#IMWAYR October 26, 2015


Monday is one of my favorite days of the week. I'm forced to take note of my own reading life, and I get to read about all kinds of literature being read by other participants in this weekly event. Check out our hosts Jen at Mentor text and Kellee and Rickie fromUnleasing Readers, to find the links for other bloggers. Your reading life will be much enriched. 

I love these warm sunny fall days in October. I love the colours of the trees outside our front window. (I'm not so happy with having to clean up the leaves) Mostly what I love is Halloween. It is my favorite celebration. There is no feast to prepare and no presents to get or make. Because of this I made time for a Halloween book post this week. Some of the books I talked about were new to our library, and others are just books I've read in the past year or so. 

PICTURE BOOKS

Last week I read a few new picture books. Two are perfect for the season. (You can read more about them at the above link)  

4 stars
Fright Club by by Ethan Long
This is a fun romp filled with all kinds of other issues that students at our school picked up on right away. 

4 stars
Leo A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett & Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
This is a charming story about a tender hearted ghost. 

3 stars
Buddy and Earl by Maureen Fergus & Carey Sookocheff (Illustrator)

This is a sweet picture book about a dog and a hedgehog who become friends. It provides opportunities to talk about perspective and imagination. 


5 stars
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena & Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

I honestly don't know how I haven't read this book yet. It came into the library and went through processing, and it is only last week that I finally got around to reading it. It is so fabulous! I love that it shows how beauty can be found in many different places and that we can all find ways to give back to our community.


4 stars
Charlie's Dirt Day by Andrew Larsen and Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli (Illustrator)

I really love the illustrations in this charming picture book about gardening and community. It looks like they are done with pencil crayons. Charlie and his father join a parade heading off to the park where people are collecting compost to bring back to their gardens.

This will be a superb addition to our collection for teachers who do environmental themes.

CHAPTER BOOKS
5 stars


Diva and Flea by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi (Illustrator)

Holy #booklove! 

When you put two brilliant artists together, you can't help but end up with this magnificent jewel of a story. Honestly, it is an honor to be able to read this book. 

I declare that my readers will love Diva and Flea as much, if not more, than I do. 





NOVELS

The Swap by Megan Shull


4 stars
This is the story of two young teens, Ellie and Jack, who end up in each other's bodies and lives for a weekend. I have numerous issues with the gender stereotyping, but I think it is almost what makes it work. I'm also not a fan of mean girl books and this one has a few real doozers. Unfortunately there is no depth to their characters. This is especially annoying since the bullying boy we are introduced to does have a backstory that puts his behaviour into perspective. 
I did have a conversation with one of my grade seven library monitors about it. She adored it. I guess that is really what it is all about. It would be interesting to hear from a boy's perspective on this though. 



4 stars
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

Well, that was some book! Boo's writing held me in thrall throughout this narrative non-fiction. I'm certain I've been bearing witness to what hell looks like. Is it enough to glimpse into this world of corruption, and desperation and then let it be? It is overwhelming, and while I understand that human beings need hope, as an outside observer, I feel a profound hopelessness, after finishing this book. 


CURRENTLY
I'm listening to Another Day by David Levithan and reading with my eyes, Amanda in Alberta by Darlene Foster.

UP NEXT
Book Club starts next week, so I really need to start reading at those titles. Some will be from a couple of boxes of Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom we received the week before. Thankfully, I've read some of the other titles, but I'm not sure I'm going to get much further on my 2015 must read list this year. 



25 comments:

  1. I'll have to get reading The Last Stop on Market Street because I haven't done so yet. Many are saying very good things about it so I don't know why I haven't gotten to it. Loved Diva and Flea - Mo Willems never disappoints.

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    1. He sure doesn't! I've never read anything of his that wasn't spectacular!

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  2. Great picture books again. Adored Last Stop on Market Street. Thanks for reminding me about Leo. I'm doing Halloween books this week, that would be a good one to include!

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    1. don't forget Creepy Carrots! That one is a little bit scary even!

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  3. I am also a huge fan of Last Stop on Market Street. I just picked up Diva and Flea - thinking I will read it aloud to my class when we finish The Year of Billy Miller.

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    1. Oh how I love Billy Miller! Your students will fall in love with Diva and Flea. I'm not really a dog person, but I can see the appeal of a pooch like Diva!

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  4. Ugh, I am so over mean girl narratives. It's unfortunate that The Swap relies on that trope.

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    1. I agree! I think it would have been tolerable if there had been some backstory, or if the characters had been more multidimensional.

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  5. I recently read Beyond The Beautiful Forevers, too. What a story to make one consider our own perspectives. The Bookseller of Kabul is equally tough to read. I loved Market Street too, & still need to read Diva and Flea. You've made it sound like a must read! Thanks for all!

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    1. I don't think I'm ready for The Bookseller of Kabul. I think you will love Diva and Flea!

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  6. I completely agree with you about Mondays being the best days now! I love reading the roundups and posting really encourages me to actually make sure I get some books read each week. Last Stop on Market Street is such a great book, I'm so glad you caught up with it. I have a hold on Diva and Flea and can't wait to read it! I haven't yet read the Halloween picture books, I need to keep an eye out for them!

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    1. I agree, it also makes me more mindful about recording my reading in Goodreads, otherwise I forget the picture books I've read!

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  7. I'm always looking for more Halloween-themed books to share with my kiddies! This is a great round-up - lots of different genres, formats, topics and more - sounds like a pretty great week of reading!

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  8. Love the look at picture books - I have been spending all my time with middle grade fiction so may need to take some time and sit on the book store floor and read. I am interested in Beyond the Beautiful Forevers but have just finished some tough adult books. This one may need to wait until a long winters night. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Beyond the Beautiful Forevers is worth the read, but it isn't an easy one. I love picture books. I love how so much can be conveyed with the right words and complimentary illustrations. I also love how you can teach bigger ideas with them.

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  9. Great books this week! I love Last Stop and I'm glad Mo Willems fans have Diva and Flea to enjoy now!

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  10. I am so glad you've enjoyed Last Stop on Market Street! My son and I read it quite often. It is a favorite in our household. Happy reading this week!

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    1. I can see that it might be a favourite. There is so much to this one book. I'm looking forward to reading it to an older group to see what they might take away from it.

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  11. You have some terrific picks for Halloween! Have fun this week!

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  12. I tend to steer clear of scary books (Stephen King's books give me nightmares), but I might even enjoy the ones you shared!

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    1. I so don't do scary Kay. If I can finish it, just about anyone can!

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  13. I've been hearing so many great things about Behind the Beautiful Forevers - I should suggest this to my book club - looks like a good book to discuss with friends. I just checked our library database - sadly, we don't have Leo A Ghost Story yet - would have been perfect for Halloween!

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