It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2-26-18

Thanks to our dynamic hosts: Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kelle at Unleashing Readers. Head to either blog to find reviews as well as dozens of links to other blogs filled with reviews and recommendations!

Books I Read this Week:

Best Buds Under Frogs by Leslie Patricelli

Candlewick Press, 2018

288 pages

Realistic Fiction

Recommended for grades 3-5

I've been reading Leslie Patricelli's board books to my boys for a while now, coming to love that awesome little baby with a single strand of hair. I can't recommend her board books enough to my friends with babes. So imagine my excitement upon discovering Patricelli was writing a book with more than 20 words! Turns out she should have started writing middle grade novels long ago! And, she better not stop.

What I love about this one: The friendship struggles are so real. When Lily throws up on her first day at a new school, it can't get any worse. But a kind stranger takes her by the elbow to the nurse's office. Lily is so thankful for the rescue, and begins a friendship with Darby. But here's the thing, Lily can't figure out what is up with Darby. Is she a genuine friend, or not? She does things that seem mean, so Lily finds herself confused about how to navigate this friendship. I loved it because it made me think. Do we have people in our life like Darby? Or not? Would I continue being friends with Darby? Probably. Should Lily? I don't know!

I also love how Lily is far from perfect. Kids don't need to read about perfect kids, they need to read about real kids. Lily is real. 

What I don't love about this one: Nothing. Ha, I just wanted to keep things balanced.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

First Second, 2018

277 pages

Realistic Fiction

Recommended for grades 7+

Grab this one if you have older readers. There is a scene where the prince drinks too much, so you be the judge on the age you want to recommend this one to. That's the only thing that makes me hesitant about handing it to younger readers.
I have a longer post about this book here, and I really love this one!

Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable

First Second, 2018

128 pages

Fantasy 

Recommended for grades 3-5

A graphic novel about a couple of sloths, what's not to love? Peter and Ernesto are hanging in the treetop, finding pictures in the clouds. All is perfectly simple and sweet. Until Ernesto gets the great idea to see the WHOLE sky. And sets off. Peter is against the trip, but soon finds he misses his friend too much not to set out after him.

The illustrations are bright and appealing, the story is silly and fun. 

I book talked this one recently and passed it off to a 3rd grade boy. He enjoyed it so much that he was borderline disruptive during independent reading! (hehehe) When he finished, he started it over again. If that's not a genuine thumbs up rating then I don't know what is!

This one hits bookshops in early April.

Up, Down & Other Opposites by Ellsworth Kelly

Phaidon Press, 2018

30 pages

Recommended for ages 1-3

This little beauty showed up at my doorstep out of the blue. What a treat! 

This glossy board book features opposites, of course! Each picture is an original abstract artwork by Ellsworth Kelly, an American painter and sculptor, born in New York in 1923. (Book Biography) The biography in the back is a cool section for the grown-up reader.

I'm Currently Reading:

On Deck:

Blog Tour Post: 3-1-18 Giveaway!

Blog Tour Post: 3-6-18

Blog Tour Post Coming Soon!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great reading week!