#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
