#IMWAYR Nov 19 Wundersmith

It's (almost) Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.



The trailer doesn't do the book justice but it's a start. And it's for the Australian Hachette release date.

So have I mentioned before how much I loved Nevermoor? I don't know, it's been so long since I really blogged. But I loved that book. REALLY loved the audio. A little lunchtime audiobook club with some fifth graders has been the daily high point of a hard year. The narrator does such a good job of differentiating all of the different characters and the world building, guys. The world building in this story ... it's amazing. Some compare it to Harry Potter but that's just because it's got the basic archetypes in there. But seriously ... so much to mentally imagine. I read somewhere that it had a movie option before the first book ever released ... but no news since. Movies based on books are hard balances. Books are almost always better but BOY HOWDY it would be cool to see some of this truly up on the big screen. I WANT, WANT, WANT.


Book two Wundersmith The Calling of Morrigan Crow finally released in the US last Tuesday (still waiting on the audio). I went ahead and read it because I was dying to see what would happen next but you can bet I have been checking Audible like every other day just to see when I can finally get that version. Screamed out loud when I saw our district already had book two on pre-order for Overdrive/Sora. I'll still buy it but I'm excited for all the kids. It's a longer one ... similar to Harry Potter. A lot of my students don't stick with books that long anymore ... so it's been fun to see the little book club (it's only 6 kids) get excited about this story. I've talked about the series enough a couple other kids have talked their parents into buying them copies. And our one library copy is always checked out ... but so far no one else has actually finished it. Stamina. I want it for them but you can't force it, you know?

Anyway, between the breaks (we voted and even though I did actually try pushing Lockwood & Co. The Screaming Staircase pretty hard ... they really wanted to wait for book two the Wundersmith) the little book club is going to work on a little project showcasing Nevermoor. We'll see how it works out.


We'll see what else I finish this week. My trainer has me reading Eat Dirt. That sounds fun, doesn't it, right at the beginning of the holidays. Ugh with a CAPITAL U. But stamping my feet in denial doesn't deny the fact that check, check, check pretty much all the issues they talk about are what I've been experiencing. But who wants to totally relearn how to eat? I like pasta. I like bread. I like dairy. I like sugar. But I don't like feeling rotten. Conundrum.

#IMWAYR Aug 21

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

I just flew back this afternoon from my brother's wedding.
Real life reentry ... is not the most fun. Gonna be a long one. Nothing to do but jump in.

Goodbye Days is a YA title I read on the plane. Well written (about a teen who accidentally (?) sends a text while his friends are driving and they have an accident and die) ... and SAD. Gut wrenching. :( Well written but wow :(.

Creepy Pair of Underwear. Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. I cannot read it without laughing myself. Can't wait to share it with kiddos. In fact have planned a Skype chat with nieces and nephews because it was delivered Thursday and I was so beflustered from our first day of PD for the year (more on that later) and packing for the quick trip to the wedding that I didn't bring it with me. I SHOULD HAVE.

Nerdy Birdy. Yes, I read them out of order. SO CUTE. Love this one, too.

Nothing Rhymes with Orange. A good one for the beginning of the year and community building/ reminders for kindness always.

Earth Children are Weird is not really for kids. The art is adorable and I may still share it with the upper level grades as a slightly spooky read aloud but unless their parents have made them watch X Files (and let's face it that is not a kid's show) they won't really get it.

This week? I may get some audiobook hours in but that may be it. Crazy long with BTS stuff and then genius church people scheduled something on Saturday. :/ That's a terrible attitude. I get anything in I will be happy. Is what it is, right? More reading time will come in a week or two.

#IMWAYR Aug 14

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan 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 and Unleashing Readers.

And now to the tortoise goes the race, right? It's not a race. Even though my Goodreads goal was overly optimistic at the beginning of the year. Unless I catch up with a LOT of picture books. Which could still happen. Picture books count when you are a teacher librarian.

Didn't get the other ones I was planning on done. Maybe this week? But I don't know. Lots of school set up then a bit of travel for a family wedding. I'm so weird-ed out ... it's my youngest brother! He's supposed to stay little forever, right? No. He's grown up into such a cool young adult. Haven't met the fiance yet. But little Charlie ... I used to read Harry Potter out loud to him. I pronounced Hermione incorrectly. OOPS!

Nerdy Birdy Tweets would be pretty good for digital citizenship discussions in a classroom, though. Pus he's adorable.

And Gamer Squad #2 was fun! I did a whole post on the two books a couple days ago.

The Gamer Squad Books 1 & 2

The publisher sent me these books to review but I'm glad they did because I might not have picked them up otherwise. Yes, in many ways I might be considered a geek. I love Star Wars and Star Trek and all things tech and sci fi and fantasy. But I don't necessarily love gaming. I think it has to do with my lack of a sense of direction. Truly. I can get lost in my own backyard. The times I've tried to play Minecraft or SW The Old Republic or even Cars Driven to Win my little nephew wanted me to race with him ... I turn around and walk into walls or drive into walls constantly. Can't find my way around the virtual world and never tried the augmented reality world. When there were rumors of a Harry Potter version of a P.Go type game I was ready to get lost as I went "hunting" but that never ended up happening, now, did it. BUMMER.

Puzzle games, maybe. But any other type of video game not so much. So gaming books I might not have picked up without a little encouragement. And they are so fun! I think kids will really like them. The question will be ... do I now give them to a niece or nephew? Or a colleague for their classroom? Or a student?


Book one brings monsters to real life and book two brings aliens to planet earth.

I thought the discussions of coding in book two were actually a nice addition. There ARE kids who know an awful lot about all the coding languages!

I mean, grand classical literature they are not. No huge metaphors for life or beautiful turns of phrase. But you'll laugh. You might bite your nails a couple of times when the main characters are in trouble. And for sure you will recognize student bullies and geeks and "popular" kids as well as kids just trying to navigate the late elementary/early middle school years.
I would say ... fourth or fifth grade? Up to mid-sixth grade. By seventh the books would seem a little young, I would think. A strong third grade reader, maybe, though the second book talks a lot more about "liking" each other, just as an FYI.

Who is this Veratrum Games Corp that keeps releasing these popular pastimes that end up causing so much trouble? That's what I'd like to know. And the teaser for book three's "big baddie" had me hooked.


The author, Kim Harrington, has written several other YA novels and another middle grade series.

#IMWAYR Aug 7

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

Yep. Already slowed down. Is it because I didn't love any of them or because I didn't sleep all that well?

Red Queen #3 continued to surprise. To the point that ... it started to get a little annoying. I will still be there for book #4 this winter because I can't stand not knowing how things end. But seriously. Enough with the pulling the rug out from underneath "me"(ie the main character) EVERY SINGLE STINKING TIME.

Children of Exile #2 a free E-ARC from Edelweiss finished. Not a big fan, actually. Surprised me as I usually enjoy her stuff.

Full Wolf Moon was OK. Supposed real life werewolves in the Adirondacks. I like it when Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston work together the best (I've read some of DP's solo work as well).

Gamer Squad #1 will get it's own post (well, along with #2 when I finish that one!) a little later this week. The publisher sent them to me.

I will finish Mysteries of Cove #3 and Dragonwatch next week. Oh and HP #1 audio (you would think not sleeping well I would be finished ... but I fall asleep and miss enough I have to go back. I just don't sleep well to get stuff done :P). Got far enough to know that. Full Wolf Moon coming in from a hold at the library sort of distracted me from them.I have a few authors that are just auto set to put me on hold for anything the library buys by them. They don't even offer it for every author.

I got Refugee on my Kindle from a bit of credit I got from ... somewhere. Not even sure where, they just said "hey, you have $3 credit" and I used it toward that. So if I can I'll get started on that. Everyone says it's so good.

I don't know if I'll get to And I Rise. The first chapter confused me. Sometimes when it's been a while you forget things about the first book. We'll see. Maybe I have to just get back into the groove of that one. But I should finish the professional reading.

Happy last part of of summer reading to you. Stay cooled off!

#IMWAYR July 31

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

Click on the image to go to Goodreads for a bit more detail. 

The Duck & Goose and There's Nothing to Do! were both E-ARCs coming out later this fall and so cute. I want to get both of them for our school collection. We'll have to see if we have the $$.

Mrs. Smith's Spy School was also an E-ARC. I loved the idea of it but the execution fell a bit short for me. At least in this book one. Maybe book two will tighten things up a bit? It sort of skipped around a little (I thought) for the sake of brevity. It's not necessarily easy to write for kids! You still have to cover bases but you have to do it succinctly! I liked the idea so I'll take a peak at book two.

Hunting Hour was an adult mystery. If you're a dog lover  (or a Lifetime/Hallmark movie lover) then totally give it a shot. Wasn't my cup of tea but I didn't actively dislike it.

I LOVE STAR WARS LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS! They are sort of retro. Like Mary Blair-ish? I'm no expert but that's the vibe they give me. The text to I am a Hero is simple but fine for what it is. The text to the starship one ... did not make my teacher librarian heart happy, as much as my Star Wars heart loved it. No organization to the starship madness. Is that nitpicky? Does there NEED to be organization to a made up non-fic book?

I actually read Children of Exile last week but forgot to put it on here! That's what happens when you read stuff on a short road trip. Totally weird ("Fred town"?) but I will be back. She comes up with some of the strangest premises and yet leaves you totally wanting more!


Still enjoying the Red Queen series. I keep falling for the same things Mare does and getting the rug pulled out from under me. It's so silly ... I actually highlighted several lines in this one. Kindle location 4847 (I wonder what page that is? "“I see you as you could become, no longer the lightning, but the storm. The storm that will swallow the world entire.”) Fits the story. Actually already started book three so that will be on next week's finished pile for sure.


And I finally finished Gears of Revolution. It took me a long time for some reason which is so not fair because I actually really like the series (it was a digital arc that kept getting hidden on my device ... books that are visible on a shelf are easier to keep track of but harder to read. Makes no sense at all, right?). Upper midgrade fantasy with a touch of steampunk. Flying robotic dragons ... to battle real dragons? Book three comes out in early Sept., I think it is?

I hope this will turn into my "Read" list next week. We'll see?! I might be dreaming too big but I want to finish these before back to school gets too crazy.

HAPPY READING!

#IMWAYR July 24

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

I'm ba-ack. Two weeks in a row! And the new glasses, I'm sorry to say (because they are progressive lense bifocals and I wanted to be in denial they were needed), do help. Do you like how I never end up reading anything I was thinking about at this time last week?

Let's see ... how to organize all of these. The top pic links to my most recent Goodreads page. I never write super detailed reviews but there is a little more info there. I keep trying to figure out the best way to share books. Once a week in a big super post makes it hard to go back to later but easier to skim in feeds if that's not really your thing, especially where my choices are pretty eclectic. Dunno.

I'm super late ever talking about The Taxidermist's Daughter and The Impersonator. I think I won them on Goodreads? Both are adult books. Good ... not super great but definitely worth the read. Daughter was little extra gruesome in it's gothicness. And Impersonator predictable. But still both fun mysteries!

All By Myself, Alone is classic MHC. Also formulaic but still fun in fulfilling it's formula. Guilty pleasure popcorn reading.

Orphan Island I actually had as an E-ARC from Netgalley and I finally got it read. It had so many beautifully written lines and yet ... I'm going to say it. Another book that I don't get what the big deal was about. Yes, beautiful lines. But there were SO MANY weird parts and unanswered questions that seriously. Frustration. I need to meet a kid who has read it. What do kids think?

Maud was also an E-ARC from Netgalley. It is a historical fic book based on the life of L.M. Montgomery (author of Anne of Green Gables). I liked it. Not as much as I love Anne but I liked it well enough. It's not going to "convert" someone into enjoying Anne but for an already fan of Anne it's an enjoyable read.

Death on the River of Doubt was a little dry in places but still worth a read. The photos were a nice addition. I wish they could have been printed in a better quality resolution/on better paper but that would have increased the price of the book, I know.

Edge of Everything ... odd. I liked it! But also odd. Didn't really believe in the romance aspect but liked everything else about it. Interesting premise. Demon bounty hunter? I'll be back for part 2.

Red Queen ... late to this one but a page turner!

The Door Before ... is actually a prequel to The 100 Cupboards series but apparently it ties in to another series he wrote that I haven't ever gotten to. Maybe that's why I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the original series? I think it skews a bit higher in reading level (actually more for content than necessarily vocab) also. I liked this one but I liked the original series more, if that makes sense.


So for next week ...

The next two Victoria Aveyard books. Because thanks to Overdrive I already have them on my Kindle.
And I need to finish the second Mysteries of Cove book. Been halfway through it for a while. Not to say I wasn't really enjoying it. Most of last year is just best left behind. But hey! I got the ARC of book three (coming out in September) so a refresh is needed! If you like mid grade fantasy with some steampunk at all this one is fun. The author visited our school and he was so awesome.

I  need a good picture book binge. Our local public library just ... doesn't have very many. A few. But I really just need to head down to B&N again or something. I was only able to stop in for a couple minutes the other day.

If you have any idea what I'm talking about ... Happy Pioneer Day! If not ... oh well. Happy Pioneer Day to you, too. So glad I didn't have to walk across the plains and that treks were not a thing when I was in YW (knock on wood I am not prepared to be a leader! Just saying!).

#IMWAYR July 17

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

And it's been over eight months since I last participated. And I've been in a reading slump. GOING INTO THE SUMMER. How rotten is that? That is supposed to be #bookaday time!

But you know what is helping? Rereading. I almost never ever do that because there are so many books in the world and who has time to read the same thing.

But then again ... if a a book is wonderful ... who has time to NOT read it again. Because life is short and why NOT read an awesome book again?

So. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on audio. JK, thank you for the magic and for providing a place to come home to. Jim Dale, thank you. You got me going again.

So ... three picture books. 

Poor Louie is cutest for the illustrations. If you know of a pet owner that is about to welcome a new baby? Here is your perfect gift. They are the only ones that would HAVE to have it. The rest of us ... maybe. The illustrations are adorable, I will say that. Story ... cute enough. I loved the other one by him ... what was it. The two boys that were bored ... oh, yes. Let's Do Nothing! I Want to be in a Scary Story would make for a fun read aloud in October. Nothing groundbreaking but a definite storytime contender. And of course Nanette's Baguettes. I was just late getting to it. We ran out of budget to order it and I ran out of energy to ever stop at B&N on the way home to look at it. But it's Mo! It's funny! And who can resist a warm baguette. I mean, really.

Three mid grade.

I wish I could write beautiful lines like Kate Beasley (does it run in the family genes?). Like so many beautiful lines I had to work on not coveting writing ability as I was reading. I am curious ... do kids like Gertie? Do they understand her need to connect with a mother that didn't seem to want her? Is it a must order? As much as I loved her sister's Circus Mirandus ... it didn't take off with my students like I wanted it to. :/

Weapon of a Jedi is simple but the rabid Star Wars fan will enjoy it. Guardian of the Whills is more sophisticated (still for kids but much higher than the other) ... that one was my favorite, actually, even though Luke is a longer beloved character. If that makes sense.

As for YA ... Zero Day was totally unbelievable (governor's daughter abducted at 8, returned to now president at 16 ... but with what agenda?) but fun all the same. Think sort of like the tv show 24 ... the most ridiculous things happen and yet you still keep watching/reading. I saw on Goodreads that she does not at this point plan on a sequel and THAT IS NOT COOL. Everland. Interesting. A steampunk version of Peter Pan. I have hopes for the series. There would have been some changes I would have made in the editing... but that is me. I felt like a few things were uneven. That said ... possibilities! If you enjoy dystopians or Peter Pan or retellings give this one a try. Not perfect but interesting.

I'm actually still working on HP. That's a long audiobook. I'd say I don't want it to end but there's always book 2. In terms of mid grade I'm embarrased to admit I've had Orphan Island that everyone is so crazy about for a while now. Dragonwatch? The Door Before? Then for YA maybe Strange the Dreamer? I have that one. Three Dark Crowns or This Savage Song? Super behind ... Red Queen?

Thoughts on priorities? If I start looking at the link up there will be other books I'll want to read!

If I were to even go to Netgalley or Edelweiss ... I'd be embarrassed. I'm surprised they still let me download ARCs. I should see if there are any new ones that I could actually get a decent schedule down. That is what a proper book blogger does!

I need to finish up a couple professional ones as well because as much as I might be in denial ... summer is not going to last forever. As soon as the 4th hits it's feels like wham bam IT'S OVER. Though I know technically I still have at least a couple weeks. Several appointments and such to still get through before then.

#IMWAYR Oct. 24

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

All awesome ones. 

My fave is probably We Found a Hat though Jedi Academy and Hotel Bruce are a close second. I NEED a Bruce "roar"ing t-shirt. It is a NEED and not just a want.

And I Will Not Eat You and The Obsidian Chamber behind that. And President Squid is classic Aaron Reynolds which means it can't be anything less than funny.

All of the pics and Jedi Academy are totally recommended for the elementary crowd!

Today our district took us on a bit of a field trip. We got to tour the Google offices in Austin and see a K-12 education furniture showroom. Fascinating day deserving of another post. That will come later!

#IMWAYR Oct. 3 Lockwood Fangirling and P&E However We Can Get Them

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

Another week where I only finished a couple.

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading 1 & 2 ... as many of you know they are cute. Not stupendous in terms of writing (though the illustrations are top notch), but cute. The Cookie Fiasco is a math lesson on fractions and division. We Are Growing is both a writing lesson on adjectives and a guidance lesson on accepting all regardless of differences. The framing device of Elephant and Piggie at the beginning and end will have to fill the void left by the discontinuation of that series. We get a little bit of the beloved characters.

Chloe on the Bright Side is certainly reflective of many students' everyday lives. Parents break up and kids have to move. New friends can be both good and bad influences. It's not lovely groundbreaking realistic fic like Wonder or Out of my Mind or Rules ... but it's definitely useful in an upper elementary or even lower middle school. I was glad they sent it to me because it's not one I might have picked up otherwise. I usually prefer my fantasies and murder mysteries and set in space stories.


I listened to Lockwood #4 via Audible. If I wouldn't have been driving I would have been bugging all my FB friends sharing funny snippets ... it's just full of sarcastic funny lines. Yes. A ghost hunting book that is funny. I mean, the talking skull has quite a sense of humor when he's not trying to see to the group's demise. Each character adds their own strengths to the group. The hints of more than friendship are stronger in this one but still nothing I'd feel uncomfortable giving a strong reader. Middle school for sure, strong fifth graders no problem, either.


AND THE ENDING. Oh my word the ending. That was just mean, Mr. Stroud! This book is so new and now I have to wait another year!


We'll see what I get to this week. Have several I need to finish.

#IMWAYR Sept 19

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

Just the one! School starting has put a major harsh on my reading time. #thingsthatjustwillnotdo

I read comparisons to Star Wars for this one and I have to say ... bit of a stretch. Can sort of see it but bit of a stretch. That said it was a grand fantasy. The idea of rebel princes could have been overdone but there were some great twists to this one that made it still feel fresh. Upper middle school and high school.


Hoping to finish Cove #2 tonight. That's an upper elem. Get to start Lockwood #4 as my new commute listen tomorrow. Other than that we'll see!

#IMWAYR Sept 6

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

I forgot to put Busy Week Busy Builders on there. Crazy. Will fix it later. Very different titles, no?

School's First Day ... I have to admit confused the kinders I read it to. "The school talks?"

Not So Quiet Library is a good one for a library/book related storytime.

How This Book Was Made ... lots of irony and sarcasm. I plan on reading it to 4th graders.

Hooray for Today! ... I mean, look at that owl. Automatic win.

ALSO EVERY ADULT STAR WARS FAN NEEDS THIS BOOK. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

Still have lots of books I'm in the middle of so when I finish them you'll find out. The second one comes out in a couple weeks. If you like middle grade fantasy/steampunk run to go read the first one right now so you'll be ready. The author visited our school last year. Fabulous.

#IMWAYR The Fog Diver 1&2

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

`

Summerlost is sad. In a good way ... I don't usually like the realistic "make you cry" books but it's beautifully written. I don't know why I keep skimming the Enemy books. I just want to know that the characters are OK! I'm tired of the boily pus covered sort of zombies! I'm not reading them carefully anymore, that's for sure. But the characters are so interesting. Never had a book series that I disliked and yet still liked so much at the same time.

Quiet Power is not one browsers would ever pick up but it's definitely one that could be helpful. I found it interesting reading myself (I've also read the adult version). School IS hard for introverts. To be honest myself included! It's loud and the constant need to be "on" along with the emphasis on speaking up and collaboration. There were some good suggestions for kids. It's not a bad thing to need think time and down time! And for the teacher to recognize needs in their students and make sure to provide other ways to respond. Not all the coping mechanisms would necessarily work for the introverted teacher but we'll see. At least some good ideas for decompressing when I get home!

Now. My favorite. The Fog Diver books. Book 3, when are you coming? (Book 2 is new so I doubt very soon :(.) The series is set in a world covered in nanite fog (tiny computers supposed to clear the air of pollution, but in reality have taken over and humans have been forced to floating airships and the very tops of mountains).

The mix of characters is a merry band. Each adds something different to the story.

Chess can be inside the fog longer than anyone else. Why? 

ALSO THE DRIFT SHARKS AND TICKTOCKS ARE JUST AWESOME. Mental movie was fun. I want a movie version on the screen!

And the drops of pop culture are awesome. I only wrote down one but there were several (Star Wars included! Why didn't I keep track of that?)

"There's a saying of the ancient spidermen: "With great power comes great responsibility." (pg 110)

So. The rest of this week, next week, and a couple days the week after that. Then back to work. It will be fun to see the kids. Not looking forward to the drive back and forth. Or the total lack of natural light. Or the week of less than useful meetings beforehand. But we do it all for the kids. They make it worth it. Plus I got all this cool Star Wars stuff for the library.

I'm not ready to think about what happens three weeks from today. And I'm appalled at the job Really Good Stuff did of packing it (box not wide enough for the poster? Oh, let's just smash it out a little 😒) but I couldn't risk them selling out. Cause as much fun as I have with my gray area clip art this is the real thing! #starwarslibrarian

A photo posted by Angie Oliverson (@msoreadsbooks) on Jul 20, 2016 at 1:09pm PDT

Your School Rocks Thoughts

Again, originally read courtesy of the Kindle Unlimited trial that I ended up upgrading to a six month one with the Prime week specials (just for the PD books because you really have to search to find the good fiction. It's hidden).


Chapter One The Power to Connect / Location 142
"it was time to take back education and lead with our passion for kids and our belief that school should consist of learning and fun."
Learning and fun! Well that's pretty cool.

Chapter Two The Video Newsletter / Location 191 & 199
"educators must do a better job of engaging students' families."
"trading a paper newsletter for a video newsletter is the greatest shift schools can make."
Oh, heavens. Video. Hard. Out of comfort zone. #doIdare

Location 210
"Keep your video newsletter under three minutes. Any longer and you'll lose your audience's attention."
Short and sweet does make it easier.

Location 230
"If kids are telling their parents nothing special is happening at school, that is the parents' perception whether or not it is accurate."
Perception is perceived truth. So we work to change it.

Chapter Four iMovie Movies / Location 419 & 449
"We also use these video messages with our staff to generate excitement and to remind them of our philosophy to make school about learning and fun as we focus on the most important thing: our students."
"Meeting students and parents where they are requires flexibility on your part, the payoff is an engaged community."


Chapter Five Facebook / Location 489 & 504
"Parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents--a large part of the audience schools need to reach--all appear to be flocking to it. If we are not targeting them with our communication, we certainly should be."
"My school's Facebook page currently has 584 likes, so I know when we share information, a photograph or a video, 584 people have that information in their Facebook newsfeed."
Now, that's not entirely true. The algorithms will only show it to a fraction of those people. Viewers have to do more than like the page to actually see all content ... they have to comment and like specific posts. But they all COULD find it if they went to the page. Which is easier to find if they've already liked it.


Chapter Six Twitter / Location 628
"Twitter exposed me to more than I had ever learned in a class or workshop--and created doors to educators, their ideas, and best practices, thereby increasing my personal, professional development in ways I had never thought possible."
Totally true. Why mine don't ... match. When I first joined I just used an old email address from my Spanish teaching days because it was mostly silly pop culture. Then it got much more interesting with authors, illustrators, and fellow educators. By then it was too late to change the handle!


Chapter Eight Instagram Photos / Location 720 & 739
"connecting with 20 percent of our students' families--10 percent of them every day."
"reach potentially one in five of our families by doing ten seconds worth of work, the decision was easy--yes, it is worth it!"
Taking decent pics takes practice, though. And just remembering to do it!

Chapter Eleven Instagram in the Classroom / Location 910
"educators can use Instagram to throw out a hook the night before to excite students about upcoming learning opportunities."
As an elem teacher librarian I'm not looking for student followers ... I know some of them have accounts but those are the exception. But I could see how this would be super powerful for middle and high school, especially with the "hooks" from location 913.


Chapter Fourteen The School Blog / Location 1074, 1097
"I routinely ask them to write blog posts."
"You don't have to be the one to write every post. Invite students, other teachers, even parents to be guest bloggers on your site."


Chapter Sixteen Bringing It All Together / Location 1229
"Just as there is power in a positive phone call or short written note, we are finding the power in positive messages sent through social media. The difference is that social media allows that message to be shared countless times."

#IMWAYR July 11

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Date. 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 and Unleashing Readers.

My Lady Jane was surprisingly funny. My expensive summer obsession with subscription boxes needs to end soon but that one was a great surprise. My sis is getting the book for her birthday. Reuse, right? Is that terrible of me? Unhooked was good but I was a little ... I just thought it could have been MORE. Some really great parts that deserved more elaboration. The Wild Robot. There's a thinker for you. I so enjoyed it (the audio! I still need to see the pics!) but am just really curious as to what kids think of it. Jeff Mack is always funny. I liked the Hug one best but this one was also good. Octicorn was great for being accepting of others that might be a little different. Heaven knows after the past week we could all use more of that.

Still have some PD books to finish. And electronic ARCs. Will have nieces and nephew at the house this week so may not get far on he older stuff. But there will be picture books!

More Star Wars Books

Because, as you know, I LOVE THEM! These are not in chronological order or in order of how much I liked them. Truly just in order of where I copied/pasted them from my Goodreads list. :P

LEGO Star Wars: Small Scenes from a Big Galaxy by Vesa Lehtimaki
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the concept and most of the shots. I wish I 1)had that many SW Legos! And 2)could take decent pictures of them! I like his little asides giving some context to creating the shots. And they are interesting shots.

But I will say that it really seemed like a lot of the shots were barely lit. I mean, I'm all for "dark side ambience" and all but on a fair number of them you can hardly see any details. My personal thoughts, anyway.

Elementary students would look at the pictures for a bit but then lose interest. Middle and high school might be more interested in the behind the scenes explanations.


Star Wars: ABC-3PO by Calliope Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love, love, love the illustrations.
The rhymes ... some of them are quite good. Obi-Wan's, for example. Others seem super forced. And that is not a pun ... just not the best rhymes.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Rey's Survival Guide by Jason Fry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved getting a little more detail on Rey. Will have to think about getting it for school.
The downside is the handwritten script. For a journal it was necessary but it will
make it harder for kids to read.



The Star Wars Little Golden Book Library by Various
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazing literature? No. Fun adaptations of the movie stories? Yes. Super fun illustrations? Yes. A must have for geek fans. An additional purchase for school libraries.




Star Wars: Rolling with BB-8! by Benjamin Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The format of the book (with the spinning cover) is what makes this book fun. The attempt to boil down the high points of TFA into a board book ... well, they're OK. Not great but OK.