Books

FROM THE PUBLISHER

It’s Bulldozer’s big day—his birthday! But around the construction site, it seems like everyone is too busy to remember. But when the whistle blows at the end of the busy day, Bulldozer discovers a construction site surprise, especially for him!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A very little bulldozer learns that taking care of kittens is a very big job in this darling follow-up to Bulldozer’s Big Day from award-winning author Candace Fleming and Caldecott Medalist Eric Rohmann.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Motor-Mix a gyrocopter, lunar probe, jumbo jet, and more to invent a flying machine all your own! Young readers will delight in mixing and matching their favorite vehicles and then reading the funny sounds and sentences that result, making for a playful, interactive bonding experience.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Motor-Mix a lifeboat, highway patrol car, and snowplow to create an emergency vehicle unlike any other. Young readers will delight in mixing and matching their favorite vehicles and then reading the funny sounds and sentences that result, making for a playful, interactive bonding experience.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. A modern classic that no child should miss.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this heartwarming companion to the award-winning favorite Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, Madeline Finn finds a new way to help more dogs and read more stories. A perfect story for dog lovers, pet adoption and rescue advocates, and young readers learning how to make a difference through community service.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Madeline Finn is training her dog Star to become a therapy dog. Will they pass the test? A beautiful story of empathy, perseverance, and community from Lisa Papp.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This beautiful and evocative book movingly recalls family trips and the excitement of unknown adventure, while celebrating the awe-inspiring joy of the natural world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Julia and her house full of fantastic friends are back for another sweet adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ben Hatke in Julia's House Moves On.

Julia and her family of lost creatures are ready to move on. But where will they go? And how will they get there?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

With surprises around every corner and new creatures galore, master storyteller Ben Hatke weaves a moving and satisfying final episode for Julia's House, completing the trilogy of three picture books.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Award-winning writer, historian, and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou is a true American icon. Twenty-five of her finest poems capture a range of emotions and experiences, from the playful “Harlem Hopscotch” to the prideful “Me and My Work” to the soul-stirring “Still I Rise.” Award-winning artist Jerome Lagarrigue masterfully illustrates each verse.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When young Trisha finds out her class at the new school is known as "The Junkyard," she is devastated. But then she meets her teacher, the quirky and invincible Mrs. Peterson, and her classmates, an oddly brilliant group of students each with his or her own unique talent.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Larnel doesn't know his neighbor, Mrs. Katz, very well, until he asks her to adopt an abandoned kitten. Mrs. Katz agrees on one condition: that Larnel helps her take care of the kitten she names Tush. As Larnel grows to love Mrs. Katz, he also learns about the common themes of hardship and triumph in each of their cultures.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

One day Naomi and Ruth find an abandoned egg near the road. Naomi decides this special egg must be hatched. And when it is, it's plain to see that this is no ordinary chick!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Maeve Merritt chafes at the rigid rules at her London boarding school for "Upright Young Ladies." When punishment forces her to sort through the trash, she finds a sardine tin that houses a foul-tempered djinni with no intention of submitting to a schoolgirl as his master.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Now that Maeve Merritt has surrendered Mermeros, the djinni she found in a sardine can, she expects her life will be dull as dirt. Mermeros, however, has other plans.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Dolssa is an upper-crust city girl who's been branded a heretic, on the run from the friar who condemned her mother to death by fire and wants Dolssa executed, too. Botille is a matchmaker and a tavern keeper, struggling to keep herself and her sisters on the right side of the law in their seaside town. When their lives collide by a dark riverside, Botille rescues a dying Dolssa and conceals her in the tavern, where an unlikely friendship blooms.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Four years ago, Judith and her best friend disappeared from their small town of Roswell Station. Two years ago, only Judith returned, permanently mutilated, reviled, and ignored by those who were once her friends and family. Unable to speak, Judith lives like a ghost in her own home. But when Roswell Station is attacked, long-buried secrets come to light, and Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if it means changing her world, and the lives around her, forever.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Happy Right Now brings a much-needed message to kids: it’s great to feel happy, but it’s okay to feel sad sometimes too.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sometimes we’re all cranky, and that’s okay! Cranky Right Now shows kids how to deal with those cranky days.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely, light-filled book, perfect for Christmas reading. Julie Berry was inspired to write this book after giving birth near Christmas. The nativity took on fresh meaning for her, and she shares it with all of us in this picture book!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The miracle of Christmas comes alive in this luminous celebration of unconditional love and the joy and hope and promise in every child from Printz Honor recipient Julie Berry!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Oliver Twist is notable for Dickens's unromantic portrayal of criminals and their sordid lives, as well as exposing the cruel treatment of the many orphans in London in the mid–nineteenth century.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A sensible, easy-to-follow, and enjoyable way to help your child gain the essential skills of reading. Everything you need is here—no paste, no scissors, no flash cards, no complicated directions—just you and your child learning together.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Torben Kulhmann's stunningly illustrated, nearly wordless tale offers a fascinating window into an imaginary, yet hauntingly familiar world under our feet, where a mole suddenly recognizes the precarious balance between progress and preservation

FROM SARAH:

A lovely first taste of Heidi. My second daughter fell in love with Heidi by reading an abridged version, before deciding she had to have the whole thing for herself. More on reading abridged versions of the classics is in RAR #183: Should we Avoid Abridged Versions of Classics?

FROM SARAH:

A lovely abridged selection of Jane Austen stories. More on reading abridged versions of the classics is in RAR #183: Should we Avoid Abridged Versions of Classics?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This beautifully illustrated collection contains all of Jane Austen's novels retold for young readers, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park, with notes on the characters and quotations from the original text. With links to websites to find out more about Jane Austen's life and times.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely first taste of the work of Charles Dickens. More on reading abridged versions of the classics is in RAR #183: Should we Avoid Abridged Versions of Classics?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A comprehensive and remarkable collection of retellings of all the major novels and some novellas too! Complete list of stories: The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, A Christmas Carol, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dombey and Son, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times, Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and Our Mutual Friend.

FROM SARAH:

A beautiful celebration of the life, illustrated by one of my favorite artists. Highly recommended. (This makes a sweet baby shower gift, or gift for new siblings!)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In its mother's womb, a baby grows, explores the waters, and talks with the angel who is there. The gentle illustrations tell the story of that baby and angel, delighting young children because the journey from conception to birth is their story, too.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ferdinand is the world's most peaceful--and--beloved little bull. While all of the other bulls snort, leap, and butt their heads, Ferdinand is content to just sit and smell the flowers under his favorite cork tree.

FROM SARAH:

I listened to this one on audio (Audible | LibroFM) and immediately had my 9yo listen next. She finished the book in a day and a half! Barbara O'Connor is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Her writing is just fabulous and makes me want to be a better writer, myself.

Best for ages 7-14.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent--which means finding herself a best friend.

Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn't quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn't been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother's many rules to help Mr. Duffy--and find someone who really understands her.

Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort--and doesn't know where to look for them.

When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry's intersect--and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.

FROM SARAH:

Karina Yan Glaser does it again! I think these Vanderbeekers just keep getting better, and this one (#5 in the series) is the best yet. Excellent for a whole family read-aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It's summer on 141st Street, and the Vanderbeekers are looking forward to Papa's surprise fortieth birthday party.

But then Papa must leave town to help his best friend and the Vanderbeeker children are surprised to find their maternal grandparents on their doorstep. Grandma is very critical of everything they do. Meanwhile, they find themselves learning more about their papa's father than ever before, and wishing they could have known him a bit better. Can they learn more about the grandfather they lost and come to appreciate the grandparents they still have while making sure their papa has the best birthday ever?

FROM SARAH:

Laura Martin is (hands-down) my go-to author for any kids age 10-14 who say they don’t like reading. This newest from her is perfect especially for fans of The Edge of Extinction books (I love those!) (and I’m not even a science fiction person!).

I tend to think Laura’s books make better read-alones than read-alouds… only because they are page-turners, and your kids aren’t going to want to stop once they start. But if you have a reluctant reader, try reading aloud the first chapter or two and then “running out of time” so they have to keep reading on their own to see what happens! 😎

Recommended for ages 8+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Berkeley and her best friend, Garth, live on an old cruise ship, scavenging for supplies from the drowned cities left behind on the ocean floor after the sea swallowed up all the land. They think they've seen every kind of aquatic creature, but they never expected to find sea monsters...

After awakening a Hydra, Berkeley and Garth are sent to live on a submarine, where they study and hunt sea monsters. But the Hydra wants revenge on their home ship--and if it succeeds, their families will go down with it.

Berkley, Garth, and their crew must find a way to save the ship. But monsters aren't the only deadly things lurking in the ocean's depths.

FROM SARAH:

 I loved this book. It’s like The Year of Miss Agnes meets Little House on the Prairie.

I’m a big audiobook fan, but I didn’t enjoy the audio version of this one. I thought the narrator made the main character sound a little whiny. And… well… maybe it’s because I’m a mother, but I didn’t need that much whining in my ear 😅. When I switched to reading the book with my eyes, I didn’t think the main character seemed whiny at all. Your mileage may vary.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It's 1934, and times are tough for Trip's family after the mill in their small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her father unemployed. Determined to provide for his family, he moves them all to Alaska to become pioneers as part of President Roosevelt's Palmer Colony project. 

Trip and her family are settling in, except her mom, who balks at the lack of civilization. But Trip feels like she's following in Laura Ingalls Wilder's footsteps, and she hatches a plan to raise enough money for a piano to convince her musical mother that Alaska is a wonderful and cultured home. 

Her sights set on the cash prize at the upcoming Palmer Colony Fair, but can Trip grow the largest pumpkin possible--using all the love, energy, and Farmer Boy expertise she can muster?

FROM SARAH:

The audiobook (narrated by Kenneth Branagh) is really not to be missed! (Audible | LibroFM).

We recommend for ages 14+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.

FROM SARAH:

This is first in a series of short lyrical novels from Lesa Cline-Ransome (one of my favorites!) about one boy's experience during the Great Migration. Lesa taught a wonderful WOW: Writers on Writing workshop inside RAR Premium to go with his book. Best for ages 10+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When eleven-year-old Langston's father moves them from their home in Alabama to Chicago's Bronzeville district, it feels like he's giving up everything he loves.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A companion novel to Finding Langston.

Behind every bad boy is a story worth hearing and at least one chance for redemption. It's 1946 and Lymon, uprooted from his life in the Deep South and moved up North, needs that chance.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The final novel in the award-winning Finding Langston trilogy.

Clem can make anybody, even his grumpy older sisters, smile with his jokes. But when his family receives news that his father has died in the infamous Port Chicago disaster, everything begins to fall apart. Clem's mother is forced to work long, tough hours as a maid for a wealthy white family. Soon Clem can barely recognize his home--and himself. Can he live up to his father's legacy?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this updated anthology Ethel Pochocki (author of Once Upon a Time Saints books) has selected a mixture for older youth of "soldiers and sailors, kings and queens, doctors, lawyers, beggars, thieves, poets, diplomats, fools and cranks," and she has told their stories in her characteristic lively style.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A new edition of a beloved book on Brother Francis of Assisi by internationally acclaimed illustrator and author of children's books, Tomie dePaola.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The late, beloved children's book writer and illustrator Tomie dePaola, presents his unique, imaginative artwork to bring new life to this beautiful retelling of a well-loved and inspiring Bible story.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A retelling of the Old Testament story of David the shepherd boy whose faith in God helped him overcome the Philistine giant Goliath.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Queen Esther, the wife of King Ahasuerus of Persia, bravely risked her life to prevent the killing of all the Jews in Persia. Colorful, delicate, and inspiring, Tomie dePaola's artwork brings to life his beautiful telling of this unique and important Bible story.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Each year, millions of people from all over the world bathe in the water of a spring in Lourdes, France. They come to pray for physical and spiritual healing and to remember a young girl who was chosen by the Mother of Jesus to draw us closer to her Son.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This is the long-awaited third volume in a trilogy of The Theological Virtues--faith, hope, and love--which began with THE WEIGHT OF A MASS, A Tale of Faith, and TAKE IT TO THE QUEEN, A Tale of Hope.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

On the mountain lives an old monk, working out his salvation in prayer and seclusion. He is just the one to show Nikola the holiness in each moment.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Full-color illustrations and a delightful tale capture the beauty and faith of Saint Clare as she pursues her vocation and embraces the joyful and simple Franciscan spirituality. Ever-appreciative of the little things, Clare's happiness blossoms even more with her wonderful discovery of a tiny kitten.

FROM SARAH:

A listener to the podcast told us that this illustrated version of The Hobbit turned her kids into J.R.R. Tolkien enthusiasts! Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A beautiful gift edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's enchanting tale, fully illustrated by Jemima Catlin.

FROM SARAH:

This book is actually dedicated to... me. So I adore it, naturally. ❤️ It's also part of Christmas School 2021 in RAR Premium!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A very large cat may be the key to saving Christmas in this wryly humorous retelling of the Norwegian fairytale The Cat on the Dovrefjell.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

One plucky clown is determined to turn Christmas around for a village that’s down on its luck in this enchanting tale from Tomie dePaola.

FROM SARAH:

A gorgeously illustrated version of the poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti with Tomie dePaolo’s unmatched art.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Based on the 1872 Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter” by English poet Christina Rosetti, this stunning, wintry picture book from acclaimed author-illustrator Tomie dePaola will be cherished all through the holiday season.

FROM SARAH:

I didn't know anything about this time in history, but this book came highly recommended to me, so I gave it a try. And boy, did it deliver! I especially loved the audio. For historical fiction readers and teens (I think 14+). Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, Spain is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile, tourists and foreign businessmen flood into Spain. Among them is eighteen-year-old Daniel Matheson, who meets Ana, whose family's interweaving obstacles reveal the lingering grasp of the Spanish Civil War.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the night skies above Paris, an adorable young owl teaches her older brother about the power of imagination—and the unconditional love between siblings.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

With lush illustrations, poems, and accessible scientific information, The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge is a fascinating exploration of the hidden communities trees create to strengthen themselves and others.

FROM SARAH:

My first book for 2022 and wow, what a book! I loved everything about it. For fans of Susan Meissner and Patti Callahan, this WWII story set in a London bookshop will steal your heart. Teens who like historical fiction may enjoy it too.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely new picture book to captivate the hearts and minds of your children with the sweeping story of God’s love. Illustrated by Andrew Peterson’s son, this is one worth adding to your permanent collection.

FROM PUBLISHER: 

Like many great stories, the Bible has multiple thematic threads that run from beginning to end. In this book we will follow the wonderful golden thread of God's presence: his desire and determination to be with his people.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely tribute to poetry and the wisdom of a grandfather. This is slow-paced and sweet, and would make a fantastic introduction to haiku. I loved it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Where do poems come from? This beautiful picture book about a young aspiring poet and his grandfather shows that the answer lies all around us--if we take the time to look.

FROM SARAH: 

Astrid Sheckels is a picture book illustrator to watch! Her classic style won my heart right out of the gate. There’s a lot to look at and love in this sweet story.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Lucy's wish was all it took for Hector Fox and his merry band of woodland friends to set out on an adventure beyond the friendly Green Wood. They had all heard a roumor of an enormous, shadowy stranger living in the Forbidden Marsh. Was it a fairy-tale giant?

FROM SARAH: 

My new favorite graphic novel series. A classic in the making! The second installment in this series releases in 2022 and I already have it pre-ordered. Fans of Ben Hatke, meet Tim Probert. You won’t be disappointed!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

For fans of Amulet and middle grade readers who love sweeping worlds like Star Wars, the first book of the Lightfall series introduces Bea and Cad, two unlikely friends who get swept up in an epic quest to save their world from falling into eternal darkness.

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: 

Maine was beautiful, but Anna missed home, and Papa. And as the weeks went by, she began to wonder what would happen if the rains never came. Would she and Caleb and Sarah and Papa ever be a family again?

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.

Recommended for ages 7-14.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

"It's your job now," Anna says as she hands Caleb her journals, asking him to continue writing the family story. But Sarah, Jacob, Anna, Caleb, and their new little sister, Cassie, have already formed a family, and Caleb fears there will be nothing left to write about. That is, before Cassie discovers a mysterious old man in the barn, and everything changes.