The Song of the Stone Tiger by Glenn McCarty*

 Eleven-year-old Thomas loves living in Philadelphia, PA. His family, however, moves to North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains for the summer with his aunt so his mom can rest from her recent bout with cancer. He anticipates a summer with a more energetic mom. She, however, begins to decline. 

As he processes this reality, he ventures into the woods behind his aunt's house (called Greenwood), a place his mom explored as a child and also a place that still provides fodder for her captivating stories. Here Thomas befriends a tiger, Shalomar, who turns to stone each night. To awaken him, Thomas must sing. Together they embark on a quest to break the curse over Shalomar and return him to his world.

Will Thomas be able to restore his own mother to this earthly world for a bit longer?

A serious book about losing a parent   A beautiful book about creation, friendship, and stories 

Consideration/discuss: Would a child who has lost a parent to cancer or has a parent suffering with cancer find this book difficult to read? Spoiler alert: When Thomas gives his mom water from Greenwood, it seems to have healed her (or at least make her feel better for that day). Would this incident create a false hope in a child whose parent has cancer? Would they long for water or a solution like this when in our world it does not exist? I may be overthinking it & being overly sensitive.

*Highly recommend.

This author graduated from the same college I did (a year behind me). I, however, cannot place him! I may have even had classes with him since I too was an education major with an English concentration. How wish I could remember him!!

-Borrowed from the library (I asked my librarian to purchase this book. 😊) I own Mr. McCarty's Tumbleweed Thompson book and Junction Tales book. They take place in the west in the 1800s and are more lighthearted.

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly*

Newbery Medal in 1929

 My son is focusing on medieval history this year for history & English. Later this year he will be reading this book to experience medieval life in Poland.

Joseph Charnetski's family home in Ukraine is burned and their fields are destroyed. He, his father and mother flee to Krakow. Their family guards something special and valuable-the Great Tarnov Crystal. Men will kill or "sell their soul" to obtain it. Throughout the story, Joseph & his parents encounter difficulties and adventures because of their dedication to protect it.

Very exciting and an immersive experience into this time period.

*Highly recommend (especially for boys   So many historical novels are written from a girl's perspective.)

Considerations: violence/fighting, black magic, hypnotism, being possessed or influenced by the devil is mentioned

-I own this book.

Books Up the Mountain by Caroline Starr Rose illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard*

 A Packhorse Librarian Story

Readers will be amazed at the packhorse librarians' dedication to delivering and sharing books and reading material to the people in Appalachia in Kentucky. The words are poetic and lyrical with alliteration scattered throughout. The illustrations are wide in size, creating a feel of sweeping terrain. I always look at the end pages --I love how the left one depicts fall while the right one displays winter (the seasons where the book starts and then ends).

The author's note offers interesting information about this service.

*Highly recommend. (It's temporarily out of stock on Amazon)  Published by Waxwing Books-Sarah Mackenzie's (from Read Aloud Revival) business.

-Borrowed from the library.

You Can Move Mountains by Richard Ho illustrated by Daniel Miyares*

 I did not grow up with television. One of my son's friend's nicknames on one of their group chats was "Bob Ross". My son briefly explained who he was. When I saw this picture book on display at my library, I borrowed it as a joke and also out of curiousity. 

The illustrations captured my attention. The words, I think, were based on how Mr. Ross would talk while he was painting, which, of course, I cannot appreciation. The illustrations are incredible. One side shares an overview of his life (the text is NOT explicitly about his life. They connect but in a subtle, clever manner. ); the other side offers a depiction of how he would create his work. 

I love the end pages.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Around the Year by Tasha Tudor*

 I love Tasha Tudor. When I was a young teen, my neighbor introduced me to Tasha Tudor. My neighbor, my mom, and I even attended an event where she demonstrated her illustrations and talked. 

This book illustrates a poem she wrote about the seasons. The items she features for each season instantly transport one to that time of year. I love the illustrations-especially the borders. I wonder if she inspired Jan Brett to create intricate borders. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Anxiety -Anatomy & Cure by Robert W. Kellemen*

 The Gospel for Real Life series

I bought this short book (42 pages) at a conference my church recently hosted. Over several weeks I read it. The ideas and truths would have better adhered to my brain if I would have read it in one sitting or in a couple of days.

Mr. Kellemen dissects what anxiety is and takes the reader to the root causes. Then he offers biblical ways to combat it. I liked how he focused on Philippians to counsel the reader about anxiety. He also integrates the practical with the biblical.

At the end of each section, he presents a question to encourage the reader to apply the truths and ideas (called, "Applying the Gospel to Daily Life").

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Beowulf a new verse translation by Seamus Heaney*

 Mr. Heaney has translated this old tale into one modern readers can read, understand, and enjoy. 

I loved the kennings, word choice, and the characters'  honorable traits.

*Highly recommend.

Consideration: graphic violence a few times

-We own this book.