It's Monday... August 26

It has been a very busy week leading up to today, my first day back at work.
So this week it's short and sweet.

 

Visit Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to find out more about It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and link to other participating blogs.

I have been wanting to read this one since last summer. It has had so many rave reviews, and it did not disappoint. A wonderfully inventive world with lots of magic and fast paced adventure.

This is a must have, must read, must book talk!

Follow Shannon Messenger on Twitter: @SW_Messenger

 I was so excited that I had this ARC when I finished book 1!

Our current "Read-Together" Book at home.

Still listening to the audio version of this as we drive around town. This one may take us awhile to finish with no big drives planned any time soon.

It is Monday... August 19

Visit Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to find out more about It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and link to other participating blogs.

I brought this home for the summer from my library since so many students were telling me how much they loved it. I'm so glad I did! Fabulous slightly creepy middle grade fantasy.

• Visit Jaqueline West's Website

This is book three in the Kid Beowulf graphic novel series. It is a great blend of the classic story of El Cid with modern humor and lots of action/adventure. My fans of series like Asterix, Tin-Tin and Usagi Yojimbo will really enjoy Kid Beowulf. I will be ordering books 1 & 2 for my library collection.

• Order Kid Beowulf
• Follow Alexis Fajardo on Twitter: @Lex_KidB

Listen to Alexis Fajardo discussing publishing the 3rd Kid Beowulf book on the Kids Comics Revolution Podcast:

Author Alexis Fajardo is also one of the artists who continue the legacy of Charles M. Schulz drawing PEANUTS.

Listen to Alexis Fajardo on Kids Comics Revolution talking about "Working for Peanuts":

This is a sweet book that lists all sorts of things a dad might do or say that mean "I love you," like making pancakes, playing tag, tickling, reading a book together, and even just saying it.

Follow Jennifer Bell on Twitter: @JenniferABell_

After finishing book one, we started the audio of book two. It may take us awhile since we are not driving as much lately.

The Bud read this and loved it. We passed it to the my 4th grade neighbor who loved it. Next it's my turn!

It's Monday... August 12

Visit Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to find out more about It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and link to other participating blogs.

Locomotive is a nonfiction picture book at its best: beautiful artwork, interesting historical topic, an explosion, and tips on going to the bathroom on a train in the late 1800s.

Brian Floca on twitter: @BrianFloca 

I am so excited that Brian Floca will be visiting my school this fall. 

The 5sters and I loved reading this out loud together. The only problem with reading this one out loud was that The Bud kept wanting me to re-read parts he thought were funny slowing us down.

Follow Liesl Shurtliff on Twitter: @LieslShurtliff

Fabulous nonfiction in graphic novel format!

Book Description:

"The true story of three scientists who risked their lives for research that forever changed the way we think of primates...including ourselves."

• Read an excerpt from the book.
• Follow Maris Wicks on Twitter: @MarisWicks

• Check out Jonathan Bean's blog post with pictures from the real house building that inspired the book.

• Activities and drawing pages on Deborah Freedman's Website.
• Follow Deborah Freedman on Twitter: @DeborahFreedman

I fell in love the artwork of Chris Sickels (Red Nose Studio) when I read Here Comes the Garbage Barge, so I was delighted to see another book filled with his fabulous puppets.

• Check out this fabulous interview with Chris Sickels including a tour of his studio
• Follow Jennifer Larue Huget on Twitter: @jhuget
• Follow Chris Sickels on Twitter: @rednosestudio

10 Fabulous Picture Books Featuring 5s

I doubt any librarian has ever been asked, "do you have a good picture book with the number 5 in it?"

But if that ever were to happen, librarians everywhere could now turn to this list of 10 fabulous picture books featuring the number 5 in their illustrations.

(Click here if you are now wondering... "why the number 5?")

10. Bob Staake's Look a Book! A Zany Seek-and-Find Adventure

9. 123 vs. ABC by Mike Boldt

8. No, David! by David Shanon

7. Red Sings From Treetops - a Year in Colors 
written by Joyce Sidman
illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

6. Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

5. The Gardner
written by Sarah Stewart 
illustrated by David Small

4. Let's Go For a Drive An Elephant & Piggie Book by Mo Willems

3. River of Words - The Story of William Carlos Williams
written by Jen Bryant
illustrated by Melissa Sweet

2. A Sick day for Amos McGee 
written by Philip C Stead
illustrated by Erin E Stead

And my favorite book featuring a number 5 is...

1. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (or Brian O. Selznick)

So that was picture books.

Now if you want to talk Graphic Novels, that's another post. 

But for now get started with 

Zita the Space Girl by Ben Hatke

Many thanks to Cathy Mere (@CathyMere) at Reflect & Refine: Building a Learning Community and Many Robek (@mandyrobek) at Enjoy and Embrace Learning for hosting  #pb10for10, a fabulous celebration of picture books!