Sunrise Summer by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr**

 What a fascinating picture book!! A young girl relates her first summer being part of the fishing crew in Alaska. The illustrations are descriptive and humorous. 

The author and his wife, the illustrator, take their family to her famiy's property in a remote area in Alaska to fish for salmon each summer. I was surprised to learn at the end it was based on the author/illustrators' family. Ms. Behr offers more details about salmon fishing in the last four pages.

I was delighted the entire time I read this book!

**Highly, highly recommend this unique book. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Wind Watchers by Micha Archer*

 Through the four seasons siblings enjoy the wind's different moods. The word choice is apt. Because of Ms. Archer's descriptive language, readers can feel and hear the wind in each episode. The collage illustrations are impressive.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Soul School by Amber O'Neal Johnston

 When I took a course for my masters which focused on teaching multiculturally, I noticed a dirth in fictional books about ordinary Black people. Since then (over twenty years ago), I have not seen much improvement. This book addresses this issue by offering an annotated book lists that include Black characters and culture. I still think Ms. Johnston's choices mostly feature books about Black history/racial issues (but one of her goals was to expose children to Black history/culture.). 

The book is well organized. Part One, with five chapters, sets up the premise. Part Two provides the annotated book list, divided by ages (2-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-17). I was impressed with her thought-provoking discussion questions she provides with each book plus the intriguing, meaningful activities she suggests. For each book she offers two more books similiar to it (but does not annotate them or supply discussion questions and activity ideas).

I requested quite a few picture books (& one chapter book) she recommends and will review them soon.

-Borrowed from the library.

Arthur, the Always King by Kevin Crossley-Holland illustrated by Chris Riddell*

 A lavishly illustrated account about King Arthur's entire life

This hefty graphic novel portrays the legend of King Arthur and his knights in an engaging manner. I especially appreciated the word choice and the writing style. Although I highly recommend it, I think it is best suited for high school and older. See the warnings.

*Highly recommend.

Warnings: Arthur is born out of an affair (although his mother was tricked by magic) between the king and the Duchess of Cornwall, Arthur has a son out of wedlock with his half-sister (he, however, did not know she was his half-sister), mentions of initimacy (no details are given-readers infer ), Lancelot and Queen Guinevere have an affair, very graphic violence-described  The illustrations show blood and the gore. 

-Borrowed via ILL-I bought this book, so I own it too now.

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C.M. Millen illustrated by Andrea Wisnewski**

 Brother Theophane, a monk in the Mourne Mountains in Ireland, struggles to focus on his copying chores in the scriptorium. God's creation beckons him to delight in the outdoors. Because of his lack of discipline, he is relegated to make the brown ink. To take a break from the tedious task, Brother Theophane walks the  countryside, marveling at the color in God's creation. An idea forms that transforms the monks' copy work forever!

A fictional account but readers will learn about how books were copied, about monks, and about illuminated manuscripts. Ms. Millen also incorporates anonymous poems that monks doodled on leftover scraps of parchment or in the margins of their books.

A delightful story with stunning illustrations    I, of course, loved reading how different plants made different hues of paint.

The author's note offers more information about the topic. She even provides links to make your own hawthorn bark ink, to extract colors from plants, and how illuminated manuscripts were made. Even though the text is simple, junior high students can marvel at the word choice and writing style and also learn about this time period and occupation.

**Highly, highly recommend.

Borrowed via ILL -I bought this book, so I own it too now.

Broken Bread by Tilly Dillehay*

 How to Stop Using Food and Fear to Fill Spiritual Hunger

As of now, I have read all of the books Mrs. Dillehay has written!

Mrs. Dillehay explores how food traps people in sin (asceticism, gluttony, snobbery, and apathy) and also how to utilize food with eternal goals in mind.  Especially interesting chapters cover topics like Christians who drink alcohol, fasting, and longing for heaven. Each chapter she begins with one of her food memories. Ending with "Food for Thought", each chapter has a few discussion questions, has a couple of ideas to put into practice, and finally, a book or scripture to read. 

 Having recovered from an eating disorder, she understands the power food/eating can hold over someone. Readers will not only learn about honoring God with their eating but will also gain insights about hospitality, sin, food fads/diets, and theology. Oh, she also enlightens the reader the proper way to eat a pomegranate (her favorite fruit)!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library (I asked my librarian to purchase this book for the library circulation; she did!)

The Castle on the Hill by Elizabeth Goudge*

 By accident my friend bought two copies of this title. She gifted me her second copy!

Summer of 1940 during WW II has brought despair and change to many people in England. Four sets of strangers come together at the Castle-Miss Brown (unexpectantly the new housekeeper), Mr. Birley and his nephews whose family owns the castle, Moppet & Poppet, two evacuees, and violinist Jo Isaacson. As they interact, some of the adult character face their love of self and learn to love sacrifically.

Ms. Goudge transports her readers to a specific setting and makes them feel part of it. Her settings and characters are well-developed and come to life. Her word choice and sentence structure are poetic. She weaves in deep truths and scriptural truths without being didactic  I really enjoy the way she writes. 

Consideration: One character swears throughout (d***), some characters wrestle with their view of God and His existence, a man and young lady have sex (no details are given, the reader knows they spend the night together) and later she is pregnant (so the reader infers what happens that night). The child is born early and is stillborn.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book. I wold like to own more of her books!