My youngest picked up the audio version of A Long Way from Chicago and wanted to listen to it in the van. I had never heard of it before, never read anything by Richard Peck before, and I wasn't sure how appropriate it was for a seven-year-old. But I thought we would give it a... Continue Reading →
Big Book of Science and Nature
My favorite science book of all-time is The Berenstain Bears' Big Book of Science and Nature by Stan and Jan Berenstain. How can you resist learning science with the Berenstain Bears - especially from Professor Actual Factual, the Foremost Bear Scientist of His Time (as featured on the book cover)? This is a big book... Continue Reading →
Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists
Mike Venezia has written over two dozen very engaging books about famous artists in his series Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists. Each book in the series focuses on one particular artist, from Botticelli to Andy Warhol, from Monet to Jackson Pollock and many in between. Venezia does a great job of telling readers... Continue Reading →
The Thieves of Ostia
My children are voracious readers. In search of something that would capture my oldest's attention, I discovered The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence, the first in her The Roman Mysteries series at our local library. I made sure I read it before Nathaniel, because I was concerned about the character treatments, plot, and any... Continue Reading →
How Artists See:
Colleen Carroll has created treasures for parents who wish to teach their children about art - especially those who don't know much about art themselves. Her series of books titled How Artists See... give parents and children a common vocabulary with which to discuss paintings. Each two-page spread focuses on a different painting and guides... Continue Reading →
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
My nine-year-old just told me, "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch starts off boring, but then it gets really interesting." She did complain about listening to it in the van, but when Nathaniel Bowditch fell in love with Elizabeth - and she begged to listen to Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham. She is a... Continue Reading →
A Grain of Rice
This short, little story will delight both you and your children. In A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman, the peasant Pong Lo asks the Emporer of China for his daughter's hand in marriage. The Emperor, along with all his court, is scandalized by his request. How on earth could a poor farmer ask... Continue Reading →
The Princess Tales
As a girl, my favorite part of visiting Grandma's house was the three volume The Family Treasury of Children's Stories. Volume Two was my favorite, because it was a collection of fairy tales from all over the world. These were the real deal, not the Disney-fied, Americanized versions. And I read them every time we... Continue Reading →
Phoebe the Spy
Nearly every school-age child can tell you about General George Washington. But could they tell you about the girl who saved his life? Phoebe the Spy (originally titled Phoebe and the General) by Judith Berry Griffin tells the story of Phoebe, a girl in Boston who saved the general's life during the Revolutionary War. Phoebe... Continue Reading →
Mary on Horseback
This small, short book carries in it the power to bring tears to your eyes. Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories by Rosemary Wells tells the story of three people whose lives were changes forever by the life and work of Mary Breckinridge. Breckinridge trained as a nurse during World War I, served in France,... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 