Five for Friday and Bloglovin

Well, hello my long lost friends....it has been forever since I sat down in my comfy corner to work on my blog...this has been a busy summer so far!

I am glad to actually be joining Doodle Bug for Five for Friday...on an actual Friday...go figure!

I hope it is not cheating if I my five are not just from the past week...but from my last post! We'll see...

Here goes...

#1

I am LOVING doing our school's Summer Reading Hot Spots! I was soooooo nervous about taking this on because you know it is one thing to read to my group of fourth grade kiddos...but to read to a room of kids of all ages...including the the biggest kiddos of all...parents! Whew...a nail biter for sure, but...no worries now. The kids and adults that make it to our hot spots all love books as much as I do! I have had some fun and wonderful help with teachers stopping by to give recommendations to the smaller kiddos...because you all know those little ones are NOT my area of expertise! Thank you, Dawn! And so far, the hardest part of this entire adventure has been deciding which of my favorite picture books to read!

How cool is this bus! I want one!

 

#2

Believe it or not, I have made an effort to NOT spend my whole summer in my classroom...

The kiddos and I had an awesome time at the Memphis Zoo!

Two of my four babies...wish I could have them
all with me all the time...

All I could think about was
The One and Only Ivan  :(

You KNOW I had to find the Flamingos!

Could watch her swim all day....
so beautiful!

#3

Confession time...although I am making an effort to not spend my entire summer between the four walls of my classroom...I seem to be pretty close to doing just that...and is it even sadder that I am sort of OK with that? LOL

Here are a couple of pieces that I have been working on....

 

Here are a couple more that I will be finishing
tomorrow...whoop whoop...

Here is an even scarier confession ~ just one more admission of true nerdy hopelessness ~

As I type, the last of my book shelves are being completed and will be delivered to the school tomorrow....and NOT so SECRETLY...I CANNOT wait to get in there and paint them...the sooner the better! LOL....I am so excited! 

Just look at the pics below to see....this mess of a room/ library was well-past-due for an overhaul!

Since most of my own all too grown kiddos have jobs and are off on their own, that usually leaves a very quiet house...with so much work to be done at school...I find it comforting to be surrounded by all of my favorite books and checking things off of my to-do list all at the same time!

Yes...yes...crazy, I know...but take me as I am, right?!

#4

Yesterday, I attended one of my favorite professional developments of the year: So Many Picture Books, So Little Time. Surprised? Hahahaha....LOVE this one!  

Dr. Wendy Ellis at Harding University shares more than 50 new and fun titles...a couple that I fell in love with...I will share later! I can't wait to read them to my summer babies!

After the workshop, Sarah and I stopped by a local book store, only to find fellow teachers searching for new titles. Hahaha...I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or just push them out of the way, so I could get all the good ones....wow...just kidding....I think. ;)

#5

Another moment of truth...I am really not sure what all this Bloglovin is...but I am a blog lovin' kind of girl...so I am jumping right on in! LOL...just like me to jump without looking but what do I have to lose, right?

So I downloaded the Bloglovin app, and I am adding blogs like crazy! Love having all my favorites in one place! Jeesh....where have I been? 

Be sure to click on the link below to follow us :)

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Welp....that's it for my Five for Friday! Don't forget to stop by Doodle Bugs!

NOW...for my favorite part....

Here are some awesome picture books to check out...

The first one I have already shared with my summer reading kiddos....they loved it!

My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life by Kate Feiffer is so perfectly sweet...I could just hear the echos of my own baby girl at that age, sarcasm and all, LOL. I am sure at this point she would have 5 completely different ways that I am totally ruining her life, but just as with this cute little story...the love is still there and that is all that matters in the end! This is a great little look at common themes in literature. I can't put my finger on just why, but I adore the illustrations by Diane Goode....simple and sweet.

I have spent more than a little time this summer browsing the sale racks of some of my favorite books stores, and I found this cutie-patootie and couldn't resist...as usual, I guess. LOL...

Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen is a story of the precocious but cutest little thing ever, Itsy Mitsy, and Mitsy is not having any part of her "bed time." Not even a little bit! Elanna Allen tells this sweet story through her beautiful illustrations...it is funny how some of the smallest characters can be larger than life. You can't help but root for Mitsy as she learns that running away just might not be so easy!

This next one has been on more than one of my wishlists for a while now, and when I finally saw it on sale in the store...well, you know the rest!

Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester is such a great look at character and themes! I have wanted it forever, and guess who will be reading this to her kiddos very soon....THIS girl! 

This is just one more adorable character that you can't help but root for! I love that Rodney finds a way to persevere over the fact that he just cannot pronounce his R's like all the other rats. Everyone gets their comeuppance in the end...serves Camilla Capybara right! 

OK...last one for tonight...I promise!

I owe Dr. Ellis a big thank you for this last one...I must tell you that it was love at first sight!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira! Holy Cow...I couldn't get my own copy in my hands quick enough LOL and when our bookstore stop proved unsuccessful in finding it...I promptly returned home and ordered it. It should be in my greedy little hands within the week...muahhh hahahaha....my version of an greedy evil laugh....not sure you find as much humor in that as I did, but I am still giggling.

Any..who....I must tell you about this precious story. Again, another awesome look at characters and common themes! I cannot say enough how much you will fall in love with this precious pink pig as he tries to win the hearts of a frog family that was firmly attached to their pond! In the end, the old wise beetle opens their eyes to the simple truth to their questions...who is he...what does he want?

The illustrations by Poly Bernatene are pure magic! I have spoke of him before in this previous post. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of his amazing work!

Just look at those frogs...LOL

Oh my goodness....this is a ridiculously long post...so sorry but if you have made it to this point...well thanks for stickin' with me!

Happy Reading!