#IMWAYR February18, 2019


#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.



It's been a long hard month or so. I was sick with a cold. I thought I was getting better so I went away for a few days and got sicker. I came home, went to work, and it got worse. Eventually I dragged myself into the doctors and left with a list of assorted miracles of modern medicine to deal with a secondary respiratory tract infection. I am very thankful for our Canadian healthcare system and my union negotiated extended health benefits. It cost me nothing.

I think the following lists are what I have been reading in the past while. I was hardly capable of reading anything, never mind always recording it. I couldn't concentrate because of my illness, and now I can't concentrate because of the stupid prednisone that leaves me feeling like I have ADHD. (They also make me very irritable) I know I am now on the mend though because I was able to catch up on my picture book reading on Sunday, and that evening, as the drugs wore off, was actually able to read some of my novel.

Aside from all that, I am happy to proclaim that we managed to find a bit of winter here. It was beautiful, but I was in no condition to go out and take any pictures.

READERS

5 stars

Entertaining, engaging, quality literature for beginning readers isn't easy to find. This is definitely one of them. Make sure to get it for your school or classroom library.
It has patterned language, humour, a message of accepting who you are, and a surprise ending! In dressing up and becoming the tiger that he so admired, Fox reminded me of those days when my own children and their friends became lions, dinosaurs, and super heroes. I'm looking forward to test driving this one with groups of kindergarten and grade ones this week.

Corey R Tabors whimsical illustrations are full of heart. I can't wait to read more of his Fox stories.

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

I love the message in this brightly illustrated picture book. Thank you Oge Mora for showing us the power and importance of sharing what we have.

4 stars

This brilliant book captures the perspective of two children at Great Uncle Frank's funeral. The book highlights the cycle of life. At the same time as adults are grieving the end of life, these two cousins are finding life and joy in the world around them.
I agree with Norma that Uncle Frank would have liked his funeral.

4 stars

I adore the illustrations in the book about two diverse acquaintances who spend time together walking through a winter wonderland. Even though Bear and Wolf eventually go their own way, this message of acceptance and communion by two different species has much to teach us humans about getting along with one another and the rest of the world.

3 1/2 stars

Mine. Yours. by Marsha Diane Arnold & Qin Leng (Illustrations)

I read this through Netgalley and will write more about it just before it's publication in April. It's a thoughtful, almost wordless book that looks at ownership and sharing. I picked it to read because Qin Leng is the illustrator. I'm proud to claim that she is a fellow Canadian.

4 stars

I read this beautifully illustrated book to groups of kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 for Valentine's week. It's one of those books that brings a smile to your face and leaves you sighing with contentment. I prefaced the book by asking the children to think about how we show that we love someone and how others show that they love us. Then we read the book and they told me what they thought the book missed. The only answer that wasn't already there was 'give hugs.' (It's there, but not in those words)

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

None of the filmmakers I know had ever heard of Alice Guy-Blaché before I showed them this book and asked them about her. These are people who know about the history of film. It breaks my heart a little bit, but also makes me so happy that this book is here.

Alice Guy-Blaché was not only the first female filmmaker, she was also one of the first people to create movies that told a story. What you learn as you read the book, and particularly in the back matter, is that in early films, women had many roles and jobs. Women were presented as adventurous, daring heroes. It isn't until the industry grew and men dominated it that women became damsels in distress.

3 1/2 stars

Some of these poetic vignettes are factual and others are historical fiction. It's obvious that substantial research underpins all of it. Each part tells the story of some hand made artifact. I think that those of us who still engage in making things by hand are connected across time and space to all these other artisans. I sometimes longed for more details here, but see that this book might be a springboard to a deeper investigation into one of these arts.

5 stars

Children are braver, stronger, and much smarter than adults give them credit for. This is a book that unpacks racism and puts the onus on white people to do what they can to stop it. It's our problem too.
This picture book belongs in every school library for every age group.


5 stars

What a fascinating story! From endpaper to endpaper this book is a visual delight. It's the perfect accompaniment to Barb Rosenstock's lyrical text about the first people to travel deep into the ocean just to explore its depths. I had never heard of Otis Barton or Will Beebe prior to reading this. I'm certain students will be at least as engaged as I was.
I enjoyed the additional information in the back matter. Barb Rosenstock answered many of the questions I had while reading the book. I especially appreciated reading about Katherine Roy's artistic process for creating the illustrations. I wish this kind of information was available in all picture books!

NOVELS

4 stars

As much as I enjoyed this recent instalment in the adventures of Peter Grant, I really missed listening to it as an audiobook. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice is the voice of Peter Grant. He is what makes these novels jump out for me. I am as much in love with him as I am with the stories themselves. If you haven't read any of them so far, I encourage you to start with Rivers of London, the first in the series. Peter Grant is a young police officer and Wizard in training in London, England. The stories are populated with all kinds of ghosts and mythological beings. They are funny and sexy - the perfect antidote to the troubles of the real world, all the while poking fun at it.

4 stars

This is the story of a young man who was taken from his home and family during the 'sixties scoop.' It is estimated that between the 1950's through to the 1980's, at least 20,000 indigenous Canadian children were removed from their families and either put in white foster homes or given up for adoption to white middle class families.
Garnet Raven was only three when he was taken from his home on an Ojibway Indian reserve. He spent time in numerous foster homes before ending up living on the streets. Eventually he ended up in prison. It was there that his lost family contacted him. Upon his release he returned to the reserve and with the help of an elder, Keeper, began to understand his identity as Anishinabe.
The book is poignant, spiritual, and at times, screamingly hilarious.
Richard Wagamese is an Indigenous Canadian. This is his first novel published novel. 
4 stars
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech & Kirby Heyborne Narrator 

This is a heartwarming middle grade novel about Louie, a young boy who, against the odds, rescues and raises a newborn donkey. There are some remarkable characters here in this book that examines how different people deal with death and loss.

GRAPHIC

4 stars
Zenobia by Morten Dürr & Lars Horneman (Illustrations)

This is a dark, hard, look at what it means to be a refugee. It's not an easy read and the ending will tear your heart apart a bit.

 CURRENTLY

I'm listening to There There by Tommy Orange. I'm reading My Grandmother Sends her Regards and Apologises by Frederik Backman. I made no progress on Colville by Andrew Hunter, one of my MustRead nonfiction titles.

UP NEXT

I need to start reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi for my book club get together in a couple of weeks. Cold Skies by Thomas King, is next on my list but I am desperate to binge on some really good middle grade fiction. There are also a few graphic novels in a pile here somewhere. I have Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny ready to listen to next.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 3/25 1 in progress

#MustReadNFIn2018 3/12 1 in progress

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 3/25

25 books by Canadian Authors 13/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 62/333

21 comments:

  1. I hope you're feeling better. Those respiratory tract infections can be really hard to get rid of. Despite all, you've got a nice collection of books here, including some favorites and some that I haven't read yet. Thanks for posting about these.

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    1. Thank goodness for great reads when we are under the weather!

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  2. Yikes, hope all your illness goes away soon, Cheriee! Still, you shared some great books. I too was amazed that no one had heard of Alice Guy-Blaché. It is a sad story of her accomplishments usurped. I was glad to read that book. I noted Mine, Yours, will keep it on my list for when it comes out. It sounds lovely. Also Saving Winslow is one on my list, but still need to read it! So many books! Thanks for all!

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    1. Alice Guy-Blaché' story is a sad, and all too common one. I like that authors and filmmakers are digging up these missing bits of our herstory!

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  3. Lots of great books this week! I loved Thank You, Omu too. I feel like it really hits at our cultural moment right now with the lack of civil political discourse on what it means to be a kind and generous neighbor. Instead, our politicians want to build walls instead of longer tables, which is the exact opposite of what this book is trying to convey. Adults could learn a lot from picture books it seems.

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    1. This is exactly it Beth. I have friends I don't agree with, but so long as we are still talking and sharing meals together, I have hope!

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  4. I'm sorry to hear of your illness, Cheriee, but thankful that you're on the mend. What a magnificent collect of books, despite you being sick. WOW! I see we have Fox the Tiger currently being processed, so I hope to grab that up in the coming weeks. And I hope to find a local copy of Not My Idea -- sounds very necessary and helpful. Thank you for sharing and please have a better week, health-wise! <3

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    1. I suspect you are going to want to read the rest of the Fox books when you are done. If your library has them, you can read them while you are waiting. I put reserves on all of them. :)

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  5. Hope you get to feeling better soon. I liked The Funeral, too. I liked that it addressed the sadness of the passing of a loved one, while pointing out the nice things about getting together with relatives and friends to remember the departed. Thanks for sharing this great list of books. I'll have fun checking some of them out.

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    1. Lately the only times our whole extended family gets together is for funerals. I have begged for people to get married so we can get together under more positive conditions. It just costs so much! I offered to pay my own way...

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  6. No fun being sick like that! We have had colds too. Also not fun. So many titles here that I am interested in. Looking up this Fox the Tiger one right now. Think my classroom needs it!

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    1. I think your readers will love it! You might need to get the whole series!

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  7. I loved Thank You, Omu. Just beautiful. There are also a lot of new titles on your list for me to check out.

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    1. Yes! That one is so important for how to live a rich life in communion with the people around us!

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  8. Thank you, Omu was a wonderful surprise find this year. I'm so glad it received some Caldecott love!
    I have the Fox books to read this week, looking forward to them.
    Hope you continue to get better!

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    1. Thanks Michelle. I've decided to take another day off, but hope to be back at work Wednesday. Thank you, Omu is so beautiful!

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  9. A lot of really great reading here. I hope you are feeling more yourself soon and able to fully enjoy it. There certainly has been a lot more of winter in my neck of the woods as well. Lots of books that I hope to enjoy soon. The books that stood out to me here were the animal books (Fox and Tiger, and Bear and Wolf) as well as the illustrator as I have also enjoyed Katherine Roy's work and Qin Leng's. Have a great week, and get well!

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    1. I have enjoyed everything else that I've read by Katherine Roy. I will read anything Qin Leng has been involved with! I adore her work. You folks have had way more winter than we have had! We are all whining and complaining about a bit of white stuff that lasts less than a week!

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  10. I've seen Thank You, Omu everywhere recently, but haven't been able to get my hands on a copy yet, I'm really looking forward to reading it! And I'm glad you're on the mend, I definitely share your thankfulness for our medical system. But I'm really, really hoping we're done with the snow, it plays havoc with my transit commute... :'(

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    1. I imagine it does since the city is not remotely equipped to deal with any real snowfall. The bizarre thing is that the skytrain often doesn't even work so transit becomes even crazier.

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  11. I just added Fox the Tiger, The Funeral & Zenobia to my reading list. I'm glad you have such a fantastic medical system. I am hopeful that one day medical treatment will not be bankrupting people here in the U.S. anymore or causing people to go without the care they need.

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