What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you Reading?” is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It is a chance for book lovers to share their reading accomplishments as well as what is on the proverbial nightstand. She even does a giveaway. Subsequently Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts added an opportunity for those reading kidlit to join the fun. Since I read both I will post to both. Check them out, join the conversations, and discover more great books.

Books marked with an '*' I would put in my classroom library.

 The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford *
Many mysteries to be solved and some lots of lessons of empathy.

 Dragon Slayers' Academy: The New Kid At School (1) by Kate McMullan *
Fast paced, intriguing start to a series that is helping get a reluctant boy hooked on reading!

 Allegiant by Veronica Roth *(but not in elementary)
Finally, the third book of the Divergent series. This one didn’t capture me as completely as the first two, but wrapped up story lines gives some satisfaction.

 Capture the Flag by Kate Messner *
Secret societies and action lead this book that also incorporates many idioms. I am handing it over to an ELL student.

 The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman by Meg Wolitzer
Scrabble is a sport! Middle school adventures focusing on what is really important in life.

 Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz *
Historical fiction wrapped up with magic and adventure. Award winner too!

 I rarely abandon a book, but this one I did…

Dear Girls Above Me: Inspired by a True Story by Charles McDowell (audio)
I was enjoying the audio version and found the sociologist aspect to this premise intriguing, but did not need to finish the book to get enough of the gist.

Wordless Wednesday - Not just in the U.S.A.

Wordless Wednesday

When A Tiara Isn’t Just A Tiara

There was a last minute costume change requested by the little one for Halloween this year. It involved the need of a tiara. I was not worried as I remembered a shop, across the street from our house, in which I had seen a tiara a couple of months ago. Of course, they no longer had any.

Fortunately my parents had not left the States yet and my mom was able to find one and deliver it in time.

 

For Halloween the new tiara topped off the princess costume. Now it is being worn many days a week. Why? She is wearing it as a headband.

So, a tiara is not just a tiara when its functional purpose is as a headband.

Wordless Wednesday

Polio Vaccine

Having to have my daughter vaccinated for polio is not something I thought I would ever have to think about. Now, I am not thinking about it in a pondering sort of way, as it has been mandated. With the outbreaks of polio in Syria all children, under the age of five, are about to receive mandatory oral polio vaccines in Lebanon.
I don’t know why this is striking me so strongly. Perhaps it is because my hope is that breast cancer will be given as much thought by the next generations as polio has been given by mine, until now.
Medical science is amazing. We have come a long, long way, but we still have so far to go. I am thankful that there is a vaccine (an oral vaccine at that) that will keep my daughter and all of her contemporaries safe from polio.