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 Mother Goose (of course), the poems gradually become longer and more sophisticated; some pensive, some silly, but with wide appeal to young children. Colorful illustrations by a variety of artists. One drawback is that the children in the pictures are all very Caucasian, but that is not surprising considering the publication date. Robert Louis Stevenson,…

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 had written “Eletelephony,” found in the same volume, and I learned that the joy of poetry is simply playing with words. I also discovered “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes in the same volume. Oh, those haunting illustrations which enhanced the dramatic pathos of the romantic narrative! When I learned that Anne of Green Gables recited…

This tense survival tale illustrates contrasting forms of leadership as teens struggle to find their way out of the Brazilian jungle. When We Were Lost by Kevin Wignall. Jimmy Patterson (Little, Borwn), 2019, 306 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 14-18 Tom, a high-school junior, is on a plane to Costa Rico for an ecology field trip with 39 classmates and three teachers. They haven’t been in the air very long before the plane goes down somewhere in the South American jungle. All the adults and half the kids are instantly dead. Nineteen have miraculously survived, but have no clue where they are and what to do…

In Love And War by Liz Trenow is a powerful novel showing the futility of war. It was reminiscent of the film Oh What A Lovely War in that I was reminded of the utter waste of young lives on both sides. The novel is set six months after the end of the First World War during a Thomas Cook pilgrimage to the battlefields of Belgium. Everywhere there is desolation as communities try to rebuild their lives. At the centre is a core group… an English woman looking for her husband, an American lady looking for her brother and a German mother and son looking for her older son. They are…

Choose Me by Marion Ueckermann is the most delightful Christian romance that will warm your heart. It is the fourth book in the Chapel Cove series but can be read as a stand-alone. I however enjoyed my return visit to the cove. Marion Ueckermann writes novels that wrap around the reader like a cosy dressing gown. Choose Me has some wonderful wholesome characters with huge hearts bursting with love. The novel has weighty family issues, reminding the reader that every child is planned by God and come as no surprise to Him, no matter what their earthly parents think. Parenthood is so much more than just giving birth. Parenthood is loving and nurturing children to…

Call You Home by Jan Thompson is a most delightful Christian contemporary novel that will leave you feeling good. The novel reveals the heart of God as characters learn from the lessons of the past and   put their trust in Him. “Look at the past with fond memories but you have to live in the here and now.” We all have dreams but as a child of God we need to put our dreams into His hands and follow His direction. We need to be prepared to say not my will be done but Yours and hand the driving seat of our lives over to Him. Being a Christian does not…

The Keeper Of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan is an absolutely charming contemporary tale about life and love. Love is the greatest gift we can ever give or receive. Much love is to be found within the pages of the novel. There is a love that says I will care for you in sickness and in health. There is a love that says I love you because of your differences. And there is a love that says I love you beyond the confines of the grave. The whole novel is a celebration of love. There are a wonderful mix of characters including an aging author, a young divorcee and a young…

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a clever middle grades mystery series perfect for puzzle-loving tween and young teen readers. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Little, Brown, 2008. 512 pages. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. 2009. 464 pages. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma. 2010. 400 pages. The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict. 2010. 496 pages. Coming in September: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of the Ages. 2019. 400 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12Recommended For: Ages 8 and upReynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are the four friends who make up the Mysterious Benedict Society. They each passed a series…

An aspiring magician discovers the real magic in “Super Jake,” his special-needs little brother. *Super Jake and the King of Chaos by Naomi Milliner. Running Press Kids, 2019, 278 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 8-14 Ethan Miller, age 11, was inspired to go into magic by Magnus the Magnificent, one of his favorite illusionists. And he’s pretty good at it—good enough to perform at kids’ birthday parties and make a little pocket money. He has a lot going for him otherwise: a close-knit Jewish family, grandparents nearby, a mildly annoying little brother named Freddy, good friends at school—and Jake. Jake is his youngest brother, age…

The Ingredients For Happiness by Lucy Knott is a delightful contemporary novel that will leave you smiling and feeling good about life. The book is based around three sisters who are following their dreams. Dreams are planted in hearts and encouraged to grow by those around them as they are sprinkled with love. Dreams take on an extra significance when they were birthed by those no longer here. The novel deals with the loss of a grandfather. He was clearly a man much loved by his family. His presence of love covers the whole book. Cooking, dress designing and managing a boy band are the order of the day. Due to…