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 →
Finally coming up for air after several busy weeks moving to a new state. (This was written in 2017.) While busy packing and unpacking, I enjoyed listening to one of my favorite middle grade authors, Andrew Clements. He writes fun, and funny, books which are great for light reading - and for starting discussions, if... Continue Reading →
The monks of the Chronicles of Sorrowing fear the goat the most. Answelica has taken a piece of each of them with her sharp teeth and hard head. So when Brother Edik finds a child asleep with Answelica, he is terrified. How did that child get there? And what will that goat do to her?... Continue Reading →
I remembered loving Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. However, I didn’t write a review the first time I read it. I reread it on Christmas Eve (20. I laughed. I got teary. I am continually amazed by DiCamillo’s ability to tell such a beautiful story with few words. I was excited to see DiCamillo wrote... Continue Reading →
Do you remember the Encyclopedia Brown books by Donald J. Sobol? I loved these books as a kid. Rereading the first one as an adult, I found it borders on cheesy. That does not mean even modern-day kids won't enjoy the little mysteries Encyclopedia solves for 25-cents each. Highly recommended for young readers - read... Continue Reading →
With all the change in my life right now (I wrote this review several years ago), I find myself gravitating towards books that feel like familiar friends. I remember listening to The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry years ago with my children and enjoying it. I find it ironic I listened to it again so... 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 →
Judith goes by many different names. Aunt Cora calls her Jubliee. “You’re a celebration, my dear!” she says. Gideon, the ferry pilot, calls her Red, because of her red hair. The neighborhood boy, Travis, calls her No-Talk Girl, which she doesn’t really mind because she can tell he likes her. But Judith really wants a... Continue Reading →
Baseball is Jeremiah's life. He eats it, breathes it. So when the doctors tell him he can't play after a major operation, Jeremiah decides to shift his focus. He will coach baseball. His opportunity comes sooner than he expects. He and his dad move to a small town in Ohio with a great baseball tradition.... Continue Reading →
Jack Plank loved being a pirate. His fellow pirates liked him a lot too. But after a bit, it became clear to everyone that Jack was no good at plundering. That was OK, because someone needed to stay behind and keep the soup warm. But then hard times hit pirating, and the pirates couldn't keep... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 