Posts by Megan Saben
Before Music: Where Instruments Come From by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Madison Safer
Before Music broadens the reader’s horizons on the origin and creativity of people who can’t help delighting in making interesting sounds and music.
Read More*Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
A glorious story of heroism in which a mother’s deep love for her children shines brightly.
Read MoreBright Star: The Story of Esther by Holly Mackle, illustrated by Marlena Sigman
Bright Star is a lively-written volume in Kaleidoscope’s series of Bible storybooks for elementary-age children that adds helpful context to the Scriptural account.
Read MoreWhy Your Church Nursery Needs a Library
The Lord has been challenging my reading skills and assumptions lately, both humbling and teaching me in the process. I had offered to teach a Sunday School class of two-year-olds, and keeping their interest isn’t easy. I had also been asked to read to the littles in our homeschool group once a week just before…
Read MoreThree books about Jesus: The Darkest Night/The Brightest Day, The Acrostic of Jesus, and Who is Jesus?
Three books from New Growth Press are helpful for teaching children who Jesus is and what he has done for us.
Read More*A Place for Peter by Elizabeth Yates
A Place for Peter is a good choice for boys who are avid readers and enjoy character-driven, literary coming-of-age stories
Read MoreLove in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Love in the Library offers a tender picture of humanity and the miracle of love, and hope in the midst of a Japanese internment camp.
Read MorePoetry on Earwigs (and Also Goats With Beaks)
My husband still teases me about my first poem, which has hitherto never been published. There once was a goatWho lived in a boatHe went to town every week, And to all he would not speak.But the funniest thing about himWas that he had a beak. By Megan E. VanderHart, age 8 (Taking a bow.)…
Read MoreBookish Gifts for Boys
What makes good gifts for book lovers besides more books (and infinite bookshelf space)? Here are some lovely things we’ve recently discovered for boys that would be perfect to wrap in brown paper and tie up with string.
Read MoreBookish Gifts for Girls
What makes good gifts for book lovers besides more books (and infinite bookshelf space)? Here are some lovely things we’ve recently discovered for girls that would be perfect to wrap in brown paper and tie up with string.
Read More*This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore
There aren’t many picture books about Thanksgiving; This is the Feast is one of the best. This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. HarperCollins, 2008. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8, Ages 8-10 This is the Feast describes the trials of the pilgrims from…
Read MoreHeaven and Nature Sing by Hannah Anderson
Heaven and Nature Sing is a collection of advent essays on the curse that sin imposed on nature and the grace that allows us to enjoy God’s glory while we anticipate our Redeemer’s return. Heaven and Nature Sing by Hannah Anderson. B&H Publishing, 2022. 166 pages. Reading Level: Teen/Adult Ages 16 and up Recommended For:…
Read MoreFun picture books for young listeners: How to Apologize, Not That Pet!, Sometimes Cake, and Mom, There’s a Bear at the Door
Four books featuring animals and young children are imaginative, instructive, and fun to read aloud to little ones. How to Apologize by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick 2021, 32 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 It would be easy to be didactic with a book like this, but…
Read MoreReformation Day Holiday Traditions
Inventing a Celebration I’ve never had much use for Halloween. We didn’t celebrate it when I was growing up, substituting other family fun that day, and now I am simply turned off by the ugliness of the decor. But give me a reason to celebrate, and I love inventing traditions! Most conveniently, Reformation Day also…
Read MoreTruth and Story
(Note: Betsy and I are indebted to Ethan Pettit, librarian and Children’s Literature professor from Covenant College, who enlightened us so much in seeing Christ in literature and taught us to discern Truth and Story.) “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…” Psalm 24:1 (ESV) This verse…
Read More*Baby Believer Board Books
Theologically solid Baby Believer series provides a beautiful way to introduce littles to Scripture and church doctrine. Baby Believer board books series by Danielle Hitchen, illustrated by Jessica Blanchard. Harvest Kids, various dates, unpaged. Reading Level: Board books, ages 0-4 Recommended For: Ages 0-4 My first introduction to Hitchen and Blanchard’s theologically solid series for…
Read MoreHome Library Management: Curating and Storing the Collection
A solution for managing your books before investing in more bookshelves. When the books overflow the shelves into piles on the floor, on every surface, and in bins under the beds, what’s a home librarian to do? Curate the collection Did you know that museums and library special collections own far more than they put…
Read MoreHome Library Management: Weed out the M.U.S.T.Y. titles!
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 you would like advice about what to do with the books you remove from your collection, then read on! If you feel like you have a handle on it, you…
Read MoreHome Library Management: Analyze the Situation
Home Library Management is a mini-series based on a presentation I originally gave to a homeschool group when I was a professional librarian years ago. These are updated thoughts based on my current experience as a home librarian surrounded by five boys and lots of books. I’d love to hear your thoughts as we walk through…
Read MoreHome Library Management: Where do I begin?
Home Library Management is a mini-series based on a presentation I originally gave to a homeschool group when I was a professional librarian years ago. These are updated thoughts based on my current experience as a home librarian surrounded by boys and overflowing bookshelves. I’d love to hear your thoughts as we walk through the library…
Read MoreHome Library Management: Heart Issues
Help! I have too many books! Is this a familiar concern? Of course you wouldn’t want to blame the books. An abundant home library is a good thing…isn’t it? Isn’t the problem really not having enough shelves? Like yours, my beloved bookshelves are painfully overflowing, and when our home library outgrows its boundaries, the shelves…
Read More*Tree Street Kids: Lions to the Rescue! and Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods
The Tree Street Kids series continues as Jack, Ellison, Roger, Ruthie and Midge develop new and better friendships, and also solve a mystery. Tree Street Kids series by Amanda Cleary Eastep, illustrated by Aedan Peterson: Lions to the Rescue! and Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods. Moody, 2022. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For:…
Read MorePicture books for and about school: *We the People, Pterodactyl Show and Tell, and My First Day
Three picture books are perfect for going back to school: We the People, Pterodactyl Show and Tell, and My First Day. *We the People: The Constitution of the United States by Peter Spier. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2014, 48 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8, ages 8-10 Every illustration…
Read MoreWonderfull: Ancient Psalms Ever New by Marty Machowski
Wonderfull is a guide to the Psalms that introduces young people to modeling their devotional life after that of the Psalmist.
Read More*Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López
A lively rhyming story about a generously overcrowded daladala on its way to the beach in a delightful read-aloud about siblings in Zanzibar.
Read MorePicture Book Round Up: The Big Wide Welcome, God Cares for Me, Love Is, Rice From Heaven, My Breakfast With Jesus
Three picture books remind young listeners to love people as Jesus loves, to show compassion for the sick, and provide an opportunity to see a familiar passage of Scripture in a new context. The Big Wide Welcome by Trillia Newbell and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. The Good Book Company, 2022. 32 pages Reading level: Picture…
Read MoreWhat do you have in your hand? Eight simple enrichments for homeschool or life in general
The truth is, Betsy and I are both busy moms. We always have greater aspirations that we can EVER accomplish, more so when we read blogs about how to enrich our children’s lives. How DO we find that tender balance between giving them plenty of time to play while expecting them to develop good habits…
Read MoreBrave and Bold by Marty Machowski
Brave and Bold draws on Machowski’s knowledge of Scripture and experience in the Army to firmly call young men to integrity and excellence. A wonderful gift for graduation or other occasions. Brave and Bold by Marty Machowski. New Growth Press, 2021. 128 pages. Reading Level: Teens, Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12 and up Machowski…
Read MoreMore Than a Story by Sally Michael
More Than a Story assumes that all of Scripture is written for instruction of all ages, and that both parents and children will benefit from a Bible story book that emphasizes. More Than a Story: Exploring the Message of the Bible With Children (Old Testament) by Sally Michael, illustrated by Fred Apps. Truth:78, 2020, 432…
Read MoreThe Velveteen Rabbit Turns 100: A Bunny Booklist
The Velveteen Rabbit turns 100 There was once a velveteen rabbit . . . Once upon a time, there were three little rabbits and their names were. . . In your head did you just hear “Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter? (If your head is like mine, it was probably with a nice British accent!)…
Read MoreA Jesus Easter by Barbara Reaoch
Explore the story of Easter with A Jesus Easter, a family devotional for Lent with interactive questions and journaling prompts. A Jesus Easter: Explore God’s Amazing Rescue Plan by Barbara Reaoch. The Good Book Company, 2022. 112 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: The Whole Family A journaling devotional invites the reader…
Read More*The World of Tumbleweed Thompson books by Glenn McCarty
Humorous and winsome, tales from the World of Tumbleweed Thompson will engage young fans of Tom Sawyer and Homer Price. Reading Level: Middle Grades, Ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty, illustrated by Joe Sutphin, 2018. 327 pages. Twelve-year-old Eugene Appleton is a lively storyteller,…
Read MoreRetreat Reflections (2022)
In which the Redeemed Reader team has a retreat after eight years, talks about books, eats wonderful food, talks about books, plans strategically, and talks about books and culture. Reunion Eight years ago the RR team members met in person for the first time (Emily Whitten, our co-founder, was part of that gathering, but she…
Read MoreValentine’s Day Picture Books: Valentine, Be Mine, The House of Love, and Ballad of Valentine
Three picture books about Valentine’s Day: Valentine, Be Mine is practical, The House of Love invites the reader to anticipate a party at home with a big family, and Ballad of Valentine is so tender and sweet…do sing it to the tune of Clementine, if you can. The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson, illustrated…
Read More2022 Geisel Roundup: Fox at Night, Nothing Fits a Dinosaur, I Hop, and Beak and Ally
The 2022 Geisel Award: One Winner and Three Honors The results for the 2022 Geisel Award are IN! The Geisel Award is given to books for beginning readers in honor of Dr. Seuss. This year, the Geisel Award committee selected three honors in addition to the winner. Fox at Night by Corey R. Tabor. Balzer…
Read MoreNonfiction about Nature
Reptiles Everywhere, Bruno the Beekeeper, A World of Plants, and Fungarium offer plenty of fascinating information about the natural world.
Read More*The Double Dangerous Book for Boys
The Double Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn, Arthur, and Cameron Iggulden is a clean, engaging, fascinating, and robust book for boys, just like the original. The Double Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn, Arthur, and Cameron Iggulden. William Morrow, 2019, 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Middle Grades, ages 12-15…
Read More*Honey for a Child’s Heart, 50th Anniversary edition
Honey for a Child’s Heart is a beautiful resource, a guide full of book lists, to have in your home library.
Read MorePicture books for boys (and girls) who love action and humor
A reader-inspired hunt for a roundup of favorite picture books for boys and girls who love action and humor A reader asks: “What I continue to look for is stories of a grand scale but at a 4-5 year old level. So many kids’ books feel too… soft and cuddly, I’d have to say. My…
Read More3 recent picture books for Advent and Christmas
Looking for picture books for advent or Christmas to share with your own littles or give as a gift? Here are some to consider. A Night of Great Joy by Mary Engelbreit. Zonderkidz, 2020. Board book. Reading Level: Board Book, ages 0-4Recommended for: ages 0-4 A very child-friendly pageant presents the story of the nativity.…
Read More‘Twas the Season of Advent
‘Twas the Season of Advent is an advent devotional for littles that hearkens back to the classic poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” but focuses on anticipating the coming of Christ. ‘Twas the Season of Advent by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova. Zonderkidz, 2021, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for:…
Read MorePicture Books on different times and places: Thukpa for All, How I Learned Geography, Come On, Rain!, and Kamishibai Man
ukpa for All, How I Learned Geography, Come On, Rain!, and Kamishibai Man, offer new perspectives on different times and places.
Read More*Little Hearts, Prepare Him Room by Holly Mackle
Little Hearts, Prepare Him Roomby Holly Mackle is a simple Advent devotional with deep theology, suitable for a variety of ages. Little Hearts, Prepare Him Room by Holly Mackle. CDM Discipleship, 2019. 74 pages. Reading Level: Ages 8-10Recommended For: Ages 0-10 Little Hearts Prepare Him Room recognizes that many well-intentioned attempts to sit down and…
Read MoreThe Expected One and The Risen One by Scott James
There is much to anticipate in both Christmas and Easter, but the Story is much bigger than the significant events, as Scott James demonstrates in a pair of devotional books. *The Expected One by Scott James. B&H Publishing, 2021. 121 pages. *The Risen One by Scott James. B&H Publishing, 2021. 121 pages. Reading Level: Adults…
Read MoreSomething Better Coming: The life of a new author
In which Megan’s books arrive and she and her boys have fun with them, and why the books will not be sold through Amazon. The long-awaited arrival of 2000 copies. The fort built out of books. (My boys wish I had ordered an extra thousand copies and wondered if the boxes would make good airsoft…
Read More*Little Pilgrim’s Progress
The greatest allegory of the Christian life, retold for younger children, is significantly improved with masterful illustrations.
Read MorePicture Book Roundup: Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel Music
The Night Walk, The Rescuer of Tiny Creatures, and The Lost Package focus on simple pleasures and everyday services we take for granted.
Read MoreStealing Home: Jackie Robinson against the odds
Stealing Home: Jackie Robinson Against the Odds by Robert Burleigh. Simon & Schuster, 2007. 32 pages. Reading level: Picture books, ages 4-8, ages 8-10Recommended for: Ages 4-8, ages 8-10 “I need a player with guts enough not to fight back.” That’s what the Dodgers’ manager told Jackie at the start of his career. Jackie Robinson…
Read MoreA Cookie Story Tea
A cookie story tea is a great place to share my personally developed recipe for chocolate chip cookies. May these books enhance your pleasure in making and sharing them! Golden Key Members find a themed Story Tea printed in each copy of Redeemed Reader Quarterly. Have you tried any of them yet? Which is your…
Read MoreAre You Reading Under Law or Under Grace?
I have a fat file of booklists, recommended reading by people I respect who have read certain books I haven’t read yet, and I struggle with feeling inadequate because I haven’t checked off as many titles as they have. When I do read, I agonize. Should I read this title or that one? Why am…
Read MoreOrdinary Homeschooling: Reflections on just serving dinner
Resources we actually used Last summer in a post titled Just Serve Dinner, I shared some of the best resources we have enjoyed over the years, the ones that are an ongoing blessing to our family. Here are a few more that have pleasantly surprised me in how much I have enjoyed using them. I…
Read More*Tree Street Kids: Jack vs. the Tornado and The Hunt for Fang
Authentic characters and classic themes shine in a God-honoring series about Jack, his sister, friendship, and a great clubhouse. Tree Street Kids series by Amanda Cleary Eastep, illustrated by Aedan Peterson: Jack vs. the Tornado and The Hunt for Fang. Moody, 2021. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 8-12 Some…
Read MoreThe Best Pet of All and Bertha Takes a Drive
The Best Pet of All and Bertha Takes a Drive are picture books about boys and moms. In the first, a boy asks his mom for a dog. In the second, two boys take an unusual ride. The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama. Dutton, 2004, unpaged. Reading level: Picture…
Read MoreRecent Picture Books About Families
Milo Imagines the World, Outside Inside, and Off to See the Sea plunge readers into a child’s eye view of public places, pandemics, and bathtime
Read MoreOversize Nonfiction: Math, Anatomy, and Classification
Do you see order, beauty, and relationships in the world around you? Three recent oversized picture books require special shelving, but offer a feast for the mind. Anatomicum by Jennifer Z. Paxton. Big Picture Press, 2020. The Welcome to the Museum series is extraordinary, and Anatomicum is no exception. An elegant introduction to the extraordinary…
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: Ryan Flanders, illustrator of Something Better Coming
Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Our guest today is Ryan Flanders, illustrator of the forthcoming picture book written by Megan Saben titled Something Better Coming. Interview conducted by Megan. Getting to Know Ryan Flanders Brother, our families have enjoyed a lot of fellowship since you started coming to our church…
Read MoreWe missed you at the birthday party!
If you missed it, here’s a brief summary of a delightful conversation as well as the books mentioned by the team and inspiration from the friends who joined us.
Read More*See the Cat: Three stories about a dog
A dog on a rug is quite understandably aggravated by the narrative narrator through three very short stories for beginning readers. Brilliant, clever, and hilarious. See the Cat: Three stories about a dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick, 64 pages. Reading Level: Easy readers, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Last August,…
Read More2021 Newbery Buzz #3: Skunk and Badger
We’re continuing our annual “Newbery Buzz” series today with round #3 for 2021. (We have already discussed Chirp and King and the Dragonflies earlier this month.) As a reminder, we do not know which books the actual Newbery committee is seriously considering; we discuss books we’ve been hearing lots of “buzz” about in the children’s…
Read MoreAncient Romans, Alphamaniacs, and Incredible Jobs
Three critically-acclaimed picture books tackle big subjects like the size of the universe, the scope of humanity, and the power of words
Read MoreThree picture books for preschoolers: Catch That Chicken!, This, or That?, and What I Like Most
Three picture books that are ideal for sharing and snuggling with a little one. Catch that Chicken! by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank. Candlewick, 2020. Unpaged. Lami is not the best in the village at spelling or braiding hair, and she is not brave around the bulls, but she is the best chicken catcher and…
Read More*Beyonders Trilogy
Jason, an ordinary American boy, is summoned into a world that needs a hero. Original, highly imaginative, full of action and characters who are ready to give their lives for a worthy cause. The Beyonders Trilogy by Brandon Mull. Aladdin Books. (paperback) A World Without Heroes Seeds of Rebellion Chasing the Prophecy Reading Level: Teen/YA,…
Read MoreRoad Trip USA
The sensible way to plan a vacation would be to decide months in advance where you want to go and how you want to get there, make reservations, buy tickets, and put it on the calendar. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and sometimes you need a change of scenery anyway. Our family wanted…
Read MoreFour Good Books for Littles
Young children need Truth, and it’s never too early to begin. Board Books by Danielle Hitchen, illustrated by Jessica Blanchard. Baby Believer series. First Bible Basics: A counting primer An excellent God-centered, doctrinally solid, appealing introduction to the Bible and the Trinity. One God, two natures of Christ, three persons in the Trinity, four gospels…eight…
Read MoreOrdinary Homeschooling: Just serve dinner.
This is a dangerous post. If you’re like me, you’ll see the resources that our family has chosen and think “Ooh, THAT’s what I need to improve my life!” I can’t promise you that, any more than an instant pot cookbook will revolutionize your meal planning. But I can show you a few resources that…
Read MorePurple House Press: An interview with Jill Morgan
Purple House Press revives delightful out of print stories for a new generation. 1. What motivated you to start Purple House Press? Back in the 90s I sold out of print children’s books. My customers kept requesting the same books over and over even though they were hard to find. One of them was Mr.…
Read More*God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell and Catalina Echeverri
God’s design for diversity was beautiful from the beginning but marred by sin, requiring a Redeemer to rescue us from our mess. *God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. The Good Book for Children, 2017. 32 pages. Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 What are your favorite ideas in…
Read MoreLibrary’s Most Wanted
Libby intends to round up all the offending library users for crimes of mistreating library resources, but the cost of her vigilance is high. Library’s Most Wanted by Carolyn Leiloglou, illustrated by Sarah Pogue. Pelican, 2020, 32 pages. Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Libby loves helping her aunt in the library and…
Read MoreLois Lenski Books: A Sampling
Lois Lenski books continue to be enjoyable and insightful reading for all ages. Lois Lenski Books Yesterday I shared a long-overdue introduction to an author who has greatly influenced my life. Isn’t it funny how it happens? First, Mom read Puritan Adventure and Strawberry Girl aloud. Then, because most of Lenski’s regionals were housed in…
Read MoreLois Lenski
Who was Lois Lenski? Lois Lenski was a prolific author who lived from the end of the 19th-century long into the 20th. She was a Midwesterner, daughter of R.C.H. Lenski (a Lutheran minister whose commentaries were regularly mentioned from the pulpit by my non-Lutheran pastor), and a Newbery-award winner whose line drawings enhanced all of…
Read MoreI am NOT a Reader
I am not a reader. I am not a writer, despite childhood ambition. I am not a knitter, though I used to claim that identity. I am not a homeschooler, a baker, or a pianist. (There are other things I could wish I were: a gardener, a runner…but I am not.) A recent severe identity…
Read MoreThe Guaranteed, Irresistible, Effortless Introduction to Poetry for People Who Doubt That They Like It
If you or your children aren’t sure how to develop a taste for poetry, especially if you haven’t decided whether you ought to feel obligated to do so, I have a short, painless book list for you. Even if you can’t access a library right now, most of these would be available digitally. They would…
Read MoreCommunity in Staying Home and Dreaming of HOME
There’s a strange sense of community in reaching out while everyone is staying home. Because this pandemic is of great concern to the whole world, there is an unusual international obligation, giving us opportunities to love our neighbors without actually spending time together. Instead of being excluded from others’ activities, we’re sharing the burden of…
Read MoreA Literary Hospital Mission Field
Megan’s story of how a medical crisis opened up an unsuspected outreach.
Read More*Nya's Long Walk: A Step at a Time
Nya faces tough choices when her little sister falls ill near the remote water hole. Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Clarion 2019, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 What do you do when the little sister who accompanies…
Read MoreThe Night of His Birth
“Sing out, my soul, the wonder…” How marvelous the mystery of giving birth to the Son of God! What might have been the musings of His mother’s mind? The Night of His Birth by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Lisa Aisato. Flyaway Books, 2019, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8…
Read More5 Questions for a Book Giver’s Interview
If you like giving books for birthdays, Christmas, hygge, or any other reason, you may often be wondering: what would this child enjoy? We love giving and receiving books! Here are some questions to get you started, perhaps during family feasting and fellowship. 1. What is the best book you read this year? Take special…
Read MoreReformation Day Homemade Doughnuts
Homemade doughnuts are a delicious family tradition for celebrating Reformation Day or a hosting a Harvest Party. I am not a food blogger, so you won’t see a lot of photos detailing the process or gorgeous layouts of the results. My apologies. But these are VERY good, and have been served at every harvest party…
Read MoreHow to Really Celebrate Reformation Day
Reformation Day instead of Halloween? Great suggestions for making Reformation Day a festive family celebration of church history!
Read MoreSlugs and Bugs Easy Readers
Who Will Play With Me? by Randall Goodgame. Broadman & Holman, 2019. 57 pages. Are We Still Friends? by Randall Goodgame. Broadman & Holman, 2019. 57 pages. Based on the Slugs and Bugs show, this new easy reader series introduces two friends (an enduring theme for this reading level) who are very different, yet practice…
Read MoreThe Seven Worst Realities About Being a Bookworm
What are the hazards about being a bookworm? Read on!
Read MoreThe Delights of Childcraft, part 2
Yesterday I introduced a set of books that impressed me as a child, and I appreciate them more now as a parent and home educator. Here I describe the contents of the individual volumes so that you may consider adding a few more items to your collection. Volume 1: Poems of early childhood Beginning with…
Read MoreThe Delights of Childcraft, part 1
I remember the first book that taught me to love poetry as a child. “Antonio, Antonio,” by Laura E. Richards, was in the second volume of Childcraft, and it was so silly and delightful, it didn’t take me long to memorize it, even though it was a whole page long. Even better, the same author…
Read More*Urchin of the Riding Stars (Mistmantle Chronicles, book 1)
A conniving traitor who plots to overthrow the throne by dispatching one family member after another is threatened by a heroic young squirrel who drops out of the sky. *Urchin of the Riding Stars: Mistmantle Chronicles, Book One by M.I. McAllister. Purple House Press, 2021, 293 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for:…
Read MorePatriotic Book List for Independence Day
A patriotic book list full of biographies, stories, trivia, and more all about the American Revolution.
Read MoreWile E Coyote, Physical Science Genius
Find out why that poor coyote never actually catches the speedy roadrunner in these clever science books for young physicists. Wile E. Coyote, physical science genius (series) by Suzanne Slade and Mark Weakland. Capstone Press, 2014. Zap! Experiments with energy Splat: Experiments with states of matter Thud: Experiments with forces of motion Smash: Experiments with…
Read MorePilgrim’s Progress Roundup
When you are ready to introduce your family to a classic edition of Pilgrim’s Progress, two simplified versions complement each other beautifully, providing solid familiarity with this magnum opus, so that the original is more accessible when your children are ready. *Little Pilgrim’s Progress: From John Bunyan’s Classic by Helen L. Taylor. Moody Publishers, 2013,…
Read MoreShakespeare Fun and Frivolity
Shakespeare fans who have room on their shelves and a box of freshly sharpened colored pencils will find good application for both with three fun and frivolous titles to add to their collection. Pop-Up Shakespeare by The Reduced Shakespeare Company, Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor, illustrated by Jennie Maizels. Candlewick Press, 2017. 10 pages Now…
Read MoreThe Pilgrim’s Progress Movie
The movie version of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, which included some creative liberties, was faithful to the themes of the classic allegory and fueled a delightful family discussion about the differences between the book and the movie. Can a movie measure up? It can be difficult for me to watch a film version of a well-loved…
Read MoreKindred Retreat 2019 and a Fortitude Booklist
Megan was refreshed after a day of listening to three wise women at a one-day retreat…and she brought home another booklist. Note the fairy tale motifs: Three wise women giving counsel. A few weeks ago I drove three rainy wee morning hours to hear Cindy Rollins, Angelina Stanford, and Renee Mathis speak at the CiRCE…
Read MoreUnburying the Dream
How do you practice creativity, having been made in the image of God?
Read MoreLiteraritea: Classics and new favorites
Megan begins a series of Adventures in Reading to her five boys.
Read MoreFamily Literary Culture: Building rooms for the imagination with tradition, language and food
“Honey!” I called downstairs, “would you please bring me Thomas the Tank Engine?” My two-year-old wanted to sit on the potty, and we have a tradition in our family literary culture: The complete collection of Thomas the Tank Engine stories has been read aloud during toilet training since my eldest first sat on the porcelain…
Read MoreLast-Minute Must-Read Christmas Picture Books
I know, I know, there’s so little time left before the Day of Much Rejoicing and Celebration, but I’ve got two strong recommendations for Christmas picture books that are definitely worth the effort to track down. Silent Night Silent Night: The Song from Heaven by Linda Granfield, art by Nelly and Ernst Hofer. Tundra Books,…
Read MoreBooks for the Whole Year
The new year is a great time to begin something fresh, whether it is a new Bible-reading plan or a commitment to read a book a week. Here are a few suggestions you won’t want to miss, all of which would make great Christmas gifts. Bonus: each of these will last long beyond the short…
Read More*Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year
*Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year selected by Fiona Waters, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon. Nosy Crow, 2018, 333 pages Reading Level: Ages 10-12 Recommended for: All ages Falling in love with poetry happens one day at a time. You could work through a collection by a single…
Read MoreSaben Chai
UPDATE: Thanks to a comment from a thoughtful reader, I decided to try authentic assam tea instead of Lipton. There is no comparison, and no return to former ways! Now the concentrate is stronger, richer, and everyone is happy. We don’t often share recipes, but a hot beverage, or any form of tea, is such…
Read More*Adrian Simcox does NOT Have a Horse
Adrian insists that he has a horse, but Chloe argues the obvious facts until she learns to see through his eyes. *Campbell, Marcy. Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse. Ill. By Corinna Luyken. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Adrian Simcox has an imagination…
Read MoreSix Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille
What if God took the very instrument that caused your suffering and turned it into a tool of blessing for many? Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant, ill. by Boris Kulikov. Alfred A. Knopf, 2016. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 The warning of every parent…
Read MoreThe ABCs of Building Your Picture Book Collection
What, you thought you could just walk into a bookstore and buy a book? How do you determine whether or not a picture book is worthy, not only of your book budget, but also the limited bookshelf space in your home? A good picture book has universal appeal and is worth adding to your home…
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