What Are You Reading (almost) Monday, Currently, & Book Giving

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.


Didn't actually get as much reading as my super long list last Thanksgiving week. Well. Will catch up eventually.

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jan Thomas is like a female Mo Willems.
I mean that she can make simple books funny all with the placement of pretty much eyebrows. Can't wait to give it to my nephew. And make my brother sing it as he reads to him. ;]

Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Ole by Judy Schachner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, I know that he makes a massacre of the Spanish language. And I don't even like cats.
But I like Skippyjon Jones. Can't wait to share it with my niece tomorrow. Plus, with the included CD, I can save my voice for OTHER books. She likes to have people read to her a lot. ;]

A Is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm sorry ... but this just might be my new favorite ABC book.
Joseph the Musk Ox. You need to meet him.
(Though .. it might be confusing to like kinder and first. This is an ABC book for just a tad older crowd who can appreciate the silly jokes. Second or older. Would love to see a student-produced version. Though using a musk ox was so unexpected. What would an equally unexpected animal be?

How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Supe cute. Makes me think of all the times I've seen my dad with my nieces and nephews. I know she can't but it would be fun if she wrote a "How to Babysit an Aunt." Not all of the same jokes would work. But some. And maybe she could think of others. ;]

Going Ape! by Eduardo Bustos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not enough information for much in the way of research ... but for pleasure reading? Awesome. The art is fun (made me want to try mimicking some of the illustrations). The text is, for the most part, easy enough for less proficient readers.
I can see our first graders loving this one in the spring when they talk about different kinds of animals.

Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the illustrations best of all. The story's not a new one ... others benefit from what the first owners think were useless scraps. (I sort of almost wish that the original owners shared ON PURPOSE.) But the frame of the story, with the different animals and such. Cute. And the pictures. Did I mention the pictures?

Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A definite must-get for the school library. Ralph can't think of anything to write about. He thinks of everything he can to avoid writing ... until his potential readers start asking questions.
Plus I love the illustrations. They won't be everyone's style but I love them.
And I relate. I SO have a hard time with writing anything personal! I still remember first grade and some tv show we watched every week about writing. It had a bug in it. And there was a story starter that for homework we had to finish. OH I dreaded that homework!

View all my reviews


The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

Been listening to this on the treadmill. It's a little cheesy but I am liking it, all the same! Plus, now I'll be able to discuss it with kids with more detail.





I will hold off on reading plans since I so rarely seem to follow them, anyway. Other than The Son. Going to finally get to Lois Lowry's new one since it will have to be returned!


I was thinking INSTEAD of library stats on that bulletin board for December sort of adapting Mother Readers 150 Ways to Give a Book.

And last but not least, Farley's Currently. FUN.