Books

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 SARAH:

I always say that the language of a good picture book is unbeatable. The Hike is no exception. This adventurous tale is one that is sure to capture your littlest reader’s heart, and yours, too.

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 SARAH:

Step into the whimsy and mystery of our own beautiful world with this stunning nonfiction picture book. Candace Fleming is an RAR favorite, and it’s been our utter delight to welcome her in RAR Premium on multiple occasions!

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.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

An Incan boy who tends llamas in a hidden valley in Peru learns the traditions and secrets of his ancestors.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Imagine microscopic worms living in the soil. They enter your body through your bare feet, travel to your intestines, and stay there for years sucking your blood like vampires. You feel exhausted. You get sick easily. It sounds like a nightmare, but that's what happened in the American South during the 1800s and early 1900s.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From Christina Soontornvat, the visionary and versatile author of three Newbery Honor Books, comes a high-seas adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

On June 23, 2018, twelve young players of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach enter a cave in northern Thailand seeking an afternoon’s adventure. But when they turn to leave, rising floodwaters block their path out. The boys are trapped! Before long, news of the missing team spreads, launching a seventeen-day rescue operation involving thousands of rescuers from around the globe.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

The remarkable true story of how former slave Isabella Baumfree transformed herself into the preacher and orator Sojourner Truth, an iconic figure of the abolitionist and women's rights movements.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A young girl’s beloved uncle is a talented barber without a shop who never gives up on his dream in this richly illustrated, stirring picture book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Stone-in-the-Glen is a once-lovely town that has fallen on hard times. The beautiful Library burned down; the dazzling, dragon-slaying Mayor offers more speeches than action. And for all their resourcefulness, the fourteen clever Orphans at the Orphan House still struggle to get enough to eat.

FROM SARAH:

From the author of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street comes a stand-alone story about a newly homeless New York City family. Karina Yan Glaser's classic hopeful writing style, in a completely new story. Excellent, I think, for ages 8-14.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

It's June’s first day at Huey House, and as if losing her home weren’t enough, she also can’t bring her cherished viola inside. Before the accident last year, her dad saved tip money for a year to buy her viola, and she’s not about to give it up now. Tyrell has been at Huey House for three years and gives June a glimpse of the good things about living there: friendship, hot meals, and a classical musician next door.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Told with empathy and a storyteller's flair, Elliott's story is funny, touching, and unexpectedly relevant. Back matter about the history of Alcatraz and the US prison system today invites meaningful discussion.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A must-have for any young reader, this wonderful boxed set includes Pinky and Rex, Pinky and Rex and the Bully, Pinky and Rex and the New Neighbors, Pinky and Rex and the School Play, Pinky and Rex and the Mean Old Witch, and Pinky and Rex and the Spelling Bee.

FROM SARAH:

This is Gary Schmidt's best yet (do I always say that? It's always true!). Hercules is about as lovable as they come, learning how to be here and how to be okay after the tragic death of his parents. This book will make you want to read Greek myths, listen to Vivaldi, and watch the sunrise on Cape Cod. The audio version is especially well done (Audible I Libro.FM).

Highly recommended for ages 14+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life—and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

When devoted Anglophile Helene Hanff is invited to London for the English publication of 84, Charing Cross Road—in which she shares two decades of correspondence with Frank Doel, a British bookseller who became a dear friend—she can hardly believe her luck. Frank is no longer alive, but his widow and daughter, along with enthusiastic British fans from all walks of life, embrace Helene as an honored guest.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This memoir tells the remarkable story of how Helene Hanff came to write 84, Charing Cross Road, and how its success changed her. Hanff recalls her serendipitous discovery of a volume of lectures by a Cambridge don, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. She devoured Q’s book, and, wanting to read all the books he recommended, began to order them from a small store in London at 84, Charing Cross Road.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Some people collect stamps. Other people collect coins. Carol Otis Hurst's father collected rocks. Nobody ever thought his obsession would amount to anything. They said, You've got rocks in your head and There's no money in rocks. But year after year he kept on collecting, trading, displaying, and labeling his rocks. The Depression forced the family to sell their gas station and their house, but his interest in rocks never wavered. And in the end the science museum he had visited so often realized that a person with rocks in his head was just what was needed.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

The most cantankerous and skilled fisherman in Higgins Bend, Simon Henry, meets his match in a mischievous, stinkbait-stealing catfish named Oscar, in a funny, not-quite-epic tale of man and fish.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Award-winning nonfiction author Melissa Stewart reveals the surprising ways seashells provide more than shelter to the mollusks that inhabit them.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The story concerns Anne Elliot, a young Englishwoman of twenty-seven years, whose family moves to lower their expenses and reduce their debt by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. The wife's brother, Navy Captain Frederick Wentworth, was engaged to Anne in 1806, but the engagement was broken when Anne was "persuaded" by her friends and family to end their relationship. Anne and Captain Wentworth, both single and unattached, meet again after a seven-year separation, setting the scene for many humorous encounters as well as a second, well-considered chance at love and marriage for Anne in her second "bloom".

FROM SARAH:

A lovely and simple invitation to get quiet for Advent. When it comes to Advent, I prefer simple—there's so much noise in the world at this time of year. This book is my favorite set of reflections for a simple, sweet, and holy Advent season. For all Christians—Catholic or otherwise. We're reading this as our RAR Premium Mama Book Club in 2023.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From bestselling author Tsh Oxenreider, Shadow and Light is a rich yet approachable experience that invites you to explore the historical meaning of Advent. Drawing from liturgical tradition, Tsh provides fresh insights for new and longtime believers alike. Each day includes Scripture, a reflection, a question, and a simple activity to engage the senses, such as lighting candles, listening to music, and viewing artwork both old and new.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

You know the authors' names. You recognize the title. You've probably used this book yourself. This is The Elements of Style, the classic style manual, now in a fourth edition. A new Foreword by Roger Angell reminds readers that the advice of Strunk & White is as valuable today as when it was first offered.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Newbery Award-winning author Richard Peck is at his very best in this fast-paced mystery adventure. Fans of The Tale of Desperaux, A Little Princess, and Stuart Little will all be captivated by this memorable story of a lovable orphan mouse on an amazing quest.

FROM SARAH:

My very first picture book, inspired by something Jeanne Birdsall (yes, THAT Jeanne Birdsall) said to me during a walk through her neighborhood in Northampton. Hear about the making of this book here and here!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sly as a fox and swift as a bird, Lou Alice is determined to leave each day a little more beautiful than she found it. But when she moves away from her little house, no one in town notices she's gone. No one, that is, except a little girl, who sets out to carry on Lou Alice's work. But doing so is not enough. Can the girl find a way of her own to make the world a little more beautiful?

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

It's easy to count three of something-- just add them up. But how do you count zero, a number that is best defined by what it's not? Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you feel it? This important math concept is beautifully explored in a way that will inspire children to find zero everywhere--from the branches of a tree by day to the vast, starry sky by night.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This epic saga pits Ahab, a brooding and fantastical sea captain, against the great white whale that crippled him.

FROM SARAH:

In this continuation of Little Women, we head to Plumfield, the school Jo March runs with her husband. This school for boys is one-of-a-kind, and may feel a lot like your homeschool on its craziest days! Delightful in every way.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

From the author of Caroline, a revealing retelling of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved Little Women, from the perspective of Margaret “Marmee” March, about the larger real-world challenges behind the cozy domestic concerns cherished by generations of readers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This lavish, four-color edition features over 220 curated illustrations, including stills from the films, stunning art by Norman Rockwell, and iconic illustrations by children’s-book illustrators Alice Barber Stevens, Frank T. Merrill, and Jessie Wilcox Smith.

From Sarah:

From Read-Aloud Revival's very favorite picture book author and illustrator comes a legend your kids won't soon forget, all about how the Indian Paintbrush flower got its name. This book is not to be missed!

From the Publisher:

Many years ago, when the People traveled the Plains, a young Indian boy had a Dream-Vision in which it was revealed that one day he would create a painting that was as pure as the colors of the evening sky at sunset. The boy grew up to become the painter of the tribe, but although he found a pure white buckskin for a canvas and made paints from the brightest flowers and the reddest berries, he could not capture the sunset. How the young Indian artist finally fulfills his Dream-Vision is lovingly told and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, in words and pictures that capture the spirit and beauty of this dramatic legend.

FROM SARAH:

I loved Joy's reflection on seeking enjoyment and delight in the midst of life's unpredictable circumstances. This book is an invitation to cultivate happiness in your daily life and experience the beauty of cherishing those around you.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Beloved writer Joy Marie Clarkson leads the way, crafting an audacious case for happiness no matter what you're going through.

FROM SARAH:

One of my all-time favorite summer picture books. This book makes me want to go to the beach! Illustrated by Marla Frazee, who illustrated The Seven Silly Eaters. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Following a circle of family and friends through the course of a day from morning until night, this book affirms the importance of all things great and small in our world, from the tiniest shell on the beach, to the warmth of family connections, to the widest sunset sky.

FROM SARAH:

TK

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Auggie loves his job at the Fabled Stables, but he fears the day when it will come to an end. Fen keeps dropping hints that caretakers don’t stay forever, and it’s giving Auggie the grumps. Thankfully, there always seems to be a new stall to fill. This time, the stables set Auggie on a quest to rescue a beast called the Shibboleth—but the portal leads Auggie and Fen to the lair of the evil Rooks!

FROM SARAH:

The inspiring and heartwarming story of Norvia, an Ojibwe girl making her way through upheaval in her family life. A book full of sweet sibling relationships, soda shops, and literary references that will make you smile. I loved it. (Pssst... this book was written by an RAR Premium member!)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Despite a move, family upheaval, and the looming threat of world war, Norvia and her siblings—all five of them—are determined to make 1914 their best year ever. Norvia is certain that her future depends upon it... and upon her discretion. But how can she have the best year ever if she has to hide who she truly is?

FROM SARAH:

First published in 1917. Utterly delightful and totally readable. I think it should have been titled The Revolt of Helen McGill, As Told By Herself. One of the best reads of the year, easy. It’s only 75 pages long. I wish more books were like this one! (fiction)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Helen McGill lives with her older brother Andrew until one day, when Roger Mifflin shows up on their farm. "When you sell a man a book," says Mifflin, "you don't sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue; you sell him a whole new life." And just like that, Helen treats herself to a long-overdue adventure of her own.

FROM SARAH:

A collection of essays, articles, letters, and passages from the works of C.S. Lewis reflecting on the delight and depth that reading gives our lives. My favorite chapters were “Why Children’s Stories Are Not Just for Children” and “On Encountering a Favorite Author for the First Time.” (nonfiction)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The revered teacher and best-selling author reflects on the power, importance, and joy of a life dedicated to reading books in this delightful collection drawn from his wide body of writings.

FROM SARAH:

Oh, to write like Mary Laura Philpott! Mary Laura is one of my new favorites, and in this memoir she tackles the biggest questions we face as mothers in a way that'll make you both laugh and cry. Heads up: there's some bad language, and one slightly annoying essay that you'll know I didn't like when you read it. 😉 The rest? Gold.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Hailed by The Washington Post as “Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck, Jean Kerr, and Laurie Colwin all rolled into one,” Philpott tackles the big questions of life, death, and existential fear—not to mention the lessons of an inscrutable backyard turtle—with hope, humor, and joy.

FROM SARAH:

Our lives are full of anxiety, but what might we experience if we truly understood that we were safe all along? This book (by the author of Kisses from Katie and Daring to Hope) is balm for a weary mama's soul. It's the kind of book you need when you want a big sister to tell you the truth you knew all along, but forgot.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Rich in biblical explorations of lament and praise, forgiveness and hope, service and surrender, Safe All Along asks, What practical choices can we make to experience the peace Jesus promised amid disappointment and uncertainty? How can we live with joy and confidence even when we’re pulled into the rapids of life?

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This beautifully illustrated collection has been carefully refreshed with its thirty-one classic Christmas carols illustrated by the beloved Tomie dePaola that will be perfect for making the holidays merry and bright.

FROM SARAH:

A  book that will refresh both your mothering and your reading life. I love this book so much, we've chosen to feature it as an RAR Premium Mama Book Club in spring 2024!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In Mothering by the Book, Jennifer takes you on a fascinating, whimsical journey that will bring freedom and fun to your parenting—one great book at a time.

FROM SARAH:

From our very own Waxwing Books, this picture book with gorgeous illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard will, we hope, become a bedtime favorite!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Just before first morning light, Little Shrew is awakened by the moon.

A mysterious fragrance leads her to a garden of moonflowers, where moths flutter, crickets hum, and frogs and peepers keep the beat. Join Little Shrew’s merry romp in the moonlit garden in this bedtime story for adventurous souls.

FROM SARAH:

My first picture book biography! This one tells the story of one of the world's greatest picture book illustrators, Barbara Cooney, and is illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen. Order now wherever books are sold!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Legendary picture book creator Barbara Cooney once noticed that the library in her little town by the sea needed attention. A library, she knew, should be a kind of paradise. And because Barbara did whatever she set her mind to, she made it one.

Follow Barbara from New York to Maine, from the shores of Greece to the mountains of Appalachia, as she captures their beauty and creates some of the most magnificent books for children ever published.

FROM SARAH:

One of my new favorite picture books. This is three stories in one—of the past, the present and, the future. You'll never look at a pecan tree the same way again. I love this book so much, we chose it as our Family Book Club pick at RAR Premium in the fall of 2023.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This gorgeous picture book shows how one little girl’s careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational Black family. For Earth Day and every day! Perfect for fans of Matt de la Peña and Oge Mora.

FROM SARAH:

A delightful cumulative tale. Is there room on the crowded bus in Zanzibar? You bet there is! Your kids will have fun looking for the chickens. Brilliantly designed by the same book designer who made A Little More Beautiful, While Everyone is Sleeping, and Because Barbara. This book is featured in our RAR Premium Family Book Club for 2023-2024.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A young boy on a crowded bus discovers that, after some wiggles and giggles, there’s room for everyone in this lighthearted rhyming picture book set in Zanzibar.