Hello everyone. It's #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 excited. We are picking up our new washer and dryer today!
Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.
Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.
BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK
Etty Darwin and the Four Pebble Problem by Lauren Soloy
Don't Hug Doug by Carrie Finison & Daniel Wiseman (Illustrator) January 26, 2021
Doug doesn't like hugs, so don't try to hug him. It doesn't mean he doesn't like you, he just doesn't like hugs (except from his mom.)
This is an ideal book to begin conversations about consent.
I was wowed by this duo's The Old Truck. This is even more powerful. It's got the aspect of time going by and people aging. It's got the passing on from one generation to the next. It's the focus on the environment and cleaning it up that is profound here. Thank you Linda B for introducing me to these.
Evelyn del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina & Sonia Sanchez (illustrator) September 8, 2020
PICTURE BOOKS
 |
| 4 stars |
Don't Hug Doug by Carrie Finison & Daniel Wiseman (Illustrator) January 26, 2021
This is an ideal book to begin conversations about consent.
I was wowed by this duo's The Old Truck. This is even more powerful. It's got the aspect of time going by and people aging. It's got the passing on from one generation to the next. It's the focus on the environment and cleaning it up that is profound here. Thank you Linda B for introducing me to these.
 |
| 5 stars |
Evelyn del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina & Sonia Sanchez (illustrator) September 8, 2020
Two best friends must say goodbye because one of them is moving. They enjoy their last day together until the heartwrenching end when they have to part. I was heartbroken for them until I turned the to the last page that gives readers a sneak into the future.
Seo Kim's detailed illustrations are drop dead gorgeous. A Hmong family with a young girl move into a new neighbourhood. They begin a cautious relationship with the elderly neighbours across the street. Soon twin boys are born. As the year cycles round, the young girl collects memories. She ends up sharing them with the older man after his wife dies.
As if this wasn't a wonderful enough story as it is, I discovered at the end of the book that it is essentially a true story.
Charles Darwin and his daughter Henrietta (Etty) take a walk around their gardens. They converse upon the possibilities of fairies. Check out my blog post here to read more and see images of the artwork.
NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS
 |
| 5 stars |
Snooze-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Sleep by Maria Birmingham & Kyle Reed (Illustrator) March 15, 2021 🍁
I've ordered copies of this clever bedtime book for my almost four year old grandkids. Check out my blog post here to read more and see images of the gorgeous artwork.
CHAPTER BOOKS
 |
| 5 stars |
Too Small Tola by Atinuke & Onyinye Iwu (Illustrator)
Tola lives in a run-down block of apartments in the megacity of Lagos, in the country of Nigeria. In three chapters we learn what life is like for her, her sister, her brother, and Grandmommy. The first involves a visit to the market with plenty of rest stops on the way home. The next shows how the family copes when there is no water or electricity. In the third one, Tola helps out their local tailor when he breaks his leg. All of these vignettes show us a community working together and helping each other. I sure hope there are more Tola books! I adore her!
Amina (pronounced with a short vowels) returns from a summer in Pakistan where she reconnected with extended family. Back at school in September she decides to do a major presentation on Malala Yousafzai. After a mini talk, her classmates interpret the information she shares to mean that all girls in Pakistan are oppressed. There is also a cute boy who is also interested in music.
I like Amina and her Muslim family a lot. I look forward to seeing where their story takes them next.
While I am not generally a reader of apocalyptic novels, this one hooked me from the start. I wouldn't have expected that reading about the fallout from a global pandemic would be appropriate given the times we are living in, and yet, it is. When more than 99% of the world's population die from the 'Georgian Flue" civilizations around the world collapse. The story centers around a collection of survivors in the Great Lakes Region of Canada and America. A group of travelling actors and musicians travel around from town to town putting on performances. Although there are some truly dark patches, the book ends up leaving the reader full of hope.
I like Amina and her Muslim family a lot. I look forward to seeing where their story takes them next.
 |
| 5 stars |
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, Henning Koch (Translator) & George Newbern (Narrator) August 27, 2012
My heart always feels full when I finish a Fredrik Backman novel. Ove is one of those cranky old men you can't help but love.
NON FICTION
I went through phases of liking this book and then struggling to continue. Once it moved into looking at Tesla and Westinghouse, I became more engaged. I don't mean to take away from what Edison achieved: he was brilliant for sure. He was also vicious as all get out. Tesla is shown as a fascinating genius with no head for business. Westinghouse comes across as a decent man. When he was facing bankruptcy, Tesla helped him out by tearing up his contract with him. Tesla ended up dying in poverty. I wish Westinghouse had honored his commitments when his company was doing well again.
Constellation of the Deep by Benjamin Flouw
We Are All Under One Wide Sky by Deborah Wiles
DISCWORLD NOVELS
I'm so close to the end of the collection that I am reading the last few slowly and savouring each word.
In an article in the Guardian, Patrick Ness said that his comfort read is the "Discworld by Terry Pratchett. I am always at some point through the cycle (I’m currently on The Thief of Time). They’re not only gloriously funny, they’re humane in a way that makes you actually feel seen and forgiven, with all your faults. He was a one-off, Sir Terry. When I finish reading them through, I simply put the last book down and pick the first one up again."
I suspect that's what I will do too.
CURRENTLY
This is what I have on the go:
We Are All Under One Wide Sky by Deborah Wiles
Constellation of the Deep by Benjamin Flouw
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir by Anonymous
Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett
Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett
UP NEXT
Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Anne's School Days by Kallie George
Lentil Soup by Carole Tremblay, ills. Maurèen Poignonec
BLOG POSTS NEXT WEEK
We Are All Under One Wide Sky by Deborah Wiles
Anne's School Days by Kallie George
Lentil Soup by Carole Tremblay, & Maurèen Poignonec
Lentil Soup by Carole Tremblay, & Maurèen Poignonec
PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS
#MustReadIn2021 14/25
#MustReadIn2021 14/25
#MustReadNFIn2021 5/12
#MustReadPBIn2021 32/100
Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 16/25
Books by Canadian Authors: 51/100
Canada Reads 2021 4/5
Discworld Series 39/41
Goodreads Reading Challenge: 187/333
Snooze O Rama is a new title for me. I love to add nonfiction picture books to my #classroombookaday collection. I think this would be such a hit with kids and a bonus bedtime book to share with families.
ReplyDeleteYes! It sure would.
DeleteI definitely need to add a Discworld novel to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteYes you do!
DeleteThanks for the shout-out, Cheriee. I do love the Pumphrey Brothers' books! Glad that you liked Station Eleven. The recent The Glass Hotel is intriguing, too! I will look for Etty Darwin & still need to read Amina's Song! So many books to love! Enjoy the new appliances and more reading!
ReplyDeleteI hope to get to The Glass Hotel soon. There are so many books to read!
DeleteCongrats on the new washer and dryer! All of these books look excellent. I've heard tons of praise for Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away, and A Map Into the World sounds great as well! I still haven't read Amina's Voice or Amina's Song, which is starting to feel ridiculous. And my family is always telling me to read Fredrik Backman's books—hopefully I will this summer! Thanks so much for the great post!
ReplyDeleteThere are so so many books I want to read and know I will never get to. Fredrik Backman is perfect for when you need to read something that will make you feel good and laugh a bit and.
DeleteI loved the last page of Evelyn del Rey! I've only read A Man Called Ove and his newest, Anxious People, but I think Backman is a fantastic writer.
ReplyDeleteSo did I! When I am finished with Discworld I might go on a Backman Binge!
DeleteI absolutely loved THE OLD BOAT. I actually liked it better than the first book. I'm keeping my eye on that one for a possible Caldecott contender.
ReplyDeleteSo did I. It's got the environmental issue in it that the first one, however lovels, doesn't have.
DeleteDON'T HUG DOUG sounds interesting. The title immediately made me think of kids with autism, who often don't like hugs. I wonder if it addresses that as well.
ReplyDeleteI've heard good things about STATION ELEVEN. I'm on a bit of a dystopian/apocalyptic binge right now, so I really need to check that one out.
Thanks for sharing such thoughtful titles!
I thought of that when I was reading this book, but I'm not sure if that was an issue.
ReplyDeleteIf you like dystopian, then you definitely need to read Station Eleven!
So many wonderful books this week! I have had problems finding The Old Boat. I was in the minority and thought the first one was ok so I've held off buying it. Still hoping the library will get a copy in!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed Station Eleven and A Man Called Ove! I loved both of those novels.
ReplyDeleteSue
Book By Book