Books

**Description from Amazon: Since Half Magic first hit bookshelves in 1954, Edward Eager’s Tales of Magic have become beloved classics. Now all seven cherished stories by Edward Eager about vacationing cousins who stumble into magical doings and whimsical adventures are available in updated paperback editions. The original l...

**Description from Amazon: Since Half Magic first hit bookshelves in 1954, Edward Eager’s Tales of Magic have become beloved classics. Now all seven cherished stories by Edward Eager about vacationing cousins who stumble into magical doings and whimsical adventures are available in updated paperback editions. The original l...

**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...

**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: 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...

**Description from Amazon: Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, live in Korea with their parents. Because Korea is under Japanese occupation, the children study Japanese and speak it at school. Their own language, their flag, the folktales Uncle tells them—even their names—are all part of the Korean culture that is now...

**Description from Amazon: Xander planned a panda party. Yes, a dandy whoop-de-do!But Xander was the only panda. Just one panda at the zoo.The zoo’s paucity of pandas doesn’t impede Xander’s party planning for long. He decides to invite all the bears. But Koala protests. She’s not a bear—she's a marsupial! Does that...

**Description from Amazon: Both Maggie Fortini and her brother, Joey-Mick, were named for baseball great Joe DiMaggio. Unlike Joey-Mick, Maggie doesn’t play baseball—but at almost ten years old, she is a dyed-in-the-wool fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Maggie can recite all the players’ statistics and understands the subtl...

FROM SARAH:

I don't know why it is, but I just can't get enough of wintry books with sleep bears and small woodland friends. I especially love Will Hillenbrand's adorable illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It’s time for Big Bear to hibernate, so Old Man Winter keeps telling him: “Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep.” But Big Bear doesn’t hear very well. He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can’t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear’s attention. Cozy illustrations rendered in pencil and mixed media by Will Hillenbrand bring this bedtime story to a fitting conclusion.

FROM SARAH:

I'm always on the lookout for "stories that really happened just like that" for my history-loving daughter, Clara. This is one we added to our permanent collection!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A true-life story set in Budapest during the dark days of World War II explains how the people of the city--despite the cold, lack of food, and wartime hardships--devised a plan to save their beloved hippos in the zoo.

FROM SARAH:

I loved everything about this book, from the surprising color palette to the subtle message tucked within the quiet tale.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the far North, a young girl named Missuk dreams of carving snow geese out of soapstone. Her father has promised to teach her when he returns from his hunt. But a fierce storm strikes. Fortunately, Missuk's special snow geese are waiting to guide him home.

FROM SARAH:

A fun classic-like picture book that will set your kids to giggling. See if your library has it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Overnight, something magical has happened: SNOW! Now the world is covered in white. Like children around the world, Mick, Mack, and Molly can't wait to get out in it.
Mama and Papa, however, are a little less enthusiastic. This celebration of a perfect day in the snow will spark memories and anticipation in young and old alike.

FROM SARAH:

This book won the Caldecott medal, and I think you'll know why when you read it! An unusual and satisfying tale, great for all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home? Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts.

FROM SARAH:

A fun (and funny!) interactive book that will have your child grabbing the book from your hands to give it a shake, a twirl, or a tilt. For kids who love books like Press Here by Herve Tullet.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Time to tackle the bunny slope! Shake to help Bunny make it snow, tilt to help Bunny ski down the slope, and turn to help Bunny escape a cliff in his path. Is there any obstacle Bunny can't conquer? Bringing grins and guffaws with each turn of the page, readers will find Claudia Rueda's innovative bookmaking as entertaining as the twists and turns of a ski slope—and as satisfying as a cozy cup of hot cocoa.

FROM SARAH:

A simple story that your youngest readers will enjoy. If you're reading with older kids, it's a great book for discussing contrast!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Newbery Medal–winning author Cynthia Rylant and Caldecott Honor-winning, bestselling illustrator Christian Robinson pair up to tell this wintry story about five little penguins enjoying a snowy day. Snowflakes? Many snowflakes. Winter is coming. So begins this ever-so-simple story. As the snow starts to fall, the excited penguins pull out scarves, mittens, heavy socks, and boots, and Mama helps them bundle up. But when it’s time to go out, one timid penguin decides to stay home. Filled with waddling baby penguins, playful text, and delightful illustrations, this book feels like a young picture-book classic in the making.

FROM SARAH:

I think Marion Dane Bauer writes some of the best poetic text for children around... and this book is a wintry delight!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Snow is coming, and it's time to get ready! The squirrel gathers nuts, the geese soar south, and the snowshoe hare puts on its new white coat. But what should the fox do? Each animal advises the fox that its own plan is best, but the fox thinks otherwise—yet it's not until he meets a golden-eyed friend that he finds the perfect way to celebrate the snowfall.

FROM SARAH:

My mom (a 2nd grade teacher of 30-some-odd years) sent me this book in the mail with a note, telling me it's her new favorite. It didn't take long for me to figure out why! A sweet story with an even sweeter (yet subtle) message.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A heartwarming winter story perfect for fans of classics like The Snowy Day, The Mitten, The Snowman, and The Giving Tree. Drift was a very plain snowman. Every day he dreamed of wearing a stylish hat, a scarf, and mittens just like the other snowmen—and, most of all, having a pointy orange carrot nose. Then, he knew, he would finally be perfect—and he would finally belong. Until one special, snowy day, Drift’s deepest dreams come true. But when dark clouds roll in and a terrible blizzard begins to blow, can Drift face giving up what he loves most and become the most perfect snowman of all? From celebrated cartoonist Chris Britt, The Most Perfect Snowman is a touching story about kindness, friendship, and the importance of giving.

FROM SARAH:

I am a big fan of Joyce Sidman's lyrical writing style and also a big fan of Beth Krommes's unique picture book art! This book feels especially good to pair with While Everyone Is Sleeping.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

There are planes to fly and buses to catch, but a child uses the power of words, in the form of an invocation, to persuade fate to bring her family a snow day — a day slow and unhurried enough to spend at home together. In a spare text that reads as pure song and illustrations of astonishingly beautiful scratchboard art, Sidman and Krommes remind us that sometimes, if spoken from the heart, wishes really can come true.

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 ...

(Audible | LibroFM).

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