It's Monday, Here's What I'm Reading {12-29-14}

Thanks to Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee from Unleashing Readers for hosting this weekly reading check in.  It is my first check in in a long time (maybe ever???).

This winter break has really helped me reconnect with my reader-self.  One of my goals for 2015 is to read more kid lit.  With amazing book talks flying around on Twitter and in the blogosphere, I know I will be in good hands.

Here's what I've been reading:

A fun story of a young girl who struggles to fit in because she moves around a lot with her mom.  Finally, she and her mom end up living with her uncle and she finds the stability and home that she so desperately wanted.  Through all of this, she uses her writer's notebook as a source of strength and connection as she finally makes a friend in her new home.  This would be a great story to share with a student who is shy and looking for a way to connect with others.

After hearing all the buzz about this book on Twitter, I finally finished it last week.  I love that it is a graphic novel (my first one!) and is a story to perseverance and imagination.  Although there are some things I wish the author would have left out of this book, knowing that children would read it (teachers smoking in the lounge...), I do recognize that it is autobiographical and those things probably did happen back in the 70's and 80's.

Who knew there were so many jobs done by the simple feather?  This is an amazing informational text, packed with fun facts and tidbits.  I know my students will enjoy this one!

This week, I am hooked, hooked, hooked on this book:

There is a lot of award talk going on about this book and I can see why!  I will finish it soon and post next week.

My other goals for break are to read:

Ambitious, I know, but I do have a new goal to work on!  Wish me luck!

What are you reading?

A Journey with Edward

I don't know about you, but TGIW!  This has been the longest week!

As it is Wednesday,it's time to link up with Ideas by Jivey for her Workshop Wednesday.  I have to say that I absolutely LOVE this linky party!  I get so many amazing ideas from reading all of the posts.  Thank you to all who read and all who share!  :)

 

 

This week's topic is our favorite book to read with a small group.  Without a doubt, I would pick my all-time favorite book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.

 



How to describe the plot?  This is the story of a china rabbit who thinks very highly of himself at the beginning of the story.  He says he loves no one and needs no one, not even the young girl who calls him her own, Abilene.   Edward lives a good life, wearing the finest outfits and being treated as a member of Abilene's family.   However, through a series of events that sends him on a downward spiral, out of the arms of Abilene, and through the lives of several different people, Edward comes to realize  that love is what helps us through the tough spots in life.  One of my favorite lines of the story is:

"If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless." (p. 199)

Ahhh....I cry every time I read this story (and sometimes the kids cry too.:)

This book has beautiful illustrations that can be used to make predictions before reading a chapter:

 

Also, this is a great book to use to analyze how a character changes throughout a story.  Edward goes through a DRASTIC change, which is very easy for the kids to analyze and discuss.  I always try to read this book in the fall to discuss characterization and often find myself referring back to it throughout the year.  There is even a Readers Theater script of one of the chapters available at http://www.edwardtulane.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Yny-zUwaGF0=.  How awesome is that???

So take a Journey with Edward and head over to Jivey's blog to read more great book recommendations.  You'll be glad you did!

Happy Reading!