#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



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


23 comments:

  1. I love all Peter Reynolds' books, and that "Little Boy" looks so cute! When my mother died, a friend gave me that audio of Charlotte's Web with White reading it, a special gift that I loved. And, I've enjoyed some of the others, especially Winter Dance! Thanks, Cheriee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter Reynolds is why I picked that one up. I probably added Winter Dance to my list because of you. it is a beauty.

      Delete
  2. The writing in Charlotte's Web is simply incredible. Has there ever been a writer who writes better sentences than E.B. White? I have listened to his narration of it and really enjoyed it. I am quite intrigued by the Canada Reads titles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nobody writes like E.B. White. Just nobody.
      The theme this year was One Book to Open Your Eyes. The last one to get 'knocked out' was American War by Omar El Akkad. It sounds like a very impressive debut novel.

      Delete
  3. The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle sounds very interesting. Winter Dance looks great, but I have to admit I don't want anything to do with winter at this point! I'll look for it next fall!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I picked this one up while browsing the library. I suspect that all the spring books were checked out!

      Delete
  4. I love Grace Lin's series. My third graders and I recently enjoyed Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. he Truth as Told by Mason Buttle sounds very interesting. I will have to find that one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After reading Waiting for Normal and All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, I became a hard core Leslie Connor fan.

      Delete
  5. I keep looking at The Truth as Told By Mason Buttle and even had it on hold a while back (had to let it go as I had too many holds), but I'm still very much looking forward to putting it back on hold very soon. I was just looking at my copy of Charlotte's Web in the last week, thinking I need to pick it up and read soon. I bet my kids would love that read aloud, too! You also mentioned The Marrow Thieves. I need to make sure I have that on my short list. I keep hearing things about it and don't want to forget to grab it. Have a great week, Cheriee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have the same problem with library books. There is never enough time to read all the books I want to read! I reread Charlotte's Web every once in a while, but this one was the best!
      The Marrow Thieves is a hard read, but well worth the emotional investment.

      Delete
  6. So pleased that you loved Mason Buttle so much - I can't wait to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I liked All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook better, but it is a fabulous read.

      Delete
  7. I've never re-read Charlotte's Web as an adult, but I'm planning on it. Not every childhood favorite of mine has held up, but I know I can trust this one not to be a disappointment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Listening to E.B. White read it brought the book alive in a unique way for me. I noticed things that I overlooked in my previous readings. The deadpan humour is what I love the most.

      Delete
  8. I wish I had your slow reading week! I'll be lucky if I get one book read this week. I've heard great things about Mason Buttle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a jewel Michele. I don't think I will get much accomplished in this coming week either.

      Delete
  9. I thought In the Middle of Fall was simply lovely. I am so glad to hear that you liked it, too, Cheriee! I hope you have a wonderful week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is beautiful. I only just discovered that Kevin Henkes & Laura Dronzek are married. What a creative pair!

      Delete
  10. I still haven't read Charlotte's Web OR Stuart Little and I feel that I am so missing out. Good luck on the poem a day this April! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shock and dismay! Stuart Little didn't do much for me, but Charlotte's Web is probably the finest children's book ever written. I highly recommend this audiobook!

      Delete
  11. I love reading Grace Lin's moon books with newly confident readers -- the story formats makes it easy to move from read alouds to reading on their own in a shared way.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Charlotte’s Web is definitely one I could read over and over again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I too love to re-visit books like Charlotte's Web. I am interested in finding the audio now. I re-read Grace Lin's Mountain Meets the Moon series of books this past year and enjoyed them immensely especially since I read them closer together this time.

    ReplyDelete