by Carolyn | Classics, Girls, Middle-grade, Older Elementary
I know I might make some enemies with this review, but I have to tell it like I see it. Or, in this case, read it. I was told this was a classic. I’m inclined to like older books, and I had seen Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh on multiple book lists. I will...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Book Lists, Education, Nature, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Preschool
The ocean is a beautiful and fascinating place for children and adults alike. And there are an amazing number of wonderful books about the ocean that any child would love. I’ve picked a handful of ocean themed books for preschoolers in today’s post....
by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Classics, Girls, Imagination, Older Elementary, Read Alouds
We listened to Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary as an audiobook, and let’s just say I was enchanted along with my kids by this story. Emily Bartlett lives on a farm in a small Oregon town in the 1920’s. She longs for a library, like the...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Book Lists, Education, Nonfiction, Older Elementary, Picture Books
A while ago I posted a review of King of the Birds (which I loved). It got me to wondering what other great books about birds I could find. I found some great picture books about birds! My kids and I loved each of these picture books about birds! Read them for fun or...
by Carolyn | Biography, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Movies, Older Elementary, Read Alouds
Several years ago, when my older kids were four and six, I decided to read The Invention of Hugo Cabret to them. My husband and I had just seen the movie, so I was pretty excited about the book. I put it on hold at the library and waited patiently. I was expecting a...
by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Bible, Character Training, Free, Older Elementary, Preschool
*When my older kids were probably 3 and 5, I came across these extraordinary audio Bible stories. They are told by a lady named Joelee Chamberlain. She speaks with a gentle, grandmotherly voice. She talks right to her listeners, and I found my kids responding out loud...
by Carolyn | Adventure, For fun, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Older Elementary, Steampunk
Is All the Wrong Questions by Lemony Snicket a good series? Yes. But that’s the wrong question. What you should be asking is, “Does my child like mysterious books that don’t take themselves too seriously?” I’ve read the first two books in...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Boys, Girls, Imagination, Older Elementary, Poetry, Read Alouds
It’s easy to neglect reading our kids poetry. But poetry can give our children an appreciation for words, rhythms, sounds and meaning like nothing else. Poems show you the world with a new view. They can be endearing, funny, or breathtaking; the best poems...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Character Training, Imagination, Older Elementary
I was recently asked this question: “What one book most inspired you as a child?” I thought back to all my favorite childhood books. The Trumpet of the Swan was the first book I remember falling in love with. It was the first book to make me realize I...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Boys, Education, Older Elementary, Picture Books
Do you have a child who can’t get enough facts about animals or nature? That’s my son. Getting him interested in reading a chapter book can be tricky, but he has a magnetic ability to find books with animal facts and pictures. These aren’t always my...
