Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Adam and his father traveled the roads of England in the 1200's as wandering minstrels - and Adam loved every minute of it. At least until the day he was separated from his father. Then his beloved spaniel, Nick, disappears too. Now Adam wanders the roads of England looking for his father and his dog,... Continue Reading →
If your child is like mine, and an unashamed Civil War buff, he will enjoy reading Tillie Pierce by Tanya Anderson. Tillie grew up in Gettysburg and was there during the entire battle. Her home was downtown, but her parents wanted her to escape the worse of the fighting, so she went to a friend's... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
E.L. Konigsburg is best known for her wonderful book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. She also wrote one of our family's favorite books, A View from Saturday. Now, I have to tell you about another of her books, A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver. This book focuses on the historical... 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 →
Galwyn Varianus is down on his luck. His father is dead and his fortune gone, so Galwyn must apprentice to his uncle, a boat captain. He hates life at sea, but seeing no other option, does his best to fit in and work hard. Then, his uncle agrees to take on passengers - passengers who... Continue Reading →
Normally, I am not a fan of diary-form fiction, but I am making an exception for Karen Cushman's excellent book Catherine, Called Birdy. Birdy is an energetic, sharp-tongued girl living in medieval England. She hates wearing skirts, hemming sheets, spinning, and needlepoint - basically everything about being a daughter of a knight. She is especially... 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 →
Cultivating Readers 