Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Annabelle enjoys her life in rural Pennsylvania, even if it's a little boring. Just as she is wishing for something exciting to happen, Betty Glengarry walks into her classroom. And Annabelle's life changes. Betty is a problem child, who was kicked out of her city school and sent to live with her grandparents. She threatens... Continue Reading →
Matthew J. Kirby is back! I was so very happy when I found The Lost Kingdom, his latest book, at the library. I actually grabbed the audio book, which is excellently read by Charlie McWade. The Lost Kingdom is another entry into Kirby’s unique genre, which I call historical fantasy. It’s historical - set right... Continue Reading →
It seems like a crazy title - how on earth can a war save someone's life? But the title is true to the book. In The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Ada tells her story first-hand. It's a difficult story of abuse and neglect. Ada is crippled, and her mother refuses... Continue Reading →
Georgie knows that her sister is not dead. She believes it with all her heart - even after the sheriff brings back a body with long auburn hair wearing her sister's ballgown. Even after her mother identifies the body as Agatha, Georgie's sister. Even after the whole town turns out for Agatha's funeral. Georgie refuses... Continue Reading →
Marcia Williams has created a fun companion to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in Lizzy Bennet's Diary. Williams follows the storyline of Pride and Prejudice closely, including illustrations and small details of life not included in the book - like the fancy buttonholes Elizabeth is embroidering on a new waistcoat for her father. She also includes the "letters"... Continue Reading →
Manolo has grown up in his father's shadow. His father, the great bullfighter Juan Olivar, was killed during a fight when Manolo was just a small child. But Juan is never far from Manolo's thoughts - the old men in his village won't let him forget. He must always remember his father was the greatest... Continue Reading →
Recently, my children and I learned quite a bit about the work women did to help the war effort during the Civil War. Quite a few women dressed up as men, and joined the army. Other women were couriers or spies. Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy by Seymour... Continue Reading →
Dan and his friends live the ideal small-town life in Grand Island, Nebraska. They swim, ride bikes, hang out together. When a severe thunderstorm alert is issued for that evening, Dan doesn't think much of it. It's a common occurrence in Nebraska. But what happens next is not. Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman... Continue Reading →
Mrs. Frisby, a timid, widowed mouse, has a dilemma. And it’s dire. Her youngest son, always weak, has taken seriously ill. Thankfully, he’s recovering, but he cannot move to their summer home before the plow comes through the garden and wrecks their winter home. What can she do? Courageously, she seeks advice from some unlikely... Continue Reading →
P.K. Pinkerton is in deep trouble... in more ways than one. He is at the bottom of a silver mine, trying to figure out a way to outwit Wittlin' Walt, the Very Bad Man after his inheritance. This is where we find P.K. at the beginning of The Case of the Deadly Desperados, by Caroline... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 