Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are popular topics of books and other adaptations. Gerald Morris wrote Sir Lancelot the Great, one part of his The Knights’ Tales series for young readers. This short chapter book is perfect for readers ready for the next step - and wanting adventures and laughter. The... Continue Reading →
Lisa and her friends live on farms outside a village in the Swedish countryside. They enjoy simple pleasures of life - crayfishing in a local pond, celebrating Christmas, enjoying walks home from school, shopping at the local market for their mothers. The Children of Noisy Village was written by Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking... Continue Reading →
I’ll be honest. I picked up this short, little book because of the Scandinavian art on the cover. I love Scandinavian folk art, and thought this book could be enjoyable because of it. I was not wrong. When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina Nannestad should be a classic. I loved this sweet story of... Continue Reading →
You might think that a story about pioneering families in Alaska would be the most unusual part of Sweet Home Alaska, by Carole Estby Dagg. You’d be wrong. The most unusual part, at least in my opinion, are the names of her main characters - three sisters named after Greek muses. The twins are lucky... Continue Reading →
Lou loves her house - the oldest one in town. It has all sorts of hiding places, history and the library is right across the street. She and her friends have created all sorts of memories in that house. But now, hiding in her favorite spot, she overhears her parents talking. The town council has... Continue Reading →
Life at an English boarding school can be so boring. Hazel Wong has discovered that. She's actually rather OK with boring, but her friend Daisy Wells is not. Daisy has been in trouble for reading mystery novels, but that doesn't stop her. Daisy convinces Hazel to start a secret detective agency at school. But they... Continue Reading →
If you love games and strategy, you’ll love Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein. The famous game inventor Mr. Lemoncello has built a brand new library in his home town in Ohio. To celebrate the grand opening, he’s invited twelve 12-year-olds for an all-night lock-in in the library. Kyle Keeley is determined to... Continue Reading →
Tabitha feels unloved. In fact, she is unloved. Her parents don’t love her, in spite of her efforts to earn their love. Her best friend in the world is a mouse. One day her world changes because of an envelope. In the envelope is an invitation to visit the country estate of the reclusive Countess... Continue Reading →
Esther is determined to join her father in Cuba and work to get the rest of her family out of Poland. She is the oldest child, after all, even if she is a girl. Papa agrees, and Esther travels alone across Europe and the Atlantic to join him in Cuba. Her new home enchants Esther,... Continue Reading →
Gina Filomena has a new neighbor whose wide, welcoming smile catches her off-guard. She like his smile. She likes his imagination, which makes her look at her neighborhood differently. When Antonio shows up at her class, and offers his generous smile to everyone, Gina feels a bit put out. But the tenor of the whole... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 