Books

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this page-turner, award-winning author Gail Jarrow delves into the fascinating story of the relationship between Garfield and Guiteau, and relates the gruesome details of Garfield's slow and agonizing death. She reveals medical mistakes made in the aftermath of Garfield's assassination, including the faulty diagnoses and outdated treatments that led to the president's demise.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When two curious kids embark on a "wonder walk," they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. Young readers will wonder too, as they ponder these gorgeous pages and make all kinds of new connections. What a wonderful world indeed!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This 2021 National Jewish Book Award finalist by author Megan Hoyt and illustrator Iacopo Bruno brings to light the inspiring, true story of Gino Bartali, a beloved Italian cyclist and secret champion in the fight for Jewish lives during World War II.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the frantic spring and summer of 1939, as the Nazi shadow fell over Europe, Nicholas Winton raised money, found foster families in England, arranged travel and visas, and, when necessary, bribed officials and forged documents, organizing the transportation of almost 700 children to safety.

It was only fifty years later that a chance discovery and a famous television appearance brought Winton’s actions to light.

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:

This short chapter book is a lot of fun (and contains lots of hilarious ilustrations along the way). Short chapters and quick pacing make it an ideal first novel to read aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This lighthearted story about loyalty, problem solving, friendship, and independence is divided into short, action-packed chapters and has the cozy feel of a modern classic.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Frog and Toad, those famous pals, are beloved by generations of children. Their every adventure is filled with the magic of true friendship, whether they're telling ghost stories, searching for a lost button, or eating too many cookies. This captivating audio collection features all four of the Frog and Toad books, read with humor and charm by award-winning author Arnold Lobel.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Presents the life and work of the African American folk artist who had to overcome a severe injury to his right arm in order to paint.

FROM SARAH:

A perfect picture book biography to read before or after a trip to Yosemite National Park!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As a child, Ansel Adams just couldn't sit still. He felt trapped indoors and never walked anywhere--he ran. From his early days in San Francisco to the height of his glory nationwide, Antsy Ansel chronicles a restless boy's path to becoming an iconic nature photographer.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Could anything be more perfect than a prairie wedding? As the Witting family comes together for this most special day, Cassie sees that life brings the change of seasons, brother Jack on Grandfather's lap, joy, sorrow, and a special dance only Grandfather does.

FROM SARAH:

A lovely story from an RAR favorite author about being lonley, being needed, and having something to contribute. We met the delightful illustrator (and her fantastic boots!) in RAR Premium. Premium members can access a Family Book Club for this book right here.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Nora and her family have just arrived from Russia and are making a new home on the American frontier. The prairie is very different from the forested hills Nora is used to. Most of all, it’s lonely. Nora has no one and nothing to call her own until Papa brings home a dozen chicks and two geese. Nora names each one, and they follow her everywhere—even to church! But what will happen when one of her beloved chicks goes missing?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In a world of perpetual shadow, a boy is born wielding remarkable power over fire. Amos is seven when he kills a Shadow Wolf and becomes a legend in Shiloh. Everyone is amazed by him ... and afraid that his father may be a madman. His father tells stories about a world beyond the Shadow, a time before the Shadow. People who tell those stories usually come to unfortunate ends.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

William Carlos Williams' poems are like pictures, full of visual images that youngsters will quickly grasp and enjoy. Thirty-two of his finest verses, accompanied by gorgeous paintings that capture Williams' evocative references to nature and everyday life, grace this new title in the much-celebrated Poetry for Young People series.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A fully-illustrated collection of over 90 favorite folksongs for children. Perfect for children, parents, and teachers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In the second installment of the award-winning, critically acclaimed Lightfall series, Bea and Cad continue their quest to stop Kest, the mythic bird who stole the sun. Perfect for middle grade fans of Amulet and Avatar the Last Airbender, Lightfall: Shadow of the Bird is another breathtaking journey into the magical world of Irpa, where epic battles and powerful creatures abound.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Once covering almost 40 percent of the United States, native prairie is today one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Plant a Pocket of Prairie teaches children how changes in one part of the system affect every other part: when prairie plants are destroyed, the animals who eat those plants and live on or around them are harmed as well. Root shows what happens when we work to restore the prairies, encouraging readers to “plant a pocket of prairie” in their own backyards.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Laura and her family are journeying across the flat Kansas prairie to find a new home. There are gophers and rabbits to play with in the daytime, and a cozy camp awaits at night.

Renee Graef’s illustrations are based on Garth Williams’ classic artwork.

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 THE PUBLISHER

A magical retelling of Hermia, Helen, Demetrius and Lysander's classic story - and of the impish fairy Puck, who meddles in their tangled web of love with hilarious consequences ... With notes on Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, and Love and Magic in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

FROM SARAH:

This book is so much fun! Much of our modern-day language comes from William Shakespeare, and Jane Sutcliffe takes us on a delightful journey to find out what those words are and where they came from.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Bard of Avon is responsible for such familiar phrases as "what's done is done" and "too much of a good thing." He even helped turn "household words" into household words. As readers will discover, "the long and the short of it" is this: Will changed the English language forever. Will's words pop up all over the place!

FROM SARAH:

This is a fascinating book that explores how Shakespeare was influenced by a variety of folk and fairy tales in his own playwriting. Each story begins with a author's note from Patrick Ryan on the history of these tales. Due to content, I would recommend for ages 8+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Accompanied by lavish illustrations, this elegant collection of classic stories that inspired seven of Shakepeare's literary masterpieces is filled with adventure, love, destiny, and magic.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From the author of the million-copy-selling Essentialism comes an empowering guide to achieving your goals. It all starts with a simple principle: Not everything has to be so hard.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A simple, engaging, guided journal/habit planner to help you have the best mornings.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Last Night I Dreamt I went to Manderley Again..."

With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew.

DESCRIPTION FROM PUBLISHER: From the land of fantastical castles, vast lakes and deep forests, the Brothers Grimm collected a treasury of enchanting folk and fairy stories full of giants and dwarfs, witches and princesses, magical beasts and cunning children.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A popular bestseller since its publication in 1844, The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the great page-turning thrillers of all time. Set against the tumultuous years of the post-Napoleonic era, Alexandre Dumas’s grand historical romance recounts the swashbuckling adventures of Edmond Dantès, a dashing young sailor falsely accused of treason. The story of his long imprisonment, dramatic escape, and carefully wrought revenge offers up a vision of France that has become immortal.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: When the highly imaginative Lady Sophia Garfield discovers some very real German spies in her home, no one believes her, so she sets out alone to gain proof and, in the process, save Britain

FROM THE PUBLISHER: Blighted by recession and devastated by the loss, they must also come to terms with significant social change. Forward-thinking and ambitious, Sarah Burton is the embodiment of such change. After the death of her fiancé, she returns home to Yorkshire focused on her career as headmistress of the local school—but not everyone can embrace the new social order.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: No one is better equipped in the struggle for wealth and worldly success than the alluring and ruthless Becky Sharp, who defies her impoverished background to clamber up the class ladder. Her sentimental companion Amelia, however, longs only for caddish soldier George.

FROM SARAH:

The old classic. We still love it for a reason!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Written for beginning readers using only 75 different words, this beloved Beginner Book by P.D. Eastman—edited by Dr. Seuss—features all kinds of wonderful dogs riding bicycles, scooters, skiis, roller skates, and driving all sorts of vehicles on their way to a party held on top of a tree!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
What do you say when:

• You bump into a crocodile on a crowded city street?
• A nice gentleman introduces you to a baby elephant?
• The Queen feeds you so much spaghetti that you don’t fit in your chair anymore?

This is the funniest book of manners you’ll ever read!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Introduces such contrasting concepts as "heavy" and "light", "long" and "short", and "weak" and "strong" through a dialogue between the sun and the moon.

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 THE PUBLISHER: Tender watercolors capture the charm of this heartwarming story of an old woman who doesn’t know she’s lonely until she meets a plucky puppy who needs a name—and someone to love.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

As the children walk around their beloved farm, they discover more and more chicken talk scratched into the dirt. The family can hardly believe it. What will the chickens possibly say next!?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A lyrical, captivating retelling of the Palm Sunday and Easter story from National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins, author of Rickshaw Girl, that is sure to become a beloved tradition for families of faith.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Shanti trudges between her two worlds. She remembers her village and learns her new town. She watches Bollywood movies at home and Hollywood movies with her friends. She is Indian. She is also American. How should she define home?

FROM SARAH:

My kids have loved this whole series in print form and on audio. And I'm consistently amazed by how much science they learn along the way. Highly recommended! Wonderful on audio (Audible).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure - the brand new series, Zoey and Sassafras, has something for everyone! In the first book of this series, Zoey discovers a glowing photo and learns an amazing secret. Injured magical animals come to their backyard barn for help! When a sick baby dragon appears, it’s up to Zoey and Sassafras to figure out what’s wrong. Will they be able to help little Marshmallow before it’s too late?

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Drawn from the enchanting tales told to Kipling as a child in India, Just So Stories reveals the magic of the dawn of the world, when animals could talk and think like people. Cats and dogs, kangaroos and tortoises, hedgehogs and jaguars, whales and leopards, and many others are brought to life in an exotic Eastern landscape of "high and far times ago". Children will discover how the leopard got his spots, the elephant his trunk, and the camel his hump through clever tales that subtly hint at the pitfalls of arrogance and the importance of creativity.

FROM SARAH:

I listened to this audiobook with my 16yo son, and it gave us lots to talk about! Short and easy to listen to. Be sure to look up the political references so you don't miss what Orwell was doing with this satire.

Available on (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

George Orwell's classic satire of the Russian Revolution is an intimate part of our contemporary culture, quoted so often that we tend to forget who wrote the original words. It is an account of the bold struggle that transforms Mr. Jones' Manor Farm into Animal Farm, a wholly democratic society built on the credo that All Animals Are Created Equal. Out of their cleverness, the pigs Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball emerge as leaders of the new community in a subtle evolution that bears an insidious familiarity. The climax is the brutal betrayal of the faithful horse Boxer, when totalitarian rule is re-established with the bloodstained postscript to the founding slogan: But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others.

FROM SARAH:

My 10yo daughter and I enjoyed this magical spin on The Secret Garden! We enjoyed the audiobook. Great for fans of Tuesdays at the Castle. also Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Heartfelt, fast-paced, and utterly absorbing, The Gilded Girl is Alyssa Colman's sparkling debut novel about determination, spirit, and the magic of friendship. Any child can spark magic, but only the elite are allowed to kindle it. Those denied access to the secrets of the kindling ritual will see their magic snuffed out before their 13th birthday.

Miss Posterity's Academy for Practical Magic is the best kindling school in New York City - and wealthy 12-year-old Emma Harris is accustomed to the best. But when her father dies, leaving her penniless, Emma is reduced to working off her debts to Miss Posterity alongside Izzy, a daring servant girl who refuses to let her magic be snuffed out, even if society dictates she must. Emma and Izzy reluctantly form a pact: If Izzy teaches Emma how to survive as a servant, Emma will reveal to Izzy what she knows about magic.

FROM SARAH:

All of the historical American Girl books are excellent on audio (yep, even my boys enjoy them, and we all learn a whole lot while listening). Available on Audible. Highly recommend!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Meet Addy Walker, a courageous nine-year-old girl growing up during the Civil War. When her poppa and brother are sold to another plantation, Addy and her mother take the terrible risk of escaping to freedom in the North. To get away safely, they must leave Addy's baby sister behind in the slave quarters; her cries could cost them their freedom. As Addy and Momma slowly build a new life in Philadelphia and struggle to bring their family together again, Addy comes to realize a powerful truth: freedom has great costs.

FROM SARAH:

All of the historical American Girl books are excellent on audio (yep, even my boys enjoy them, and we all learn a whole lot while listening). Highly recommend! (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Includes "Meet Josefina, Josefina Learns a Lesson, Josefina's Surprise, Happy Birthday, Josefina!, Josefina Saves the Day", and "Changes for Josefina".

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM SARAH:

My favorite Janet Stevens book, hands-down. This one is such a delightful trickster tale! A fabulous example of a book I don't mind reading aloud again and again.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Once a upon a time, there was a lazy Bear and a clever Hare. Bear had lots of money and lots of land but all he wanted to do was sleep. Hare had nothing but hungry children, so he came up with a plan to convince Bear to split his land down the middle—tops and bottoms. Hare can work all day and Bear can sleep.

FROM SARAH

This book had a profound impact on my life and my views of education. I’m tremendously grateful to Elizabeth Foss for writing this book. I love it so much, I wrote the foreword for the new edition. Highly recommended.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A new edition of a beloved classic! Answering the many requests to bring back her original homeschooling book, Elizabeth Foss has updated Real Learning to let readers know how it all turned out. Mostly, readers will gain insight into what lessons Elizabeth learned and how she would should tweak the very good thing that was the original vision. This book is not about "school at home"--it is about something better.

Foreword by Sarah Mackenzie.

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 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 THE PUBLISHER:

Charles Dickens is not only the author of some of the best-loved stories in the English language, but also the creator of some of its most memorable characters. Meet them all between the pages of this splendid book, which retells, in lively comicstrip style, five of Dickens' most popular stories: "Oliver Twist", "Great Expectations", "A Tale of Two Cities", "David Copperfield" and "A Christmas Carol".

FROM SARAH:

Set in 1989 Romania, while the Soviet Union is crumbling. This is one of Ruta Sepetys's best. I'd save it for the 16+ crowd. Heads-up for a bit of bad language (though it's appropriately placed), and mature themes. I suggest reading the Redeemed Reader review here.)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force. Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.

Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes.

FROM SARAH:

You will read this one over and over again. What’s your favorite kind of quiet? Mine will obviously always have to do with a lollipop.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
This irresistibly charming bedtime classic explores all the different quiets that can fill a child's days from morning until night. Sweet, beautifully rendered bears, rabbits, fish, birds, and iguanas propel the story far beyond words.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

The Loud Book presents all these kid-friendly noises in a way that is sure to make readers CHEER! Now in a padded board edition just perfect for little hands. Pair this with its equally entertaining (but quieter) The Quiet Book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This restorative memoir reflects on the personalities and quirks of thirteen animals—Sy’s friends—and the truths revealed by their grace. It also explores vast themes: the otherness and sameness of people and animals; the various ways we learn to love and become empathetic; how we find our passion; how we create our families; coping with loss and despair; gratitude; forgiveness; and most of all, how to be a good creature in the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This impeccably researched volume is not only a necessary addition to the bookshelf of any David Macaulay or architecture fan, but will delight readers of all ages who are experiencing his work for the first time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Otis is a special tractor. He loves his farm and farmer. He particularly loves the little calf in the next stall, whom he purrs to sleep with his soft motor. The two become great friends, romping in the fields, leaping bales of hay, and playing ring-around-the-rosy by Mud Pond.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept...