The Blue Hill Meadows by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Ellen Beier**

 What a lovely collection of stories about the Meadow Family-Sullivan, Eva, Ray, and Willie who live in Blue Hill, VA with their dogs, Lady & Sam. The four stories, one for each season, focus on Willie, a third grader. Over the course of a year, Willie gains two dogs, goes fishing for the day with his father, gets stuck in a blizzard at his teacher's house, and gives his mother the best Mother's Day gift ever.

The illustrations suit the tone of the stories perfectly!

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Garden Adventures of Griswald the Gnome by Daniela Drescher Translated by Anna Cardwell

 Originally written in German

Griswald loves living in his rain barrel. Each short chapter focuses on a different adventure he experiences. The narrator is a human who owns the garden and lives in the house.

The illustrations are beautiful. 106 pages

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit translated by Elisa Amado

 The chickens are content with their mundane lives. Then the capybaras arrive. They are different. Can they be trusted? Until hunting season is over, the chickens agree to allow them to stay. Rules are established. The rules are broken. Then a capybara performs a heroic feat and transforms the chickens' opinions of them.

I liked the dry, subtle humor. The illustrations add to the story. While reading it, I was wondering if the author was trying to express his opinion on immigration. 

-Borrowed from the library.

We Were Tired of Living in a House by Liesel Moak Skorpen illustrated by Joe Cepeda

 Three siblings pack a bag with sweaters, socks, mittens, and earmuffs and decide to live in different locations-a tree, a raft, a cave ,and by the sea, until an event occurs to convince them to move to the next place.

Would be a fun book to share with toddlers & preschoolers! 

-Borrowed from the library.

The Little Silver House by Jennie D. Lindquist*

 Readers continue experiencing Nancy's year with Grandpa & Grandma Benson while her mother recovers from an illness. Even though spring in the country enthralled her, autumn and Christmas in the country offer their own wonders. A boarded-up house in the country captures her and her "cousins'" thoughts. Who lived there? Why is it boarded up? 

I especially related to Nancy's love for flowers and for the beauty of God's creation. I loved learning about the Swedish customs & traditions at Christmas. Although only the last 1/3 of the book is dedicated to Christmas, it would be a great book to read at Christmas. The Swedes know how to celebrate this season!!

I thought Nancy's character became a bit flat in this book (& was also flat in the 3rd book). I highly recommend it because of the delights mentioned above.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL. (It's almost $59 on Amazon!)

Golden Name Day by Jennie Dorothea Lindquist*

 Award winner- Newbery Honor in 1956

When Nancy's mother becomes ill and is hospitalized, she travels to country to live with Mr. & Mrs. Benson for a year. The Bensons and their family are old friends of her mother's. Nancy calls the Bensons, Grandpa & Grandpa & their relatives "aunt/uncle". This family is rooted in the Swedish culture. One tradition is celebrating one's name day. Nancy is disappointed when she discovers that her name is not Swedish, and therefore, does not have a designated day. The disappointment consumes her. Will she waste her year at Grandma & Grandpa's trying to figure out a way to have a "name day"?

I liked this one better than book #3, The Crystal Tree. Nancy's character was more flawed and realistic. Her character development was apparent.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey & Jerome Pumphrey

 A boy assists his father in delivering wood on their  large sleigh. When it breaks, the boy utilizes the material to build his own small sleigh. The tradition continues when the boy becomes an adult.

Part of a series-modes of transportion with the word "old" in the title.

-Borrowed from the library.