Books

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:

Who knew a book about the life and times of corn could be so interesting?! But... it is! See if your library has this one.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

As the New York times Book Review said, “Micucci knows how to grab his audience” and is “canny about organizing his material.” Building upon his successful series of creative science for the younger grades, the author-illustrator of the LIFE AND TIMES series focuses on the science, uses and history of American’s most prevalent crop.

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:

A sweet picture book with lovely illustrations about courage during times of change. Lovely!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

As a child, Rachel Carson lived by the rhythms of the natural world. Spring after spring, year after year, she observed how all living things are connected. And as an adult, Rachel watched and listened as the natural world she loved so much began to fall silent. Spring After Spring traces Rachel’s journey as scientist and writer, courageously speaking truth to an often hostile world through her book, and ultimately paving the way for the modern environmental movement.

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!

FROM SARAH:

Nature books that are as lovely to look at as they are to read . . . and packed with insightful information. The whole series is worth owning!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Part of the incredible six-book Nature Books series from the award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long, A Butterfly Is Patient celebrates a dazzling variety of butterflies in all their beauty and wonder. Turn each page to explore the amazing world of these beautiful winged insects through watercolor illustrations that bring to life garden landscapes filled with flowers, vines, leaves, and sunshine.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

To some, he was "Professor Nuts Peterson" because of his dedication to his craft. Yet Roger Tory Peterson went on to create the immensely popular Peterson Guides, which have sold more than seven million copies, and which birders everywhere appreciate for their simple text and exquisite illustrations. Working closely with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, New York, author Peggy Thomas and artist Laura Jacques have created a fascinating portrait of this great naturalist.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Filled with lyrical language that captures the majesty of the natural world, coupled with a fun narrative, this spirited picture book tells the story of the girls' friendship—and their tribulations and triumphs in the great outdoors.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Candace Fleming is the author of Honeybee, which received an Orbis Pictus Honor and 7 starred reviews. She brings her knack for making science and nature appealing to the very young in The Tidepool Waits with detailed accounts of dozens of species of sea life, culminating in a perfect primer for students and nature lovers taking their first trip to the shore. Her text is accompanied by effervescent artwork by Amy Hevron and substantial backmatter.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In Math With Bad Drawings, Ben Orlin reveals to us what math actually is; its myriad uses, its strange symbols, and the wild leaps of logic and faith that define the usually impenetrable work of the mathematician.

FROM SARAH:

Oh goodness, I do love a good epistolary novel, and this has to be one of my favorites! We read it in RAR Premium as a Mama Book Club because I loved it so much.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This funny, poignant, classic love story unfolds through a series of letters between Helene Hanff, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a charming, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In this spirited picture book, Tic and Tac, two adorable badgers, get a little carried away while helping their mom out with the laundry.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

When Daisy the warthog's classmates tease her, she finds comfort collecting lost and forgotten things. She knows they're special - and soon she meets a friend who knows it too.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Louis Armstrong has been called the most important improviser in the history of jazz. Although his New Orleans neighborhood was poor in nearly everything else, it was rich in superb music. Young Louis took it all in, especially the cornet blowing of  Joe "King" Oliver. But after a run-in with the police, 11-year-old Louis was sent away to the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys where he became a disciplined musician in the school’s revered marching band.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Seven-year-old Louis Armstrong was too poor to buy a real instrument. He didn’t even go to school. To help his mother pay the rent, every day he rode a junk wagon through the streets of New Orleans, playing a tin horn and collecting stuff people didn’t want.

FROM SARAH:

The most reading fun I've had in ages! This utterly hilarious historical rom-com was a joy to read, start to finish. For fans of Jane Austen, who need something light and easy and unputdownable. Excellent for teens, as well. I highly recommend you listen to it on Audible. Eleanor Tomlinson is an exquisite narrator. (LibroFM)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. Left with her father’s massive debts, she has only twelve weeks to save her family from ruin.

Kitty has never been one to back down from a challenge, so she leaves home and heads toward the most dangerous battleground in all of England: the London season.

FROM SARAH:

This is (easily) my favorite book so far by Laura Vanderkam. It's full of practical solutions for choosing how to spend your time that I think many homeschooling mamas will appreciate. "Going to bed early is how grown-ups sleep in" might be my favorite line from the whole book!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

To make time for what matters, you need a resilient schedule, not a perfect schedule. Based on a time diary study of over 150 people, Vanderkam shares nine strategies for building opportunities for joy, nourishment, and fulfillment into your week, such as:

• Three times a week is a habit
• One big adventure, one little adventure
• Effortful before effortless

This is more than a time management book about “how to do it all.” It’s a look at how real people changed their lives using Vanderkam’s nine rules, and how you can do the same.

FROM SARAH:

This delightful picture book won the Caldecott Medal in 2024, and we've been reading it on repeat ever since! There's more than first meets the eye in this heartwarming (and funny!) book. I'll tell you all about it on episode #223 of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast. Get your hands on this puppy, if you can! (See what I did there? 😆)

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Here, a pup can run!

FROM SARAH:

I read this aloud to my 10, 9, and 9, and they all loved it. It's quite long so it took us a few months (reading a few chapters each week). I love that my kids were able to understand the allegory so easily, and we've used the language we picked up from reading this together in our daily life plenty of times, since! ("Why don't you lay down that pack, Little Christian?" ❤️). Oh, and the illustrations? GORGEOUS.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this fresh, imaginative new edition, bestselling illustrator Joe Sutphin portrays the characters of Bunyan’s tale as furry creatures living in a woodland realm. This book will help children see the trials and triumphs of faithfulness with fresh eyes, leading them to declare along with Christian, “I am going to the King!”

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In their thirty-year lifetimes, Arctic Terns travel nearly 1.5 million miles, that’s enough to fly to the Moon and back three times! Each year they brave blistering winds, storms, rough seas, and airborne predators as they travel between the Earth’s poles, chasing the summer. In The Longest Journey: An Arctic Tern’s Migration, we follow one such bird as it spreads its wings and sets out to make its first globe-spanning trip with its flock.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Once there was a bridge and a terrible and VERY hungry troll lived underneath it. When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide to clip-clop across the bridge to get to the grassy ridge, the troll is already imagining all the way to prepare a delicious goat dinner. But the troll underestimates those seemingly sweet but oh-so-savvy goats! This is the first in a groundbreaking new collection of fractured fairy tales crafted by one of today's most celebrated and acclaimed authors, Mac Barnett, and brought to stunning visual life by award-winning and beloved creator of I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen.