What are you reading?

Ok, I seem to have drifted away from blogging, but I'm determined to get back to it! 

I've been very busy, but managing to get some reading done too.  Right now, I'm reading The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski.  It is a fantasy story that takes place in Prague and the surrounding countries.  In the story, a little girl named Petra lives in a small town.  Her father creates mechanical wonders that he instills with magic, including a pet clock-work spider for Petra named Astrophil.  The story starts with her father coming back from building a magical clock for the prince, but in return the prince took something very precious.  I am looking forward to reading more abut the magical creations and find out if Petra has some magic of her own.

What are you reading?  Leave a comment and you could win a free book!

It's not Monday, but here's what I'm reading!

I have to confess, on Monday I was still reading Neverwhere for the third week in a row.  I loved the book, I just didn't know what to write about it for yet another post. The good news is, I finished it last night (it was so good!) and I started another book right away.

Now I'm reading A Place Called Ugly by Avi.  I chose this one because it was published the year I was born (yup, google it and you can find out how old I am) which is one of the 2015 challenges.  At first I was just looking up all books published that year, but that was really overwhelming.  Then I decided to pick an author I knew I liked and see if they had anything published that year.  Avi was the lucky winner.  I haven't read one of his books in a while, but Something Upstairs and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle were two of my favorite books when I was 10ish.  I was even more excited when I found out we had it in our library at the South (even if the copy is a little old and beat up)!

This book is about a 14 year old boy who has been going to the same beach cottage each summer for 10 years and he absolutely loves it.  Then he finds out they are planning to tear it down to build a fancy hotel in its place.  He decides to stay behind when his parents go back to the city to try to stop the demolition.  Can you imagine being a 14 year old, with $16 and an empty house trying to accomplish something like that?  I keep wondering if I would have had the courage when I was that age to do anything that courageous.

What are you reading?

Just sayin'

It's Monday! What are you reading?

I'm so sorry for the lull in posting.  

The first few weeks of school

for me are all about assessments.  I get to read with all the students who are new to the district, then all the students who qualify for Title 1 assistance.  I love reading with kids, but it doesn't make for very interesting blogging.  If anyone is dying to know, we are using the Founts and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System to do our assessing.  You can read about it here if you want. 

So, it's Monday! I am still reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (who just had a baby!  Congratulations, Neil!).  I am definitely loving it, but it's taking me a while to read.  I guess I have gotten used to being able to read middle grade novels in a couple days, so it feels like 2 weeks with the same book is forever.  I think I'm going to pick up a kids book to read at the same time, because I need to keep moving through my challenges if I'm going to get all 50 completed by the end of 2015.  

So, what are you reading this Monday?  Please leave a comment and let me know! If you're a South School student, you'll be entered to win a free book.

Open House!

Visiting the blog for the first time after Open House?  Leave a comment saying hi, and your South School student will be entered into a raffle to win a free book!  

Check back often for updates.  

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@booksforbulldogs

Thanks for visiting!!

Even more exciting than Open House...

Tomorrow night is Book Fair Night!

I was there this afternoon when they started rolling in the cases full of books.  I might be a total book nerd, but for me, it's so exciting to see all those cartons full of books to be explored.  I can't wait to see what is available and what great deals I can get! 

Of course, I'm also looking forward to meeting everyone's families tomorrow night at Open House.  I will be in my classroom most of the evening, but I will also be popping into classes where I know I will be working with students.  If all else fails and you want to find me... check near the books.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Well, school started last week, but I finished my 20th book of the summer today!  This morning I finished GuysRead: Other Worlds edited by Jon Scieszka.  It's a book made up of short stories by famous authors that are all in the sci-fi genre.   This book was a little out of the zone for what I usually read (aliens taking over recess, planets where people's entire lives only last 8 days) but I am glad that I pushed myself to finish it.  


The next book (which I am starting as soon as I hit "publish") is going to be Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.  He is one of my favorite authors, so I am really looking forward to it.  While he has written amazing books for kids, Coraline and The Graveyard Book are two favorites, this one isn't intended for that audience. I decided to read it now because one of the challenges is to read a book that was turned into a tv show.  I've read lots of books that have been turned into movies, but it was more of a challenge to find one that's been turned into a tv series.  

So, now that school is back in session, I'm looking to give away some books!  Leave a comment to tell the world what you're reading this week! You'll be put in a raffle to win a free book!