Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
As I was scrolling through my new-to-me library's Overdrive collection, I found The Magic World by E. Nesbit. I have heard the author's name before, but couldn't place where (& still can't, tho Google tells me she wrote over 60 books - all children's literature). This book is perfect for shorter drives with children. Each... 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 →
Lisa and her friends live on farms outside a village in the Swedish countryside. They enjoy simple pleasures of life - crayfishing in a local pond, celebrating Christmas, enjoying walks home from school, shopping at the local market for their mothers. The Children of Noisy Village was written by Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking... 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 →
America the Beautiful: Together We Stand is a beautiful picture book celebrating the diversity of the United States of America. It includes the poem Katharine Lee Bates wrote, which later became a much-loved patriotic song. The publisher, Orchard Books, recruited ten different children's book artists to illustrated the poem - which includes a wide variety... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 