Reading Guides

cover of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Gladys Hunt on Re-issues: Good, Bad, and Ugly

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 21, 2023

A story betrayed Originally published on the Tumblon website January 29, 2010 It’s sometimes like wandering into unknown territory if you’ve had favorite books in ...

Gladys Hunt on Starred Reviews

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 14, 2023

Editor's Note: "Starred reviews" are a guideline for librarians figuring how to spend the budget for the children's section. (We take particular notice of them ...

Gladys Hunt on Personal Libraries

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 7, 2023

Editor's Note: As we head into the last month of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along, we share the late Gladys Hunt's further thoughts ...

Gladys Hunt on Stellar Historical Fiction

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 23, 2023

Editor's Note: We're wrapping up our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along with Chapter 19, on historical novels. Sarah, Plain and Tall Series Originally published ...

Gladys Hunt on Pop-up Books

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 16, 2023

Editor's Note: Pop-up books could be one of those "Fresh Ways to Read" we're considering in our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along this month. ...

Gladys Hunt on the Magical Tool of Language

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 9, 2023

The Power of Words Originally published on the Tumblon website, April 14, 2009 “If you know how to use words, you don’t have to be ...

Gladys Hunt on an Exaggerated Demise

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 3, 2023

Editor's Note: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated," wrote Mark Twain, in response to a mistaken obituary. Likewise the reports of the death ...

Gladys Hunt on Disappearing Mothers

By Janie Cheaney | May 19, 2023

Where are the Mothers? Originally published on the Tumbln website, April 8, 2009 Sometime when you are with people who like children’s books, try out ...

Gladys Hunt: In Praise of Mothers

By Janie Cheaney | May 12, 2023

Mothering Day Originally published on the Tumblon website, May 10, 2009 The British call it “Mothering Day”—the day they honor mothers. Adding that ing gives ...

Gladys Hunt on “Improving” the Classics

By Janie Cheaney | May 5, 2023

Editor's Note: Our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along this month takes us to Chapters 8 ("Who Influences Your Children?") and Chapter 21 ("Young Adult ...

Gladys Hunt on Getting Them to Sleep

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 29, 2023

Go to Sleep Books Originally posted on the Tumblr Website, June 23, 2009 A new mother told me that her baby received four copies of ...

Gladys Hunt on Developing a Sympathetic Heart

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 24, 2023

Editor's Note: This month's Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along looks at Chapter 23, "Nourishing Your Child's Spiritual Life." This must include a sympathetic heart ...

Gladys Hunt on Raising Readers

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 17, 2023

Editor's Note: "Literacy" begins long before a child can read for herself. Here, Gladys Hunt muses about how to take those first steps. How do ...

Gladys Hunt on Enjoying Poetry with Children

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 10, 2023

Editor's Note: This month we're reading the two chapters in Honey for a Child's Heart that address poetry. Do you enjoy poetry? Would you like ...

Gladys Hunt on Choosing Mother Goose

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 3, 2023

Editor's Note: It's a new month--meaning a new chapter in our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along. Or actually, two chapters: #5: "Poetry" and #22: ...

Gladys Hunt on Little Golden Books

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 30, 2022

Editor's Note: You may have to be of a certain age for Little Golden Books to tweak your memory, but there was a lot of ...

Gladys Hunt on Book-Gifting

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 9, 2022

Editor’s Note: We assume that most Redeemed Reader readers love books, and love to give them. But you may wonder, how can I choose for ...

Gladys Hunt on Literary Excellence

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 4, 2022

Editor's Note: This month, our "Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along" partners are thinking about Chapters 3, 13, and 14. The latter two chapters are ...

Gladys Hunt on Nursery Rhymes

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 21, 2022

Editor's Note: Our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along readers are thinking about Chapter 15: "First Books for Readers." Beginning readers should be primed with ...

Gladys Hunt on Recognizing the Good

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 14, 2022

Editor's Note: In our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along this month, we're considering Chapter 15: "First Books for Readers." Settle in for some good ...

Gladys Hunt on the Very Earliest Readers

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 30, 2022

Editor's Note: In our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along this month, we're looking at four chapters, including Chapter 12: "A Child's First Books." What ...

Gladys Hunt on Longing for Home

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 23, 2022

Editor's Note: Four years ago, Redeemed Reader obtained the rights to republish several original blogs by the late Gladys Hunt, author of the classic children's ...

Home Library Management: Weed out the M.U.S.T.Y. titles!

By Megan Saben | Sep 21, 2022

NOTE: This post is an expansion of the previous post, "Analyzing the Situation." If you feel like the MUSTY acronym is helpful for you or ...

*Watership Down by Richard Adams

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 7, 2022

Richard Adams' classic tale employs noble themes of vision, courage, and sacrifice among some of the most humble and ordinary of animals in their quest ...

2022 Newbery Buzz #4: Fallout

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 17, 2022

Our annual Newbery Buzz Series is a series we run each January in which we discuss books with "Newbery Buzz." That is, books we've heard ...

2022 Newbery Buzz #3: Gone to the Woods

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 14, 2022

Today Betsy and Janie will take a closer look at Gone to the Woods, a memoir by prolific author Gary Paulsen. Paulsen has been a ...

2022 Newbery Buzz #2: The One Thing You’d Save

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 11, 2022

We've begun our annual Newbery Buzz Series: a series we run each January in which we discuss books with "Newbery Buzz." No one knows which ...

2022 Newbery Buzz #1: The Beatryce Prophecy

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 7, 2022

It's time for our annual Newbery Buzz Series: a series we run each January in which we discuss books with "Newbery Buzz." That is, books ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Eli Evans from Exodus Books

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 8, 2021

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

*Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies by Marilyn McEntyre

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 23, 2021

Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies makes readers think through how to be better stewards of words. *Caring for Words in a Culture ...

Summer Reading is Here!

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 10, 2021

We've been planning Faith & Fortitude, our 2021 summer reading program, for months, and it's finally here! We officially begin on Monday, June 14th--that's this ...

2021 Summer Reading: Faith & Fortitude Is Here!

By Betsy Farquhar | May 17, 2021

2021 Summer Reading Theme We're very excited about the 2021 summer reading theme: Faith & Fortitude: the EPIC Story of God's People. Why? We're big ...

2021 Newbery Buzz #6: Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 22, 2021

We wrap up our Newbery Buzz series for this year with a discussion of Echo Mountain a historical novel set during the Great Depression. Joining ...

2021 Newbery Buzz #5: Stamped by Jason Reynolds.

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 18, 2021

Continuing our discussion of possible Newbery winners, we pick up a book that has everybody talking: Janie: Betsy, there are two books that I think ...

2021 Newbery Buzz #4: Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 15, 2021

We've been scanning the starred review lists and listening in on the chatter to tell you about the likely Newbery contenders for this year. So ...

2021 Newbery Buzz #1: King and the Dragonflies

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 1, 2021

Betsy: Readers, we’re kicking off our annual Newbery Buzz discussion series with a book that has already garnered a major award: King and the Dragonflies, ...

Have You Seen the Redeemed Reader Quarterly?

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 9, 2020

Remember the days of full-color, glossy-paged print magazines that would arrive in your mailbox every month? Recall that pleasant sensation of opening up the latest ...

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson: A Discussion

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 10, 2020

Sometimes, we just have to "discuss" a book instead of merely write a review of it. Come eavesdrop as Betsy and Megan discuss Adorning the ...

Protected: Hope on the Horizon Purchase Confirmation

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 27, 2020

Welcome Aboard! We're delighted you are setting sail with us this summer as we journey towards Hope on the Horizon. Enter the relevant information in ...

2020 Newbery Buzz #5: Look Both Ways

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 22, 2020

Since his first novel was published in 2014, Jason Reynolds has been on an upward trajectory—deservedly so, for the most part. He was just named ...

2020 Newbery Buzz #4: My Jasper June and Pay Attention, Carter Jones

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 21, 2020

The American Library Association Youth Media awards will be announced in two weeks, and you can be sure the conversation is hot and heavy among ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 16, 2020

Continuing our roundup of possible contender for the 2020 Newbery Medal All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker. Viking, 320 pages. Olympia’s artist ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 9, 2020

Every year at this time, children's book websites brim with speculation about what books will win or place in the American Library Association's Youth Media ...

Calling All Readers: Annual Reading Challenge Info!

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 21, 2019

Did you take the Annual Redeemed Reader Reading Challenge in 2019? Which level? Bakers Dozen with 13 books? Quarterback Challenge at 25? Did you read ...

Announcing: The Pilgrim’s Progress Guide from Redeemed Reader!

By Janie Cheaney | May 25, 2019

Over the years, we at Redeemed Reader have been dedicated followers of John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. Though written to address the conflicts of ...

Bible Review: CSB Defend Your Faith

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 20, 2019

The Defend Your Faith Bible equips middle graders for apologetics with arguments for the reasonableness and accuracy of the scriptures. CSB Defend Your Faith Bible: ...

Bible Review: CSB Study Bible for Girls (and Boys)

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 19, 2019

Though more of a devotional Bible than a study Bible, this edition offers thought-provoking questions and application features. CSB Study Bible for Girls. Baker, 2018, ...

Bible Review: the Stampede of “Creative” Bibles

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 15, 2019

A coloring Bible may make a lovely gift for the right recipient, but is it the best choice for reading and studying? The appearance of ...

Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship, Week 3: Let’s Discuss!

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 20, 2019

Ladies, are you enjoying your chosen books for our Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship read-along? Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship Discussion, Week 3 If you’ve purchased the official ...

Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship, Week 2: Let’s Discuss!

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 14, 2019

Ladies, are you enjoying your chosen books for our Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship read-along? Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship Discussion, Week 2 If you've purchased the ...

Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship Week 1: Let’s Discuss!

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 5, 2019

Ladies, are you enjoying your chosen books for our Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship read-along? Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship Discussion, Week 1 If you've purchased the ...

Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship Read-Along Details

By Betsy Farquhar | Feb 21, 2019

Our Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship Read-Along is just around the corner. We know lots of you are excited about this, and we are, too! If ...

Faith, Fiction, & Fellowship: A Read Along for Girls Ages 10-100

By Betsy Farquhar | Feb 6, 2019

It's time to reclaim "Women's History Month" (March). How about "Women in the Church Month," complete with deep conversation about our shared faith, discussion about ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #7: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 23, 2019

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies is a truly beautiful work of art, isn’t it, Megan? For readers who haven’t seen this gem yet, the book chronicles ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #6: Cardboard Kingdom

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 22, 2019

Cardboard Kingdom (Knopf, 2018) bounced to the top of the book-review radar the moment it was released, and soon after tallied an impressive 5 starred ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #5: The Parker Inheritance

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 18, 2019

The Parker Inheritance, the latest by Varian Johnson, is a different sort of book from his light-hearted, fun middle grades heist novels (see The Great ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #4: The Faithful Spy

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 15, 2019

Janie and Megan talk over one of the most impressive books we read this year: The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoffer and the Plot to Kill ...

Missionary Biographies and Prayer: Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 14, 2019

The Biographies and Discussion Questions To start our year off for the Love Your Neighbor Book Club, everyone read a missionary biography of their ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #3: Sweep by Jonathan Auxier

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 11, 2019

Janie, Hayley, and Betsy team up to (virtually) discuss Sweep by Jonathan Auxier: does it have what it takes to win a Newbery? We discuss themes, ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #2: The Book of Boy

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 10, 2019

Janie: The Book of Boy is one of the more unusual middle-grade novels to appear this year. The main character is (not surprisingly) Boy, a ...

2019 Newbery Buzz #1: The Season of Styx Malone

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 3, 2019

It’s that time again! Children’s book titles are pouring into every librarians’ website as the kidlit community speculates on who will win Newbery gold this ...

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street: the Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 15, 2018

December is such a wildly busy month: Christmas concerts and recitals and school performances and parties. Travel plans and/or welcoming extended family into your home. ...

Tangerine: Love Your Neighbor Book Club Edition

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 10, 2018

To date this school year, our Love Your Neighbor Book Club has read Save Me a Seat and A Long Walk to Water, both of ...

"Hurray for Re-Issues!" by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 1, 2018

A tribute to classic picture books, recently re-issued. In the last few years publishers have been reissuing picture books that are delightful offerings from some ...

"Never Underestimate a Gift Book" by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 29, 2018

We're nearing the end of this fantastic series by Gladys Hunt. If you're just checking in, please do check out The Hive for a list ...

“Look for Illustrators” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 25, 2018

We're up to the sixteenth in our series of posts by Gladys Hunt, author of Honey for a Child's Heart. In this one, she shares ...

“Sarah, Plain and Tall Series” by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 22, 2018

We've got another post from Gladys Hunt for you today about a series beloved to many. For the other posts in this series, please check ...

“On Your Next Trip to the Library” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 18, 2018

In the fourteenth of our series of previously-unpublished posts, Gladys Hunt makes a list of her most-favorite recent picture books to check out at the ...

"Words That Build People" by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 15, 2018

Gladys Hunt gently reminds us that our words make a big impact on our children; let us use words that build up instead of tear down. This ...

“Watch Your Expletives!” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 11, 2018

In the twelfth in our series of previously-unpublished posts, Gladys Hunt cautions about "those words" our kids pick up at school, at play--and increasingly in ...

“Second Guessing the Message” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 4, 2018

In the tenth of our previously-unpublished posts by Gladys Hunt, she begins a series on the value of language by reflecting on nonverbal communication. Years ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 1, 2018

Gladys Hunt shares some tips for encouraging early literacy in young children in this latest post. For more in our Gladys Hunt series, see The Hive. ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 29, 2018

Readers, it's almost October! Let me pour myself some Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. (You can have your pumpkin spice lattes!) Are you ...

“Boys and Books” by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 27, 2018

This latest in our Gladys Hunt series, which we affectionately call The Hive, looks at the types of books boys enjoy and muses over why so ...

“Born to Read” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 24, 2018

Gladys Hunt reflects on the importance of reading in a child's life and shares some of her favorite books for encouraging kids to read. This is ...

“Reading Intentionally” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 20, 2018

Gladys Hunt recommends reading aloud not just a a way of bonding with family but as a way of making and keeping friends. This is ...

“A Good Book is a Magic Gateway” by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 17, 2018

This latest in our Gladys Hunt series, which we affectionately call The Hive, looks at the possibilities inherent in book discussions and how books can ...

Redeemed Readers, Rejoice!

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 14, 2018

Announcing a valuable resource for our fellow "Redeemed Readers," and anyone with an interest in quality children's literature. Hard as it is to believe, this ...

“Building a Child’s Personal Library” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 13, 2018

How do you know which books you just have to own? In her fourth post of our series, Gladys Hunt offers tips on recognizing "the ...

Books and Stories: Reflections by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 10, 2018

Readers, we are beyond thrilled to bring you some of Gladys Hunt's last writing on books! See The Hive for more information on this opportunity. ...

“Make Your Own Life Bigger” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 5, 2018

According to Gladys Hunt, developing an appreciation for the public library in your child begins with YOU. This is the second in our series of ...

“The Mystery of the Library” by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 3, 2018

Readers, we are beyond thrilled to bring you some of Gladys Hunt's last writing on books! See The Hive for more information on this opportunity. ...

The Hive: A List of Resources from Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 31, 2018

Readers, if you haven't seen the "why" and "how" behind this amazing list of resources, be sure to check out The Continuing Legacy of Gladys ...

The Continuing Legacy of Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 31, 2018

Announcing a series of NEW posts from Gladys Hunt, author of Honey for a Child's Heart and Honey for a Teen's Heart. Several months ago, ...

The Love Your Neighbor Book Club: Its Beginnings

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 27, 2018

Love God. Love your neighbor. Those, in brief, are the two greatest commandments, the commandments that sum up all the Law and the Prophets. And one ...

2018 Newbery Buzz #2: Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 18, 2018

We're back for our second Newbery Buzz discussion of 2019. Last week, Hayley and Janie discussed Tumble and Blue. This week, Hayley and I (Betsy) discuss Orphan ...

2018 Newbery Buzz #1: Tumble & Blue by Cassie Beasley

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 12, 2018

It’s that time of year again! The American Library Association Youth Media Awards will be announced on Monday, Feb. 12, including the coveted Newbery Medal. ...

2018 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens (with printable!)

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 19, 2017

The 2018 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens Our 2018 Reading Challenge for Kids and Teens is back and better than ever! We’ve changed it ...

The Literary Nightstand

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 8, 2017

The Literary Nightstand: Our Professional Reading The Literary Nightstand is a peek into what's on our professional nightstands. Most of us here at Redeemed Reader ...

Portrait of a Reader: The Adventurer

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 13, 2017

Portrait of a Reader is a new feature in which we try to "unpack" a particular kind of reader. The portraits will overlap; most people will ...

Bird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 4 (and an exciting giveaway!)

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 29, 2017

Okay readers, this is it: yesterday I sent out the three final chapters and those of you who have been clamoring for "one more chapter, ...

Bird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 2 (and another great giveaway!)

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 15, 2017

By chapters 8-13, we’re well into the development part of the novel, which (you may recall) I mentioned is the often the most difficult part ...

The Bird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 1 (and book giveaway!)

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 8, 2017

At last count, thirty families and individuals (and a few classes) have signed up to receive daily chapters of my latest in-progress novel. (If you ...

Project Bird Boy: Launch! (with one free download)

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 1, 2017

To be fair, doubts about Roy Ray Rappaport were perfectly understandable. Except for bats, winged mammals are so rare they're assumed to be myths. Even ...

The Bird Boy Project: Liftoff! (and spectacular giveaways)

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 25, 2017

One week from today, we’re starting a unique opportunity for young readers (ages 8-12) and their parents, teachers, and/or older siblings. A fuller explanation can ...

Announcing: The Bird Boy Project!

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 18, 2017

If you’ve been following Redeemed Reader for the last few years, you may remember some of the read-alongs we’ve done, such as The Hobbit, Pilgrim’s ...

Wisdom & Wonder Giveaway Winners!

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 11, 2017

We hope everyone enjoyed our summer of Wisdom & Wonder! Everyone who subscribed to the special Wisdom & Wonder newsletter received an entry into our ...

Wisdom & Wonder Week 6: Generosity and Love in Literature

By Betsy Farquhar | Jul 26, 2017

Betsy: It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of our Wisdom & Wonder Summer Reading Challenge! On a personal level, this has been a ...

Wisdom & Wonder Week 6 Booklist

By Betsy Farquhar | Jul 24, 2017

Our last Wisdom & Wonder Booklist to help you wrap up your summer! You'll see a couple of repeats from earlier in the summer as ...

Week 6 : God So Loved, He Gave

By Hayley Morell | Jul 24, 2017

Introduction This summer reading challenge has flown by! Can you believe it’s Week 6 already? (Granted, we did take a week off for the Fourth ...