It's Monday, What are YOU Reading? 2/13/12

Thanks to my public library, I read a LOT this week! I am so excited to share!

First there were the picture books (click each image and see some of the book trailers for more information):

(Although, I feel like The adventures of Hugo Cabret counts as both a picture book and a novel.)

And the novel: The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate

I absolutely adore gorillas. When my husband and I went to Disney World for our honeymoon, my favorite day was the day we spent at the Animal Kingdom park (which is also the resort we stayed in). I was in awe of the walk-through safari, and thoroughly embarassed my husband by my giddyness when we arrived at the gorilla enclosure. I stayed they and cooed over them for a good 20 minutes, and almost put up a five-year-old fit when he nudged me along. That is why I think I adored this book so much. 
Ivan is a silverback gorilla who has spent over 25 years in a cement floored "domain." His only view of the outside world is through a sunlight in the food-court of the mall where he resides. His friends are a stray dog named Bob, and a wise elephant named Stella. And then of course, there is Julia..the little girl of the caretaker. She and Ivan are kindred spirits in their love for drawing and painting. When a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, everything Ivan knows and believes begins to change. This was a heartbreaking and inspiring book about friendship, loss, and making things right. 








I loved all of these books and am slowly but surely working on reviews for them on Goodreads. Some were old, some were very new, but they were all fantastic!

This week, I am going to work on the following books:

So...what are YOU reading?