The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is my favorite Christmas book ever. I've read it, loved it, and laughed a loud every December with it since my childhood. It's a refreshing, hilarious look at the traditional church Christmas pageant, told from the eyes of one of the participants. Due to circumstances beyond her... 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 →
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 →
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
From the time my children were about eight months old (or even younger), I read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr & Eric Carle to them nearly every day. We loved Carle's depiction of the animals in Brown Bear, Brown Bear and we loved the lilting, rhyming rhythm of... Continue Reading →
Stories from Grandma’s Attic
As a girl, I think I read Stories from Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson at least a dozen times. I loved the stories of the author's precocious grandmother, who was constantly in trouble. I am amazed at the memories in this book - not only the memory of the author, whose grandmother told her the... Continue Reading →
The Jesus Storybook Bible
I firmly believe that every child should know the Bible. The stories in the Bible form the foundation of much of Western thought and literature - plus there are just some great stories in the Bible. Recently, a friend recommended The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. My children are a little old for this... Continue Reading →
Things People Do
I have read this book to my children over and over and over - and we enjoyed it every time. Now my children are enjoying reading it themselves, even though they are elementary school age, and a bit past the information in it. Things People Do is an oversize hardcover book from Usborne Publishing Company. ... Continue Reading →
Virginia Lee Burton
There are some authors that no matter what book you pick up, you will be sure to enjoy it. Virginia Lee Burton is one of those authors. Virginia Lee Burton (1909 - 1968) wrote and illustrated several classic picture books - including The Little House, Katy and the Big Snow, Maybelle the Cable Car, Mike... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 