The Poppy Lady

Have you ever received a handmade tissue-paper poppy in exchange for a donation to the American Legion outside of a store on Memorial or Veteran’s Day? Have you ever stopped to wonder, “Where did that practice come from?” The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans, by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, paintings by [...]

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Summer Fun Ahead: a Picture Book Tour

We have some big plans for the summer, which Emily will share tomorrow.  For today, here are some great picture books that tie in with some of the themes we’re going to explore.  Such as TRAVEL The Not-for-Parents Travel Book, Lonely Planet Publications, 2011, 207 pages.  Age/interest level: 6-up. Australians are probably the greatest travelers [...]

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Christian Romance: party of a well-balanced “book diet”?

A Balanced “Book Diet” Reading is like eating: you need a variety of wholesome ingredients, a little sugar, and a little moderation across the board. Sometimes you need to chew on a steak (mull over a “deep” text), and sometimes you just need some brain candy. Most of the time, though, you need a well-balanced [...]

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The Great American Novel: Is There Any Such Thing?

In 1868, after a grueling Civil War that defined America (by almost destroying it), the novelist and critic John DeForest wrote a piece for The Nation magazine titled, “The Great American Novel.”  Surveying the literary field of the time, he could find no likely candidate for such a title.  Washington Irving was too cautious, James [...]

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Hattie Ever After: A Review

Today, I’m happy to welcome our current intern, Hayley Schoeppler, again.  You guys may recall that she did a review of Mara, Daughter of the Nile for us in March.  Today, she takes a look at Hattie Ever After for us. Hattie Ever After, Kirby Larson.  Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2013.  240 pgs.  Ages [...]

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Summer Fun: Interns Needed

If you are a high school or college student, love literature and movies, and would like to impact the world for Christ, then we’re looking for you.  Redeemedreader is putting together a reading program for kids for the summer, and this fall, we’ll be covering book-to-movie stories like the Hunger Games and Ender’s Game, all [...]

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Steaming into Sunset: an Interview with Sherri Rinker

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (see our review here) hurled Sherri Rinker’s star into the picture-book firmament.  Accepted by the first publisher she submitted it to, the cheerful tale of five construction vehicles settling down for the night went on to become one of the top-selling picture books of 2011.  Now the same talented team (Sherri [...]

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Web Newberys, News and Freebies

News Booklists, a Summer Reading Challenge, and one of the funniest interviewees I’ve ever met…all coming up soon on Redeemedreader!  But for now, here are some of our favorite links this week. Freebies Spring Cleaning Paperback Book Giveaway: I can’t vouch for all these titles, but several are worth having, including Pibbin the Small for [...]

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Gifts for Grads: Our Picks

For a parent, there’s nothing scarier than sending a high school graduate out into the world—and in fact, the world looks pretty scary these days.  Not to mention confusing, even in matters that used to be taken for granted.  Up until about ten years ago, for instance, it was a given that high-school grads eyeing [...]

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And the winners are…

Volunteering to judge a poetry contest is simultaneously one of the best and the worst jobs I could have asked for. The best, because it is exciting to read so many wonderful entries from so many talented poets!  The worst because, well, although we really want to encourage everyone, we finally had to select winners. [...]

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Words for Life: Bibles for Teens and Graduates

In an earlier post I wrote about beginners “Bibles” and Bible storybooks.  That was followed up by a post on the methods and merits and of the most popular English translations, then Bibles for elementary-age readers.  Today, as we’re thinking about high-school graduations and college-bound sons and daughters, I’d like to look at Bibles aimed [...]

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