Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Recently, my children and I learned quite a bit about the work women did to help the war effort during the Civil War. Quite a few women dressed up as men, and joined the army. Other women were couriers or spies. Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy by Seymour... Continue Reading →
Walter bakes delicious sweet rolls and breads for his village. The Duke and Duchess particularly enjoy his sweet rolls every morning. Then disaster strikes! The cat knocks over the milk, and Walter is forced to use water, instead of milk in his sweet rolls. The Duke and Duchess threaten to banish him from the village... Continue Reading →
Illustrator Mark Pett creates another beautiful wordless book in The Girl and the Bicycle. A young girl and her brother are walking down the street, when she spots a beautiful green bicycle in the store window. She works and works and works to earn enough money to buy it, only to discover it's gone when... Continue Reading →
After reading A Strong Right Arm about Negro League player Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, I immediately picked up We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson when I spotted it at the library. What a beautiful book! Nelson not only wrote the book, he also painted all the pictures. Even if... Continue Reading →
"Henry loved books. But not like you and I love books, no. Not quite..." reads the front fly of this book. I'm afraid to say more about the story - I mean you can guess the gist of it. But if I tell you more, I might give away the ending. And it's a lovely... Continue Reading →
Pedru lives in the African bush. He and his friends fish for their families every day, and his village grow crops for food. He and his friends and neighbors also live in fear... of lions. One day, Pedru makes an impulsive, and foolish, decision, which costs him his arm. He wants to take revenge on... Continue Reading →
Sam is rather scatterbrained. The townsfolk say his brains are scattered all over the place. Finally, Sam grows tired of all the talking, and heads to the 'widder on the hill' for a solution. She starts cooking up a potion, and asks Sam to gather the ingredients. He's reluctant to give up some of the... Continue Reading →
Jonas' world sounds perfect. Everyone realizes when they've given offense, and apologizes. Those who've been offended always accept the apology. Each evening over dinner, Jonas' family discuss their feelings, and every morning over breakfast, they discuss their dreams. Their lives are regimented. Controlled. Everyone does what he or she is supposed to do. Jonas knows... Continue Reading →
The Hueys are all the same. And there are quite a lot of them. They think the same, do the same things, and look the same. No one is different. Until one Huey - Rupert by name - knits a sweater. Then all pandemonium breaks loose. The Hueys in The New Sweater by Oliver Jeffers... Continue Reading →
Dan and his friends live the ideal small-town life in Grand Island, Nebraska. They swim, ride bikes, hang out together. When a severe thunderstorm alert is issued for that evening, Dan doesn't think much of it. It's a common occurrence in Nebraska. But what happens next is not. Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 