#IMWAYR April 23, 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 am still hanging in there with the April Poem A Day Challenge and consequently, not getting very much reading accomplished except for when I read with my granddaughter.

Poem A Day Challenge 2018

16. Greg
17. Gift
18. Ceremony
19. Waiting
20. Storm
21. Ada
22. Haiku

BOARD BOOKS

These days Ada and I have been 'reading' a few Korean books that were sent here by her Korean relatives. Goodreads wouldn't recognize any of the barcodes with the isbn numbers.

They are all interactive. The first two animal books have touch and feel components as well as buttons on the side that make the sounds of the different animals. Ada loves these but although she puts her finger on these buttons, hasn't figured out how to press hard enough to get them to work. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not... 

The third book is all about brushing teeth. You have to turn this one on, and then when you brush the teeth of all the animals, the toothbrush makes noises. Actually, the toothbrush makes noises wherever and whenever you brush with it. The buttons at the top sing songs or talk. The two on the left are in Korean and the one on the right sings a song in English. 

What I enjoy about these books is that her Mom can read the Korean text with Ada, while I treat them like wordless books and just talk about the pictures and illustrations. 

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History by Chelsea Clinton, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

I enjoyed this. I appreciated how Chelsea Clinton was able to highlight important details in the different women's lives in such a minimal about of text. Alexandra Boiger's watercolour illustrations fill in many spaces.

I wish there had been additional information in the back matter, but the book will be an ideal jumping off place before researching any one of these amazing women.

ADULT FICTION AND NON FICTION

4 stars

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley & Jayne Entwhistle (Narrator)

I enjoyed this of course because I adore all the Flavia books. This time I was more aware of the beauty of the writing and wondered if it is because I am trying to write a poem a day.

After a gruesome beginning where Flavia ends up snagging the mouth of a murder victim while boating on a river, it was slower paced and more thoughtful. I like that Flavia is growing up and her relationships with her sisters are less antagonistic.

4 stars

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This was ok. Everything in it is also in one of her Ted Talks. It's a good starting place to read about feminism. We read this for our book club

CURRENTLY

I'm in the middle of Scythe by Neal Shusterman. If you have read it, then you will understand when I say that I have just started the second part of the book and am trying to deal with what has happened. I've just started listening to The Westing Game, a book that has been on my want to read list for two years now. 

UP NEXT

I'll listen to whatever comes available next and pick something I really want to read from the pile of books that I fear I am going to have to return to the library. 

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 13/25 1 in progress

#MustReadNFIn2018 4/12 

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 7/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 139/333