Kids of all ages will enjoy the tall tales in McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm by Sid Fleischman. Fleischman has a breezy, easy-to-read writing style perfect for children. In McBroom's, Josh McBroom is on his way west with his dear wife, Melissa, and their "eleven, redheaded, freckle-faced youngsters. Their names were Willjillhesterchesterpeterpollytimtommarylarryandlittleclarinda." Try saying that ten... Continue Reading →
A Single Shard
An orphan boy and a crippled man live together under the bridge of a small Korean village in the twelfth-century. Crane-man and Tree-ear scrounge for food in the village's rubbish heaps by day. In the evenings, they discuss philosophies encountered throughout their day. For as Crane-man says, Scholars read the great words of the world. ... Continue Reading →
A Grain of Rice
This short, little story will delight both you and your children. In A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman, the peasant Pong Lo asks the Emporer of China for his daughter's hand in marriage. The Emperor, along with all his court, is scandalized by his request. How on earth could a poor farmer ask... Continue Reading →
The Princess Tales
As a girl, my favorite part of visiting Grandma's house was the three volume The Family Treasury of Children's Stories. Volume Two was my favorite, because it was a collection of fairy tales from all over the world. These were the real deal, not the Disney-fied, Americanized versions. And I read them every time we... Continue Reading →
Phoebe the Spy
Nearly every school-age child can tell you about General George Washington. But could they tell you about the girl who saved his life? Phoebe the Spy (originally titled Phoebe and the General) by Judith Berry Griffin tells the story of Phoebe, a girl in Boston who saved the general's life during the Revolutionary War. Phoebe... Continue Reading →
Mary on Horseback
This small, short book carries in it the power to bring tears to your eyes. Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories by Rosemary Wells tells the story of three people whose lives were changes forever by the life and work of Mary Breckinridge. Breckinridge trained as a nurse during World War I, served in France,... Continue Reading →
The Usborne Advent Nativity Book
When my kids were tiny, we would make a paper ring chain to count down the days until Christmas. When they got too old for that, I looked for Advent calendars to help us count down the days until Christmas. But they were either too pricey, too flimsy, or had things my kids could fight... Continue Reading →
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is my favorite Christmas book ever. I've read it, loved it, and laughed a loud every December with it since my childhood. It's a refreshing, hilarious look at the traditional church Christmas pageant, told from the eyes of one of the participants. Due to circumstances beyond her... Continue Reading →
Frog & Toad
Beginning readers will enjoy getting to know Frog & Toad, characters created by Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad are best friends. They enjoy spending time together, learning from each other, and helping to cheer each other up when one is down. The short stories trace their friendship and their usually-quite-funny predicaments - like the time... Continue Reading →
The Charlatan’s Boy
I was prepared to dislike The Chalatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers. The loud yellow-and-red cover didn't appeal to me and the publisher's blurb on the back reminded me of Avi's John-Newbery-Award-winning book, Crispin: The Cross of Lead. I enjoyed Crispin, and thought The Charlatan's Boy would just be a knock-off. I could not have been... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 