Books
Christian Books
-
*My Brother Is Away by Sara Greenwood
My Brother Is Away offers an empathetic glimpse into what it’s like, from the child’s perspective, to have a brother (or sister) off in jail. *My Brother Is Away by Sara Greenwood and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. Random House Studio, 2022. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 “My brother doesn’t live here. He’s far away.” This gentle book opens with an image much like the cover along with the words I just quoted. But where is the brother? Readers don’t know until several pages in that “any lie is easier than the truth.” The girl’s brother is in jail. He did something wrong. But…
-
Gladys Hunt on Raising Readers
Editor’s Note: “Literacy” begins long before a child can read for herself. Here, Gladys Hunt muses about how to take those first steps. How do you encourage preschool literacy? Originally published on the Tumblon website, June 16, 2009 Preschoolers develop an awareness and an interest in reading at different times. A child’s brain, eye-coordination and curiosity is an individual matter of maturity. One child may want to learn the alphabet at age two, and another may not be interested until age four and a half. Don’t judge intelligence by early or late maturity. Be patient and encourage. The National Institute for Literacy has developed a checklist for parents of preschoolers…
-
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, or families who are looking for a read-aloud that many have overlooked. A Place for Peter by Elizabeth Yates. JourneyForth, 1994. 192 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, Ages 10-12, Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up Martha observes the tense relationship between Andrew, her husband, and their son Peter. She recognizes that Peter needs challenges that will shape him into manhood. Shortly thereafter she is called away for an emergency that extends over several months, leaving Andrew in a position of relying on his son first to do what…
-
Fraser by Susan May Warren
You Are Mine Fraser by Susan May Warren is a marvelous Christian suspense and the first book in a brand new series, The Minnesota Marshalls. As a fan of the author, it was wonderful to meet up with old faces in this new series. We see characters who are consumed by guilt over past events, […]
-
The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin
Gripping The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin is a totally gripping crime suspense that I could not put down. It is the second book in The Yorkshire Murders series but can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed meeting up with familiar characters. An unlikely detective pairing once more work together to solve the […]
-
Comment on Caldecott Honor Roundup: Ain’t Burned All the Bright, Berry Song, Choosing Brave, and Knight Owl by Janie
In reply to Joanne Steele. Thank you for letting us know, Joanne–we often miss the most popular books because they don’t show up in review journals. But we’ll give these a look.
-
Comment on Caldecott Honor Roundup: Ain’t Burned All the Bright, Berry Song, Choosing Brave, and Knight Owl by Joanne Steele
My grandson has been reading the Henry Heckelbeck books. I wrote to his Mom and warned her that they were the wrong books for him to be reading because of the satanic influence. She was floored and had no idea. The reviews are all five star and the kids love them but how in the world are parents to know how bad they are for our children.
-
Comment on *The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina van Glaser by Janie
In reply to Ricky. I don’t recall any cursing at all in English. Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding on the part of the translator. Each language has its peculiar quirks and idioms.
-
Comment on *The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina van Glaser by Ricky
In reply to Janie. Thank you for this. It has been bothering our children that this book and the first are full of ‘little untruths’ or half truths told. Another thing I wonder about is the language in the original version of this book. We have read the first and are now reading the second book in these series both in Dutch as our library has these. The first book had one instance of inappropriate language but in this one there’s even cursing in it. I like to believe the fault is all in the translation. Can anyone tell me if it is?
-
A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz
Angel Dog A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz is the most beautiful heart-warming book about Dean and Gerda Koontz and their dog Trixie. Trixie was an amazing golden retriever who was so much more than a dog. She was an angel in disguise, as more than one person noted. Trixie was a remarkable dog […]
