Books
The Tolkien Reader
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Renowned around the world as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien was also a distinguished academic and professor whose writings and lectures expand beyond the scope of his beloved Middle-earth. From short stories of fantastical adventures to essays on imagination and the narrative form, The Tolkien Reader gathers some of these fascinating and hard-to-find works into one volume.
More info →The Secret Garden Coloring Book
FROM SARAH:
If you've got a child who loves detailed coloring pages, this one is delightful!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Children can bring The Secret Garden to life by coloring 27 delightful illustrations that wonderfully capture the spirit and charm of the tale. They'll also have the fun of reading or listening to the story, specially adapted for this edition by Brian Doherty.
The Secret Garden: A Graphic Novel
FROM SARAH:
I do love when a classic can be turned into a lovely graphic novel, and here's a great example! My boys, especially, loved this.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Green-growing secrets and powerful magic await you at Misselthwaite Manor, now reimagined in this bewitching graphic novel adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved tale. From Mariah Marsden, author of the critically acclaimed Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel, comes the second installment in this series of retold children's classics.
Of Other Worlds
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A repackaged edition of the revered author’s treasury of essays and stories which examine the value of creative writing and imaginative exploration.
C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—presents a well-reasoned case for the importance of story and wonder, elements often ignored by critics of his time. He also discusses his favorite kinds of stories—children’s stories and fantasies—and offers insights into his most famous works, The Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy.
More info →Wild, Beautiful and Free
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Born the daughter of an enslaved woman and a Louisiana plantation owner, Jeannette Bébinn is raised alongside her white half sister—until her father suddenly dies. His vindictive wife refuses twelve-year-old Jeannette her inheritance and sells her into slavery.
Now on her own, Jeannette must fight the injustices she faces because of her mixed race. She escapes enslavement and travels from Mississippi to Philadelphia to New York to Ohio, all while searching for purpose, love, and her place in a country torn asunder by the burgeoning Civil War.
Everything seems to fall into place when she meets Christian Robichaud Colchester, the white proprietor of Fortitude Mansion, a safe haven for escaped slaves where Jeannette teaches. But despite their instant connection, Jeannette isn’t convinced she belongs in his circle.
More info →On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature
FROM SARAH:
I love C.S. Lewis's essay collections so much! This one is especially good for those who love reading about the moral imagination and the power of stories to enrich us.
FROM PUBLISHER:
C. S. Lewis—the great British writer, scholar, lay theologian, broadcaster, Christian apologist, and bestselling author of Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Chronicles of Narnia, and many other beloved classics—was a professor of literature at Oxford University, where he was known for his insightful and often witty presentations on the nature of stories. This collection assembles nine essays that encapsulate his ideas about fiction, including "On Stories," "The Death of Words," and "On Three Ways of Writing for Children," as well as eleven pieces that were unpublished during his lifetime.
More info →
Little Bear: An Inuit Folktale
FROM SARAH:
A lovely retelling of a traditional tale. If your library doesn't have it, ask them to add it to their collection!
Recommended for all ages.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Little Bear is a lyrical retelling of an Inuit folktale, sensitively written by award-winning author Dawn Casey and radiantly illustrated by award-winning artist Amanda Hall. When a lonely old woman finds a polar bear cub with no mother of his own, she adopts him, and cares for him as he grows. The bear cub rides in her hood and sleeps by her side. The old woman loves the bear like her own child, but her heart also knows: bears belong in the wild. A tender story of loving and letting go, Little Bear celebrates the relationship between a human being and a wild animal and will touch the hearts of readers young and old.
More info →Aesop’s Fables
FROM SARAH:
Aesop's Fables are a must-read childhood staple, and this collection illustrated by Charles Santore is particularly wonderful.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Captivating the hearts and minds of kids and adults for generations, Aesop, a former Greek slave, developed simple and meaningful adventures featuring animals or insects to teach a moral standard or lesson for living.
More info →Freedom Train
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Born into slavery, young Harriet Tubman knew only hard work and hunger. Escape seemed impossible - certainly dangerous. Yet Harriet did escape North, by the secret route called the Underground Railroad. Harriet didn't forget her people. Again and again she risked her life to lead them on the same secret, dangerous journey.
More info →Endurance
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, after battling its way through a thousand miles of pack ice and only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked in an island of ice. Thus began the legendary ordeal of Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men. When their ship was finally crushed between two ice floes, they attempted a near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization.
More info →The Enchanted April
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Beguiling, witty, and gently comedic, The Enchanted April tells the tale of four very different women who escape dreary London for an Italian castle in Portofino, shortly after World War I. Elizabeth von Arnim’s ageless novel compellingly responds to the eternal question of how to achieve happiness in life. An immediate best seller upon its first publication, the story of unlikely female friendship, newfound empowerment, rekindled love, and unexpected romance has been adapted for stage and screen. This much-beloved book appeals to anyone who appreciates the sly charm of Downton Abbey and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
More info →All My Knotted-Up Life
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
New York Times best-selling author, speaker, visionary, and founder of Living Proof Ministries Beth Moore has devoted her whole life to helping women across the globe come to know the transforming power of Jesus. An established writer of many acclaimed books and Bible studies for women on spiritual growth and personal development, Beth now unveils her own story in a much-anticipated debut memoir.
More info →Left to Tell
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Immaculee Ilibagiza grew up in a country she loved, surrounded by a family she cherished. But in 1994 her idyllic world was ripped apart as Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Immaculee’s family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.
More info →How to Stay Married
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
From Harrison Scott Key, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, How to Stay Married tells the hilarious, shocking, and profound story of one man’s journey through hell and back when infidelity threatens his marriage.
More info →Let’s Go Home
FROM SARAH:
Here's the deal. If you ever (ever ever ever) see a book by Cynthia Rylant, you should buy it and add it to your home collection. This particular title includes Wendy Anderson Halperin's charming illustrations that will certainly keep your kids looking a little longer than necessary! Highly recommended.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
With gracious text and enchanting images, Newbery medalist Cynthia Rylant and acclaimed illustrator Wendy Anderson Halperin invite readers home--to remind us why there's no place like it!
More info →What Was the Great Depression?
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
FROM SARAH:
I think the covers of this series are unfortunate and don't accurately depict the quality of the text within! This is a great book for ages 8+ that will give your kids a solid fundamental understanding of this time in history.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
On October 29, 1929, life in the United States took a turn for the worst. The stock market – the system that controls money in America – plunged to a record low. But this event was only the beginning of many bad years to come. By the early 1930s, one out of three people was not working. People lost their jobs, their houses, or both and ended up in shantytowns called “Hoovervilles” named for the president at the time of the crash.
More info →The Great Depression for Kids
FROM SARAH:
An informative book with lots of photographs of The Great Depression. Best for ages 10+.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The Great Depression for Kids provides a balanced and realistic picture of an era rife with suffering but also deep-rooted with hope and generosity. Beginning with a full chapter on the 1920s, the book provides important background knowledge to help set the stage for an in-depth look at the decline of the economy and attempts at recovery over the next decade.
Wave
FROM SARAH:
A lovely book that will have you hankering for a day at the beach. Particularly good for younger kids.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
In this evocative wordless book, internationally acclaimed artist Suzy Lee tells the story of a little girl's day at the beach. Stunning in their simplicity, Lee's illustrations, in just two shades of watercolor, create a vibrant story full of joy and laughter.
More info →Sidewalk Flowers
FROM SARAH:
I loved this wordless book! The use of color and the sweet and subtle message about paying attention and adding beauty to the world will delight your mama heart and your kids.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
In this wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed by their encounter.
More info →The Midnight Fair
FROM SARAH:
A delightful romp through the fair in the middle of the night. (Leave it to the raccoons to get the fence open!). Your kids may just pore over the lovely artwork in this one.
Recommended for ages 4+.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
As darkness falls on the fairgrounds, the animals venture out of the woods for one magical, memorable night! With thrills both spectacular and subtle, Midnight Fair will have readers punching their tickets again and again to revel in this fantastic nocturnal world.
More info →Penguin Sets Sail
FROM SARAH:
Oh my, what an adorable (and funny!) wordless story!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Set sail with a lovable Penguin in this wordless picture book about friendship, home, and the high seas. A unique approach to reading that encourages imagination and improves verbal skills in children of all ages.
More info →All in a Day
FROM SARAH:
A lovely book to celebrate everyday beauties, ideal for a springtime read-aloud. Especially good for younger kids.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
This lovely book illuminates all the possibilities a day offers—the opportunities and chances that won’t ever come again—and also delivers a gentle message of good stewardship of our planet.
More info →The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
FROM SARAH:
A book that connects St. Patrick's Day with the Irish potato famine. Inspirational, and especially good for a wide age range.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A family retells the story of the shillelagh that was whittled from a tree. During the Irish potato famine, Fergus and his family left for America. But first Fergus cut a branch from a blackthorn tree to take a piece of Ireland with him.
More info →Finding Spring
FROM SARAH:
A sweet story about a little bear who doesn't want to hibernate—he wants to find spring! Illustrated in collage.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Instead of hibernating as he should, a little bear cub goes out in search of spring—and he thinks he's found it!
Gloriously illustrated with dioramas and cut-paper collages by the award-winning designer and illustrator Carin Berger, this stunning picture book celebrates the changing of the seasons.
More info →Tad
FROM SARAH:
Oh my, what a delightful book!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
From Benji Davies, the award-winning creator of The Storm Whale and illustrator of the Goodnight Already! series, comes a heartwarming and tender tale about courage and growth, featuring a special tadpole named Tad.
More info →On Writing: A Miscellany of Advice and Opinions
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A definitive collection of wisdom on every style of writing and a celebration of the transformative power of the written word from one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the modern age, C. S. Lewis, the beloved author of the Chronicles of Narnia series, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and other revered classics.
Featuring over one hundred excerpts—some short and some essay length—drawn from his wide body of letters, books, and essays, On Writing (and Writers) brings together C. S. Lewis’s reflections on the power, importance, and joy of a life dedicated to writing.
More info →The Andromeda Strain
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A military space probe, sent to collect extraterrestrial organisms from the upper atmosphere, is knocked out of orbit and falls to Earth. Twelve miles from the crash site, an inexplicable and deadly phenomenon terrorizes the residents of a sleepy desert town in Arizona, leaving only two survivors: an elderly addict and a newborn infant.
The United States government is forced to mobilize Project Wildfire, a top-secret emergency response protocol. Four of the nation’s most elite biophysicists are summoned to a clandestine underground laboratory located five stories beneath the desert and fitted with an automated atomic self-destruction mechanism for cases of irremediable contamination. Under conditions of total news blackout and the utmost urgency, the scientists race to understand and contain the crisis. But the Andromeda Strain proves different from anything they’ve ever seen—and what they don’t know could not only hurt them, but lead to unprecedented worldwide catastrophe.
More info →
Robinson Crusoe
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe was first published in 1719 without any reference to its author, Daniel Defoe. The book was presented as a true autobiography of a castaway marooned for 28 years on an uninhabited island. It was been considered one of the first English novels. and is one of the most published books in history. Crusoe becomes self-sufficient using material salvaged from shipwrecks and endures cannibals, earthquakes, and mutineers before his final rescue. He rescues a native who has escaped from cannibals and names him Friday in reference to the day of the week he was found.
More info →Hard Times
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Hard Times Charles Dickens Hard Times - For These Times (commonly known as Hard Times) is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. The book appraises English society and highlights the social and economic pressures of the times. The novel was published as a serial in Dickens's weekly publication, Household Words. Sales were highly responsive and encouraging for Dickens who remarked that he was "Three parts mad, and the fourth delirious, with perpetual rushing at Hard Times".
More info →Mapping Penny’s World
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Lisa's class is learning how to make maps. The teacher says they can make maps of anyplace, so Lisa starts with her bedroom. She includes all the things that people will need to read the map, such as a scale and a key to the symbols she has used.
Her dog, Penny, helps with the map. This gives Lisa an idea: Why not map Penny's world? Making maps is so much fun that Lisa and Penny decide to visit some of the exotic places that they've drawn-but they won't forget to take a map along!
More info →Classic Fairy Tales
FROM SARAH:
My very favorite illustrated collection of fairy tales. This large format book is a perfect example of a picture book being an art gallery for the lap. Highly recommended for your home library!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A lavishly illustrated, enchanting collection of 10 of the best-loved fairy tales, chosen and edited by the artist, who spent more than four years creating the seventy-five oil paintings, reproduced here in full color. Belongs on every child's bookshelf.
More info →Tomfoolery!
FROM SARAH:
Picture book biography perfection. If I was in charge of awarding the Caldecott, I would have honored this book. Just saying. ;) It's the delightful story of the birth of children's books. Your kids will realize for the first time what treasures they hold in their laps, after reading this book about Randolph Caldecott and his mission to get delightful stories into their hands.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Meet Randolph Caldecott, the artist who revolutionized picture book illustration and for whom the prestigious Caldecott medal is named! From acclaimed picture book creators Michelle Markel and Barbara McClintock comes a lively, humorous, and energetically informative biography that celebrates the spirit of storytelling in ar
More info →All Creatures Great and Small
FROM SARAH:
There is nothing more cozy and comforting than curling up with James Herriot’s stories of the animals in the Yorkshire countryside. This is a forever-favorite and deserves a spot on everyone’s shelf.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
For over forty years, generations of readers have thrilled to Herriot's marvelous tales, deep love of life, and extraordinary storytelling abilities. For decades, Herriot roamed the remote, beautiful Yorkshire Dales, treating every patient that came his way from smallest to largest, and observing animals and humans alike with his keen, loving eye.
More info →Tumble Bumble
FROM SARAH:
This darling board book by the illustrator of Give a Mouse a Cookie is a gem. Your kids will spot some of their favorite characters from other books, as well!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
When a tiny bug decides to go for a walk, anything can happen! He might meet a cat, a crocodile, a pig, or even a bee to dance and play with, and that means more friends for everyone.
More info →Guess How Much I Love You
FROM SARAH:
Everyone loves Little Nutbrown Hare "to the moon and back."
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
How much does Little Nutbrown Hare love his daddy? And how much does Big Nutbrown Hare love him back? The cherished tale of boundless affection is ready for boundless sharing in a durable board-book edition for the younger set.
More info →Olivia
FROM SARAH:
The board book version is just as good as the full-size, and toddlers love Olivia's antics.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
It's everyone's favorite pig...it's OLIVIA!
More info →April Foolishness
FROM SARAH:
Silly and fun to read aloud. Your kids will giggle over the antic in the illustrations.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
It's a spring morning on the farm. Grandma is happy the grandkis are visiting―they've picked just the right day!―and Grandpa is fixing breakfast. Suddenly his grandson reports that the cows have got loose! He thinks Big Brown Bessie just stepped on a goose! "Good gracious," Grandpa says as he pours himself a glass of milk. When his granddaughter shouts the chickens are out, Grandpa cooks up some eggs. Pigs broke the gate" Grandpa fries bacon. Why is Grandpa so cool? Because he knows the kids are trying to play an April Fool's trick!
More info →Rain
FROM SARAH:
A lovely book for all ages, written entirely in haiku. It would be fun to read this aloud and then try your hand at writing your own haikus.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
This haiku collection will enchant both nature lovers and budding poets. The spare, lyrical text describes a series of short vignettes, each of them taking place in a different kind of rain, from thunderstorms to falling flower petals. The poems—some serious, some gently humorous—depict scenes from all over the globe: a horse struggling to plow a field, a father changing a tire while his children play, and two friends making up after a fight.
More info →
Usborne Beginner Readers
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Beginning Reader Story Books are for young children who are just starting to read real stories with a little help and support. These well-known fairy tales and folk tales are beautifully illustrated, with fun activities and talking points after each story. Online links also allow you to follow along with audio versions. Contents Include: 1: Beauty and the Beast, 2: The Boy Who Cried Wolf, 3: Cinderella, 4: The Gingerbread Man, 5: The Emperor and the Nightingale, 6: The Emperor’s New Clothes, 7: The Elves and the Shoemaker, 8: Little Red Riding Hood, 9: Rapunzel, 10: Puss in Boots, 11: Sleeping Beauty, 12: Snow White
More info →The King of All Things
FROM SARAH:
A perfect gift for a baby shower or Easter basket. This gorgeous board book is worth reading again and again, with beautiful illustrations by RAR favorite, Breezy Brookshire.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The King of All Things is a celebratory prayer that helps the youngest hearts in your home to love the goodness of the Great King and revel in His kingship over all things.
More info →The Sandcastle That Lola Built
FROM SARAH:
A spin on The House That Jack Built, this is the sandcastle that Lola built! Perfect for a summer afternoon (or any afternoon when you'd rather be at the beach).
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A modern, summery spin on the classic The House That Jack Built, in which Lola's day at the beach leads to new friends and a giant sandcastle.
More info →There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake
FROM SARAH:
Try not to love this book. I dare you! ;)
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Built for giggles and fun read-alouds, this classic children's song has been adapted by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Love and Otis, Loren Long!
More info →One Day in the Eucalyptus
FROM SARAH:
Kids love cumulative stories, and this one is particularly joyful and fun to read aloud.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A sneaky snake has no idea that the captives in his belly are planning their escape! In the spirit of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback, the reader sees a cutaway of the snake’s belly and can even guess how the tale ends!
More info →Baby Goes to Market
FROM SARAH:
Oh goodness, I do love a book by Atinuke! This book is particularly joyful and colorful. Best for the youngest among us.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Join Baby and his doting mama at a bustling southwest Nigerian marketplace for a bright, bouncy read-aloud offering a gentle introduction to numbers.
More info →Is It Far to Zanzibar?
FROM SARAH:
Read this book alongside Room for Everyone! (Heads-up, RAR Premium Members... there's a Family Book Club Guide for that one.)
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
More info →We All Went on Safari
FROM SARAH:
Lovely illustrations that immerse you in Tanzania. Your kids will enjoy finding and counting the animals!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Join Arusha, Mosi, Tumpe and their Maasai friends as they set out on a counting journey through the grasslands of Tanzania. Along the way, the children encounter all sorts of animals including elephants, lions and monkeys, while counting from one to ten in both English and Swahili.
More info →Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
FROM SARAH:
The perfect book to pair with RAR favorite, Room for Everyone. This one is a cumulative story, as well, and is also set in beautiful Africa. A joy to read aloud!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
More info →Too Small Tola
FROM SARAH:
A lively (and short!) read-aloud that will have your kids laughing out loud, by acclaimed oral storyteller, Atinuke.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Three delightful tales from a renowned Nigerian storyteller introduce a chapter-book heroine who is every bit as mighty as she is small.
More info →
You Are Special
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
In the town of Wemmickville there lives a Wemmick named Punchinello. Each day the residents award stickers―gold stars for the talented, smart, and attractive Wemmicks, and gray dots for those who make mistakes or are just plain ordinary. Punchinello, covered in gray dots, begins to feel worthless. Then one day he visits Eli the woodcarver, his creator, and he learns that his worth comes from a different source.
More info →You Are Mine
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Bigger allowances. Better clothes. More toys.
Bigger, better, more is how the world determines who's special and who's not. It's a message your kids are hearing every day. But it's not God's message.
His truth is simple and never-changing: It's not what you have, it's Whose you are. And it's a truth that the lovable Wemmick, Punchinello, hears again at the knee of his creator in this faithful, fully illustrated sequel to You Are Special.
More info →Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
To a child, a day can last forever, and hurt feelings sink in deep. Whether they're having trouble making friends, struggling to learn something new, or just having a sad day, children need daily reminders of how much they're cherished. Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone soothes away loneliness by promising children that their parents or caregivers will always make time for them--they will squeeze away the sad and welcome back the glad every single day.
More info →No Wonder They Call Him the Savior
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Far more than a gold-plated symbol of religious belief, the cross is the centerpiece of the Christian faith -- the meeting place of time and eternity. Where God and man encounter each other.
Max Lucado takes you through the drama of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ -- bringing to life Peter's denial, Pilate's hesitancy, and John's loyalty. Relive the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, from the foggy garden of Gethsemane to the incandescent room of the resurrection.
More info →The Oak Inside the Acorn
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The story highlights the adventure of a sweet little acorn becoming a big, strong oak tree. Readers will cheer on the growing tree when he can't grow oranges like the orange tree or flowers like the rose bush. Children will read with wonder as the tree grows empty branches, and later, a very special purpose is revealed.
More info →Traveling Light
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
We've all seen weary travelers—everything they own crammed into their luggage, staggering through terminals and hotel lobbies with overstuffed suitcases, trunks, duffels, and backpacks. Backs ache. Feet burn. Eyelids droop. We can all be people like that—if not with our physical luggage, then at least with our spiritual load of guilt, discontentment, doubt, or loneliness.
More info →Anxious for Nothing
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
We all experience anxiety, but we don’t have to let worry and fear control our lives. Anxious for Nothing, from New York Times bestselling author, Max Lucado, provides a roadmap for coping with and healing from anxiety. Complete with Lucado’s signature storytelling and relatable anecdotes, Anxious for Nothing invites you to study Philippians 4:6-7—the most highlighted passage of the Bible and any book on the planet according to Amazon.
More info →Beyond Mulberry Glen
FROM SARAH:
I loved this book so much, I published it as the first middle grade release from Waxwing Books! This hope-filled fantasy novel tells the story of Lydia Green, who has to face shifting library shelves, a creeping darkness, and the forest Tenebrae to bring light to her world. Read it aloud with the whole family.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A captivating tale filled with heartwarming characters and an undertone of hope for readers of all ages.
Eleven-year-old Lydia Green doesn’t want anything to change. She lives happily in Mulberry Glen with her mismatched family of a fairy guardian, a philosopher, and twin troublemakers known as the Zs. But now, rumors swirl about The Darkness, a powerful force that dwells in the forest Tenebrae.
Lydia knows The Darkness is nothing to be trifled with, but when a foolish choice by the Zs puts her family in danger, she must leave home and face the strange magical world of The Valleylands.
Among the shifting library shelves and new friends of her quest, Lydia uncovers more questions than answers, and the Darkness begins to creep into her mind. If she wants to save her family, she will have to be braver than ever before.
More info →Drawn from Nature
FROM SARAH:
Oh my, what a feast for the eyes this book is! All of the illustrations were created with pressed plants. Just see if you can tear your eyes away!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Helen Ahpornsiri's intricate artwork transforms leaves, petals, and seeds into bounding hares, swooping swallows, and blossoming trees. Using nothing but pressed plants, this journey through the seasons captures the wonder and magic of the natural world between the pages of a book. This standout title with beautiful nonfiction text will take readers through an extraordinary year in the wild.
More info →Rain
FROM SARAH:
There isn't a Cynthia Rylant book in existence that we don't love around here. :) This one is perfect for late spring rainy days.
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
When rain is on its way, some people and animals hurry home and get cozy inside. But others stay out to soak up the glorious showers! Wet drops bounce on leaves and roofs, creeks fill up, trees take a shower, cats have a show, and everyone relishes the rain.
More info →The Wonderful Habits of Rabbits
FROM SARAH:
Delightful and charming! This book has perfect rhyme, and the illustrations are just adorable. Read this one with your youngest kiddos!
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The habits of rabbits are many, not few, with plenty of things that they love to do! This sweet, lyrical story by Douglas Florian follows a family of rabbits as they have fun doing everyday things like digging holes, building snow rabbits, thumping their feet, and more. But as the day comes to an end, their favorite thing to do is say "goodnight" with a hug and a kiss.
More info →































































