Sunday, May 27, 2012

A Fun Week of Reading, But Busy!




COME VISIT TEACH.MENTOR.TEXTS, WITH JEN AND KELLEE WHO ARE HOSTS OF THIS KIDLIT MEME, FROM PRIMARY TO YA.  CHECK OUT THE LINKS TO SEE WHAT SO MANY ARE READING!

        It's Monday! What are you Reading? is another meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys, a variety of reviews to find even more books for your TBR list. 


It's a special day, Memorial Day.  I hope everyone sends a thought and a prayer of appreciation for all that our military men and women do for us.



A recent quote seen in a newspaper:  My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter.  ~Thomas Helm       
                                                      - Don't you agree?



           I’ve tried to find more time to finish Divergent, by Veronica Roth.  I’m nearly finished, but I’ve had too many other things to do this week.  I may finish late tonight, but cannot review it until it is over.  Those of you who’ve read it probably know what I mean.  I am enjoying it, but will include more response next time.




           I also completed an audio re-read of that sweet, sweet story of a dog and a young woman named Opal who brings a lovely group of lonely people together.  It is Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate Dicamillo; it made my trips to and from work and appointments, etc.  quite a pleasure.  Those of you who live now in a small town or who have lived in one at some time in your lives and who have read the book will understand the connection I made with this.  I lived in a small town until I was in 7th grade, and spent time with eccentric old women (sometimes couples) just visiting, looking at their gardens, eating coffee cake and sweet tea on their front porches, and enjoying their company.  They had stories to tell, like in this book.  I know that others might think it was a little far fetched, but it is not.  There are people like that everywhere.  It’s just that in small towns, we seem to be able to get to know them.  It’s been a while since I read this book, and I’m sorry that I have waited so long.
                                     The Elephant and Piggie books, by Mo Willems
         I’ve seen several references recently about these books and checked 3 from the library for the weekend because I wanted to read them and my 3 year old granddaughter was going to spend Saturday & Sunday with me.  We read them & she was delighted.  Some of the humor was a little above her, but she loved the hilariousness of There Is A Bird On Your Head and understood the My Friend Is Sad because she has a “best” friend in her pre-school, a beginning understanding of friendship and doing nice things for friends.  I Will Surprise My Friend was too subtle, but I can see those children a bit older thinking it was the funniest of the three.  I’ll look up more in the public library.  Mo Willems definitely has a funny bone in his writing brain!
          We stopped at a favorite Indie bookstore, The Tattered Cover, while we were out, and my granddaughter chose another Mo Willems pigeon book, Don’t Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late!  She loves these pigeon books and this was fun for her too, although I’m not sure she wanted to talk much about all the ways she tries to stay up late.
         NEXT:  Lucky Me!  Our library has recently acquired The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger.  Those are at the top of my pile, after Divergent ends.  I’ll download Insurgent after school is over.  

19 comments:

  1. Loved Divergent and remember Because of Winn Dixie with nostalgia, read it to a class once.
    I'm about to embark on The One and Only Ivan also this week.
    Kathryn

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    1. Thanks Kathryn. I'm looking forward to Ivan for sure!

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  2. Love The One and Only Ivan, I pair that beautiful treasure with Wonder by R.J. Palacio as the two books that I'd choose if restricted with two on a desert island...

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    1. Great to hear. I loved Wonder, but some think it was just too nice. However, I like nice/kind/thoughtful, & believe it can happen, like Palacio wrote!

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  3. Ivan was great! I can't wait to read Fake Mustache :)

    In my opinion, Divergent was better than Insurgent (so, if you're not enjoying Divergent, don't bother with Insurgent!)

    Have a great reading week!

    Amanda

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    1. I'm almost at the end, & maybe because of The Hunger Games, I'm not sure it's as good, but I'm reading right along, so? I'll probably find Divergent to read sometime this summer. Glad to hear about Ivan & many have said that Fake Mustache is good, too. Thanks Amanda!

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  4. Oh, with your love of poetry, you will certainly admire the flow of Ivan! And I'm so glad you got to "Because of Winn-Dixie" it is such a charming book, and Opal's voice reminds me in many ways of the main character in "Turtle in Paradise" by Jenni Holm that I just finished this week. Enjoy your week!

    Lorna

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    1. "Turtle" is on my list, but not toward the top. I'm happy to hear a bit about it. Thanks for the poetry connection to Ivan, too, Lorna!

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  5. What a wonderful reading week you had! We love Elephant and Piggie. Divergent was unreal. And I've always enjoyed Because of Winn-Dixie. Enjoy Ivan and Fake Mustache! Both are amazing.

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    1. There were only 3 E & P books at our school library so I've got to go to the public one to see what else is there! I think I'm following in your footsteps/reading path, Katherine!

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  6. We love Elephant and Piggie! Divergent was so amazing. I have The One and Only Ivan on my summer list!

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    1. Wow-the way everyone is talking, we could almost be a reading group! Thanks!

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  7. Linda- Elephant and Piggie is one of my all time favorite series! I have had huge success with everything from preschoolers to my fourth graders, who love them and regularly beg me to buy more! Would love to meet at Tattered Cover for coffee sometime this summer!

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    1. It's such fun to imagine what one can do with those Elephant & Piggie books. I am trying to catch up for the teachers of the younger students, so those books have been on my list for a while. It would be wonderful to meet & talk (& maybe shop) at TC, Carol. Thanks!

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  8. Mo Willems ROCKS! I think you must be a very cool grandma! My own kids and my school kids love Elephant and Piggie books. I just checked out Can I Play Too? In this one Elephant and
    Piggie decide to play catch and their friend the snake asks if he can play too. Hilarious! My kindergarten kiddos were actually rolling on the floor in laughter! Pigeon is also a favorite! I even have a student at school who has begun writing her own Pigeon books! How is that for a mentor text?!

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    1. As you saw above, I'll be looking for more Elephant & Piggie books. This one sounds great, too! How fun about your student & the pigeon. You should write about it on your blog.

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  9. Great book, Linda! Elephant and Piggie are so much fun! My favorite is We Are In A Book, we laugh so hard every time...I end up with tears streaming down my face. Love it. We love the Knufflebunny books by Mo Willems, too. (I cry at the end of Knufflebunny Free...weep, is more like it.) I haven't read Insurgent yet but I have to read it! Can't wait for it to come in at my library.

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    1. Yes, we too love the Knufflebunny books, but Ingrid has them all at her house because it seems they read them all the time! As for all the Elephant & Piggies, I'm now collecting titles! Thanks Jen!

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  10. I lovelovelove going through your planned reads and the books you're currently reading. I haven't done much reading recently since the Asian Festival of Children's Content here in Singapore has positively consumed me. Everything revolves around it. Now that I have a little space to breathe, I'm catching up on your posts and others I've been missing dearly. Find the time to come visit us for next year's AFCC!

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Thanks for visiting!