What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR – January 20, 2013

Thanks to Book Journey for starting this whole thing!

Thanks also to Teach Mentor Texts for their focus on Children’s Literature of this meme!

If you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!

I posted about International Book Giving Day earlier in the week. It sounds like a really cool idea. Who’s participating in it?

I had a pretty good reading week. I read lots of timely books and books for work and books for my A to Z Picture Book Series Reading Challenge.

-Anton and the Battle by Ole Konnecke [*]- This was on display at the store. Very reminiscent of “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” which is to say I enjoyed it. The illustrations were quite charming! Looking through my old reading logs, I realized I had read another of his books “Anthony and the Girls.” I’m trying to find “Anton Can Do Magic.”

-An Awesome Book of Thanks! by Dallas Clayton [*]- The second book in the author’s “Awesome Book” series wasn’t as bad as the most recent one (“An Awesome Book of Love!”) but not as good as the first (“An Awesome Book!”). An interesting note was that this was published through Amazon.

-The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin, Translated by Elisa Amado, Illustrated by Rosana Faria [*]- January is National Braille Literacy Month. This was a book that has been often requested at work. This offered a unique reading experience with its vivid descriptions accompanied by Braille text and raised-line illustrations.

-Harry the Dirty Dog
-No Roses for Harry!
-Harry by the Sea
-Harry and the Lady Next Door
By Gene Zion, Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham [**]- One of the best things about Reading Challenges is finding books I normally wouldn’t have read. And this series has been a wonderful discovery. I love Harry and I can’t wait to recommend him to our customers.

-The Bored Book by David Michael Slater, Illustrated by Doug Keith [*]- This wordless picture book is a fun reminder of what can await anyone who picks up a book. I ran across this title on an #IMWAYR post.

-Polar Bear Night by Lauren Thompson, Illustrated by Stephen Savage [*]
-Polar Bear Morning by Lauren Thompson, Illustrated by Stephen Savage [*]
-Little Tug by Stephen Savage [**]
Stephen Savage is coming to our store. I wasn’t familiar with his name but he did a fun wordless picture book called “Where’s Walrus?” I love his illustrations- very smooth and almost retro. I wanted to familiarize myself with his other works. “Little Tug” was my favorite of the three books I read this week. It’s probably because he wrote it as well. It’s a cute story perfect for bedtime.

-I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr., Illustrated by Kadir Nelson [**- My Pick of the Week]- January 15th was Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. It’s been awhile since I read his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in its entirety. It’s as moving and powerful now as ever before. This book with Kadir Nelson’s lush illustrations is a great example of how picture books are sometimes works of art.

-My Bookstore by Ronald Rice (Editor) [**]- I love books about books and bookstores. Every time I read a new chapter, I was inspired to be a better bookseller.

My Rating Scale
X= Skip it!
*= Liked it
**= Recommended

I’m reading Sherman Alexie’s “Ten Little Indians” since it’s the community-wide reading project pick. Already, I’m loving it.

Happy Reading everyone!