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    *The Carver and the Queen by Emma Fox

    October 4, 2023 / Comments Off on *The Carver and the Queen by Emma Fox

    An adventurous fairy tale set in Imperial Russia, perfect for teens who enjoy books like The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis. *The Carver and the Queen by Emma Fox. Owl’s Nest Publishers, 2023. 304 pages. Reading Level: Teen/YA, Ages 12 and up Recommended For: Ages 12 and up Petr is doomed to serfdom. All he wants to do is learn to carve malachite, the striking green mineral found in the Ural Mountains. Lena appears doomed to a terrible marriage, arranged on her behalf because her family is too poor to secure something better for her. She’d rather continue doing chores for old Yermolay, the stone cutter, especially when Petr…

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

    January 16, 2021

    Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices, edited by Mitali Perkins

    June 5, 2020

    The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles

    June 8, 2019
  • Books

    5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books

    October 4, 2023 / Comments Off on 5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books

    When are children old enough to begin appreciating quality art? As soon as they start looking at picture books. Note: even though this post references “picture books,” the tips below work for all ages (toddler to grown-up). Art Appreciation: Picture Books and Paintings Do you want to encourage your children to appreciate visual art, whether “high” or “low”? Ever wonder why a certain picture book is a Caldecott winner or honor? Art appreciation includes an awareness of the various artistic elements in a given work, the ways in which the artist is using those elements, the manner in which the work relates to its contemporaries, and the way in which a particular…

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    The Hour Approaches–Our Newbery Predictions!

    January 24, 2021

    Reading Robin McKinley

    June 2, 2019

    Picture Books about Nature: Be Thankful for Trees, Yoshi and the Ocean, and The Whale Who Swam Through Time

    June 27, 2022
  • Books

    5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books

    October 4, 2023 / Comments Off on 5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books

    When are children old enough to begin appreciating quality art? As soon as they start looking at picture books. Note: even though this post references “picture books,” the tips below work for all ages (toddler to grown-up). Art Appreciation: Picture Books and Paintings Do you want to encourage your children to appreciate visual art, whether “high” or “low”? Ever wonder why a certain picture book is a Caldecott winner or honor? Art appreciation includes an awareness of the various artistic elements in a given work, the ways in which the artist is using those elements, the manner in which the work relates to its contemporaries, and the way in which a particular…

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

    March 6, 2019

    Back Porch Book Chat: Mark Hunt (Author), Part 1

    August 24, 2022

    2021 Newbery Buzz #6: Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

    January 23, 2021
  • Books

    The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

    October 4, 2023 / Comments Off on The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

    The Lost Library is thin on theme, but warm hearted and family-friendly. The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. Feiwel and Friends, 2023, 215 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 as a read-aloud, 8-12 for independent readers. Evan is nervous about ending 5th grade (which he enjoys) and starting middle school (which is the great unknown). The little library that pops up in his small town is a welcome distraction, because Evan loves books, and the town library that burned down years ago has never been rebuilt. But wait—why are so many books in the little library relics from the old one, with…

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    *God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell and Catalina Echeverri

    June 7, 2020

    Prognosticating the Newberys, 2019 Edition

    January 27, 2019

    Gladys Hunt on Nursery Rhymes

    October 22, 2022
  • Books

    The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

    October 4, 2023 / Comments Off on The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

    The Lost Library is thin on theme, but warm hearted and family-friendly. The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. Feiwel and Friends, 2023, 215 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 as a read-aloud, 8-12 for independent readers. Evan is nervous about ending 5th grade (which he enjoys) and starting middle school (which is the great unknown). The little library that pops up in his small town is a welcome distraction, because Evan loves books, and the town library that burned down years ago has never been rebuilt. But wait—why are so many books in the little library relics from the old one, with…

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    Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai

    November 18, 2020

    Brave and Bold by Marty Machowski

    May 6, 2022

    Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis

    June 6, 2020
  • Books

    What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

    October 4, 2023 / Comments Off on What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt

    What Came From the Stars is mysterious, offering hope for those grieving and illuminating the strange power of art. What Came From the Stars by Gary D. Schmidt. Clarion, 2012. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-15 Recommended For: Ages 10-15 What Came From the Stars alternates in perspective between the Valorim, a far-off creature group in a far-off galaxy on a far-off planet, and the very real, here-and-now, world of young Tommy Pepper, a sixth grader in Plymouth, Massachusetts. If I could boil the plot down to the bare bones, it would read something like this: gift from far, far away—another world altogether—intersects with our human world childlike faith…

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

    February 7, 2019

    Beast Rider by Tony Johnson

    April 23, 2019

    Newbery Buzz #6: Cardboard Kingdom

    January 27, 2019
  • Books

    YA Graphic Novels: Graceling, Cheshire Crossing & Lore Olympus

    September 22, 2023 / Comments Off on YA Graphic Novels: Graceling, Cheshire Crossing & Lore Olympus

    A rapid fire round up of three YA graphic novels for mature teen readers. Graceling by Kristin Cashore, adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds. Clarion Books, 2021, 272 pages. A gorgeous, lyrical graphic novel about a girl graced with a deadly gift. In Cashore’s fantasy world some people are “gracelings,” strange-eyed and possessing a magical ability. Katsa has the rare gift of killing and as the book begins, she is the unwilling tool of her uncle. But Katsa is too independent to stay under anyone’s thumb for long. Soon she is on her own quest, accompanied by Po, a young prince with his own unique gift. While a compelling adventure…

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    The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

    July 4, 2020

    Jonah and the Very Big Fish by Tim Thornborough

    July 7, 2020

    *God’s Attributes by Jill Nelson

    May 28, 2022
  • Books

    Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef

    September 22, 2023 / Comments Off on Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef

    In the tradition of Susan Cooper, a lyrical, dark fantasy for mature middle grade readers. Once There Was by Kiyash Monsef. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023, 416 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12 and up Marjan cannot remember a time she was close to her father. After her mother’s death, he lived in his own world. But now he’s been murdered, and the police have no leads. 15-year old Marjan is left with his veterinary practice to run and school to finish. Then, a stranger arrives with a commission for Marjan, and she realizes her father lived a double life. In one,…

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    SmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy E. Herman

    September 22, 2023

    Fairy Tales and Folk Tales: A Picture Book List

    November 16, 2022

    Gladys Hunt on Little Golden Books

    January 1, 2023
  • Books

    SmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy E. Herman

    September 22, 2023 / Comments Off on SmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy E. Herman

    SmART, a young-reader version of the best-seller Visual Intelligence, employs art as a way of teaching observation and interpretation. SmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy E. Herman with Heather McLean. Simon & Schuster, 2022, 169 pages plus notes, index, and note to parents. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 In Visual Intelligence, a best-seller from 2016, Amy Herman instructed adults how to “Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life.” SmART is an adaptation for middle-graders and up. She uses “three simple steps” to truly seeing, thinking about what you see, and talking about what you see. In other words, observation, interpretation, and communication.…

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    Bookish Gifts for Boys

    December 12, 2022

    Pride and Prejudice: The Original and the Others

    February 15, 2019

    3 Picture Book Biographies: Beatrix Potter, Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay, and … a Horse

    November 17, 2020
  • Books

    Authority vs. Anarchy: A Book List for Teens

    September 22, 2023 / Comments Off on Authority vs. Anarchy: A Book List for Teens

    Authority vs. Anarchy: Opposites? Two sides of the same coin? Romans 13 reminds us to obey our governing (civic) authorities. Exodus 20 and Ephesians 6 remind us to obey our parental authorities. Certain people in the church are given spiritual authority over those they shepherd in their congregations. We’re all to obey the Lord as our ultimate authority. Thus, we’re all under authority. Simultaneously, we’re all in authority over someone, even if that someone is only our own self. After all, self control is exerting authority over one’s own self. Anarchy is a revolt against God-given authority and authority structures. But what happens with that God-given authority structure is broken?…

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    Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden

    March 1, 2019

    Wintry Stories: A Book List for Middle Grades and Teens

    January 13, 2023

    New Kid by Jerry Craft

    March 12, 2019
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