#IMWAYR October 23, 2017


#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

My brother and I had a wonderful time in Portland last week. We didn't get to do everything we wanted to do, but it was a successful visit nonetheless. We met some delightful locals in different brew pubs. I even found an ale or two that I almost liked. As you can imagine, since bookstores are my passion, we visited a few. The children's bookstore in the Alberta area was closed when we were there, but we spent close to four hours at the downtown Powell's location and I spent at least another hour or more at the one in the Hawthorne section.

BOOKS FOR BABIES

3.5 stars
Look at You!: A Baby Body Book by Kathy Henderson, Paul Howard (Illustrations)

A lovely toddler brought this to where I was sitting in the children's section at Powell's books. Since she left it behind I picked it up to read. I like the soft watercolour illustrations and the diverse children represented. Ada wasn't so impressed. She liked the larger pictures of the babies, but wasn't keen on the smaller illustrations. This is a bit too long for a baby her age.

4 stars
You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith & Danielle Daniel (Illustrations)

This is a netgalley copy that I picked to read for me but also read with my granddaughter. I'm not sure if she loved the bright colours in the illustrations, or if it was the light from my ipad. This is an important book that teaches readers how 'we hold each other up.' I'll be writing a more in depth review of this.

PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat

Just Wow!
Now I get what all the buzz is about.
This picture that continues after Humpty Dumpty falls, is a story of hope, resilience and not giving up.

3 stars
Welcome: A Mo Willems Guide for New Arrivals by Mo Willems

I like this book for new parents, but since I’m looking for books that I expect to engage babies, I don’t think this will work. I’ll try out a library copy before purchasing.

5 stars
Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds & Peter Brown (Illustrations)

This is a reminiscent of The Cat Comes Back, but with a delightful ending. Peter Brown’s illustrations are just just perfectly spooky!

4 stars
Boo Who? by Ben Clanton

This book works on so many levels. It is a great Halloween book for younger readers just because the main character is a ghost. It’s the message of inclusion that Clanton writes into it that makes it a book for reading all year round!

4 stars
You Belong Here by M.H. Clark & Isabelle Arsenault (Illustrations)

Beautiful poetry and gorgeous illustrations make this the ideal picture book to read to children. I can imagine it becoming a favourite bedtime story.

4 stars
The Bad Seed by Jory John, Pete Oswald (Illustrations)

How I love this story of a bad seed who decides to change. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. This will be a great book to talk about manners and how to treat other people. I adore the humour and positivity in this one!

5 stars
Draw the Line by Kathryn Otoshi

Wow!
Such a powerful message about war and peace is portrayed in this wordless book!

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark & April Chu (Illustrations)

I liked this book well enough. Chu’s realistic illustrations are gorgeous. This focuses primarily on Ada’s work with Charles Babbage. In this respect we get a bit more information about her relationship with him and the work they did. Previous picture book biographies have already covered this information as well as revealing more details of the rest of her life. If I had those, I’m not sure I would buy this.

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS

4 stars
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate & Charles Santoso (Illustrations) & Nancy Linari (Narrator)

I finished this book in the fall when the deciduous trees blaze with color.
I can’t imagine finishing it at a better time of year. When else can we believe that trees have stories to tell? Perhaps they are there telling them to us all year long, but in the fall we are so reminded of their existence. This Wishtree tells us the story of families that don’t quite fit in, and ultimately how the rest of us find a way to include them. It’s an important message for all of us to hear.

GRAPHIC

4 stars
Soupy Leaves Home by Cecil Castellucci (Goodreads Author), Jose Pimienta (Illustrations)

I've read a couple of Cecil Castillucci novels, but this is my first graphic novel. This historical novel set in the 1930's, features Pearl, a young girl who runs away from an abusive family. She becomes Soupy, a boy, and takes to the hobo life under the tutelage of Ramshackle, an ailing old man. Ramshackle teaches Soupy how to dream and find goodness and beauty all around them. Through their journey Soupy finds self worth and confidence.
Powerful images portray life in hobo jungles.
At the end of the novel there is a glossary of hobo signs that were used to help other travellers with directions and advice about people in communities along the way.

YA & ADULT NOVELS

5 stars
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera & Michael Crouch, Robbie Daymond & Bahni Turpin (Narrators)

I would have read or listened to this anyway because Adam Silvera writes such riveting books, but this audiobook has Bahni Turpin! 
Two different boys get a phone call to let them know they will die today. They connect through an app called last friends and spend the day together. It's a brilliantly philosophical book that is first and foremost a compelling story. I thought I had figured out how the end would come, and was completely wrong. You might want a box of kleenex for this one. 


CURRENTLY

I'm reading Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez and working on Last Night I Sang to the Monster by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. I'm listening to Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward.

UP NEXT

I'll be listening to Saving Marty By Paul Griffin. I plan to read Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snyder and The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez,

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MUSTREADIN2017 25/36 1 in progress

#MUSTREADNFIN2017 7/12 1 in progress

50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 31/50 1 in progress

Chocolate Lily (CL) 51/51

Big Book Challenge 4/6

Goodreads Reading Challenge 339/333

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23 comments:

  1. I was rereading After the Fall last week and I was again thinking about what a great picture book it is. The illustrations are just awesome. I just recommended Wishtree to teachers at my school. I hope someone asks to borrow it and read it to their students because it is such an important message and a beautiful book.

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    1. I agree that Wishtree is a beautiful book with an important message. I hope many teachers read it to their classes.

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  2. I have been wondering about They Both Die at the end. Thanks for the review and the tissue warning. I used After the Fall to start my year with my third graders. Such a great message. I hope to find time to read aloud Wishtree. It inspired some of my classroom decorating this year. Such a great book.

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    1. What a fabulous idea to use Wishtree as a decorating inspiration! I would love to see pictures of your classroom.
      I have never been disappointed by an Adam Silvera book!

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  3. Looks like you has a really good reading week. I'm intrigued by Soupy Leaves Home and I need to read Wishtree, I've heard so much about it. I hope you let us know what you think of Sing, Unburied, Sing. I can't wait to read it, too.

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    1. I think Soupy is a Cybil candidate. I'm trying to read as many of the graphic nominees as possible.

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  4. You've shared so many good ones that are on my list, but still haven't read, Cheriee, and new ones that sound great, like Soupy Leaves Home and They Both Die At The End. Glad you're having fun with books for the babies!

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    1. Both of those are very fine reads.
      Linda, I am spending too much money on books for babies!

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  5. I'm bummed we missed one another. Glad you visited Powell's. It is such an experience walking in, right?!?

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    1. I'm sorry we missed each other too :(
      I have never been able to get enough of Powell's books, and I hardly make it out of the children's section.

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  6. You have some books that I really love, like After the Fall and Creepy Pair of Underwear. You Belong Here looks like one that I should check out. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Thanks Jana. All of these picture books are just gorgeous!

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  7. It's been far too long since I was last in Portland!!

    So many amazing books this week!

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    1. And I read many of these picture books while at Powell's Books!

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  8. Great titles here this week!
    We have Wishtree as one of our Mock Newbery books for this month and many kids have been finishing the book in the past week. So many of them are so upset when the boy marks up the tree. It will be an interesting conversation for sure!

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    1. I wondered about that section. It would be interesting to pair this book up with a good nonfiction title about trees. Not only is it a nasty thing to do to the family, but it is very damaging to the tree.

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  9. Draw the Line and All Fall Down are just WOW! I agree :)
    Boo Who? is a book my mom just bought for Trent. I'd read it, but he hadn't, and it is perfect for year round but also for now.
    Wishtree is special IMO. I love her use of the tree narrator.
    They Both Die at the End is one I am very much looking forward to reading.
    And I'm so jealous of your trip to Portland--I've never been!

    Happy reading this week :)

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    1. I'm sad that you have never experience Powell's books.
      It was a fabulous reading week!
      I recently finished reading The Secret Life of Trees, an adult nonfiction title, so at first some of the misinformation about the tree disturbed me, but then I just let the story take me away. Boy did it ever!

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  10. I love Ben Clanton so I definitely have to add Boo Who to #classroombookaday! Perfect time of the year too! I haven't shared Creepy Pair of Underwear with students yet. Waiting until Halloween week!

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    1. I get it. I would be waiting to share it too. Both are perfect for this time of year.

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  11. I want to read Wishtree! So many lovely looking books.Can't wait to find this one illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault! And Creepy Pair of Underwear - so excited to get this one for my class. Glad you enjoyed Portland and all of the bookstores!

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  12. You've read so many great books. I too enjoyed many of them. I'll be watching for You Hold Me Up. It looks like one I will like. I've used Creepy Underwear and Draw the Line with students and they have both worked well - of course in different ways. ;)

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  13. A new Cecil Castellucci and a graphic novel to boot! I am SO trying to stop buying books, but I MUST have this one. I'm a huge fan of her work. A friend loaned me Wishtree but I haven't gotten to it yet. Still trying to work my way through the books my students have loaned me. An old E.L. Konigsberg title that I somehow missed is up next! I just got the new Mo Willems from the library today--glanced through. Looks a bit odd, but I love the page about cats!

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