Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Many years ago, my sister told me I needed to read The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. I looked at her a bit strangely, because it is a picture book, and I didn't have any children at the time. "Really, Michelle, read it." I conceded. And... Continue Reading →
If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche is a beautiful picture book which tells the stories of houses around the world. I love this book for so many reasons. First, Laroche created beautiful bas-relief cut-paper collages for each of the pages, which are fun to examine. Second, Laroche provides several levels... Continue Reading →
Ling and Ting are twins, and many people say they look exactly alike. But they are not exactly the same - as the stories in Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin show. In each story, Ling & Ting discover something different about themselves: haircuts, ease of using chopsticks, making dumplings, etc.... Continue Reading →
My 12-year-old told me over and over again, "Mom, you need to read Once Upon a Marigold!" When she checked it out, for the third time, I decided to see what she was so excited about. And I'm glad I did. Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris is a delightful read - a funny,... Continue Reading →
The people were mourning their king, who was dying. They were also fearful of the future, because the king's son & heir, Prince Raphael, was not a pleasant person. As the king lay dying, he blessed his son, saying, "You cannot wear my crown until the day you marry a woman who is your equal... Continue Reading →
Private Voytek of the transport company of the 2nd Polish Corps of the British Army in World War II turned lots of heads, and made many other soldiers scream in fright. Why? He was a bear. Yes, a Syrian brown bear. A few Polish soldiers who had escaped Russia into Iran picked him up somewhere... Continue Reading →
Norway in winter seems insulated against the forces at work on the European mainland in 1940. But then, Nazi paratroopers parachuted into the villages of Norway, and Peter Lundstrom and his friends are called into action. Not to fight the Nazis, but to fool them. Peter and his friends work together with Peter's uncle to... Continue Reading →
The mosquito is causing problems in the jungle - no surprise, right? But this mosquito is not causing problems for people. Not quite yet. This mosquito is causing problems between the animals. In Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema, readers learn the mosquito buzzed in the ear of an iguana, telling a... Continue Reading →
For most people, the thought of dandelions brings thoughts of desperate efforts to eradicate them from their yards. But for Zoe, dandelions are a symbol of hope. Hope that her mother will feel at home on the prairies of Nebraska. Hope that their sod house will soon feel like home. Hope that the family will... Continue Reading →
The little ghost Georgie takes great comfort in his evening routine. He makes the stair creak, the parlor door squeak, and the inhabitants of his house know what they need to do next. It's the same routine every evening. Until Mr. Whittaker decides to fix the creak in the stair, and oil the parlor door's... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 