Books

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...

FROM SARAH:

This zany short novel (or long picture book? it's hard to say what it is!) is the first in the Fabled Stables series. It's an excellent read-aloud for all ages, featuring a human boy who takes care of a stable of mythical creatures. Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Auggie is the caretaker at the Fabled Stables, a home for one-of-a-kind creatures. Auggie is one-of-a-kind, too. He’s the only boy on the island, which can get a little lonely. Luckily, he’s got Fen, his trusty stick-in-the-mud. But, being a stick-in-the-mud, Fen can get more-than-a-little grumpy.

FROM SARAH:

One of my new tippy-top favorites. This gorgeous book, told in one windy sentence that twists and turns, is a delight. If you like big-family stories like Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler or The Seven Silly Eaters by Maryann Hoberman & Marla Frazee, this book is for you!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, thrilling detail. Based on a real family and an actual farmhouse where Sophie salvaged facts and artifacts for the making of this spectacular work, page after page bursts with luminous detail and joy. Join the award-winning, best-selling Sophie Blackall as she takes readers on an enchanting visit to a farmhouse across time, to a place that echoes with stories.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dogs love to dig but one dog named Doug takes digging to new heights (and depths) in this laugh-out-loud picture book from New York Times bestselling author Karma Wilson and celebrated illustrator Matt Myers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

New York Times bestselling author Karma Wilson and renowned New Yorker cartoonist Barry Blitt have created a brilliantly entertaining poetry collection sure to be a source of pleasure and inspiration to kids everywhere.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dive in to Karma Wilson’s latest collection of more than 100 poems—some humorous, some poignant, and all of them Outside the Box. Illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Diane Goode, Outside the Box has something for everyone.

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:

With an original twist on the ordinary barnyard picture book, this read-aloud from bestselling author Karma Wilson is a clever exploration of a curious incident on the farm. As the farmer makes his rounds each day, most of the animals chew on the foods a young reader would expect. But when it’s time to feed the cow, she feasts on a special treat!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A story in rhyme that depicts the chaos caused by shouting at the zoo.

FROM SARAH:

We're big fans of Karma Wilson's bear books around here! In this one, Bear is lost out in a storm and needs the help of his friends to get home safely. You can hear me interview Karma Wilson on the Read-Aloud Revival in Episode #215.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Bad weather frightens Bear, but his woodland friends are there to help him in this Classic Board Book from bestselling duo Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman!

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!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

here are moose tracks on the back porch, in the kitchen, in the den . . .There are moose tracks EVERYWHERE! Who left all these moose tracks?

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A festive treasury featuring seven of Jan Brett's classic Christmas titles:

• The Night Before Christmas
• Trouble with Trolls
• Christmas Trolls
• The Mitten
• The Hat
• The Twelve Days of Christmas
• and The Wild Christmas Reindeer

FROM SARAH:

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Eighteenth century artist and poet William Blake wrote mystical, spirit-filled verses for children and adults alike. He speaks of love, hate, anguish, relief and above all, mercy and the divine image that comforts us.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Packed with adorable photos of spiky, roly-poly hedgehogs, this book teaches kids all about these fascinating creatures, including their amazing features, behaviors, and habitats all over the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

When the sun has set, Hedgehog’s day has only just begun. She’s out and about, snuffling through layers of leaves and twigs as she searches for bugs and other things to eat. Young animal lovers will enjoy following Hedgehog and her little hoglets through towns and gardens, parks and woodland, as they sniff-sniff-sniff for food.

FROM SARAH:

I just love P.J. Lynch's illustration style, and pairing him with Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol was a brilliant move. Love this one.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

The story of Ebenezer Scrooge opens on a Christmas Eve as cold as Scrooge's own heart. That night, he receives three ghostly visitors: the terrifying spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Each takes him on a heart-stopping journey, yielding glimpses of Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit, the horrifying spectres of Want and Ignorance, even Scrooge's painfully hopeful younger self. Will Scrooge's heart be opened?

FROM SARAH:

One of my favorite audio versions of A Christmas Carol. This one is narrated by Hugh Grant, and is just a delight to listen to.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Audible Studios presents a brand new recording of Charles Dickens' timeless seasonal story A Christmas Carol, performed by Hugh Grant.

FROM SARAH:

Another well-done audio version of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

"Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding," says Ebenezer Scrooge. Mean old Scrooge despises Christmas until Christmas Eve, when a haunted voice from the past changes his life: overnight! Many know this story but few have experienced the true marvel of the tale.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Become an expert on horses, one of nature's most beloved animals. This children's book shows how horses have played a pivotal part throughout human history. You will uncover the role of these majestic mammals, from the exploration of far off lands to their importance in wartime. Built for stamina and speed, horses have also been used to pull chariots, power engines, grind wheat, and spin cotton.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From award-winning author Marguerite Henry comes a classic reference work about horses and their origins.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Arabians, Pintos, Morgans and Clydesdales: jumping, bucking, rearing, grazing and kicking -- all are in this collection of 50 drawings.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Artist John Green skillfully portrays the legendary grace and beauty of this animal in a collection of 30 illustrations. For more than 20 years, John Green has created popular Dover coloring books. He specializes in realistic drawings of people, animals, and places.

FROM SARAH:
For your map-lovers, a collection of what the world looked like geographically during the middle ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
With sixteen full-color maps showing what the world was like from A.D. 500 to 1450, this book is sure to capture in the attention of students interested in knights and castles, Vikings, Crusades, the Aztecs, and the Incas.

FROM SARAH:

Geraldine McCaughrean is a master storyteller, and her retellings of classics for children are where she especially shines! Given the nature of the stories within The Canterbury Tales, I generally suggest this book for middle school and up, though I think you could read it aloud with kids slightly younger than that.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Chaucer's classic retold for children.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In nine favorite tales from medieval Europe, such characters as King Arthur, Beowulf, and the merry outlaw Robin Hood weave an imagination-sparking tapestry of an enchanted time.

FROM SARAH:

A lush picture book in Demi's distinctive illustration style. Hildegard of Bingen was a Benedictine abbess during the 12th century.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Born to a noble family in Mainz, Germany, Hildegard entered a Benedictine monastery and went on to become abbess of a thriving community near Bingen. From a young age she received extraordinary “lights” or visionsin a book called Know the Ways (of God). Find out more about her life in this beautifully illustrated book by award-winning author, Demi.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Bravo! Reissued with a new cover look, this brings Marcia Williams' dramatic take on Shakespeare right up-to-date for a modern audience.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

At once an artist, inventor, engineer, and scientist, da Vinci wrote and drew detailed descriptions of what would later become hang gliders, automobiles, robots, and much more. In Neo Geo, Gene Barretta cleverly shows how Leonardo's ideas―many inspired by his love of nature―foreshadowed modern inventions, offering a window into the future.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In this amazing new book, Peter Sís employs the artist's lens to give us an extraordinary view of the life of Galileo Galilei. Sís tells his story in language as simple as a fairy tale, in pictures as rich and tightly woven as a tapestry, and in Galileo's own words, written more than 350 years ago and still resonant with truth. This title has Common Core connections.

FROM SARAH:

An interesting personal account of living in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. I learned so much while reading this heart-rending tale. Yelchin is a funny writer, but this book also deals with astonishing loss and suffering. Recommended for 14+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Drama, family secrets, and a KGB spy in his own kitchen! How will Yevgeny ever fulfill his parents’ dream that he become a national hero when he doesn’t even have his own room? He’s not a star athlete or a legendary ballet dancer. In the tiny apartment he shares with his Baryshnikov-obsessed mother, poetry-loving father, continually outraged grandmother, and safely talented brother, all Yevgeny has is his little pencil, the underside of a massive table, and the doodles that could change everything.

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 SARAH:

These pencil sketch illustrations by Henry Cole will keep you looking for a long time! You and your kids will learn many things about beavers while enjoying this beautiful book. Worth owning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
With stunning line art and a limited color palette, this simple text follows a family of beavers as they do what beavers do best: build! Two beavers find a stream, build a dam, and raise a family in their new lodge. When the dam is threatened by storms, the beavers work hard to rebuild it. Building is what beavers do best.

FROM SARAH:

I read this book for the first time right before visiting Walden Pond and my, did it enrich that experience! The fascinating story of ice, one man's ingenuity, and another man's love of nature.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Celebrated author Lesa Cline-Ransome takes her magnificent talent for research and detail to plumb the depths of these two history-makers. The graceful text is paired with Ashley Benham-Yazdani’s period accurate watercolor and pencil artwork. In winter, readers see Tudor’s men sawing through the ice, the workhorses dragging the ice, and Thoreau observing it all; in spring, summer, and fall, the ice continues its journey across the globe with Thoreau and Tudor writing and reflecting in their respective diaries.

FROM SARAH:

Many years ago, an apple fell from a tree right in front of Isaac Newton's eyes. The rest? Well, it's history, as they say. And this book makes it oh-so-interesting to read about.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From rocketing into space to adorning the queen's carriage, the Gravity Tree's unexpectedly remarkable and true life story is a tale for the ages.

FROM SARAH:

An unusual take on pumpkin growth-- this book will capture your little ones' attention while teaching you all quite a few things about pumpkin-growing in the process.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Dog is planting a garden, doing all he can to help his pumpkins grow: protecting them from snow, weeding and watering their patch, and keeping them safe from barnyard creatures who might eat the sprouts! But are Crow, Rabbit, Duck, and Goat really out to destroy the garden?

FROM SARAH:

I learned so much about mushrooms from this book, and I bet you and your kids will too! Delightful.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

What can smell like bubble gum, glow neon green at night, be poisonous and yet still eaten by humans, and even help create rain? The answer is mushrooms! From their hidden networks underground to the fruiting body above, mushrooms can do incredible things. But don't call them plants--mushrooms are fungi. They're more closely related to animals like you!

FROM SARAH:

One of my all-time favorite picture book series, especially for nature study! All of the books in this series are worth owning and reading with kids of all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
From the creators of the award-winning An Egg Is Quiet, A Seed Is Sleepy, A Butterfly Is Patient, and A Nest Is Noisy comes this gorgeous and informative introduction to the fascinating world of rocks. From dazzling blue Lapis Lazuli to volcanic Snowflake Obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this book introduces an array of facts, making it equally perfect for classroom sharing and family reading.

FROM SARAH:

A book by Gary D. Schmidt, Phyllis Root, and Melissa Sweet? YES, PLEASE. I loved this beautiful picture book biography. Perfect for fans of Miss Rumphius.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Celia Thaxter grew up on a desolate island off the coast of Maine, where her father worked as lighthouse keeper. This picture book biography tells the true story of when Celia’s family moved to nearby Appledore Island, where her father built a large hotel, and Celia planted a bigger, ever-growing garden with nearly sixty types of flowers, from asters to wisteria.

FROM SARAH:

Tomie dePaolo's storytelling and illustrations bring such whimsy to nonfiction! This is an excellent book to read aloud with your family as you enjoy gazing up at the skies.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this unique picture book, Tomie introduces some of the most common types of clouds, as well as the myths and legends inspired by their shapes.  Simple, whimsical illustrations show the variations in shape and color that herald changes in the weather.

FROM SARAH:

Another picture book biography to love! This one is fun to read aloud and packed with facts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Told from the viewpoint of a child whose Grandpa is a beekeeper, this rhyming text offers an accessible and engaging introduction to the behavior of bees, including: where they live, how honey is made, and what a beekeeper does. Children will love learning about the vital role of bees in the ecosystem, and will be delighted to find a delicious muffin recipe on the final page!