#MustReadin2019 Fall Update

   Thanks to Carrie Gelson of There's A Book for That for hosting a #MustRead group each year for those who continue to create a list of lonely books on shelves or lists that we are excited about when bought or listed, then ignore, or find others that call more loudly.  See the above link to Carrie's blog to find out more!

       I still haven't read them all, but three more since the last update, shown in red. Here's what has happened thus far--ten out of thirteen! Of those recent three, don't miss any! Of course it depends on the genre you love or the age you want to read for. They are all terrific with their own unique stories.

        

Earlier books read are in blue, with links to my reviews on Goodreads.

Mary's Monster - Lita Judge

The Poet X  - Elizabeth Acevedo

Illegal - Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin

Blood Water Paint - Joy McCullough

I Am Still Alive - Kate Alice Marshall

Front Desk - Kelly Yang

Children of Blood and Bone - Toni Adeyemi

Dry - Neal Shusterman

Me And Marvin Gardens - A.S. King

Solo & Swing - Kwame Alexander

Educated: A Memoir - Tara Westover

Becoming - Michelle Obama

Monday Reading - Sharing Great Books

Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who post their favorites. 

       If you are interested, I'm writing a poem a day for poetry month, posting a second post on the days that I share reviews. It's nearly the end!

              


               Thanks to Candlewick Press for the following three wonderful books!

            In addition to Paul B. Janeczko's love of poetry and teaching poetry, he also was highly interested in the secrets of World War II. Earlier, he published 'Top Secret' about codes and ciphers and more recently, 'Double Cross', deception techniques in war. This time, the focus lies on the Twenty-Third Special Troops whose complex and challenging goal was to create camouflage in various areas, sound and sight. Sadly, Janeczko passed away earlier this year, and I am grateful for everything he has written for his readers. Thanks to Candlewick Press for this Advanced Copy, full of details and a celebration of the innovative work done by these smart soldiers. They were sworn to secrecy for fifty years and only recently has the story become de-classified and able to be told. Extensive source notes are given at the back. This will be a terrific book for those interested in the details of this secret war against the Nazis. 

       A boy from New York and a girl from Mexico City are sad as they tell of the things they will miss when they move to the new city their parents have told them about. The girl to New York City, the boy to Mexico City - trading places! In the same brief text (it will be a surprise when reading aloud) the special things and places emerge. One example is: "But what if there is nowhere for me to play in my new city?" shows the boy ice-skating at Central Park and the girl riding her bicycle at Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Forest). Watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil set the stage for more, and begin to show the similarities of the new homes for each. There is also a page for noisy traffic and one for homelessness. 

        The backmatter gives information on both the landmarks the children visit—such as Lincoln Center, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the Museo Nacional de Antropología—and the cultures and issues that surround them. It would be fun also to see a more contemporary book similar to this between city and rural living.

         When it's a wordless picture book, it's time to choose just how much to tell and how much to keep secret. I was fooled by this deception more than once as to my imagined "inside" and/or "outside". The illustrations dare the reader to do just that: What is inside? What is outside? Anne-Margot Ramstein and Mattias Aregui have created an amazing book!

It's Monday - Lovable books

            Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who post their favorites. 

        The winner of the giveaway of Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion is Vicki Wilke!

       If you are interested, I'm writing a poem a day for poetry month, posting a second post on the days that I share reviews.

for Poetry Month - a new book by Laura Purdie Salas

        I've followed Laura's blog for a long time and have enjoyed her books and ideas for teaching poetry, too. Back in 2014, she wrote a poem a day for Poetry Month, I followed along and made a file of each, what she called, 'riddle-ku'. And I used them with students who loved writing their own. Now Laura has created a book of the seasons, just perfect for NOW because it starts with spring. Six riddles are included in each of the four seasons, beautifully clever new ways to see each part of our year and to crack the riddle. You'll need to get the book to discover the "wind bird", what has a "wicked whine", "a crispy crowd of loud crunch" and "knitted twins". Mercè López illustrates with subtle hints in vivid color, manages to show each riddle with beauty, including that gorgeous title riddle, "lion of the sky". I love the varied things that Laura shows in the seasons, not simply in nature, but activities found in them, too. Laura explains Riddle-Ku in an afterword and a list for further reading is also added.

        Except for the book above, Thanks to Candlewick Press for the following books. It's time for babies!

         The origin of Mercy Watson is "extraordinary", and now we have the pleasure of learning it, and how those closest handled it. Mrs. Watson had just expressed concern to Mr. Watson about their ordinary life when Mercy appears. I won't tell the story because you have to read it and delight all over again at the Watson's immediate love for a baby pig, for Eugenia Lincoln's grumpy, no surprise, response, and for Baby Lincoln's good neighbor actions. Hearing the back story of Mercy and those in her life is a wonderful thing to read.