FROM SARAH:

I've always been a sucker for Raffi's music, and I sang his songs endlessly to my children when they were young. This is a fun (and weird) board book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Singing supports and encourages even the youngest child's speech and listening skills, which makes Down by the Bay perfect for early learning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Ted Kooser and rising talent Jon Klassen comes a poignant tale of loss, change, and nature's quiet triumph.

**Description from Amazon: Looking for Waldo's twenty-fifth anniversary? Search no more. the time has come and we’ re celebrating our favorite wanderer in style!For a quarter of a century, the bespectacled Waldo has held a place as a beloved cultural icon. Now, in honor of his anniversary, Candlewick is reissuing the classi...

**Description from Amazon: You may never have heard of a lightship. Once, lightships anchored on waters across America, on the oceans and in the Great Lakes, floating where lighthouses could not be built. Smaller than most ships, but more steadfast, too, they held their spots, through calm and storm, to guide sailors towar...

FROM SARAH:

For anyone who thinks you can never have too many leafy friends, this darling picture book is an ode to all growing things. Young readers will fall in love with Leif’s gentle spirit, while adults will appreciate the story’s reminder that every act of care—no matter how small—can make the world a little brighter.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A boy’s green thumb grows wild in this playful debut picture book about the merriment and mishaps of collecting houseplants.

FROM SARAH:

One of my favorite reads of 2019. We even talked to the author in RAR Premium's Mama Book Club!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A vibrant, imaginative read, this book pulls back the curtain to illuminate Madeleine L'Engle's creative journey, her persevering faith, and the inspiring, often unexpected ways these two forces converged.

**Description from Amazon: The companion to the Newbery Honor winnerWhere the Mountain Meets the Moon and the National Book Award finalist When the Sea Turned to SilverThe moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice! Rendi has run away from home and is now working as ...

**Description from Amazon: Published in time for the 150th anniversary of her birth, this story stars a young Beatrix Potter, creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many other classic children’s books.   Master of the historical fiction picture book, Hopkinson takes readers back to Victorian England and the home of buddi...

NARRATED BY: Meryl Streep

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 14 min

**Description from Amazon: Barbara Park’s New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing—and reading—for more than twenty years. Over 60 million copies in print and now with a bright new look for a new generation!   Meet the World’s Funniest ...

**Description from Amazon: This book contains several HTML tables of contents.The first table of contents (at the very beginning of the ebook) lists the titles of all novels included in this volume. By clicking on one of those titles you will be redirected to the beginning of that work, where you'll find a new TOC that lists ...

FROM SARAH:

This picture book biography tells the story of Katherine Johnson, including her childhood and her mission with Apollo 13. Delightful!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe.

FROM SARAH:

With plenty of humor and historical detail woven into every page, readers will experience the wonders and challenges of Rome through the eyes of a brave young girl in this illustrated chapter book. Heads up that this story has some mature themes, so I'd recommend it for readers ten and up.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Iliona never imagined that her sea voyage from Greece to Egypt would lead to Rome, but when she is captured by pirates and auctioned off as a slave, that’s where she lands. Readers are invited to view the wonders of Rome through Iliona’s eyes—the luxury, the excess, and the politics.

FROM SARAH:

When three sibling bears break mama's beautiful blue seashell, there's only one thing to do: go on an adventure to find her a new one. This is one of my new favorites, but it can be hard to come by, even though it's not very old. Alas! See if your library has it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Three bear siblings break their mother’s favorite blue seashell, and rather than tell her, they decide to set out in their sailboat to find her a new one. On their quest they encounter salty sailors, strange new islands, huge whales, and vast seas but no blue seashells. When a treacherous storm suddenly blows in, the three bears find themselves tossed about in their little boat, far from Mama. What will become of their search, and what will it take to bring them safely home?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Written by the son of a career officer, this book explores the branches of the Armed Services and speaks from the heart about the honor, privileges and sacrifices of military families everywhere. Children will discover why drill sergeants have to be so tough, what it means to be patriotic and why we need Special Forces such as the Navy SEALS, the Green Berets and the Army Rangers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Nine-year-old Grace Thomas is always thinking up big ideas, like starting a business with her friends over the summer! When her mom announces a trip to Paris instead, Grace gets on board, but it quickly seems as if none of her plans are working out the way she'd hoped. She and her French cousin aren't getting along, and Grace's friends back home have started a business without her. Can she find the courage to stay open to new ideas and turn the summer around?

**Description from Amazon: “Esolen signals with this book his presence in the top rank of authors of cultural criticism.” —American SpectatorPlay dates, soccer practice, day care, political correctness, drudgery without facts, television, video games, constant supervision, endless distractions: these and other insidious...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Mouse and her friends want to play tug-of-war, but they'll need to use some everyday math to figure out how to make teams that are equal. As Mouse looks at various solutions she is not sure what it means to be equal. Nothing works until Mouse starts to think about it mathematically and divides the teams based on weight. Wonderful illustrations capture Mouse and her animal friends from whiskers to tails as they work to measure and equalize their teams based on size, weight, and effort.

FROM SARAH:

Best for ages 12+, this intense and fast-paced series will keep your young reader turning pages. I find myself often recommending them to boys, especially. (Fun fact: the editor of this series, Michael Green, is the editor of many of our books at Waxwing!)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice.

**Description from Amazon: Read this sweet New York Times bestselling series from the author of If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Mouse a Brownie, and other beloved books. The Jellybeans are ready for an art adventure when Bitsy enlists the other girls to help her paint a mural at their ...

In this verse novel, you'll meet Há, a girl whose family flees Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon. Her experience as a young immigrant to America is touching and poignant—and it's a quick read, which makes it a perfect choice if you're short on time.

FROM SARAH:
Another delightful story from D.E. Stevenson's series about Miss Buncle. Wonderful on audio.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Much has changed in Wandlebury since Barbara Buncle (now Barbara Abbott) first moved to the charming English village. If nothing else, World War II is keeping things interesting. But as the mistress of her own home with two small children to look after, Barbara finds that she has distressingly little time to keep up with the goings-on of her friends and neighbors.

Luckily, Barbara's niece, Jerry Abbott, is more than willing to keep tabs on the news in Wandlebury. And with juicy tidbits of gossip about everything from inconvenient romantic entanglements to German spies hiding in the woods, there is plenty to keep the two Mrs. Abbotts busy in this hilarious account of life in World War II England

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

There’s a strong biblical connection between people and trees. They both come from dirt. They’re both told to bear fruit. In fact, arboreal language is so often applied to humans that it’s easy to miss, whether we're talking about family trees, passing along our seed, cutting someone off like a branch, being rooted to a place, or bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It’s hard to deny that trees mean something, theologically speaking.

This book is in many ways a memoir, but it’s also an attempt to wake up the reader to the glory of God shining through his creation.

FROM SARAH:

A rollicking picture book that follows a soba noodle deliveryman through the streets of Tokyo! This book is all kinds of fun, and the real pictures of soba deliverymen on the endpages are not to be missed.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When the deliverymen set off in the morning, the children wait for the flicker of pedal and wheel. It's the demae-- delivery men-- setting off to deliver steaming trays of noodles to hungry customers all over the city. They are acrobats: whizzing past other bicycles, soaring around curves, avoiding the black smoke of motorcycles. When the children see them, they want to be them. And so they practice with bowls of wobbling water stacked on trays. The day passes, and, finally, exhausted, the demae return home, to their families, and, yes, to steaming bowls of noodles.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Martha is frustrated because Mum has said she's too old to be playing on the moors now, and she must have a governess.First there's Miss Norrie. All she must to do is teach Martha sewing and etiquette.

**Description from Amazon: From iconic award-winning and NY Times bestselling children's author of more than 350 books, Jane Yolen, and award-winning illustrator, Bob Marstall, On Bird Hill is a wonderful new picture book created in collaboration with the esteemed Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the world authority on birds. On B...

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:

It's Halloween and Louie is determined to be with Amy, Roberto and Archie from his old neighborhood--if only in his imagination.

FROM SARAH:

Redwall Abbey is a quiet and peaceful place, just as the mice like it. But an evil one-eyed rat wants ownership of the abbey. An unlikely hero emerges in this action packed tale, which might be a good pick for fans of The Green Ember. Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The question in this first volume is resoundingly clear: What can the peace-loving mice of Redwall Abbey do to defend themselves against Cluny the Scourge and his battle-seasoned army of rats?

FROM SARAH:

Nine-year-old Ruth works to overcome her temper in this book about God’s love and mercy set at the scenic Tanglewood property. (First in a series.)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ruth and her beloved brother Philip find solace in the expanse of the Tanglewoods' property. There they escape into bird watching, climbing, and general misadventures with their friend Terry.

FROM SARAH:

Wordy Birdy returns in this sequel—equally as funny as the first! A perfect read-aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Wordy Birdy and her pals are back, in a hilarious new story with a truly ridiculous villain—from beloved author Tammi Sauer.Wordy Birdy and her pals are heading on a camping trip, and our favorite chatty bird is all ready for a big night under the stars.

FROM SARAH:

This one is full of surprises! Your kids can get to know both the author and the illustrator in the Author Access replays in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find . . . nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary — and finding it in a manner you’d never expect.

Also available on audiobook (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Princess Cora is sick of boring lessons. She’s sick of running in circles around the dungeon gym. She’s sick, sick, sick of taking three baths a day. And her parents won’t let her have a dog. But when she writes to her fairy godmother for help, she doesn’t expect that help to come in the form of a crocodile—a crocodile who does not behave properly. With perfectly paced dry comedy, children’s book luminaries Laura Amy Schlitz and Brian Floca send Princess Cora on a delightful outdoor adventure — climbing trees! getting dirty! having fun! — while her alter ego wreaks utter havoc inside the castle, obliging one pair of royal helicopter parents to reconsider their ways.

FROM SARAH:

A powerful story of determination and perseverance, Elena’s Story is perfect for older siblings who might feel prickly about helping out with littles, and for any kiddo who has struggled to learn to read. This story offers us a glimpse of life in rural Guatemala and allows us to learn a little bit about what it’s like to be a kid in another part of the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Elena lives near a small town in western Guatemala. She lives there with her mother, her younger brother, Luis, and her baby sister, Ana. Her father is far away, working on a plantation. Elena struggles to keep up in school. Her teacher says she needs to practice her reading, but it's hard to find time to read. She must help her mother with the cooking and housework, as well as the hard work of planting and weeding their garden. As the big sister Elena is also in charge of watching over Luis to keep him out of mischief. It isn't always easy and she gets impatient with her little brother.

**Description from Amazon: Maria's wish burns as brightly as a star. Maria longs to be an astronomer and imagines all the strange worlds she can travel to by looking though her papa's telescope. One night Maria gets her chance to look through the telescope. For the first time, she sees the night sky stretching endlessly abov...

FROM SARAH:

I love this audio edition so much that I think it might become real. This one is perfect for cozy afternoons and long car rides thinking about all the things we love most.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

First published in 1922, Margery Williams' enchanting story about a toy rabbit is a classic of children's literature. This gentle rendition comes alive through Meryl Streep's soothing narration and George Winston's beautiful music score. Ages four and up.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Award-winning writer, historian, and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou is a true American icon. Twenty-five of her finest poems capture a range of emotions and experiences, from the playful “Harlem Hopscotch” to the prideful “Me and My Work” to the soul-stirring “Still I Rise.” Award-winning artist Jerome Lagarrigue masterfully illustrates each verse.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Dolssa is an upper-crust city girl who's been branded a heretic, on the run from the friar who condemned her mother to death by fire and wants Dolssa executed, too. Botille is a matchmaker and a tavern keeper, struggling to keep herself and her sisters on the right side of the law in their seaside town. When their lives collide by a dark riverside, Botille rescues a dying Dolssa and conceals her in the tavern, where an unlikely friendship blooms.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Continuing the case for free voluntary reading set out in the book's 1993 first edition, this new, updated, and much-looked-for second edition explores new research done on the topic in the last ten years as well as looking anew at some of the original research reviewed. Krashen also explores research surrounding the role of school and public libraries and the research indicating the necessity of a print-rich environment that provides light reading (comics, teen romances, magazines) as well as the best in literature to assist in educating children to read with understanding and in second language acquisition.

FROM SARAH:

I don't know why it is, but I just can't get enough of wintry books with sleep bears and small woodland friends. I especially love Will Hillenbrand's adorable illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

It’s time for Big Bear to hibernate, so Old Man Winter keeps telling him: “Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep.” But Big Bear doesn’t hear very well. He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can’t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear’s attention. Cozy illustrations rendered in pencil and mixed media by Will Hillenbrand bring this bedtime story to a fitting conclusion.

**Description from Amazon: The Borrowers—the Clock family: Homily, Pod, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Arrietty, to be precise—are tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an old English country manor. All their minuscule home furnishings, from postage stamp paintings to champagne cork chairs, are “bo...

"The sense of immediacy is irresistible and will cause children who consider the event just ancient history to feel as if they too had left footprints on that distant, dusty surface."—School Library JournalOnly July 29, 1969, as Americans sat glued to their televisions and radios, Neil Armstrong a...

FROM SARAH:

I just adore the illustrations by Beth Krommes in this lovely invitation to look for patterns in nature.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A Caldecott medalist and a Newbery Honor-winning poet celebrate the beauty and value of spirals. What makes the tiny snail shell so beautiful? Why does that shape occur in nature over and over again—in rushing rivers, in a flower bud, even inside your ear?

With simplicity and grace, Joyce Sidman's poetry paired with Beth Krommes's scratchboard illustrations not only reveal the many spirals in nature—from fiddleheads to elephant tusks, from crashing waves to spiraling galaxies—but also celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.

FROM SARAH:

A fantastic retelling of the myths of Jason and the Argonauts, this compilation of stories is one of the best! I'd recommend it for readers 10 and up since it has some mature themes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Enter a world where harpies torment mortals, the Argonaut Orpheus sings, the mighty god Zeus wages war on the Titans, and Prometheus steals fire. Author Padraic Colum weaves the tales of Jason and his Argonauts with classic Greek mythology to create this captivating epic about life, war, and astounding beings who lived in a time long past. Poetically written and wonderful for reading aloud, this collection of ancient stories will captivate modern readers.

**Description from Amazon: Famed adult fiction writers team up with their children and grandchildren to create a collection of thirteen creepy and scary stories

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Lilla and Papa enjoy spending magical times in Lilla’s sunflower patch. Before Papa leaves for a trip that will take him far away from home for a long time, Lilla gives him a sunflower seed. To remember me, Papa,” Lilla whispers. Seasons pass, and Lilla’s mood falls like autumn leaves.

** Description from Amazon: Six years ago, twelve-year-old Marius lost his mother during the birth of his brother, Jean-Pierre, and her dying wish was that he watch over his brother. But because Jean-Pierre was born on Christmas Eve, villagers believe he is marked with the curse of the loup garou—the werewolf. Protecting Jea...

**Description from Amazon: 1942 Newbery Honor Title The period measured by the life of George Washington 1732 to 1799 was one of revolution and change in many parts of the world as Enlightenment thinking took hold in the minds of men. When George was a young man, Benjamin Franklin was the most well-known American, Louis XV w...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ten-year-old Brendan Buckley is a self-declared scientist: asking questions and looking for answers, but most of all struggling against the overprotective behavior of his parents. Up until now, he has never even met his grandfather—the grandfather his mother won’t even speak of.

FROM SARAH:

A spinoff Peter Pan tale that is hard to put down and packed with adventure. If you've got a boy in your life who says he hates reading, try reading aloud the first couple of chapters and see what happens.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

 Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. A fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk inits cargo hold, and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger.

FROM SARAH:

The delightful lyrical text in each of these books will have you singing them to yourself all day long! A favorite for many families!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This sweet hardcover collection features four complete books from the bestselling If You Give... series, as well as tons of fun recipes, songs, and activities for kids and parents to enjoy.

FROM SARAH:

This book blew me away, and I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks afterward. Inspiring and encouraging. A secular book with the fingerprints of Jesus all over it. I probably wouldn't hand this one to under-18's.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Shakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates thought she had seen it all. That is, until she decided to teach Shakespeare in a place the bard had never been before — supermax solitary confinement. In this unwelcoming place is Larry, a convicted murderer with several escape attempts under his belt and a brilliantly agile mind on his shoulders.

FROM SARAH:

Anything by Jan Brett is worth owning, and this is no exception!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The classic tale of a town mouse and a country mouse takes on a new dimension in the imaginative and talented hands of Jan Brett.

FROM SARAH:

This is the story of what happens when a package is lost... and found. And what could be found along with it! It reminded me of the behind-the-scenes tour of the postal service on Mister Rogers Neighborhood (remember that?), but with Jessica Lanan's sweet illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Like other packages, this one began as an empty box. It was packed with great care, sealed tight, and given a personal touch.

Like other packages, it left the post office with hope. But unlike most packages, before it got to its destination...

it

got

lost.

**Description from Amazon: The first book in the Rose Years series, the story of the spirited daughter of the author of the beloved Little House series.Meet Rose Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter, and the last of the Little House girls.Rose and her parents, Laura and Almanzo, say good-bye to Ma and Pa Ingalls and Laura'...

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.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ranger, the time-traveling golden retriever, is back for the second book in Kate Messner's new chapter book series. This time, he's off to save the day in ancient Rome!

Ranger is a golden retriever who has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog. In this adventure, Ranger travels to the Colosseum in ancient Rome, where there are gladiator fights and wild animal hunts! Ranger befriends Marcus, a young boy Ranger saves from a runaway lion, and Quintus, a new volunteer gladiator who must prove himself in the arena. Can Ranger help Marcus and Quintus escape the brutal world of the Colosseum?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Meet Imogene Tripp, a plucky girl with a passion for history. As a baby, her first words were “Four score and seven years ago.” In preschool, she finger-painted a map of the Oregon Trail.