#IMWAYR April 2, 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 read less this week.

First off I was listening to podcasts of Canada Reads. There were some really strong contenders and sometimes the debate got quite heated. I was really hoping that The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline would win, but as it happened, Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto took it. I'm going to wait until my library has the audiobook of Forgiveness before reading it. This all got in the way of my finishing Precious Cargo: My Year of Driving the Kids on School Bus 3077 by Craig Davidson, another of the finalists. 

Second, I've been busy sewing this week trying to finish up some placemat projects I started ages ago.

Since it is April, National Poetry month here in Canada and in the USA, I am going to commit to the poem a day challenge. There are times when something triggers me and I write up a storm, but mostly writing is really hard work, and I am kind of lazy.

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK

Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package By Kate DiCamillo & Chris Van Dusen (illustrator)

Easter Sunday Ruminations On Eggs (01/30 Poems for April)

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

Little Boy by Alison McGhee & Peter H. Reynolds (illustrator)

This is sweet book that shows us all the things to love about a child who happens to be a boy. The rhyming poetry works and Peter H Reynolds illustrations add delightful layers of meaning to the book. My only issue is that it seems a book more directed to adults than children.

3 stars

Me, Me, Me by Annika Dunkle & Lori Joy Smith (Illustrations)

Three girls decide to enter a talent show together, but one of them, Annie wants everything her way. They split up but come back together when Annie realizes the error of her ways, and the other two become more assertive.

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

Winter Dance by Marion Dane Bauer & Richard Jones (Illustrations)

Read this one in late fall to groups of children. A fox wonders what to do now that winter is coming. Different animals give the fox advice based on what they do at this time of year, but nothing sits well with him until he meets up with another fox.

The lyrical language combined with Richard Jones illustrations make this an exquisite read.

4 stars

In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek (Illustrations)

Gorgeous illustrations take the reader through the beginning to the end of fall. I liked When Spring Comes better though. 

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS

4 stars

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin & Kim Mai Guest (Narrator)

It was easy to get lost in what is essentially a collection of short stories that weave together the apparently disparate narratives of a young boy, an innkeeper and his daughter, a mysterious lady guest, and an old village elder. Finding and returning the moon to the sky depends on all of them.

5 stars

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

Leslie Connor excels at writing characters with so much heart and soul, you can't help but love them as if they are real people. That's how I feel about Mason Buttle. His family has gone through some hard times in the past six years. Three deaths in your family will do that. The most recent death was Mason's close friend Benny Kilmartin, who died under suspicious circumstances. When Mason's new friend, Calvin, disappears, the lieutenant in charge looks suspiciously at Mason.

Mason has all kinds of learning issues including synthesia so that he can't read or write. What he has is boundless loyalty, love for family and friends, and the capacity to look for good in everyone.

5 stairs

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (author and narrator)

Of all the children's book I've read, this remains my favourite. I have read it more times than I can count. When I discovered an audiobook with E. B. White narrating it, I had to get to it. The language is even more beautiful listened to than read. I highly encourage adults to revisit the books of their childhood. It's amazing what we miss when we are young.

CURRENTLY

These days I am listening to On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks. I'm still reading Precious Cargo: My Year Driving the Kids on School Bus 3077 by Craig Davidson and working on Thousand Star Hotel by Bao Phi. I find I need to savour poetry over time. I'm also still spending time with The Bee Book.

  

UP NEXT

I'll listen to whatever comes available next. Otherwise I plan to read, with my eyes, What Elephants Know by Eric Dinerstein, one of my MustReadIn2018 titles.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

 #MustReadIn2018 10/25 1 in progress

#MustReadNFIn2018 2/12 2 in progress

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 7/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 116/333