It’s Still Monday, and I ‘ve been Reading! Honest! 6/26/17

This my first in a long while contribution to the weekly reading updates hosted at unleashingreaders.com and teachmentortexts.com, certainly two of the best places to find new kidlit.

I will start with a brief summary of last week’s reading.

 I have certainly had many kids bug me about never having read this series, and I committed to reading one every month or so. I have heard there are some cliffhangers coming so I am actually not wanting to catch up to where author Kazu Kibishi is currently writing, but I am enjoying the books. Good story, great art work. This one reminded me of the Hans Solo-Lando Calrissian parts of the Star Wars movies. Its a little more than the Cloud City though.

  I really liked lots about this book for grade threes and fours. Some great messages, things that “twang your heart”. I wonder how some of those readers will feel about the relationship issues of the older brother though. Yuck? Who cares? I am a little curious, if someone has had kids read it. This book is new to my library. Maybe it is better suited to grade fives and sixes who are looking for shorter reads?

 The first in a promising series by Laura Ruby. I have a lot of kids who really loved The Blackthorn Key that might try this because it has codes and ciphers in the plot. It has a unique setting, and the characters are developing into interesting ones. It didn’t exactly race along for me, but I liked it and would likely find the sequel when it is out (not for a while).

 I waited far too long to read this. I thought it was hilarious as a parent/teacher that is constantly distracted. I haven’t read it to a class yet to see if they get the same humor out of it, although my youngest did. Plenty of other funny bits here, I think.

 I read this one afternoon while waiting for a child at the public library. I had seen it online lots. I enjoyed it, although some of my groups at library time are looking for more action/humor based stories. This one is a more thoughtful title that is better read slowly with the themes discussed.

 Several years ago, I came home to my wife and then six year old watching this movie. I said something like, “Um… you know this movie. Its by Tim Burton… a little freaky.” Well, turned out that one time, I was right and little one was kind of scared. Now she reads much scarier stuff, so I was not surprised that she (now 10) and her sister (7) really wanted to read this as a family read aloud. I liked it but I did not love it. I think I had super high expectations. Very imaginative, read like a campfire, ghost story to me.

One book I should have blogged about some weeks ago instead of doing report cards, coaching soccer, or running my District Battle of the Books: (joking, those things are awesome and I just have to manage time better)

 This is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. Not really for my grade 5/6 students yet though. I will be careful who I pass this to. It is a very emotional read, and all of the adults I have shared with (four) have had very strong reactions and recommended it to others.

Here are some others that are also great!

Currently Reading:

Every Hidden Thing by Kenneth Oppel

The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes by Wade Albert White (family read aloud, a second reading for me. It has the three things my seven year old asks for in a book- magic, fighting, and funny parts).

The Spell Thief (Little Legends #1) by Tom Percival- This is a read with my 7 year old.

 

Thanks for reading! I am looking forward to having far more time to read, peek at other people’s reading, and share my own as summer holidays begin at the end of this week. I wonder where the Spring went, but it sure flew by.