FROM SARAH:

A nonfiction picture book packed with info about the man who was Shakespeare, the Globe Theatre, and many of Shakespeare's plays. An excellent resource to keep in your home library.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From Hamlet to Romeo and Juliet to A Midsummer Night′s Dream, Shakespeare′s celebrated works have touched people around the world. Aliki combines literature, history, biography, archaeology, and architecture in this richly detailed and meticulously researched introduction to Shakespeare′s world.

FROM SARAH:

Meet Flora, a ferret with a heart for music, written and illustrated by the incredible Astrid Sheckels! We are thrilled to share our dearest Flora with each one of you, and we hope you love her whimsical, beautiful, heartfelt story as much as we do.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A Cinderella-like animal story set in the 1920s for readers with a song in their heart, written and illustrated by Astrid Sheckels.

** Description from Amazon: Embark on a methodical, meticulous, and hilarious quest for the perfect pet in this wickedly witty cautionary collection of pet poems.If you’re the type that oohs and aahs at furry faces, precious paws, the words ahead may be alarming: Animals aren’t always charming. If you think you’d like a ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Everyone in Folly Cove knows Virginia Lee as “Jinnee.” With her magical wands she can draw whatever she imagines, but for her sons Aris and Michael, she draws the most wonderful characters of all: BIG MACHINES with friendly names like Mary Anne, Maybelle, and Katy. Her marvelous magical wands can make anything move—even a cheerful Little House.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Attending high school in Steamboat Springs is Ida Bidson’s dream—it’s her next step toward becoming a teacher and her best shot at escaping a life of milking cows. It’s 1925, and from using telephones to attending movies, Ida is thrilled by her new experiences in Steamboat. She and her school friends even form a club, the Secret Sisters, to celebrate everything modern.

But when they accidentally antagonize the strict, traditionalist principal, Ida’s high school career may be over before it even begins. It's up to the Secret Sisters find a way to save Ida’s dream!

FROM SARAH:

Another astonishing book by the incomparable Gary D. Schmidt. This is a companion tale to The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now, though it could also be read as a standalone.

Recommended for ages 14+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this poignant, perceptive, witty novel, Gary D. Schmidt brings authenticity and emotion to multiple plot strands, weaving in themes of grief, loss, redemption, achievement, and love.

FROM SARAH:

As leaves fall and the air turns crips, this busy little squirrel prepares for winter, too busy to stop for anything. Excellent for toddlers. I love Nancy Tafuri's soft illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER;

Squirrel needs to get ready for winter. He cannot nibble with the mice. He does not have time to hop with the frogs or run with the dogs. Will this busy little squirrel ever slow down?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From the time she was a young girl, Anna Comstock was fascinated by the natural world. She loved exploring outdoors, examining wildlife and learning nature's secrets. From watching the teamwork of marching ants to following the constellations in the sky, Anna observed it all. And her interest only increased as she grew older and went to college at Cornell University. There she continued her studies, pushing back against those social conventions that implied science was a man's pursuit. Eventually Anna became known as a nature expert, pioneering a movement to encourage schools to conduct science and nature classes for children outdoors, thereby increasing students' interest in nature. In following her passion, this remarkable woman blazed a trail for female scientists today.

God’s Great LoveCreated the entire universeAnd everything in itIncluding you.God’s Great Love for You, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author and respected pastor Rick Warren, takes children on a whimsical and heartfelt journey that lets them know God’s love is with them wherever they...

FROM SARAH:

Continue on in the beloved series with the lovable residents of Mitford from the first book, plus a few new faces.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this beautifully crafted second novel in the Mitford series, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon delivers a love story that's both heartwarming and hilarious.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sure, good things happen, sometimes beautiful things. But tragic things happen too. What does it mean? We find ourselves in the middle of a story that is sometimes wonderful, sometimes awful, usually a confusing mixture of both, and we haven’t a clue how to make sense of it all. No wonder we keep losing heart.

We need to know the rest of the story.

For when we were born, we were born into the midst of a great story begun before the dawn of time. A story of adventure, of risk and loss, heroism . . . and betrayal. A story where good is warring against evil, danger lurks around every corner, and glorious deeds wait to be done. Think of all those stories you’ve ever loved. There’s a reason they stirred your heart. They’ve been trying to tell you about the true Epic ever since you were young.

There is a larger story and you have a crucial role to play.

NARRATED BY: Mark Nelson

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 14 min

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Hard Times Charles Dickens Hard Times - For These Times (commonly known as Hard Times) is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. The book appraises English society and highlights the social and economic pressures of the times. The novel was published as a serial in Dickens's weekly publication, Household Words. Sales were highly responsive and encouraging for Dickens who remarked that he was "Three parts mad, and the fourth delirious, with perpetual rushing at Hard Times".

**Description from Amazon: Long, long ago, in a small town in ancient China, there lived an honest and respectful man called Tuan. Tuan was lonely and looked hard for a wife, but even the matchmaker couldn't help him. One night, however, Tuan's luck changed. And so begins the story of Tuan, White Wave, and the Dinner that Cooked Itself. This beautiful and enchanting Chinese fairytale will captivate the imagination with the perfect blend of magic and realism!

Description from Amazon: There's a corpse in the bathtub, wearing nothing but a pair of pince-nez spectacles. Enter Lord Peter Wimsey, the original gentleman sleuth. Urged to investigate by his mother, the Dowager Duchess of Denver, Lord Peter quickly ascertains that the sudden disappearance of a well-known financier is i...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Elizabeth Brown doesn't like to play with dolls and she doesnt like to skate. What she does like to do is read books. Lots of books. The only problem is that her library has gotten so big she can't even use her front door anymore. What should Elizabeth Brown do? Start her own public library, of course! With charming verse and watercolors Sarah Stewart and David Small celebrate one of America's oldest and finest institutions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A delightfully warm, encouraging story of a young girl and the special library dog who helps instill patience, acceptance, and confidence as she learns to read.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Lily is a young military child. Sometimes she has to say goodbye to her Daddy for about a billion days. She feels a swirl of unhappy emotions that can be scary. And she aches to feel connected to her Daddy while he's on deployment. Join Lily as she learns how to cope with her emotions and to be happy in her daily life while she looks forward to joyfully saying hello when Daddy gets home.

**Description from Amazon: From master storyteller Padriac Colum, winner of a Newbery Honor for The Golden Fleece, comes a collection of fifteen timeless stories inspired by classic Greek literature.Travel back to a mythical time when Achilles, aided by the gods, waged war against the Trojans. And join Odysseus on his journey...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Elizabeth loves to hear her grandmother's stories, and none is more dear to her than the story of her namesake: St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Together the two recall the holiness and charity of this great saint while preparing to celebrate her feast day.

**Description from Amazon: At the dawn of the nineteenth century, two very different magicians emerge to change England's history. In the year 1806, with the Napoleonic Wars raging on land and sea, most people believe magic to be long dead in England-until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers, and becomes a celebrity o...

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:

Lovely illustrations and cutouts adorn this sweet book that shows the oak cycle, beginning and ending with an acorn.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.

FROM SARAH:

Micha Archer is (easily) one of my favorite current illustrators. Her collages in this story are particularly rich and vibrant, and I love the way she uses light. A book worth adding to your permanent collection. There is a Family Book Club Guide available for this title in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On the very last evening before the new year, when the snow is falling soft and thick, two black horses wait for the jingle of their sled. As they ride about town, they will spread light to their beloved neighbors, bidding farewell to the last night—and saying hello to the first morning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Nothing exciting ever happened to Henry Huggins until the day that a dog named Ribsy walked into his life. From then on, the duo's hilarious scrapes have never ceased to amuse. Whether Henry is scheming to raise money for his paper route or Ribsy accidentally overturns a boat during a fishing trip, these two will charm even the most reluctant readers.

NARRATED BY: Katherine Kellgren, BEST FOR AGES: 6+

FROM SARAH:

A hardcover full-color book containing Renee Graef's beautiful illustrations and Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories. These picture book versions are wonderfully true to the novels they're based on. Worth reading again and again.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Little House series introduced generations of readers to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life on the frontier. Now with this illustrated storybook collection, the youngest readers can share in her world as well.

Laura Ingalls lives in a snug little log cabin with her ma, her pa, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their dog, Jack. Almanzo Wilder lives on a farm with his family and lots of animals. These pioneer children have all sorts of adventures, including trips to town, county fairs, cozy winter days, and holidays with family.

The six stories included in this treasury were originally published as stand-alone picture books: A Little Prairie House, Going to Town, County Fair, Sugar Snow, Winter Days in the Big Woods, and Christmas in the Big Woods.

FROM SARAH:

One of my favorite nonfiction series. This one is perfect for springtime planting!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A companion to the new Over and Under the Pond and the beloved Over and Under the Snow, this sweet exploration of the hidden world and many lives of a garden through the course of a year "could not be more lovely," according to the Washington Post.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As they wait for the arrival of a new baby, Maita tells her great-grandniece the story of her remarkable childhood. Living sheltered on a lighthouse island with only her parents for company, Maita always longed for a sibling-longed not to be the only child the ragged island knew.

**Description from Amazon: Living with the use of one's eyes can make imagining blindness difficult, but this innovative title invites readers to imagine living without sight through remarkable illustrations done with raised lines and descriptions of colors based on imagery. Braille letters accompany the illustrations and a f...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

May the verse be with you! Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this retelling of George Lucas’s Star Wars® Trilogy in the style of the immortal William Shakespeare.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

My Book House Complete Set. Volumes 1-12. Rainbow Edition. Volume colors gradually change from light green to dark green to dark blue to light blue. First published in 1937 and continuously reprinted from 1937 through 1965 by The Book House for Children, Lake Bluff, Illinois.

** Description from Amazon: A spider is a “never-tangling dangling spinner / knitting angles, trapping dinner.” A tree frog proposes, “Marry me. Please marry me… / Pick me now. / Make me your choice. / I’m one great frog / with one strong voice.” VanDerwater lets the denizens of the forest speak for themselves in t...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Every inventor has to start somewhere, and one of the greatest innovators in our history was no exception. Ben Franklin developed his first invention while doing what he loved best: swimming! Ben's Big Splash is the story of Franklin's first invention, his journey through the scientific method, and the surprising successes that result when you're willing to make mistakes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Rachel, Cassie, and Joey live in the city with their Pop, until Pop's search for work lands the family on a run down farm. Dreamy Rachel loves to read, and doesn't know much about the country. Times are hard there, too—the school and library are closed.  When Pop gets work near Canada, he has to leave the children on the farm alone. For two months! But Rachel's the oldest, and she'll make sure they're all right. Somehow.

FROM SARAH:

This whole series is adorable! Great for a baby shower gift.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Gossie is a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots—every day. But one morning she can't find them!

This sweet story models social-emotional growth for the youngest children using simple language and adorable illustrations of baby farm animals. A family library essential that makes a perfect gift for babies and toddlers.

FROM SARAH:

A funny picture book about a farm overrun with turkeys, from the author of Too Many Pumpkins. A good laugh!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

After a little lost turkey wanders onto Belle and Fred's farm, Belle's garden becomes the most beautiful one in the neighborhood. Then, while she is out of town, another turkey comes to roost on the farm...and then another...and another...until the whole farm is overrun!

**Description from Amazon: In Gatefather, the third installment in the Mithermages series, New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card continues his fantastic tale of the Mages of Westil who live in exile on Earth.Danny North is the first Gate Mage to be born on Earth in nearly 2000 years, or at least the first to surv...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Book two of the Austin Family Chronicles, an award-winning young adult series from Madeleine L’Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time, about a girl who experiences the difficulties and joys of growing up.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

There are thirty-one stories here in all, including twelve that do not appear in the only two story collections O'Connor put together in her short lifetime--Everything That Rises Must Converge and A Good Man Is Hard to Find.

FROM SARAH:

A stunning walk through the life of J.R. Tolkien, this picture-book biography is filled with secret languages and hairy-toed hobbits. The lively illustrations make this a great pick for young listeners, but head’s up that it does contain the loss of a parent. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A captivating picture book biography of a boy who imagined a world full of dragons and grew up to be beloved author J. R. R. Tolkien.John Ronald loved dragons. He liked to imagine dragons when he was alone, and with his friends, and especially when life got hard or sad. After his mother died and he ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Daddy spots a solitary weed in his lawn, he's appalled (along with all of his neighborhood friends). But his daughter Sweetie has fallen in love with the beautiful flower, even going so far as to name it Charlotte. Racing against time and the mockery of his friends, Daddy has to find a way to get rid of the errant dandelion without breaking his little girl's hea

FROM SARAH:

Hands-down one of the best read-alouds in our family. We love it every time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A fantastic place to start with the many funny, quick reads by Andrew Clements. Nick isn't exactly a troublemaker; he just likes to keep things interesting! What starts out as a simple game turns into a city-wide uproar. What starts out as a lighthearted read turns out to be a powerfully moving story. Delightful.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A thoughtful follow-up to Loving the Little Years, Rachel's first book, Fit to Burst will help us to be moms who parent with the story in mind rather than the snapshot, who know how to give much and to require much from their children in the everyday mayhem, and who understand the importance of biscuits.

**Description from Amazon: When Isabel and her family move to the United States, Isabel misses all the things she left behind in Mexico, especially her aunt Lupita and hearing people speak Spanish. But she also experiences some wonderful new things--her first snow storm and a teacher who does not speak Spanish but has a big s...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When a soldier's work takes him half-way around the world, he enlists the help of the North Star for a nightly game of catch with his son. Night Catch is a timeless story that connects families while they are apart and offers comforting hope for their reunion.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Originally published in 1943, Daugherty dedicated this beautiful work to his son, "Lieutenant Charles M. Daugherty, American soldier-artist and his comrades in arms throughout the world." In every case where tyranny raises its ugly head, Lincoln has and will continue to stand as America's shining symbol of freedom, justice, and equality.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When a tidy little spider is evicted from her home in an even tidier old woman’s cottage, she is cast away to begin her new life in a faraway dark place.

This fanciful tale of love and friendship was inspired by the life of Saint Felix, a third century priest who escaped the Roman persecution in part through the intervention of a spider.

**Description from Amazon: Charlotte is a serious scientist. She solves important problems by following the scientific method. She has all the right equipment: protective glasses, a lab coat, a clipboard, and a magnifying glass. What she doesn’t have is space. She has so many brothers and sisters (she is a rabbit, after all...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century. From the moment she entered the world, Francie needed to be made of stern stuff, for the often harsh life of Williamsburg demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit.

FROM SARAH:

I enjoyed so many things in this delightful retelling of an old German Christmas folktale! Written by Shirley Climo (who is something of a master of folk tale retellings!), this is a great book to add to your Christmas collection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Everybody loves Christmas at Tante's. The old lady decorates a wonderful tree and makes certain to have something for all who come to visit, be it the nearby village children or the shy animals of the pine forest.

The only creatures Tante overlooks are the spiders she has swept out of her cottage while cleaning. But the curious spiders want to come inside and see Tante's tree, too. When a midnight visitor lets them into the old lady's home, they unknowingly spin Tante the very gift she has longed for—a gift that has inspired the draping of tinsel on Christmas trees ever since.

FROM SARAH:

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

Recommended for ages 10+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This pastoral comedy is one of Shakespeare's best loved, owing to its delightful heroine - the wise, witty, and virtuous Rosalind.

Rosalind, daughter of the deposed Duke Senior, is exiled from the court by her wicked uncle. Disguising herself as a young man and accompanied by her cousin Celia, she takes refuge in the Forest of Arden. In the forest Rosalind meets Orlando with whom she is in love, but her male disguise complicates matters, especially when Rosalind finds she has unwittingly attracted the shepherdess Phebe. But out of the confusion comes reconciliation and forgiveness, and all ends happily.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”

FROM SARAH:

This is the version of The Gingerbread Man that Sarah remembers from her own childhood! It still holds up. :) Barbara’s illustrations make you want to look longer than necessary. (Also worth finding, if you can get a used copy, is this Jim and Barbara’s version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Run! Run! Fast as you can! You can't catch me! I'm the Gingerbread Man! I've run from a husband! I've run from a wife! I've run from a butcher with a carving knife! I've run from a cow, and a muddy old sow, and I'll run from you, too! I can! I can!Jim Aylesworth's fresh, spirited tale --- to be read LOUD out loud --- and Barbara McClintock's expressive, exquisitely drawn characters combine to create a glorious new rendition of the favorite story about that sassy but delicious little cookie.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The complete story of Roald Dahl’s most beloved characters and chocolate creations in one box. Follow Charlie Bucket and Mr. Willy Wonka on a life-changing adventure. Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his amazing chocolate factory and Charlie just needs one golden ticket to get inside. Then things get stratospheric as Charlie finds himself orbiting the earth in a great glass elevator! Roald Dahl’s most extraordinary stories, as well as the top-secret chapter taken out of the original book, are all available in this beautifully packaged gift set. All three books are charmingly illustrated by Quentin Blake.

**Description from Amazon: When her brother Rolf dares her to catch magical Castle Glower creating a new room, Princess Celie takes the challenge! No one knows the Castle better than she does. But as usual, the Castle has ideas of its own . . .

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From Alec Ramsay and the Black Stallion's first meeting on an ill-fated ship to their adventures on a desert island and their eventual rescue, this beloved story will hold the rapt attention of readers new and old.

FROM SARAH:

This book was one of my all-time favorites when I was a kid. All these years later, it still enchants and delights kids. Worth owning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Please do not read this book. There is a furry blue monster at the end of it! Beware!

FROM SARAH: 

A lively (and short!) read-aloud that will have your kids laughing out loud, by acclaimed oral storyteller, Atinuke.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Three delightful tales from a renowned Nigerian storyteller introduce a chapter-book heroine who is every bit as mighty as she is small.

FROM SARAH:

This one might be harder to track down, but it's worth a read if you can find it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

One Easter morning, Katy and Carl went on an egg hunt through Grandmom's house. Katy couldn't find anything until she went up to the attic. And there she discovered a very special set of eggs...Grandmom had painted them when she was a little girl.