Well, here we are; it's Monday again. Time to check in with hosts Jen From Mentor Texts and Kellee and Rickie from Unleashing Readers, to find out what bloggers around the world are reading this week.I managed to find time to get some blog posts done this week. I reviewed a couple of novels (see below) and talked about a strategy for getting readers more involved in recommending books to other readers. We call this student starred books.
I've been
reading lots of picture books this week, but I'm only talking about two that
fit perfectly into one of our school's learning teams focusing on social
responsibility.
This book. This book
gave me shivers and left me with tears in my eyes. I was expecting something
about agriculture. It is, kind of, but it's about growing whole new kinds of
communities and changing the world. The sparse words and glorious illustrations
took my breath away.
A Rule is to Break: A
Child's Guide to Anarchy by John Sevin and Jana Christy
This
is one of those books that you want to read to children and ensure you have time for profound
conversations. I like some of the ideas. It begins, ironically, with, The
opposite of rules is Anarchy! and then goes on to give ways (that sound like
rules to me) for how to be an anarchist.
All
of these are laudable no matter what. The most interesting conversations will arise from
some of the other pages wherein, for me at least, they beg to ask, but what
about people around us? What is the difference between right and wrong and how
can we know?
I
just finished this book Sunday, before last weeks post. I adored it so much I
had to blog about it.
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen
I
have never finished one of Nielsen's books without feeling completely
satisfied. This one is no different.
The
Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson narrated by Kim Mai Guest
It
didn't take long for me to be grabbed and held captive by Piper's voice and
story. She lives in a world where constant meteor storms bring all kinds of
refuse from other places. She dreams of escaping the town she is in and
getting a job as a machinist somewhere else. In the mean time, she goes
out after these storms in search of salvageable debris to sell. Then she finds
Anna, a young girl who has been injured in a storm. She brings her home and
within hours both of them are on the run from a dangerous man.
I
liked so much about this steampunk, science fiction book. I can't wait to get a
copy for our library! I'll definitely read more by Jaleigh Johnson.
Currently I'm listening to The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. (It's so much more than I anticipated) I'm reading Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger on my device and Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked by Jarret. J. Krosocka as an old fashioned book.
I'm trying to get on top of my to read list, as I suspect Carrie Gelson is going to want updates soon. (I've only got 22 of 58 completed) So whatever I read next, it will probably be at least one or two of those. I'll just have to see what arrives from the library as well.
I bought Bird a long time ago & still haven't read it, maybe soon? I liked The Mark of The Dragonfly and If You Plant A Seed very much, glad to see that you liked them, too! I'll look for A Rule Is To Break, looks fun, Cheriee. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBird is just beautifully written Linda. When I first read A Rule is to Break, I wasn't sure, but as I thought about it, I realized it's potential.
DeleteYes, read Bird! It's a unique and beautiful book.
DeleteYou have some of my favourite novels here - Bird is a wow . . . I need to go check out your post! I also loved The Mark of the Dragonfly and bought it for Bea. I think our next #MustReadin2015 update is a month away. I have finished 11 of 24 but am in the middle of another (as a classroom read aloud) Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYes, Bird is a Wow. I think It was you who turned me on to it. For this I shall be eternally thankful (also thankful for all the other good reads you turn me onto) I've got to finish 7 by the end of June!
DeleteI enjoyed Mark of the Dragonfly and Etiquette and Espionage. I really like science fiction and steampunk. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy with Etiquette and Espionage so far. I was really surprised by Mark of the Dragonfly but I love this combination of steampunk and fantasy.
DeleteWhen I recommend Steampunk, my students look at me blankly. I get more call for modern magical realism. Interesting to see what my new 6 th graders will like in the fall!
ReplyDeleteI find mine will read Steampunk - but struggle with some of it, (especially Philip Reeves). Many of my older readers are loving Cassandra Clare and Westerfeld's Leviathan series.
DeleteA child's Guide to Anarchy? I'm intrigued that's for sure! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's both fun and serious Beth.
DeleteI have got to get my hands on A Rule Is to Break for sure! I was thinking of using A Hole Is to Dig as a mentor text for my Methods class in the fall--think we'll pair it with A Rule Is to Break--especially as I'm a proponent of anarchy in the classroom, LOL! I listened to Etiquette & Espionage on audio and really enjoyed it--would like to continue the series at some point. Isn't the audio of Smekday terrific?? Bird is new to me... off to add it to the list! Mondays are so expensive!
ReplyDeleteRead A Rule is to Break. I passed it around to teachers at our Pro D on Friday and they could all see themselves using it in the classroom as a place to begin conversations. Anarchy is such a contradictory idea I think. I'll try getting audiobooks of the rest of Carriger's series, although it's fun to read. Smekday is just bloody brilliant!
DeleteI am not much of a fantasy reader but I loved The Mark of the Dragonfly! I was captivated by Piper. I am sure the illustrations in If You Plant a Seed are absolutely beautiful, but the story line sounds just as wonderful! I will have to look for this one.
ReplyDeleteIt is as good if not better than everyone says it is Leigh Anne. I really hope to read more by Jaleigh Johnson!
DeleteI just bought the Platypus Police Squad series. I wish I had gotten it earlier, I think I have some students this year that would have enjoyed it. I'm going to book talk it tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI think I am way farther behind than you on your mustread list, so no worries!
I'm having mixed feelings about the Platypus Police Squad series. I will most certainly get at least one and see how it goes. I like it, but not that much so far.
DeleteKadir Nelson's artwork is always so spot on! I'll read anything he illustrates.
ReplyDeleteA Rule is to Break look awesome! I need to get my hands on that one!
Happy reading this week! :)
Happy reading to you too! I agree 100% about Kadir Nelson. His illustrations grace many of my favourite books. Enjoy A Rule is to Break.
DeleteA book by Kadir Nelson is a book that I have to read. ;) A Rule is to Break is funny and certainly a conversation starter. Loved Bird. I need to make inroads on my #MustRead2015 list. I haven't been getting to those lately. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI am a compulsive list make and feel anxious if I'm not working on it. If You Plant a Seed is worth every penny.
DeleteI now want to read all of these...
ReplyDeleteI guess this is both good and bad?
DeleteA Rule is to Break sounds perfect for my son. At age 18 months, he believes in anarchy already! The pictures were helpful, too, so thank you for sharing those. I hope you have a fantastic week this week! :)
ReplyDeleteRicki I'd be cautious about that. You might want to read it to yourself first. At that age, I'm not sure they really comprehend the idea of consequences for your actions....
DeleteCheriee, thanks for some great book ideas! I'd seen If You Plant a Seed, and had kind of dismissed it as looking "too young" for my kiddos-- now I'm going to definitely add it back. I'm really glad you wrote about that one! Like so many other, I'm intrigued by A Rule is to Break. I wonder if it might be a good writing mentor text...? We Are All Made of Molecules has been on my radar, and now I definitely want to read it. I'm also going to have to take a look at Bird.
ReplyDeleteI laughed aloud when I read your comment about the #MustRead challenge. It sounds like a lot of us "MUST read" more of our #MustRead books (and I include myself in that statement). :) Enjoy your week!
I think If You Plant a Seed is definitely a book for any age group if you are looking at social responsibility, but you might want to preview it and think of how you want to use it. I do think that A Rule is to Break is one of those books that should be unpacked together - It might be good writing mentor text, but I am not the expert on that. Bird is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in ages. You must read it!
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