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Yvonne Child Of The Somme by Sara Rowell
Fascinating Yvonne Child Of The Somme by Sara Rowell is a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era. The reader becomes immersed into French life during the early part of the twentieth century. The author drops in on mother Marie’s life as a domestic servant in 1900 before following Yvonne’s life from 1901. Life for women […]
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*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 the Mayflower through the first winter, the friendship of the Native Americans (especially Squanto), and the bountiful harvest that led to feasting and celebration. Using the meter of “The House that Jack Built,” Shore skillfully weaves her narrative in rhyme. The illustrations are engaging and vividly reflect the text. There aren’t many picture books about…
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The Way of Birds: Duet and Feathers Together
Duet and Feathers Together present two notable bird species: the northern mockingbird and the white stork. Duet: Our Journey in Song with the Northern Mockingbird by Phillip Hoose. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2022, 125 pages plus notes and index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 8-15 If you’ve ever heard a northern mockingbird sing, you might have thought it was a collection of birds on one branch. No other bird has the song repertoire of this one, owing to the unique construction of its larynx and throat. The bird’s relationship with humans is unique, too: as its natural habitat of fields and forest has shrunk, it has adapted…
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Sinister Stranger At St Brides by Debbie Young
Working Together Sinister Stranger At St Brides by Debbie Young is the second book in the Gemma Lamb Cosy Mystery series which is highly entertaining. Once more St Brides is at the heart of another mystery to solve after a stranger arrives on the doorstep. If manners maketh the man, then this is certainly no […]
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A Sister’s Promise by Caroline Finnerty
A Beautiful Love A Sister’s Promise by Caroline Finnerty is the most beautiful contemporary novel. It is a love story – but it is not an ordinary love story. This is a beautiful love story. It is a love story about a love that will not die – not even death can separate this love. […]
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The Judas Tree by Amanda Jennings
Lasting A Lifetime The Judas Tree by Amanda Jennings is a gripping contemporary psychological thriller that seeps into your very core. It is tragic. It is heartbreaking. It is a powerful tale showing the affects of a traumatic childhood on adulthood. An event, so awful, it never leaves you. The timescale of a life is […]
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Flicker’s Garden Rescue by Jodie Parachini
Working Together Flicker’s Garden Rescue by Jodie Parachini is a beautiful book for the under fives. We see the importance of working together to help those in need. If we all function as one, we can get the job done. There is no room for a selfish attitude. We witness the bugs working together as […]
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Gladys Hunt on The Scent of Thanksgiving
Editor’s Note: Are the smells of sage and pumpkin spice already wafting through the house? In this post, Gladys Hunt finds wonderful smells in the pages of some outstanding picture books for Thanksgiving. The smells of Thanksgiving Originally published on the Tumblon website, November 19, 2009 Every November Cynthia Rylant’s wonderful book called In November (illustrated by Jill Kastner) sits on our coffee table within easy reach for anyone to pick up. It’s our annual reminder of how special November is. In November, the text reads, “the earth is growing quiet. It is making its bed, a winter bed for flowers and small creatures.” The book is full of color…
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One Last Secret by Adele Parkes
Coming 8th December 2022 One Last Secret by Adele Parks is due out 8th December. Please see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDpnnZeqU08 Pre-order your copy today. It’s a great read. #OneLastSecret by @adeleparks is publishing in paperback with @HQStories on 8th December. Would you kill to keep it? Pre-order now: https://amzn.to/3GpePI8
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The King of Christmas by Todd R. Hains and illustrated by Natasha Kennedy
The King of Christmas reminds young children where to look for Jesus, just as the wise men looked for Him at that first Christmas. The King of Christmas: All God’s Children Search for Jesus by Todd R. Hains and illustrated by Natasha Kennedy. Lexham Press, 2022, 44 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Where is the King of Christmas? The wise men from the East are searching for Him, asking where they might find him. The King isn’t in the natural world (water, farms, etc.). He isn’t amongst the political and religious leaders. He’s not with the soldiers. No, He is in a manger. And…
