The Thing About Pie by Amy Hest illustrated by Christopher Thornock*

 A boy awakes early to make and bake a blueberry pie. He transfers it from the hot oven to his bicycle, which he uses to transport it to a secret destination to share with an extra special person.

I loved the word choice and sentence structure. For some reason, I could visualize and feel the story with the words Ms. Hest selected. Reading in the second person narrative was interesting. I did not care for the muted illustrations or the style. . .but I liked the different perspectives (ie bird's eye view) and the design. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

A Riddle of Eels by Nicholas Day illustrated by Corey R. Tabor*

 Mr. Day talks directly to the reader and captures their attention with questions about eels instead filling the pages with facts about them! The conversational tone beckons the reader to remain and to be fascinated with this mysterious creature.

*Highly recommend.

Discuss: Within the text, the author mentions that the eel have been on earth a lot longer than humans. In the author's note, he inserts climate change as an idea for eel popluation decline.

-Borrowed from the library.

Make Believe by Mac Barnett*

 On Telling Stories to Children

Famous author, Mac Barnett, promotes children's literature and children's imaginations/minds through three essays. Humor and profound insights abound in each essay. Some of his points exposed my prejudice and misconceptions about children's literature & their authors.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

My Wife Said You May Want to Marry Me by Jason B. Rosenthal

 When I was a new mom, I "discovered" Amy Krouse Rosenthal. I read her Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. I was adjusting from being a full-time teacher to being a stay-at-home mom. Mrs. Rosenthal eased me into this new life with her humor and stories that vocalized my frozen thoughts. As my sons developed into toddlers and preschoolers, I shared her picture books with them. Our favorite book, Yes Day!, started a family tradition for many years-Yes Day! They still remember Yes Day! as a seventeen-year-old and a nineteen-year-old. 

Sadly, Mrs. Rosenthal died from ovarian cancer in 2017. Ten days before she died she wrote an essay for the New York Times Modern Love column where she advertises her husband as a man a woman would want to marry after she died. 

In this memoir Jason shares about his life with Amy, his time with her as she dies, and then as he grieves for his love. One bit advice I am taking with me after reading this memoir is the importance of talking with our spouse about life without them after they die. 

Considerations: swearing (f-bomb a few times), grieving without a relationship with Christ

-Borrowed from the library

The Patriots and the Pox by Beth Anderson illustrated by Ashley Yazdani**

 History contains so many layers of stories!

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington created strategies to combat two enemies-the British and the small pox outbreak. This picture book focuses on Washington's deliberations about inoculating the troops.

I loved the illustrations and creative layouts.

Pair with Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson (middle grade novel).

**Highly, highly recommend. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Marvelous Mattie by Emily Arnold McCully*

 Ms. McCully transports the reader to Margaret Knight's life when she was an inquisitive, curious child who loves machines. When she was only twelve years old, she invents a guard for the shuttles in the mills after a shuttle shoots off the end of a loom and hurts a girl. Her love for machines and problem solving continues through her adult life and allows her to earn patents, including a machine that assembles brown paper bags we used today.

After reading A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile by Angela Bell, I wanted to learn more about the real Margaret Knight. A picture book is a great place to start! I also have borrowed a fictitious middle-grade novel about her. I will be reading and reviewing it soon.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

John G. Paton South Sea Island Rescue by Kay Walsh

 Trailblazers series

Scottish man John G. Paton traverses the world to another set of islands, New Hebrides, to share Christ and His salvation to fierce, cannbalistic tribes. Readers will be astounded at his tenacity and his dedication to live like Christ and to face death many times so that islanders would understand and allow Christ to rule their lives. I could not believe how many obstacles and difficult situations he endured.

The writing-sentence structure, grammar, & punctuation-seemed a bit off at times. I know the British follow different punctuation "rules". 

*Highly recommend so that readers can be aware how regular people pursue uncertain situations because of their love for God.

-Borrowed from the library.