Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give Kathryn’s (at Book Date) “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” meme a kidlit focus, reviewing books in children’s literature (picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, or anything in the world of kidlit). If you enjoy this type of reading, join us every Monday to share what you’ve been reading!
This is the last week of my mom’s visit so I barely squeezed in a couple new books. This past week was especially difficult because we had to put our sweet border collie, Sophie, down on Tuesday. When we first adopted her from the rescue, her doctor said she had been badly abused and would need to be on constant meds to help with the pain. Sadly, she never completely recovered and the pain just reached a point where we knew we needed to let her go. The kids have needed to talk a lot and we’re all just really feeling the grief. 😦
My mom flies out on Wednesday and then we turn around and leave on Friday for our family fall vacation, so I hope I can squeeze in a little reading while we’re on the road. Thanks so much for stopping by, today!
Roll With It
Jamie Sumner
October 1, 2019
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
12-year-old Ellie is bright, witty, and full of spunk! She just so happens to have cerebral palsy, use a wheel chair, and occasionally needs help with a few every day tasks. But that certainly doesn’t change the fact that she has hopes and dreams and joys and hurts just like everyone else. In the beginning of this story, Ellie’s mom moves her from Tennessee to Oklahoma so they can help with Ellie’s grandfather who suffers from dementia. And it doesn’t take long for Ellie to make herself at home at her new school. I just loved her voice and open commentary on the world around her. I also enjoyed reading this interview with Jamie Sumner at From the Mixed Up Files (AKA “MUF”) about this book. It’s important to note that this story was inspired by her son who, like Ellie, has cerebral palsy. I’m so glad this book is out in the world and I hope it will find a place in homes and libraries everywhere!
You can add it to your Goodreads list HERE.
If you do not have a local bookstore, you may purchase it through IndieBound HERE.
You may also choose to purchase it through Amazon HERE.
Moon! Earth’s Best Friend
Stacy McAnulty
Stevie Lewis, illustrator
June 11, 2019
Henry Holt and Co.
This is such an adorable nonfiction picture book about the moon. Readers will learn about the formation of the moon, how long it takes to circle the Earth and to spin, the phases, other moons in the solar system, quite a bit about gravity, types of eclipses, and MORE interesting tidbits. This is the third book in the Our Universe series and it looks like Ocean: Waves for All is up next!
The artist used colored pencils and digital tools to create the illustrations in this book. I’ll provide one page-spread as an example, below:
You can add it to your Goodreads list HERE.
If you do not have a local bookstore, you may purchase it through IndieBound HERE.
You may also choose to purchase it through Amazon HERE.
To Be Read:
I’m currently reading an e-ARC of Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper, I’m listening to Frankly in Love by David Yoon on audiobook, and we are working on The Root of Magic by Kathleen Benner Duble as a read aloud with the kids this month.
Reading Challenge Updates:
Goodreads Challenge 2019 – 228/250
#MustReadin2019 – 29/42
The Miller Memo 
I just finished Roll With It late last night. Ellie is a great character. I love Stacy McAnulty’s picture books. Kids love them, too.
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Ellie really is a wonderful character! And I love Stacy McAnulty’s writing for all ages!
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I just got Roll with It – looking forward to it. I added Moon to my “cart” Thanks – and sorry to hear about your dog.
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Thank you for your sweet words, Clare! ❤
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I’m really excited to read Roll With It. My students are always looking for more graphic novels. They can’t get enough of them!
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There’s been such a wonderful explosion of graphic novel love as a wider variety of works are being published in this format. It’s a wonderful thing to witness!
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Roll with It was already on my shelf, but after reading this, I know I must get to it!
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It was a wonderful combination of heart and wit. I hope you enjoy it, Cheriee!
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Best Wishes in ALL the things going on, Shaye. I’m sure I’ll love Roll With It. I have a niece (now a grown-up) who has CP & it would have been wonderful for her to read this when she was young. She walks with a limp, but has struggled in a number of ways, had a tough time in early schools! Thanks!
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I am grateful to witness the growth in literature that appeals and mirrors all people and abilities, Linda. It’s especially interesting to read authors who are writing these books and saying, “I wrote this book because it’s the type of book I wished I could have read when I was younger.” ❤
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Hugs to you and your family. Grief is hard. I hope you enjoy these last few days of your visit with your mom, though!
Roll With It is on my Mock Newbery! Thought it was a great story for kids to read!
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Thank you for your words of comfort, Michele. As the kids are beginning to ask about a new family pet, I’m just not sure if we’re ready yet. But I also understand the desire to invite a new furry love into our lives. And I totally agree on Roll With It — such a wonderful story and character!
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I finished Frankly in Love this week and loved it! It was so much more than a rom com, which was a nice surprise. Roll With It sounds like a great graphic novel, I need to find a copy. I’m so sorry to hear about your dog. My Jack Russell passed over four years ago, and I still miss her.
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Frankly in Love was so much better than I expected. And, like you said, much much more than a rom com. It had a lot of heart and soul. Have you read Our Wayward Fate, yet? While they’re completely different stories, I have enjoyed comparing the experiences of the characters. It’s SO important to get these types of books into the hands of our youth so they can better understand racism and empathize! And thank you for your kind comments on the loss of our dog. ❤ She will be missed for a very long time!
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I’m so sorry for the loss of your pet. It’s never easy to say good-bye to furry family members. I do think it’s good to know that, after the abuse that she suffered, she was able to know love and kindness before she passed away. The Root of Magic & Friend or Fiction are fun magical realism books that I really enjoyed reading. Hope you do, too!
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I’m still so angry that anyone could abuse her in that way!! One day, near the end, one of my sons saw her struggling and said something like, “Mom, maybe we’re being selfish by keeping her alive while she’s still hurting so much.” That was the beginning of the end in my mind. Poor sweet soul… ❤
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I’m so sorry about your loss. Pets snuggle right into hearts and it’s so hard to say goodbye. I’ve been looking forward to reading Roll With It for awhile. I think I have it on one of my orders at school so maybe I’ll get to it soon.
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That’s so true about our pets snuggling right into our hearts. And it’s so difficult to know when is the right time to say goodbye. But we knew she was hurting. I miss her and still feel so much love. If you haven’t yet read Roll With It by now (you read a lot every week, so I realize you’ve probably already picked this one up by now), I hope you enjoy, Crystal!
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