Reynold's CREEPY CARROTS and the Jon Klassen HAT books.

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    1. Thanks. I like the idea of these paired shares. I think I will try these out.

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  4. Psst! sounds so fun and I totally agree that THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA will make a super fun and engaging read aloud! That Jane Austen-spin title sounds like the perfect beach read, too!

    --Lorna

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    1. I haven't had a chance to start the Jane Austen book yet. I will have to make it my lunchtime read.

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  5. Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood looks like a fun read! Have a great reading week.

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  6. I'm adding Psst! to my list. I love Adam Rex's books. Can't wait to read the new Mo Willems one as well.

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    1. Some people are simply gifted and Adam Rex and Mo Willems both are. Fun reads.

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  7. I find listening to books so hit or miss for me. I'm easily distracted by visuals, so when I only have an audio I can drift off and miss pages! Then I have the problem of wanting to "skim back" to look for something - another thing I can't do with an audiobook.

    Some of them have been fabulous, though.. and it really helped me get through a ton of Newbery books on my drives.

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    1. I know what you mean. Sometimes I have to rewind to catch something important. Sometimes I feel lost without the printed word. I wonder if I am spelling characters names correctly. But overall, audio books enrich my reading experience.

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  8. Listen to the radio?!? *Gasp* The horror! That god for audiobooks! I have only read The Giver, but may try the rest of that series eventually.
    Have a great week.

    ~Megan
    http://wp.me/pzUn5-1Bk

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    1. I was so confused in the beginning of Gathering Blue on audio. I envisioned the character as a cave type woman at first.

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  9. I LOVE Abby McDonald, and I wasn't aware of this one! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  10. I have my own copy of Number the Stars but have not had the chance to read it yet. Speaking of re-reads, I'm rereading The Giver by Lois Lowry with my eleven year old girl, and I know what you mean about the enriched nuance in the retelling of a story. it really never gets old, doesn't it? Will look for the Adam Rex picture book, sounds charming!

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    1. Number the Stars would be a perfect mother daughter read. When you begin reading it, you will understand why I am saying it. Will the two of you read the Giver series together?

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  11. Thrilled to learn about Pssst, hooray for public library book treasures... enjoyed the reading of it as well. Thanks!

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