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 →
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 →
The Skippack School
The Skippack School by Marguerite de Angeli takes awhile to get into, but it is worth it. As my nine-year-old put it, "It starts out boring, but then it gets interesting." The main character is Eli, recently arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany with his parents and two younger sisters. His story starts on Pennsylvania soil,... Continue Reading →
The Thanksgiving Story
Most children who've been to preschool can probably tell you the first Thanksgiving involved Indians and Pilgrims, and perhaps even have a paper Pilgrim collar and hat or Indian headband to prove it. The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh will help children understand who the Pilgrims were and why they celebrated Thanksgiving with the Indians.... Continue Reading →
Betsy-Tacy
I am surprised I did not find the Betsy-Tacy books as a child. My children and I have discovered them recently, and have enjoyed them. Maud Hart Lovelace wrote Betsy-Tacy based upon her childhood growing up in Mankato, Minnesota. Betsy hopes a family with children will move in across the street from her, especially a... Continue Reading →
Nancy Drew
This week, my 10-year-old daughter and I are reading The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene for a mother-daughter book club at the library. It got me thinking about how much I loved Nancy Drew as a child. By no means would I categorize Nancy Drew as stellar children's literature. However, Nancy Drew books... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 