Books

FROM SARAH:

Oh my, this book is so much fun! Your kids will be giggling all the way through. Get the Family Book Club Guide for this title in RAR Premium, and watch Lita Judge talk about the makings of this book (and her unconventional nature-based childhood) in the lovely WoW Writers on Writing: Journaling and Sketching for Story Ideas.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this almost wordless picture book, a host of woodland creatures take a child's sled for a nighttime joy ride. Their whimsical ride is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor, complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects.

FROM SARAH:

One snowy afternoon, Annabelle finds a box filled with yarn of every color. She begins to knit, but the yarn never runs out. Your kids can meet author Mac Barnett or illustrator Jon Klassen in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A young girl and her box of magical yarn transform a community in this stunning picture book. With spare, gently humorous illustrations and a palette that moves from black-and-white to a range of color, this modern fairy tale has the feel of a new classic.

FROM SARAH:

Books about bookishness, what could be better? Add a wintry backdrop, and you've got a cozy read-aloud worth making time for.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this timeless picture book, a new reader trudges through deep snow with a mysterious suitcase in tow. He has something important to share with his faithful companion, who bolts ahead to wait at the top of a tall hill. Our small hero climbs higher and higher, until finally, he is there, too. Then he opens his suitcase―click, click―and soon the only sound in the world is the sound of the reader reading their very favorite book to the very last page…the very last word. Amy Hest’s spare evocative text is a true celebration of new readers and good friends everywhere, while Lauren Castillo’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, with their bold saturated colors against winter white, perfectly capture the wonder and delight of this magical day.

FROM SARAH:

All of Mr. Magee's adventures are boatloads of fun, and this is no exception! I'm a big fan of both Chris Van Dusen's rhymes and his art.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

One winter morning, Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee, head out bright and early to learn how to ski. But what begins as a pleasant day in the snow quickly goes downhill when a run-in with a curious moose sends them flying through the air and hanging above an abyss! How will Dee and Magee find their way out of this snowy situation? Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee is another fun-filled adventure for Magee fans old and new.

FROM SARAH:

Kevin Henkes... need I say more? Okay... Kevin Henkes + a dog. That's all you need to know. :)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Snow falls, animals burrow, and children prepare for the wonders winter brings. Caldecott Medalist and award-winning author Kevin Henkes’s striking text introduces basic concepts of language and the unique beauty of the winter season. Laura Dronzek’s expressive paintings beautifully capture the joyful wonders of winter.

FROM SARAH:

What's not to love about Jan Brett? This is another of her masterpieces. Don't forget to poke around the lush and detailed borders!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A chill is in the air, and as Hedgie trundles around the farm all his friends tell him of the winter-time fun he will miss as he hibernates: Icicles decorating the chicken coop! Lisa making snowmen! The pond turned to slippery ice! It sounds so amazing that Hedgie decides to stay awake instead of going to his burrow. But then, a snowstorm starts. Luckily, Lisa finds him and brings him to her home, so Hedgie gets to see the wonders of winter from inside the cozy house.

**Description from Amazon: This spirited tribute to Old Glory will inspire readers, young and old, to take a new look at the greatest emblem of the United States of America. With patriotic verse and historical facts, THE FLAG WE LOVE explores how our flag has become an enduring part of our nation's proud history and heritage....

**Description from Amazon: For so many people, reading isn't just a hobby or a way to pass the time--it's a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can't imagine life without them.I'd Rather Be Reading is the perfect literary c...

**Description from Amazon: "I well recall a conversation with an executive I hoped to interview about her astonishing productivity. I began our call with an assurance that I would not take much of her time. She laughed. 'Oh, I have all the time in the world,' she said."Most of us feel constantly behind, unsure how to escape f...

**Description from Amazon: Introduction by Terry Tempest Williams Afterword by T. H. Watkins   Called a “magnificently crafted story . . . brimming with wisdom” by Howard Frank Mosher in The Washington Post Book World, Crossing to Safety has, since its publication in 1987, established itself as one of the greatest ...

FROM SARAH:

I love most of Kate Morton's sweeping tales (especially on audio), and this one is probably my very favorite. I don't know how the author weaves these grand tales together so seamlessly, but I'm astounded every time! Perfect for fans of Susan Meissner (though Kate's books tend to have a slightly grittier edge than Susan's do)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Living on her family’s idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories.One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. He is never found, and the family is torn apart, the house abandoned.

**Description from Amazon: One summer night in 1930, Judge Joseph Crater steps into a New York City cab and is never heard from again. Behind this great man are three women, each with her own tale to tell: Stella, his fashionable wife, the picture of propriety; Maria, their steadfast maid, indebted to the judge; and Ritzi, hi...

FROM SARAH:

Susan Meissner is my very favorite adult novelist, and this is the book I recommend most often for teens who are just getting started with her work. It's also a great place for mamas! Weaves together two tales—one from 9/11 and the other from the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. And in traditional Susan Meissner form, your heart will be bigger by the time you finish.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Two stories thread together: one of Clara Wood, who must sort out her world after the catastrophic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, and the other of Taryn Michaels, who is rebuilding her life after losing her husband in the 9/11 attacks. A testament to the power of the shape of history on our life in the present.

FROM SARAH:

I was skeptical, if I'm honest. But this book is an utter delight! Sarah McCoy takes on Marilla Cuthbert's backstory in this novel, and it's fan fiction at its best. Especially wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

Recommended for you and for all of your Anne fans, ages 12+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A bold, heartfelt tale of life at Green Gables . . . before Anne: A marvelously entertaining and moving historical novel, set in rural Prince Edward Island in the nineteenth century, that imagines the young life of spinster Marilla Cuthbert, and the choices that will open her life to the possibility...

**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: “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 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:

As the perfect introduction to Wendell Berry’s books, Hannah Coulter is like taking a deep breath; it’s a long pause, a moment of quiet in the midst of a world that can be filled with so much noise. We are thrilled to include it in our Mama Book Club library, knowing it will bring so much encouragement and peace to everyone who reads it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Hannah Coulter is Wendell Berry’s seventh novel and his first to employ the voice of a woman character in its telling. Hannah, the now-elderly narrator, recounts the love she has for the land and for her community. She remembers each of her two husbands, and all places and community connections threatened by twentieth-century technologies. At risk is the whole culture of family farming, hope redeemed when her wayward and once lost grandson, Virgil, returns to his rural home place to work the farm.

**Description from Amazon: The bestselling author of The Cloister Walk reflects on the sanctifying possibilities of everyday work and how God is present in worship and liturgy as well as in ordinary life. Definitely not "for women only."

FROM SARAH:

One of the most inspiring books I've read about mothering. Reading it reminds me to save the small things and enjoy the beauty and light that children bring wherever they go. Read this when you want to fall back in love with motherhood.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Mothers are pulled in a million different directions while trying to give their kids fulfilling, productive, joyful childhoods. They mistake activity for happiness, and fill their kids' heads with information when they ought to be feeding their souls instead. This is a book for mothers who yearn to find a balance in their own and their children's lives.

FROM SARAH:

I reread this book every few years, whenever I feel hungry for a slower, saner pace. It always inspires me to slow down, make life beautiful, and delight in the world just as it is.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Drawing inspiration from the the shells on the shore, Lindbergh's musings on the shape of a woman's life will bring new understanding to readers, male and family, at any stage of life. A mother of five and professional writer, she casts an unsentimental eye at the trappings of modern life that threaten to overwhelm us -- the timesaving gadgets that complicate our lives, the overcommitments that take us from our families -- and by recording her own thoughts in a brief escape from her everyday demands, she guides her readers to find a space for contemplation and creativity in their own lives.

**Description from Amazon: Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet ...

FROM SARAH:

There's nothing quite as lovely as a Jane Austen novel. Emma is one of my personal favorite heroines in Austen's canon, and we even read it for a mama book club in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

First published at the end of 1815, Jane Austen’s “Emma” is the story of Emma Woodhouse, a young girl from a good home that does not need the financial support of a husband and is determined not to marry.

**Description from Amazon: A collection of essays, including: I. Tremendous Trifles II. A Piece of Chalk III. The Secret of a Train IV. The Perfect Game V. The Extraordinary Cabman VI. An Accident VII. The Advantages of Having One Leg VIII. The End of the World IX. In the Place de La Bastille X. On Lying in Bed XI. The Twelve...

**Description from Amazon: The acclaimed and beloved author of Hourglass now gives us a new memoir about identity, paternity, and family secrets--a real-time exploration of the staggering discovery she recently made about her father, and her struggle to piece together the hidden story of her own life.What makes us who we are?...

**Description from Amazon: Elle Best Books of 2017Kirkus Best Books of 2017The best-selling novelist and memoirist delivers her most intimate and powerful work: a piercing, life-affirming memoir about marriage and memory, about the frailty and elasticity of our most essential bonds, and about the accretion, over time, of both...

From the beloved #1 New York Times best-selling children's author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and If You Give... series. Max is a lovable and determined puppy with a lot to learn on his adventure of becoming someone's life-changing friend and helper. Max's puppy raiser, Sam, takes him everywher...

Moose makes his debut in this picture book in the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling If You Give... series! If a big hungry moose comes to visit, you might give him a muffin to make him feel at home. If you give him a muffin, he'll want some jam to go with it. When he's eaten all your muffins, he...

The exuberant dog who first appeared in If You Give a Pig a Party now stars in his very own book in the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling If You Give... series!If you give a dog a donut, he’ll ask for some apple juice to go with it. When you give him the juice, he’ll drink it all up. Then, b...

This is the first book starring Pig in the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling If You Give... series!If you give a pig a pancake, she'll want some syrup to go with it. You'll give her some of your favorite maple syrup, and she'll probably get all sticky, so she'll want to take a bath. She'll ask ...

The lovable cat who first appeared in If You Give a Pig a Party now has his very own book in the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling If You Give... series!If you give a cat a cupcake, he'll ask for some sprinkles to go with it. When you give him the sprinkles, he might spill some on the floor. Cle...

**Description from Amazon: The Professor and the Madman, masterfully researched and eloquently written, is an extraordinary tale of madness, genius, and the incredible obsessions of two remarkable men that led to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary -- and literary history. The compilation of the OED began in 1857, it ...

**Description from Amazon: From the New York Times bestselling author of Band of Brothers and D-Day, the definitive book on Lewis and Clark’s exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, the most momentous expedition in American history and one of the great adventure stories of all time.In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson selected...

**Description from Amazon: Direct and vivid in her account of Clarissa Dalloway’s preparations for a party, Virginia Woolf explores the hidden springs of thought and action in one day of a woman’s life.  In Mrs. Dalloway, the novel on which the movie The Hours was based, Virginia Woolf details Clarissa Dallow...

**Description from Amazon: This book contains several HTML tables of contents.The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the ebook) lists the titles of all novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where you'll find a new TOC that lists ...

**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...

**Description from Amazon: This book is not about "school at home"--it is about something better. It is about Real Learning. Homeschooling pioneer Charlotte Mason wrote with great wisdom about providing young minds with a living books education. She urged teachers to present great ideas and stand back, allowing students to fo...

**Description from Amazon: Danielle Bean, editor of Catholic Digest, and Elizabeth Foss, an award-winning blogger, team up to offer daily doses of inspiration, wisdom, and hope for Catholic moms. Now back in print in response to high demand, Small Steps for Catholic Moms gives busy mothers a year's worth of sustenance, in the...

**Description from Amazon: THE COLFAXES DIDN'T START TEACHING THEIR BOYS AT HOME TO GET THEM INTO HARVARD - BUT THAT'S WHAT HOMESCHOOLING ACCOMPLISHED!For over fifteen years, David and Micki Colfax educated their children at home. They don't think of themselves as pioneers, though that's what they became. Unhappy with the pub...

**Description from Amazon: Remember how the Gingerbread Boy is eaten by the fox? Well, not this Gingerbread Baby in a delicious twist to a favorite old tale.It all begins when Matti opens the oven too soon and out jumps a cheeky little Gingerbread Bay. He leads Matti's mother and father, the dog and the cat. And a whole color...

**Description from Amazon: That popular little character is back looking for friends, in an adventure he'll never forget.Confident and cocky, the Gingerbread Baby happens upon a bakery, where he dances and prances in front of a sugar cookie girl, trying to make friends. But she just stares and doesn?t say a word, like all the...

**Description from Amazon: Retells the traditional Mexican story about the country's patron saint, the Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to a poor Indian named Juan Diego in 1531

**Description from Amazon: Long revered in both East and West, St. Lucia is an early virgin martyr whose life and legacy shine as a light of faith, hope, and compassion in the darkness of winter and sin. Lucia, Saint of Light introduces young readers to both her life and her delightful Christmas-related festival as it is trad...

**Description from Amazon: Babushka lives on her own in a cottage where everything is as neat as a pin. But she is so busy cleaning and polishing that she hardly notices the miraculous events going on around her. Then a mysterious dream leads her to put her daily worries aside and venture out to find a special baby. On her jo...

FROM SARAH:

Brian Wildsmith’s vibrant and colorful illustrations make this retelling of the Nativity story a visual feast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Rebecca, a young girl living in Nazareth, accompanies a small donkey searching for his mother to a stable in Bethlehem where they both witness a special event.

**Description from Amazon: In a unique Appalachian Christmas story that includes music and lyrics, a thirteen-year-old girl recounts the efforts of her, her siblings, and her wise grandmother to bring the joy of Christmas to her father after her mother's death. Tour. IP.

The New York Times bestselling author revisits the characters from her beloved novels Love Walked In and Belong to Me in this captivating, beautifully written drama involving family, friendship, secrets, sacrifice, courage, and true love for fans of Jojo Moyes, Elin Hilderbrand, and Nancy Thayer.On ...

FROM SARAH:

The heartwarming and humorous story about the remarkable bond that forms between an aspiring service dog and an autistic boy in need of a friend. (nope, the dog doesn't die 😉)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems like that dream will never come true--until a family adopts him. They want him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism.

FROM SARAH:

Arguably the best wordless book on this list—read the whole trilogy of wordless picture books by Aaron Becker!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.

FROM SARAH:

A perfect wordless book to read before your next camping trip.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Inside a tent it's cozy. But what is going on outside? Is it dark? Is it scary? Not if you have your trusty flashlight! Told solely through images and using a spare yet dramatic palette, artist Lizi Boyd has crafted a masterful exploration of night, nature, and art.

FROM SARAH:

A winter classic. You may even forget this one is wordless, it's so rich in storytelling!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On a snowy winter night, a young boy builds a snowman in hopes that it will come to life. When his wish comes true, the boy and his snowman share silly and tender moments--dressing up, sneaking around the house, skateboarding, and much more.

FROM SARAH:

A wordless book and a kind of seek-and-find, all in one. And with Henry Cole's pitch-perfect storytelling, to boot!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Simple and stunning images tell the story of a cat named Spot as he weaves his way in and out of a city in this wordless picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Henry Cole.Through this gorgeous visual narrative, Henry Cole shows us a day in the life of a cat named Spot.

FROM SARAH:

A wordless book that's ideal for a Civil War study. Inspiring. Heartfelt.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless story.When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a difficult choice.

FROM SARAH:

Who doesn't love Carl? Don't we all wish we had a dog like this!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Available in paperback for the first time, the modern classic that introduced the beloved baby-sitting rottweiler to the world.

FROM SARAH:

What's not to love about Flora? It's rare for a wordless book to be honored by a Caldecott Honor, and this one deserved it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A 2014 Caldecott Honor BookIn this innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps, Flora and her graceful flamingo friend explore the trials and joys of friendship through an elaborate synchronized dance. With a twist, a turn, and even a flop, these unlikely friends learn at last how to dance.

FROM SARAH:

Another wonderful wordless book by Barbara Lehman.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This book is about a book. A magical red book without any words. When you turn the pages you’ll experience a new kind of adventure through the power of story.Winning a Caldecott Honor for its illustrations of rare detail and surprise, The Red Book crosses oceans and continents to deliver one girl into a new world of possibility, where a friend she’s never met is waiting.

FROM SARAH:

One of these days, I'll have to interview Barbara Lehman to find out where she gets these story ideas! I bet your library has this one. Definitely worth reading!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A ride on the train is exciting. There’s always something new to see, even if you’ve been there before. But some train rides are better than others . . .What if a train took you somewhere else entirely? What if the doors opened in a strange, new place?

FROM SARAH:

There are a few author/illustrators who nail their wordless books every time. Daniel Miyares is one of them!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A boy’s small paper boat—and his large imagination—fill the pages of this wordless picture book, a modern-day classic from the creator of Pardon Me! that includes endpaper instructions for building a boat of your own.

FROM SARAH:

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading a wordless book by Daniel Miyares yet, start here! Sweet, delightful, and great for all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Acclaimed author/illustrator Daniel Miyares returns to the sweet, nostalgic tone of his beloved illustrated book, Float, in this gorgeous, spare picture book about making a new friend.There’s a new boy in the neighborhood, and he’s up to something very curious.

FROM SARAH:

Oh goodness, this book is especially delightful for dog-lovers. My own kids loved it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Winner of the 2012 Randolph Caldecott Medal, this New York Times Bestseller and New York Times Best Illustrated Book relates a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it.