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.

Fast Cheetah Slow Tortoise by Bette Westera & Mies van Hout translated by David Colmer

 Two-page spread with a poem on each, featuring an animal. Each poem is signed by the animal that "wrote" it.

A great book when discussing opposite and also younger children to develop their vocabulary. 

These poems' rhythm and rhyme did not appeal to me. The poems are free verse and were translated from Dutch. Maybe those two factors are why the poems did not sound so pleasant to me.

-Borrowd from the library.