Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Amanda loves celebrating Thanksgiving with her large family at her Bubbe's house. Bubbe always prepares a special feast - she cooks and prepares every day for a month. But the best part of the holiday is right before bed, when Bubbe lets her choose a wishbone, and they make a special Thanksgiving wish. But then... Continue Reading →
In the midst of all the holiday preparations, I encourage you to sit down and enjoy The Peterkins' Thanksgiving, adapted by Elizabeth Spurr from Lucretia P. Hale's original story from 1880. The large Peterkin family is ready to sit down to eat their delicious Thanksgiving feast. They are looking forward to the food their cook... Continue Reading →
I mentioned Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco in an earlier post about Polacco's books. But I enjoy this book so much, it deserves it's own recognition. Chicken Sunday is a personal story from Polacco's childhood in southern California. She and two brothers from her neighborhood are siblings, "by a solemn ceremony [they] had performed in... Continue Reading →
Ronnie and his aunt are anticipating a delightful Christmas, celebrating with friends at the school Christmas program and enjoying their holiday traditions. But first, they've agreed to spell the keeper of the lighthouse at Tern Rock for two weeks so he can visit his niece and her family. He promised to be back on December... Continue Reading →
Most know the Biblical Christmas story about Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men (unnumbered in the Bible, but traditionally three) who traveled from the East. Many years ago, Henry Van Dyke created a story about a fourth wise man, who had planned to travel to visit the newborn King of the Jews. ... Continue Reading →
Old Armand is perfectly content with his life as a hobo, living under one of Paris' bridges. He worked odd jobs, or begged, to keep himself warm and fed - and he had no responsibilities, especially children. Children mean homes, responsibility and work. Armand does not like children. Then cold day in December, he found... Continue Reading →
Whether or not you celebrate Santa in your house, once your children are old enough to wonder, they will probably have questions about him. My children asked plenty. "Was he a real person? How did he get to be Santa Claus? Why does everyone talk about him?" If you're not sure of the answers, The... Continue Reading →
Perhaps you, and the children in your life, are wondering exactly how Santa got his job. Apparently Stephen Krensky wondered too, and so he wrote about Santa's job history in How Santa Got His Job. This creative picture book is fun to read aloud, and may illicit some giggles from your crowd, depending upon how... Continue Reading →
If the children in your life are anything like mine, they ask a lot of questions. So many questions, that our first year of homeschooling consisted of me writing down my children's questions, going to the library to check out books which would answer those questions, and reading them to my children. I wish I... Continue Reading →
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 →
Cultivating Readers 