It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? December 9, 2013

As I move into the second week on my new blog, I am excited about participating in the weekly meme, It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Visit Teach Mentor Text and Unleashing Readers to learn more about this weekly reading celebration and sharing event.

My reading life is all over the place right now. I am trying to power-read Nerdy Book Club Award nominees that I have missed before voting opens on December 15th, AND read new books I acquired during the NCTE and ALAN conferences last month. I am enjoying some great books!

Last Week’s Reading Highlights

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake.

As I posted on Twitter,

The Animal Book by Steve Jenkins

I wanted to be a vet for most of elementary school. I am still fascinated with animals. The Animal Book is the type of book ten-year old Donalyn would have pored over–looking at every elaborate cut-paper illustration, reading diagrams, and memorizing facts. A must-own for the animal-lovers in your life.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough, illustrated by Debby Atwell

Anne Carroll Moore and her colleagues were trailblazers who believed in the importance of quality children’s literature and positive reading experiences for children. Through their influence, libraries developed reading rooms and library programs for children. I found this introduction to the early years of children’s library programs fascinating.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

A distracted dad pops around the corner for a quart of milk and finds himself in a battle for the fate of the Universe. Hilarious and odd in all the best ways. I am a huge Gaiman fan. I read everything he writes–adult fantasy like The Ocean at the End of the Lane and Anasi Boys, and his children’s books like The Graveyard Book and Coraline. My students love his books, too. I cannot wait to share Fortunately, the Milk with them! This would make a great short read-aloud for those bleak winter days after holiday break.

This Week’s Reading Plans

I am traveling this week, and I brought a few books with me for company. I look forward to reading and sharing these books!

Dragonborn by Toby Forward