Sunday, April 27, 2014

My Favorite YA Fiction this year and World Book Night 2014, It's Monday,What Are You Reading?

 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 from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

What a fun time I had on World Book Night this past Wednesday. Here I am with a couple of book lovers.  I handed out the historical fiction Code Name Verity. My copies were gone very quickly. It's great to know other people also love historical fiction just like me.  





Elementary, Middle School, and High School librarian buddies joined forces to pass out books to light readers at the Corpus Christi  Hooks baseball game. 


The hottest book in my upper grade library is The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau. I bought the sequel this week and blazed right through it. When I was out buying groceries, I kept thinking "all I want to do is get home and get back to reading Independent Study." I fell asleep reading it and my son came in to check on me and tried to take the book to put away but I growled at him to leave it because I was reading it. He laughed and said I was sound asleep. What an exciting read. I had to know when the next installment-Graduation Day would be released so thank Heavens for Twitter. 
Here are a few picture books that I read this week:

Brother Hugo and the BearBrother Hugo and the Bear by Katy Beebe  A story loosely based on a note found in a twelfth century manuscript and crafted into a story of a true book lover-a bear who cannot get enough of his fill of fine literature. This story is ripe for discussions on the great value of literature and the history of monks as librarians and the caretakers of historical documents in medieval times.

Where's Mommy?Where's Mommy? by Beverly Donofrio Maria is ready for a bedtime story but can't find her mother. Mouse Mouse is ready for her bedtime story and can't find her mother either. "Where's Mommy?" After an extensive search Maria and Mouse Mouse are both surprised where they find their mommies. This a very sweet, dual perspective story. The reader experiences Maria's search for her mother from the human's perspective and we also experience Mouse Mouse's behind the walls mouse's perspective. I love the part when Mouse Mouse couldn't ask her baby brother because he was just a "meese". Loved it and will read it as part of a Mother's Day lesson. 

The Miniature World of Marvin and JamesThe Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach James is going away to the beach for a short vacation and has to leave his beetle friend Marvine behind. Marvin is worried that James will find a new best friend while he is gone but he does his best to stay busy with the help of his cousin, Elaine.
An early reader chapter book-sweet, uncomplicated storyline well supported by illustrations to aid the story along. This is the sort of book that will help a reader transition into short novels and help build reading confidence.

Stripes of All TypesStripes of All Types by Susan Stockdale  A rhyming book that takes a look at animal stripes in  the world of nature. Includes a glossary with in-depth details on featured animals.

The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a PizzaThe Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza by James Kochalka This book is wild and crazy enough to become a kid favorite. 

He Has Shot the President!: April 14, 1865: The Day John Wilkes Booth Killed President LincolnHe Has Shot the President!: April 14, 1865: The Day John Wilkes Booth Killed President Lincoln by Don  Brown  Satisfying informational picture book that chronicles the events of April 14, 1865 when John Wilkes Booth assasinated President Lincoln and the manhunt that followed.

Have a happy reading week!

10 comments:

  1. Happy World Book Night, fellow Giver! Where's Mommy? looks interesting. A local author stopped by our bookstore and read that book to her kid.

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    1. I am interested to know which author stopped by. I would love it if my local Barnes and Noble would have more authors come in. I recently volunteered to help them with events. My city needs more book excitement.

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  2. How wonderful to be able to give out Code Name Verity at World Book Night! I imagine they were gone very fast! I don't know any of your picture books, so will look for them! Thank for sharing the reviews!

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    1. The picture books arrived in my latest Jr. Library Guild order.

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  3. Happy World Book Night! I keep thinking about taking the plunge, but haven't yet.

    I love twitter, and connecting with authors to ask questions about upcoming titles is the best!

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    1. I think you would really enjoy WBN especially if you had a couple of other teachers join you.

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  4. I'm looking forward to starting The Testing series. I've been hearing good things! I met the author this past Feb, she's from the Chicago suburbs too

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  5. World book night sounds wonderful - and what a special book you were able to gift!

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  6. Ah! I LOVE World Book Night. I didn't participate this year because I was so busy, and I immediately regret it, after reading your post. Thanks for sharing these pictures!

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  7. Hi there Julee, I love Don Brown's picture book biographies, and I am glad to see that he has a new one, will definitely be on the lookout for this one and shall recommend this to our librarian for purchase. The Testing series sounds so awesome, glad to note how much you're into it. :)

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