I love this series for beginning readers. These entertaining and relatable stories will appeal to even the most reluctant readers.
This book takes place over one day-Earl's birthday. Worm attempts to create a special day for Earl but, of course, encounters hinderances and frustrations. All ends well, though.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Children's Edition
This beautiful book celebrates animals' ways to survive the winter. Two-page spreads feature detailed illustrations and a poetic verse about the animal's unique survival methods. At the end of each day, the repeated phrases are included: "The dark is not an end. It's a door. It's the way a new beginning comes."
The introduction illustration displays each creature except the trout, bees, and fireflies. It would be fun before beginning the book to count and name each of the animals with the child who is listening. December 24 has Christ in the manger with the stable animals surrounding Him. Although this book exhalts animals, I am glad it ends with Christ (BUT it does not focus on His salvation explicitly).
In the back the author includes more facts about each creature-very interesting facts and questions to ponder.
Considerations: animals are the focus not Christ
A humorous story about Jewish immigrants celebrating Thanksgiving
Papa wins a turkey raffle at work-a live turkey! Mel, the narrator & the son, does not want to eat the turkey for Thanksgiving. To his relief, the butcher offers his insight about the turkey and allows the turkey to live in his animal yard.
I like how the reader can learn about immigrants through a delightful story. Also, the author based it on an actual family's experience.
-Borrowed from the library.
Pulitzer Prize Winner-1932
As teenagers, my aunts and my mom took care of Pearl Buck's daughter's children. Since she is a "local" author, I wanted to read her Pulitzer Prize novel, The Good Earth.
Readers experience life in China during the 1920s through the farmer Wang Lung. In the first chapter, Wang Lung enters the big house of the village to marry one of the slaves, O-lan. She is big (big feet), somber, silent, and not pretty. But she proves to beneficial for Wang Lung the farmer. She works beside him for long hours in the field, (even before and immediately after giving birth), gives him three sons, and manages the house and cooking with efficiency. They face a famine, begging in the city, and rebirth of their fields. After years of dedicated work and careful management of his silver, Wang Lung begins to accumulate wealth. Although his silver provides a life of ease, other stresses enter the house, including Wang Lung's desire for a pretty woman.
This book made me think (how man needs purpose/work, shame can bring either anger or repentence, idleness encourages sin, which woman would I rather be-O-lan who is industrious and beneficial but not a receiver of Wang Lung's desires or Lotus who is pretty and desirable but does not contribute to the household?, the love of wealth and prestige destroy a person). I admired Wang Lung in some circumstances and despised his choices in other situations. Ms. Buck depicts mankind and the Chinese culture well.
This book plays out the natural consequences of sin over a man's lifetime. This novel captivated me. When a chapter ended, I could not believe it was over!
Warnings: Wang Lung lusts after Lotus, a concubine, and eventually brings her into his home, it mentions throughout the book when Wang Lung has relations with O-lan or Lotus BUT no details are shared, towards the end of his life he has relations with a young girl, only as old as one of his granddaughters-he feels shame and does not continue, his son stays with an ugly whore one night, opium use (Wang Lung actually encourages his evil aunt & uncle to use it. Their addiction eventually kills them.)
*Highly recommend for the literary quality, how it makes you think, and its depiction of mankind and Chinese culture. I would not recommend it to those who would be offended by the sins the characters struggle with.
-Borrowed from the library.
I am partial to woodcut illustrations. Ms. Azarian, a Vermont resident, depicts Helen's life in rural Vermont. The author, Ms. Kinsey-Warnock, a Vermont native, bases this story off of her grandmother's childhood. Readers will learn about the time period and Christmases long ago. Although most of the story takes place during Christmas, a few times the reader is transported back to a different season in which the family was preparing/harvesting something that they will use at Christmas.
--Ms. Azarian is the illustrator for Snowflake Bentley.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The illustrations bring this old carol to life. I think the story and its appeal to children is lost in the sophisticated, haughty singing that sometimes accompany it.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I loved the lavish, rich paintings in this book. This book is truly an art museum in your lap. Different people who are part of Christ's birth share their perspective-from Mary to the innkeeper to an ox to shepherds to wise men (to name a few). Some of the phrasing is poetic.
-Borrowed from the library.
Slightly reminiscent of Thumbelina & Tom Thumb
A shoemaker finds a teeny girl in the toe of a boot he is repairing. The girl, whom he names Evangeline, sings beautifully and awakens his desire to sail the sea. His wife believes Evangeline has bewitched him and succombs to nefarious deeds to remove her from the home. Although Evangeline is lost, she experiences many adventures.
Once again Ms. DiCamillo has written a captivating story with superb word choice and sentence structure. I thought it ended abruptly. I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending, but more astute readers may appreciate it.
-Borrowed from the library
Babak, age 13, and his sister Sana, age 8, are orphans. When the British and the Soviets invade Iran, the British mistake their father and a group of goatherd as resistant fighters. They shoot at them, causing a rocky ledge to fall, killing them.
For a year the siblings live apart (in the same town) with Babak saving his money in a hole in a wall. After the money is stolen by his caretakers, he and his sister leave, hoping to join the nomadic tribe. Babak tries to convince them he can continue his father's former job teaching their children to read. The tribe's leader, Mr. Hussein, is not impressed with Babak. On their despondent trip back to their home town, they encounter a German spy and a Jewish boy on the run. These two individuals add excitement to the plot, which lasts until the last chapter!
I had not realized that WWII had trickled into Iran. So many books have been written about WWII so reading one about a little known topic (at least to me) was intriguing.
The chapters are short. The plot is well-paced. The characters are likable. I especially like how the first chapter (the main reason for his father's death) foreshadows the plot in the last chapter with opposite results!
God is mentioned often. But is it God or Allah? Probably Allah since Iran is mostly Muslim.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Mr. King agreed to retell Hansel and Gretel when he was asked to write a interpretation of Maurice Sendak's set & costume design for the Humperdinck opera. This retelling is captivating and well-written. I did not care for the style of the illustrations (although they depicted the theme and mood well).
-Borrowed from the library.
My son is taking a Bible course online via a university. During one of the lecutures, the professor mentioned this book. Since none of my library resources owned this book, I ordered it. It's a very practical, short book about a transforming prayer method. As the title states, Mr. Whitney demonstrates how to use God's Word to pray. He talks directly to the reader and requires them to stop reading and implement the technique.
I felt at some points he was being redundant, but I think he intentionally repeats himself! I like the "Psalm of the Day" chart he includes at the back.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Recently I received an email promoting the in-theater movie, Soul on Fire, based on John O'Leary's life as he recovered from third degrees burns covering 85% of his body. Since our family is experiencing someone recovering from a severe machine accident, this account intrigued me. I borrowed this book by John's parents, which relates the details of the accident and the early stages of his healing process. As I read, I was incredulous that this nine-year-old survived and also how he persevered to function and thrive again. Very inspiring!
The book transitions abruptly from John's life right afte the accident to his wedding day. The chapters are very short. It is an easy book to read as far as sentence structure is concerned (BUT NOT easy to read the content- about his accident and his pain as he recovered). I *highly recommend it * for the inspiring story but not for its literary value. I also did not agree with some of their theology. God is praised and given the glory for John's recovery. Some other beliefs did not align with mine. It's just a difference of Catholic vs. Protestant.
-Borrowed via ILL.
Aristides de Sousa Mendes was a diplomat for Portugal, with an office in Bordeaux, France. With Hitler and his armies creeping across Europe, many Jews sought visas for Portugal. The prime minister denied Mendes permission or did not reply to his requests. Although he knew it would affect him and his family negatively, Mendes disobeyed the prime minister and signed thousands of visas from January 1, 1940 into June, 1940. When the Nazis invaded France, many Jewish refugees tried to escape to Portugal. He decided to issue visas and signed thousands over twenty-three days. He also led the refugees on back roads to avoid the check points and forged passports for Jewish refugees. These actions eventually cost him his career, his home, and his family's status.
A couple of famous people who owe their lives to him: Salvador Dali, Marget Rey & H.A. Rey.
*Highly recommend. I would even share this book with high schoolers even though it would be an easy read for them. Mendes is an inspiring person.
-Borrowed via ILL.
His parents are embarassed by Little Good Wolf's kind, respectful behavior. What can they do to thwart his continual good choices? They send him to Big Bad School. Will he be transformed into a big, bad wolf, or will he transform his mentors? The ending will cause discussion and inferences!
Being familiar with the tale of the three little pigs before reading this book would enhance the experience.
I like Tops & Bottoms better, but this one will entertain and delight readers too.
-Borrowed from the library.
Rollicking with rhythm and rhyme, this festive picture book will cause readers to smile as they connect their family feasting gatherings to the book. I love the rhyme, the humor, and the rhythm. I also love how this book celebrates families and their desire to congregate. The refrain will appeal to younger readers who like patterns and repetition.
*Highly recommend. Perfect for Thanksgiving!
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Glaser interwines two character's stories across the centuries-Han Yu in Ancient China (731 AD) travels the Silk Roads to find a cure for his family who is suffering from tuberculosis & Luli sets out to save her family's livelihood in Chinatown, NYC in 1931
Both children accept the challenges and utilize their creativity to help their families. I loved discovering how Han Yu's life impacted Luli centuries later. Having a male main character and a girl main charater will allow a wide audience to enjoy it. Although some of the solutions seemed a bit "too perfect" (especially with Luli), I loved this book. The plot was compelling and interesting. I liked this novel better than A Duet for Home and the later Vanderbeeker books.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Favorite foods' origins are presented and also how they evolved over time. Each page has the same format: a rhyming introduction, a description of what it is, where it came from, an interesting fact, and then how it has changed.
Foods featured: al pastor taco, pasta, ceviche, cheesecake, pavlova, french fries, fish & chips, ice cream, jerk chicken, rice pudding, pizza, churros
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
