Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are popular topics of books and other adaptations. Gerald Morris wrote Sir Lancelot the Great, one part of his The Knights’ Tales series for young readers. This short chapter book is perfect for readers ready for the next step - and wanting adventures and laughter. The... Continue Reading →
Tommy is trying to do the right thing. His sister, Mary Lou, is in the hospital recovering from horrible burns. She was injured doing his chore. So Tommy takes over Mary Lou’s paper route. Just until she comes home. But he misses her horribly. They were allies in trying to survive their home, their mother’s... Continue Reading →
Eel is hiding. He’s hiding himself, and a secret. He’s an orphan in London in 1854, and that is not an easy life. He works hard - started as a muckraker in the Thames River. That was not a fun job. Through a series of fortunate events, Eel was able to get a job as... 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 →
Cassie Barnes can read people. She can tell who people are and what people want from the tiniest details. At 17, she uses this skill to earn better tips when waitressing, and to stay on the good side of her very large family. But the FBI has other plans. They’re putting together a team, called... Continue Reading →
When I picked up this audiobook in the library, I misread the title. I thought it was Pieces of Sky. Which explains my confusion during the first few chapters of the book. Confusion aside, Pieces of Why by K.L. Going follows the story of Tia, a twelve-year-old singer in New Orleans. Tia and her best... Continue Reading →
I recently read Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk with a book club. We all loved it so much that one of my friends decided to read all of Wolk’s books - and pass them on to me. (Thank you Jan! See also Echo Mountain.) Beyond the Bright Sea tells the story of Crow, a young... Continue Reading →
Cedar thinks her mom might be crazy. They can’t afford a summer house on her mother’s teacher’s salary. But her mom feels a need to spend the summers in her home town, near her family. Cedar can understand that, since everyone desperately misses her Dad and brother Ben, who died in a car accident the... Continue Reading →
I stayed up entirely too late to finish Echo Mountain another excellent story by Lauren Wolk, author of Wolf Hollow. Ellie has decided to make Echo Mountain home since her family lost everything in town during the Depression and had to learn how to make it in the wilderness. Her mother and older sister remember... Continue Reading →
I have picked up Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce several times in the library - and then put it down again. I wasn’t sure I would be interested. But when I heard Batty mention it as one of her favorite books while rellistening to The Penderwicks in Spring, I immediately picked up the audiobook. I... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 