What Are You Reading? (103) #IMWAYR – July 13, 2014
Thanks to Book Journey for starting this whole thing!Thanks also to Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers for their focus on Children’s Literature of this meme!Please like The Chronicles Of A Children’s Book Writer Facebook page!Daydreams & Fairy Tales: A Collection of Words and Images (Inspired by Mariah Carey’s album Daydream) will be available as an e-book October 3, 2014! (This is a picture of my notebook for it, not the cover!)
If you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!
This week, I posted:
–Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Wednesday– Read my review for Jubilee!: One Man’s Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace by Alicia Potter, Illustrated by Matt Tavares [***]
–Celebrate This Week– This week I celebrating having one of the best jobs in the world! I asked our customers to write birthday messages for the store’s anniversary and compiled them to surprise my boss with!
Drop It, Rocket! by Tad Hills [**]- Rocket is such an adorable character. I think kids will enjoy his adventures in this new leveled reader format!Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Illustrated by Pauline Baynes [****- My Pick of the Week]- I definitely haven’t read this before. It was a great return to Narnia- and I highly encourage reading the books in publication order. You get the feeling of being thrown into the middle of things and there’s a sense of excitement in trying to figure out how things fit together. So much more adventure than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And, to me, the religious overtones were more apparent here. I wasn’t really bothered by them. In fact, I think it’s great to believe wholeheartedly in things- as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.Julia, Child by Kyo Maclear, Illustrated by Julie Morstad [**]- A charming story about friendship and the wonderfulness of being young inspired by the life of Julia Child. Cute illustrations.My Pet Book by Bob Staake [*]- I like the concept of having a pet book and I enjoyed the lively illustrations but the writing left me uninspired.I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, Illustrated by Frank Morrison [**]- Music is all around in this picture book featuring a multicultural cast. This might be a good read aloud with two or more people!The Day I Lost My Superpowers by Michael Escoffier, Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo [**]- A sweet enough story that might make a great daughter-to-mother gift. The illustrations are more winning than the story.
Rating Scale
*= It was OK
**= Liked it
***= Recommended
****= Highly Recommended
*****= Favorite
I’m hoping to finish Shelby Bach’s Of Giants and Ice for my work’s Family Book Club and another Narnia novel- plus, at least one non-fiction picture book!
I hadn’t heard about the Drop It Rocket book. I have the other two Rocket titles. I am a Narnia fan and have been ever since reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as a kid I loved it so much that when I grew up, I bought a large wardrobe for my children’s room so they could have imaginary adventures in Narnia. C. S. Lewis was a fascinating and very complex person.
I’m going to pick up My Pet Book at the library today. I’ve seen mixed reviews for it. You love it or think eh. I read I Got the Rhythm this week too. Cute. I can see kg classes bopping around to it!
Thanks for some great recommendations, Earl. I have a daughter heading to college in August. I’ll check out the Superpowers book for her, as well as some of the others on your list.
Yes, I absolutely agree with you about reading the Narnia books in publication order! Confused my students so much when I insisted the numbers on the books were “wrong,” but it really makes much more sense that way.
I don’t read kids books for my blog, but I will look out for your book when published. I like that you have worked or volunteered at libraries and bookstores. I used to be the childrens/YA department manager at Books A Million back in the day after I left my assistant teacher position. Fun atmosphere!
Rocket does indeed look adorable! I love the old-time feel of the cover for ‘Prince Caspian’! I hope you enjoy all of your books! Thanks for sharing 🙂 My Monday post
Juli @ Universe in Words
I’m with you, the Chronicles of Narnia need to be read in Publication Order not the reorganized order that Scholastic has them in. Have fund with Caspian.
Hi there Earl. I just borrowed Jubilee based on your NF Wednesday recommendation. Can’t wait to read it for our current reading theme. Julia, Child looks delightful too. I remembered reading the entire Chronicles of Narnia with my former reading group with young gifted readers – and we discussed the whole series in one sitting, that was a blast.
I love, love, love, the Narnia series. They were books that I read and re-read throughout childhood into my teens and even as an adult I read them aloud with my children, though I don’t think I read all of the series to them. Reepicheep is so awesome.
![Jubilee!: One Man's Big, Bold, and Very, Very Loud Celebration of Peace by Alicia Potter, Illustrated by Matt Tavares [***]](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/jubilee.jpg)
![Drop It, Rocket! by Tad Hills [**]- Rocket is such an adorable character. I think kids will enjoy his adventures in this new leveled reader format!](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dropit.jpg)
![Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Illustrated by Pauline Baynes [****- My Pick of the Week]- I definitely haven't read this before. It was a great return to Narnia- and I highly encourage reading the books in publication order. You get the feeling of being thrown into the middle of things and there's a sense of excitement in trying to figure out how things fit together. So much more adventure than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. And, to me, the religious overtones were more apparent here. I wasn't really bothered by them. In fact, I think it's great to believe wholeheartedly in things- as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/pc.jpg)
![Julia, Child by Kyo Maclear, Illustrated by Julie Morstad [**]- A charming story about friendship and the wonderfulness of being young inspired by the life of Julia Child. Cute illustrations.](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/julia.jpg)
![My Pet Book by Bob Staake [*]- I like the concept of having a pet book and I enjoyed the lively illustrations but the writing left me uninspired.](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/pet.jpg)
![I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, Illustrated by Frank Morrison [**]- Music is all around in this picture book featuring a multicultural cast. This might be a good read aloud with two or more people!](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/rhythm.jpg)
![The Day I Lost My Superpowers by Michael Escoffier, Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo [**]- A sweet enough story that might make a great daughter-to-mother gift. The illustrations are more winning than the story.](https://thechroniclesofachildrensbookwriter.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/superhero.jpg)
The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer - Earl Dizon 
I can’t wait to get my nephew “The Day I Lost My Super Powers” LOVE IT!
I hadn’t heard about the Drop It Rocket book. I have the other two Rocket titles. I am a Narnia fan and have been ever since reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as a kid I loved it so much that when I grew up, I bought a large wardrobe for my children’s room so they could have imaginary adventures in Narnia. C. S. Lewis was a fascinating and very complex person.
Ooooh! I’ve never seen that Julia Child book before! I must read it!!! 🙂
I’m going to pick up My Pet Book at the library today. I’ve seen mixed reviews for it. You love it or think eh. I read I Got the Rhythm this week too. Cute. I can see kg classes bopping around to it!
Thanks for some great recommendations, Earl. I have a daughter heading to college in August. I’ll check out the Superpowers book for her, as well as some of the others on your list.
Nice bunch of books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Great books, I see many that are in my pile to write reviews on
Yes, I absolutely agree with you about reading the Narnia books in publication order! Confused my students so much when I insisted the numbers on the books were “wrong,” but it really makes much more sense that way.
Welcome to the IMWAYR meme and to the world of blogging! Such a great community!
I don’t read kids books for my blog, but I will look out for your book when published. I like that you have worked or volunteered at libraries and bookstores. I used to be the childrens/YA department manager at Books A Million back in the day after I left my assistant teacher position. Fun atmosphere!
Rocket does indeed look adorable! I love the old-time feel of the cover for ‘Prince Caspian’! I hope you enjoy all of your books! Thanks for sharing 🙂
My Monday post
Juli @ Universe in Words
I’m with you, the Chronicles of Narnia need to be read in Publication Order not the reorganized order that Scholastic has them in. Have fund with Caspian.
That Julia Child book looks so good – I did so love her, and still use her cook books.
Indeed, the Julia, Child book looks delicious–I’ve just ordered it!
Just read The Day I Lost My Superpowers, great illustrations! Happy reading week your way!
Hi there Earl. I just borrowed Jubilee based on your NF Wednesday recommendation. Can’t wait to read it for our current reading theme. Julia, Child looks delightful too. I remembered reading the entire Chronicles of Narnia with my former reading group with young gifted readers – and we discussed the whole series in one sitting, that was a blast.
I love, love, love, the Narnia series. They were books that I read and re-read throughout childhood into my teens and even as an adult I read them aloud with my children, though I don’t think I read all of the series to them. Reepicheep is so awesome.