Books

FROM SARAH:

When you think of winter, do you think: warm? With scarves and mittens and toasty fires, why ever not? This clever book is a lot of fun to read aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A unique twist on the traditional wintertime picture book, the beautiful visual narrative follows a boy and his family through a day of hot breakfasts, steaming afternoon cocoa, and a festive candlelit party before bed. With its inviting scenes, poetic text,and gorgeous illustrations, Winter Is the Warmest Season celebrates all the wonderful things that make winter the coziest time of the year.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Matt Tavares's lavish illustrations illuminate this definitive edition of a beloved seasonal classic.The horse is ready, the air is bracing, and everyone is bundled into the sleigh. So let the wind blow and the snow start to fall! This family is off to Grandfather's house for a delicious feast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sethany Ann and Nicey Melinda, two dolls who have seen 110 Christmases, celebrate the special day by giving a party for their friends, in a magical story by a Caldecott Honor-winning artist.

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: 

Seamlessly blending Shakespeare’s beautiful lines with modern language, Adam McKeown eases children into the world of Imperial Rome. His well-chosen words, aided by Janet Hamlin’s striking and boldly colored paintings, introduce them to such unforgettable characters as the well-meaning Brutus and Cassius.

FROM SARAH:

My boys loved everything about this illustrated chapter book. It's a bit ridiculous and perfectly tuned to a young boy's sense of humor. ;) Makes for a great read-aloud for ages 4-12.

Recommended for ages 4+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This heavily illustrated middle grade novel from award-winning author and artist Matt Phelan is a hilarious, rip-roaring tale of derring-do perfect for reluctant readers and fans of How to Train Your Dragon and The Terrible Two.

Knights vs. Dinosaurs is a highly illustrated, fast-paced adventure full of uproarious knightly hijinks, surprising secrets, and terrifying dinosaurs. With art on nearly every page, including an epic fight scene depicted in several graphic-novel style spreads, this engaging story is Monty Python for young middle school readers.

Histories of the book often move straight from the codex to the digital screen. Left out is nearly 150 years of audio recordings. Matthew Rubery uncovers this story, from Edison to today’s billion-dollar audiobook industry, and breaks from convention by treating audiobooks as a distinctive art for...

FROM SARAH:

Here's the deal. If you ever (ever ever ever) see a book by Cynthia Rylant, you should buy it and add it to your home collection. This particular title includes Wendy Anderson Halperin's charming illustrations that will certainly keep your kids looking a little longer than necessary! Highly recommended.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

With gracious text and enchanting images, Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant and acclaimed illustrator Wendy Anderson Halperin invite readers home--to remind us why there's no place like it!

**Description from Amazon: From beloved author Patricia Polacco comes the heartwarming and true story of Vera, an amazing dog who was found as a stray by the US Coast Guard, moved into the San Francisco Bay base, and became a hero and friend.In 1962 a stray dog was found under a pile of boxes in a Coast Guard warehouse in wha...

FROM SARAH:

I think this is Margaret Hodges and Trina Schart Hyman's very best book, and that's saying something! I'd skip the library and just buy a copy of this one for your permanent collection. Older kids enjoy it, too.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This breathtakingly illustrated adaptation of a classic story is a must-have addition to any collection of folklore and fairy tales. Saint George and the Dragon dramatically retells the epic episode from Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene "in which George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings joy to the land.

FROM SARAH:

Oh goodness, I do love a picture book written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! is another one not to miss!) This one is fun to read aloud again and again. The longer-than-usual text makes it best for slightly older kids.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

What would you do if you were invited to the princess’s tenth birthday party but didn’t have money for a gift? Well, clever Jack decides to bake the princess a cake.

Now he just has to get it to the castle in one piece. What could possibly go wrong?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

For fans of Old Yeller and Shiloh, Where the Red Fern Grows is a beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the summer of 1941, Yankee center fielder Joe DiMaggio and his favorite bat, Betsy Ann, begin the longest hitting streak in baseball history. But when Betsy Ann goes missing, will DiMaggio keep hitting?

FROM SARAH:

From the author of Pippi Longstocking, this is the tale of six cousins spread out amongst three farms in Sweden.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Go crayfishing in the summer at Nocken, “dipping in the pot” at Christmastime with Lisa and Karl, and join Britta and Anna who know the best way to go about “nutting” for the New Year. In this gently humorous tale, master storyteller Astrid Lindgren takes us through a year in the lives and customs of six Swedish children living on a group of three farms in the countryside.

From the publisher: Not sure how to start your drawing of a flamingo or a flying squirrel? Businessman? Bat? Baobab tree? How to Draw Almost Everything is here to help!

**Description from Amazon: Jack and Annie are ready for their next adventure in the bestselling middle-grade series—the Magic Tree House! Catch the wave!That's what Jack and Annie do when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to a Hawaiian island of long ago. They learn how to surf and have a great time—until strange thin...

FROM SARAH

You’ll notice plenty of quotes pulled from this devotional series sprinkled throughout Teaching from Rest. This series remains my steadfast daily companion and my favorite devotional reading to this day. I uncover new layers with every re-read.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Author Francis Fernandez-Carvajal makes generous use of the writings of the great saints as he brings you focused and moving meditations on themes taken from the Mass readings for that day, the liturgical season, and more. This work is rich and extensive enough to serve as your spiritual reading for a lifetime, as it helps you relate the particulars of the message of Christ to the ordinary circumstances of your day.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This full-color graphic novel presents the sparkling romantic comedy just as Shakespeare intended: in its original and unabridged format, and in its original setting. As with the other titles in this well-received series, it encourages readers to discover classical literature while staying true to Shakespeare’s vision.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Young Jack is giving an eye-opening tour of the car he'd like to build. There's a snack bar, a pool, and even a robot named Robert to act as chauffeur. With Jack's soaring imagination in the driver's seat, we're deep-sea diving one minute and flying high above traffic the next in this whimsical, tantalizing take on the car of the future. Illustrations packed with witty detail, bright colors, and chrome recall the fabulous fifties and an era of classic American automobiles

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Mary Breckinridge, trained as a nurse during World War I, rode on horseback into the isolated mountains of Appalachia and never looked back. Instead, she spent her life fording icy streams and climbing untracked mountains to bring medical help to those in need. More nurses on horseback joined Mary . . . and the Frontier Nursing Service was born. Mary’s story is amazing. And it is true.

Also available on audio (Audible I Libro.FM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Arthur decides to make Mother and Father special Christmas cookies as a present. But when the cookies are finally finished, they are hard as rocks! Can Arthur think of a way to turn this disaster into the best Christmas present ever?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Goonies meets the humor and heart of Gordon Korman in this new adventure full of nonstop action and spot-on humor from the critically acclaimed author of Float.

FROM SARAH:

Christie Matheson does it again! This one will keep your kids looking for all the hidden birds and critters. See if your library has it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

With different species of birds and other forest animals hiding in the trees and bushes, there is something new to discover on every page. Patience is rewarded as readers learn to count backward from ten, meet new birds, and learn about the diverse ecosystem of the forest. Beautiful watercolor-and-collage art, a playful counting text, and a search-and-find theme will inspire children and parents to return to Bird Watch again and again.

From the beloved #1 New York Times best-selling children's author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and If You Give... series. Max is a lovable and determined puppy with a lot to learn on his adventure of becoming someone's life-changing friend and helper. Max's puppy raiser, Sam, takes him everywher...

FROM SARAH:

As each new child arrives in the family, the family food requests get more and more complicated, and Mrs. Peters finds herself accommodating more and more tricky appetites. But when her birthday comes, so does a surprise.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Peter wants only milk, Lucy won’t settle for anything but homemade lemonade, and Jack is stuck on applesauce. Each new addition to the household brings a new demand for a special meal. What’s a mother to do?

**Description from Amazon: More than 300 poems by such masters as Maya Angelou, A. A. Milne, Robert Frost, Dr. Seuss, and W.B. Yeats. Designed to be shared by parents and children, it is organized into appealing categories and includes 50 black-&-white illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A dying criminal confesses that his loot has been stored "in the tower." Both towers of the looted mansion are searched in vain. It remains for the Hardy boys to make an astonishing discovery that clears up the mystery and clears the name of a friend’s father.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Although little Penguin has the soul of an eagle, his body wasn’t built to soar. But Penguin has an irrepressible spirit, and he adamantly follows his dreams to flip, flap, fly!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Explores the habitats and characteristics of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and fish.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"This simply told story highlights such everyday events as eating oatmeal and walking to the store, aptly capturing a small child's sense of pleasure in imitating an older sibling...A universal story that features a warm and loving black family." - School Library Journal

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Anatole is a most honorable mouse. When he realizes that humans are upset by mice sampling their leftovers, he is shocked! He must provide for his beloved family--but he is determined to find a way to earn his supper. And so he heads for the tasting room at the Duvall Cheese Factory.

**Description from Amazon: Bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning author Louis Sachar knows how to make readers laugh. And there are laughs galore in perennial favorite Sideways Stories from Wayside School!Accidentally built sideways and standing thirty stories high (the builder said he was very sorry for the mistake), Wayside...

FROM SARAH:

I'm a fan of Laura Purdie Salas, and I love how she combines scientfic knowledge with lyrical prose! This is a fun and informative read-aloud, perfect for a morning basket or a winter unit study.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

There is more than one way for animals to prepare for winter. This rhyming nonfiction picture book by Laura Purdie Salas tells you all about how animals survive chilly weather.

**Description from Amazon: Gilbert Keith Chesterton, (29 May 1874 -14 June 1936), better known as G. K. Chesterton, was an English writer, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, lay theologian, biographer, and literary and art critic. Chesterton is often referred to as the "prince of paradox". Time magazine has obs...

FROM SARAH:

I love Karma Wilson's Bear series, and this story, Bear's cozy den fills with food and friends. Charming!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

What better way for Bear to say thanks than over a nice, big dinner? Bear decides to throw a feast! One by one, Bear’s friends show up with different platters of delicious food to share. There’s just one problem: Bear’s cupboards are bare! What is he to do?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On a dark November night, a man arrives in a small town. While the townspeople are curious about who he is, and what he brings, only Lucy is brave enough to offer him her help. As she unpacks candy jars and sweets, he tells her the story of the candy cane and its origin.

FROM SARAH:

It's time for bed, but not a moment before we absolutely have to go. A wonderful bedtime book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Acclaimed author Molly Bang shares the going-to-bed countdown in a loving family. “Ten small toes all washed and warm,” begins the story, and then young readers journey toward tuck-in time, counting down along with the story’s African-American father and daughter.

FROM SARAH:

I think everyone I've ever read this book with adores it. How can you not? It's a joy to read aloud!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Nothing frightens Madeline—not tigers, not even mice. With its endearing, courageous heroine, cheerful humor, and wonderful, whimsical drawings of Paris, the Madeline stories are true classics that continue to charm readers, even after 75 years!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The book is about the narrator’s (Anodos) dream-like adventures in fairyland, where he confronts tree-spirits and the shadow, sojourns to the palace of the fairy queen, and searches for the spirit of the earth. The tale is vintage MacDonald, conveying a profound sadness and a poignant longing for death.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A Wall Street Journal writer’s conversation-changing look at how reading aloud makes adults and children smarter, happier, healthier, more successful and more closely attached, even as technology pulls in the other direction.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM SARAH:

I think the covers of this series are unfortunate and don't accurately depict the quality of the text within! This is a great book for ages 8+ that will give your kids a solid fundamental understanding of this time in history.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On October 29, 1929, life in the United States took a turn for the worst. The stock market – the system that controls money in America – plunged to a record low. But this event was only the beginning of many bad years to come. By the early 1930s, one out of three people was not working. People lost their jobs, their houses, or both and ended up in shantytowns called “Hoovervilles” named for the president at the time of the crash.

FROM SARAH:

This book will convince you (and your teens!) that picture books are not just for little kids. The gorgeous story of two Civil War heroes and their unlikely friendship on and off an American battlefield. Your kids can meet Patricia Polacco on her Author Access replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

He was wounded in a fierce battle and left for dead in a pasture somewhere in Georgia when Pinkus found him. Pinkus' skin was the color of polished mahogany, and he was flying Union colors like the wounded boy, and he picked him up out of the field and brought him to where the black soldier's mother, Moe Moe Bay, lived. She had soft, gentle hands and cared for him and her Pink.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely memoir of motherhood ready by a homeschooling mother of nine.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In Beyond Mere Motherhood, Cindy Rollins shows moms how they can develop their own personhood—how they can keep thinking, growing, and playing. She casts a vision for them to cultivate beauty and wisdom in themselves, even as they faithfully—and busily—mother their children. Cindy shows moms how to pursue their ideal in the midst of reality.

FROM SARAH:

There are only a few times when I've managed to read aloud an entire novel in a single day. This is one of them! Short, fast-paced, and delightful.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A fantastical twist to a tale of life on the prairie made this an instant family favorite at our house. Louisa Brody’s life on the Colorado prairie takes an unexpected turn when her father is locked away in jail and she is sent to live with the awful Smirch family. Can Louisa and her friends save her father from a guilty verdict?

**Description from Amazon: What's an opera singer to do when the appeal of performing in concert halls wears thin? Why, go West, of course! And sure as shootin', that's what Carlotta Carusa does. Out on the prairie, she finds all the adventure she's been craving: snarling wolves, disastrous droughts, and that no-good villain ...

**Description from Amazon: The new "sine" of mathematical geekdom!Do you dream about long division in your sleep? Does the thought of solving abstruse equations bring a smile to your face? Do you love celebrating pi every March? Then, Math Geek was made for you! With this guide, you'll learn even more about the power of numbe...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A modern biography of an ambivalent rebel and irreverent feminist who became, in spite of herself, one of our most popular authors.

FROM SARAH:

THIS is the one I recommend most often, especially for a wide age range of kids, and is always what I start with to introduce a play to my kids. Highly recommended for your permanent collection. You can keep track of who's who with the helpful illustrations and character charts. Strong read-aloud language paired with plenty of Shakespeare’s original language in a narrative that’s simple to follow and enjoyable to read aloud-- it’s just about perfect.

If you have a wide range of ages (ages 6+ is a good starting point), choose this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This collection of stories from Shakespeare's plays, with beautiful illustrations and quotations, is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare. Each story includes short details about the main characters, and famous and memorable quotations from the play.

FROM SARAH:

I've lost count of the number of people who have told me this book is one of their all-time favorites! I have yet to read it, but I'm always up for an excuse to cozy up and watch The Sound of Music.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

With nearly 1,500 Broadway performances, six Tony Awards, more than three million albums sold, and five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music, based on the lives of Maria, the baron, and their singing children, is as familiar to most of us as our own family history. But much about the real-life woman and her family was left untold.

Here, Baroness Maria Augusta Trapp tells in her own beautiful, simple words the extraordinary story of her romance with the baron, their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, and their life in America.

From the publisher: The perfect book for budding artists, How to Draw Almost Every Day challenges and inspires you to draw one simple illustration each day of the year.

**Description from Amazon: MERLIN HAS ASKED Jack and Annie to help on another Merlin Mission. This time they head back into history to Venice, Italy. With the help of a research book, a book of magic rhymes, and a set of mysterious instructions from Merlin, the heroes will save the beautiful city from a flood! Here’s anothe...

FROM SARAH

A book that offered spiritual guidance in my youngest years of marriage and motherhood. I read it multiple times. You’ll likely see echoes of it in the section of Teaching from Rest called "The Cake Under the Couch.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This unique spiritual guide will help you grow holier and more prayerful as you perform the most menial household chores -- not in spite of those chores, but in the midst of them.

FROM SARAH:

This book was created by one of my favorite children's book illustrators, Barbara McClintock. It is such a delightful story with a heart-warming ending!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Charlotte does not like dolls, until she receives a special doll from her aunt and they become good friends.

FROM SARAH:

When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. What will happen next? Your kids can meet author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen at his Author Access video replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When a circus ship runs aground off the coast of Maine, the poor animals are left on their own to swim the chilly waters. Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community — and a rare hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

*Highly Recommended*

NARRATED BY: Terry Bregy

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 58 min

FROM SARAH:

Paul Galdone brings some of my favorite stories to life with his stunning and lively illustrations. This collection is made up of four individual books, making it perfect for a quick read-aloud at bedtime (or any time!).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

No child should be without the best versions of the best stories, all told and illustrated by the masterful Paul Galdone: The Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Gingerbread Boy. Pair this boxed set with the Folktale Classics Keepsake Collection!

**Description from Amazon: This treasured historical satire, played out in two very different socioeconomic worlds of 16th-century England, centers around the lives of two boys born in London on the same day: Edward, Prince of Wales, and Tom Canty, a street beggar. During a chance encounter, the two realize they are identical...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Acclaimed author-illustrator Lita Judge takes readers on a wonder-filled exploration of a child’s imagination, thoughtfully weaving in a gentle suggestion of how to explore that bountiful inner world and let it help them shine with courage in the real one.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Langston Hughes's spare yet eloquent tribue to his people has been cherished for generations. Now, acclaimed photographer Charles R. Smith Jr. interprets this beloved poem in vivid sepia photographs that capture the glory, the beauty, and the soul of being a black American today.

**Description from Amazon: The worldwide bestseller, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card comes to the screen at last in a major motion picture event in November 2013. Starring Hugo's Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, and Ben Kingsley, the movie is sure to inspire a new audience of fans to read the book that started it all. Once ag...