The Mysterious Giant of Barletta adapted and illustrated by Tomie DePaola*

An Italian Folktale
In southern Italy, in Barletta, a giant statue of a man stands outside a church.  No one knows who he represents or how he got there!  The residents tell stories about him, and Mr. DePaola shares a delightful story how the statue saves the town in the eleventh century.
An army is marching towards peaceful Barletta.  Zia Concetta and the giant statue confer and come up with a plan to intimate the army.
A wonderful story that will delight readers-old and young alike!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Sarah Mackenzie on Read Aloud Revival featured this book as "book of the week" recently.  It is being reissued.  I read the 1984 version. 
Link to Read Aloud Revival:
https://readaloudrevival.com/botw-030-2/

The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson illustrated by Dusan Petricic*

This picture book is based on an actual event.  On January 12, 2007, Joshua Bell, a famous violinist took his Stradivarius  to L'Enfant Plaza Station in Washington, D.C. and played his violin.  As he played for forty-three minutes, only seven people stopped to listen.  People noramlly pay over $100 to hear him pay.  That day?  In his violin case was $32.17!!  Children seemed to want to stop, but their parents rushed them to the next destination. 
This story is from the  perspective of a boy who wanted to stop and listen, but was not permitted by his harried mother.
A short biography about Joshua Bell is included after the story along with details about the Jan. 12th experiment in Washington,D.C..
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

A Slip of a Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff*

A novel in verse
The English lord is threatening to evict Anna and her family from their family home if they do not pay the rent.  Anna and her father are arrested for fighting back.  Anna manages to "slip" out of jail, pick up her mentally handicapped sister and travel to a grumpy aunt's house. 
Readers will be in awe of Anna's determination and courage as she fights for her home and family.
Based on the Drumlish Land Wars in 1881.
Irish words and places are defined/explained in the back.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill*

My sister-in-law read this book aloud to my four year old nephew/her son and recommended it to me.

Frederika (aka Fred) narrates about the year Miss Agnes teaches in their one-room schoolhouse in rural Alaska.  Miss Agnes is not the like the other teachers.  She packs up the Dick and Jane readers and writes her own stories for them to read!  In all the subjects she makes learning come alive and relevant.  Soon the children's learning spreads to adults in the fishing village.  The question that hangs heavily in the air, "But will she stay beyond a year?".  Most teachers only last one year in this unique area of the world. 
This book reveals the far reaching impact of education.
Miss Agnes is the kind of teacher who inspires . . . she is the ideal teacher.
Strategies: inferring, asking questions
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Big What Now Book of Learning Styles by Carol Barnier*

I heard Mrs. Barnier on Focus on the Family a week ago or so.  Fortunately the library owns her book as she offers many great insights on making learning come alive!  The book is divided into two sections: 1. Understanding Learning Styles   2. Keys You Can Use to Unlock Learning (each chapter is dedicated to different subjects plus a review chapter and another chapter about how children learn).
I especially appreciate her fun ditties and the mnemonics she shares!
The writing style is friendly, fun and conversational.  Very easy to read and understand.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

An ABC of Flowers by Jutta Hilpuesch

Each letter of the alphabet is represented with a corresponding photograph of a flower.  Amelie, a drawing of a small girl, plays on the flowers in creative ways.  The way Ms. Hilpuesch positions Amelie and what activities she has her perform on the flower/with the flower are very creative and clever.
Only the capital letters are shown.
I like flowers and am familiar with many species,  but I learned some new names (Billy Ball/Button, Laceleaf, Ulex)!
-Borrowed from the library.
Strategy: building schema

In Mary's Garden by Tina and Carson Kugler

This author/illustrator team grew up in Milwaukee, very familiar with Mary Nohl's fantastical creature garden.
Although the text is simple/short, the book gives a comprehensive overview of Mary's artistic development and her unique style.
I liked the additional biographical information in the back.
-Borrowed from the library.

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern*

I read this middle grade novel aloud to my nine year old.  He loved it.  Even my twelve year old listened toward the end.
The novel begins when Chester, a chocolate lab, is still with his mother, hoping to be paired with "his person".  Penny, a dog trainer, takes him to her home to train him to be a service dog.  One big problem.  Loud noises scared him.  As a result, he does not pass his service dog test.  Penny, however, thinks she has discovered that he can learn to read.  She reluctantly allows him to live with a family with an autistic son, Gus.  At first Chester does not know how he can help Gus, but over time Chester learns how to read and understand him.  When Gus really needs him, he is removed from the home and living with Penny.  How can he convince her to return him to the home where "his person" is?
Ms. McGovern's one son is autistic so she authentically portrays the struggle and heart ache a family with autism experiences.
The book is told from Chester's point of view, which bothered me for a bit, but soon the story swept me away, and it was okay!
*Highly recommended by my nine year old.

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers*

A naked body only wearing pince-nez is found in Mr. Thipps' bathtub.  When Lord Peter Wimsey's mother, a duchess, hears about this shocking event, she calls her son to investigate.  His observation skills and intellect are put to test as he analyzes the how, the who and the why. 

Meanwhile, Sir Reuben Levy has disappeared.  Parker, a police investigator, joins Wimsey in the investigation, initially thinking the body in the bathtub was Levy.

Since I mostly read this novel for a few minutes before bed each night, I sometimes struggled keeping the different characters straight in my head (no fault of the author). 
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery first published in 1923 (the British charm, humor and wit).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via Inter Lib. Loan

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

Sarah Mackenzie interviewed Amanda Dykes on a recent podcast for Read Aloud Revival.  Ms. Dykes shared a bit of the plot about her first novel, Whose Waves These Are.  

Throughout the novel, the plot switches between Bob Bliss during WW II through the 1960's and Annie Bliss in the year 2001. 

After losing his twin brother Roy, Bob writes a poem about sorrow, invites the reader to send him a rock for the person he/she lost and he would build something that offers life.  He submits the poem to the local newspaper and to his surprise, rocks appear at the Ansel-by-the-Sea's post office. 

In 2001, Bob has an accident.  Bess, a local diner cook, summons Annie, his great niece from Chicago, to come back to Maine to be by his side.  Once there Annie begins uncovering the past which just might bring healing to her own life and her parents' lives, and also may allow her to experience abundant life again.

I loved how the different stories and lives are intertwined-past and present.  My favorite characters were Bob, Jeremiah and Ed.  For awhile I did not really like Annie . . .she felt underdeveloped or too closed off to the reader, even though she was a main character. 
The town of Ansel-by-the-Sea and its people were endearing.  I would definitely love to visit or live in this fictional town!
I did not like the use of present tense to tell the story.  It irritated me for some reason.  By the middle of the book I had settled into it okay, but it still did not sit well with me.
This book reinforces that everyone has a story and that God offers hope and redemption, even if the situation seems beyond heart-breaking.
-Borrowed from the library.

Sea Glass Summer by Michelle Houts illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline*

A beautiful book -words, story and illustrations
Thomas spends the summer with his grandmother on an island.  She shares with him the joys of collecting sea glass.  She relates to him how his deceased grandfather had believed that each piece of sea glass has a story to share.  After he finds a piece of sea glass, he lays it on his bedside table and dreams of its origins. 
The story comes full circle at the end.
A very satisfying story that encourages imagination and exploration.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Golem by David Wisniewski *

Caldecott Medal Winner
In 1580, in Prague, the Jews were segregated to a Ghetto.  Lies were being spread about their Passover ceremonies, so people despised them.  The chief rabbi, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, creates Golem to help protect the Jews.  When Golem fulfills his purpose, he will return to the earth.
Quickly the reader will sympathize with Golem and be heart broken when he must die.
After reading Sweep A Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier,  I was curious about this Jewish creature.  Mr. Auxier recommended this specific book.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warning: The Golem dies, crumbling to the earth.  May be really sad to sensitive readers.

A Dream of Flight by Rob and Polivka and Jef Polivka illustrated by Rob Polivka*

Alberto Santos-Dumont's Race Around the Eiffel Tower
Alberto dreams of humans flying.  When he leaves Brazil to study in Paris, France, he finds the opportunity to design a balloon to fly around the Eiffel Tower and back to the Aero Club in less than thirty minutes.  He designs not one balloon, but six balloons before he experiences success.
Alberto's story reinforces the importance of perseverance, optimism, problem solving and work ethic.
Inspiring!
The author and illustrators are brothers.  They bring to life this endearing man through the excellent narration and illustrations.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

With rhyming text, the author shares the adventures of a boy in his yellow kayak on the sea.  A whimsical giraffe accompanies him.
I did not care for the color scheme in the illustrations.
-Borrowed from the library.

Rascal by Sterling North illustrated by John Schoenherr**

Winner of the Dutton Animal Book Award - 1963
Newbery Honor Book
A Memoir of a Better Era
I read aloud this book to my nine year old son.  We enjoyed it immensely.
Twelve year old Sterling recalls the year (May 1918- March/April 1919) he raises a raccoon which he names Rascal.  The reader experiences their adventures in the wilderness, in town, with family, and on the family farm. 
Readers will admire Sterling's resourcefulness and cleverness as he navigates raising a raccoon among some town folk who do not appreciate the intelligent pet. 
The writing is superb.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library (but if I see if for sale somewhere, I will be buying it).
Points to discuss: Evolution was treated as fact.  It says the reverend swears (not swear words printed, though). 

Winterhouse by Ben Guterson illustrated by Chloe Bristol

When Elizabeth arrives home from school, she finds a note from her cruel aunt and uncle stating that she is spend Christmas vacation at the Winterhouse Hotel.  Mysterious encounters begin on the bus ride to the hotel.  The three weeks at Winterhouse Hotel overflow with mysteries, word puzzles, and new friendships.  Elizabeth begins understand more about her past and discovers her own magical powers.
Exciting and entertaining!
The plot/characters vaguely remind me of Harry Potter.
I really liked the cutaway windows revealing the different characters on the book cover.
Warnings: magic, characters try to revive an evil person, spirits
Each chapter title includes a word ladder.
Sequel: The Secrets of Winterhouse (The third one of the trilogy will be published late 2019-The Winterhouse Mysteries)
-Borrowed from the library.

Edison by Torben Kuhlmann*

The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure
Pete, a young mouse, asks the Professor to help him construct a vessel that can venture to the bottom of the ocean.  After a lot of research and experiments, the pair is able to assemble a successful vessel.  The treasure they find sheds light on the development of the light bulb.
Readers will have an introduction to the history of electric light and also Thomas Alva Edison.
The illustrations, once again, are amazing.  Mr. Kuhlmann is very talented.
*Highly recommend (longer text so it will appeal to older readers).
-Borrowed from the library.

The Boy and the Ocean by Max Lucado illustrated by T. Lively Fluharty

A boy with his parents deepen their understanding of God and His great love as they enjoy the powerful ocean and majestic mountains.
Lyrical writing and exquisite illustrations.
-Borrowed from the library.