When my kids were tiny, we would make a paper ring chain to count down the days until Christmas. When they got too old for that, I looked for Advent calendars to help us count down the days until Christmas. But they were either too pricey, too flimsy, or had things my kids could fight... Continue Reading →
The Charlatan’s Boy
I was prepared to dislike The Chalatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers. The loud yellow-and-red cover didn't appeal to me and the publisher's blurb on the back reminded me of Avi's John-Newbery-Award-winning book, Crispin: The Cross of Lead. I enjoyed Crispin, and thought The Charlatan's Boy would just be a knock-off. I could not have been... Continue Reading →
The Skippack School
The Skippack School by Marguerite de Angeli takes awhile to get into, but it is worth it. As my nine-year-old put it, "It starts out boring, but then it gets interesting." The main character is Eli, recently arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany with his parents and two younger sisters. His story starts on Pennsylvania soil,... Continue Reading →
The Ides of April
My children read The Ides of April by Mary Ray for school a couple of weeks ago. This week, we started reading Beyond the Desert Gate aloud. After I read the first couple of chapters, I noticed on the cover that it was the sequel to The Ides of April, so I thought I'd better... Continue Reading →
Amelia Bedelia
If you have never read any of Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia books, you are missing out. Amelia Bedelia is a young woman with a heart of gold, but she cannot seem to do anything right. In the first book, Amelia follows Mrs. Rogers' instructions exactly, even though they don't make sense to her - things... Continue Reading →
The Thanksgiving Story
Most children who've been to preschool can probably tell you the first Thanksgiving involved Indians and Pilgrims, and perhaps even have a paper Pilgrim collar and hat or Indian headband to prove it. The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh will help children understand who the Pilgrims were and why they celebrated Thanksgiving with the Indians.... Continue Reading →
Betsy-Tacy
I am surprised I did not find the Betsy-Tacy books as a child. My children and I have discovered them recently, and have enjoyed them. Maud Hart Lovelace wrote Betsy-Tacy based upon her childhood growing up in Mankato, Minnesota. Betsy hopes a family with children will move in across the street from her, especially a... Continue Reading →
Usborne Farmyard Tales
If you are looking for good books for toddlers and preschoolers, my favorite publisher is Usborne Publishing Company. So many of our favorite books when my children were that age came from Usborne - and the Farmyard Tales stories top the list. I bought my youngest The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales by Heather Amery,... Continue Reading →
Fancy Nancy
On a recent library trip, my nine-year-old stocked up on Fancy Nancy books, written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Fancy Nancy delights the girly-girl in my daughter - and I enjoy her so much more than the popular princesses. Nancy is not perfectly coiffed; she is not a developing young woman. ... Continue Reading →
Hill of Fire
In Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis, we read about a volcano that suddenly formed out of a farmer's field. That's the story in one sentence - Lewis builds up beautifully to the moment, describing the farmer's mundane life of living in a small Mexican village, eating breakfast, and working in the fields, complaining... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 