The word choice is specific and appeals to the senses. The reader feels immersed in the snow fall and its aftermath. The illustrations illuminate the joy snow brings to children.
I loved Mr. de la Mare's writing style so much that I ordered a used copy of his poetry collection Peacock Pie illustrated by Edward Ardizzzone.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
The Caldecott Medal-1944
The King's daughter, Lenore, becomes ill. She claims if the King brings her the moon, she will become better. Summoning his wise men, he demands they capture the moon. Each one denies the possibility. The least likely individuals accomplish the mission. Humor and wit abound.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library. (My local used bookstore has a few copies of this book. I intend to buy it. I love clever books!)
When Lucy's guardian passes away, she finds herself living at a lighthouse on Lake Superior with the large Martin family. She is afraid of water. Two years ago her father died in a shipwreck. Not only does she must battle with her fear of water while living there, all of her attempts to be helpful within the Martin family end in disaster. She may even cause Mr. Martin to lose his job as lighthouse keeper. Will the Martin family accept her as one of their own?
A search for a long-lost necklace, from a shipwreck, is an alluring dimension to the plot.
I liked the references to books I have loved-Little Women, The Story Girl, and The Country of Pointed Firs.
I enjoyed this story and its setting. I loved the Martin family and loved experiencing how a lighthouse family had to function. Although I am highly recommending it, I did find Lucy annoying (in the middle of the book, I did not like her). Her imagination reminded me of Anne Shirely's but not as credible or as well-developed. Also, all of the problems were too perfectly resolved by the end.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
It all started with a squirrel. Penelope spies a squirrel with buckteeth stealing one her Lady's raspberry tarts. A good pup would defend her Lady, so she pursues the squirrel with no success. Then she realizes she has lost her Lady in the middle of Puggleton Park, London. For months Penelope searches for her owner. Will she ever be reuntied with her Lady?
~A cute chapter book for readers who need to build stamina ~Numerous illustrations are included within each chapter. ~Great character development despite being a shorter book for younger readers
Book #2 is also available.
Consideration/discuss: The main human character, Lady Diggleton, has recently lost her husband. She misses him. Grief is explored throughout the book.
-Borrowed from the library.
How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare from Oblivion
Ms. Bausum provides insight how a group of men collected Shakespeare's plays to create a folio. With humor and a conversational tone, Ms. Bausum engages the reader. She weaves in other fascinating facts about book printing, book binding, spelling, golden retreivers, the Farting Folio(!!!), the couple who created the Folger Shakespeare Library . . . and many more historical tidbits! I loved reading this account.
*Highly recommend. Definitely add this book as a resource when studying Shakespeare and his works.
-Borrowed from the library.
Poe's work featured in this graphic novel are: "The Raven", "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Black Cat", "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether"
Mr. Katz's interpretation and illustrations stimulate the reader's imagination and heightens his fear! I did not read this novel in my bed before falling asleep!! Artistically (both the art and Poe's writing) it is superb. I am not highly recommending it because of the themes/horror.
Warnings/considerations: horror, evil characters, drinking, drugs, murder, depravity encouraged (in "The Masque of the Red Death"- rooms are designated for different types of depravity. One room is for carnal variety & shows couples making out(fully-clothed) on top of each other and one person in the other person's lap with legs wrapped around waist)
-Borrowed from the library.
Over twenty years later Avi has written a sequel to The Secret School. Ida is attending HIGH SCHOOL in in Steamboat, CO!!! As she adjusts to high school, she realizes how sheltered her life in the mountains has been. Everything in Steamboat is modern-the train, the movies, the telephone, the library, the phonograph etc. Ida also manages to upset the principal by correcting him in front of her classmates. When he catches her and her "secret sisters" dancing The Charleston, he singles her out and threatens to expel her. Then she also has to consider the reputation of her guardian, Miss Sedgewick . . .
This novel immerses the reader into the 1920s and all of the changes and the conflicts that abound in that decade. Avi provides a glossary with the flapper terminology. Lulu, one of Ida's friends, speaks "flapper" constantly. I found it a bit annoying!
*Highly recommend. A very engaging plot with an interesting setting & characters
More edgy than The Secret School.
Discuss: how to interact with an adult who is wrong & being vindicative, lying, how women were treated during this time period, WWI effects, superstitions
-Borrowed from the library.
Recently Sarah Mackenzie interviewed Anna Rose Johnson on her podcast RAR. Anna Rose recommended historical fiction books. This title was one of them.
Fourteen-year-old Ida is about to graduate from her one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of remote Colorado in 1925. If she passes her final exam, she will be able to attend the high school in town and become a teacher. The school's teacher's mother becomes ill. She leaves to care for her. When a school board member closes the school, Ida and her classmates decide to keep the school open-with her as a teacher. They, however, do not inform the school board and meet in secret.
*Highly recommend. (perfect for older readers who don't like to read or don't have the stamina-the chapters are short and engaging. It's a quick read packed with interesting characters, setting, and plot.)
This book was published in 2001. Twenty-two years later Avi wrote its sequel. I am currently reading it and will review it soon.
-Borrowed from the library.
Caldecott Honor book
What a fun book! King Bidgood is in the bathtub and won't come out. Whenever someone tries to lure him out with an activity, he announces that they could do the activity in the bathtub! Who can end this exasperating situation?!
I loved the story but loved the illustrations even more. The characters' expressions are dramatic. The detail and intricacy will astound readers. Lavish!
*Highly recommend. I love this husband-wife team.
-Borrowed from the library.
When I was a teen or young adult I read this memoir and loved it. I started reading it aloud to my sons at the end of last school year and finished it at the beginning of this school year. They enjoyed hearing about his interactions with people from all over the states and were impressed with his feat. It was not their favorite read aloud, but they still looked forward to hearing it each day.
Peter Jenkins, disillusioned with the United States, decides to walk across the it, meeting the people and deciding if the country is truly awful. In 1973 from Alfred, New York, he begins his walk with his beloved dog Cooper. The book ends with him leaving Lousiana in 1975 with another beloved!
I found his similes and metaphors a bit hyperbolic and sappy at times.
Truly an amazing account! (Read aloud to teens or older-romantic attractions/divorce, drinking, drugs)
-I own this book. (He recorded the rest of his walk in two other books-The Walk West & Along the Edge of America.)
Mrs. Elliot utilizes journal entries and letters to relay the story of the five gentlemen who surrendered their "all" to minister to the Acuans in Ecuador. In the first section she informs the readers of their back stories and how they concluded that God wanted them to minister in Ecuador. A lot of photographs enhance the biography. I wanted to know more how the women reacted and endured the murder of their husbands. Mrs. Elliot does share how they handled it (which was incredible-what faith and love for God they have/had!), but I wanted more details! 😉
An easy and quick read
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from my church library.
This picture book reveals how as a child Gene Stratton-Porter loved birds and would figure out methods to observe them closely in their natural habitat. Ms. Esbaum then parallels Mrs. Stratton-Porter's childhood interests with her pursuits and accomplishments as an adult. The author's note and "more about Gene Stratton-Porter" sections were especially interesting. A list of all the books Mrs. Stratton-Porter wrote is included in the back.
The illustrations are whimsical. I loved the endpages (eggs and feathers).
I read The Keeper of the Bees and just bought Freckles two weeks ago at a used bookstore.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Author and illustrator Laurence Anholt shares a snapshot of famous artist lives when they interacted with a child or teen. These stories will connect with children and introduce them to famous artists in a meaningful way.
*Highly recommend all of these titles (all borrowed from the library)-
World magazine reviewed this picture book, which prompted me to borrow it from the library.
In 1948 the residents in McCall, Idaho, were irritated by the abundance of beavers! Elmo Heter, a Fish and Game Warden, thought of a method to transport the beavers safely to a new location which would benefit from their presence and "lifestyle".
Very interesting! The illustrations display creativity and a variety of perspectives (bird's eye view, up from the ground etc).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
When a friend was asking for read aloud suggestions for preschoolers, she mentioned this book. I had never read it, so I decided to read it. I am familiar with the author, Holly Goldberg Sloan (I reviewed her books Counting by 7s & Short on this blog).
Appleblossom, the littlest possum in the bunch, and her siblings must learn to be performers to survive. After weeks of "acting" led by Mama Possum, the possums find themselves on their own. Applebloosom and her two brothers Amlet & Antonio, however, are a bit more timid and decide to stick together. Although timid, Applebloosom is curious. She spies on the monsters (aka people) and accidently falls into their chimney. Her brothers, witnessing the fall, summon up their courage and plan a rescue operation.
Humorous and sweet! I loved how Ms. Sloan wove in possum facts. I still do not like these creatures (in real life they are cruel, and I think they are ugly!) but enjoyed learning more about them. The Shakespeare references and quotes added another layer of delight.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I was going to pace myself as I read this series but "could not" resist borrowing the latest Emma journal from the library!
Emma's friendships with Islington, Pierce and Hawkes continue to deepen. As secrets are exposed and escapades are shared, their lives are woven more tightly together. A slow-burn romance between Emmma and some "gentleman" progresses as they consider and evaluate the effect of their relationship. I love reading a book that causes me to laugh out loud and also to marvel over a phrase.
Consideration if sharing with a teen: a couple of swear words
*Highly recommend. This volume was published at the end of Aug. 2023. I am not sure when volume 8 will be available.
-Borrowed from the library.
The author relates the different ways plants pollinate. Christians will be in awe of the Creator and His creativity. Two streams of text will accommodate two levels of readers/listeners-the main text will be enough for younger readers/listeners and the extra texts will appeal to older readers/listeners.
I did not find the pictures beautiful.
Consideration/discussion: A couple of times the author refers to "million years ago".
-Borrowed from the library.
I liked this book better than the 1st one in this series (Bibsy did not interact with her teacher nor her parents as much in this one).
Bibsy and her best friend Natia sign up to compete in a bike-a-thon to support their local library. When Natia becomes sick the night before the event, Bibsy is forced to change her perspective and attitude.
-Borrowed from the library.
Bibsy loves to discuss. Unfortuantely, her third grade teacher, Mrs. Stumper, believes Bibsy talks too much. When Bibsy has gone "a stone too far", Mrs. Stumper removes Bibsy's paper apple from the tree to the ground. Will Bibsy be able to keep her apple receiving a hole punch (a wormy apple)?
Bibsy annoyed me! Her parents seem to coddle her.
This series is perfect for readers who are building stamina. The chapters are short (2-5 pages) with short paragraphs with a lot of white space separating them. Many illustrations are included in each chapter.
-Borrowed from the library.
