FROM SARAH:

One of my tippy-top recommendations . . . if your kids haven't met the Penderwicks yet, it's time! A summer of misadventure ensues when four sisters meet a very interesting boy (and a couple of rabbits, too!) at a summer cottage in New England. Boys and girls alike enjoy this whole series. Hear Jeanne Birdsall talk about writing this series on her episode of Read-Aloud Revival. Also wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

*Note: There are a couple of instances of the Lord's name being used in vain by one of the characters.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel's sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts.

FROM SARAH:

My favorite of all of Patricia Polacco's books. This one is a story about courage- not the absence of fear, but the willingness to face it. Meet author/illustrator Patricia Polacco in our Family Book Club for her book, The Bee Tree, right here. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A storm is on its way, and Grandma and her granddaughter are waiting for it by making a Thundercake.

FROM SARAH:

Another favorite from the wondrous Gail Gibbons! Her nonfiction picture books are a go-to resource at my house. Hear my chat with Gail about how she makes these outstanding books for kids on the Read-Aloud Revival, in episode 103. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Get the buzz on bees in this classic nonfiction picture book by Washington Post/Children’s Book Guild Award winner, Gail Gibbons! With detailed illustrations and diagrams, Gail Gibbons offers a classroom-ready nonfiction picture book that makes complex scientific concepts understandable and entertaining for young readers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Give me your tired,  your poorYour huddled masses yearning to breathe free...Who wrote these words?  And why? In 1883, Emma Lazarus, deeply moved by an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe, wrote a sonnet that was to give voice to the Statue of Liberty.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely story from an RAR favorite author about being lonley, being needed, and having something to contribute. We met the delightful illustrator (and her fantastic boots!) in RAR Premium. Premium members can access a Family Book Club for this book right here.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Nora and her family have just arrived from Russia and are making a new home on the American frontier. The prairie is very different from the forested hills Nora is used to. Most of all, it’s lonely. Nora has no one and nothing to call her own until Papa brings home a dozen chicks and two geese. Nora names each one, and they follow her everywhere—even to church! But what will happen when one of her beloved chicks goes missing?

FROM SARAH:

Another picture book biography to love! This one is fun to read aloud and packed with facts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Told from the viewpoint of a child whose Grandpa is a beekeeper, this rhyming text offers an accessible and engaging introduction to the behavior of bees, including: where they live, how honey is made, and what a beekeeper does. Children will love learning about the vital role of bees in the ecosystem, and will be delighted to find a delicious muffin recipe on the final page!