It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr [2.21.22] – Books. Iced Lattes. Blessed.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? originated as a meme that started by Shelia at Book Journeys, then it passed onto Kathryn at The Book Date. Then the Unleashing Readers, Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give it a twist by having a #kidlit focus. So this is a time to share what you have been, currently are, and will be reading soon!

If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, or anything in those genres – then join us! This is also a great opportunity to see what others are reading and you might find your next “must-read” too!

If you join in the fun and you Tweet, tag your tweet with #imwayr!

It was another eventful week here in Missouri… On Monday I was out of the classroom but in the building doing reading assessment testing, then taught Tuesday, and on Wednesday we had a field trip to the Powell Symphony Hall to watch and listen to “Peter and the Wolf”. The rest of that day at school was just relaxing time, free reading, and packing up. Then a decent winter storm came through overnight and we had TWO more snow days! So I’ve been home since Thursday… A crazy long “weekend”!

I haven’t read as much as I usually do because exciting things are happening in my life, like soon becoming a school librarian. So I’m a little out of it! I’ll get back to my usual groove eventually, but I am soaking in all the amazing opportunities, love, and support from my coworkers, friends, and family.

I hope you have a great day and week!

• The Edge of In Between by Lorelei Savaryn
  • Oh how Savaryn writes like a beautiful song. I feel as though her writing floats on each page and leaves me feeling such intense emotion. Her writing and Heather Kassner’s are so similar and hauntingly beautiful. The Edge of In Between is a perfect book that intertwines love, loss, magical realism, and paints a world you can so vividly imagine. It is a magical retelling of The Secret Garden, so young and old will thoroughly enjoy and adore this book. It releases April 19th and I am on the Street Team! I’ll be Zooming with Savaryn and other members tomorrow night. Yay!
• The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames by Lisa McMann
  • A highly engaging and adventurous new series by McMann! The first chapter hooks you, the characters are each unique, and the premise is captivating. It will be well-loved by readers who enjoyed CHARLIE THORNE by Stuart Gibbs and LOLA BENKO, TREASURE HUNTER by Beth McMullen. Thank you to Lisa for sharing a copy with #BookAllies. It’s birthday is TOMORROW! Woo!
• It’s a Sign! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!) by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey
  • This is a brand new series in the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series! A fun and comical book that features letter writing, forming words, and word play. The ending is cute and will make young readers chuckle. It releases in May. Thanks to Disney Publishing for sharing with me!
• A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt and illustrated by Korwin Briggs
  • My oh my! Professor Chicken teaches readers about the history of underwear in this highly engaging and comically written and illustrated picture book. The endpapers are perfect too! You get to see Professor Chicken wearing all the different types of underwear that are mentioned in the book. #BookAllies
• Make Way for Animals!: A World of Wildlife Crossings by Meeg Pincus and illustrated by Bao Luu
  • This nonfiction picture book by Meeg Pincus is brilliant (4/5). It teaches young readers how we can keep animals safe and allow them to freely roam by constructing wildlife crossings. Fascinating and informative. I will definitely purchase this title! #BookAllies
• Rumble and Roar: Sound Around the World by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Khoa Le
  • A beautifully illustrated and designed book with very few words to make more of an atmospheric read as you dive deep into different parts of the world that have various sounds. The writing itself rhymes as you turn each page and includes many onomatopoeias. #BookAllies
• Hidden Animal Colors by Jane Park
  • This is a nonfiction text that also rhymes. It shows many different kinds of animals and their special adaptions for their environment, like a hippo who is gray but is known to “sweat” pink, also know as “blood sweat”. It gives info on why these animals have these special adaptations to survive or live in their environment. You learn about animals you know a bit about and others you most likely haven’t learned about before. There is nonfiction back matter to follow up this topic. #BookAllies
• We Belong by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Carlos Velez Aguilera
  • A picture book to celebrate each and every unique person in this world. It is done in rhyming verse and displays illustrations of diverse kids and people playing and learning with each other. #BookAllies
• Call Me Miss Hamilton: One Women’s Case for Equality and Respect by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Jeffery Boston Weatherford
  • A stunning biography of Miss Mary Hamilton written in free verse by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrations/scratchboarding done by her son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford. The back matter with real black and white photographs, a detailed timeline, and author’s note were illuminating too. Highly recommend this biography in elementary libraries! #BookAllies
• Today is Different by Doua Moua and illustrated by Kim Holt
  • In this picture book we focus on Mai, a young Hmong girl. She is sad because her best friend, Kiara, a young Black girl, is not at the school bus stop or at school, and soon learns why. There are protests happening in the street due to an act of police violence against the Black Community. Mai wants to be a part of the protest and is able to go with her family. She spots Kiara there. This book shows allyship and connectedness to real-world events and how young people can be a part of their community in fighting for justice and peace. #BookAllies
• Five-Minute Friendship Starters: A Seasame Street Guide to Making a Friend by Marie-Therese Miller 
  • An adorable book for pre-K to K children on how to make friends with easy steps and questions to ask. This could be used in a small group setting to practice asking these questions and learning about their classmates. #BookAllies

Shop the books above and support me and local Indies:

Have you ever read any of these books? Share with me what you are reading below!

Xo, Sierra