A girl and her parents visit the blue cottage each summer. The cottage anticipates the girl's arrival each summer. One summer she does not return. The cottage falls into disrepair. A hope-filled ending. I loved the illustrations.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Everything about this book is well-crafted: the story, the unique characters, the writing itself, the setting etc. Unfortunately, I could not finish it because in the first sixty-odd pages a graphic description of a married couple having sex in an unusual way repulsed me.
-Borrowed from the library.
A few more materials featuring M.C. Escher (on a previous post I reviewed two books.)-
Over two days my son and I watched the DVD, The Fantastic World of M.C. Escher. Although this documentary was produced a long time ago, the content was fascinating. I had thought we learn about M.C. Escher's life. Instead it focused on his art. His art is mathematical and imaginative. This film deepened our appreciation for his intellect and his art.
*Highly recommend. -Borrowed from the library.
A World War II Biography
History contains many fascinating facets. I had not known about combat ski soldiers!
Ms. Borden focuses on Peter Seibert, a young man from Massachusetts, who loves to ski. His skiing ability allows him to serve with the 10th Mountain soldiers during WW II in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. He is badly injured. His injury does not prevent him from continuing to ski and from pursuing his dream of starting and running a ski resort, Vail!
Ms. Borden shares Peter's story via verse. The information is presented in an engaging matter. Actual photographs and maps are included. Poetic yet informative!
Perfect for reluctant older readers.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A 61-Day Devotional
My friend gave this booklet to me. God used these short devotionals to impact me throughout the day. Mr. Carroll is concise. Although the text is simple and easy to understand, he explores deeper truths. His incorporation of memorable analogies allowed me to ponder the truths. Some of his conclusions I was not in 100% agreement.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Nory's family is torn apart by the cruel English landlords and the potato blight, aka An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger). Ms. Giff transports the readers into an Irish family, the Irish culture, and this important piece of Irish history. We were recently in Ireland with my extended family and could appreciate the scenes Ms. Giff created.
Superbly researched.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
This book celebrates family, traditions, and rural living. The watercolor illustrations are precise, expressive, and detailed.
All year the Bryan family awaits the day near Christmas when they gather to make cream candy (the description reminds me of pulled taffy?). Cousins, aunts, uncles, and a grandmother drive from far away to stay at the farm where the narrator (I can't figure out his name . . .his Great Gram calls him by the wrong name throughout the entire book!!), his parents, his brothers, and Great-Gram live. This Christmas the narrator's dog, Luke, goes missing and causes him to be distracted from the festivities.
*Highly recommend. Please add it to your stack of Christmas read alouds!
I consider this picture book really a poem. Ms. Rylant captures the essence of November well with her imagery and word choice.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Borden presents the tenacity of Englishman John Harrison as he attempts (and succeeds) to create a clock that allow sailors to calculate longitude. Mr. Blegvad's watercolor and ink art is detailed and intricate. I liked his illustrations so much I requested a couple other books he illustrated.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I first heard of Jolabokaflod on RAR. My sons and I have held this tradition for a couple of years and look forward to it each Christmas Eve.
This whimsical picture book celebrates the season of book giving in Iceland with a lyrical text and imaginative, mixed media illustrations. The history of the tradition is shared at the end.
*Highly recommend for historical interests.
-Borrowed from the library.
This is the second picture book I read about the owl that was discovered in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. I liked this account better. It is co-written by the woman, Ellen Kalish, who nursed him back to health and who eventually released him. Photos of him and his release are included in the author's note.
-Borrowed from the library.
The Sugar Plum Bakers, overseen by Sugar Plum and Mr. Gingerbread, are scurrying to finish their baking so treats can be delivered all over the world. A snowstorm threatens their success. The countdown is on!
-Explanations about each treat is shared. One recipe is included.
-Borrowed from the library.
I loved this novel in verse! Ms. Vanderlugt flawlessly integrates history -both world and familial- with a compelling story. The plot and the characters were well-developed, the history was intriguing, and the writing was beautiful.
Thirteen-year-old Claire resents that she must stay home from school to help her parents in the family's apple orchard. Her brother Danny is overseas fighting the Nazis. Because of the worker shortage, the US requires German POW (and some Italian) to work in the states. As Claire interacts with one of the German POW on her farm, Karl, her opinion about the Germans shifts a bit.
Told from alternating perspectives-Claire and Karl When Karl shares, his poem title is in German, a creative and fun touch. I really cared about and liked both Claire and Karl.
A sad ending but hope shimmers through the devastating events.
*Highly recommend for 5th grade and older because of the heavier topic.
To discuss: The publisher is ZonderKidz, which is a Christian publisher. God is not mentioned as a source of help, hope, or salvation. God is included when the characters attend a funeral or are angry at God about the traumatic situation. He is not the One any of the characters turn to for hope or for rescue. A German POW hits Claire in the face.
-Borrowed from the library.
My fourteen-year-old and I listening to the novel At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon. We love it. I read the entire Mitford series in my twenties and am enjoying even more in my forties! This movie was sappy, cheesy, and unrealistic. My son thought Andie MacDowell's acting was robotic. The movie only adhered to the book by including a few of the character's names, the town's name, and the romantic interest brewing between Father Tim and his new neighbor, Cynthia Coopersmith- A disappointment when compared to the richness of the novel. If one is in the mood for a chickflick, this movie will satisfy.
The novel proclaims Christ's salvation and the power of the Word. The movie does not mention God and only says "add this request to the prayer chain" or "have good thoughts". The book integrates God's truth naturally and beautifully. Such a shame to see it missing!
-Borrowed from the library.
The illustrations in this book are stunning. I like them more than the words!
A girl relates her days and seasons with her Nana in her Nana's garden. Each season possesses its unique joys to relish. Through the illustrations, the reader notices the grandmother aging and eventually can infer her death. She "lives on" through her garden as her granddaughter matures and gives birth to a daughter of her own.
Although sad, this book leaves the reader hopeful.
-Borrowed from the library.
Modern Sherlock Holmes!
My husband and I watched this series many years ago. We are rewatching them with our teenage sons. We are thoroughly enjoying the cleverness, intelligence, and quick wit being displayed. So far only innuendos that our sons' don't really understand have been included. Some swearing but it is minimal.
This season includes three cases-"A Study in Pink" (where Watson and Sherlock meet & start working/living together), "The Blind Banker", & "The Great Game". They are not based on the original books.
*Highly recommend but not for younger than fourteen years old-swearing, innuendos, gay references (just a character inferring someone is gay), murder/blood/violence
-Borrowed from the library.
A podcast I recently listened to featured the author Gary Schmidt. He recommended this book.
Yiddish scholars created an autobiographical essay contest where Jews, ages 13-21, would explain what it means to be a Jew. Two stipulations were set: the autobiography had to be truthful, and it had to be anonymous. One essayist broke all of the rules (including the age range). Her photograph is included in the back. More than seven hundred entries arrived. On the day the grand prize was to be awarded, the Nazis invaded Poland. Brave librarians hid the essays. These essays were hidden one more time from the KGB in organ pipes! In 2017 they were discovered and preserved. This book contains six of those entries.
I found the essays interesting and very well-written. I was surprised how many Jewish young people were drawn to socialism and how divided they were concerning Zionism.
Warnings/points to consider/discuss- some swearing, adultery (an essayist's father), a young man enjoys a girl's breast resting on his chest, communism
When Josie's college-age brother Tom smuggles home a runt pig on Thanksgiving, she vows to take care of "Hamlet" and to convince her parents to keep him. One problem-they, a family of seven, live in a townhouse in the city. Her deadline-New Year's Day
Hamlet proves to be endearing but also proves to invite trouble- like toppling an apple pie on their dad's high-strung, highly opinionated boss, opening the fridge and spraying soda on a police officer, escaping their yard and destroying next door neighbor Mrs. Taglioni's (who is very grouchy) backyard and slipping into her house via the cat door . . .
A wholesome, family tale with humor and heart
To discuss-Josie,who is twelve, develops a bit of a crush on her close friend. He also likes her.
-Borrowed from the library.
I recently listened to a podcast featuring author Gary Schmidt. He mentioned liking these stories as a struggling reader.
In the kingdom where Ben lives, only the king may own dogs. The king challenges Ben to a feat. If he achieves it, he may keep a dog. The other stories feature Ben, his dog, and the king. Very enjoyable stories for kids who have learned to read but need more practice and more stamina building.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A Shepherd Suspense Novel
Before John Cross was a pastor, he was an assassin for the CIA. Then he surrendered his life to Christ and resigned from his job. His small congregation does not know about his previous life. A person from his former life is determined to hunt Cross down and kill him. Is Cross's new life in Christ a sham? Is he really a new creation?
A very-fast paced novel that will appeal to readers who love suspense and CIA/FBI thrillers. Cross's romantic interest is a bit too amazing in fighting and driving during a chase. She is a journalist and can keep up a with highly trained CIA agent?!!
My high schooler read this and really liked it. He started book #2 but does not like it as much.
-Borrowed from the library (my son bought book #2).
When Patricia moves from her grandparents' farm into town, she struggles to adjust. She is also in the lowest reading group--all by herself. However, birding with her class and discovering John James Audubon's art offer her hope and delight amidst the challenges.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Polacco relates how her embarrassing older brother Richie teaches her how to tear up the dance floor in preparation for a school dance. Ms. Polacco features the viewpoint of a junior high girl very well-dramatics and exaggerations!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Mr. Barnett attempts to answer the big question about Santa . . .also the question, "What if you don't have a chimney?" A fun read! The illustrations provide additional laughter and also enhance the story.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
How can one author continue to create humorous books with the same character?! Mr. Willems can!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The Repair Shop Stories
Based on a true story from the TV series, The Repair Shop.
Grandma Sue takes her beloved doll, which she received from her host family at Christmas during WWII, to The Repair Shop to be restored. As she and her granddaughter Evie walk to The Repair Shop, she shares her story with Evie.
-Borrowed from the library.
Merry, the saw-whet owl, is sleeping in "her" Norway spruce tree named Hark, when it is cut down and brought to NYC as the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Merry has an adventure in NYC but longs to return to the forest. Based on a true story. For some reason the story did not capture my attention.
-Borrowed from the library.
I love PW and her recipes!
Over a three week period I made pickle chicken bites,preztel dogs, hot Hawaiian beef sandwiches, and chuckwagon brownies. All of us loved the chicken bites and preztel dogs. I want to try several other recipes but have to return it to the library without the ability to renew it since it is a new book.
I own all of her recipe books but am not sure about this one . . . I don't have room where I store my cookbooks and probably won't make the steak recipes (an entire section is dedicated to steak).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
My fourteen-year-old has recently become interested in Sherlock Holmes stories. For literature he read short stories from a Barnes & Noble Classic publication. He will also be reading The Hound of the Baskervilles . I borrowed a wonderful DK publication book that summarizes all of the Holmes stories. It also explains concepts/historical background.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
We watched his favorite story ("The Speckled Band")on this DVD. He was impressed how well the producers adhered to the original story. The acting and filming was not as good as current movies. It was filmed in 1983. We still enjoyed it!
-Borrowed from the library.
My fourteen-year-old has been hunting for and identifying (not picking) mushrooms this fall.
Told in first-person narrator, Ms. Gravel shares her excitement over mushroom hunting with her daughters. Fascinating facts about the mushroom's anatomy, their reproduction ability, and different types are included. Readers will enjoy the graphic novel format. A mushroom craft is included.
-Borrowed from the library.
A college student who comes to church with us recommended this book to me. I am so glad she did!
All her life Virginia had been searching for truth. She finds the truth in Jesus Christ during the communist reign of Nicolae Ceausescu. As an attorney she defends Romanian Christians who are being unjustly persecuted. Ceausescu orders for her to be tortured, to be under house arrest, and then finally to be assassinated.
A well-paced book--she seemed to know how long to focus on each event of her life. Once again I was reminded of the power of God's Word and the importance of memorizing it.
Very suspenseful and inspiring!
**Highly, highly recommend.
Pair with I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys.
-Borrowed inter-library loan.
Ava and Mason travel in a speed boat with their grandfather to Giant Island. As Grandpa fishes, the kids explore the island and discover why it is called Giant Island. The illustrations are delightful and tell almost more of the story than the words. An imaginative romp!
-Borrowed from the library.
This wordless book depicts the different centuries a tree and river endure human "progress". I love the ending! I like Mr. Becker's Journey trilogy better.
-Borrowed from the library.
In the early morning hours, Fortitude, one of the lion statues who guards the New York Public Library, notices his buddy, Patience, is missing. He must find him before the sun rises! Fortitude explores the library before he discovers Patience in the children's section. Readers will love the books Patience is reading!
Rhyming text
-Borrowed from the library.
Anna Mary, a horseback librarian in Kentucy, faithfully delivers the perfect book to various families and children. Readers briefly witness the challenging conditions these librarians experienced. Ms. Yolen explains in the author's note that Anna Mary is not real person but a combination of the many "book ladies" who brought books and the love of literature to individuals in remote areas during the 1930s.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
As a college student, Aaron Lansky decided to study Jewish history and to learn the Yiddish language. Visiting his home town, he was appalled to see the rabbi about to bury a basket full of Yiddish books. No one read them; they were not useful anymore. Burying them showed respect. The rabbi allowed Aaron to cart them home. This rescue started a forty-year rescue of Yiddish literature and books. Aaron now runs the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA.
Fascinating!
-Borrowed from the library.
"An I Can Read Book"
Poems from children's perspective, occuring within the four seasons. I love how the last poem for the season transitions into the next season. The illustrations are lovely. I like them as much as the poems.
*Highly recommend for beginning/transitional readers.
-Borrowed from the library.
I love this book!
Ms. Ehlert creates her own Twas the Night Before Christmas poem from the mouse's point of view. The paper cut-out art is incredible and clever.
A pure delight!
*Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
red
My 11th grader read this book for English this year. Since I had never read it, I decided to read it also. I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. Benjamin Franklin was a witty, admirable man. Towards the end of it when government topics were discussed, I had trouble comprehending or would zoned out. Overall, it was an enjoyable read!
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.
*"Adapted for young readers
The True Story of an American Team's Epic Journey to Win Gold at the 1936 Olympics
I read this aloud to my teenage boys at lunch on school days. This read aloud has been my fourteen-year-old's favorite so far this year!
Mr. Brown deftly shares both Joe Rantz's personal life and also the formation of the 1936 Olympic rowing team. Readers also learn about the effects of the Great Depression and the politics leading to WW II. Great discussion could ensue about perseverance, work ethic, and teamwork.
**Highly, highly recommend.
Consider/discuss: Joe's father abandons him when he was a young teenager. He basically must try to survive on his own until he is married. Hitler, his politics, and his cruelty towards Jews is mentioned.
-I own this book.
Our history textbook devoted a small textbox about the Gullah Geechee people. To celebrate their food culture, I made Lowcountry Spaghetti & Geechee Salsa from this book for my boys for lunch. The boys did not like the salsa, but I did. A lot of other recipes looked delicious.
-Borrowed from the library.
Sacred Practices in Everyday Life
Mrs. Warren guides the reader through a regular day and reveals how one can worship God during the ordinary moments. Humor, genuineness, and love for the Savior adorn each chapter. Although she is a priest in the Anglican Church, which is different from some of my beliefs, our common beliefs in Christ for salvation and for resting in Him for sanctification unite us.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The illustrations in this book are incredible. I hope the Caldecott committee recognizes and honors Ms. Lanan's talent.
Ms. Lanan effectively demonstrates how amazing jumping spiders are as she invites the reader to imagine if they could perform the jumping spider's feats. Although the words are informative and poetic, I think I enjoyed the illustrations the best.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The lions that guard the New York Public Library by day come alive at night to explore the city. In this wordless book, Ms. Boehman displays their adventure in engaging illustrations. Allusions abound. I especially enjoyed the author's note where she explains the lions' history.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed via inter-lib. loan.
