It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys and invites bloggers to recap what they’ve read this week while planning ahead on what to read next! Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers added their own twist by focusing on kidlit, from picture books up to YA.

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate

 Picture Book, 2014
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
The One and Only Ivan is my favorite book. This picture book tells the story of how Ivan made it to the mall in Tacoma, Washington and eventually to Zoo Atlanta. It is fantastic and the note at the end from one of Ivan’s favorite zoo keepers made me tear up. Such a special story. I look forward to reading Ivan’s story to my students every year.

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

YA Mystery, 2010
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
This is one of Schroeder’s longest novels in verse and it is very hard to put down. I enjoyed the two differing perspectives and the characters Nico and Brooklyn were interesting to follow. A sad story about loss and grieving. I would really like to add this one to my classroom library.