#IMWAYR FEBRUARY 19, 2018

#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.

I worked as a substitute teacher three days last week. I had forgotten how exhausting it is to just be in a classroom. My praise goes out to all the teachers who do this work day after day with such positive energy. You are all superheros!
My partner and I have retreated to our Oliver home for a bit of rest, relaxation and reading while I recover. 

BOARD BOOKS FOR BABIES

My granddaughter, Ada, is really keeping me on my toes in the reading department these days. If I am elected to calm her down before bedtime, (not an easy task for this little go getter,) I have to hide the books I am planning to read or else she isn't satisfied with the one we have and wants the others instead. Now that she has discovered my hiding place beside my chair she climbs over the chair head first to search for them. It's hard to get through a book because she is fascinated with banging on the cover to make sounds and turning the pages. She also manages to rub her hands on them and make a noise. I have no idea how she does it because I sure can't get the same sound. 

4 stars
Fifteen Animals! by Sandra Boynton

The best part of this book is that from an adult perspective, it is fun to read over and over again. Ada seems to like the rhythm of the poetry and of course that I make the animal sounds. I liked the surprise ending. Maybe if I learn the song in the video below she will be more attentive.



5 stars
Black Bear Red Fox by Julie Flett (Artist)

I am a fan of anything by Julie Flett. There is something about her use of colour that seems to calm my rambunctious granddaughter down when we read them. (well for a few pages anyway) Both the Cree (with a pronunciations guide) and English words are given for the different animals. The background of the page with these words is the colour mentioned. See below how gorgeous it is.



3 stars
Things That Go by Jane Foster

I like this one more than Ada does, but I admit that I am fascinated by all of Jane Foster's illustrations. Even my saying the sounds of the different vehicles in my most exciting voice didn't entertain her much though.


3 stars
Black and White by Jane Foster

I meant to read this one with Everett last week because he is a calmer baby who sits back and takes the world in while Ada just barges into it. I am hoping this is just a phase for her. Please tell me that it is. She did focus for a few pages, but that is about it. Isn't it amazing how powerful their little personalities are at this age?


PICTURE BOOKS


3 stars
My Kite is Stuck! and Other Stories (Duck, Duck, Porcupine!) by Salina Yoon

These three charming stories of three little friends will be wonderful for students who are just becoming readers. Each tale is loaded with humour and sweetness. I only wish there was more expression in the characters faces.

NOVELS


5 stars
La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman and Michael Sheen (Narrator)

Just Wow! This tells the story of two children who rescue and look after the infant Lyra when she is threatened by different groups and individuals. It reminded me of why I fell in love with the Dark Materials trilogy in the first place.
It was such a joy to be back in Philip Pullman's world. Everything is vividly real. All these characters, the main and secondary ones, are richly drawn and compelling. Michael Sheen’s narration is perfection. At the same time as I couldn’t stop listening, I also didn’t want this tale to end.
While this story wrapped up satisfactory, it left me gnashing my teeth that I have to wait for the next one.


3 stars
Fairest of All (Whatever After #1) by Sarah Mlynowski & Emily Eiden (Narrator)

Two siblings, Abby and Jonah, have moved to a new community and Abby is having a hard time adapting. Then they discover an old mirror in the basement and end up accidentally being drawn into the land of Snow White. They disrupt the original story and end up staying until it is fixed.  
I’m wondering why I didn’t like this book as much as I thought I would. I liked the characters and the plot twists. I really appreciated the feminist ending. I suspect my lack of satisfaction has to do with having just finished reading Philip Pullman’s new book and anything that followed would be pale in comparison.


5 stars
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour & Jorjeana Marie (Narrator)

Holy Carumba but this is one mighty fine book! That I wept reveals how emotionally invested I was in Marin, the protagonist.
I started listening to this book while Randy and I were on our way to Oliver. I listen to audiobooks all the time while traveling, but honestly, this time the world outside the story just disappeared. That’s how compelling and all encompassing it is.
The story is loaded with grief and loss, but it’s also layered with love and mystery. It’s impossible not to love these characters as though they are real people.
There is a reason a book wins the Michael Printz award. Read this and you will understand why.


CURRENTLY


I'm between audiobooks right now. I've been reading The Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman just when I am at schools during reading time, but I haven't made much progress. Palestine by Joe Sacco is an emotionally exhausting read that I can only do in small doses.


UP NEXT


Symptoms of Being Human is on my device ready for me to start listening to tomorrow when I head out for a walk, or start my next sewing project. Because of how intense Palestine is, I've renewed This Is Not A Border: Reportage & Reflection From the Palestine Festival of Literature and put it aside for a bit. I may return it to the library unread. I plan to get to Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar for sure this week. I've also just picked up a collection of fabulous picture books that I plan to get to.


PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS


#MustReadIn2018 6/25 1 in process
#MustReadNFIn2018 2/12
25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 2/25
Goodreads Reading Challenge 58/333

23 comments:

  1. Love seeing and reading about Black Bear, Red Fox and We Are Okay. There are so-o-o many books I want to read! I have The Book of Dust, wishing I could get to it, soon. Hope you have a nice relaxing time at your place!

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    1. I have piles of books of my own, but it seems like I need the time frame of a library due date to actually get books read.
      We Are Okay is just Wow!

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  2. It looks like you had a really good reading week. I am also a big fan of Julie Flett. I haven't read The Book of Dust yet, but understand how you feel about having to wait for the next one. Also, I enjoyed Ahimsa very much and hope you do, too.

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    1. I'm looking forward to starting it once I've finished responding to all the IMWAYR posts!

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  3. I am eager to read Book of Dust--so glad to know it's good. I love Nina LaCour and started We Are Okay a couple of times shortly after I bought it but never got very far. Just wasn't the right book for me at that time. Looking forward to getting back to it. I'm unfamiliar with Jane Foster but just discovered that my library has a couple of her books, so I've placed holds.

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    1. We Are Okay is a slow kind of book that packs a huge emotional wallop!

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  4. I was recently tidying up our Board Book section and came across some delightful reads!

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    1. I'll be looking forward to reading your reviews about them!

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  5. Isn't Julie Flett just a treasure? I'm so glad that she has worked on quite a few books, and I'm hoping for many more!

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    1. I agree and sure hope so. I don't know what it is about her art but my baby is fascinated by it.

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  6. I definitely need to read My Kite is Stuck. It's been on my TBR list and moving up after receiving an ALA award. We are All Okay is another one on my list. Glad to hear the audio was good because I love listening to books to and from work.

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    1. Jorjeana Marie's narration was just perfect for this one! I hope you get to it. I'm not sure that you will be able to stop listening though...

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  7. I need to look for My Kite Is Stuck. I think Salina Yoon does a great job creating books that help young readers know the joy of friends helping each other. Have a great week!

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  8. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to read your experience with We Are Okay. I'm really looking forward to starting it after hearing so much about it. I have it from the library and had better start it soon if I plan to get it turned back in before it's overdue. Have a great week of reading!

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  9. ha ha - Oh, how we enjoyed reading those Sandra Boynton board books to our two sons when they were little! They were always their favorites (and ours, too). I hadn't heard of 15 Animals before, so it must be a newish one, but I thoroughly enjoyed the video and the surprise ending! lol

    I really want to read both The Book of Dust (loved the trilogy) and We Are Okay - I keep hearing great things about both of them.

    Enjoy your books this week!

    Sue

    Book By Book

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  10. Thank you for sharing all those board books. My great-nephew's birthday is coming soon, and I know he'd adore Fifteen Animals!

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  11. I have had a Whatever After book in my to-read pile forever! The Book of Dust is new to me. Sounds interesting.

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  12. I picked up We Are Okay when it first came out at the library but I never got to it. Now I need to make sure I make some time and get to it!

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    1. You do indeed. It’s a quiet slow paced book that really packs a wallop!

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  13. We haven't read Things That Go yet, but my kids have loved Jane Foster's board books. Black and White was one of the first books I read to my now four-month-old when she first came home from the hospital!

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    1. The black and white images are supposed to be what newborns respond to.

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  14. I borrowed We Are Okay from the library but returned it when I realized it was not a graphic novel (for some reason, I thought it was - must be the book cover), now I super regret doing that after reading your review. I have The Book Of Dust waiting to be read - hopefully this year!!! :)

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    1. I thought that about We Are Ok too at first. Seeing that it was also an audiobook clued me in. Waiting to read Pullman’s new book isn’t a bad idea. Then you won’t have to wait so long for the sequel!

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