Reading Teacher Writes

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Category Archives: IMWAYR


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IMWAYR: Book Birthdays and Re-Reads

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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Physical Books – New: Happy Book Birthday to John Schu and Lauren Castillo! It’s FINALLY here! This Is a Story is a long-awaited picture book for celebrating readers and reading. I was lucky enough to see this one before it publishes tomorrow. Look at this cover! (That’s how I hold new books – I hug them!) There’s even a poster on the inside of the jacket. Share this story with all your friends and family!

T.P. Jagger is in town! My author friend came to visit for a few days and meet students from our district’s elementary schools. We are having so much fun talking about writing (secret tips!), reading, and T.P.’s series, Hide and GEEK. These four friends – Gina, Edgar, Elena, and Kevin (the GEEKs) – are having adventures and solving mysteries and our readers love the series! In the first book, the GEEKs try to save their town as the famous toy factory that manufactured the Bamboozler is shutting down. In the second book, someone is trying to say the GEEKs are frauds! What? (You’ll have to read and find out.)

NetGalley and Libro.fm: I’m still reading Dear Medusa and listening to Finally Seen. These books are keeping my attention even though I just started a very busy week.

It’s MONDAY! What are YOU reading?

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IMWAYR: Many Book Birthdays!

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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Physical Books: I love celebrating book birthdays! I read Dan Santat’s graphic novel/memoir, A First Time For Everything, before meeting him recently at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, IL. He is so kind! I got my Fanta sticker and a signed book, which is already moving along at school. This week (tomorrow) there are four (4) notable middle-grade book birthdays! Rosewood: A Midsummer Meet Cute by Sayantani DasGupta, Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt, and Change the Game: A Graphic Novel by Colin Kaepernick (all from Scholastic Press).

Libro.fm: I’m still listening to Finally Seen by Kelly Yang. I haven’t been in the car much, so I’m not finished yet.

NetGalley: I haven’t started Dear Medusa yet, but I will this week.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Care for the Planet and Each Other

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s been busy at school (wrapping up 3rd quarter soon) and I’ve been stressed about book banning and climate change. What can I do to relax? I can read. I’m finishing Half Moon Summer (so good!) by Elaine Vickers. I love the way the alternating chapters flow between prose and poetry. I love the characters Drew and Mia and how they get closer as the plot moves forward. I’m not a runner, but I can see how running can be a vehicle for dealing with life.

Physical Books: There are so many picture books out there and they are all so wonderful. I’ve been spending time building text sets for different projects and these three are perfect for “world perspectives.” I read 9 Kilometers (math friends need this one!) by Claudio Aguilera and Gabriela Lyon, translated by Lawrence Schimel (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2020), We Are Human Animals (social studies teachers – pick this one up!) by Rosie Haine (Eerdmans Books, 2023), and Border Crossings by Sneed B. Collard III and Howard Gray (Charlesbridge, 2023) — just gorgeous, yet heartbreaking.

I am rereading Haven Jabobs Saves the Planet by Barbara Dee to add a middle-grade book to this text set. I love Barbara Dee’s characters! Yes, you, too, can help save the planet. (My copy is at school, so I used the Goodreads image here.)

Libro.fm: I FINALLY had some time to start listening to Finally Seen by Kelly Yang. I’m at chapter 7 and loving it!

NetGalley: I finished The Gray by Chris Baron (such a special book – Chris Baron makes me laugh and cry every time!) and I’m on to Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole (how can one resist that cover!).

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: A Day Off To Read

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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It’s President’s Day, and since I don’t really celebrate ALL the presidents, I spent time traveling and reading today. Here’s what I finished since last week: We Are Here, This is a Story, When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left, I Am Ruby Bridges, Frozen Peaches, and A First Time for Everything. There are SO MANY excellent titles coming soon. These are all on my list to celebrate!

Up next! More #AuthorFriendsRock sharing with #booksojourn! Thank you!

Physical Book: Half Moon Summer by Elaine Vickers. This one looks intriguing. The two main characters’ chapters are written in alternating prose (Drew) and poetry (Mia).

Libro.fm: Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life by Jerry Pinkney and narrated by Scott Pinkney and Gloria Pinkney. This one will be special. I’ve always been a fan, but now this book will hold more meaning for lots of us readers, I’m sure.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Enjoying the Reading

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I’m not feeling very well after a long week last week and a busy day today, but I AM enjoying my reading time. There are so many books coming in 2023! Here’s another one…

Coming in April from Scholastic Focus, this nonfiction text by Deborah Hopkinson is worthy of more than one shout-out! I have several students who will be sharing our library copies after spring break. (See my Book PREview about Race Against Death.)

It’s MONDAY! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Aftermath of LibLearnX (It’s a GOOD thing!)

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I had such a great time at #LibLearnX23 and I learned so much about books, authors, stories, and awards. This week I start a new phase of reading I named “The Aftermath of LibLearnX.” Don’t worry! It’s a GOOD thing! I have more to read and share!

Since I cannot read EVERYTHING all at once, I chose a few books this week that I know I need right now.

Physical books:

We are Here by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier (Orchard Books, 2023). A beautiful companion for All Because You Matter.

This is a Story by John Schu and Lauren Castillo (Candlewick Press, 2023). This is a School author and illustrator, and my friends, team up again for this heartwarming story.

I Am Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges and Nikkolas Smith (Orchard Books, 2023). Ruby Bridges is a legend and Nikkolas Smith illustrated the picture book, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water. Perfect!

When Things Aren’t Going Right, GO LEFT by Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds (Orchard Books, 2023). Peter H. Reynolds is known for his art and positive spirit and this new picture book is FABULOUS. I love the endpapers here.

(You know me: “Picture Books Are Perfect for Middle School.” I will be sharing these with students this week…and beyond!)

You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory by Ruta Sepetys (Viking, May 2023). This will be perfect to share with our middle school writers who are working on narratives right now.

Opinions and Opossums by Ann Braden (Nancy Paulsen Books, May 2023). I cannot wait to read another story by Ann Braden! We loved Flight of the Puffin and this one looks just as good. Don’t you love the cover?

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat (First Second, February 2023). I finished this and I’m telling you, this one will win awards. This book fully embodies the youth experience: a perfect commentary on middle school, travel, and life itself. (And now I want some Fanta Draft Root Beer.) Newbery 2024? (Colby Sharp, my Nerdy Book Club friend, is predicting already.)

NetGalley: I’m still reading Frozen Peaches — I’ll finish it tomorrow. I love this series by another Nerdy Book friend, Erin Soderberg Downing. I think I would love the Ice Hotel in Sweden, even though I don’t like winter.

Libro.fm: I’m not listening to anything right now, but I downloaded Finally Seen by Kelly Yang and I’ll start that soon. She’s an amazing storyteller and a lovely human.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: ARCs From #LibLearnX23

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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I am honored to be in New Orleans, LA for the #LibLearnX23 conference (ALA’s newest winter offering). I filled two full boxes and sent them home today, but I’m keeping a couple of titles out because I know I’ll read them at the hotel and on the plane. I’m still listening to Apartment 713, too.

Libro.fm: Apartment 713 by Kevin Sylvester is sooo good on audio! Kevin is a fantastic read-aloud voice!

NetGalley: The Gray by Chris Baron is fabulous! I’m over halfway through and I’m loving the characters and the horses. The “Gray” is a place inside the mind of Sasha, the main character, but Mr. Baron also uses colors throughout the book to set up metaphors and show the reader the mood of the setting. (Teachers: check out your state standards of reading literature; I can meet so many standards using this book! I know, it’s not the main purpose of reading, but as a teacher, I will use The Gray, for sure!)

Physical Books: At the conference, I picked up two books I’ve been looking forward to: Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat. I will need multiple copies of these books on our library shelves, I can tell already.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

By the way, the Youth Media Awards 2023 announcements were today and I, apparently, need to read more! I hadn’t even heard of the Caldecott or Newbery Medalists before! Time to catch up!


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IMWAYR: Winter Days, Hot Reads

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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When it’s cold and dreary, there’s nothing better than reading time with a hot cup of cocoa and some hot (excellent) books. Here’s what I read this past weekend and what I’m reading this week:

Libro.fm: I’m still listening to Apartment 713 and I’m loving it! Kevin Sylvester narrates his own story and I love it when authors read to me!

Physical Books: It’s so nice to hold books and turn pages. I picked up some books I had on my TBR from the past and read them last weekend, and I’m happy I did. Surviving the City, Vol. 1 is a graphic novel I read again after the Book Love Foundation’s study last summer. I wanted to revisit this important middle-grade indigenous story. The People Remember is an excellent picture book! The One Thing You’d Save is a book that didn’t get much attention when it came out, but I would like to book-talk this one again at school. I know students who will love it.

Net Galley: I’ve been looking forward to School Trip by Jerry Craft and Frozen Peaches by Erin Soderberg Downing (the third “Great Peach Experiment” installment – the family travels to the Ice Hotel in Sweden!). These are both on my 2023 “Must-Read” list for school — students won’t be disappointed!

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?


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IMWAYR: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Edition

It’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so I’m home from school, but I’ve been rereading many of my favorite books that encourage action and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision for our country. I read that we should “Remember, Celebrate, and Act” and what better way to ACT than to READ and SHARE our dreams with each other.

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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IMWAYR: January 2023 is Starting Off Successfully

I’ve been reading! I’m continuing A Rover’s Story, Love From Mecca to Medina, and Apartment 713, and I’ve already read some picture books that I wanted to get to in 2022. Here’s a new one you may like and recommend to your readers…

It’s Monday! What are YOU reading?

IMWAYR is a weekly blog hop with kid lit co-hosts Jennifer from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers. The original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a great way to share what you’re reading and get recommendations from others. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs each week.

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