Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
My girls grabbed Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett before I had a chance to read it. Every time I picked it up, they both told me, "Oh Mom, you'll love that book! It's really funny!" And it is! Barnett, and his illustrator Adam Rex, get quite involved in the story Barnett is writing.... Continue Reading →
My 12-year-old daughter read Powerless by Matthew Cody and insisted that I read it too. I'm glad she did. Powerless is a story about superheroes - but not the well-known comic book kind. These superheroes are kids who have super powers. All except Daniel. He is just an ordinary kid who loves detective stories, and... Continue Reading →
The saying goes, "The grass is always greener..." The main characters in The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech truly believe that saying. Pia and Enzio believe life has to be perfect for the princes and princess living in the Castle Corona. But the king, queen, princes and princess do not think their life is perfect... Continue Reading →
Princesses are supposed to be beautiful, aren't they? Drop-dead gorgeous, even. That's what the King and Queen of Phantasmorania expected of their seventh daughter. The other six girls were just what everyone expected princesses to be. But the Queen and the Ministers of State decided that all the fairies needed to be invited to the... Continue Reading →
Twelve-year-old Rob Horton cannot believe his eyes. He has discovered a real, live tiger! It's in the woods behind the hotel, locked in a cage. That very same day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a tough northern girl who strides onto the school bus in a pink dress. No one wears pink dresses to school, even... Continue Reading →
Lina Mayfleet is anxiously awaiting her assignment. She wants to be a Messenger, because she loves to run. Doon Harrow is equally anxious. He wants to do something to help his dying city - be an electrician so he can work on the generator which keeps the lights on, and the darkness away. Their work... Continue Reading →
Robin McKinley does a masterful job of retelling the classic "Beauty and the Beast" fairytale in her classic book, Beauty. Beauty hates her nickname. She feel thin and awkward compared to her beautiful sisters. After her father's business failures forces them to move to the country, she and her sisters make the best of their... Continue Reading →
The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting is a surprise - at least it surprised me. It tells the story of Anna and her Grandmother, who comes on Wednesdays to stay with her while her mother works late and her older brother goes to basketball practice. The two of them are working on a surprise for... Continue Reading →
In the spirit of Black Stallion, War Horse by Michael Morpurgo tells the story of a horse. Joey, a big red bay, narrates his story - from the time he was a colt sold at auction to the time he returns from World War I. He enjoys a special relationship with Albert, the son of... Continue Reading →
The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups by David Wisniewski is proof that picture books are not just for toddlers and preschoolers. Children that age will not understand this book. Secret Knowledge is for older children, those who can appreciate the humor in Wisniewski's explanation of everyday things grown-ups tell children. Take, for example, "Don't jump on... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 