From Sarah: Our favorite Italian Nona is getting ready for Christmas, and everyone knows that means time for a FEAST! I love this story and how deftly the season’s feasts and holy days are woven throughout. We’re featuring this book in 2023's Christmas School.

From the Publisher:

In Strega Nona's village, the holiday season is a time of celebrations - and nothing says celebration like a feast! All the kitchens are bustling from the Feast of San Nicola, when the children choose the food, to the Feast of Epiphany, when someone gets to be king or queen for the day. Even the animals share in the holiday spirit, and when Big Anthony smells the delicious treats Strega Nona is cooking for them, he decides that just a taste couldn't hurt, right? Wrong! Big Anthony gets his just desserts, while Strega Nona surprises everyone with a special gift.

To purchase from Penguin Random House, click here.

FROM SARAH:

Lola Dutch is a little too much. Any chance your kids can relate? The world is a big wonderful place, and Lola feels bursting with creativity! This one appeals to my girls and my boys alike. Listen to the husband/wife team behind this book on the RAR podcast.

Lola Dutch is a delightfully creative girl who is bursting with grand ideas.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From the best ways to serve breakfast -- an elegant feast! -- to the ideal sleeping spot -- a majestic blanket fort, of course! -- Lola is inspired all day long.

**Description from Amazon: In the further adventures of Josh McBroom, the crops grow so fast, you'd better step out of the way when you plant corn, red barns turn blue in the cold, and words freeze still in mid-air. "As fresh as ever."--Booklist.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Newbery medalist Patricia MacLachlan and Caldecott Honor and Newbery Honor winner Tomie dePaola have joined forces to create a stunning and lyrical new bedtime picture book that’s sure to become an instant classic.

NARRATED BY: Mark Nelson

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 14 min

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

As a child, Rachel Carson lived by the rhythms of the natural world. Spring after spring, year after year, she observed how all living things are connected. And as an adult, Rachel watched and listened as the natural world she loved so much began to fall silent. Spring After Spring traces Rachel’s journey as scientist and writer, courageously speaking truth to an often hostile world through her book, and ultimately paving the way for the modern environmental movement.

FROM SARAH:

All of the books in this seasonal series by Kenard Pak are delightful, and this is no exception!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Join a boy and his dog as they explore nature and take a stroll through the countryside, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the melting brook to chirping birds, they say goodbye to winter and welcome the lushness of spring.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

The remarkable true story of how former slave Isabella Baumfree transformed herself into the preacher and orator Sojourner Truth, an iconic figure of the abolitionist and women's rights movements.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely series, beautifully written and illustrated. A nonfiction picture book at its best. This one (and the whole series) is worth owning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This gorgeous book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston offers children a beautiful and informative look at the intricate, complex, and often surprising world of seeds.

**Description from Amazon: Not So Different offers a humorous, relatable, and refreshingly honest glimpse into Shane Burcaw’s life. Shane tackles many of the mundane and quirky questions that he’s often asked about living with a disability, and shows readers that he’s just as approachable, friendly, and funny as anyone ...

*Description from Amazon: No novel better epitomizes the love between a child and a pet than The Yearling. Young Jody adopts an orphaned fawn he calls Flag and makes it a part of his family and his best friend. But life in the Florida backwoods is harsh, and so, as his family fights off wolves, bears, and even alligators, an...

FROM SARAH:

Ten of Shakespeare's plays retold by the inimitable Geraldie McCaughrean. This one makes for a great read-aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Geraldine McCaughrean has won many awards for her brilliant versions of classic texts. Here she retells the ten Shakespeare plays children are most likely to come across: Romeo and Juliet, Henry the Fifth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth a...

**Description from Amazon: The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! Getting the facts behind the fiction has never looked better. Track the facts with Jack and Annie!! When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Me...

FROM SARAH:

Leo Lionni's classic tale about a fish and a frog. You might remember this one from your own childhood!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Two best friends, a minnow and a tadpole, are practically inseparable until the tadpole grows legs and decides to explore the world beyond the pond. When the tadpole, now a frog, returns to tell his friend of the extraordinary things he’s seen, the minnow, now a fish, tries to follow in his footsteps, but quickly finds that land is not what he expected. Friendship truly saves the day in this imaginative tale of a fish out of water.

Everett Anderson's Goodbye is a touching portrait of a little boy who is trying to come to grips with his father's death. Lucille Clifton captures Everett's conflicting emotions as he confronts this painful reality. We see him struggle through many stages, from denial and anger to depression and, fi...

FROM SARAH:

Oh my goodness, these books are *so* funny. My boys especially loved them. (Note: the humor in these books is definitely geared toward 5-year-old boys, so don't be too surprised if your kids like them more than you do!)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A perfect read-aloud with snappy, rhythmic text, this series will bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books and fill the Elephant-and-Piggie-shaped hole in young readers' hearts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dot is a little chicken, who is, let’s face it, a little chicken. Can she find a way to pluck up her courage?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Pa brings a turkey poult home to fatten for Christmas dinner, he assures Ma that it will be no trouble since it can live in a box by the stove and eat table scraps--and just think of the money we'll save! But it's not quite so simple to raise a turkey in a tiny flat in a nineteenth-century New York City tenement. Can Pa and the children manage the willful and growing Alfred and keep the neighbors happy until Christmas? Pa finds a solution for every difficulty--until he encounters one that threatens to ruin Christmas completely. How the family joins together to solve this last difficulty makes for a very funny and satisfying holiday story.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Packed with adorable photos of spiky, roly-poly hedgehogs, this book teaches kids all about these fascinating creatures, including their amazing features, behaviors, and habitats all over the world.

FROM SARAH:

Try not to love this book. I dare you! ;)

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Built for giggles and fun read-alouds, this classic children's song has been adapted by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Love and Otis, Loren Long!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the spirit of C. S. Lewis's classic The Screwtape Letters, author and speaker Emily Wilson Hussem shines a light on the lies and tactics Satan uses to burden modern women with doubt, fear, insecurity, and discouragement—and empowers you with the truth that will set you free.

Do you ever wonder why you constantly struggle with fear, insecurity, and an unrelenting sense of dissatisfaction? We're in the middle of an invisible spiritual battle against the enemy of our souls. Satan wants you to feel trapped and insecure rather than free and peaceful. He wants you to believe the lie that you are worthless, not God's beloved. He wants you to be distracted, exhausted, and confused to prevent you from living in the freedom you were created for.

Sincerely, Stoneheart is a compelling, imaginative portrayal of a senior demon coaching a junior demon about how best to deceive, distract, and enslave women, Hussem not only unmasks the Enemy's lies but empowers women to overcome those lies.

FROM SARAH: 

This is the perfect early chapter book series for kids who love a good mystery! I'd recommend it for newly independent readers who need some extra picture support, but are ready to tackle more text on the page.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This Young Reader's Shakespeare series is a favorite.The series is out of print but still worth hunting down.

A dramatic and modern retelling of the classic drama with superb art throughout. Written by an outstanding scholar, this made-just-for-them Hamlet will foster in children a lifetime love of the Bard. The language is simple yet eloquent, and draws the children into the story with superb dialogue, vivid description, and careful attention to the flow of events. The skillful blending of Shakespeare's own lines with modern language and illuminating information enhances youngsters' involvement and comprehension.

Most of us have at least a few insecurities hidden inside about whether or not we can actually do this homeschooling thing. Often we are our own biggest obstacle. It makes sense that we would feel this way--after all, we’ve been taught that education is complicated. Taught that even when governmen...

This one has my vote for the 2017 Caldecott. A work of art, and a picture book that will leave you with fresh hope and eyes wide open to the beauty that surrounds you everyday.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.

FROM SARAH:

A quiet and gentle story full of seasonal color. Also: it's by Tomie dePaola. So of course it's on our list!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

It's a beautiful fall day -- perfect for dinner with friends. But will it ever be time to eat? It's autumn! The air is cool and crisp, and the leaves have changed to bright golds and reds. Mistress Pig wants to celebrate her favorite season by cooking a big feast for her friends.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: No one is better equipped in the struggle for wealth and worldly success than the alluring and ruthless Becky Sharp, who defies her impoverished background to clamber up the class ladder. Her sentimental companion Amelia, however, longs only for caddish soldier George.

(Not your average princess tale- Sarah highly recommends this one!) NARRATED BY: Laura Credidio, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

NARRATED BY: Jim Dale, BEST FOR AGES: 8+

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM SARAH:

There are many wonderful audio productions of Shakespeare's plays. Those done by Arkangel are reliably well done.

Recommended for ages 7+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Shakespeare's most famous play is one of the greatest stories in the literature of the world.

Distressed by his father's death and his mother's over-hasty remarriage, Hamlet, prince of Denmark is faced by a specter from beyond the grave bearing a grim message of murder and revenge. The young prince is driven to the edge of madness by his struggle to understand the situation he finds himself in and to do his duty. Many others, including Hamlet's beloved, the innocent Ophelia, are swept up in his tragedy.

**Description from Amazon: A NEWBERY HONOR BOOKThe minute he saw the boat with the red sails moving into the harbor, Michele knew that something exciting was going to happen. Sailing on the ship were three men who would come to stay at Michele's parents’ inn. The men said they were searching—one for beauty, one for advent...

Cult graphic novelist Dylan Meconis offers a rich reimagining of history in this beautifully detailed hybrid novel loosely based on the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.When her sister seizes the throne, Queen Eleanor of Albion is banished to a tiny island off the coast of her ki...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The story of Jesse Owens comes alive for young readers with Carole Boston Weatherford's award-winning free verse poetry. Eric Velasquez tackles this challenging subject with the use of pastels for the first time in twenty years-a technique that is both heart-stopping and immediate.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
In this book, we hear all the different bird calls in counterpoint to the pervasive quiet of a mama bird waiting for her eggs to hatch. Fun and informative back matter takes the shape of an interview so that readers learn more right from the bird's bill. Ken Pak's lively illustrations, paired with Rita Gray's words, render a visual and sonorous picture book to be enjoyed by young naturalists.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely series, beautifully written and illustrated. A nonfiction picture book at its best. This one (and the whole series) is worth owning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs.

**Description from Amazon: Two sisters look longingly through their window at the snowy sky. One goes out and sculpts a little rabbit, but when she brings it back inside to her wheelchair-bound sister, it begins to melt. So they take it outside and into the forest where enchanted things begin to happen. A follow up to her hau...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an A...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Bruce Coville follows his earlier critically acclaimed retellings of Shakespeare's works with a lively interpretation of one of the Bard's most beloved comedies. In this boisterous tale of hidden identities and misplaced love, Coville once again weaves his own lyrical prose together with pivotal lines from Twelfth Night.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This inventive and fresh Nativity story is told from a bird's-eye view. On the morning of the first Christmas, the birds of Bethlehem gather in the fields--not only to eat but to share the exciting news. People from all over have descended on Bethlehem and an angel has appeared in the night sky. Something extraordinary is coming! The birds agree that they must find this wondrous thing, and off they fly to the stable where a child has been born.

**Description from Amazon: In the next Magic Tree House® Fact Tracker, track the facts about World War II—with Jack and Annie!   When Jack and Annie came back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Super Edition #1: World at War, 1944, they had lots of questions. How did World War II begin? Why were so many innocent peo...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Since Samantha Jane's dad died, she has been sad and quiet, keeping to herself. One day, her neighbor Mrs Cooper gently asks her about her missing smile, and Sammy Jane begins to open up about her grief, her worries, and her confusion.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Laura and her family are journeying across the flat Kansas prairie to find a new home. There are gophers and rabbits to play with in the daytime, and a cozy camp awaits at night.

Renee Graef’s illustrations are based on Garth Williams’ classic artwork.

FROM SARAH:

No Purchase Necessary is captivating middle grade novel written by Maria Marianayagam and is an absolute delight to read! I'd recommend it for readers ages 10-15.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ajay Anthonipillai has a million-dollar problem. Ajay has lived his life dutifully following the rules set by his Tamil parents. However, moving to a new school gives Ajay a new rule to follow: Get on seventh-grade all-star Jacob Underson’s good side.

When Jacob asks him to steal a Mercury bar from Scary Al’s convenience store, Ajay feels this is his chance to finally “get cool” and stop eating alone. But Jacob rejects the stolen chocolate bar, leaving Ajay to unwrap it and discover that it contains Mercury’s Twenty-fifth Anniversary Grand Prize…one million dollars.

Faced with an extreme dilemma, Ajay will have to bear the weight of his actions and battle his morality in deciding whether to claim the prize that may change the life of his family forever.

Motivated by a birthday gift, a 72-year-old woman begins to paint.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Eleven-year-old Emma is disappointed when her mother, a doctor, has to deliver a baby on Christmas Day. But when she arrives with Mama at the house, Emma realizes she isn't the only one whose Christmas has been interrupted.

With warm pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, this story offers a glimpse of life on the prairie in the 1800s. And, like Emma, readers will be reminded that easing someone else's pain can often help ease their own.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

When the sun has set, Hedgehog’s day has only just begun. She’s out and about, snuffling through layers of leaves and twigs as she searches for bugs and other things to eat. Young animal lovers will enjoy following Hedgehog and her little hoglets through towns and gardens, parks and woodland, as they sniff-sniff-sniff for food.

Find the sticker, peel the sticker, place the sticker. And sticker by sticker, a koala appears! Or an elephant, frog, red panda, puffin, peacock, snake, giraffe, tiger, or gorilla. (And no mess to clean up!) Designed for children ages 5 and up, Paint by Sticker Kids: Zoo Animals uses low-poly art—...

NARRATED BY: Bill Wallis, BEST FOR AGES: 5+

*Rabbit Ears Audiobooks are Highly Recommended*

NARRATED BY: Robin Williams

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 30 min

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!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Twelve of Shakespeare's greatest tales come to life in this entertaining collection of short, lively stories specially adapted for young readers. Capturing the vital events and using some of the original wording, the stories serve as a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for preteens and as literate refreshers for older folks.

How would you like to find yourself thinking and feeling differentlyabout your family, your self, and your future in just 30 days? We create our own paradise or prison by the thoughts we nurture and cultivateeach and every moment. Using the simple techniques in Mindset for Moms,you can discover how ...

FROM SARAH:

I'm a new fan of Kyo Maclear's, and this book is one of the reasons why! My kids love hearing it read aloud before bedtime, and I'm always happy to oblige. The magic of winter is told through beautiful text and illustrations that make you want to stare a little longer than necessary.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Charles wants to find a wish tree. His brother and sister don't believe there is such a thing, but his trusty companion Boggan is ready to join Charles on a journey to find out. And along the way, they discover that wishes can come true in the most unexpected ways. The poetic text and heartwarming illustrations evoke the true essence of the holiday season and will inspire wishers everywhere. This gem of a book deserves center stage year round.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ella Kate Ewing was born in 1872. She started out small, but she just kept on growing. Soon she was too tall for her desk at school, too tall for her bed at home, too tall to fit anywhere. Ella Kate was a real-life giant, but she refused to hide herself away. Instead, she used her unusual height to achieve her equally large dreams.

**Description from Amazon: I am Eve, the first woman God made. I have come to tell you about the creation of the world and what happened in Eden. So begins one of the many exciting lessons in this surprising adventure catechism lessons taught by Abraham, St. Patrick, St. Cecilia, and, of course, Eve, the mother of all mankind...

FROM SARAH:

This may be one of the audiobooks my kids have heard more than any other. Perfection.

Also available on LibroFM.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Christmas is here and Mr. Willowby's tree has arrived. There's just one big problem: The tree is too tall for his parlor! He cuts off the top so it will fit, and soon the top of that tree is passed along again and again to bring holiday cheer to all the animals in the forest.