What Are You Reading? (127) #IMWAYR – December 28, 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!

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This week, I posted:

-Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Wednesday- Read my reviews for:

A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Ines by Pat Mora, Illustrated by Beatriz Vidal [***]

Saturn Could Sail by Laura Lyn Disiena and Hannah Eliot, Illustrated by Pete Oswald and Aaron Spurgeon [***]

-We Give Books: Christmas 2014- Read my review for:

12 Days of Christmas by Rachel Isadora [***]

–Celebrate This Week– This week, I’m celebrating Christmas!

–To Be Read 2015– I created a list of 52 titles I want to read (excluding picture books) in 2015.

Betty Goes Bananas by Steve Antony [***]

This is a hilarious story of a gorilla who finds a banana that she can’t figure out how to open. I was hesitant to read this at first but now find I will be recommending this a lot!

And Away We Go! by Migy [**]

This was recommended to me a lot. I thought it was cute and I liked the illustrations more than the text actually.

Winter Walk by Virginia Brimhall Snow [**]

I had thought this was a companion book to a book I liked but wasn’t. This has beautiful illustrations though and I liked how the colors popped out on every page. Instructions on how to make a paper snowflake and a pine cone bird feeder- as well as some fun winter trivia- can be found at the end of the book.

Rocket’s 100th Day of School by Tad Hills [**]

Another beginning reader addition to the Rocket series finds him having to bring 100 special things to school.

Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light [***]

For some reason, I thought this was a sequel. And, for some reason, I didn’t want to read it. But I’m glad I actually read it because it’s a sweet story about siblings and creativity.

Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think this series is something that kind of has diminishing returns of enjoyment the more they put out. I thought the first book was super cute and have given it out as gifts. While the message is cute and the illustrations still bring on the nostalgia, I really hope this is the last one!

View all my reviews

The Girls of Gettysburg by Bobbi Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Three very different girls. Three very different circumstances. One day will change their lives forever.

Using lots of research, Bobbi Miller crafts multiple storylines taking place around the battle of Gettysburg. One is a slave girl. One is a girl from a well-to-do family. One is a girl posing as a boy to become a soldier.

I think readers will enjoy reading a side of the war they may not have been familiar with and most likely will find something they relate to with the characters.

View all my reviews

Nickel Bay Nick by Dean Pitchford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An eleven-year-old boy from a broken family and a depressed town lashes out by vandalizing other people’s properties and stealing with his other no good friends. After one close call from the cops, he finds himself working for his mysterious neighbor. Suddenly, he’s part of a secret that he’s not sure he can handle.

This festive middle grade novel is sure to charm readers who crave adventure and mystery with a touch of heart.

View all my reviews

Rating Scale
*= It was OK
**= Liked it
***= Recommended
****= Highly Recommended
*****= Favorite

I’m hoping to read my final Must Read in 2014 title- Christopher Pike’s Black Knight!

Have a great reading week!