Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Beatrice lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and everyone comments on how clever she is. One day, Beatrice’s mother sadly places the last bowl of porridge in front of her. Beatrice decides she needs to go into the north woods and make some money to help her mother. Her mother dismisses the idea. Beatrice certainly could... Continue Reading →
The Poet’s Dog is another beautiful tale from the author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan. Nickel and Flora are stranded in a blizzard when Teddy finds them. He takes them back to the cabin he shared with Sylvan, before he left. Teddy and the children get to know each other and begin to... Continue Reading →
Pinmei's grandmother is the neighborhood storyteller and always has the perfect story for Pinmei and the villagers. But the emperor's soldiers break into Pinmei's house and kidnaps her grandmother. Fortunately, Grandmother was able to hid Pinmei in a large pot, so the soldiers didn't kidnap her. So Pinmei and her friend Yishan set out to... Continue Reading →
I’ll be honest. I picked up this short, little book because of the Scandinavian art on the cover. I love Scandinavian folk art, and thought this book could be enjoyable because of it. I was not wrong. When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina Nannestad should be a classic. I loved this sweet story of... Continue Reading →
Can a kite really bridge two nations? Homan Walsh wonders the same thing. But Homan loves to fly kites, so when he finds out about a contest for kite flyers, he is ready to compete. The winner will receive $10 and the honor of determining the place to build a bridge between the U.S. and... Continue Reading →
Little Annie wants her dad to tell a story. So she pulls down the blue coffee can, curls up on his lap, and listens to the story about the coffee can kid. Her father tells her of a baby born to a very poor mother in a land far away. This mother, and grandmother could... Continue Reading →
"Dylan was someone who noticed things. His mom was someone who wasn't." Ouch. How many times am I guilty of that? Focusing on my to-do list while ignoring everything around me? This day, Dylan noticed music. He asked his mom to stop to listen, but she was too busy. The music captivated Dylan - he... Continue Reading →
All children have dreams, hopes and wishes. One little girl's wish feels unrealistic - she cannot find a star to wish upon in the bright night sky of New York City. But her mother finds a way to nurture her daughter's dream - reminding her that hope is hard work, and demonstrating that fact by... Continue Reading →
I love to read stories about family history, whether it is mine or someone else's. Lucky for me, Elaine Snyder tells the story of her grandparents who immigrated from Russia to New York City around the 1900's in Anna & Solomon. This is a sweet story - one with a sad beginning, but a happy... Continue Reading →
Paris is a beautiful city (I'm told - I've haven't been there yet), one that people of all ages can enjoy. Children and parents alike will enjoy A Walk in Paris by Salvatore Rubbino, a beautifully illustrated picture book which gives an overview of the city from a little girl's perspective. Even though I've... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 