Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers are co-hosting the #IMWAYR blog hop. Check out all the links to other blogs and see what great children's literature everyone is sharing; picture books, middle grade, and young adult.
What I've Been Reading:
This month, I am participating in
"Series September," a reading challenge created by Krista at
Books and Jams. I'm working on completing some of her prompts on the BINGO board. This book completes 3 prompts, "
Read a book in the most recent series you’ve started," "Read the second book in a series," and "Read your newest purchase that’s part of a series." Whoo! Hoo! I'm not sure of the next, series prompt that I will be reading from, but stay tuned for my update next week!
Anna James' series, Pages and Co. is a cozy, fantasy, where Tilly and her family are all "book wanderers" (they can travel inside of a book). Since The Lost Fairy Tales is the second book in the series, I don't want to give away too much. I'll simply tell you, that Tilly and her friend, Oscar, discover that he is also a "book wanderer," and there is a problem inside fairy tale books.
The 2nd book in the Pages and Co. series by Anna James
Photo by Amy Soto
Last week was a busy book week. I received an order from Book Outlet, went to my local bookstore, and donated a book to my church, and donated a book to my daughter's, mosque's library.
The book that I plan to donate to my church’s Sunday School.
Photo by Amy Soto
I Prayed for You is a sweet story about mama bear and how she explains that she has prayed for baby bear on many occasions, beginning with baby's birth through the time that he starts school. I know that the Sunday school teachers at my church will enjoy sharing this story with their students, especially the nursery class. They may even want to read it aloud during one of their Wednesday evening, bedtime stories. The bedtime stories are read aloud each week, online. If interested, you can check them out, each Wednesday evening on the church's Facebook page,
here (Fairview United Methodist Church).
My Book Outlet Haul
Photo by Amy Soto
The book I donated to my daughter, Sienna's mosque.
Photo by Amy Soto
In My Mosque is a beautifully written and illustrated story about visiting a mosque, from the perspective of a child. It is an important book that should be read aloud, shared, and discussed with both children and adults. In My Mosque will open doors to diversity, and foster understanding and acceptance.
Treasures purchased at my local bookstore.
Pugtato Finds a Thing will be added to my collection of books about pugs (I have a black pug, named Mr. Wrinkles and I recently lost a fawn pug, named Miley). This is an adorable story about Pugtato (a potato, illustrated as a pug), who finds something mysterious. He asks each of his friends (other vegetables, or "Spuddies," in the garden which are the likenesses of animals, for example, "Purrsnip" and "Tomatoad"), if they are able to help him determine what the mystery object could be. Pugtato Finds a Thing, is a story of friendship, told in rhyming text, and has the cutest artwork! What a fun read aloud!
You Belong Here is poetic and lyrical. Clark explores various ways in which creatures belong where they do, and, of course, how you belong, "right where you are." The artwork is lovely - done mostly in shades of black, white, and gray, with occasional, pops of muted color. I think this book can be gifted to anyone that you love, as well as be a beautiful read aloud.
Stay tuned for, Gustovo the Shy Ghost - it is on my TBR pile for this week!
What I've Been Writing: One of my favorite ways to create
journal entries, is to
write lists. I like to pair my lists with scrapbook-type page layouts. Some layouts are simply decorated with some stickers and die cuts, while others are more elaborate and involve the use of decorative papers, stamping, stickers, die cuts, and any other embellishment that I find looks pleasing.
A list from my journal.
This was a reread/listen for me. I took notes this time!
Photo by Amy Soto
Another bit of writing that I like to do, is keep a Reading Journal. My current Reading Journal is being kept in a bookish planner. I record what I am reading and create TBR lists in my journal. Additionally, I sometimes jot down notes about the particular books that I am reading.
My Reading Journal.
Photo by Amy Soto
What I've Been Learning: I am always learning about both memoir and poetry writing, as I work on writing in both formats. My favorite poet, author, and friend has a wonderful website! I am constantly visiting Amy Ludwig Vanderwater's site, The Poem Farm, for poetry reading, and writing inspiration! Be sure to visit!
Amy LV’s awesome website.
Photo by Amy Soto
What I've Been Loving: I was asked to be my church's Little Free Library's "Librarian." I live across the street from the church and am tasked with keeping the LFL organized and stocked with books. I have a room in the church where I store donated books, from which I restock the LFL. I also donate books from my personal collection or pick up new ones on occasion. I love being the "librarian" and stop over on a regular basis to check on the library. I recently added the little flag! Once of my most favorite things about the LFL is that I am often able to see patrons visiting and borrowing or placing books inside.
My church’s Little Free Library.
Photo by Amy Soto
My reading plans continue to include some pool-side reading - I'm determined to get in as much time by and in the pool as I can before it has to be closed up for the season. I also plan to get in some front porch reading time on the cooler evenings. Whatever your plans may be, I hope you have a wonderful reading (and writing?) week ahead!
Happy Reading!
My front porch.
Photo by Amy Soto
