It's Monday! What are you reading?

I wish I could say that I am a couch potato these days, getting lost in book after book.  But I am one of those people who's having a harder time reading, even though I don't feel anxious on the surface.

But I persevere, barely keeping up with the How to Be An Anti-Racist book study I joined, and following up on book recommendations here and there to see if something new will spark a reading binge.

Two new books I picked up this week:

I've had this book on my to-purchase list for awhile; when a fellow Tuesday Slice blogger used it as her inspiration for a post, I knew I had to get a copy for myself--and I'll be purchasing one for my school library this fall.  

Irene Latham and Charles Waters also wrote Can I Touch Your Hair?, a well-received poetry book on race and friendship; this is their second collaboration.  Dictionary for a Better World is part poetry book, part writing manual, part social-emotional curriculum.  The A to Z component consists of feelings and self-care topics such as ally, empathy, nature, and wonder.  Every poem is written in a different form, explained at the bottom of the page--many of which were new to me!  There is a quote accompanying each entry.  The authors add their own thoughts and explanations for each poem, and then challenge us to action with a "tip".

As if the entries weren't enough, Latham and Waters included a list of works they referenced, as well as an extensive list of recommended books and poetry resources.  There is even a gratitude list at the end (the first item-"The 8-1-1 section of the library"--is my favorite).  I can see Dictionary for a Better World becoming a favorite resource on many teachers' desks this coming school year, at all levels.

My just-for-fun reading this week is A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope, edited by Patrice Caldwell.  

Science fiction and fantasy are my go-to genres, and this book of short stories fits the bill nicely--especially with my shortened attention span.  I'm only one story in, and thoroughly enjoyed the focus on the female protagonists, the blurring lines of finding humanity in our enemy, and the time-traveling twist at the end.  I'm looking forward to the next fifteen stories, even if I can only manage one a day!  This book is for young adults on up.

It's Monday, and I've escaped into poetry and sci-fi this week.  What are your go-to genres when you want to get lost in a book?