Love surrounds you, beauty, too.Notice how God blesses you!Clap your hands, shout and sing:Thank you, Lord, for everything.A comfortable and relaxing rhyme tells the story of God’s great blessings in this padded cover board book. P.J. Lyons’ engaging text and Tim Warnes’ playful illustrations ...

FROM SARAH:

Vibrant and energetic illustrations, paired with rhythmic text, A great early reader.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

 Uncluttered text keeps the same basic pattern on each spread, so new readers can focus on one changing word at a time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sail the sea and finds himself in extreme need of rescue.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When a little boy meets a stranded alien child, the two instantly strike up a fabulous friendship. They go to school, explore the neighborhood, and have lots of fun. But at bedtime, the alien suddenly grows very, very sad. Can the boy figure out what his new buddy needs most of all?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Math meets metaphor in this eye-opening exploration of spring. Each clever equation is a tiny, perfect poem that prompts readers to look at the ordinary and see the miraculous.

FROM SARAH:

Another magnificent wordless book from Peter Spier. Highly recommended.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Two children play in their backyard during a rainy day.

*Rabbit Ears Audiobooks are Highly Recommended*

NARRATED BY: Ruben Blades

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 25 min

FROM SARAH:

Gail Gibbons is often my go-to for nonfiction topics. She has a skill for explaining complicated ideas in spare text and lovely illustrations. Hear Gail on the Read-Aloud Revival podcast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Every February 2, people all across America wonder about the groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Will he see his shadow on that day or won't he? Will spring come early or late?

**Description from Amazon: Twelve-year-old Dawnie Rae Johnson's life turns upside down after the Supreme Court rules in favor of desegregation in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education. Her parents decide that Dawnie will attend Prettyman Coburn, a previously all-white school -- but she'll be the only one of her friends to enroll in this new school.

FROM SARAH

Four short mysteries starring the sweet Father Brown. Kids will love the subtle action, and trying to figure out whodunnit!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Adaptations of 4 of Chesterton's Father Brown mysteries for young readers: "The Blue Cross," "The Strange Feet," "The Flying Stars," and "The Absence of Mr. Glass."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author's note in the back shares Andrea's childhood experience with her parents.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It’s Christmas Eve, and Suzy Goose and her friends are admiring their beautifully decorated tree. It’s perfect except for one thing: a star for the top. But Suzy sees just the right one, high in the sky, and no one can stop her from trying every possible way to get it! Bold, expressive illustrations follow the charmingly single-minded goose in a new adventure, a tale of seasonal magic found in surprising places.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Twelve-year-old Georgia assumed she would one day be the last Restorationist protecting art from evil forces. So she was thrilled when her cousin Vincent finally joined the family calling.

But Vincent’s flashier Gift makes Georgia feel like a sidekick rather than a hero. And things only get more complicated and perilous after he willingly steps into the heart of danger.

Will the remnants of the Restorationists’ society fracture under the pressure of the Distortionists’ schemes? Or is Georgia’s Gift really enough to rescue her family, the art world, the Restorationists—and ultimately save the day?

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A magical book of adventures and appreciations written and illustrated by the author of Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots this award-winning title was published by a small press in Colorado in 1991.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As a young girl, Beverly Cleary struggled to learn to read and found most children's books dull and uninteresting. She often wondered if there were any books about kids just like her. With hard work, and the encouragement of her parents and a special teacher, she learned to read and at a young age discovered she had a knack for writing.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Little Teeka thought she had to be firm with the reindeer to get them ready for Santa's important flight, but when her bossy yelling only got their antlers tangled up, she knew she had to try something different.

NARRATED BY: Gabra Zackman, BEST FOR AGES: 8+

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In May of 1940 -- the early days of World War II -- half a million British and French soldiers were trapped in France. Weak and wounded, they needed aid. Help came in the form of countless small craft, steered by brave young men, in the legendary armada of "little ships" that sailed aross the English Channel. Many people wanted to be a part of the rescue mission. Here is the story of a girl who was so determined to help that she disguised herself as a boy to blend in with the men as they sailed toward Dunkirk.

From Sarah:

I love this beautiful and magical tale of a saintly midwife at the birth of Jesus. We like to read it at Christmas, and also for the Feast of St. Brigid on February 1st!

From the Publisher:

Brigid's Cloak retells an ancient tale about one of Ireland's most beloved saints. On the day she is born Brigid receives a brilliant blue cloak from a mysterious Druid. Years later, the young girl still wears the now tattered but beloved cloak while she tends her sheep. Is it her imagination that suddenly takes her to an unfamiliar land? Or is it something far greater that leads Brigid to a crowded inn in a town called Bethlehem?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This treasury features a special introduction and five full-length picture books—Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed, Five Little Monkeys Bake a Cake, Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree, Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do, and Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car.

FROM SARAH:

This book is popular for a reason! The rhyming text and funny animals are tops, and Little Blue is a great friendship model. Another fave that everyone should have.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pickup--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.

FROM SARAH:

A story you may remember from your own childhood, that still captures young readers today.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, the beloved tale of a mother rabbit who dreams of becoming an Easter Bunny that has won the hearts of readers for generations, is now available as a beautiful gift edition. The gift set includes a book and golden shoes charm—perfect for anyone who hope...

**Description from Amazon: Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around ou...

FROM SARAH:

The entire Narnia series is beloved for good reason, of course, but Prince Caspian seems to be a favorite among many kids. C.S. Lewis's Narnia series is (easily) one of the best middle grade series ever written.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Pevensie siblings travel back to Narnia to help a prince denied his rightful throne as he gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.

FROM SARAH:

N.D. Wilson books are not for the faint of heart... and two of my kids gobbled up everything he wrote, as fast as he wrote them! This was my daughter's favorite. Best for ages 12+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Thomas Hammond has always lived next to Leepike Ridge, but he never imagined he might end up lost beneath it! The night Tom's schoolteacher comes to dinner and asks Tom's mother to marry him, Tom slips out of the house and escapes down a nearby stream on a floating slab of packing foam. The night and stars lull Tom to sleep, and when he wakes, he has ridden his foam raft all the way to the ridge, where the stream dives underground.

FROM SARAH:

I think the sequels in the Sarah, Plain and Tall series are even better than the first book! Lyrical, engaging, and full of heart. This whole series is about as good as it gets. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Change is inevitable, even on the prairie. Something new is expected, and Sarah says it will be the perfect gift. Cassie isn't so sure. But just as life changes, people change too. And Cassie learns that unexpected surprises can bring great joy.

FROM SARAH:

This picture book biography is a perfect example of why older kids should keep reading picture books! The history, art, and depth in this story are hard to beat. Worth owning for your permanent collection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A great example of how picture books are not just for little kids! This gorgeous award-winning book tells the true story of Winnie-the-Pooh, the world's most famous bear.

FROM SARAH:

A Caldecott winner and a homeschooling favorite. This classic reads like a long picture book or a very, very short chapter book. By the author of The Courage of Sarah Noble and The Bears of Hemlock Mountain.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are all passengers aboard the crowded Mayflower, journeying to the New World to start a new life. Things get a little more cramped when their baby brother Oceanus is born during the passage. However, when they arrive, there are even worse challenges to face as the Pilgrims are subjected to hunger, cold, and sickness that put their small colony in great danger. With the help of the Native Americans though, they might just be able to survive their first year in this strange land—and have a November harvest to celebrate for generations!

**Description from Amazon: A giant of American humor makes his Penguin Classics debut with “probably the best book in the world” (Neil Gaiman, from the Introduction), in a stunning Deluxe Edition featuring the original, full-color illustrations  The hands of all thirteen clocks stand still in the gloomy castle on a loner...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The scarecrow from Old Mac Donald’s farm emcees a barnyard theater production that collapses into hilarious chaos in this rollicking rendition of “The House That Jack Built.”

FROM SARAH:

I'm not sure I've seen a Peter Spier book I didn't love. This one is a feast for young eyes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In Spier's imaginative retelling, readers witness the danger and the grandeur of the terrifying flood but also the lighter moments: Noah's wife jumping on a crate to avoid the rats; Noah shooing all but two bees from a busy hive; and all the animal babies being born in the spring. It's an illustration feat that's both majestic and tender.

FROM SARAH:

Oh goodness, I love this series by Jory John and Benji Davies! All of the these books are charming and laugh-out-loud funny. See if your library has it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Bear can't wait to spend a pleasant day by himself. But his persistent next-door neighbor, Duck, wants to take a morning stroll . . . with Bear. He just wants Bear to like him already.

**Description from Amazon: From a bestselling and award-winning husband and wife team comes an innovative, beautifully illustrated novel that delivers a front-row seat to the groundbreaking moments in history that led to African Americans earning the right to vote.

FROM SARAH:

I love this precious story of little woodland creatures who are willing to give up their own Christmas gifts to help a neighbor in need. It's a gentle reminder of how much we need each other, and how much love we all have to give! Age Rec: 4 and up

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A group of animal friends discovers the true meaning of Christmas as they help a swallow in need.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people - but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. Odyssey Honor Audiobook

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A cherished holiday scene from a beloved classic comes to life in this festive, cozy picture book homage to Little Women.It’s almost Christmas, and Jo March is determined that this year, unlike the last, there will be presents.

Also wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In Perelandra, Dr. Ransom is recruited by the denizens of Malacandra, befriended in Out of the Silent Planet, to rescue the peace-loving planet Perelandra (Venus) from a terrible threat: a malevolent being from another world who strives to create a new world order, and who must destroy an old and beautiful civilization to do so.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A lyrical, captivating retelling of the biblical redemption story from National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins, sure to become a beloved tradition for families of faith.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Because Bobbi Gibb is a girl, she's not allowed to run on her school's track team. But after school, no one can stop her--and she's free to run endless miles to her heart's content. She is told no yet again when she tries to enter the Boston Marathon in 1966, because the officials claim that it's a man's race and that women are just not capable of running such a long distance. So what does Bobbi do? She bravely sets out to prove the naysayers wrong and show the world just what a girl can do.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Linsey Davis, New York Times bestselling author and Emmy Award-winning ABC News anchor, invites us to celebrate the everyday miracles that surround us in this inspiring and diverse picture book. From blooming flowers in the backyard to the roaring animals at the zoo to the breeze in the evening trees … the world is awake!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It's December 24th, and the old farmer settles down for a winter's nap, wondering how Christmas can come when there is no snow! In his dream he imagines a snowstorm covering him and his animals—named One, Two, Three, Four and Five—in a snowy blanket. But when the farmer awakens, he finds that it has really snowed outside, and now he remembers something! Putting on his red suit, he goes outside and places gifts under the tree for his animals, bringing holiday cheer to all.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The noisy children of three neighboring families are celebrating the season by baking cookies, cutting and decorating trees, eating fruitcake and tarts, and opening Christmas gifts. With illustrations by Ilon Wikland, the master storyteller Astrid Lindgren takes us through Christmas in the Noisy Village!

FROM SARAH:

This whole series of Beginner Book collections were what I'd have my kids bring to read (or "read") while waiting at the dentist or their brother's track meet. They pack several great early readers into a single volume! It's worth it to own a few of these.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A perfect introduction to reading that will whet young readers appetites for additional books in the Beginner Book series.

FROM SARAH:

I love this book! It's a beautiful coming-of-age story about resilience, set first in Mexico and then in California's San Joaquin Valley during the Great Depression. The audiobook is especially well done. This one gets intense (and there is a death in the family), so I recommend it for ages 10+. It's beautifully done.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Esperanza Ortega possesses all the treasures a young girl could want: fancy dresses; a beautiful home filled with servants in the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico; and the promise of one day rising to Mama’s position and presiding over all of El Rancho de las Rosas.
But a sudden tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. There they confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression.  When Mama falls ill from Valley Fever and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must relinquish her hold on the past and learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches of family and community.

NARRATED BY: Sisi A. Johnson, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

FROM SARAH:

A bit slower-paced, so this one is best for your patient listeners. Twelve-year-old Jason Bell and his family anticipate Christmas in Ohio, 1890.

Recommended for ages 7+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Twelve-year-old Jason Bell waits impatiently for Christmas 1890. Set against the carefully researched background life of a middle-class black family in Ohio a century ago, “Hamilton’s story moves along at an elegant pace, giving readers time to savor the holiday preparations.”--School Library Journal

FROM SARAH:

This book is becoming a classic in its own right And well-deserved! An inspiring and hopeful Christmas and Easter read-aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees . . . dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up." One wants to be a treasure chest, another an ocean-going boat, and the third a signpost to God. Their wishes come true in a way they never expected.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A child and his beloved best friend go on a grand sea adventure in this magical picture book by the author and artist who created If I Had a Little Dream.You just never know what a new day will hold if you are brave enough to find out.

**Description from Amazon: Zero is a big round number. When she looks at herself, she just sees a hole right in her center. Every day she watches the other numbers line up to count: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 . . . !" "Those numbers have value. That's why they count," she thinks. But how could a number worth nothing become somethin...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The story of Elgin Baylor, basketball icon and civil rights advocate, from an all-star team.

FROM SARAH:

A classic that was first published in 1880, the Peppers have fallen on hard times. But the little Peppers band together to help their mother. Lovely language!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A favorite of children, parents, and teachers for generations, this heartwarming classic first appeared in 1880. Since then, it has inspired countless young imaginations with its tender tales of the ways in which courage and good cheer can overcome adversity.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When Charlie moves to the small town of Taper, Florida, he discovers a different world. There are things in the swamp, roaming the cane at night, that cannot be explained, and they seem connected to sprawling mounds older than the swamps.

FROM SARAH: 

Fans of C.S. Lewis and Susan Meissner, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. A fictionalized biography that will make you pine for Narnia (and wish you studied at Oxford). I loved everything about this book. Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

When college student Megs approaches author C. S. Lewis with her younger brother’s request to find out if Narnia is real, he instead takes her on a magical journey through the moments in his life that led to his greatest creation.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Jolly Postman rides again with more real letters, and presents, too, in his Christmas postbag.

This gorgeously illustrated, full-color classic celebrates a time before email with an interactive picture book full of real letters to read aloud. The Jolly Postman brings a batch of wonderful letters for Christmas, including notes from the Big Bad Wolf and all the King's men.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Caroline Herschel (1750–1848) was not only one of the greatest astronomers who ever lived but also the first woman to be paid for her scientific work. Born the youngest daughter of a poor family in Hanover, Germany, she was scarred from smallpox, stunted from typhus and used by her parents as a scullery maid. But when her favorite brother, William, left for England, he took her with him. The siblings shared a passion for stars, and together they built the greatest telescope of their age, working tirelessly on star charts.

FROM SARAH:

The quintessential classic. Mercer Mayer at his best!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A boy and his dog go walking in the swamp.They spot a frog in the water.Can they use a net to catch him?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is an enchanting adventure in the tradition of Tolkien and Lewis, as well as Spielberg and Lucas. But this fantastical journey launches in rural West Virginia in the eighties, with a half-Appalachian, half-African kid trying to escape the town he sees defining his small, sad life. Jack discovers a gate hiding a city between twelve realms, and finds out where he truly belongs in a surprising, satisfying adventure.

**Description from Amazon: Great American humorist James Thurber’s beloved, madcap, and eerily timely fairy tale about an island society robbed of the wonders of the letter O—in a stunning Deluxe Edition featuring flaps, deckle-edged paper, and the original, full-color illustrations   Littleneck has a map that indicates ...