October’s Book of the Month

Chicka Chika Boom Boom, written by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Lois Ehlert ISBN-10: 1442422696, is available on Amazon.

This book has won many awards, including the ALA Notable Children’s Books, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book, IRA/CBC Children’s Choices, Kentucky Bluegrass Award, and the Parents’ Choice Award. It has a rhythmic tone with the repetition of  “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!” making it almost like a sing-along that children can read along with the narration. Also, the illustrations help children learn their ABCs as it exposes them to both lower-case and upper-case letters. Paloma loves it; it has become her favorite book since she read it at Pre-K.

Here is a video of a read-aloud. However, as a reading specialist, I highly recommend getting a hardcover to read with your little ones.

Mexican Gothic, written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525620788 is available on Amazon

This month’s book is the story of a beautiful young socialite, Noemi Taboada, who receives a letter from her cousin, Catalina, who claims her husband, Virgil Doyle, is trying to kill her. This story takes place in Mexico City in the 1950’s. The book captivates you from the first chapter, and for me, it was a page-turner that I could not put down.

Mexican Gothic was the recipient of the  Locus Award and the Aurora Award, and it is in development as a Hulu Original Limited Series. It is also one of  New York’s Times Bestsellers. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican-Canadian author born and raised in Mexico and moved to Canada in 2004. I enjoyed this book and hope you enjoy it as well.