Books

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 SARAH: 

A haunting and beautifully written account of young lives impacted by World War II. There's a reason this book received worldwide critical acclaim, and took the author a decade to write.

Recommended for ages 18+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

**Description from Amazon: In this innovative wordless picture book with interactive flaps, Flora and her graceful flamingo friend explore the trials and joys of friendship through an elaborate synchronized dance. With a twist, a turn, and even a flop, these unlikely friends learn at last how to dance together in perfect harm...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As the sun rises on her snow-covered world, Little Cub wonders aloud…“What is heaven like?”With tender words, her Papa describes a wonderful place, free of sadness and tears, where God warmly welcomes his loved ones after their life on earth is over.

**Description from Amazon: When twelve-year-old Nate Twitchell takes care of an gigantic egg laid by one of his hens, he is shocked to find that it hatches into a triceratops. Reissue.

FROM SARAH:

Tells the story of the 1963 children's march in Birmingham, Alabama. Beautifully illustrated.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This powerful picture book introduces young readers to a key event in the struggle for Civil Rights. Winner, Coretta Scott King Honor Award. In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world. Frank Morrison's emotive oil-on-canvas paintings bring this historical event to life, while Monica Clark-Robinson's moving and poetic words document this remarkable time.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing.

**Description from Amazon: A king and queen should be full of joy and contentment, but they both feel a strange pain that worsens every day. Then a peddler's magic spectacles reveal a red thread pulling at each of their hearts. The king and queen know they must follow the thread.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Aesop's Fables is a collection of fables written by a slave and story-teller who lived in Ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BC. Aesop's Fables are mostly short animal stories with each fable ending with a moral advice.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Why won't Benny help? Penny found a dead salamander, but her brother Benny is refusing to help her bury it. Is it silly to hold a service for Little Sallie, or could this tiny salamander mean something more to the siblings? Geisel Award–winner Geoffrey Hayes shares this gentle tale of a child's early encounter with death.

FROM SARAH:

One of my best 2021 reads. This book, set in Atlanta during Reconstruction (post Civil War), features a heroine you will fall in love with and root for, an advice column that will steal your heart, and a story that will keep you turning pages. Recommended for ages 16+ for a bit of mature content (not so much explicit as implied). Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

By day, seventeen-year-old Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid for the cruel daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Atlanta. But by night, Jo moonlights as the pseudonymous author of a newspaper advice column for the genteel Southern lady, "Dear Miss Sweetie." When her column becomes wildly popular, she uses the power of the pen to address some of society's ills, but she's not prepared for the backlash that follows.

**Description from Amazon: Readers everywhere were transported by the 100 cupboard doors leading to 100 worlds of adventure in the bestselling 100 Cupboards series! Now, whether you're new to the series or can't wait to know where the cupboards came from, you’ll want to open the cupboard door to this action-packed fantasy w...

NARRATED BY: Pedro Pascal, BEST FOR AGES: 7+

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
When Abraham Lincoln became frustrated with the actions of James Shield, a political rival, he came up with a plan. It was silly. It was clever. And it was a great big mistake! Lincoln wrote a series of fictional letters to the editor, complaining about Shields.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Shakespeare’s “merry wives” are Mistress Ford and Mistress Page of the town of Windsor. The two play practical jokes on Mistress Ford’s jealous husband and a visiting knight, Sir John Falstaff.

Merry wives, jealous husbands, and predatory knights were common in a kind of play called “citizen comedy” or “city comedy.” In such plays, courtiers, gentlemen, or knights use social superiority to seduce citizens’ wives.

The Windsor wives, though, do not follow that pattern. Instead, Falstaff’s offer of himself as lover inspires their torment of him. Falstaff responds with the same linguistic facility that Shakespeare gives him in the history plays in which he appears, making him the “hero” of the play for many audiences.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In a tale explaining the naming of Italy's sweet bread "panettone"--Tony's bread--the reader is introduced to Angelo, a rich nobleman, Tony, a fame-seeking baker, his daughter Serafina, and the three "aunties" who make everybody's wishes become reality.

FROM SARAH:

Mo Willems' humorous and heartwarming story about trying new things, featuring the lovable Elephant and Piggie. These books are perfect for early readers!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Elephants Cannot Dance! Piggie tries to teach Gerald some new moves. But will Gerald teach Piggie something even more important?

FROM SARAH:

A Mexican Cinderella, told by none other than Tomie dePaola. Delightful, start to finish.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Hace mucho tiempo—a long time ago—there lived a beautiful young woman named Adelita. So begins the age-old tale of a kindhearted young woman, her jealous stepmother, two hateful stepsisters, and a young man in search of a wife. The young man, Javier, falls madly in love with beautiful Adelita, but she disappears from his fiesta at midnight, leaving him with only one clue to her hidden identity: a beautiful rebozo—shawl. With the rebozo in place of a glass slipper, this favorite fairy tale takes a delightful twist. Tomie dePaola's exquisite paintings, filled with the folk art of Mexico, make this a Cinderella story like no other.

**Description from Amazon: Who has the most power to stop and prevent bullying? Teachers? Parents? The Principal of the Universe? No, no, and no way! When it comes to changing bullying behavior, nobody has more power than upstanders—all the people who see bullying or know it’s happening . . . and decide to do something ab...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Sing a Song of Seasons is a lavishly illustrated collection of 366 nature poems — one for every day of the year. Filled with familiar favorites and new discoveries written by a wide variety of poets, including William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, John Updike, Langston Hughes, N. M. Bodecker, Okamoto Kanoko, and many more, this is the perfect book for children (and grown-ups!) to share at the beginning or the end of the day.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ’s not happy about it. Today, he’s wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don’t have a car like his other friends. But it’s Nana who opens young CJ’s eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them—the spirit of the bustling city, the music in everyday life, and the magic of their often overlooked neighbors.

FROM SARAH:

I'm willing to bet you'll learn a little something new while reading this with your kids! Displays the power of strong-minded women and their expertise both in the kitchen and in the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This stunning picture book looks into the life of Georgia Gilmore, a hidden figure of history who played a critical role in the civil rights movement and used her passion for baking to help the Montgomery Bus Boycott achieve its goal.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Everyone agrees that reading is important, but kids today tend to lose interest in reading before adolescence. In Raising Kids Who Read, bestselling author and psychology professor Daniel T. Willingham explains this phenomenon and provides practical solutions for engendering a love of reading that lasts into adulthood.

FROM SARAH:

Barbara Cooney called this her hymn to Maine. It's one of her sadder books, but also partly autobiographical. Pair a reading of this with Because Barbara: Barbara Cooney Paints Her World.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The youngest and quietest of 12 children, Matthias grew closest to Tibbets Island, learning its secrets through the years. And though in later years he sailed to faraway places, he always returned to the island he loved.

FROM SARAH:

I think this is probably my favorite Eric Carle book of all. Try reading it when your child (or you) is a bit on the grouchy side... and see if it doesn't lighten the mood. "Wanna fight?"

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ladybug is little, but he still knows how to use fighting words! I found myself reading this book to my own little ones over and over again. Especially wonderful if you like to use character voices.

FROM SARAH:

I absolutely love this counting board book, perfect for toddlers. Not a specific "Thanksgiving" story, but a celebration of a shared meal, all the same.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A counting book that features an African-American family shopping for food, preparing dinner, and sitting down to eat. Lively read-aloud text paired with bright collage illustrations.

**Description from Amazon: A young boy asks his father questions about the moon and imagines flying there with his toy monkey.

FROM SARAH:

Elsa Beskow's classic illustration style is one that captured the heart of my children... and it's no wonder why! This small wintry book is a lovely addition to any home library.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Finally, the woods are blanketed in snow and Ollie sets off for a day of fun, where he meets cheerful Jack Frost and troublesome Mrs Thaw and visits King Winter's palace. Ollie has a wonderful time skiing, skating and having a huge snowball fight until it's time to go home. How long will Ollie's winter fun last before Mrs Thaw comes again? This is a delightful snowy story for young children about embracing seasonal change from Elsa Beskow, the Beatrix Potter of Sweden.

NARRATED BY: multiple

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 28 min

INCLUDES: The Biggest Bear, How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?, The Pig's Wedding, Possum Magic

FROM SARAH:

Explore the intricacies of a garden in this vibrant, lyrical book. What can you find in the dirt? How do the plants change as they grow?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

How does a garden grow? Follow along from seed to sprout to bud to flower as a garden blooms. Worms, ladybugs, millipedes, and more help a garden grow each season. Tim McCanna’s gorgeous, rhyming text, combined with Aimée Sicuro’s stunning illustrations make this charming picture book as informative as it is fun to read aloud.

**Description from Amazon: In this sequel to My Father's Dragon. Elmer and Boris's island hopping adventures continue.

Of especially naughty children it is sometimes said, "They must have been raised by wolves." The Incorrigible children actually were. Turning 16 is a bittersweet occasion for Miss Penelope Lumley: Her parents remain disappointingly absent, and her perfectly nice young playwright friend, Simon Harley...

FROM SARAH:

The classic short stories from the author/illustrator of Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal. I especially love reading aloud this book with my boys.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This collection of six tales follows Homer Price, resident of Centerburg, U.S.A. Follow Homer around town as he mans his uncle’s lunch counter (and his fancy new doughnut-making machine), builds radios and even catches a gang of robbers.

FROM SARAH:

Another delightful story about saints by Tomie dePaola, this one set in Italy during the Middle Ages. This is a book worth owning for your permanent collection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Offers the tale about two amazing twins, Benedict and Scholastica, and their experiences as children in northern Italy that influenced their great accomplishments in their adult lives.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Often rated as important as the Bible as a Christian document, this famous story of man's progress through life in search of salvation remains one of the most entertaining allegories of faith ever written. Set against realistic backdrops of town and country, the powerful drama of the pilgrim's trials and temptations follows him in his harrowing journey to the Celestial City.

2011 Reprint of 1938 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Ueland published two books during her life. The first was "If You Want to Write," first published in 1938. In this book, she shares her philosophies on writing and life in general....

**Description from Amazon: Euell Gibbons was one of the few people in this country to devote a considerable part of his life to the adventure of “living off the land.” He sought out wild plants all over North America and made them into delicious dishes. His book includes recipes for vegetable and casserole dishes, breads,...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2016!This heartwarming classic picture book by beloved children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown is beautifully re-illustrated for a contemporary audience by the critically acclaimed, award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson.

**Description from Amazon: Based on The Railway Series by the REV. W. AWDRY A is for All Aboard! Filled with fun photographs from the popular TV show, Shining Time Station, Thomas's ABC Book will delight children while teaching them the alphabet along the way.

**Description from Amazon: I Don't Have Your Eyes... but I have your way of looking at things. This begins beautifully illustrated and uplifting book that help to create the intimate parent/caregiver and child bond that is so important within a family. While others may notice the physical differences, there are so many ways w...

FROM SARAH:

Alan Jacobs is one of my very favorite nonfiction writers. I feel smarter after I've read them, and like my soul has been spiffed up, too. Don't miss my conversations with Alan Jacobs on the RAR Podcast: #145 The Importance of Reading at Whim and #163: A Reader's Guide to a More Tranquil Mind.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In recent years, cultural commentators have sounded the alarm about the dire state of reading in America. Americans are not reading enough, they say, or reading the right books, in the right way.
In this book, Baylor University Professor Alan Jacobs argues that, contrary to the doomsayers, reading is alive and well in America. And the best kind of reading of all is reading at whim.

FROM SARAH:

You know I love a good tale featuring storybook rodents, and this collection by Emily Bearn is among the best! Makes for a great read-aloud for a large age range.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This book will make you want to brew a pot of tea nad whip up some scones! Don't be intimidated by its size—it's surprisingly engaging for even very young listeners. Tumtum and Nutmeg are a pair of mice your kids won't easily forget.

NARRATED BY: Tom Stechschulte, BEST FOR AGES: 12+

FROM SARAH:

I learned so much about early movie-making by reading this delightful tale. Excellent for a historical read-aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A feisty girl from a family of ranchers lands a job as a daredevil stunt girl in the early days of silent film in this adventurous and funny cross between Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken and Ramona.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This is the long-awaited third volume in a trilogy of The Theological Virtues--faith, hope, and love--which began with THE WEIGHT OF A MASS, A Tale of Faith, and TAKE IT TO THE QUEEN, A Tale of Hope.

In this sequel to Caldecott Honor winner Strega Nona, “Big Anthony romps through a case of spring fever with an ill-gotten magic ring, against the architectural background and blue skies of la bella Italia.”--Booklist

FROM SARAH:

What's better than an Elephant and Piggie book? A bunch of them, put together!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Mo Willems, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, celebrates ten years of Elephant & Piggie in this special bind-up collection: Today I Will Fly!; Watch Me Throw the Ball!; Can I Play Too?; the award-winning Let's Go For a Drive!; and I Really Like Slop!

FROM SARAH:

One of our all-time favorite audiobooks and one of my most frequent recommendations. Just the right amount of thrill and suspense to keep you turning pages. Your kids will never look at an owl the same again! (Heads-up, if you've got a particularly sensitive kiddo, wait until about age 7 or 8 for this one.) Also wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The second in author Avi’s Tales of Dimwood Forest Series, this tale features a large cast of animal characters, including Poppy, a shy mouse and Mr. Ocax, a great-horned owl and the authority of the forest. As Poppy begins to question the unjust authority of their woodland world, she embarks on an adventurous tale and finds inner bravery.

FROM SARAH:

What do you get when you mix three brave siblings, a talking dog, an outerspace adventure and a faith-filled allegory? This series opener is a fantastic choice for kids who loved The Wingfeather Saga, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Green Ember. Recommended for readers 8 and up.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

To save the world from certain destruction, three siblings and their shapeshifting alien guide embark on an out-of-this-world adventure in search of an ancient, all-powerful weapon.

Thirty poems in praise of the joys of nature.

FROM SARAH:

The classic folk song with Peter Spier's wonderful illustrations. Includes sheet music and a full set of lyrics in the back.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This Caldecott Honor book from beloved illustrator Peter Spier is a spirited take on a classic American folk song.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Maybe you're a first-time novelist looking for practical guidance. Maybe you've already been published, but your latest effort is stuck in mid-list limbo. Whatever the case may be, author and literary agent Donald Maass can show you how to take your prose to the next level and write a breakout novel - one that rises out of obscurity and hits the best-seller lists.

FROM SARAH:

This fascinating non-fiction picture book is perfect for young naturalists who are curious about the thousands of creatures who make the dangerous journey to the Arctic north every Spring. The gentle color palette and vivid text bring wonderful detail to the beauty and harshness of Arctic life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it attracts animals from every corner of the earth. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the resilient wildlife and barren, beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle, tracing the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"Superbly demonstrating the conception of factorials in mathematics, the text and pictures combine to present a lesson in a palatable form as well as the pleasure of looking at pictures that only Mitsumasa Anno could invent." — Publishers Weekly"

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A board book edition of the best-selling story features thermographic pages and a raised spider web children can feel for themselves, which complement the book's colorful collages and easy, rhythmic text.

**Description from Amazon: They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. B...

FROM SARAH:

I love a good picture book fable, and nobody does this better than Jan Brett! This is a delightful snowy story you could read aloud again and again.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Aloo-ki glances up from fishing and sees her sled dogs floating off on an ice floe, she races after them. She comes upon an igloo with no one home and goes inside. Turns out the polar bear family who lives there is out walking while their breakfast cools off. Aloo-ki eats some soup, tries on their boots, and finally crawls into the smallest bed for a nap. Meanwhile, Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear see her dogs adrift, swim out to rescue them and return home to find Aloo-ki fast asleep in Baby Bear's bed.

**Description from Amazon: In this third and final installment of the classic My Father's Dragon trilogy, Boris, the baby dragon, is excited to be heading home to Blueland and looks forward to reuniting with his family.

**Description from Amazon: A Green Ember story set during Heather and Picket's arrival at Cloud Mountain, The Last Archer follows the journey of Jo Shanks. Jo is a gifted archer with a burden on his back and a fire within. Eager to see the Longtreaders receive justice, he travels from his Halfwind Citadel home to a Cloud Moun...

FROM SARAH:

The illustrations in this book are stunning, and the story is told from an American Indian perspective, emphasizing environmental care and responsibility. It would pair well with The Buffalo Are Back (by the same author/illustrator team).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A lyrical creation tale of the Florida Everglades with stunning landscapes by Wendell Minor.