Introduction There are very few modern books that I see as really significant. But I see the Kai’ Ro series–an urban interpretation of Pilgrim’s Progress–by youth minister, Judah Ben, as one of those series that may actually help change the landscape of Christian publishing. How you ask? His book brings the Christian rap movement–a kind [...]
We’re rounding out our Poetry Month coverage with three books for middle-graders: Gone Fishing: a Novel in Verse, by Tamera Will Wissinger, illustrated by Matthew Cordell. Houghton Mifflin, 2013, 120 pages. Age/interest level: 6-up. The night before, Sam and his dad hunted night crawlers: Grass slick/ Worms thick/ tiptoe near and grab them quick. (Tercet [...]
God is a God of words and pictures. He has revealed Himself to us through words in Scripture and visually in creation, and made us in his image to reflect his beauty both ways. Some folks love words, some are gifted in pictures, a few are talented at both, and others excel through other means [...]
The False Prince (2012) and The Runaway King (2013), by Jennifer A. Nielson. Scholastic, about 350 pages each. Age/interest level: 10-up. When we first encounter the orphan known as Sage, he’s running full-tilt with a cleaver-waving butcher at his back and a stolen beef roast clutched in his arms. It seemed like a good idea [...]
A good poetry anthology is like going to a friend’s house with a basket, and being told, “Oh, you must read this one, and this one, and THIS one is my favorite!” as the bounty overflows. Going to another friend’s house with another basket will introduce you to some of the same treasures, but different ones [...]
Arthur Conan Doyle published the first Sherlock Holmes story in a British periodical in 1887, to moderate interest. Three novels and fifty-odd short stories later, the great detective’s creator killed him off in order to devote more time to other writing projects. But by then he had become beloved of high and low alike, and [...]
This post should have gone up during March Madness, but even if the NCAA tournament is over this weekend, the NBA has few months to run. And we have new basketball books, from the history of the game to the joy of playing! H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination, by Christopher Meyer. Edgemont, 2012, [...]
It’s a great honor for me to be joining Redeemed Reader! The only thing more fun than reading a great book is sharing it with someone else, so to start off, here’s a collection suitable for April Fool’s Day. Trickster tales are known in almost every culture, with many variations and retellings. The book of [...]
We thought we’d kick off our new partnership with Megan and Betsy with a few Easter book recommendations. (If you missed their introduction, read about them here and here.) I will qualify this list by saying just because a book is on our list, that doesn’t mean we love everything about it. In fact, we [...]
These three books have nothing in common except their general category and the fact that the first two won honors in the ALA Youth Media awards for nonfiction this year. The fact that both Titanic and Moonbird won in two age categories–middle-grade readers and young adults–makes me wonder if there’s not that much quality nonfiction [...]
The Adventures of Achilles, by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden, illustrated by Carole Henaff. Barefoot Books, 2012, 96 pages. Age/interest level: 10-14. Our story begins with the King of the gods gazing down at the doings of earth creatures: “Zeus wiles away whole centuries watching the little figures scurrying to their deaths.” Besides, he had [...]
Around the World in 60 Days: Summer Reading Challenge for Kids
Sorting Out the Children’s Bible Market
Toddling into the Word: First Bible Storybooks and Early-Reader Bibles
Tricksters and Fools
Hail and Farewell: Maurice Sendak
Michelle L: We're stuck in a TLF in Hawaii for the duration o...
Elizabeth: We're always up for reading! Your list looks int...
Angela: Looking forward to participating in this summer's...
Leslie: We love to travel around the world through books! ...
Julie Plocher: Our kids are up for the challenge. To get them to...
Recent Comments