It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/18/21

Bella and I are 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:

Don’t Hug Doug ( He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finson Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

Let me tell you some things about Doug.  Doug likes to sort rocks, wear socks, and draw with chalk.  He even likes harmonica bands.  And Doug likes people.  He just doesn’t like hugs.  Doug thinks hugs are too squeezy, squashy, squooshy, and smooshy except when his mom hugs him at bedtime; she know how to give him a just right hug. 

After Doug sets the record straight about him and hugs, Finson explores the concept of consent even further.  Can you hug other people like his best friend Finn or his Grandma McGinn?  Doug offers this advice–ask before hugging.  Author Finson teaches kids that people can fall into three groups.  Those who love hugs. Those who don’t and those who are in the middle which is why getting consent is crucial. And although Doug doesn’t like hugs, high fives are A–OK. 

My school district adopted Conscious Discipline, which is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning, school culture, and discipline.  One of the rituals is a morning greeting where students can choose  how they want to be greeted.  Included in those choices are touch and non–touch options. Don’t Hug Doug is a great read aloud to teach and/or reinforce children have the right and power to make choices for themselves.  Finson is gentle but direct in her message and Wiseman’s bold, lively illustrations help drive the point home.  Thanks to the author for sharing an eARC. Don’t Hug Doug releases next week on January 26, 2021.  

Goldibooks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor

As an elementary reading specialist, I can’t gush enough about Wilson’s clever retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I love that reading is presented as a social activity first with Goldi and her parents, then Goldi’s family and Wee Bear’s family, and finally, the whole town creating a community book club. Wilson’s message is simple but powerful. Books bring people together and are meant to be shared.  To read my full review, click here. 

Scooper and Dumper by Lindsay Ward

Kids need stories that teach these important themes-friendship, teamwork, and being brave even when you are scared. With a bouncy, rhyming text and adorable anthropomorphic illustrations of the trucks, Scooper and Dumper is a story that will keep kids’ ears and eyes entertained. To read my full review and enter a giveaway, click here. 

Bella’s 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.

Three by Stephen Michael King 

Three, a three legged stray dog has a great outlook on life.  In fact, every day is a skip and a hop. Sun provides warmth; rain cleans his fur and his wagging tail makes sure his belly is full. Three actually thinks having only three legs was a blessing, for chairs have four legs and they don’t get to go everywhere like him.  One day, Three’s legs took him on an adventure out of the city.  Fields replaced buildings and instead of ants and spiders, Three meets a cow, chickens, a pig, a rabbit, and a little girl named Fern who shares her milk and cookies with him.  Three never ventures back to the city, for he discovers Fern’s home welcomes animals with all number of legs but most importantly, his three. 

With themes of acceptance and appreciation, Three is a story that warmed my heart.  I loved that from the beginning of story, Three was optimistic and grateful.  He didn’t dwell on his three leggedness; it was just who he was. Becoming a part of Fern’s family was the icing on the cake.  Thank you to Holiday House/Neal Porter Books and Edelweiss for sharing an eARC.  Originally published by Scholastic Australia in 2019,  Three publishes in the United States on April 6, 2021. 

Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!