Ivy June Mosely cannot believe it. Her teacher pulled her name from the coffee can, so she is going to be her school's ambassador to a private school all the way in Lexington! She'll go live with a family in Lexington for two weeks, and attend the school with a girl her own age, name... Continue Reading →
Clyde Robert Bulla
If you or your child is studying early American history, you will want to become familiar with Clyde Robert Bulla's works. Bulla has authored a whole, huge long list of books - including two books I've already reviewed, Donald's Duck and The Sword in the Tree. I really appreciate Bulla's sensitivity to children and their... Continue Reading →
Little Critter
When my kids were little, some of the books we read over and over and over again were Mercer Mayer's Little Critter books. Little Critter is a... well... critter who finds growing up hard at times. He tries his best, but makes mistakes. He learns to love his little sister in The New Baby. He... Continue Reading →
The Berenstain Bears
Recently, we were visiting family, staying with my husband's uncle and aunt. Their grandchildren are younger than my children, so we were scrounging around for books for my children to read before bed. Imagine my surprise when I heard shouts of joy. What were they excited about? They found their great-aunt & uncle's stash of... Continue Reading →
The Cabin Faced West
Author Jean Fritz grew up in China, which she credits for her obsession with American history. She's written many children's books about American history, and I've enjoyed every one I've read. (See my review of several of her books, including What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? here.) My children read The Cabin Faced West for... Continue Reading →
The Happy Hocky Family
If you want a good laugh, I highly recommend reading The Happy Hocky Family! by Lane Smith and it's sequel, The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! I laughed so hard when I read them that my children practically ripped them out of my hands to read them for themselves. Admittedly, I had to... Continue Reading →
The Gardener
The Gardner by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small is a unique picture book. The entire story consists of letters written by Lydia Grace Finch during the Great Depression, accompanied by beautiful pictures which really help tell the story. The first couple of letters are to her Uncle Jim, to whom her family is... Continue Reading →
The Sword in the Tree
Set in the days of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, The Sword in the Tree by Clyde Robert Bulla tells the story of Shan, the son of Lord Weldon. Shan dreams of becoming a great knight like his beloved father, but then his nefarious uncle appears at the castle gate. Lord... Continue Reading →
Patricia Polacco
I discovered Patricia Polacco when writing a book review on books about the Civil War. Polacco wrote a deeply moving picture book about a friendship between two boys in the Civil War, one from Michigan and one a runaway slave, called Pink and Say. (Pink and Say is not for younger children - I'd wait... Continue Reading →
The Penderwicks
Our family's new favorite books are about the Penderwick family, written by Jeanne Birdsall. We love each of the four girls, who don't have a mother, but do have a doting and somewhat distracted father. The first book The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy introduces readers... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 