Mike Venezia has written over two dozen very engaging books about famous artists in his series Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists. Each book in the series focuses on one particular artist, from Botticelli to Andy Warhol, from Monet to Jackson Pollock and many in between. Venezia does a great job of telling readers... Continue Reading →
Madeline
Before Fancy Nancy, girls fell in love with Madeline. Girls still love Madeline - and for good reason. Ludwig Bemelmans created Madeline after he moved to the United States and became a US citizen. Bemelmans wrote and illustrated several Madeline books, most of which take place in Paris, France. Children love the lilting rhyme of... Continue Reading →
How Artists See:
Colleen Carroll has created treasures for parents who wish to teach their children about art - especially those who don't know much about art themselves. Her series of books titled How Artists See... give parents and children a common vocabulary with which to discuss paintings. Each two-page spread focuses on a different painting and guides... Continue Reading →
The Cat in the Hat
No American childhood would be complete without reading Dr. Seuss's famous book The Cat in the Hat. Hollywood has taken to turning Dr. Seuss's simple children's books into movies - but as with most movies, the books are better. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of a boy and his sister, left alone... Continue Reading →
What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
Children studying the Revolutionary War will find What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz. Fritz starts with information every child is curious about - Franklin's childhood. Instead of boring readers with facts and figures, Fritz tells stories from Franklin's life - of how he taught himself to swim different strokes, how he studied... Continue Reading →
McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm
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 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 →
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 →
Cultivating Readers 