Hello reading friends and happy Monday! Today I am sharing a bit of my reading life with you. I am also participating in It's Monday What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR. Here are some of this past week's highlights.
Reading Life Highlights
First off, I am the Scholastic Book Fair chairperson for the school that where I used to work. As the former librarian, I was very involved in the book fair and spent library class time to show book trailers and booktalk the books that were going to be featured in the fair. I adored seeing the excitement that was generated by the upcoming fair! Kids got so excited about the books that were going to be for sale and would also end up in our library collection. I am newly retired from my positions as librarian and reading specialist. A friend and colleague invited me to lead the book fair, so I of course couldn't say no! This past week, I talked with the Scholastic rep and discussed the fair that we have coming up in October. I'm very excited to get the excitement going not only among students but also among the staff of my former elementary school. More info to come on the progress of the book fair. I also renewed my membership to ALA and ALSC - American Library Association and Association for Library Services to Children. I'm exploring ways in which I can volunteer for the association. Also, I continue to maintain and keep a well stocked Little Free Library for my church.
Photo by Amy Soto
Meanwhile, here are some of the books that I read this past week . . .
Picture Book Picks
Photo by Amy Soto
Caldecott award winning illustrator, Michaela Goade, has written and illustrated this stunning picture book about a family tradition. A girl and her grandmother set out in the forest and near the sea to collect herring eggs, fish for salmon, and pick numerous different kinds of berries during berry season. As they pick the berries, they take only what they need and sing a "berry song," a song that shows gratitude toward the land. In a brilliant author's note, Goade, explains, in detail, how she and her Tlingit, grandmother, as well as previous generations, also picked berries and foraged for food on the island of Sitka, Alaska. As they picked, they too sang the "berry song." Stunning watercolor and mixed media artwork fill the double page spreads of this beautiful picture book. Berry Song is a perfect read aloud when discussing families and their many different traditions. I highly recommend this gorgeous picture book for your personal or classroom collection. Highly Recommended.
Photo by Amy Soto
A Place to Read written and illustrated by Leigh Hodgkinson, is a perfect read aloud to kick off readers workshop, a visit to the library, or as a delightful bedtime story! In the story, a young reader attempts to find just the right place to sit to enjoy his book. With rhyming text and cozy artwork, Hodgkinson weaves a charming tale. Will the boy find the perfect spot for reading? Is that what really matters when reading a good book? Share A Place to Read with your readers to find out! Highly recommended.
From the creator of The Most Magnificent Thing, comes The Most Magnificent Idea. Ashley Spires has both written and illustrated the story of a little girl's struggle to create. She makes and creates all the time but one day she is uninspired and does not know what to make. The girl tries what she can to become inspired once again. It isn't until she notices a problem that she has an idea! The whimsical artwork for the book was created digitally in Photoshop. This satisfying picture book will make an excellent read aloud for children that preparing to create. Whether the creating is writing, building, making, or creating art of some kind. It also makes the perfect companion to The Most Magnificent Idea. Highly recommended.
Middle Grade Must Reads
Photo by Amy Soto
Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd is one of my favorite middle grade novels that I've read this year. I listened to the audiobook that is narrated by the author. Twelve year-old, Olive has been homeschooled much of her life but she dreams of attending the local middle school and finding her "forever BFF." Olive's parents are hesitant to let her go because of a condition called, osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. Eventually, Olive is able to convince them and she begins school. Her first day doesn't go so well but when she learns of the legend of the hummingbird that grants a wish, Olive is determined to find the hummingbird. Heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, Hummingbird is the perfect class read aloud for upper elementary students or a great recommendation for students in fourth grade and up. This touching novel will help students understand and empathize with students with disabilities. Hummingbird is also a great recommendation for readers who are interested in a great family and friendship story. Highly recommended.
For the Bibliophile
Photo by Amy Soto
Like many of you, I am a true bibliophile! One of my favorite kind of books to read is books about books, reading, and libraries. So, in this section of my reading, I like to feature these types of books. Picturebook Makers by Sam McCullen is a real treat for those who are lovers of the picture book and its beautiful art. As a result of Picturebook Makers, a blog by dPICTUS, the book was created. It features some of the world's most well known picture book creators. The artists weren't interviewed. They were asked to tell the story behind the story of their picture book creation. Some of the picture book creator's featured in the book are; Jon Klassen, Shaun Tan, and Eva Lindstrom, and others. Grab a coffee, tea, or other beverage and take a behind the scenes look at the creation of some favorite picture book creators. Sam McCullen writes in the book's introduction, "this book is intended for publishing professionals, illustration students, and anyone else with a passion for picturebooks and a curiosity about the different approaches taken to make them" (5). Highly Recommended.
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Until next time, Happy Reading and . . . I hope your heart strings connect with something wonderful you read!
