RAR #37: Cultivating a Reading Life, Anne Bogel

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It’s a dream come true for Ralph S. Mouse when he get his own set of wheels: a red motorcycle. But when Ralph drives straight into trouble, it’s his human friend Keith who helps him. A Beverly Cleary classic, and the first in a 3-part series!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Good, evil; battles, betrayals; this classic series begins with either The Magician’s Nephew, or The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (depending on who you ask!). There are 7 books in all -- one filled with more adventure and fantasy than the next.

FROM SARAH:

Redwall Abbey is a quiet and peaceful place, just as the mice like it. But an evil one-eyed rat wants ownership of the abbey. An unlikely hero emerges in this action packed tale, which might be a good pick for fans of The Green Ember.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The question in this first volume is resoundingly clear: What can the peace-loving mice of Redwall Abbey do to defend themselves against Cluny the Scourge and his battle-seasoned army of rats?

FROM SARAH:

For fans of Lord of the Rings, The Princess Bride, and The Chronicles of Narnia. This fantastical journey is one our family's favorites. Excellent as an audio book, as well (and it's kind of long, so if that intimidates you, opt for audio!) Don't miss my interview with Andrew Peterson for Author Access in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Janner Igiby, his brother, Tink, and their disabled sister, Leeli, are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that they love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang, who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice.

A classic story of friendship starring Toad, Rat, Mole and Badger, this river tale is a wonderful read-aloud full of big personalities. (Except for Mole, who is a little shy.) Look for the version illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard of Winnie the Pooh fame!

Fans of the Disney film may be surprised by this books series, which begins with Mary Poppins. The plot is similar, but nanny Mary is a little less “spoonful-of-sugar” in this classic that’s been a favorite for more than 80 years.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The prelude to the Lord of the Rings, Bilbo sets out on a great adventure. Lots of suspense and humor … There’s a beautifully illustrated version available that can make this book a little easier to share with families with a large age gap.

When Emily’s father dies, her mother’s relatives take her to live at New Moon Farm, where she deals with snobby relatives and cruel classmates. Will Emily ever feel at home again?

Not as scary as the movie, this is a fabulous read-aloud for a wide range of ages. This audio book version is also delightful.

FROM SARAH

It’s such a boring summer, so when Jane finds a coin, she wishes something exciting would happen. Of course, it does! A funny and classic family tale for all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

It all begins with a strange coin on a sun-warmed sidewalk. Jane finds the coin, and because she and her siblings are having the worst, most dreadfully boring summer ever, she idly wishes something exciting would happen. And something does: Her wish is granted. Or not quite. Only half of her wish comes true.

Jim Dale brings the wizard world to life in this magical series about “the boy who lived.”

Audible version, read by Jim Dale

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The adventures continue for Laura Ingalls and her family as they leave their little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin and set out for Kansas. They travel for many days in their covered wagon until they find the best spot to build their little house on the prairie. Soon they are planting and plowin...

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**Description from Amazon: The Borrowers—the Clock family: Homily, Pod, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Arrietty, to be precise—are tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country manor. All their minuscule home furnishings, from postage stamp paintings to champagne cork chairs, are “bo...