FROM SARAH:

An owl bent on becoming a heroic knight shows whether he has what it takes to be as valiant as he imagines. This is laugh-out-loud funny and has gorgeous illustrations. Worth adding to your permanent collection!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A determined Owl builds strength and confidence in this medieval picture book about the real mettle of a hero: wits, humor, and heart. 

Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial—a frightening intruder. It’s a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas.

NARRATED BY: Christina Moore, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Savannah Mae Thorpe, born and raised near the golden sands of the South, arrives with a version of the story unlike any heard before, she finds herself the unlikely leader of an expedition into the woods to discover the truth. With help from local lumberjack Alastair Bliss, who holds a shadowed past of his own, her search to discover the truth of the Atonement Tree may have unexpected ramifications on her life--and the lives of those around her.

**Description from Amazon: Despite the "crinkled pink petals strewn in the path of those who would have preferred red," four generations of Eliots have survived the War and are moving forward. The family's remarkable matriarch Lucilla is still with them, though she's facing the dark night of the soul. All is turned on its he...

**Description from Amazon: How does magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe work? Finally, the scientific secrets of the Harry Potter universe are revealed!The insanely popular Harry Potter books and movies have brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seem...

FROM SARAH:

This was a fun, easy, light-hearted read. Maybe a touch cheesy at times, but I enjoyed it all the same. Strong Christian themes and lots of bookishness. Great for Jane Austen enthusiasts, in particular.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sam is, to say the least, bookish. An English major of the highest order, her diet has always been Austen, Dickens, and Shakespeare. The problem is that both her prose and conversation tend to be more Elizabeth Bennet than Samantha Moore.

But life for the twenty-three-year-old orphan is about to get stranger than fiction. An anonymous, Dickensian benefactor calling himself Mr. Knightley offers to put Sam through Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.

Sam’s letters to Mr. Knightley become increasingly confessional as she begins to share everything from her painful childhood memories to her growing feelings for eligible novelist Alex Powell. While Alex draws Sam into a world of warmth and literature that feels like it’s straight out of a book, old secrets are drawn to light. And as Sam learns to love and trust Alex and herself, she learns once again how quickly trust can be broken.

Reminding us all that our own true character is not meant to be hidden, Katherine Reay’s debut novel follows a young woman’s journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.

**Description from Amazon: Capricorn Cap Anderson has been homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. When Rain is injured in a fall, Cap is forced to attend the local middle school. Although he knows a lot about Zen Buddhism, nothing has prepared him for the politics of public school.

FROM SARAH:

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A young woman's elopement with a dark-skinned foreigner. An evil manipulator, dead set on bloody revenge. A noble warrior, fatally consumed by jealousy. Shakespeare's play about the Moor who "loved not wisely but too well," comes to life in this intensely thrilling and beautifully illustrated retelling. The enticing text, written by an outstanding scholar, draws young readers in with outstanding dialogue, vivid description, and careful attention to the flow of events.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Told in lively comic-strip style, this book relates eleven colourful action-packed tales about Robin and his merry men. Read how Robin becomes an outlaw, gets a ducking from Little John and encounters a disguised Maid Marian in the forest; enjoy the stories of Much the Miller's Son, Friar Tuck, Allan-a-Dale, Sir Richard of Leigh and the golden arrow. Meet Robin's sworn enemy Sir Guy of Gisborne, witness his visit from King Richard and see Robin fire his final arrow.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Sweet Bear isn’t feeling well at all. He is achy, sneezy, wheezy, and just plain sick! He’s in no shape to go outside to play. So Mole, Hare, Mouse, and the rest of the gang try to make Bear feel as comfortable as possible in his cave. Bear starts to get better—but as soon as Bear is well, all of his friends get sick!

**Description from Amazon: It only takes a few hours for Turner Buckminster to start hating Phippsburg, Maine. No one in town will let him forget that he's a minister's son, even if he doesn't act like one. But then he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, a smart and sassy girl from a poor nearby island community founded by former sl...

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:

Absolutely stunning, with gorgeous watercolors full of nature details. You won't be disappointed in this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From best-selling artist Sylvia Long comes an exquisite version of Hans Christian Andersen's beloved tale about a thumb-size girl and her larger-than-life adventures. Jewel-toned paintings depict the story's settings from light and airy meadows to Mole's dark and dismal underground homewhile whimsical details bring the classic cast of characters to life and make this storytime favorite a visual feast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
See the beauty and magic of the everyday world through the eyes of Emily Dickinson, one of America’s best-loved and most renowned poets. Flowers, birds, sunrises, sunsets, the moon, and even her own existence take on surprising meanings and colorful illustrations accompany more than thirty-five of her best-loved poems. An ideal way to introduce young readers to the marvels of prose, the Poetry for Young People series opens up the world of wonderful word images by pairing classic verses with beautiful illustrations, and by providing helpful definitions and commentary.

FROM SARAH:

This is an absolute favorite. It’s a bit longer than other versions, and divided into chapters, but excellent illustrations are provided along the way. Easy to follow, delicious to read aloud, contains plenty of Shakespeare’s original language, and captures (better than most retellings) the real comedy of the play. Might be out-of-print, but worth searching for! Great for ages 6+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Humorous, romantic, and thoroughly enchanting, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most delicious confections. Now, with this stunningly illustrated and accessible retelling, his gossamer tale of mixed-up love among humans and fairies will captivate today’s young readers.

FROM SARAH:

Wendell Berry’s storytelling is tender, wise, and steeped in the rhythms of rural America. He offers a meditation on the quiet heroism of an ordinary life faithfully lived. Jayber Crow invites readers to lean in and rediscover what it means to be part of a community that offers belonging and relentless love. I’d recommend it for readers 15+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

“This is a book about Heaven,” says Jayber Crow, “but I must say too that . . . I have wondered sometimes if it would not finally turn out to be a book about Hell.” It is 1932 and he has returned to his native Port William to become the town's barber.

Wendell Berry’s clear-sighted depiction of humanity’s gifts―love and loss, joy and despair―is seen though his intimate knowledge of the Port William Membership.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
When four-year-old Janie's father goes off to war, the rest of the family moves to the grandparents' home on the Chesapeake Bay, where Janie learns a secret of the world which helps her understand her father's long absence.

FROM SARAH:

If you didn't know that leaves were supposed to fall each autumn, would you worry when they did? This is a sweet story of a fox who experiences his first fall.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

As the leaves fall from his favorite tree, Fletcher worries that something is terribly wrong. But then winter comes, and with it a wonderful surprise. Do you know what it is?

FROM THE PUBLISHER: A groundbreaking humanist classic from the eponymous 1955 show at MoMA, hailed as one of the most successful photography exhibitions of all time

FROM SARAH:

One of the sweetest stories of friendship there is! You'll absolutely love this Caldecott-winning tale - it makes the perfect read-aloud for the whole family.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee's case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Author Bahram Rahman grew up in Afghanistan during years of civil war and the restrictive Taliban regime of 1996-2001. He wrote The Library Bus to tell new generations about the struggles of women who, like his own sister, were forbidden to learn.

**Description from Amazon: Cat is very hungry. But cat food is dry and dull and not at all yummy. So what in the world should Cat eat instead?

FROM SARAH:

As soon as Thomas Jefferson learned to read, he found his passion: books, books, and more books! This unique take on Jefferson's massive book collection has something to appeal to all ages. My daughter Clara asked me to read this one every night for several weeks in a row. Come listen to Barbara Rosenstock on her Author Access replay in RAR Premium!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

**Description from Amazon: In a book perfect for readers of Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit, David Eagleman’s Incognito, and Leonard Mlodinow’s Subliminal, the cognitive neuroscientists who discovered how the brain has aha moments—sudden creative insights—explain how they happen, when we need them, and how we ca...

**Description from Amazon: Good books are often good friends. Because gifted readers often intensely identify with characters, good books can provide bridges to new insights and better communication of feelings, values, and decision making, while also fostering intellectual and creative development. Now in its third edition, ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Witches, murder, ghosts, and madness — one of Shakespeare’s finest tragedies is also a perfect fit for the graphic novel format. This compelling adaptation depicts every blood-curdling scene in easy-to-follow illustrations, accompanied by Shakespeare’s original text. An illustrated cast of characters reminds readers who’s who, and fascinating background information on Shakespeare and the real Macbeth adds historical context.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Classic verses about love and jealousy, friendship and betrayal, politics and ambition, and the complexity of human life. William Shakespeare’s verses—illustrated in remarkable paintings—encourage, fascinate, provoke laughter, and inspire deep feelings in readers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From the critically acclaimed author of the Edge of Extinction series comes this fast-paced, action-packed, and heartfelt adventure about a group of kids with uncontrollable abilities, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman, Lisa McMann, and Dan Gutman!

From Sarah:

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

From the Publisher:

The latest entry in a successful new series."Are you Romeo, and a Montague?""Neither, fair maid, if either you dislike."Juliet smiled.This wonderfully contemporary retelling features enticing art on nearly every page and provides an excellent introduction to the story. Written by an outstanding scho...

**Description from Amazon: Patrick F. McManus's gently comic stories about outdoor life have earned him millions of fans worldwide. With Kerplunk!, McManus delivers a collection of folksy, wonderfully wise depictions of country life worthy of Mark Twain.In these tall tales, McManus and his buddies learn how not to net a fish,...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A little girl and her soldier father find a way to be close even when he's away at war.

Amanda is scared of the dark. But her dad can fix that. He shows Amanda all the wonderful things that live in the dark, like fireflies, crickets, and stars. And when her father has to go away, he even puts glowing paper stars on Amanda's bedroom ceiling, so she can look at their special star while he's away and know he's on the other side of the world looking at it too, and thinking of her.

FROM SARAH:

The warm, saturated illustrations in this picture book are as warm and delicious as the text — filled with family, love, and lemon meringue pie. Gather the ones you love around your table and savor it together; perfect for readers and chefs of all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

For the first time, it’s up to Alexander to contribute a dish for the table, something warm and satisfying, with just the right amount of sweetness—something that the whole family will love and, most of all, will make his dad proud. It’s time for Alexander to spread that Sunday joy!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Joshua and his father listen to the night sounds.

** Description from Amazon: Relates the chivalrous and romantic deeds of King Arthur, Lancelot, Gareth, Tristram, Galahad, and other knights of the Round Table

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Biography tracing the fascinating life of Louisa May Alcott from her happy childhood in Pennsylvania and Boston to her success as a writer of such classics as Little women.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A small boy tries to discover the meaning of "memory" so he can restore that of an elderly friend. Mem Fox's perfect text and Julie Vivas's delightful illustrations make this a winner for all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It is Christmas Eve. An abandoned gray cat shivers alone in the cold, snowy forest. In a nearby farmhouse, a young boy worries that Santa Claus might not be able to come in such bad weather. But soon the bitter wind stops howling, and the sound of sleigh bells rings clearly through the woods. Neither the cat nor the boy knows it, but a small Christmas miracle is about to occur. Beloved illustrator Tasha Tudor's classic style gives this holiday tale a timeless appeal.

FROM SARAH:

A board book ideal for toddlers, from my very favorite, Tomie dePaola.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM SARAH:

From songwriter, poet, and academic Malcolm Guite comes a wild and winsome retelling of King Arthur and his knights. A new classic for the contemporary audience longing for timeless tales of adventure. I highly recommend for all fans of The Wilderking Trilogy and The Wingfeather Saga. Purchase right from Rabbit Room Press here.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this first volume of Merlin's Isle, join the prophesied youth, Sir Galahad, and the other knights of the quest as they set out from Camelot to achieve the Holy Grail. The accomplishment of their goal will not only heal the wounded Fisher-King, but will bring about the long hoped-for healing of the land itself.

FROM SARAH:

Sally Clarkson's most recent homeschooling book. Sally is beloved here at Read-Aloud Revival!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

For years, parents worldwide have asked beloved author Sally Clarkson how she and her husband have ignited a love for learning and a deep faith in their children. They want to know how the Clarksons launched their children to live such vibrant, flourishing lives as adults. Awaking Wonder is Sally's answer to those questions.

FROM SARAH:

If you're going to Maine anytime soon, pair reading this book with a trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where you can see Nancy Schön's sculpture of Sal's Bear. This charming story of a girl and a bear cub both collecting blueberries is a timeless classic. Every home library needs it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sal goes blueberry picking with mama, but it turns out a mama bear and baby bear had the same idea. Wait - will the right babies go home with the right mamas?

FROM SARAH:

This book is laugh-out-loud funny and oh-so-much fun to read aloud. One of my highest springtime recommendations!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Mr. McGreeley had decided to plant a garden. But when bunnies start making nightly visits and eating up his harvest, he plots to keep those twitch-whiskers from stealing any more of his vegetables.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A fresh design and appealing new cover enliven this award-winning collection in the acclaimed Poetry for Young People series. Showcasing the extraordinary Langston Hughes, it's edited by two leading poetry experts and features gallery-quality art by Benny Andrews that adds rich dimension to the words.

FROM SARAH:

Barb Rosenstock has quickly become one of my favorite picture book authors, and in this true tale, she introduces us to two brave men who journeyed to the deepest depths of the ocean. Your kids can meet author Barb Rosenstock at her Author Access video replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On June 6, 1930, engineer Otis Barton and explorer Will Beebe dove into the ocean inside a hollow metal ball of their own invention called the Bathysphere.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.

From the publisher: In this book from the best-selling Almost Everything series, kids will find hours of fun, independent drawing practice with tracing and easy steps to learn how to draw almost everything under the sun.

**Description from Amazon: Jack and Annie are caught out in the rain in the most dangerous Magic Tree House mission yet!Jack and Annie are on a mission! When the magic tree house whisks them back to Galveston, Texas, in 1900, they find out that a big storm is coming. But even though there is rain and wind, no one believes the...

FROM SARAH:

Hysterically funny and heartwarming, this story of friendship, loss, hope, and heart is one of the best books my family has ever read aloud. Especially wonderful for mixed age groups. Also fantastic on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Lena is Trille’s best friend, even if she is a girl. And there is never an ordinary day when you’ve got a best friend like Lena.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this rich new biography, academic, priest and poet Malcolm Guite draws out how with an uncanny clarity, image after image and event after event in the poem became emblems of what Coleridge was later to suffer and discover. Of course 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is more than just an individual's story: it is also a profound exploration of the human condition and, as Coleridge says in his gloss, our 'loneliness and fixedness'. But the poem also offers hope, release, and recovery; and Guite also draws out the continuing relevance of Coleridge's life and writing to our own time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This is the entire, unabridged play brought to life as a vivid and engaging full-color graphic novel.With its mix of real people who stumble into a fairy kingdom (with its own problems!) it is little wonder that this play is one of the best loved and most performed of all Shakespeare's masterpieces.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Violet's camping out too, but her friends don't want Arthur around. So Arthur decidesto collect slimy things he knows Violet wouldn't like. But he doesn't count on slippery rocks and swooping bats, or hunger pangs.

**Description from Amazon: A 2019 Schneider Family Book Award WinnerBased on a real-life partnership, the heartening story of the love and teamwork between a girl and her service dog will illuminate and inspire.Rescue thought he’d grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog — it’s the family business, after all. When he gets the new...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As informative as it is lovely, Homes in the Wild is an adorable nonfiction picture book from author/illustrator Lita Judge that shows that wild creatures―from beavers to bobcats, and sloths to squirrels―aren't so different from us after all.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Postcards from a War is about a boy whose mother has recently been deployed overseas to a war. His grandfather, who was about the same age when his father left to serve in World War II, helps him understand why she has gone away. He shares with his grandson postcards and letters sent by his father from the Philippines. The grandfather and grandson collaborate on building a scrapbook that will include these, plus the letters and emails and other communications the boy will get from his mother.Postcards is intended for 4-8 year olds, ones who are old enough to understand that a parent in the military may have to go to a dangerous place, but maybe not why. It shows the imporant intergenerational bonding that famililies often experience during times of war.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The illustrations of a Caldecott Medalist are combined with a seasonal selection of poems by twenty-five celebrated writers including William Shakespeare, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Frost, Richard Wright, and Edgar Allen Poe.

FROM SARAH:

Wayyyy back when I was in college, I worked at a daycare center. That is, perhaps, where I first learned to love reading aloud to kids! And this book was one of their perennial favorites.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

With countless unwelcome pumpkins to deal with, Rebecca Estelle turns disaster into a celebration. One day, years and years later, white-haired Rebecca was busy not eating pumpkins when--SPLAT--a giant pumpkin fell off an overloaded truck and smashed into her yard.

**Description from Amazon: Meet Nan and Burt, and Freddie and Flossie -- two sets of twins in the Bobbsey family. Their adventures have thrilled generations of young readers. This volume collects the first 15 original Bobbsey Twins books (published between 1904 and 1922):THE BOBBSEY TWINSTHE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRYTHE BO...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"A young boy enjoys a day at the beach with his family.... The pastel watercolor illustrations that fill each double-page spread are cozy and soothing, and the language is rhythmic and quietly reassuring." - School Library Journal

**Description from Amazon: Grover loves having his mommy read to him. So when he starts learning how to read in school, he begins to worry. He wants to be able to read, but what if his mommy doesn't read to him anymore? A charming story that offers simple reassurances to children as they make their way through one of life's m...

Following his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson’s New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed The Innovators is a “riveting, propulsive, and at times deeply moving” (The Atlantic) story of the people who created the computer and the Internet.What were the talents tha...