Meet Rebecca (American Girls Collection: Rebecca 1914). by Jacqueline Green. American Girl, 2009. 96 pgs. Ages 8-up. Candlelight for Rebecca (American Girl) by Jacqueline Green. American Girl, 2009. 96 pgs. Ages 8-up. I had the great pleasure of discussing these two books with my six-year-old daughter yesterday. We both enjoyed them very much. As I’ve [...]
The Secret Lives of Animals
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. HarperCollins, 2012, 304 pages. Age/interest level: 8-up. Last week, a little bluebird appeared in our wood stove. The stove was not fired up, of course: at this time of year it’s an iron box about 18” square with a sooty floor and a glass door. My husband [...]
Thinking Different(ly)
I’m way behind on my Saturday reviews, so it’s time to catch up—with a Tuesday review tagging off of last Friday’s Steve Jobs post. Jobs was known more for his insights than his inventions—he never really invented anything, but he could see how new technology could be adapted to new uses. “Think Different” was one [...]
Weekly Web Newberys
We aren’t the only ones writing thought-provoking, content-rich analysis on kids’ books. We also really appreciate finding free books, and keeping up with important developments in the field….So we thought you might appreciate a post every week (or couple of weeks), with links to some of the recent best writing and most helpful posts. Kinda [...]
Bible Reading Challenge – Week 18
THE NATION: RUTH Happy Mother’s Day! This week’s Bible Reading Challenge is actually appropriate for the Mother’s Day–as long as we include mothers-in-law. How do you understand the book of Ruth? As a great love story? As a treasure chest of worthwhile life lessons? As a welcome break after the chaotic book of Judges? It’s all that, but a [...]
Mother’s Day: Our Interview with Susan Hunt
Last Thanksgiving, Janie and I had the privilege of speaking with Susan Hunt on the subject of encouraging thankfulness in kids…and in ourselves! We thought this Mother’s Day was a good time to reflect back on that conversation, since it touches on spiritual mothering. For those of you who don’t know Susan Hunt, you’re in [...]
Steve Jobs: American success story?
Steve Jobs: Thinking Differently, by Patricia Lakin. Aladdin (Simon & Shuster), 2012, Age/interest level: 10-14. Who Was Steve Jobs? by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso, illustrated by John O’Brien. Grosset & Dunlap, 2012, 105 pages. Age/interest level: 8-12. “I started thinking that maybe Thomas Edison did a lot more to improve the world than Karl [...]
A Death Observed, Part Two
In April, I began this series of reflections on my mother’s death. A few weeks before she went to be with the Lord, I received a little blue booklet called Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience (The Dying Experience) by Barbara Karness. I found it very helpful–brief and to the point, written with compassion–and [...]
Bunnies For Hire
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny, translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Schwartz & Wade, 2012, 248 pages. Age/interest level: 8-12. Madeline is a very resourceful young lady, especially for going-on-eleven, but even she is flummoxed when her parents are kidnapped by what appears to be a [...]
Summer Book Fun
Looking for fun, educational things to do with your kids this summer? Here are a few book-related ideas: Book Vacations Do It Yourself Book Tours: From Laura Ingalls Wilder’s homestead to New York City books like The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, this article in Family Fun magazine has some great ideas [...]
Bible Reading Challenge, Week 17
THE NATION: FAILURE! Remember that promise the people made to Joshua after his farewell speech: “We will serve the Lord”? Well, they did, sort of. The problem was, they thought it would be okay to serve other gods too. It wasn’t okay, as we’ll see this week. The book of Judges spans about 400 years, [...]
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Picture Books on Death (You’ll Never See)
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Graduation Gifts for Teens
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Real or Not Real? The Hunger Games Movie is Good For Teens….
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American Girls
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Interview with Avengers Illustrator, Sergio Cariello
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Emily: I appreciate these suggestions very much. I actua...
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Connie: In the fiction category, how about The Last Battle...
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Betsy: We really enjoyed Balloons over Broadway--I saw th...
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A Children’s Guide to Pilgrim’s Progress
