It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 11/12/18

Beagles and Books is excited to share another edition of It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

I had the honor and pleasure of being part of blog tours for newly released books over the past two weeks.  Some books are still on tour so please click links to read my full review and enter current giveaways.  Etta and Bella’s pick of the week is the anticipated follow up to Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, which is one of my favorite picture books.

Our Reads This Week:

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel

When an ink blot escapes a sketchbook, he has no idea of the impact he would have on the Rylance family.  They are still mourning the loss of their mom and comic artist dad is struggling to write his next graphic novel. Inkling tackles tough issues but gently and with care. Kids will be able to relate to Ethan and his challenges of finding his own path. Sydney Smith’s illustrations are also crucial to the plot.  As a reader, I actually felt the presence of Inkling, for splots grace every page.  And I never thought I would fall in love with a cute ink blot, but Kenneth Oppel’s characterization of Inkling will make it hard for you not to do the same. To read my full review and enter a giveaway, please click here.

Love Like Sky by Leslie Youngblood

Told from the point of view of 11-year-old Georgie, Love Like Sky is an honest and heartwarming story about family and friendship. What I love about Love Like Sky is Georgie’s voice is so authentic.  Young readers will  easily be able to relate to Georgie’s struggles but they will also see her strength. While still a child, she is getting older and wants to be treated more like a grown up.  Like other kids her age, Georgie’s choices can be selfish at times but she is self-reflective and learns from her mistakes. To read my full review and enter a giveaway, please click here.

Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison

Little Dreamers is a companion to Vashti Harrison’s Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History. This well written and beautifully illustrated compilation of concise biographies is a celebration of 40 curious, creative, and persistence women who are role models for us all.  Each woman challenged the norm, saw things differently, and wasn’t afraid to ask questions and share their thinking. To read my full review & enter a giveaway, please click here.

Duck on a Disco Ball by Jeff Mack

Etta’s and Bella’s Dog Pick of the Week:

Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.

Madeline Finn & the Shelter Dog by Lisa Papp

For fans of Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, Lisa Papp’s follow up will be a warm hug.  Madeline convinces her mom to allow her to adopt one of Bonnie’s puppies and names him Star.  Wondering how Mrs. Dimple chose Bonnie, Madeline discovers that Bonnie came from a shelter.  Mrs. Dimple invites Madeline to join her at the shelter when she donates supplies.  While Madeline can see the animals have their basic needs met, she is still worried.  “Does any tell the shelter dogs they love them?”  Taking action, Madeline collects towels for the shelter and organizes a read aloud for the dogs.

It is no secret that I have a special place in my heart for rescue dogs and when a story combines my love for reading and rescue dogs, it’s well, perfect.  It is quite clear that Madeline takes her job as Star’s caretaker very seriously which is very important to me.  Children need to realize that having a dog especially a puppy is a big responsibility.  While she has a dog of her own to love, Lisa Papp’s text and warm illustrations beautifully convey Madeline’s genuine concern for the shelter dogs especially a black and white dog named Mr. Chips.  Sponsoring a second grade class for #classroombookaday, I love to read aloud books that teach kids that they too can make a difference.  Madeline is a great role model for children demonstrating small gestures can make a big impact!

A  very special thanks to Lisa Papp and Peachtree Publishers for sending a F & G of Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog to my #bookexcursion group.  Pre-order now like me, for Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog will be published in March 2019.

Etta, Bella, and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books.  Have a great week!