Thursday, August 10, 2017

#PB10for10 My 2017 Favorites (So Far...)

PB 10 for 10

     Yippee! It's time for Picture Book 10 for 10! The time of year when my Amazon account cheers more than usual...
     In June, I presented at the Iowa Reading Conference in Ames (Go Cyclones!). I tied my presentation to my #MustRead2017 theme "20 + 17". During my presentation, titled 20 + 16 and 20 + 17, I shared my favorite 20 chapter books copyrighted in 2016 and 20 from 2017, and also shared my favorite 16 picture books from 2016 and 17 picture books copyrighted in 2017. Being the nerd I am, I decided to use the same theme for my Picture Book 10 for 10. However, I had a REALLY hard time taking my 17 favorites from 2017 down to 10!
     So...I present to you "My 2017 Favorites (So Far...)."

Disclaimer: my list is in ABC order for no reason other than I am a nerd.


33376257
Highly anticipated on 10/3. Even though I haven't read it yet, I had to add it to my favorites!

32333289
Anything by Melissa Stewart is a winner!

30812543
Love this! And the vocabulary is so yummy besides! Can't you just hear Sir French Toast's voice in your head?

31491773
Also highly anticipated - next week! I am a huge Aaron Reynolds fan, so of course I just had to include it even though I haven't read it yet.

31215005
This absolutely cracks me up! Who ever imagined a book would be written about Rock Paper Scissors, right?

32080176
I ran across this book totally by accident at my awesome public library. My students requested I read it several times for Book-A-Day. Love the dumb humor!

32204108
What can I say? Love Jess Keating!

34608694
Excellent!

33120612
Wonderful adaptation of Wonder!

32622462
Awesome! Anxious to share this with my students since Pink is for Blobfish was one of the most highly requested read-alouds in my class.


     My apologies to all of the great books from 2017 that I didn't include...

Until next time,
Jill


Monday, August 7, 2017

It's Monday! What are you reading?


     Boy, it's been a crazy couple weeks! It's amazing how much reading one can do in the car and in the middle of the night when I can't sleep after doing lawn work and landscaping all day (think maybe I'm getting too old for that...). I've done some impressive "edge reading" since my last post! 😊

17265216
I can't believe I haven't shared this with my students! I have to admit I'm not a Star Wars fan (now the original Star Trek TV series we'd be talking) but I really enjoyed this. I ended up ordering the rest of the series. I already have a couple of my returning multiage students in mind!

  26150423       30407983
The Hilo series has been a fun read! It is sure to be popular in my classroom. Anxiously awaiting book 4...

32711677
I think the Stick Dog series is so clever! The latest installment does not disappoint. I just cracked up at the whole Halloween and trick-or-treating premise!

29102803
Cute, cute! I have a feeling this series is going to be popular. Book 2 comes out next week!

28954126
Wow! What a fabulous read! Since this was my first book by Jason Reynolds, I'm on the search for more...This is a definite addition to my #MustRead2017 "+17" Additions.

My Adult Reads...

18079815     22459697     The Night Is Watching (Krewe of Hunters, #9)
All three of these were winners! River Road was oh, so good, and I can't get enough of Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series! (I even listened to River Road the same week I finished it! I know, weird...)

Currently listening to...

Phantom Evil (Krewe of Hunters, #1)
I'm revisiting the first book in Heather Graham's Krewe of Hunters series. I've caught myself cracking up and smirking at the narrator for this one! My Amazon Audible credits have really come in handy the past two weeks - I think I'm on my fourth audio book while doing lawn work and landscaping...

And currently reading (in the middle of the night)...

32063475
So far, Heather Graham has nailed it again - #21 in her Krewe of Hunters series (new in June). Thinking I might finish this tonight...looking forward to #22 as well!

     Unfortunately, summer is winding down while my TBR pile keeps growing. Too many books and not enough time!

Until next time,
Jill


Monday, July 17, 2017

#IMWAYR 7/17/17


     Oh, what a great week of reading I've had! I can't wait to share!


23735609
I can't believe I missed this! (I'm always a little late to the party...) Hilo "crushes" it - full of humor, adventure, and friendship. Anxious to read Book 2 and 3! (they're on order 😊)

32623541
I think my students are really going to enjoy this one! OK, I have to admit that I just don't "get" video games (my kids call me a book nerd...), but this was a fun read.

32614258
This was absolute and pure book love! Everyone needs a Miss Millie in their life...Oh, so good! I will definitely be adding this to my #MustRead2017 "+ 17" Additions.

My Adult Reads...

15096138 17161789 16100083
 18896844 25596593 
I came across Kendra Elliot's Bone Secrets series on Kindle Unlimited. Oh man! I could not quit! (I read the series straight through in a couple of days.) Scary, thrilling, and full of twists and turns. I'm anxious to check out some of her other books.

Currently listening to...

29429938
I am not a very good listener, so I've found that the only way I can listen to a book is to listen to one I've already read. Seems kind of silly, doesn't it? I really think a good narrator can make all the difference. I'm really enjoying revisiting this one while I do lawn work at home and at my husband's business.

And from Book Club (at my fab public library)...

104189
We just finished this one today. It stimulated some interesting discussions, but I'm not really sure yet what I think of this book...Participating in Book Club has definitely expanded my reading!

     I'm anxious to jump into some more great reads this week! Just not sure what I'm going to be picking up first...

Until next time,
Jill



Monday, July 10, 2017

MidSummer Favorite Reads

MidSummer Favorite Reads

     I originally thought that our summer would be a bit slower this year, since our son graduated last year and that meant no baseball four nights a week with weekend tournaments. I'm not sure where I got that idea! Even though we're still as busy as ever, I've done some great reading. 
     Here are my favorites of the summer so far...

33552866
Get your popcorn and M&M's ready! Five star standing ovation! Jennifer and Matthew Holm have done it again. I will be adding this to my #MustRead2017 "+ 17" Additions.

33198190
Cleopatra rocks - and so does her hair! This is my favorite book in the series. I really enjoyed the underlying theme of friendship.

32671969
This is genius! Great collaboration by some awesome graphic novel writers that put an interesting spin on detention. I will also be adding this to my #MustRead2017 "+ 17" Additions.

16059396
Oh so good! The title says it all - I could not put this down! I'm anxious to read more by this author. This is on the Iowa Teen Choice Award list for 2017-18.

31193387
Another winner from Kwame Alexander. I loved the snipets about famous athletes and the inspirational quotes. This will also be added to my #MustRead2017 "+ 17" Additions.

29102867
So creepy yet so intriguing! I think this series is going to be a hit in my classroom. Yet another book to add to my #MustRead2017 "+ 17" Additions.

     Hopefully you have had a chance to enjoy these as well, or at least move them to the top of your TBR pile...

Until next time,
Jill

Sunday, April 9, 2017

#MustReadin2017 Update

20 + 17 Update

     I've had a great four months of reading! I've actually read more adult books the past couple of months than I have in several years. Even with that and our crazy, busy schedules with school activities, I have made some progress on my #MustReadin2017 list. I'm anxious to share!
     I had organized my original list with "20" books that included eight 2016 carry-overs and twelve new 2017 additions. I had also allowed for "17" books that I knew I would come across during the course of the year that I would want to add to that list. 
     Here's my progress so far...

From my "2017 New Additions" list...
     (4 out of 12 completed)

30652374 
I love clever and quirky characters, and Audacity Jones fits the bill. She returns in this second book to help thwart a plot against Harry Houdini.

25688993
Oh so fun! A quirky kid detective that one can't help but love! This is the second book in the series.

29102915
The third book in the series and another crazy Friday Barnes adventure!  I would have loved this series as a kid. 

30038935
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Castle Glower series and the conclusion does not disappoint. I love the premise that Castle Glower is "alive."

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to anything on my 2016 Carry-Overs list...

"+ 17" Additions...
     (3 out of 17 added)

27431021
Oh my gosh! This series is SO funny! The Bad Guys try so hard to change their image that it is often a comedy of errors. More to come out this spring and summer...


29241315
A fantastic story of courage and bravery during World War II.

27414384
A truly heartwarming story of friendship and unconditional love. Everyone deserves to have a Bertha and Gus in their life! Book love!

I'm looking forward to some more great reads!
Until next time,
Jill

Sunday, March 12, 2017

It's Monday! What are you reading?


     First off, I must apologize. In my prior #IMWAYR posts, I neglected to give credit to Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts for hosting #IMWAYR. The meme has been a great resource and inspiration to me, so I'm hoping to pay it forward just a little.
     
Recent great reads...

                                                         27431021
Oh my gosh! This series is SO funny! The "Bad Guys" try so hard to change their image that it often becomes a comedy of errors. Booklove!

From my #MustReadin2017 list...

30038935
I have thoroughly enjoyed the Castle Glower series and the conclusion does not disappoint. I love the premise that Castle Glower is "alive." 

30652374
I love clever and quirky characters, and Audacity Jones fits the bill. She returns in this second book to help thwart a plot against Harry Houdini.

And even some adult reads...

140089
I got started watching the Aurora Teagarden mysteries on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel, so started reading the series by Charlaine Harris (in order, of course). Roe is a quirky, sometimes naive part-time librarian that always "figures it out" in the end. Dead Over Heels is my favorite in the series of the five that I have read. Anxious for the movie next week!

28957262
Oh wow! This sucked me in from the beginning and did not let go until the end! Ara Zuyev is a bodyguard who ends up working with tough guy FBI agent Luke Patrick when her teenage charge is kidnapped. Supposedly will become a series...

Up this week...

22546584                                 31193387 
       Can't go wrong with anything by Kwame Alexander!

Can't wait for some more great reading!

Until next time,
Jill