If you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to use the hashtag #IMWAYR when sharing your link!
This week, I posted:
–New Releases– Read my reviews for:
–Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge Wednesday– Read my reviews for:
–Celebrate This Week– This week, I’m celebrating Harvey Milk.
[***] A ninja girl meets a sumo boy and they become friends as they practice together to perfect their skills for a festival. Super fun and even includes a mini hide-and-seek plus some “ninja terms” in the back of the book.
[**] This is one of our bestselling books in the store so I finally took the time to read it. And I wasn’t that impressed.
[***] A cute story about sharing. A goat wants the mountaintop all to himself until he realizes how lonely it can get with no friends.
[**] Silly.
[***] This version is told in verse and I was pleasantly surprised by how good and unique this fairy tale retelling was. Fans of Andrea Beatty’s Iggy Peck and Rosie Revere will enjoy this fun read-aloud.
[**] Cute illustrations. Sweet message and concept using die-cut holes to reveal how something that seemingly looks little is actually bigger, better, braver, etc.
[***] A hippo thinks he has a lisp so naturally he goes to the dentist. It then leads to a crocodile going to the dentist as well which leads to a surprising result. A funny read-aloud.
The Fugitive by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It’s probably no surprise if I say that this fifth book in a series about a “kid lawyer” is starting to show its age. I’ve compared this to a slightly grittier, modern Encyclopedia Brown. And, like it’s source of inspiration, this one sort of has a checklist of things to say and inside jokes like Theo being his Uncle’s favorite nephew (although he’s the only child) and Theo making an appearance at the Animal court to save his friend. My biggest problem was that one of the plots from the first book was still going on. I would gladly read more of Theodore Boone and recommend the action-y, courtroom-thriller-lite series but it’s starting to drag.
My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Continuing right where her first memoir, A Girl from Yamhill, left off, My Own Two Feet chronicles the life of Beverly Cleary from the summer before college to the publication of her first book, Henry Huggins.
Reading her thoughts and experiences just make me want to be BFF with her. She’s so smart and funny. It’s rare for a writer’s personality to shine through their work.
Her relationship with her mother continues to be a fascinating study which becomes even more strained when Beverly meets Clarence Cleary.
As much as I adored the first installment of her autobiography, I absolutely loved this one because I got to read about her being a bookseller and librarian.
The last chapter talked about her writing journey for Henry Huggins and it was full of gems, as well.
Pick these books up. You won’t be disappointed.
View all my reviews
Read my reviews for my Beverly Cleary Reading Challenge here.
Expect reviews for these books during Wednesday’s Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge post:
Rating Scale
*= It was OK
**= Liked it
***= Recommended
****= Highly Recommended
*****= Favorite
Have a great reading week!
The Chronicles Of A Children's Book Writer - Earl Dizon 
I own A Girl From Yamhill & enjoyed it, didn’t know there was another. I’ll look for it, Earl. Glad you shared it! Lots of good books this week!
Happy to learn about My Own Two Feet, funny that I haven’t read it/heard about it before. Thanks. Looking forward to Interstellar Cinderella. 🙂
Yes! to your review of The Year of Billy Miller. It’s such an important book! I’m contemplating getting a literature circle set for our school. I’ve just put A Girl from Yamhill on reserve. I hope it doesn’t arrive for a while, although I am really looking forward to reading it.
I’ve read and enjoyed Edible Colors but didn’t know there was a numbers book too. Will definitely have to check that out!
This is My Rock! looks like a great book to use at the beginning of the school year for all those kiddos who struggle to share!
Just go The Year of Billy and Redwood at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale. I look forward to reading both of them. Love Henkes’s writing and Chin’s nonfiction & illustrations.
Next to those, I didn’t know any of the books you mentioned! Going to Goodreads to add the high starred ones to my TBR.
Happy reading this week! 🙂
You’ve got some good ones here, Earl! I love Redwoods— it’s such a beautifully written and illustrated book. A couple that I want to add to my library and reading list are The Year of Billy Miller (which I’ve heard wonderful things about), and One Family. I am really enjoying finding all the books that people are sharing as part of of the “We Need Diverse Books” campaign, and this book looks great. Thanks for sharing and your ideas! Have a great week!