What is truly amazing about Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy is that this young man could write such a beautiful book from the first-person perspective of a young Afgani girl. Zulaikha (thankfully, there’s pronunciation guide in the back of the book) loves her family, especially her older sister and her father. They don’t... Continue Reading →
A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson
You haven’t heard of Peanut Johnson? That’s OK, not many have. If you love baseball, even if you don’t, you will enjoy A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson by Michelle Y. Green. Written in first person, Green did an excellent job capturing the voice of Mamie Johnson, her expressions, interjections and... Continue Reading →
Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins
I'm so excited to tell you about the newest books in a couple of my favorite series! The Interrupted Tale is the latest installment in Maryrose Wood's series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. Our favorite governess, Penelope Lumley, takes the children back to her school, the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females. The headmistress... Continue Reading →
It’s Thanksgiving
If turkey's thought, they'd run away A week before Thanksgiving Day, but turkeys can't anticipate, And so there's turkey on my plate. My children and I always enjoy a good rhyme from author Jack Prelutsky. In It's Thanksgiving, Prelutsky entertains readers with short and long poems about Thanksgiving. Written for beginning readers, this book has... Continue Reading →
The Beginner’s Guide to Running Away From Home
Almost every child has harbored the desire to run away from home. For those who haven't worked up the courage to do so, Jennifer Larue Huget's The Beginner's Guide to Running Away From Home will help. Or will it? The main character is running away from home. He has many reasons to do so, and... Continue Reading →
Emily of New Moon
If you love Ann of Green Gables, you will enjoy reading L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon trilogy. Emily is a spirited, imaginative girl - quite similar to Anne. But while readers meet Anne as an orphan, readers share in Emily's shock when her beloved father dies. She soon discovers her lot is to move... Continue Reading →
Through the Skylight
The cover illustration of children riding stone winged lions through the air caught my attention. It looked interesting - and unusual. And Through the Skylight by Ian Baucom certainly was both interesting and unusual. Set in modern-day Venice, siblings Jared, Shireen and Miranda are stuck exploring every. single. art. exhibit. in this Italian city. Their... Continue Reading →
Afternoon of the Elves
Hillary is an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life - until her neighbor Sara-Kate tells her elves have built a village in her backyard. Could it be true? Hillary isn't sure, but the idea of elves is too interesting to ignore. So against the advice of her friends at school, Hillary ventures through the backyard... Continue Reading →
Bully
Some of my kids are afraid to attend the public schools because they've read so much about bullies. It doesn't matter what I say, what their public-schooled siblings say - they have seared into their brains the stories they've read or listened to about bullies at school. Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger will be a... Continue Reading →
A Whole Nother Story
You know you have found an excellent book when everyone in your family loves it - including your 15-year-old and your husband who doesn't enjoy listening to audio books. My 10-year-old picked out A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup to listen to in the van. The children and I keep an audio book... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 