Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Have you ever met that uber-confident child? The one who knows who she is and is not afraid to be herself? Gooney Bird Greene is such a child. Her presence lights up the classroom. Everyone looks forward to seeing her and hearing her stories. The kind of confidence Gooney Bird exhibits is endearing in a... Continue Reading →
The friendship between General George Washington & the Marquis de Lafayette is legendary. Author Selene Castrovilla tells the story of their first meeting in Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. She starts at the moment Lafayette is in City Tavern in Philadelphia, ready to meet his hero, George Washington. She then... Continue Reading →
Remember those joyful summer evenings spent playing by the light of the moon? Author Janice May Udry captures the fun frolicking in her book The Moon Jumpers, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (of Where the Wild Things Are fame). This picture book is truly a picture book - lots of colorful, and black & white, drawings... Continue Reading →
Fairy tales teach us consequences, moral character, or how to deal with change. The Paper Crane by Molly Bang, is a modern fairy tale that focuses on dealing with change. A man's restaurant is busy, and he is happy - until a new highway is built which drives traffic away from his business. His sorrow... Continue Reading →
Boys have always been attached to their dogs. And Great-Grandfather was attached to Three Names, so called because everyone in the family had a different name for him. Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan isn't so much about the relationship between Great-Grandfather and Three Names, as it is about Three Names being a part of Great-Grandfather's... Continue Reading →
Children ready for short chapter books will enjoy the I Survived... books by Lauren Tarshis (the author of Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree). These action-packed adventures tell the story of a child, usually a boy, who has survived a catastrophe - like the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, 2005 Hurricane Katrina, etc. The stories... Continue Reading →
The poor exclamation point in Exclamation Point! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld cannot find where he belongs. He always stands out among the crowd, even when he tries to blend in. Then he meets the question mark, and suddenly his purpose becomes more clear. Delightful turns of phrase and puns will keep adults... Continue Reading →
Poor Rabbit! He has just discovered a strange black rabbit is following him everywhere. He tries everything to get rid of that Black Rabbit, but nothing works until Rabbit runs into the forest. Ahh! Finally, Rabbit is alone. But then, Rabbit notices two eyes shining in the darkness. Is it the Black Rabbit? Author &... Continue Reading →
Rendi has a problem - an attitude problem. In my childhood, a General Bad Attitude (GBA) was grounds for punishment. In Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin, Rendi has run away from home, so his parents aren't around to punish him. Instead, he's forced to work as a chore boy at an inn... Continue Reading →
Every time I read a book by Patricia MacLachlan, I am in awe of her gift of telling simple, yet heartfelt stories. White Fur Flying is no exception. Zoe's family rescues dogs. Not just any dogs, her mother rescues Great Pyrenees, "140 pounds of white fur." (To be honest, I'm not a dog lover, and... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 