I first heard about this book via Tilly Dillehay & Abigail Dodds's recent podcast.
Two puppets, one yellow, one pink, lie side-by-side wondering how they came into existence. This story reveals how absurd the theory of evolution is.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
Directed by Bille August
6.5 hours- 2026-PBS Distribution
My sixteen-year-old recently read The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas for English class. I was thrilled when this mini-series was produced and made available right after he finished reading the novel.
According to my son, the mini-series follows the book's storyline pretty well. Our whole family enjoyed it, especially my husband. The acting, the scenery, the music, the filming-everything was superb. The story lends itself to great discussions.
*Highly recommend for high school & older.
Warnings/discuss: revenge, murder, jealousy, two young ladies seem to be in a romantic relationship (one scene they are caught kissing by another character)-my son said this relationship was hinted at in the book but not so explicit.
-Borrowed from the library.
Two children in North Korea share their separate stories of pain, fear, and torment. Their lives are joined when Myungee saves Yunho from doing something that could place his life in peril. Even though they go separate ways that day, they encounter each other in China, from which they eventually escape to the United States.
This graphic novel reveals the horrors of communism, especially in North Korea and also what refugees must endure.
Although God and His love are given as a source of hope, the book focuses mostly on their lives in North Korea, their escape, and integration into the U.S. Some of the people who help them escape are Christians. It appears from a quick online search that the author is a Christian.
The artwork is powerful and expressive.
*Highly recommend for junior high and older. See warnings.
Warnings/discuss: communism, government torture, cruelty, oppression The artist describes herself as trans nonbinary in her biography on the book jacket. None of her lifestyle choices is promoted or displayed in her artwork for this novel.
-Borrowed from the library.
Oswald Robbins, who wants to be called Wally, is a new kid in the Maple Ridge one room schoolhouse, making the total number of students an odd 21. Judging him from his looks and mannerisms, the students label him as odd and suspicious. When a coveted book goes missing from the brand new school library, Wally is the number one suspect. Fortunately, Logan wants to investigate and makes a new a friend.
I liked this story the best out of the five I have read in this series.
Discuss: judging others, welcoming new & different people to a group, jumping to conclusions
-Borrowed from the library.
Voices from the First Night of the American Revolution
Ms. Thomson unveils various other people, several unnamed, who assist Paul Revere and his ride to warn the colonist that The Regulars (NOT the British, the colonist considered themselves British , so Paul Revere would not have used that word to describe them. The colonists called them The Regulars) were planning to attack. Before each poem, she introduces the person and their connection to the evening. She also indicates the approximate time and date when this person's role occurred. Quotes from the person are included. After the main poetical text, she reveals even more information about each narrator.
I liked how Ms. Henderson illustrated in mostly in hues of blue and in a smudgy style to create a mood of night and not being able to see precisely.
A great book to read when studying this event in history.
A teacher could have their students take a point of time in history, research the individuals involved, and then create poems from their points of view to retell the event. It would be a hefty endeavor (& maybe not realistic?).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
A Field Trip Through Color
When was the word "orange" first mentioned? What is the word's origin? These questions and more will be addressed in this oversized picture book.
I thought its organization was lacking. Initially, the author presents orange's etmology. Then she discusses how to mix red/yellow to make orange. Then art featuring the color orange, fruit that has orange pigmentation, birds with orange markings, International Orange suits, structures that include orange. . . and other random facts. I perceive some subtle transitions but overall, I feel the organization is a bit disjointed/random. Maybe more artistic personalities will appreciate this format. My Type-A personality struggles with it. I, however, still enjoyed the book and the unique facts it presents!
-Borrowed from the library.
Even though it is still fall, the Pryce family begins to "winterize", preparing for winter. Tess observes how frantically the squirrels have been gathering and storing nuts lately and predicts winter is coming soon. The oldest brother Drew scoffs at her conclusion. A blizzard does blast into their town while Drew is in the forest finding firewood. Logan utilizes his newfound knowledge of a homemade compass to find him.
I like how in each book Logan is working on something in his Fix-It Shop. This hobby reinforces the importance of being innovative and being creative and also being a problem-solver.
Consideration/discuss: When Logan's mom asks where Drew is, Logan lies because he doesn't want to ruin Drew's surprise of bringing in a lot of fireword. Drew's job is to find trees, chop them for firewood, and haul the wood back to the house. He had found a huge tree and was excited to surprise the parents with a huge load of firewood. He had told Logan not to tell because he wanted to surprise the family. So once again, lying seems to be almost justified. Good topic to discuss with children-is this wrong? What could Logan had done differently? Logan does not get into trouble for lying in the previous book nor in this book.
-Borrowed from the library.
