#IMWAYR October 9, 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.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian people. We have enjoyed one feast with extended family here in Oliver and will be returning home to Vancouver tomorrow for another feast with our sons and the babies.

I'm struggling to read novels with my eyes these days. I'm thankful that audiobooks still work for me and I adore a good picture book. I just can't seem to stay focused with my eyes. It's unfathomable that I have been working on the same novel for over two weeks ! There is a pile of books that I have to return to the library because I can't get to them. 

Perhaps this is because I've just been very busy. I've been away every weekend for the last month or so. We are in our Okanagan house this weekend and I thought I would get some reading in, but instead I've been cooking and cleaning. I'm also finishing up a knitting project, trying to complete two quilt tops as well as babysitting my little grandbabies about 4 times a week. I love them to bits, but they are exhausting.

Here is me with both of them when they are around 100 days old.

BOOKS FOR BABIES

3 stars

What Does Baby Want: A book about breastfeeding by Tupera Tupera

Everett was pretty focused on the baby faces in this one. It might resonate humorously with adults who are dealing with a crying baby and can't figure out what it wants. Having breastfed my own children much longer than most people thought was reasonable, I laughed out loud at the two page spread of breasts.

3 stars

Things That Go by Élisa Géhin

This is supposed to be an interactive touch and feel book, but it wasn't very tactile. We did like the bright bold pictures though. Most of these vehicles are way beyond the ken of my grandbabies, but they do have experience with the stroller.

3 stars

Why Cry? by Yusuke Yonezu

There are lots of crying animals with wide open mouths that you can put your fingers into. In theory it will cheer up a crying child. Thankfully my little person was happily sitting on my lap reading.

4 stars

Baby Faces By Margaret Miller

Ada loved this one. I loved that these photographed faces represent the diverse world we live in. Each page has one word to describe the face the baby is making. This one has lots of potential for conversations about emotions. 

4 stars

Goodnight Bear by Jane Cabrera

Each page in this book says goodnight to a different animal and end up saying goodnight to the moon. The illustrations are lovely but my little one wasn't as interested in this one as the one with faces.

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

It's Duncan Tonatiuh, so you know the illustrations in this one are spectacular. This book shows that while two cousins live in different countries, their lives are similar in many ways. I appreciate the illustrated Spanish vocabulary throughout the book. This book resonated for me since I'm lucky to have a few cousin's  who are some of the most important people in my life.

3 stars

XO, OX: A Love Story by Adam Rex & Scott Campbell (Illustrations)

I'm conflicted by this book. I love Scott Campbell's water colour illustrations. On one hand it's a kind of humorous story of an ox who thinks he is in love with a creature he has never met. On another, it's a creepy story about a stalker who doesn't know how to take no for an answer.

5 stars

A Letter to My Teacher by Deborah Hopkinson & Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

This book made me all weepy. It's the story of an exasperating grade two student and how her teacher changed the trajectory of her life. As a teacher I've had one or two children like this and they are the ones I wonder and worry about most.

4 stars

A Very Big Bunny by Marisabina Russo

A very big bunny is ostracized because of her size. She remains friendless until a very small bunny comes to her school. This book is about acceptance and friendship. It shows how friendships with people very different from ourselves helps us to become the best we can be.

NOVELS

4 stars

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

This is a fabulous story about a boy who is addicted to reading. His school and parents set up a plan whereby he can't read during school time. At after school care he sets up The Losers Club for students like him who just want to sit around and read. It ends up being more successful than he anticipated. I adore all the literature mentioned in this book. The story ends up being a celebration of reading and readers. While there is a certain amount of bullying going on, I appreciate that in the end there are no real nasty characters.

5 stars

Refugee by Alan Gratz & Narrated by Michael Goldstrom, Kyla Garcia and Assaf Cohen

Just wow! This book was pure joy to listen to. The different voices help to keep the different narratives separate. Alan Gratz tells stories, set in different times and countries, of three different refugee families. By the end, when he reveals how the three families are connected, he shows the rest of us that we are all connected to each other.

CURRENTLY

I'm still reading When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. I will finish it tomorrow on our way home or die trying! I'm listening to You Don't Have to Say You Love Me written and read by Sherman Alexie.

UP NEXT

I'll start She Persisted and then go on to Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh. My next audiobook will be They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MUSTREADIN2017 25/36 1 in progress

#MUSTREADNFIN2017 7/12 1 in progress

50 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 28/50 1 in progress

Chocolate Lily (CL) 51/51

Big Book Challenge 4/6

Goodreads Reading Challenge 319/333