It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 7/29/19

Beagles and Books is excited to share our recent reads in 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.

Our Recent Reads:

Roll with It by Jamie Sumners

Born with cerebral palsy, Ellie just wants to be a regular kid and is tired of having an aide at school.  She craves space to show her independence so that others will see beyond her wheelchair.  Ellie’s sanctuary and passion is baking, a talent she has nurtured ever since she could reach the kitchen countertops.  When her grandfather’s dementia worsens, Ellie and her mom temporarily move from Tennessee to Oklahoma to help out.  Her grandparents’ trailer may be small and not exactly wheelchair-friendly, but Ellie soon discovers that the benefits far outweigh the negatives.  She becomes friends with Coralee and Bert and more importantly, convinces her mother (with her grandmother’s help) that she does not need an aide at her new school.  And now she can finally enter the annual bake-off at her grandparent’s church.  Challenges still exist; however, Ellie is confident that she can handle wherever life takes her.

Ellie’s voice is perfect, for she is both spunky and vulnerable, which are important traits for a dynamic middle grade character.  Kids get to see Ellie’s highs and lows through not only her narration but also through the letters she writes to famous chefs.   The supporting characters are also amazingly well developed.  While I love Ellie’s family, I especially enjoyed watching Ellie’s friendships with Coralee and Bert grow.  Coralee and Bert each have their own struggles which are gradually revealed throughout the story.

I can’t wait to share Ellie’s story with my students! Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy at ALA, which I am sharing with my #bookexcursion ARC group.  Roll With It publishes in October 2019.

Truman by Jean Reidy Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

It seems like an ordinary day for Truman but when his Sarah strapped on a big backpack, gave him extra beans, and whispered to him “Be brave,” he starts to worry.  Where is Sarah going?  Impatient, Truman decides to find Sarah and while on his journey, he discovers something else-courage.

Truman is a quiet story with a big message.  When I read it aloud (my book beagles are excellent listeners),  I consciously took my time reading each gorgeous word and lingered over the exquisitely drawn illustrations.  Reidy’s words and Cummins’ artwork combined are pure magic.  Although I have over a month until summer begins, I am certain Truman will be one of my first read alouds of the year; it is perfect for the first week of school with themes of new beginnings, courage, and friendship.   Truman recently published in July.

My Furry Foster Family: Betty the Bearded Dragon by Debbi Michiko Florence Illustrated by Melanie Demmer

The My Furry Foster Family series is about the Takano family and their adventures fostering animals for the Happy Paws Rescue, the same shelter where they adopted their dachusund Ollie.   All 4 stories in the series are narrated by eight year old Kaita.  In April, I had the pleasure to read and review Truman the Dog before it was released. To read my full review, click here.

In Betty the Bearded Dragon, the Takano family gets their first non-furry foster pet.  While Kaita has learned a lot about animals through fostering, she knows nothing about bearded dragons.  Of course, Kaita can read to gain knowledge but it’s also fun to learn from her dad who used to have a “beardie” when he was in college.  While Kaita is nervous when she learns Betty is to be adopted two days after she arrives, her worry turns to excitement when she finds out Betty’s new forever home.

After the story ends, author Debbi Michiko Florence shares information on how to become a foster family which includes advice from real life Kaita, who inspired the series.  Her tips are spot on especially acknowledging that it’s ok to be sad when a foster is adopted.  But knowing you have saved the life of a pet is a proud feeling.

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.

Take Your Pet to School Day by Linda Ashman Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman

After a note circulates that pets will be allowed at Maple View School for just one special day, students arrives with their pets which include dogs, cats, birds, and fish but also a horse, llama and a colony of ants.  The pets bring noise, interruptions, and mess which makes every adult say “Why would someone change the rule?  Pets do NOT belong in school!”  When the principal denies writing the note, she demands that the author speak up.  Who could it be?  With Ashman’s lively, rhyming text, Take Your Pet to School Day is an engaging and fun read aloud for young children.  Kaufman’s vibrant and detailed illustrations will captivate the reader especially all the animal antics.  Thanks to Penguin Random House for the review copy at ALA.  Take Your Pet to School Day recently released in July.

Etta, Bella & I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books. Happy Reading!