Books

FROM SARAH:

This book comes from the author of Tuesdays at the Castle and the Castle Glower series. A delightful retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses.

Recommended for ages 13+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George's take on the Grimms' tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.

FROM SARAH:

You may know E .B. White best from Charlotte's Web or Stuart Little, but his delightful storytelling shines in this book, which beautifully describes both the natural world, and the nature of friendship. Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Like the rest of his family, Louis is a trumpeter swan. But unlike his four brothers and sisters, Louis can't trumpet joyfully. In fact, he can't even make a sound. And since he can't trumpet his love, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him.

FROM SARAH:

One of my tippy-top favorites on this list! Beautifully told with gorgeous illustrations, this is truly a book you want to look at longer than necessary. I love the factual information included on each page, as well, which can be read or skipped without disrupting the story. Highly recommended.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Gentle verse and sweeping, majestic artwork set imaginations soaring in a handsome and illuminating ode to the ancient art of falconry.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Animalium presents the animal kingdom in glorious detail with illustrations from Katie Scott, an unparalleled new talent.Welcome to the Museum is a series of books set on the "walls" of the printed page, showcasing the world’s finest collections of objects — from natural history to art.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture-book prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Gus lives in a big park in the middle of an even bigger city, and he spends his days with Ida. Ida is right there. Always. Then one sad day, Gus learns that Ida is very sick, and she isn’t going to get better. The friends help each other face the difficult news with whispers, sniffles, cuddles, and even laughs. Slowly Gus realizes that even after Ida is gone, she will still be with him—through the sounds of their city, and the memories that live in their favorite spots.

**Description from Amazon: "I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but I see you are unarmed." - William ShakespeareArm yourself with this volume from the Knickerbocker Classic series, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, including 16 comedies, 10 histories, 12 tragedies and all the poems and sonnets of the world's ...

**Description from Amazon: Book 2 in the Dragonwatch series War has come to the dragon sanctuaries of the world, and nowhere is the danger more intense than at Wyrmroost. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kendra and Seth, Celebrant, King of Dragons, prepares to unleash his fury and take control of his native preserve...

**Description from Amazon: Though she came from a wealthy and privileged family, Eleanor Roosevelt grew up in a cheerless household that left her lonely and shy. Years passed before Eleanor began to discover in herself the qualities of intelligence, compassion, and strength that made her a remarkable woman. In Eleanor, two-ti...

**Description from Amazon: The tenth book in Ralph Masiello’s popular drawing series shows budding artists how to illustrate quirky aliens from out of this world. Clear, linear steps in red outline how to draw the friendly Martians. Challenge steps in blue encourage adding extras to each masterpiece.

FROM SARAH:

If there is an author I never get tired of reading, it's C.S. Lewis. His books (fiction and nonfiction alike) always offer something new, every time you read them.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The classic Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis, the most important Christian writer of the 20th century, contains nine sermons delivered by Lewis during World War Two. The nine addresses in Weight of Glory offer guidance, inspiration, and a compassionate apologetic for the Christian faith during a time of great doubt.

What can you find in a poem about a robin's nest? Irene Latham masterfully discovers "nestlings" or smaller poems about an astonishing variety of subjects--emotions, wild animals, natural landmarks on all seven continents, even planets and constellations.

**Description from Amazon: A sketchbook is an essential tool for the growth of any aspiring artist, but its blank pages can be daunting to even the most motivated. Obsessed with perfection, many wind up treating their sketchbooks more like portfolios than playgrounds. In Drawing Is Magic, author John Hendrix teaches aspiring ...

FROM SARAH:

This book is clever! Our team met Ivan Brunetti at a library conference one, and he was a real gem (even helping Kortney find her lost phone!).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Annemarie and her clever classmates have to draw sets of twelve and use their imagination to come up with creative solutions. Young readers will delight in the counting game while learning the basics of multiplication. Star cartoonist Ivan Brunetti’s ingenious and fun-to-read comic turns everyone into a math whiz!

FROM SARAH:

If you knew that the most memorable parts of any experience are how it begins, how it ends, and the high/low in between, how would that impact your family life? Your vacations? Your homeschool day? These are the kinds of questions I started asking after reading The Power of Moments. Enjoyable and packed with interesting data.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This book delves into some fascinating mysteries of experience: Why we tend to remember the best or worst moment of an experience, as well as the last moment, and forget the rest. Why “we feel most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel most alive when they’re not.” And why our most cherished memories are clustered into a brief period during our youth.

**Description from Amazon: In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies.... In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Drago...

NARRATED BY: Jeff Woodman, BEST FOR AGES: 10+

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.

FROM SARAH:

Omu's delicious stew brings everyone in the story together in this award-winning picture book. I enjoy it any time of year, especially on a soup-making kind of day.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?

The popular Big Anthony tries once again to use Strega Nona’s magic with the usual hilarious and disastrous results. “Played for laughs-successfully.”--Booklist

FROM SARAH:

Another old standby worth adding to your permanent collection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The meanings of "up" are conveyed with merry verse and illustrations in a happy book that celebrates the joy of life.

FROM SARAH:

Such a fun book! A little girl travels the globe looking for the perfect ingredients to make an apple pie. Cute for geography or a unit study!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

An apple pie is easy to make...if the market is open. But if the market is closed, the world becomes your grocery store. This picture book takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients for a delicious apple pie. First hop a steamboat to Italy for the finest semolina wheat. Then hitch a ride to England and hijack a cow for the freshest possible milk. And, oh yes! Don't forget to go apple picking in Vermont!

FROM SARAH:

From the author of The Penderwicks series! Need I say more? 😉

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"This gem of a book will resonate with older siblings everywhere." --School Library Journal When Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
A mother living well in her God-ordained role is of great beauty and inestimable value to the future history of any generation. Her impact is irreplaceable and necessary to the spiritual formation of children who will be the adults of the next generation. Fun, comfort, humor, graciousness, spiritual passion, compassion for the lost, hospitality, chores, meals, training, life-giving words, hours and hours of listening and playing and praying and reading―all are parts of the mosaic of soul development.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
A sweeping mystery of love, jealousy, and betrayal, Death on the Nile is one of Christie’s most legendary and timeless works.

FROM SARAH:

I love a compelling non-fiction picture book that captivates readers from page one, and this remarkable story does not disappoint. Amanda Abler shares the dramatic rescue of a baby orca, separated from her pod by hundreds of miles, nursed back to health and released back into the wild. I’d recommend it for readers seven and up.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A compelling nonfiction picture book about the remarkable rescue of an orphaned orca calf, Springer (A73), whose story captured the hearts of whale lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

From the Publisher:

A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From bestselling author and illustrator Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, comes another classic tale about one very clumsy click beetle. A perfect gift to share with the child or grandchild in your life.

**Description from Amazon: Lois Lowry won her first Newbery Medal in 1994 for The Giver. Six years later, she ushered readers back into its mysterious but plausible future world in Gathering Blue to tell the story of Kira, orphaned, physically flawed, and left with an uncertain future. This second book in the Giver Quartet h...

FROM SARAH:

I wrote this book as a love note, of sorts, to the Read-Aloud Revival community. You'll find practical tips, inspiring stories, and booklists for every age. The audiobook won was nominated for an Audie Award! (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

USA Today Bestseller |  The stories we read--and the conversations we have about them--help shape family traditions, create lifelong memories, and become part of our legacy. Reading aloud not only has the power to change a family--it has the power to change the world. 

Poor rabbit! There's a frightening creature hiding inside his burrow! Rabbit's friends come to his aid. Who is the Giant Jumparee? And what if it doesn't leave Rabbit's home?

FROM SARAH:

Another classic from the woman who gave us Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. This is one you should buy for your permanent collection. Also makes a lovely baby shower gift.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.

NARRATED BY: multiple

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 35 min

INCLUDES: The Emperor's New Clothes, This Land is Your Land, The Mysterious Tadpole, The Hat

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It’s boys vs. girls when the noisiest, most talkative, and most competitive fifth graders in history challenge one another to see who can go longer without talking. Teachers and school administrators are in an uproar, until an innovative teacher sees how the kids’ experiment can provide a terrific and unique lesson in communication.

FROM SARAH:

The glorious story of St. Joan of Arc, told by Diane Stanley. Stanley's picture books tend to be on the longer side, so I like to recommend them for ages 8+, or for younger kids with an especially strong attention span.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Against the fascinating tapestry of France's history during the Hundred Years' War, Diane Stanley unfolds the story of the simple thirteen-year-old village girl who in just a few years would lead France to independence from English rule.

FROM SARAH:

This book of maps is a visual feast for readers of all ages, with lavishly drawn illustrations from the incomparable Mizielinskis. It features not only borders, cities, rivers, and peaks, but also places of historical and cultural interest, eminent personalities, iconic animals and plants, cultural events, and many more fascinating facts associated with every region of our planet.

FROM SARAH:

An absolutely stunning atlas with large pages and tons of detail that will keep your favorite geography buffs happy for hours.

FROM SARAH:

A tribute to the power of reading aloud, this thrilling novel is filled with unforgettable characters, daring escapes, and the haunting beauty of words. Inkheart is the first volume in The Inkworld Trilogy — a must-read for anyone who’s ever wished their favorite book could come to life. Heads up that there are a few instances of mild language, so I'd recommend this one for ages 12 and up.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
One cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART-- and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever.

Revisiting once again the world of Raymie Nightingale, two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo turns her focus to the tough-talking, inescapably tenderhearted Beverly.   Beverly put her foot down on the gas. They went faster still. This was what Beverly wanted — what she always wanted. To get ...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Jack meets Old Man Death coming towards his cottage, he realises at once what's up. "You're not taking my old mother!" he cries, and hits out at Death with his fists. With each punch, Death gets smaller and smaller, until Jack is able to squeeze him inside a hazelnut shell.

FROM SARAH:

Learn about the sanitation strike of 1968 from the perspective of a young girl in this award-winning picture book. Recommended for ages 8+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This picture book tells the story of a nine-year-old girl who in 1968 witnessed the Memphis sanitation strike - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final stand for justice before his assassination - when her father, a sanitation worker, participated in the protest. Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Booklist Editors' Choice, Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book, Booklist Top 10 Diverse Books for Middle Grade or Older Readers, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books.

FROM SARAH:

I gained a tremendous amount of wisdom from this highly readable book, and so did my oldest daughter. An ideal graduation gift. I'd recommend it for ages 14+, I tihink.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From one of the world’s most celebrated and admired public figures, a wise and intimate book on how to get the most of out life. Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight.

FROM SARAH:

This is a delightful middle-grade mystery set on the streets of Ancient Rome! Get a sneak peek into Roman ways of life and solve a page-turning puzzle all while getting to know a hilarious cast of characters. Head's up that there are a few references to slavery that could be important conversation-starters for your family.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.

**Description from Amazon: Learn about the five-eyed Opabinia and the Four-toed Horse. Speculate about the life of the Jamaican Long-tongued Bat. Discover the fate of the beautiful Quagga. But don't look for any dinosaurs in this book. There aren't any!Millions of creatures other than dinosaurs are now extinct. In true alphab...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A gift from a wizard makes Jack's fortune grow by ones and twos, then threes and fours, then faster and faster, challenging you to keep track of his riches.

**Description from Amazon: Published on the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, this biography explores the life of one of American history’s most controversial figures. A great deal of academic study has been published recently about John Brown. This is the first book for young readers to include the...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Go "outside," "elsewhere," and down the "rabbit hole" with this hilarious introduction to compound words. Young readers will fall in love with the English language as they watch star cartoonist Ivan Brunetti put his sly spin on vocabulary. The lesson here? Even "homework" is fun when you let yourself play with the words.

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:

Most of us don't want to think, Jacobs writes. Thinking is trouble. Thinking can force us out of familiar, comforting habits, and it can complicate our relationships with like-minded friends. Finally, thinking is slow, and that's a problem when our habits of consuming information (mostly online) leave us lost in the spin cycle of social media, partisan bickering, and confirmation bias. In this smart, endlessly entertaining book, Jacobs diagnoses the many forces that act on us to prevent thinking - forces that have only worsened in the age of Twitter, "alternative facts", and information overload - and he also dispels the many myths we hold about what it means to think well. (For example: It's impossible to "think for yourself".)

FROM SARAH:

You may know Brandon Mull from his Fablehaven series (and if you don't... you probably want to!), but this is another series my kids have devoured every book in! Best for ages 10+.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Welcome to the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream & Candy Shoppe, where the confections are a bit on the...unusual side. In this start to the series, four young friends--Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon--meet the grandmotherly Mrs. White, owner of the Sweet Tooth, and soon learn about the magical side effects of her candies: Rock candy that makes you weightless. Jawbreakers that make you unbreakable. Chocolate balls that make you a master of disguise.

FROM SARAH:  I was just blown away by this beautiful picture book. With earthy, stunning illustrations, you'll be taken through the changes, reflected seasonally, that a young girl experiences during a difficult move, and her subsequent budding friendship with her elderly neighbor. This one might make you cry!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Katherena and her mother move to a small town, Katherena feels lonely and out of place. But when she meets an elderly woman artist who lives next door, named Agnes—her world starts to change.

Katherena and Agnes share the same passions for arts and crafts, birds, and nature. But as the seasons change, can Katherna navigate the failing health of her new friend?

Award-winning author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships, shared passions, and spending time outdoors with the ones we love.

Tommy knows he wants to be an artist when he grows up. He can't wait to get to school and have real art lessons, so when he finds out that the art lessons are full of "rules", he is surprised and dismayed. Based on the true story of Tomie dePaola.

FROM SARAH:

This might have been Clara's favorite early reader to practice on. A Dr. Seuss classic that never gets old.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Three friends balance counting and fun in this silly Beginner Book by Dr. Seuss and illustrated by Roy McKie. When a lion, a dog, and a tiger meet up, they soon discover that they can each do different things while balancing apples on their heads.

FROM SARAH:

Nicki’s grandmother knits him a mitten that soon gets lost in the snow, but becomes a warm, expanding home for many animals. The preview drawings will enchant kids and help them guess what’s coming next!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this bestselling modern classic, a young boy’s lost mitten leads to a charming snowy adventure. Jan Brett’s beautiful retelling is a family favorite.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A novel of intense power and intrigue, Jane Eyre has dazzled generations of readers with its depiction of a woman's quest for freedom. Having grown up an orphan in the home of her cruel aunt and at a harsh charity school, Jane Eyre becomes an independent and spirited survivor-qualities that serve her well as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him whatever the consequences or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving her beloved?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this moving interpretation of the life and ministry of Jesus, John Hendrix brings to life the Biblical accounts of Jesus’s miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. From the feeding of the five thousand to walking on water, this is a story of faith told through Jesus’s miraculous deeds.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This magnificent treasury of more than one hundred of Jack Prelutsky's most celebrated verses, along with fifteen all-new poems, is a tribute to his gifts to children's literature over the past forty years. Lushly illustrated by rising star Brandon Dorman and featuring a CD with classic performances by the poet himself, it's the perfect volume for any poetry lover's bookshelf.

FROM SARAH:

Ordinary days are upside down in the Moffat family, because the four siblings are always up to something! This is the start of a delightful series, first published in 1941.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM SARAH:

A gentle read-aloud with sweet watercolor illustrations. Chicken admires Scarecrow's hat, which he'd swap if only he had a...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Chicken really admires Scarecrow's straw hat. Scarecrow would gladly trade his hat for a walking stick to rest his tired arms. Chicken doesn't have a walking stick to trade—but she knows someone who does.

FROM SARAH:

This illustrated chapter book reminds me of the “Hundred Acre Woods” if it was set in the Arctic. A sweet, curious polar bear, a bossy puffin, slightly vain musk ox, a shy caribou, and a host of other charming characters will make this a new family favorite.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making.