Bing's Cherries by Livia Blackburne illustrated by Julia Kuo

 A Chinese tall tale based on a real Chinese immigrant

Ah Bing travels from China to work in the U.S.  An orchard owner, Seth Lewelling, eagerly hires Ah Bing because of his height. Over time Ah Bing's skills cause the orchard to thrive. When people try to attack Ah Bing and his fellow Chinese friends because of their race, Ah Bing is sad. Planting some cherry seeds, he cries. A giant tear lands on one of the seeds. This seed grows into a Bing cherry tree.

The author's & illustrator's notes about the inspiration for their story and also information about the real Ah Bing are very interesting.

Recipes included.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dog vs.Strawberry by Nelly Buchet illustrated by Andrea Zuill*

 A dog is given a strawberry. This imaginative dog decides he and this strawberry are going to race. Throughout the story the dog narrates his progress vs the strawberry's progress. A surprise and funny ending.

Kids will love hearing this story. A fun read-aloud (especially if the narrator assumes the voice of a broadcaster)

Sort of a fractured Tortoise & the Hare tale

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Hidden in Silence -DVD

 Based on a true story

To enhance my son's study of the Holocaust, I had our family watch this movie. 

During War World II, Stefania, a seventeen-year-old Polish Roman Catholic, hides Jews in two different homes. Not only does she hide them, but she also risks her life by leading them out of the Polish Ghetto, gathers food to feed them, and also secures a job to pay to support all of them. Towards the end of the war, the Nazis take over her home to serve as a house for nurses. As a result, the Jews hide in the attic, right above the Nazis!! Incredible.

My son wasn't overly thrilled with the movie . . .in the first third of it, he commented, "Mom, this isn't a very good movie." When I reminded him it was to expose him to the horrors of the Holocaust and what they endured, he settled down & changed his perspective. By end he said it was good in the sense that it brought this era of history to life. 

Warning: The Nazi nurses slept with soldiers-some scenes of intimacy were included-you can easily fast forward these parts. Of course, war violence & senseless cruelty to the Jews.

-Borrowed from the library.

A novel based on Stefania's story has been published: The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron.

The Screwtape Letters Study Guide for Teens by Alan Vermilye

 I bought this guide to assist discussions with my tenth grader as he read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. It is a great resource. The author includes scripture to study with each chapter.

-I own this book.

The Correspondent by Virgina Evans

 I could have read this book in one sitting if I had that leisure. Ms. Evans has created a compelling, interesting, and well-written novel about the life of Sybil Van Antwerp. By reading her letters & emails to various individuals (& some replies) over an eight year period, readers are immersed into her life. Now in her seventies, Sybil lays out the triumphs, tragedies, regrets, pleasures from her life via her correspondences. One letter is continuous throughout the whole book, which she resumes randomly throughout the years. My favorite character was her sweet neighbor, Theodore Lubeck.

This was a bestseller so I should not be surprised to find some aspects of it that do not agree with my beliefs--

Considerations: her brother, Felix, is gay and lives with/marries another man, Stewart-they break up for a period of time because Stewart had formed a friendship with another guy; Sybil moves in with a man at the end of her years; the series, The Outlander is mentioned & that it includes lots of sex & some sexual violence; some/minimal swearing; the author's political leanings are made clear --why can't I find modern novels that support conservative politics?!

For the above reasons I am not "highly recommending" it. The literary value is superb. 

-Borrowed from the library.

 

The Unofficial Alcatraz Handbook by Kristen Tracy illustrated by Anika Orrock*

 The author, Ms. Tracy, was a volunteer gardener at Alcatraz. In this handbook she shares fascinating information about the island and its inhabitants. Some chapter titles-"How Did Alcatraz Get Its Name?", "Who Were the Most Famous Prisoners on Alcatraz?", "Did Anyone Ever Escape by Raft?" and many more. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan illustrated by Mary Reardon*

 Twelve-year-old Peter and his friends seize the opportunity to remove the Norwegian village's, Riswyk, gold. On their sleds, the children haul down thousands of pounds of gold bullion to board a ship bound for the USA.  The German soldiers conclude the kids are just having fun in the snow-sledding and building snowmen. Then the Nazi Commandant almost uncovers the last bit of gold hidden under the snow. Thinking quickly, Peter throws a snowball at the Commandant, which distracts him and saves the gold from being discovered. Peter is taken into Nazi custody. Will he be put to death?

A very exciting book based on true events

*Highly recommend.  If I were teaching a WWII unit to 8-14 year-olds, I have them read this book and The Winged Watchman. Boys will especially enjoy both of these books.

-Borrowed from the library.

Ready-to -Read Level 2 Mouse & Spoon series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Janna Mattia*

 An adorable series by a beloved author!

Ginger, Piper, & Tom are mice who run a bakery in a little town on Littleton St. Whenever customers request specific orders, the three siblings oblige. At a moment's notice they accomplish incredible feats- baking for 216 rabbit children, pound cakes for an elephant's birthday party, sticky buns for a porcupine's wedding and tarts for owlets who won't sleep. 

Perfect length and repetition for beginning readers who are building fluency, stamina, and confidence.

*Highly recommend.

Coming on May 5,2026-Picnic for Giraffes!

A Gift of Dust by Martha Brockenbrough illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

 Dust is vital to habitats and people all over the world. Starting in Chad, Africa, it travels over the ocean, falls into the ocean, filters down into the Amazon Rainforest, contributing to the vitality of these locations.

Fascinating! 

Consideration: mentions global warming in the author's note

The House in the Mail by Rosemary & Tom Wells illustrated by Dan Andreasen

 Readers will experience through Emily's narration & scrapbook how a mail-order home is built in 1927. It reveals the contrast between a pre-modern way of living to modern.

Very interesting picture book to read when studying this time period.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline*

 Lavishly illustrated, this version of The Snow Queen will capture the reader's imagination and attention. Kai & Gerda are next door neighbors and best friends. When a piece of an evil troll's powerful mirror enters Kai's eye and heart, he transforms into a selfish, mean boy. Out sledding with the other children, he ventures further and attaches himself to the Snow Queen's sled. She keeps him captive. Everyone in the village concludes he has drowned in the river. Meanwhile, Gerda misses her friend and refuses to believe he has died. Bravely she searches the world until she finds him and restores him to former self.

*Higly recommend. I love the detailed, rich illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lady on a Donkey by Beth Prim Howell*

 As a young lady, Lillian traveled to Atlanta to pursue a job utilizing her ability to draw. When a miscommunication occurs and the job is given to someone else, she follows God's leading to assist a woman at an orphange in North Carolina. Months later she is about to marry a wonderful, godly man. But hearing a presentation about missions, she believes she is being called to be a missionary in Africa. She breaks the engagement and eventually travels to Egypt, with no support from her family (except her sister) or a church. Through complete dependence on the Lord, she starts and runs an orphange (she actually purchases land & builds numerous buildings on it through God's miraculous provision) in Assouit, Egypt. She saves thousands of children!  The church that eventually supports her is Assemblies of God.

I was not always impressed with the author's writing & her ogranization. BUT Lillian's incredible story allowed me to adjust and overlook the writing.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL.

Colors of the Wind by J.L. Powers paintings by George Mendoza drawings by Hayley Morgan-Sanders**

 Purple House Press (where I first read about it) has republished this book. What an amazing story and man! 

At age fifteen, George became legally blind with a rare form of blindness, fundus flavimaculatus. It destroys the person's central vision. Even with his blindness, he pursued running (set world record for the mile by a blind runner-4:28!) and painting. His vision causes him to view explosive colors, which he paints. This book contains his paintings.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed via ILL but I ordered it to own I liked it so much!

I just read online that a screenplay is being developed based on his life.

The Redeemed Reader by Janie Cheaney, Betsy Farquhar, Hayley Morell, & Megan Saben*

 This past fall I answered a question Janie Cheaney posted at the end of her email newsletter and won this book! She even signed it. 😉😊

These authors write reviews on their blog, Redeemed Reader. Most of their reviews consist of recently published books. It's the place to visit for parents who cannot keep up with their kids' reading (which is all of us, most likely!). Here is a link to their site: Redeemed Reader

This book discusses how to evaluate books via Truth and Story as the foundation. (Truth-found in God's Word, Story-relates to the human condition & how Christ rescues) Focusing on many challenging and compelling topics, the authors require the reader to contemplate their own heart as they read and form opinions about today's books. Organized in five sections (imagination, classics, contemporary issues, ages/stages/genres, & practical application), the book covers a diverse and interesting range of topics. My thinking & views were challenged and also confirmed.

A thoughtfully written book-much needed for this generation of parents

Book lists at the end of each chapter    A mega list with titles they recommend concludes the book.

*Highly recommend.

-I happily own this book!