Join Jen from Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers and share all of the reading you have done over the week from picture books to young adult novels. #IMWAYR
This week's post comes from LA. I am currently attending the summer conference of the Society for Children's Writers and Illustrators. If you've read my bio you know that teaching third grade started my writing career because a group my students dared me to write my first book. But what the kids who challenged me and I had no way of knowing at the time, is that the journey to write books also allows me to cross paths and get to know many of the big names in children's literature, before and after they are published. During this conference we've heard keynotes from Drew Daywalt, Pam Munoz Ryan, Jon Klassen, Marie Lu, Neal Shusterman, Jenni Holm, Sophie Blackall - and more! Two of the books in this week's #IMWAYR are by conference faculty and one is by a brand new author whose book doesn't come out until next year.
I also read two amazing books on the way to the conference which I will share with you this week.
Here's what I've read this week:
Picture Books
A well-told biography about the amazing inventor of the Super-Soaker.
A heartwarming story about a boy who has to learn a new way to connect with his grandfather whose memory is starting to fade.
This incredibly fun new ninja book comes out March 2017! I loved meeting the author/illustrator at the conference. The book made me laugh out loud.
Middle Grade
A well crafted and heart warming story about a group of kids whose lives touch briefly on the days before and after 9/11. The book leaves you with a strong message of hope that we still need today.
A beautiful story about how friendship, and a little mystery, can help you move past tragedy.
This incredibly fun new ninja book comes out March 2017! I loved meeting the author/illustrator at the conference. The book made me laugh out loud.
Middle Grade
My summer reading goal stands at 8/10 picture books, 11/10 middle grade, 6 YA, and 1 professional book. As for the writing, I added a new element of conflict to my novel that I hadn't realized I was missing, but I think it's going to work well.
If you like my reading choices, you can check out all the books I've read on Goodreads and please leave me a comment below.
I'm so glad you picked up Whoosh! Don Tate is a local favorite here in Austin; love his stuff, love having him in my library! I will have to look into your other choices as well; I have ninja-lovers in my school. :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't we all :-)
DeleteI just put Whoosh! on hold at my library. I'm looking forward to reading it. I enjoyed Summerlost. I've heard so much about Nine, Ten. I've been putting off reading it because I feel like it will be difficult to read, but the more I hear about it the more I think I really need to just read it.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit worried about that too, and there were some places in the story where my eyes teared in anticipation of something really bad happening to the characters, but Nora Baskin handled everything in an age appropriate way, having the characters come close to the tragedy and learn from the tragedy without experiencing (slight spoiler) any personal loss. It was very well done. Definitely read it (though perhaps not on a plane as I did).
DeleteI wanted a little more about the actual events of 9/11, since our 8th grade does a unit on it, and since the students now weren't born then, they need a lot of background. I liked Towers Falling for that reason. I'll buy Nine, Ten, though.
ReplyDeleteI also want to read Nine, Ten. I have heard so many wonderful things about it. Have to say I'm jealous - I've always wanted to go to that conference. Sounds like such a great opportunity! Thanks for your post!
ReplyDeleteMosquitoes Don't Bite Ninjas sounds like fun. It would be the perfect books to share with all the Olympic athletes in Rio this month!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading Nine, Ten but am also trying to gear up for the emotions that I'm sure it will bring. It's hard to believe that today's kids weren't alive when it happened.