Maria's Mélange

Third Quarter Update!   I had 36 books selected as my "must read in 2014". In the first quarter of 2014 I completed 17 of those titles. Since I finished almost half of my choices in the first quarter, I added a few more titles (I'm now at 44). As I finish out the third quarter, I'm a bit concerned that I might not actually finish all 44.... but I've already started to collect books for my Must Read in 2015 list! Maybe a few 2014 will have to migrate. I guess I'm okay with that.  You can view the whole list on my  Goodreads page here . Check out my  First Quarter Update  (some really amazing books!) Check out my Second Quarter Update (more great books!) While I did feel like my pace slowed, I ended up completely a decent number of titles this last three months.  JULY READS: Only 2 (that we know of) creatures with Y chromosomes survived a mysterious plague..  Graphic novel collecting some very odd events. It didn't feel very well wrapped up ...

It's Monday! Time to share what I've been reading. Today's post again represents several weeks of reading, not just one. I still haven't gotten myself back to a regular blogging schedule. Be sure to check the Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers sites for more great books to add to your TBR list! Science Fiction Well, SON is on my "must read in 2014 list, so I had to make time to read the whole series. I've read The Giver enough times that I didn't reread it, but I did need a reread of Gathering Blue before I went to Messenger. Lowry is a true master. I was in a bit of a book slump, picking up and putting down books one after another. These two captured and held my attention completely. I just started SON yesterday and I'm already hooked. Delivery of Doom is a silly, fun science fiction for the younger set (third and fourth grade?). Lots of punny humor. The beginning really hooked me but the plot felt like it slowed down mid-boo...

There are some "old" books that I just can't praise enough. The Book of Three is a novel that I just adore. I use it every year with my fourth grade advanced reading group as a prime example of fantasy, a classic quest structure novel, and just because I love the characters. Over the past few years, my students and I added yet another reason to love this series. Tom Angleberger - of Origami Yoda fame - also loves Prydain. That was more than enough to help several of my students cheerfully dive into the books. So when I heard that there was going to be a blog tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary, I knew I wanted in. Look at these covers... just look at them! They are just beautiful. Don't forget to scroll down and enter for your very own hardback... Paperback edition Hardcover edition   Info about the  50th Anniversary editions: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers is proud to publish this 50th Anniversary Edition of Lloyd A...

I absolutely love everything Lish McBride has put out there. I love her twitter feed, too!  This is an author with just the right level of snark.       Just the right level of swagger.  Her books and her characters make me chuckle, cheer, and captivate me all along the way.  Firebug  (Firebug #1) by Lish McBride Hardcover, 336 pages Expected publication: September 23rd 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) ISBN 0805098623 (ISBN13: 9780805098624) Source: I received an advanced copy from the publisher for my honest thoughts.  Goodreads Blurb: Ava can start fires with her mind . . . but is it a blessing or a curse? Ava is a firebug—she can start fires with her mind. Which would all be well and good if she weren't caught in a deadly contract with the Coterie, a magical mafia. She's one of their main hit men . . . and she doesn't like it one bit. Not least because her mother's death was ordered by Venus—who is n...

Did you curl up with little Laura Ingalls as a kid? Do you eagerly share Little House on the Prairie titles with your children and students? Do you know anyone (including you) who is fascinated by Laura or her sisters? Little Author in the Big Woods: A Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder by   Yona Zeldis McDonough   (Goodreads Author) ,  Jennifer Thermes   (Goodreads Author)   (Illustrations) Hardcover, 176 pages Expected publication: September 16th 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) ISBN 080509542X (ISBN13: 9780805095425) Source: Advance copy from publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. Goodreads Blurb: Many girls in elementary and middle school fall in love with the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. What they don’t always realize is that Wilder’s books are autobiographical. This narrative biography describes more of the details of the young Laura’s real life as a young pioneer homesteading with her family on many adventur...

Welcome back! I do love sharing what I've been reading. I hope you enjoy adding to your reading pile! Don't forget to visit Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers to see other amazing books for your home and classroom. Let's start with some fabulous picture books! I've seen these two on other Monday posts, and I'm so glad I took the time to snag them from my local library. I'll be using them to reinforce some of the tenants of my class code... (I guess I should write a post about that... maybe for Slice tomorrow!) "Be Cooperative" Julia's House for Lost Creatures - by Ben Hatke This is a fabulous story about a girl who invites lost and lonely creatures in to stay. They have to learn to work together to keep things running well. I adore Hatke's art (from Zita the Spacegirl, in particular) and the story is amazing! Source: library "Be Persistent"  The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett First, t...

Be sure to visit kidlitfrezy.com each Wednesday for a fabulous selection of nonfiction titles! Sometimes a nonfiction book comes along that just totally knocks your socks off. It has just the right amount of information combined with style that would make a fabulous mentor text. Here is one of my favorite books of the year! How to Make a Planet: A Step-By-Step Guide to Building the Earth by Kids Can Press Inc by Scott Forbes (author) and Jean Camden (illustrator) Hardcover, 64 pages Published March 1st 2014 by Kids Can Press ISBN 1894786882 (ISBN13: 9781894786881) Summary from Goodreads: Young readers can follow along as two children perform an experiment in which they create a new planet, replicating in ten steps the exact processes that formed Earth. Within that context, author Scott Forbes manages to clearly explain basic concepts that span the science curriculum, including: chemistry (atoms, protons, neutrons, elements), physics (gravity), astronomy (star for...