FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Charlotte, James, and baby John have promised to be on their very best behavior for when George Washington comes to have his portrait painted by their father, Gilbert Stuart. But, it seems like every time George Washington comes to visit, Charlotte has to write another apology letter, even when they try to follow George Washington’s Rules of Good Behavior.

FROM SARAH:

This book is out of print, but it's one of my all-time favorites, so hunt it down if you can! Your library might have it, or it's worth a little splurge on a used copy online.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A hilarious tale about a tricky fox who can outsmart any human except a teacher! "Cleverly paced repetition and an unexpected ending make this droll caper a winning choice." - Publishers Weekly

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Poor Queen Victoria! She loves to swim, but can’t quite figure out how to get to the water without her devoted subjects glimpsing her swimming suit. This quirky true tale about the longest reigning monarch in British history is as fun as it is authentic. Excellent for all ages.

FROM SARAH:

This book by Grace Lin has won quite the handful of awards, and it deserved it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

FROM SARAH;

A YA series by the prolific and wildly successful author Brandon Sanderson begins here, with Steelheart. This was one of my oldest son's favorite fantasy series when he was in his teens. Recommended for 14+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

How far would you go for revenge if someone killed your father?
If someone destroyed your city?
If everything you ever loved was taken from you?
David Charleston will go to any lengths to stop Steelheart. But to exact revenge in Steelheart's world, David will need the Reckoners--a shadowy group of rebels bent on maintaining justice.

FROM SARAH:

Explore habitats from around the world, or in your own backyard, with books from this series. Some of the titles are out-of-print but can still be found used online and make great additions to your nature and science bookshelves.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Bats and big cats. Armies of ants. Squawking parrots. Strangling figs. From the ground up to the tree tops, the tropical rainforest teems with life. Stunning drawings, step-by-step experiments, fun-to-do activities, and fascinating facts abound in this magical exploration of an essential ecosystem, in danger of disappearing forever.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Filled with activities, Comics: Easy as ABC is a fun way for young readers to effortlessly and playfully start thinking like writers and artists. This simple guide is also aimed at parents, teachers, and librarians: all will enjoy learning the ABCs of this popular and rapidly growing medium.

FROM SARAH:

Susan Meissner is my very favorite living writer. If she writes it, I read it! This is one of my favorites, and tells a story we don't hear often—about the Germans who were sent to internment camps in the U.S. during WWII. Highly recommended for historical fiction lovers. I tend to recommend Susan Meissner's books for ages 16+, and that's about right for this one.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In 1943, Elise Sontag is a typical American teenager from Iowa—aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.

FROM SARAH:

The best book I know to teach onomatopoeia while also taking in a feast for the eyes! This book is such fun.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In glorious onomatopoeia, Tim McCanna takes the reader on a dazzling journey as a fox seeks shelter from a rainstorm.

**Description from Amazon: From the creator of Little Owl Lost and Oh No, George! comes a funny, strikingly illustrated story of best-laid plans — and the secret to attracting the birdie.

**Description from Amazon: When is magic not magic?      Laura is a girl who goes out of her way to find adventure. So when her family moves to a house with a well in the yard—a wishing well, according to Lydia, Laura's opinionated, horse-mad, outrageous new neighbor—Laura is all too willing to make a wish and see wha...

FROM SARAH:

I just love all the books in this series, and this is no exception! A delightful book to explore whether you can get to the waves in person or just through the pages of a book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.

**Description from Amazon: From the New York Times bestselling author of I’ll Be Your Blue Sky comes a “bewitching, warmhearted grown-up fairy tale about old movies, charming princes, and finding happily ever after in the place where you’d least expect it” (Jennifer Weiner).When Martin Grace enters the hip Philadelphi...

**Description from Amazon: It is AD 79 and Mount Vesuvius has erupted, destroying Pompeii. Among the thousands of people huddled in refugee camps along the bay of Naples are Flavia Gemina and her friends, Jonathan the Jewish boy, Nubia the African slave-girl, and Lupus the mute beggar boy. When the friends discover that child...

FROM SARAH:

Radiant illustrations and poetic text make this stunning book perfect for Christmas-time reflection. I love each of the different gifts the animals bring; some tangible, some musical, all heartfelt. This one has a lot of text, so it's best for a child with a longer attention span. Age Rec: 4 and up

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

An awe-inspiring Christmas tale from multi-award-winning poet Nikki Grimes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In simple, powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the rolling wheels of that childhood favorite: a train.

**Description from Amazon: Julia and Simla are two young friends who agree that you can never use too much butter -- and that it is best to be a child forever. Sharing a love of cooking and having no wish to turn into big, busy people who worry too much and dawdle too little, they decide to create a feast for growing and stay...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Get ready for the 2018 Winter Olympics with this full-color book for young readers (ages 8-12) that introduces all 15 sport disciplines for the Winter Olympics as well as some of the top Team USA athletes.

In November 1885, impressionist painter Claude Monet vacationed in Étretat, France, where he spent his days outside, painting scenes of the seaside village. One morning he rose early and carried all of his supplies and half-finished paintings out to the cliffs and rocky beach, finally stopping to paint the arch called Manneporte. Eager to capture the scene before him, and aware that he must work quickly to catch the light, Monet became so engrossed in his work that he forgot to watch the incoming tide

FROM SARAH:

The best part of this story is the love between two brothers who walk through life’s joys and tragedies together. The beautiful watercolor illustrations are an invitation to even the youngest readers to explore the life of C.S. Lewis, but it does contain themes of loss and grief, so you might give it a pre-read!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Before C.S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia, he was a young boy named Jack who spent his days dreaming up stories of other worlds filled with knights, castles, and talking animals. His brother, Warnie, spent his days imagining worlds filled with trains, boats, and technology. One rainy day, they found a wardrobe in a little room next to the attic, and they wondered, What if the wardrobe had no end?

Years later, Jack began to think about what could be beyond that wardrobe, and about a girl named Lucy and her siblings. This picture book biography introduces the beloved creator of The Chronicles of Narnia to a new generation of children who see hidden magic in the world around them.

FROM SARAH:

This debut novel from Amanda Dykes is a delight! Uplifting, historical, and dual timeline (I do love a dual timeline!). Hear me talk with Amanda about this novel, and our mutual love for Maine (without ever having been!) in Episode 133.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes. Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn't anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

FROM SARAH:

Corduroy is perfect for reading aloud to even the littlest listeners. It's timeless, tender and gently profound- one of my favorite classics and a treasure for any home library.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

2018 marks Corduroy’s 50th anniversary, and Don Freeman’s classic character is even more popular today than he was when he first came on the scene. Now his original story is available in an unabridged, sturdy board book format, perfect for even the youngest readers.

FROM SARAH:

Kendra and Seth visit their grandparents, having no idea that their grandfather is the caretaker of Fablehaven, a hidden refuge for mystical creatures to prevent their extinction. Will keep you turning pages! Watch the author talk about writing this book in his Author Access replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A truly comprehensive collection that is the ideal way of introducing children to the joys of reading poetry.

**Description from Amazon: “Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. B...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the 1940 Caldecott Medal award this edition reintroduces readers young and old to America's most beloved President through exquisite illustrations made from the original lithographic proofs the authors created in 1939.

FROM SARAH:

Sandra Boynton, need I say more? Sandra's lively rhymes and engaging illustrations make this barnyard boogie an absolute delight.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A barnyard dance children's book

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This restorative memoir reflects on the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals—Sy’s friends—and the truths revealed by their grace. It also explores vast themes: the otherness and sameness of people and animals; the various ways we learn to love and become empathetic; how we find our passion; how we create our families; coping with loss and despair; gratitude; forgiveness; and most of all, how to be a good creature in the world.

FROM SARAH:

Patricia MacLachlan and Micha Archer pair up in this stunning book... it may be one of my favorites on this list! We chose it for RAR Premium Family Book Club and got to talk with Micha about making the gorgeous collage illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Cool summer mornings begin with the rose orange sun and the smell of earth, and fade into hot summer nights with a yellow moon, covered in a quilt of stars. There are wagon rides, farm dogs, trips into town, and games of kick the can. These are prairie days.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Using simple shapes, Ed Emberley shows would-be artists how to draw over 400 things, such as an airplane, anteater, submarine, train, kangaroo, gondola, and much much more! This classic book is packed with cool things that kids-and not a few adults-really want to draw. Easy and fun, the book provide...

FROM SARAH:

I read this on a whim, and was surprised by how much I loved it! I found myself marking up passages that could apply to other creative work, and also to my homeschool. Learning how the creatives at Pixar drum up ideas, nurture them into projects, and then iterate and iterate and iterate some more was really inspiring to me.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Creativity, Inc. is a manual for anyone who strives for originality and the first-ever, all-access trip into the nerve center of Pixar Animation—into the meetings, postmortems, and “Braintrust” sessions where some of the most successful films in history are made. It is, at heart, a book about creativity—but it is also, as Pixar co-founder and president Ed Catmull writes, “an expression of the ideas that I believe make the best in us possible.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In Henry Cole’s vivid wordless picture book Spot, the Cat, readers joined Spot on a journey through a city that began with him following a bird outside his window.

FROM SARAH:

Funny, funny, funny. Duck is just trying to keep order on the pond. Alas. ;)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Goose has gone on vacation and Duck is looking after her pond. But Duck is a bit TOO enthusiastic? "No splashing! No fishing! No racing!" he quacks.

FROM SARAH:

This picture book biography of Malala Yousafzai captures her courage and unwavering belief in the power of education. Deeply inspiring with lovely illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The inspiring true story of Malala Yousafzai, human rights activist and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, from debut author/illustrator Lina Maslo.

**Description from Amazon: The wishing well is all used up, its magic drained, its enchantment gone dry.      Or has it?      In a reckless moment, Gordy threatens the old well, telling it to get going with its magic or else! and that seems to do the trick. Suddenly Laura, Lydia, James, and Kip—who feared their autu...

**Description from Amazon: “Marisa de los Santos’s Belong to Me is my favorite discovery of the past years: a terrific page-turner that’s also poignant, funny, surprising and deeply heartfelt.”—Harlan Coben “Complex, engaging, and surprisingly moving.”—Boston GlobeThe sensational New York Times bestseller fro...

FROM SARAH:

I was instantly swept away by this stunning retelling of "Mary's Song", drawing readers into the wonder and mystery of Christ's birth. Mothers will resonate deeply with Mary as she dotes on every inch of her beloved Baby, and every heart will be filled afresh with worship. Age Rec: 4 and up

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Poetic text by Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson and striking images by Lisa Aisato reveal the intimacy of that unforgettable night long ago, when the mother of Jesus was the first to welcome him into a world he would change forever.

**Description from Amazon: Celebrate international sportsmanship with Winter Games Mad Libs®! With everything from bobsledding to figure skating, Winter Games Mad Libs® is jam-packed with hours of fun! Who knew Phil N. DeBlanks was such an all-around athlete?

Linnea has been in Paris. And she has visited the painter Claude Monet's garden! She even stood on the same little Japanese bridge that Monet painted so often in his pictures. In Paris, Linnea got to see many of the real paintings. Now she can understand what it means to be called an Impressionist, and she knows a lot about Monet's life in the pink house where he lived with his eight children.

FROM SARAH:

Marguerite Henry wrote some of the most classic stories that have entranced horse and animal lovers for decades. This book is based on the real-life Pony Penning Days on Chincoteague Island and Assateague Islands, in Virginia and Maryland respectively, which still occurs annually. The audiobook is a great way to enjoy this book together.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On the island of Chincoteague, off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland, lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely-seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can’t live without her.

The frenzied roundup that follows on the next Pony Penning Day does indeed bring Phantom into their lives, in a way they never would have suspected. Phantom would forever be a creature of the wild. But her gentle, loyal colt Misty is another story altogether...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Artist John Green skillfully portrays the legendary grace and beauty of this animal in a collection of 30 illustrations. For more than 20 years, John Green has created popular Dover coloring books. He specializes in realistic drawings of people, animals, and places.

Sharks first lived more than 400 million years ago, 200 million years before dinosaurs walked the earth. From the dwarf shark to the great white shark, here is information on the physical characteristics of these animals, how they differ from other fish, how they are born (some hatch from eggs, othe...

FROM SARAH:

Funny and down-to-earth, your child may very likely read this one to you after you've read it together once or twice!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Learning about opposites has never been more fun — or funny — than with this winning board book. Yummy!

**Description from Amazon: The first in Caroline Lawrence's internationally bestselling Roman Mysteries series, re-issued with a fantastic new cover look. Flavia Gemina is a natural at solving mysteries. The daughter of a ship's captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD79, she and her three friends, Jonathan, a Jewish ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Dale Ahlquist, the President of the American Chesterton Society, and author of G. K. Chesterton - The Apostle of Common Sense, presents a book of wonderful insights on how to "look at the whole world through the eyes of Chesterton". Since, as he says, "Chesterton wrote about everything", there is an ocean of his material to benefit from GKC's insights on a kaleidoscope of many important topics.

FROM SARAH:

My now-21yo art student names this one the best book of her childhood. Set in 19th century France, this is a story of a bold girl, a fearful man, and a friendship forged during hard times. Beautiful. Worth owning!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at the boardinghouse where Mirette lives with her mother, and her life is never the same. This remains my teenage daughter Allison's very favorite picture book.

FROM SARAH:

The story follows a very patient shepherd and one extremely stubborn sheep who is determined to do things his own way. Funny and warm, this tale will delight not only your kids, but you too.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Good Shepherd and the Stubborn Sheep is a humorous and heartwarming picture book about God's unconditional love. This story beautifully captures the essence of Psalm 23, showing the importance of trusting God, our Good Shepherd, with our lives.

FROM SARAH:

A wonderful picture book for older children. This one has longer text and a storyline you won't soon forget.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

It was the day before Christmas in a small Russian village. Alexi's babushka was telling him what Christmas was like when she was a girl - before the soldiers came. "Our church was as crowded as a pod full of peas. Candles made the church as bright as the sunniest day. Watching over us was the blessed icon of St. Nicholas."

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Once upon a time . . . a princess tried to make a comic. And with the help of a magical cartooning elf, she learned how – well enough to draw her way out of an encounter with a dangerous dragon, near-death by drowning, and into her very own adventure! Like the princess, young readers will discover that they already have the drawing and writing skills it takes to make a comic – they just need a little know-how. And Adventures in Cartooning supplies just that.

FROM SARAH:

When you're feeling like your creative side needs a little TLC, this book may just do the trick! I'm a big fan of Todd Henry's work, and this book is responsible for giving me the courage to do a lot of what we do here at RAR.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Die Empty is a tool for people who aren't willing to put off their most important work for another day. Todd Henry explains the forces that lead to stagnation and introduces practices that will keep you on a true and steady course.

FROM SARAH:

A beautifully illustrated story about a father and son's fishing trip is a gentle exploration of the immigrant experience and family bonding. Lovely.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. Graphic novelist Thi Bui and acclaimed poet Bao Phi deliver a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son - and between cultures, old and new.

**Description from Amazon: Award-winning author Sid Fleischman blends the broadly comic with the deeply compassionate in this memorable novel, winner of the Newbery Medal. 

**Description from Amazon: All books are magic, but some are more magical than others.      When Susan opens a strange library book, she discovers it is about her and her friends, leading up to the moment when she opened the book. Beyond that, the pages are blank . . . waiting for the children to wish the book full of adv...

FROM SARAH:

A sweet and sentimental story of a boy growing up and the sea he loved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this lyrical picture book, readers follow one boy through his life as he returns to the seashore beside his home. The boy likes to think, and his thoughts turn into questions. He brings these questions to the sea. At times, he thinks he can hear the sea whisper to him: Dream. Love. Be.
So he does. He dreams—a young boy imagining all that he might do. He loves—a teenager, reaching out from a lonely place to make friends. He allows himself to just be—now grown, sharing the seashore with his daughter.
A celebration of quiet curiosity, The Boy and the Sea invites readers to ask questions and live their way into the answers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This is also the tale of another remarkable vision--not a corporeal vision of God but the vision of life as a wondrously strange creation. It tells how wisdom was forged in Ames's soul during his solitary life, and how history lives through generations, pervasively present even when betrayed and forgotten.

FROM SARAH:

This is first in a series of short lyrical novels from Lesa Cline-Ransome (one of my favorites!) about one boy's experience during the Great Migration. Lesa taught a wonderful WOW: Writers on Writing workshop inside RAR Premium to go with his book. Best for ages 10+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When eleven-year-old Langston's father moves them from their home in Alabama to Chicago's Bronzeville district, it feels like he's giving up everything he loves.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian's courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory.

FROM SARAH:

I think most everyone knows about this series by now, but juuuuuust in case it slipped your radar: yes, you want to read it. Oh, and so do your kids. ;)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" When Reynie Muldoon answers an ad looking for gifted children, he soon meets fascinating friends and finds himself on an adventure that will change his life... and quite possibly the world. First in a fantastic series.

FROM SARAH:

Darling and delightful! Adapted from the Pooh books with Ernest Shepard's lovely illustrations. About as sweet as they come.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Winnie-the-Pooh is walking through the forest when he comes upon a hole. "If I know anything about anything," he says, "that hole means Rabbit. And Rabbit means Company. And Company means Food." Hurrah! But once Pooh goes through the hole and has some honey, will he ever be able to get out?

Based on the beloved series of water lily paintings by Claude Monet, this children's book draws readers into the atmosphere and colors of Monet's garden at Giverny, where a lovely but vain frog tries to insert herself into the artist's work. When Antoinette, a comely young frog, learns that a famous artist is searching for beautiful flowers to paint, she is determined to get in the picture.