It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 3/2/20

It’s been a tough week with the loss of our sweet Etta.  I am so grateful to Etta for being the inspiration for my blog and consider every post a tribute to her.  If you would like to read my blog post in memory of Etta, please click here. While Bella may be slightly camera shy, she is rising to the occasion posing for book photos.   Ever grateful to Bella for her love and support. 

Beagles and Books is excited to share our latest 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:

Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo

The first book in the Our Friend Hedgehog series, The Story of Us tells how Hedgehog’s circle of friends grew.  At first, it was just Hedgehog and Mutty, two friends living on an island. But when a terrible storm carries away Mutty, Hedgehog finds the courage to take a journey to find her dear pup. On her travels, Hedgehog meets Mole, Owl, Beaver, Hen and Chicks, and finally, Annika Mae, a young girl who recently moved to Hedge Hollow.  Each character is introduced in a chapter where readers gets to know their unique personality and traits.  

Reading about Hedgehog and her friends transported me back to the books of my childhood.  I grew up on friendship stories like Frog and Toad and Winnie the Pooh.  And I love that Annika Mae takes photographs with a classic Polaroid.   As a reading specialist who works with striving readers, I appreciate all the supports author/illustrator Lauren Castillo provides to help children who are transitioning to reading chapter books. A map of Hedge Hollow and an illustrated cast of characters appear before the first chapter, rich and warm artwork graces on almost every page, and short chapters make the novel less daunting.  Can’t wait for my students to meet Hedgehog, Annika Mae, and all the other animals in Hedge Hollow!  Thanks to Random House Kids for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group.  Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us will publish in May 5, 2020.

Monsters 101 by Cale Atkinson 

Did you know…

• One in every three homes has a monster hiding under a bed?
• Mummies are terrified of puppies?
• Tofu Cauliflower was the first vegetarian zombie?

Fans of author/illustrator Atkinson’s Unicorns 101 are in for a spooky treat with his upcoming release, Monsters 101.  Readers will be enlightened, not frightened as they learn top-secret monster knowledge on topics such as monster biology, daily life, diet,  habitat and homes, fears, and monster-human interactions.  

What I love about Monsters 101 is that Atkinson blends a fantasy topic with an nonfiction format including lots of engaging text features (diagrams, timelines, labels and captions)  and comical illustrations. I know this amusing and entertaining picture book will be in high demand with my students no matter what their age!  Thanks to Random House Kids for sending a F & G to my #bookexcursion group.  Look for Monsters 101 on August 4, 2020. 

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.

This Little Pup by Laura J. Bryant

This Little Pup is a charming and creative counting book.  On the front endpapers, a little gray scruffy puppy eyes a blue ball in the grass.  On the first page spread, readers see a little boy getting ready to bounce the ball to the puppy.   Once the ball is bounced, the energetic puppy follows the ball passing by the many animals on the farm.  Written in concise text in a larger font, counting and colors are reinforced as the puppy chases the ball all over the farm. Will the puppy finally catch it? 

I especially love that author/illustrator Laura J. Bryant utilizes all the space of each page spread as well as the end papers to tell the story with delicate and warm illustrations. Bold dashes show the immense bounce of the big blue ball.  Children will love counting up all the animals on the last few spreads. And like the little pup asks for another round of fetch, young readers will also beg for second read.  Thanks to Albert Whitman for sending an ARC to my #bookexcursion group. This Little Pup publishes soon on April 1, 2020. 

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