Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
I was a bit late to the Enola Holmes craze. I first heard of her when Netflix came out with the movie. I read that the movie was based on a book series - and when I saw my absolute, most favorite narrator read the books… I was hooked. The Enola Holmes series starts with... Continue Reading →
Moxie knows Grumps wasn’t perfect. But she isn’t going to go blabbing family business to the neighborhood. Then one day, a stranger shows up at the front door, asking for Grumps. And not taking no for an answer. Moxie starts on a quest. Why does this stranger want her Grumps? And what could Grumps remember... Continue Reading →
I’ve been intending to read The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis for several years. But every time I picked it up, I had a hard time getting past the first chapter. I finally decided to check out the audiobook and listen to it. That made all the difference in the world! By the... Continue Reading →
When I picked up this audiobook in the library, I misread the title. I thought it was Pieces of Sky. Which explains my confusion during the first few chapters of the book. Confusion aside, Pieces of Why by K.L. Going follows the story of Tia, a twelve-year-old singer in New Orleans. Tia and her best... Continue Reading →
Cedar thinks her mom might be crazy. They can’t afford a summer house on her mother’s teacher’s salary. But her mom feels a need to spend the summers in her home town, near her family. Cedar can understand that, since everyone desperately misses her Dad and brother Ben, who died in a car accident the... Continue Reading →
I have picked up Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce several times in the library - and then put it down again. I wasn’t sure I would be interested. But when I heard Batty mention it as one of her favorite books while rellistening to The Penderwicks in Spring, I immediately picked up the audiobook. I... Continue Reading →
Nic wasn't always a slave in the mines of the Roman Empire. He remembers when his mother sold him and his sister to the wicked overseer, Sal. He determines to escape one day, and gives himself a freedman's name, Nic Calva, to prove to himself he won't be a slave forever. One day he finds... Continue Reading →
You might think that a story about pioneering families in Alaska would be the most unusual part of Sweet Home Alaska, by Carole Estby Dagg. You’d be wrong. The most unusual part, at least in my opinion, are the names of her main characters - three sisters named after Greek muses. The twins are lucky... Continue Reading →
Peter has an unusual pet. He rescued Pax as a kit, and raised him into the fox he is today. But Peter’s father enlisted in the military to fight in the war, so Peter has to go live with Grandfather. Peter’s father insists Grandfather will not want a pet fox, and forces Peter to release... Continue Reading →
Tamaya and Marshall have been walking to and from Woodridge Academy since elementary school. They have to walk the long way around the thick woods between their houses and the school, since the woods are off limits. But one day, Marshall leads Tamaya into the woods to avoid a bully. While there, Tamaya encounters some... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 