You may think Most Wanted by Kate Thompson is about the world's top criminals, but you'd be wrong. The horse on the cover provides a clue - Thompson writes about the beautiful horse which Roman Emperor Gaius made consul, Incitatus. A baker's son unexpectedly finds himself holding Incitatus's reigns after a servant boy hands them... Continue Reading →
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
Johnathan lives on Hemlock Mountain, which is really more of a hill than a mountain, with his parents and surrounded by a large extended family. One of Johnathan's cousins is about to be christened, and his mother is hosting the entire family after church. After casting about for ideas of what to make for so... Continue Reading →
Pompeii… Buried Alive!
Students of history have long been fascinated by the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. The nearby volcano, Vesuvius, erupted in 79 AD, burying the city and its inhabitants under several feet of volcanic ash and sediment. People quickly forgot about the city, and it lay buried for nearly two-thousand years. As people started reading Pliny... Continue Reading →
The Cat in the Hat
No American childhood would be complete without reading Dr. Seuss's famous book The Cat in the Hat. Hollywood has taken to turning Dr. Seuss's simple children's books into movies - but as with most movies, the books are better. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of a boy and his sister, left alone... Continue Reading →
McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm
Kids of all ages will enjoy the tall tales in McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm by Sid Fleischman. Fleischman has a breezy, easy-to-read writing style perfect for children. In McBroom's, Josh McBroom is on his way west with his dear wife, Melissa, and their "eleven, redheaded, freckle-faced youngsters. Their names were Willjillhesterchesterpeterpollytimtommarylarryandlittleclarinda." Try saying that ten... Continue Reading →
The Minstrel in the Tower
Both boys and girls will enjoy this short story set in Medieval times, shortly after the Crusades. Roger and Alice's father left them when Roger was very young to fight in the Crusade. Their mother keeps hoping that he will return, but it's been many years, and Roger is sure he won't see his father... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 