Answering Your Kids' Toughest Questions by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson*

"Helping Them Understand Loss, Sin, Tragedies and Other Hard Topics"
The authors address topics children (and adults!) that may arouse questions: sin, death, suicide, Satan, Hell, demons, divorce, adultery, doubt, homosexuality, sexual abuse, pornography, violence, war, terrorism.
In each chapter the authors write about the theology for each topic with the adult in mind.  Then , for each topic, they dedicate a section called "Talking to  Your Kids" and break it down into age groups (preschool, ages 5-10, and 11 and up) and offer ways to answer the questions to each age group.
It will be a book where I will need to reread as questions come up.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik illustrated by Maurice Sendak*

This collection of stories about Little Bear and his mother are delightful.
In this book, Little Bear tries to become warm while playing in the snow, fears his mother has forgotten to make him a birthday cake, and tries to fly to the moon.  The last story reviews the previous three in a fun way.
My six year old and I took turns reading the pages aloud to each.
A perfect book for advancing beginning readers.
Guided Reading Level: J (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 1.8
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.

Who is Driving? by Leo Timmers*

I would love to share this book with toddlers/preschoolers!
A line of animals wearing outfits, each holding a key, is walking towards a vehicle.  By using the illustrations, the reader can try to guess who will be driving the specific vehicle.
The following page shows which animal is correct and the animal is driving the vehicle away.
A great book to build schema and to encourage observation and logical thinking.
Strategies: building schema, predicting
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

My Bus by Byron Barton*

The main character from the book My Car , who is a bus driver, picks up  cats and dogs at different bus stops.
I love how the parent/reader can incorporate counting, adding, and subtracting  concepts with this book.
As always, Mr. Barton has a cute surprise ending.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Blocks by Irene Dickson*

Ruby is playing with her red blocks.
Benji comes along with his blue blocks.
They build, side by side, contently until Benji takes one of Ruby's red blocks.
A toddler argument ensues with shouts of "mine!".
A wonderful book about sharing.
I love the thought that the author/illustrator put into the design and concepts.  A parent/reader can really expand on colors by pointing out and talking about the following:
1. The first letters of their names correlates with the color blocks they are using
2. Their shirts and shoes or socks match the color blocks they are using.
The end pages are well thought out too.
Larger size book so perfect for baby/toddler story time.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Seven Men by Eric Metaxas*

"And the Secret of Their Greatness"
My boys and I were reading about John Newton and how he was influential in William Wilberforce's life.  I raved a few seconds about Wilberforce and my enthusiasm piqued their interest.  So they wanted me to read to them a book about Wilberforce.  Alas, I could not find any children's books about him so I read aloud the section about him in Mr. Metaxas' book.
Even though this book is written for teens and adults, my boys loved listening to this book and begged me to keep reading!
Wilberforce lived during a time in Britain where having a relationship with God was not fashionable.  Their beliefs and lifestyles were appalling.  Wilberforce used his influence and political power to transform the hearts and minds of the British.
This short account glorifies God in that He is always working in our lives and others' lives.
Other men featured in this book: George Washington, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, Pope John Paul II, and Charles W. Colson.
I think every male (and female) teenager should read this book!!
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library but want to purchase it to share with my boys.

Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik*

My six year old and I took turns reading the pages aloud to each other.
Extra special to read with him since this book is mine from elementary school!
Little Bear spends a day with his grandparents where they tell him stories and have lots of fun.
Strategy: connections (T-S)
Guided Reading Level: J (2nd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.7
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.  He liked it so much that we went to an used book store and bought two other books in the series!

As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark

Delaney, a television journalist, longs to find her birth mother.
Betsy Grant, a wife of a surgeon who was suffering from early on-set Alzheimer's disease,  is charged with his murder.
As Delaney attends the court hearings and reports the events on the evening news, she finds herself sympathizing with Betsy, concluding that she is innocent.
Meanwhile, Delaney's friends Alvirah and Willy Meehan (favorite characters from Ms. Clark's other novels) investigate into her birth parents and after much searching they come upon an interesting discovery!
Very suspenseful.
Ms. Clark's a classy writer whose writing I have loved since I was a teenager!  She proves one does not need to include swearing, intimate scenes or trashy scenes to make a book sell.
I was a bit tired of reading the courtroom scenes in the beginning of the book.
-Borrowed from the library.

Dare to Care Pet Dragon by M.P. Robertson illustrated by Sally Symes*

The layout is like a nonfiction book about caring for an animal, except this is caring for a dragon!
Table of contents, diagrams, labels, fact boxes, headings create a nonfiction format.
My nine year old son loved it!
A very fun, creative book.
A must-read for dragon lovers of all ages!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.