As a girl, I think I read Stories from Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson at least a dozen times. I loved the stories of the author's precocious grandmother, who was constantly in trouble. I am amazed at the memories in this book - not only the memory of the author, whose grandmother told her the... Continue Reading →
Magic Tree House
We discovered the Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne when my oldest was in kindergarten. I have to admit, I was unsure how I would like them when we first checked them out of the library. But after reading the first book, Dinosaurs Before Dark, aloud to my children, I decided I had... Continue Reading →
That’s Not My…
My toddlers and preschoolers loved any one of the Usborne books that started with That's Not My... . We still have That's Not My Train and That's Not My Bunny, even though my kids have outgrown them. They are fun books to have when my friend's toddlers and preschoolers visit. These sturdy books have wonderful... Continue Reading →
Dolphin Adventure
If you have a child in your life who loves animals, especially dolphins, she will love this book! I read Dolphin Adventure aloud to my children several times, and they have read it on their own many more times. Wayne Grover, a deep-sea diver based in Florida, tells the story of how he met a... Continue Reading →
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Laura Numeroff created a delightful book with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. It all starts when the little boy in the book gives a mouse a cookie. A nice gesture - which leads to some interesting consequences which include mirrors, scissors, drawing a picture... and some how it all leads back to where... Continue Reading →
My Father’s Dragon
My Father's Dragon is a delightful story about a boy, Elmer Elevator, and his adventures on Wild Island. Elmer (the 'my father' in the story) befriends an alley cat, who tells him of a dragon caught on an island, used by the animals on that island. Elmer decides to go on an adventure and find... Continue Reading →
Eleanor Estes
I have read several of Eleanor Estes' books to my children, and they have loved every single one. So, instead of reviewing each of her books, I'm recommending all her books! Estes (1906-1988) was a children's librarian for many years before starting to write children's books. She grew up in West Haven, Connecticut, which she... Continue Reading →
The Land I Lost
Nhuong grew up in the highlands of Vietnam, before the Vietnam War. The Land I Lost is a collection of his memories from his youth, growing up in a small Vietnamese village. He has many adventures with his bull and cows, fishing for eels in the canals, and hunting in the jungles. My children were... Continue Reading →
Rascal
Rascal is the name Sterling North gives his tiny new pet raccoon he found one afternoon when out in the woods with his friend. The book, Rascal, is North's recollection of a few years of his childhood when Rascal was his constant companion. North is a delightful author, remembering funny stories of how Rascal would... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 