Not surprisingly, animals are the focus of Lois Ehlert’s book Oodles of Animals. Each page features one, or several, animals portrayed in Ehlert’s colorful collage artwork, accompanied by short, rhyming poems describing each animal. Ehlert features a wide variety of animals, from mammals like bears and foxes, to reptiles like crocodiles and snakes, to birds... Continue Reading →
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin may seem an intimidating book to some readers. It's quite thick, with 278 pages. However, the words are large, the chapters are short and the illustrations are beautiful. Lin tells the story of Minli, a girl growing up in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain. Life... Continue Reading →
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
In Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, Wilfrid lives next to an old people’s home, and he knows everyone who lives there. He overhears his parents discussing his favorite person, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. They say she’s lost her memory. Wilfrid doesn’t know what a memory is, so he asks all his friends... Continue Reading →
The Willoughbys
Oh my goodness. Our family just finished listening to The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry - and we LOVED it! Lowry writes a parody of old-fashioned stories like Anne of Green Gables and James and the Giant Peach - except the children decide they want to be orphans and plot to get rid of their parents. ... Continue Reading →
Hattie Big Sky
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson is a coming-of-age story set in Montana during World War I. Hattie is an orphan, shuffled from one unwilling relative to another for most of her life. Then a letter arrives in the mail. Hattie's uncle has died, leaving her his homestead claim in Montana. Although she is only... Continue Reading →
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
I was digging through my bookshelves recently, looking for books I could donate, when I came across one of my children's favorites. I read We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury so many times I think I can still almost recite it from memory. As it sat on my desk... Continue Reading →
What Do You Do, Dear?
Children need help learning manners, and Sesyle Joslin has created the perfect manner book for children. Maurice Sendak (of Where the Wild Things Are fame) drew the pictures for What Do You Do, Dear?, which makes this book extra fun. Joslin helps children understand what to do in the most interesting situations. What do you... Continue Reading →
The Story of a Boy Named Will,
Children will enjoy this picture book, featuring a boy named Will on his sled. It contains rhyme and rhythm and repeating - loved by all children - plus a surprise ending. Adults will enjoy all of the above, and the interesting illustrations. Vladimir Radunsky illustrated The Story of a Boy Named Will by Daniil Kharms,... Continue Reading →
The Light at Tern Rock
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 →
The Family Under the Bridge
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 →
Cultivating Readers 