#IMWAYR August 1, 2016

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.

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.