April‘s reading!
#BookSpinBINGO
Included a few poetry books on April‘s list. Looking forward to learning the #bookspin and #doublespin picks tomorrow!
#BookSpinBINGO
Here‘s what I read in March: my February & March #bookspin picks, a couple of essays, several graphic novels, a silly Scieszka, a Steinbeck, a chapter in the Shirley Jackson bio, and this year‘s Newbery Medal winner.
#BookSpinBINGO
Here‘s the bookshelf view of my #BookSpinBINGO picks for March. It was a busy month, but I read more than I thought I would!
Welcome, March! Hoping to read at least five of these titles this month.
#BookSpinBINGO
My February goal was five books, but I read eight! I finished my #doublespin pick, and I‘m in the middle of my #bookspin. Not bad for a short, busy month.
#BookSpinBINGO
I‘ve been meaning to post this bookshelf view of my February #BookSpinBINGO picks. You can see my #bookspin and #doublespin picks (10 & 20) as well as titles for the #AuthorAMonth (5), #Roll100 (8-10), and #SeriesLove2023 (11 & 12) challenges.
I‘ve read five of these so far — progress! I appreciate the Litsy inspiration. Reviews to come. ❤️📚
This book just won YALSA‘s Award for Excellence in nonfiction, as well as as a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. Well deserved! This trio of authors/artists created a beautiful record of this important true story.
After reading the author‘s most recent graphic novel/memoir, It Won‘t Always Be Like This, I realized I had her previous title on my bookshelf. This one has a lighter touch, but is just as affecting. I loved them both!
I love graphic novel/memoirs, and this one is excellent. I saw it on NPR‘s 2022 Books We Love list, and after I finished, I realized I owned the author‘s previous title… (See my next post!)
I‘ve finally settled on my list for February. I will be happy if I read five of these in this short, busy month.
#BookSpinBINGO
No bingo this month, but I dedicated more time to reading, and I can see that reflected on my January board! Plus, I read both my #bookspin and #doublespin picks. 📚💕
#BookSpinBINGO
This was a fun re-read! Here‘s the cover of the 1980 edition I read when I was in junior high. Check out the fashions! That car! (This book was originally published in 1912.) A great #doublespin pick.
#BookSpinBINGO
Louise Erdrich is brilliant. I knew that, but this book surprised me in so many wonderful ways. Tookie will stay with me. (And I just have to say how much I enjoyed the author‘s cameo in her own book!)
#AuthorAMonth
This was my book club‘s January pick. It also just won the Sydney Taylor Book Award today! I loved it, and think it will be a book I pick up again. A close-knit community dealing with trauma, a faltering friendship rekindled thanks to a wise and wily educator, and a fascinating mythical creature. Absorbing, heart wrenching, & beautiful.
What a great book! Sue (Suyapa) is surprised to learn her family is planning to celebrate her quinces during their summer trip to Honduras. She‘s not at all comfortable with dancing, speaking in front of groups, or wearing the high heels and puffy pink dress her mom gives her. I cheered her on as she advocated for herself, agreeing to the celebration but asking for it to better reflect her own awesome, quirky personality.
A student of mine recommended this one, and I can‘t wait to discuss it with them this week! The artist‘s interpretation of Wonder Woman style for Nubia was beautiful.
Maizy is a wonderful kid and I loved spending time with her & her family in Last Chance, Minnesota. I appreciated so much about this middle grade novel: The story-within-a-story about Maizy‘s great-great-grandfather Lucky, the way Maizy & her grandfather grow close through stories and poker games, how people care for one another and learn about each other. This was my January 2023 #bookspin pick, and a fantastic first read of the new year.
Here‘s my bookshelf view of my January #BookSpinBINGO picks. Last year, I read 22/24 of my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin picks. I‘m starting this year with one of the two I didn‘t get to — Maizy Chen (the tagged book)! Also included are titles for the #AuthorAMonth and #Roll100 challenges (5 and 8-10), as well as some #SeriesLove2023 (11 & 12).
Last month of the year! And it‘s a busy one. I chose a lot of poetry and graphic novels for December‘s #BookSpinBINGO.
July was a great reading month for me. I even got two BINGOs! That hasn‘t happened in a long time.
#BookSpinBINGO
Now that school is out for summer, I‘ve been able to start on my June #BookSpin shelf. Let‘s see how many I get through by the 30th!
Best way to spend April Fools‘ Day: Fooling myself that I‘ll read all these books this month! 😉 But it‘s spring break this week, so I should at least get off to a great start. 📚🥳💖
#BookSpinBINGO
How fortunate to have this be my December #BookSpin pick, after reading Engle‘s Enchanted Air in November! I loved this one just as much, and I‘m looking forward to book talking them both to my students.
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This book was published in 1915, but feels quite modern. A quietly powerful read. Now I want to learn more about its author. I am thankful to Persephone Books for helping me discover this story! This was my July #DoubleSpin pick — finished the last day of the year. 🎊
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My oldest & I read the Penderwicks #1 & #2 when they first came out years ago; they were big hits with our mother-daughter book club! I‘d always intended to finish the series, and made it a goal for this year. I did it! The last was as lovely as the first, with the story/setting coming full circle. 💞This was my December #DoubleSpin pick.
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My students and I were so excited when this newest John Lewis book became available! Graphic novel format is a gripping way to share history. Excellent back matter includes insights from the artists and authors. This was my November #DoubleSpin pick.
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I‘m catching up! Isabel was delightful, as always. This was my October #DoubleSpin pick.
#BookSpinBINGO
We‘re watching this amine with out kids; thought I‘d give Volume 1 of the manga a try. Great story, well-told!
I‘m a huge Margarita Engle fan, and smiled when I saw this was my #BookSpin pick for November. She‘s a genius at sharing historical stories through poetry. Thought this poem from her memoir-in-verse would resonate with the Litsy crowd. 💕
Another wonderful Penderwicks book. I love these characters so much. Looking forward to reading the last in the series next month.
It‘s been awhile since I‘ve spent time with Armand Gamache and the Three Pines community. I‘ve missed them! I especially liked the descriptions of Québec City; I visited once when I was 15 and I‘ve always wanted to go back. I appreciated the author‘s acknowledgments, and that she began this book with them.
This was my October #BookSpin pick.
My first time reading Maggie Smith. She‘s got quite a way with words. ❤️
I‘m ready for November with my #BookSpinBINGO list! Lately, I‘ve only had short bits of time to read, so I went with novels/memoirs in verse, graphic novels, and a couple of illustrated books this month.
Like Junie, Darius shows courage as he navigates through life with clinical depression. On his first trip to Iran, he embraces the opportunity to learn about friendship, his family, and his cultural heritage. I loved the gentle pace of this book. This was my September #BookSpin pick.
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Junie‘s bravery in addressing her struggles with mental health and her beautiful relationship with her grandparents made this a wonderful read. I‘m catching up — this was my #DoubleSpin pick for September.
#BookSpinBINGO