Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli*

 Susan, the duck, is not having a good day. After each incident, she exclaims how she is unlucky. Then a wolf rings a doorbell and tells her she has won a soup pot. Throughout the day, he continues to drop in with more items that she has "won". The reader will be cringing at the duck's naivety! Just when the reader thinks he has predicted Susan's fate, the day really does transform into her lucky day!

Pair with My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza (I like My Lucky Day better.)

*Highly recommend.

Perfect for beginning/transitional readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Flora and the Jazzers by Astrid Sheckels*

 Flora, the scullery maid at a grand hotel, dreams of attending a concert. While she scrubs dishes and floors, she hums and allows the music in her heart to swell. Then her favorite band, The Jazzers, arrive to perform at the hotel. Just maybe she can huddle in the corner and listen? The hotel manager soon dismisses that idea with a rebuke. Then she becomes a solution to a huge problem. Her life transforms beyond her comprehension!

I love the illustrations. The dressed up animals are adorable. It's a picture book I would return to to enjoy numerous times because of the illustrations. I especially love the cut-away of the hotel. The end of the story is a bit underdeveloped and predictable. I would buy this book  just for the illustrations (if I was a mom of young girls).

A 1920s Cinderella story

*Highly recommend for the illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

Earl & Worm series by Greg Pizzoli**

 I love this series! They are perfect for beginning &/or transitional readers (fluency, stamina, building confidence). 

Even though Earl & Worm are great friends, when they first met, Worm did not like Earl's disposition. Grumpy Worm eventually softens to Earl's friendliness. Together they navigate writing poetry, house cleaning, the affect of an unlucky penny, and watching a sunrise.

I am waiting for #3 to be published (Nov. 11, 2025). 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Secrets of Ormdale, Book 4-City of Serpents by Christina Baehr*

I never thought I would love a series that features dragons! Mrs. Baehr has created a enticing world with likable characters who live in England. 

In this novel, Edith attempts to discover an antivenin made by an evil London-based scientist, Farley, so she can rescue Simon, the man she loves, who is held captive in Wales. As she wrangles with Farley, she soon realizes that he may outwit her. With the assistance and wisdom of her friends and relatives, she escapes from his laboratory. This story does not end perfectly. Book five is where Mrs. Baehr brings everything to a conclusion.

I don't like how the woman is trying to rescue the man.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Warning: allusion to Oscar Wilde-that he was sentenced to hard labor-they don't say why but any reader can look it up, we find out that a character who is not a character's father is the father (no details included)

I would only allow older high school to read this series.

Louisa May Alcott's Christmas Treasury-The Complete Christmas Collection edited by Stephen W. Hines illustrated by C. Michael Dudash

 RAR is featuring one of these stories in their Christmas School 2025 for high schoolers/teenagers.

I read the first two stories and enjoyed them. The endings may be too perfect for some readers, but at Christmas, don't we long for happy conclusions? Reading the introduction, I understood why the stories feature orphans, convalescing soldiers etc. Louisa's mother was one of the first paid social workers in America. She instilled compassion for the less fortunate in her daughters.

I am not officially highly recommending it since I did not read the entire collection. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Marshmallow Clouds by Ted Kooser & Connie Wanek illustrated by Richard Jones*

 This anthology contains clever poems that utilize figurative speech. Poems are categorized by the four classical elements of nature: earth, water, air, & fire.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Claude Monet 1840-1926 by Charles F. Stuckey*

 My son's history book had a section dedicated to the Impressionist movement. I borrowed this book for him to look at some of Monet's painting. I am recording this book so I can utilize it in the future because it contains many plates of his paintings. I like books about artists that feature full pages and many pages of their work. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Shoes for Everyone A Story About Jan Matzeliger by Barbara Mitchell illustrated by Hetty Mitchell*

 Jan Matzeliger was born in Dutch Guiana (modern day Suriname) where he worked at a government machine shop at the age of ten! (His father was the supervisor.) His father was a Dutchman while his mother was a black Surinamese. When he was nineteen, he left Paramaribo to be a seaman for the Dutch East Indies Company and then eventually to become a machinist in North America. This biography focuses on his struggles, his determination and eventual success in North America in the late 1800s as a machinist and inventor despite prejudice and poverty. Reading how his faith was a foundation to his life was encouraging.

A rich biography that elementary students can read and appreciate.

My history curriculum recommends this book (Modern Era).

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL

E. Nesbit picture books*

 After reading and loving The Railway Children, I wanted to read more by E. Nesbit. These two delightful picture books will captivate the reader with the story, the writing, and the word choice. I highly recommend both books. Both books were borrowed from the library.

1. Jack and the Beanstalk-the illustrations by Matt Tavares are immersive. Younger children may be a bit frightened by the giant illustrations! This is now one of my favorite Jack & the Beanstalk rendition. If I see it in a bookstore, I will buy it.

2. Melisande illustrated by P.J. Lynch (another favorite illustrator!)-Melisande's parents hope to avoid forgetting to invite a fairy to her christening party, so they don't invite any of the fairies. Instead of circumventing the situation, the parents offend all of the fairies!!  Her curse? She will be bald.  The king remembers how a fairy gave him a wish for a wedding present. He asks the fairy to give it to her daughter when she is old enough to wish "wisely". Years of tribulation ensue. Will Melisande ever be free of a curse?

A wonderfully enthralling tale! I am buying this book.

The Jumping-Off Place by Marian Hurd McNeely*

Award-winner: Newbery Honor Book 

Becky, Dick, Phil, and Joan head to their uncle's quarter section in Tripp County, South Dakota in the early 1900s after he dies. Even though Becky and Dick are teenagers, they reach adulthood quickly as they navigate the unforgiving Dakota plains, surly neighbors, and unpredictable weather. Readers will  process their story in awe as these kids face unimaginable obstacles and succeed!

Mrs. McNeely bases this story on her own experience homesteading (as an adult) in the exact same territory. She actually had this book published before Laura Ingalls Wilder's series! Readers who have "out-grown" the Little House books will enjoy this novel as it focuses on Becky, who is a teenager.

My history curriculum recommended this novel. It brought "history to life".

Discuss: A couple of times there are negative references to being black. One time they say "work like n--".

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -DVD*

 For one of his civics projects, my son had to watch this 1939 movie. We invited grandparents and aunt/uncle/cousins to watch it with us to make it a festive event. 

Jefferson Smith, head of the Boy Rangers, finds himself appointed a senator for his state after the elected senator dies. Full of idealism, Mr. Smith is determined to make a difference and also grant land to the Boy Rangers. The seasoned politicians are hoping to manipulate and control him. Mr. Smith's tenacity and integrity prevail and provide a refreshing change to the corrupt system.

We loved this movie. We were not expecting to enjoy it! My son has commented a couple times after watching how "good that movie was". He was also able to view many civics concepts exemplified throughout the movie.

*Highly recommend.

Based on a scandal during the Harding administration.

Warning for smaller audience: drinking, some characters get drunk, smoking, at the end, one main character tries to commit suicide (nothing is shown-viewers just hear a gun shot) but other senators stop him

-Borrowed from the library.

Red & Lulu by Matt Tavares*

 A pair of cardinals love their Norway spruce tree in a small backyard. Red, the male cardinal, and Lulu, the female cardinal, especially love Christmas. The house owners decorate their tree with lights. People gather at the front door to sing a song about the tree.  One day a group of people chop it down and haul it into the city. Red follows the truck because he hears his beloved Lulu singing from inside the tree! This Christmas is one they will never forget!

The illustrations are stunning.

RAR is featuring this book during one of their Christmas School weeks this December.

If the readers have been to NYC, they will have fun identifying sites in NYC.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library. 

If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen

 I love Chris Van Dusen's books! He, however, included two dads in the illustrations throughout the book.

Jack relays to Mayor McKay how he would build a town. Very imaginative (& modern-lots of robots doing the work of humans!).

Warning/ points to discuss: two dads (not mentioned that they are two dads in the text-just in the illustrations- walking together with a girl in between them), vs fossil fuels, robots doing most jobs, "everything is free" concept! 😉

-Borrowed from the library

The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed illustrated by LeUyen Pham

 Rumi is a new student. The other students do not protest when Asher, a bully, is mean to him. When Asher throws a rock, and it scrapes Rumi's knee, other students finally gather their courage and befriend Rumi. 

A didactic story  Based on the author's son experience

-Borrowed from the library.

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit**

 I loved every moment I was reading this book. It is delightful and enchanting! I am bummed that I did not read this book aloud to my sons when they were younger. 

Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis experience an idealistic life in Edgecombe Villa, where Mother creates delightful stories and humorous poems to share with them over tea after school. Then one day men come for Father and take him away. The children have no idea where he has gone. Mother moves them to the country, near a railway. Although they are poor, and Mother has to write stories so they can eat, the children adjust to the life in the country along the rails.  Adventures and friendships await them. 

I loved how the children would spend most of their days outside without adult supervision, problem-solving and risk-taking. Readers will relate to each of the children even though they lived in 1905.

 A timeless novel

Discuss: British slang/words, British customs, a father being taken away

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library (I would like to buy this one.)

The Peddler and the President by Ann Diament Koffsky illustrated by Pedro Rodriguez*

 Harry Truman and Eddie Jacobson are quite different from each other-seven years apart, Christian vs Jewish. But both of them had stopped attending school to work to support their families. During this time their friendship forms. They part ways but resume their friendship during WW I where they train at the same base in Oklahoma. Over the years their friendship endures challenging times (a failed business, the Great Depression, a wife that doesn't like Jews).  Eventually, Harry becomes president of the United States! Eddie is welcomed to visit President Truman at the White House whenever he wants. He, however, is careful not to take advantage of the friendship and ask for favors. But when President Truman is trying to discern if he should support an independent Jewish state/nation, Eddie knows he must speak up and convince his friend to support his people.

An easy to read biography with a lot of substance and also with a lot of ideas to discuss.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library (I asked my library's director to buy it for my library. She did!)

Three by the Sea by Edward Marshall illustrated by James Marshall*

 Lolly, Spider, and Sam are enjoying a day at the beach. After eating they are too full to resume any activities. To pass the time, Lolly reads aloud to them from her reader. They declare the story too boring and create their own stories.

Fun and humorous! Perfect for reluctant and transitional readers

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Persuasion by Jane Austen*

 Disclaimer: I started reading this book over a month ago while staying in the hospital with a loved one who had a complex surgery. Hospitals are not the best place to focus! 

Almost a decade ago, Anne was persuaded by a mentor to break off an engagement. In the meantime, Captain Frederick Wentworth, her former finace,  has become quite successful. Now at age twenty-seven, she is resigned to a life without a husband or family. The years have dulled her countenance. Although she is often overlooked within her own family, when any of them has an issue, they turn to Anne for a resolution or for support. When her prideful, foolish father realizes he cannot afford their estate, Kellynch, he rents it out to Admiral Croft and his wife Sophia Croft. Sophia is Frederick Wentworth's sister. Will Anne encounter her former finace on a routine basis now? Will he still care for her?

  It took me awhile to organize and remember all of the characters and also how they were connected. I should have a created a character map! At first I thought this novel was inferior to Pride and Prejudice. I love the witty dialogue, the humor, and the fast pace in Pride and Prejudice. Persuasion is more contemplative and serious. The reader is privy to Anne's thoughts. After talking about it with a friend who loves this novel, I concluded that I will remember this novel better than Pride and Prejudice. I admire Anne as a character whereas Elizabeth was fun but not as memorable. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.