#IMWAYR April 30, 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.
  


Thank goodness the April Poem A Day Challenge is over (well I just have to get today's poem done.) I go to bed at night with chunks of possible poems running round in my head. I have to yell at them to stop! Some books had to be returned back to the library because I had no time to read them. How wonderful it will be to be back in my reading groove again.

Poem A Day Challenge 2018

Promise  


PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars
The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier & Sonia Sanchez (Illustrator)

I enjoyed this retelling of the story of The Little Red Hen. Ruby wants to build a fort but her brothers scoff at her ability to build it. They don't want to be involved in any aspect of the building process. When it is done however, they want to play in it, but Ruby won't let them. How the story is resolved is delightful.

5 stars
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest & Jon J. Muth (Illustrator)

This is a beautiful book that shows a loving relationship between an elderly man and a young boy. They meet in the morning with similar bags and wait for the school bus to pick them up. There is so much to love about this book: the message of never being to old to learn something new, the love across color and age.

POETRY

5 stars
The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash & Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

I've read this poem and book more times than I can count. It has been fun this week sharing it with groups of primary students at the school I am working at.
Custard looks like a regular dragon, but at heart he is a timid creature. The contradiction between his appearance - who he is, and how he is treated by his housemates is what makes this book such a delightful read.

5 stars
Noisy Poems for a Busy Day by Robert Heidbreder & Lori Joy Smith (Illustrator)

I read this to a group of wild kindergartners. They calmed down and actually focused on the words and images. If this isn't proof that Robert Heidbreder, former kindergarten teacher and accomplished poet knows his stuff, I don't know what is.
The collections of poems take us through a day in the life of a very busy little person.
They are an absolute delight to read out loud as you can see from this poem here:

Treetop Climb

Shimmy-jimmy,
clutchy-creep.
Climb up tree,
scary-steep!
Whoa, down there!

Lori Joy Smith's joy filled illustrations are the perfect accompaniment for this collection.

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars
Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford & Eric Velásquez (Illustrator)

With lyrical prose and stunning illustrations Carol Boston Weatherford and Eric Valesquez tell the story of Arturo Schomburg and his work collecting resources highlighting black history and achievements that eventually ended up as the Schomburg Collection. I appreciated that at the same time as it takes us on Schomburg’s journey, we are introduced to numerous important black characters across time. What was new to me wasn’t the breadth of intellectual and influential people, but rather those characters he identified as being whitewashed.

5 stars
Vincent Can't Sleep: Van Gogh Paints the Night Sky by Barb Rosenstock & Mary GrandPré (Illustrations)

From endpaper to endpaper this book, in both words and illustrations, is glorious. Van Gogh's life was a troubled one, nevermind that he was one of the most creative and innovative artists of time. His mental health issues are dealt with sensitively. Ultimately it is a joyful celebration of his accomplishments.
The backmatter contains an informational page about Van Gogh. There are also copies of his paintings and quotes from the artist.

GRAPHIC

4 stars
I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina, John Jennings (Illustrator) & Stacey Robinson (Illustrator)

Alphonso is a gifted black teen with plans for a creative, successful future. He is in the process of purchasing his first suit when he is killed by a white police officer. Alfonso ends up on a ghost train with other black victims who have never had justice for their murders.
This book showcases what it means to be black in America today. It's a powerful indictment against a deeply flawed and racist police system. If you have been paying attention at all to the Black Lives Matter movement, what is revealed won't be a surprise. It's an important read.

NOVELS

3.5 stars
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, Jeff Woodman (Narrator)

I enjoyed this audiobook, but figuring out all the characters was a bit challenging at first. The ending was just delightful and I loved finding out how everyone ended up.

CURRENTLY

I'm a little farther along in Scythe by Neal Shusterman but managed to renew it so I put it aside to read American Panda which has to be back at the library in a few days.

UP NEXT

I'll start listening to The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore. If I finish that, I'll start We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I'm still trying to track down a copy of Ravensong by Celia Maracle so I can get it read for our next book club meeting.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 14/25

#MustReadNFIn2018 4/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 7/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 151/333

19 comments:

  1. When students read The Westing Game keeping track of the characters was always a challenge. I have quite a collection of poetry books, but not the two you mentioned. They both sound great.

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    1. I can understand why! I'm not sure I had them all straight by the end.

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  2. Yay to April 30 and the end of this challenge! I can't wait to get back to my regularly scheduled reading and writing life! Just today's poem left, and then I am looking forward to a long break from poetry! Though who knows, maybe I will miss it? In any case, I just bought I Am Alfonso but haven't read it yet. Will try to get to it soon because it sounds incredible. Mr George Baker is a favorite picture book of mine. Now I want to reread it! I read The Westing Game so long ago, I barely remember it. Might be fun for a reread too!

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    1. No kidding! I cheated a bit today and posted about a poetry lesson I taught and while a few of my poems were there, so were poems written by children!
      I'll be looking forward to reading what you think of I Am Alfonso.

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  3. Custard the Dragon, an old favorite! I need to find it to read to the youngest grand-girl! Thanks for the new poetry, too, Cheriee! Yes, double-posting because of poetry month has left me with little time, but it has been quite a journey, hasn't it? Thanks for I Am Alfonso, a new title to me. It reminds me of Ghost Boys, a recent read, and I imagine very sad, too. Change needs to happen!

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    1. It's one of mine too! I haven't read Ghost Boys, but yes, they do seem to be a lot alike. Change really needs to happen.

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  4. I love Noisy Poems for a Busy Day - I've been reading from it to visiting classes all month!

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    1. That is just delightful Jane! I also love Robert Heidbreder's Dinosaur Dance.

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  5. Custard the Dragon is a fun book and my students always liked it. If you haven't read the Adventures of Isabel, you might like that one, too. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2988487-adventures-of-isabel?from_search=true

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    1. I have The Adventures of Isabel memorized! (Isabel is my middle name - I had to)

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  6. I'm especially interested in reading the Schomburg and Van Gogh's picture book biographies! And YAY you finished The Westing Game! I plan to squeeze that in this summer after hearing the title, repeatedly, in The Parker Inheritance. I hope you enjoy The Stars Beneath Our Feet. I feel like I rushed through that one -- wish I had slowed down a bit to take it all in. Congrats on successfully finishing the April Poem A Day Challenge. I know that's a huge commitment, so feel proud. :) Have a wonderful week, Cheriee!

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    1. I just put a hold on The Parker Inheritance... It's on order and I am number 4 for two copies. I'm sure I'll be ready for it, but then, I think that all the time....
      Hope you have a fabulous reading week too Shaye

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  7. I just loved The Little Red Fort and glad to have a modern retelling of The Little Red Hen. Currently reading and listening to the audio of The Westing Game now after reading The Parker Inheritance. About 1/2 way complete. I agree the characters are a challenge to remember as well as the partners. I just loved The Stars Beneath My Feet. The audio is fantastic and the story is one that will remain with who long after you read.

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    1. Thanks for the heads up about The Stars Beneath My Feet. I'm even more excited about it now.

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  8. I've heard so many great things about Alfonso - I'll get to it at some point.
    Just picked up The Little Red Fort. Will get to it this weekend!
    I'll have to look for Noisy Poems. I like having some shorter poems on hand for Poem in Your Pocket Day!

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    1. Robert Heidbreder has numerous books with short poems. I'm sure I had a few in my Poem in Your Pocket Day collection.

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  9. It's funny. I read Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library and Vincent Can't Sleep to my son again tonight. They are two of his favorites!

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    1. Both are fabulous books so I can see why they are favourites.

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  10. I love The Westing Game. I’m really hoping to read it with my forth graders before the end of the year.

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