It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? 12/13/21

Last time I posted here was two weeks ago, and I was still waiting to get back into my home after flooding impacted a lot of homes in my community and in my case, the water and sewage services in the area. I did get back ten days ago and am fortunate that where I live there was no damage. Some people that live within a few kilometers of my house are still waiting. Our town continues to rebuild. Our school system is a good example. There are five elementary schools in town, and two will remain closed for a lengthy period of time (3-9 months?) and our high school will also be closed for months. In my family, my wife and two children each attend one of the three closed schools. I am the only one that works at a school that is back in session as I write this.

Crazy times, but in this decade it is becoming the norm. I was able to get some reading done this week, and these books have helped me relax a bit. I am grateful to link this post up with the others at Unleashing Readers and Teach Mentor Texts. Thanks to Kellee, Ricki and Jen for hosting.

Books I Enjoyed Last Week

This is the beginning of a new graphic novel series that this author has been working on in different formats (web comic, novel) for a very long time. There is fairly extensive world building and backstory that will invite some obvious comparisons to Amulet (especially considering that the author has worked with and is married to Amulet author Kazu Kibuishi). I enjoyed this book a lot and think it could be the beginning of a great series. I read an e-ARC from Edelweiss and this version is scheduled to publish on March 1, 2022.

I am a big fan of Ruta Sepetys, and this book did not disappoint in telling the story of one of the last and most ruthless totalitarian/communist regimes in Eastern Europe. I don’t stock all of her books in my grade 5/6 class, because I don’t think they are really ready for some of the scenes in books like Salt to the Sea, or Between Shades of Gray, but I think I will be able to have this one for some of my readers. There are some scenes of violence in which young people are beaten by the police force of the government, but that usually does not disturb my readers as much as say, sexual content. The book is very fast paced and comes out February 1.

This book is filled with beautiful rhyming text and the art is also gorgeous. Lots of great observations about nature and treating people and the world with kindness.

 

An adventurous graphic novel filled with heart that I think kids will enjoy. I read an ARC that I got from Edelweiss, and really enjoyed this story about what really matters. It’s got a very unique plot and I read that it is one that the author has worked on for quite a while.

I learned about this book from many of the bloggers that write and post to our link-up. Thanks to all of you for recommending it. It is a very cute story of a confident kingfisher who knows that she will be able to fly. Her story ends up with ups and downs that my students have really loved. A good story to use to talk about bravery.

Currently Reading

I am enjoying the upcoming Diane Magras book that i started last night. What a great cover, too! My class is finishing The Barren Grounds this week. We were a little behind our Global Read Aloud schedule before missing three weeks after the flooding in the area. The Amulet of Samarkand is my family read aloud that we will probably finish late next week. 

Thanks for stopping by here, I look forward to seeing what others have been reading.