Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish. I feel like I shouldn’t even allow myself to participate in this week’s topic, because I’ve only managed to read one of the hotly-anticipated, urgently-must-read-right-now books on my Summer TBR list. SIGH. Something sad happens when I make these Top 10 lists of books I’m planning to read soonest. Making the list seems to satisfy the urgency associated with reading the book, and suddenly I don’t care about reading the book anymore. I mean, sure, I want to read it. But the need to read-it-right-this-moment-before-I-can-do-anything-else transfers itself to the shiniest, newest book I’ve received in the mail. Still, I can’t resist a list. Here’s hoping that I’ll still want to read these books tomorrow.
I don’t like to say this too loudly, but I don’t love The One and Only Ivan. I do, however, love recommending it to other readers, especially to readers who don’t yet know they’re readers. It’s become the number one gateway book to reading in my Children’s Literature class (along with R.J. Palaccio’s Wonder). So I’m thrilled to have another Applegate novel to pass along to readers as soon as they’re finished with The One and Only Ivan.
A middle-grade novel about a transgendered ten year old who wants desperately to star as Charlotte in her class’s staging of Charlotte’s Web but is rejected for the part because her teachers, family, and peers still relate to her as a boy.
I often think that Brian Selznick’s books are just slightly too erudite for me, but I love them anyway.
Middle-grade graphic novels are quite possibly my very favorite reading, and I have high expectations for this autobiographical story by Jennifer and Matt Holm.
I know, I know. But my son absolutely ADORES this series, and he actually gets excited to be the first kid in his school to get his hands on the new book. We start a new Wimpy Kid book the day it’s published—and usually finish it within 24 hours—and then he takes it to school to show it off and I never see it again. And I am absolutely fine with that.
Kevin Henkes! That’s really all you need to know. Kevin Henkes.
This recommendation comes from one of my favorite bookish podcasts, Books on the Nightstand. It combines two of my favorite things—podcasts and graphic novels—in a look at the resurgence of radio in the form of storytelling podcasts like This American Life. 
A Sick Day for Amos McGee is on my all-time top 5 picture books list, so any new collaboration between Philip and Erin Stead is highly anticipated reading.
A graphic novel recommendation from my other favorite bookish podcast, All the Books. This is an alternate history starring the ever-fascinating Ada Lovelace, who is now credited with originating the idea for the first computer. This take on Lovelace’s story has a delicious what if: what if she’d been able to make it and it had worked?
This memoir about a poet who travels to six different cities to view Vermeer paintings came to my attention when it was recently longlisted for the National Book Award. One of the great art experiences of my life was seeing a Vermeer retrospective in Den Haag in my 20s, so I can’t wait to read this.
What’s most anticipated for you this fall?
the dirigible plum 
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