Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Mira has learned to do things she never thought she would do. But she will do nearly anything it takes to keep her mother and sister Hannah fed and safe - if there is such a thing - in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. As she struggles to survive and provide, she’s comforted by her... Continue Reading →
Jack Baker has lost his mother and his home all at once. He also gained a father he's not seen since before World War II began. They don't know how to be together without Jack's mom. And now Jack is at a strange boarding school in Maine - a continent away from his home in... Continue Reading →
Sora Pak and her family live by a very strict set of rules. The family Bible is hidden under the floor. They must attend the local communist meetings. Their friends and neighbors keep disappearing. But they are afraid to leave their North Korean village. Until the war comes so close, they decide this is their... Continue Reading →
Bronze and Sunflower are the names of two children in China who become inseparable friends - and eventually family. This sweet story by Cao Wenxuan was translated from Chinese by Helen Wang. Set during the Cultural Revolution, Bronze and Sunflower is a story of love, hardships and family life in the Chinese countryside (and not... Continue Reading →
Heroes of the Holocaust by Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun may seem like strange reading for Christmastime. I found it to be the perfect book to read to remind me of all the blessings I have in the midst of a difficult year. This book highlights teens from around Europe and their stories of resistance... Continue Reading →
He has no memory of what happened. Or who he is. Because his past is blank, Brother Andrew decides to name him Alexander - Xan for short. So Xan joins the life of the Abbey, hoping that at some point he’ll remember what happened and find his real family. Shadow in the Dark by Antony... Continue Reading →
Retelling fairy tales is a popular pastime these days. Did Gail Carson Levine start this trend with her clever retelling of Cinderella and other fairy tales? It doesn’t matter, really. What matters are the fun and excellent books which have come about as authors give their spin on well-known stories. In The Cottage in the... Continue Reading →
How can anyone resist a book with such an adorable puppy on the cover? Not me, that’s who. Plus, one of my favorite authors, Joan Bauer, wrote Raising Lumie, so choosing it at the library was a no-brainer. Olive has done her research. She has saved her money and has started working towards her goal... Continue Reading →
On the last day of summer, Julie and her little sister Martha find a baby. A real, live baby in a basket on the steps of the library. Their neighbor, Bruno, is on his way to catch the train on an important errand for his older brother when he spots them. Errand forgotten, he follows... Continue Reading →
Here’s a classic I have never read - until this weekend. I found it in the homeschool box, realized the kids all had to read it and thought I’d better read it, too. Who knew Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne would be so captivating? Maybe you did, but I didn’t! This... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 