#IMWAYR - It's Tuesday, which is close to Monday

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For the last few weeks I have been having a lot of trouble getting a post up for Monday. Mondays are just sooo busy! And Sundays are no better. I really want to participate in the #IMWAYR sharing however (because new books) so I've decided to put aside my issue with missing deadlines and post anyways. On Tuesdays, because that is what works for me and the point is the sharing not the day on which the sharing occurs (trust me, this is taking a lot of ignoring the little voice in my head saying "But, but, the day makes it a meme." Shush, I know.).

The Dot (Peter H. Reynolds) - Another great book from the author of Ish, The Dot explores a similar concept - that sometimes just trying, just doing, leads to great things. Two parts of this book really resonate with me 1) when Vashti's teacher hangs her dot in a fancy frame behind her desk and 2) when Vashti "pays it forward" at the end of the book. Both events highlight for me the importance of recognizing the little things because they turn in to big things, of celebrating even the smallest of successes, even if they differ from the standard definition of success. Such a wonderful message!

Sky Colour (Peter H. Reynolds) - Using the same lovely prose as his other books, Reynolds this time takes a look at expanding our world-view. Marisol is tasked with painting the sky but discovers she doesn't have any blue. Through keen observation, she discovers the many, many colours of the sky. I think this book would be a fabulous lead in to a science/art project - tell them they're going to have to paint/draw something without the normal colour used for that thing, then encourage them to observe that thing (leaves would be a neat one) to come up with other ideas. The products could be fascinating!

Not a Stick (Antoinette Portis) - Continuing on with the theme of seeing things in a whole new light, Not A Stick shows how imagination can take over and a stick can be...anything. Again, another cool follow up project just waiting to happen. Couple it with Not A Box by the same author. Also available in French - yay!

Roller Coaster (Marla Frazee) - My daughter brought this fun little book home from the library the other day. A fabulous one for inferrring, Roller Coaster follows a little girl on her first ride on a roller coaster. The catch? The author never tells you who's first ride it is; it's up to the reader to infer that detail based on the pictures. Some great language for visualization here too.

Enjoy your reading this week!