Tuesday, December 31, 2013

My Favorite Books of 2013

As it is the end of the year, I thought I would share my favorite books from 2013.  Here are my favorite picture books . . .

Moo! by David LaRochelle
When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer's car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
Bored with city life and the proper behavior it requires, Mr. Tiger has a wild idea that leads him to discover his true nature.

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
The reader is invited to count the animals that have frightened the monkeys off the pages.

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
After swallowing a watermelon seed, a crocodile imagines a scary outcome.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

It's a Dog's Life

Books about dogs are a very popular request at the library.  Whether looking for true information on how to take care of a pet dog or a story featuring a dog, the library can never have enough dog books.  Here are some stories featuring dogs for children . . .

The Chihuahua Chase by A.E. Cannon
Teddy, Addie, and May join forces to try to figure out what happened to Teddy's missing chihuahua, Phantom.

A Dog for Life by L.S. Matthews
When John, who has a special ability to communicate with animals, finds that his dog, Mouse is scheduled to go to the pound, he and Mouse decide to run away and find his uncle who may be able to help them.

The Leanin' Dog by K.A. Nuzum
In wintry Colorado during the 1930s, eleven-year-old Dessa Dean mourns the death of her beloved mother, but the arrival of an injured dog and the friendship they form is just what they need to change their lives forever.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

It's Boxing Day!

Sad to say, I do not know the significance behind Boxing Day, a holiday celebrated in Canada, England, and other countries.  And even though I know it has nothing to do with the sport of boxing, that is an image I can not get out of my head.  So here are some teen books featuring boxing in honor of "Boxing Day" . . .

Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak
Partly because of their family's poor finances and partly to prove themselves, brothers Ruben and Cameron take jobs as fighters and find themselves reacting very differently in the boxing ring.

The Boxer and the Spy by Robert Parker
Fifteen-year-old Terry, an aspiring boxer, uncovers the mystery behind the unexpected death of a classmate.

Shadow Boxer by Chris Lynch
After their father dies of boxing injuries, George is determined to prevent his younger brother, who sees boxing as his legacy, from pursuing a career in the sport.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas picture books . . . .

The Three Bears' Christmas by Kathy Duval
A retelling of The Three Bears with Santa in the role of Goldilocks.  I discovered this book this year.  The children love it.  Even though I don't share the cover of the book the children usually figure out that Santa is the visitor a few pages in.

Have You Been Naughty or Nice? by Ethan Long
This is one of the simplest Christmas picture books for kids.  It is very sparse with one line of Duck's dialogue per page.  Yet it punches a lot into its 28 pages.  It also leads to discussion about being good and forgiveness.

Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn
This is a retelling of the Russian folktale Babushka.  It has a different ending that the version I had heard before.  Babushka is a women preoccupied with cleaning.  When she hears of a new baby born in a "dirty" stable without even a blanket to keep him warm she sets out with gifts for the baby.  Along the way she gives away all her gifts yet the mother welcomes her to see the baby forever changing Babushka's life.  This is a great book to share about the Nativity.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Holiday Favorites for Children

I love to read holiday stories.  I have ever since a small child.  That is probably why some of my all-time favorite holiday stories are chapter books for children. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
I love this story of a white trash family that "ruins" the Christmas pageant and makes it the most memorable and realistic pageant ever put on in town.  I also fondly remember watching the TV movie they made of the book in the 1980s.

The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin
I cry every time I read this heartwarming story of a sick girl and her family who want just one more Christmas.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Who doesn't love the story of grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge and his redemption after visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future?

Forever Rose by Hilary McKay
I love Hilary McKay's series of books about the Casson family.  This book focuses on Rose as the Christmas season approaches.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Enchanted, Inc.

I was excited to discover that one of my favorite series is now being continued in e-books.  I read the first four books in the Enchanted, Inc. series when they first came out in print in 2005.  I was saddened to hear after book four that the publisher was no longer going to publish the books.  However, now with the popularity of e-books, the author Shanna Swendson is continuing the series.  So far, she was released three new stories.  I can't wait to download and read them.

Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson - book 1
Katie Chandler moves to New York in order to make her mark in the business world, but is unprepared for the adventures she encounters when she is approached by MSI, a company that deals in magic, spells, and illusions.

Once Upon Stilettos - book 2
Katie finds herself in trouble when her immunity to magic goes awry and men begin falling at her feet, but she begins to wonder whether she has really become irresistible or whether it is the result of her stunning new red shoes.

Damsel Under Stress - book 3
At last, Owen Palmer, the dreamboat wizard at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., has conjured up the courage to get Katie Chandler under the mistletoe at the office holiday party. But just when it looks like Katie has found her prince, in pops her inept fairy godmother, Ethelinda, to throw a wand into the works.

Don't Hex with Texas - book 4
Katie Chandler has fled fast-paced Manhattan and returned home to a simpler life, working at her family's feed-and-seed store in Cobb, Texas. But now magic is invading the town and Owen Palmer appears to investigate.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Stories on the Go

With the holidays fast approaching, many families will be traveling.  So I thought I would share some stories "On the Go" . . . .

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen
Young Violet's only friend is her dog, Orville, until one of her homemade flying machines takes her to the rescue of a Boy Scout troop in trouble.

Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant
A young man and his dog drive west from Ohio and marvel at the farms of Iowa, the skies of Nebraska, the wind in Wyoming, the mountains of Colorado, the desert in Nevada, and the ocean in Oregon.

Titanicat by Marty Crisp
A boy who has signed on as cabin boy aboard the Titanic helps ready the ship for its maiden voyage, but when it is time to set sail and he cannot find the ship's cat on board, he leaves the vessel to search for her.

How to Train a Train by Jason Eaton
A whimsical guide to training a "pet train" instructs young enthusiasts about important issues including where trains live, what they like to eat, and how to get them to perform the best train tricks.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Books So Good . . . They Won an Award

The following books are considered some of the greatest children's books of all time.  They are all Newbery Award winners and several have won other awards as well.  Check them out!

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

Holes by Louis Sachar
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself.

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them in their prairie home, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother and hope that she will stay.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Teenage Assassins

This past weekend I watched the movie Hanna about a teen girl who was trained by her father to assassinate the woman who killed her mother.  This led me to thinking how many teen books feature teen assassins.  Here's just a few of them . .  .

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
Perry's parents insist that he take Gobi, their quiet, Lithuanian exchange student, to senior prom but after an incident at the dance he learns that Gobi is actually a trained assassin who needs him as a henchman, behind the wheel of his father's precious Jaguar, on a mission in Manhattan.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king.

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff
Sixteen-year-old Boy Nobody, an assassin controlled by a shadowy government organization, The Program, considers sabotaging his latest mission because his target reminds him of the normal life he craves.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
After she has served a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, Crown Prince Dorian offers eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien her freedom on the condition that she act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Grave Mercy by Robin La Fevers
In the fifteenth-century kingdom of Brittany, seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where she learns that the god of Death has blessed her with dangerous gifts--and a violent destiny.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Interactive Books for Young Children

There is a trend that is growing of picture books that are interactive with the children reading them.  The books address the readers directly and instruct them to do certain activities or actions.  Check out these great examples of interactive picture books . . .

Press Here by Herve Tullet
Instructs the reader on how to interact with the illustrations to manipulate yellow, blue, and red dots.

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
The reader is invited to count the animals that have frightened the monkeys off the pages.

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
A ladybug invites the reader to play a game of "let's pretend."

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj
Important secrets about how best to live a cat's life will be revealed only to those who can prove that they are genuine cats.

The Big Blue Spot by Peter Holwitz
A spot realizes that it is lonely and asks the reader of the book to help it find a friend.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

We Remember . . . The Holocaust

The Holocaust is one of the most disturbing and upsetting events that has occurred in history.  I believe that children should be taught about this horrific time so that history does not repeat itself -- so that nobody has to live in fear because of their beliefs, background, or ethnicity. 
The following are some books that tell of the Holocaust for children . . .

Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy
From 1939, when Syvia is four and a half years old, to 1945 when she has just turned ten, a Jewish girl and her family struggle to survive in Poland's Lodz ghetto during the Nazi occupation.

Emil and Karl by Jacob Glatstein
In Vienna, Austria, in 1940, two nine-year-old boys, one Jewish and one Aryan, are classmates and best friends when events of the Nazi occupation draw them even closer together as they fight to survive and escape together.

Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs
In an attempt to save his daughter's life, Eva's father sends her from Poland to a labor camp in Czechoslovakia where she and her sister survive the war.

The Shadow Children by Steven Schnur
While spending the summer on his grandfather's farm in the French countryside, eleven-year-old Etienne discovers a secret dating back to World War II and encounters the ghosts of Jewish children who suffered a dreadful fate under the Nazis.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Happy Hanukkah, Part 2

On this final day of Hanukkah, I thought I would share some books for teens featuring Jewish characters . . .

Me & Earl & the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia.

Strange Relations by Sonia Levitin
Fifteen-year-old Marne is excited to be able to spend her summer vacation in Hawaii, not realizing the change in her lifestyle it would bring staying with her aunt, seven cousins, and uncle who is a Chasidic rabbi.


Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
Eleven-year-old Mirka Herschberg dreams of fighting dragons and spends her days honing her skills, even though there are no dragons in her Orthodox Jewish community, but when she accepts a challenge form a mysterious witch, Mirka just might win her dragon-fighting sword after all.

Happy Hanukkah!

Check out these great books for Hanukkah . . .

Hanukkah Bear by Eric Kimmel
On the first night of Hanukkah, Old Bear wanders into Bubba Brayna's house and receives a delicious helping of potato latkes when she mistakes him for the rabbi.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen
Illustrations and rhyming text present some of the different ways a well-behaved dinosaur can celebrate the eight days and nights of Chanukah.

Hanukkah Lights by David Martin
Simple text and illustrations depict the traditions associated with Hanukkah, including lighting a menorah, spinning a dreidel, and more.

A Confused Hanukkah: An Original Story of Chelm by Jon Koons
The villagers of Chelm, in the rabbi's absence, send a messenger to a nearby village in order to be reminded how to prepare for the coming Hanukkah.

It's a Miracle! A Hanukkah Storybook by Stephanie Spinner
Every night of Hanukkah Grandma tells a story at bedtime. Includes the Hanukkah legend, blessings, and a glossary.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Weird and Wacky Food

Are you all stuffed from your Thanksgiving eating?  How about reading a good book about some odd foods instead of eating more?  Check out these books . . .

Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King
Paul Mouse gathers a group of mouse activists to uncover the mystery behind the delicacy known as "Mouse noses on toast" which is served in a fancy human restaurant.

Cold Cereal by Adam Rex
A boy who may be part changeling, twins involved in a bizarre secret experiment, and a clurichaun in a red tracksuit try to save the world from an evil cereal company whose ultimate goal is world domination.

Maybelle and the Haunted Cupcake by Katie Speck
Maybelle the cockroach is tired of all the rules she must follow to safely get food from Mr. and Mrs. Peabody's kitchen, but when Bernice, an ant with a head cold, insists on helping out, the situation only gets worse.


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Wanna Bake Something?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't think I've ever come across a Thanksgiving book for teens.  So instead I thought I would continue with the food theme and share some books of teens wanting to cook . . .

Kitchen Princess by Natsumi Ando - manga
Najika is a gifted cook and attends the prestigious Seika Academy cooking school. Her friendship with two brothers, Sora and Daichi, creates resentment with other girls at the school. Her greatest rival is a popular, teen model, Akane who tries to drive Najika from the school by staging a cooking contest.

A La Carte by Tanita Davis
Lainey, a high school senior and aspiring celebrity chef, is forced to question her priorities after her best friend (and secret crush) runs away from home.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
When sixteen-year-old Hope and the aunt who has raised her move from Brooklyn to Mulhoney, Wisconsin, to work as waitress and cook in the Welcome Stairways diner, they become involved with the diner owner's political campaign to oust the town's corrupt mayor.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitch Smith
When multiple murders in Austin, Texas, threaten the grand re-opening of her family's vampire-themed restaurant, seventeen-year-old, orphaned Quincie worries that her best friend-turned-love interest, Keiren, a werewolf-in-training, may be the prime suspect.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

A Reading Feast

Thanksgiving is fast approaching.  Last week I talked about several picture books about Thanksgiving.  This week, since all those books are now checked out, I thought I would share some great picture books about food.

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
A fussy eater decides to sample the carrots after her brother convinces her that they are really orange twiglets from Jupiter.

Worms for Lunch? by Leonid Gore
Easy-to-read text and die-cut illustrations allow various creatures to reveal what they like to eat.

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Pea hates eating candy for dinner, but his parents will not let him have his spinach dessert until he cleans his plate.

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges
In this version of the traditional tale, the duck, the dog, and the cat refuse to help the Little Red Hen make a pizza but do get to participate when the time comes to eat it.

Whopper Cake by Karma Wilson
Grandad bakes Grandma a whopper of a birthday cake. Includes recipe and directions for chocolate cake.


Also -- come by the Arnold Branch this Wednesday (11/27/13) at 11:30 a.m. to watch the movie version of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Fortunately, the Milk

Mother is out of town and Father forgot to get milk for breakfast. 

On the way back from corner shop he hears a humming noise and looks up to find an alien ship. 

This is just the start of Father's amazing journey through space and time on his quest to bring the milk home for his children's breakfast.  Along the way he'll meet pirates, vampires, a volcano god, and a time-traveling dinosaur in a hot air balloon.

Will he ever make it home to his children with the milk?  And will they believe this amazing story he has to tell?

Neil Gaiman has come up with another great book!  Fortunately, the Milk is nonsensical, entertaining and great fun to read!  The line drawings by Skottie Young bring the book to life.  A definite must read for all!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Celebrate Doctor Who!

This is the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.  From the very first Doctor to the current Eleventh Doctor, he has gone on many trips through time and space in his TARDIS with his companions.  In celebration of the 50th anniversary, read one of the Doctor's adventures . . .

The Forgotten Army by Brian Minchin
With the Vykoid army swarming across Manhattan and sealing it from the world with a powerful alien force field, Amy has just 24 hours to find the Doctor and save the city. If she doesn't, the people of Manhattan will be taken to work in the doomed asteroid mines of the Vykoid home planet. But as time starts to run out, who can she trust? And how far will she have to go to free New York from the Forgotten Army?

Touched by an Angel by  Jonathan Morris
In 2003, Rebecca Whitaker died in a road accident. Her husband Mark is still grieving. He receives a battered envelope, posted eight years ago, containing a set of instructions with a simple message: 'You can save her.' As Mark is given the chance to save Rebecca, it's up to the Doctor, Amy and Rory to save the whole world. Because this time the Weeping Angels are using history itself as a weapon.

Borrowed Time by Naomi Alderman
Andrew Brown never has enough time. No time to call his sister, no time to prepare for that important presentation at the bank where he works. The train's late, the lift jams. If only he'd had just a little more time. And time is the business of Mr Symington and Mr Blenkinsop. They'll lend him some-- at a very reasonable rate of interest. Detecting a problem, the Doctor, Amy, and Rory go undercover at the bank. But they have to move fast to stop Symington and Blenkinsop before they cash in their investments.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Let's Give Thanks!

Even though Thanksgiving is a little over a week today, I thought I would share some books to read before the holiday.  Check out the following books for kids . . .

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
Tells the story of puppeteer Tony Sarg, the man who first invented the helium balloons that have become the trademark of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Kroll
Grace is worried about the coming winter, but happily it proves to be mild, and the next fall when Thanksgiving is celebrated, she starts a tradition of giving blessings to God before the meal. Includes author's note about the history of saying grace andsuggested activities.

One is a Feast for a Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox
On Thanksgiving Day while everyone naps, Mouse spots one pea, a perfect feast, but he cannot help adding all of the fixings--until Cat spots him.

The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli
Two families--one that is perfect and one that is far from it--celebrate Thanksgiving in their own loving ways.

The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene
Rhyming verses trace the events leading up to the first Thanksgiving Day.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

It's Been a Great 15 Years for Harry Potter

Did you realize that it has been 15 years since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published?

The world fell in love with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and everybody else from Hogwarts in 1998 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  The story of a young wizard who must fight against the ultimate evil of Voldemort stuck a chord with readers young and old and every age in between.

On this 15th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, pick up the series to read.  Whether it will be your first reading or the fifth reading of the books -- you'll be sure to lose yourself in the world and have a great time!
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Also, join us at JCL Arnold Branch today at 2:00 p.m. for Harry Potter Crafts.  We'll be making some great magically-inspired crafts to celebrate 15 years with Harry!  Call 636-296-2204 to sign-up.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Fandemonium: Fan Favorite Series


Do you know your fan series?  Want to see how you score against other fan series geeks?  

Join us Saturday, November 16 at 3:30 p.m. for Fan Trivia!

There will be five rounds of questions based on five fan-favorite series -- Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Percy  Jackson and the Olympians, and The Hunger Games.

Teams can be made up of up to four (4) people. 
For ages 9 years and older.

Call 636-296-2204 to sign-up.

Also, visit http://jeffersoncountylibrary.org to see what other great events we have going on during Fandemonium on Saturday, November 16, 2013.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, It's a Superhero Story!

This Saturday, the JCL Arnold Branch is celebrating all things fandom with Fandemonium.  We'll have a full day of great events celebrating various fan series.  Obviously one of the biggest fan series are the different superheroes.  The library does have superhero books featuring the Marvel and DC Comics superheroes.  However, we also have some great picture books featuring unknown superheroes.  Check these out . . .

Superdog: The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner
Tired of being overlooked because he is so small, a big-hearted dog named Dexter transforms himself into a superhero.

Supermoo! by Babette Cole
A bovine superhero crusades against the evil spreaders of filth and pollution.

Max by Bob Graham
Max, the young son of superheroes, is a late bloomer when it comes to flying, until he is inspired by the plight of a falling baby bird.

Atomic Ace (He's Just My Dad) by Jeff Weigel
In this rhyming story, a boy considers his family normal, though his superhero dad, Atomic Ace, does amazing feats, even battling the evil Insect King. Includes inset comic book panels of Dad's adventures as Atomic Ace.

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
A young superhero describes his awesome powers, which he then demonstrates as various foes arrive on the scene.

Also -- join us Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for a Superhero Story Time featuring your favorite Marvel and DC Comics superheroes.  Call (636) 296-2204 to sign-up.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Veteran's Day, Part 3

A few more books in honor of Veteran's Day -- this time chapter books . . .


Jump into the Sky by Shelley Pearsall
In 1945, thirteen-year-old Levi is sent to find the father he has not seen in three years, going from Chicago, to segregated North Carolina, and finally to Pendleton, Oregon, where he learns that his father's unit, the all-Black 555th paratrooper battalion, will never see combat but finally has a mission.

Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
A young soldier in Vietnam bonds with his bomb-sniffing dog.

Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac
After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.

Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen
Eager to enlist, fifteen-year-old Charley has a change of heart after experiencing both the physical horrors and mental anguish of Civil War combat.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Veteran's Day, Part 2

Continuing in our observance of Veteran's Day, here are some great books for teens on the war experience . . .

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson
Curzon matures from boy to man over the course of the winter with the army at Valley Forge.

Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi
To escape an abusive father and an arranged marriage, fourteen-year-old Sarah, dressed as a boy, leaves her Michigan home to enlist in the Union Army, and becomes a soldier on the battlefields of Virginia.

Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury
Following orders from the United States Army, several young Japanese American men train K-9 units to hunt Asians during World War II.

Soldier Boys by Dean Hughes
Two boys, one German and one American, are eager to join their respective armies during World War II, and their paths cross at the Battle of the Bulge.

Search and Destroy by Dean Hughes
Recent high school graduate Rick Ward, undecided about his future and eager to escape his unhappy home life, joins the army and experiences the horrors of the war in Vietnam.

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
Robin Perry, from Harlem, is sent to Iraq in 2003 as a member of the Civilian Affairs Battalion, and his time there profoundly changes him.

Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
While recuperating in a Baghdad hospital from a traumatic brain injury sustained during the Iraq War, eighteen-year-old soldier Matt Duffy struggles to recall what happened to him and how it relates to his ten-year-old friend, Ali.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Veteran's Day, Part 1

With Veteran's Day coming up next week, I thought I would share some good books on soldier and the army.  Today -- picture books for young children.

Year of the Jungle by Suzanne Collins
Suzy spends her year in first grade waiting for her father, who is serving in Vietnam, and when the postcards stop coming she worries that he will never make it home.

The Last Brother: A Civil War Tale by Trinka Hakes Noble
Eleven-year-old Gabe enlists in the Union Army in Pennsylvania along with his older brother Davy and, as bugler, does his best to protect Davy during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Stars Above by Geoffrey Norman
Amanda's father is a soldier, but before he leaves for war, he teaches her not to be afraid of the things that live in the dark--which includes fireflies and crickets--and about the stars.

Drummer Boy: Marching to the Civil War by Ann Warren Turner
A thirteen-year-old soldier, coming of age during the American Civil War, beats his drum to raise tunes and spirits and muffle the sounds of the dying.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

It's a Hard-Knock Life . . .


Want to feel better about your life?  Your parents?  Your family?
Read one of these books featuring orphans. . .

Castle Corona by Sharon Creech
        Two orphaned peasant children go to Castle Corona where their lives are transformed forever.
City of Orphans by Avi
        In 1893 New York, Maks must clear his older sister Emma from charges of stealing.

Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones
        Earwig is adopted from St. Morwald's orphanage by a witch and a demon. 
Emily's Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
        Orphans Emily and Jackson team up to stop Emily's Uncle Victor from stealing her inheritance.
Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer
        Frederick is plucked from an orphanage and becomes a wizard's apprentice.
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
        Peter has amazing adventures after a fortuneteller reveals his sister is not dead as he previously thought.
The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis
        Sallie and her sister escape from their self-serving guardians and end up in amazing adventures.
The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
        A young governess must civilize three children raised by wolves before a Christmas ball.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
        Mary discovers an invalid cousin and a mysterious locked cousin when she goes to live with her uncle.
The Several Lives of Orphan Jack by Sarah Ellis
        Jack is sent from the Opportunities School for Orphans to be a bookkeeper's apprentice.
Trophy Kid, or, How I Was Adopted by the Rich and Famous by Steve Atinsky
        Josef writes a book about his adoption from Croatia at age three by American movie stars.
Way Down Deep by Ruth White
        Ruby discovers her past when a family of outsiders comes to town.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Books to Give You Goosebumps

Looking for a great horror book for Halloween night?  Here's some of the best for teens . . .

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
After a family tragedy, Jacob feels compelled to explore an abandoned orphanage on an island off the coast of Wales, discovering disturbing facts about the children who were kept there.

Dracula's Guest: A Connoisseur's Collection of Victorian Vampire Stories edited by Michael Sims
A treasury of Victorian-era vampire stories includes Edgar Allan Poe's "The Oval Portrait" and Guy de Maupassant's "The Horla," in an anthology complemented by Transylvanian superstitions.

Asylum by Madeleine Roux
Three teens at a summer program for gifted students uncover shocking secets in the sanatorium-turned-dorm where they're staying--secrets that link them all to the asylum's dark past.

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their great Auntie Ida in an isolated village in 1958, they discover that they are in danger from a centuries-old evil and, along with village boys Roger and Peter, strive to uncover the horrifying truth before it is too late.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Trick or Treat! Books for Halloween

Looking for some great titles to get you and your kids in the Halloween spirit?  Try these books . . .

Ten Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage
In this Halloween countdown book, ten orange pumpkins are each carried off by a witch, a ghost, a spider, and other Halloween creatures until there's just one.

Minerva Louise on Halloween by Janet Morgan Stoeke
On her first Halloween, Minerva Louise the hen puzzles over costumes but enjoys her first taste of candy corn.

Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes
Easy to read, rhyming text about Halloween night incorporates Spanish words, from las brujas riding their broomsticks to los monstruos whose monstrous ball is interrupted by a true horror.

The Bumpy Little Pumpkin by Margery Cuyler
Little Nell chooses an unusual pumpkin for her Halloween jack-o-lantern, despite her big sisters' criticisms.


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Werewolves vs. Vampires

Which do you prefer?  Werewolves or Vampires? 

Here are some great werewolf and vampire stories for kids.

100% Wolf by Jayne Lyons
At the time of his first transformation, a young werewolf of noble and proud ancestry, is driven from his pack when, instead of turning into a fierce wolf, he changes into a little black poodle.

Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah & James Howe
Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

Wolven by Di Toft
Twelve-year-old Nat, with help from family, friends, and his "pet" Woody, a wolf that turns into a boy, must face werewolves that have been altered as part of a dastardly plan.

Notes from a Totally Lame Vampire by Tom Collins
Nigel Mullet, a 100-year-old vampire doomed to spend eternity in the body of a socially awkward fifteen-year-old boy, records his attempts to impress the love of his life, Chloe, while battling an embarrassingly overwhelming desire to sink his fangs intoher.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Ghastly Ghost Stories, Part 2

Last week, I shared some great ghost stories for children.  This week, I thought I would share some ghost stories for teens.  Check out these three ghastly ghost stories . . .

Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Daniel Waters
In the aftermath of the Event, which made seeing the dead a part of life, Veronica and her friend Kirk investigate why the ghosts seem to be gaining power and stumble upon the sinister plot of a teacher who is seeking a replacement for his dead daughter.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
For three years, seventeen-year-old Cas Lowood has carried on his father's work of dispatching the murderous dead, traveling with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat, but everything changes when he meets Anna, a girl unlike any ghost he has faced before.

The Waking: Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall
After her mother dies, sixteen-year-old Kara and her father move to Japan, where he teaches and she attends school, but she is haunted by a series of frightening nightmares and deaths that might be revenge--or something worse.


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Bean Dog and Nugget

Graphic novels are gaining a huge following among children and their parents.  There are even several great graphic novels for the picture book set. 

Bean Dog and Nugget by Charise Mericle Harper is an easy graphic novel series for young children. 

I love the first two books in the series -- The Cookie and The Ball.  Bean Dog and Nugget are best friends.  In The Cookie, Bean Dog is tricked by Nugget who claims to have an invisible donut.  In The Ball, Bean Dog and Nugget rescue a ball that has gotten caught in a bush.  Both are very simple stories with humorous touches.  Bean Dog and Nugget's reactions are very childlike.

These are great books to use to introduce young children to graphic novels.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Ghastly Ghost Stories

Halloween is fast approaching!  Are you looking for a good ghost story to get you in the Halloween mood?  Try one of these . . .

The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret
Apprehensive about spending the summer in Washington State with his Aunt Ethel when his parents get an overseas job, twelve-year-old Josh soon finds adventure when he meets the ghost of a coal miner.

Sweet Miss Honeywell's Revenge: A Ghost Story by Kathryn Reiss
Just before her mother is to remarry and her stepfamily is set to move in, twelve-year-old Zibby gradually realizes that her antique dollhouse is haunted by ghosts, one of whom is out for revenge.

The Ghost on Saturday Night by Sid Fleischman
When Professor Pepper gives Opie tickets to a ghost-raising instead of a nickel in payment for being guided through the dense fog, Opie manages to make money anyway by helping to thwart a bank robbery.

Paranorman by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Misunderstood eleven-year-old Norman Babcock must take on witches, zombies, and the school bully to save his town from a witch that cursed his town.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Seek the Unknown . . . Teen Read Week 2013

This week, October 14-19, is Teen Read Week.  This year's theme is to "Seek the Unknown".  Check out one of these teen books that explores new worlds . . .


Brave Story by Miyuki Miyabe
After his father abandons them and his mother tries to commit suicide, young Wataru decides to try to navigate the magical world of Vision, collecting five elusive gemstones along the way, in order to claim the Demon's Bane that will change his fate.

The Far West by Patricia Wrede
When the unlucky magical twin Eff joins an expedition to map the Far West, she endures a long prairie winter and encounters with previously unknown creatures before realizing the importance of ending a magical flood.

Gateway by Sharon Shinn
While passing through the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, a Chinese American teenager is transported to a parallel world where she is given a dangerous assignment.

Exodus by Julie Bertagna
In the year 2100, as the island of Wing is about to be covered by water, fifteen-year-old Mara discovers the existence of New World sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising waters, and convinces her people to travel to one of these cities in order to save themselves.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Look Back in Time . . .

As Columbus Day has come and gone, it brings to mind books that discuss important events in American history . . . 

In 1492 by Jean Marzollo
Rhyming text describes Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the New World.

The Last Brother: A Civil War Tale by Trinka Hakes Noble
Eleven-year-old Gabe enlists in the Union Army in Pennsylvania along with his older brother Davy and, as bugler, does his best to protect Davy during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrations and rhythmic text recall the December, 1955, bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

Yankee Doodle: A Song from the American Revolution by Ann Owen
Provides a complete version of the song as well as its historical context and significance.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Could You Survive?

You're all alone!  Fighting for survival!  Whether trying to live through a natural disaster or trying to survive a horrible plane crash, these kids fought to survive!

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury
In 1975, eleven Boy Scouts, their leaders, and some new friends camping at Halape, Hawaii, find their survival skills put to the test when a massive earthquake strikes, followed by a tsunami.

Anna's Blizzard by Alison Hart
Having never excelled at schoolwork, twelve-year-old Anna discovers that she may know a few things about survival when the 1888 Children's Blizzard traps her and her classmates in their Nebraska schoolhouse.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.

Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Left alone to guard the family's wilderness home in eighteenth-century Maine, a boy is hard-pressed to survive until local Indians teach him their skills.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Football Season

The high school football season is underway.  Want more than just the Friday / Saturday night game?  Try reading one of these great football books for teens. . .

Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp
In his senior year, high school star linebacker Hampton Greene finally begins to think for himself and discovers that he might be interested in more than just football.

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff
Fifteen-year-old Andrew Zansky, the second fattest student at his high school, joins the varsity football team to get the attention of a new girl on whom he has a crush.

Pop by Gordon Korman
Lonely after a midsummer move to a new town, sixteen-year-old high-school quarterback Marcus Jordan becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker who is great at training him, but whose childish behavior keeps Marcus in hot water.

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker
Football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson, who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life.

Dairy Queen: A Novel by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Fire Prevention Week: October 6-14, 2013


Looking for another way to share fire safety information with your children?
Try reading one of the following books . . .

Here Comes Firefighter Hippo by Jonathan London
Little Hippo has fun pretending that he is a firefighter but must figure out what to do when he finds a real fire.

Going to the Firehouse by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter and his classmates take a trip to the firehouse where, with the help of Fireman Joe, they learn how to stop, drop, and roll.

Firefighters: Speeding! Spraying! Saving! by Patricia Hubbell
Illustrations and rhyming text celebrate firefighters and what they do.

Stop, Drop and Roll by Margery Cuyler
Jessica, who worries about everything from her spelling homework to remembering to fill her dog's water dish, learns that fire safety begins with extinguishing her fears.

Firefighters A to Z by Chris Demarest
An alphabetic look at a firefighter's day.

Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos! by Susan Middleton Elya
A brave group of firefighters set off to battle a blaze at a townhouse. Spanish words interspersed in the rhyming text are defined in a glossary.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

A Good Dog . . .

Check out one of these great dog stories for kids . . .

A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin
Squirrel, a stray puppy, tells her life story, from her nurturing mother and brother to making her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal.

The Buddy Files: The Case of the Lost Boy by Dori Hillestad Butler
While searching for his mysteriously lost human family, Buddy the dog is adopted by another family and helps solve the mystery of their missing boy.

Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
A fourteen-year-old Eskimo boy who feels assailed by the modernity of his life takes a 1400-mile journey by dog sled across ice, tundra, and mountains seeking his own "song" of himself.

One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
When lonely, ten-year-old Hal learns that his wealthy but neglectful parents only rented Fleck, the dog he always wanted, he and new friend Pippa take Fleck and four other dogs from the rental agency on a trek from London to Scotland, where Hal's grandparents live.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Good vs. Evil

It's an epic theme -- good vs. evil.  Whether huge battles for the whole world or a small fight for just one person, we love to read about the the fight between good and evil.  Check out these great teen books and see which one prevails.

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
Sent to live in a foster home in a remote Yorkshire village, Matt, a troubled fourteen-year-old English boy, uncovers an evil plot involving witchcraft and the site of an ancient stone circle.

Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson
Katie Chandler moves to New York in order to make her mark in the business world, but is unprepared for the adventures she encounters when she is approached by MSI, a company that deals in magic, spells, and illusions.

The Vindico by Wesley King
When supervillains of the Vindico realize they are getting too old to fight the League of Heroes, they kidnap and begin training five teens, but James, Lana, Hayden, Emily, and Sam will not become the next generation of evil without a fight.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin
A boy grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world as an apprentice to the Master Wizard.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
When three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town of Venus Cove against the gathering forces of darkness, their mission is threatened as the youngest angel, Bethany, enrolls in high school and falls in love with another student.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

It's All Good!

Have you discovered Pete the Cat?
He loves his shoes -- even when they get dirty.
He loves school -- discovering all the new activities.
He loves his favorite shirt -- even when the buttons all pop off.
Whatever comes his way, he can deal with it.  Because it is ALL GOOD!

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat wears his new white shoes while walking down the street, and as he steps into piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other messes--and the color of his footwear changes--he keeps on moving and singing to himself without being bothered.

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the cat wears his school shoes when visiting the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and more while singing his special song.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin
Pete the cat loves the buttons on his shirt so much that he makes up a song about them, and even as the buttons pop off, one by one, he still finds a reason to sing.

Also, check out the Pete the Cat songs at www.harpercollinschildrens.com/petethecat.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

It Was a Dark and Gloomy Book . . .

Check out these gothic books for kids!

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
After the sudden death of their parents, the Baudelaire children must depend on each other and their wits when it turns out that the distant relative who is appointed their guardian is determined to use any means necessary to get their fortune.

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
A mix-up involving the greatest magic in the world has tremendous consequences for Liesl, an orphan who has been locked in an attic, Will, an alchemist's runaway apprentice, and Po, a ghost, as they are pursued by friend and foe while making an importantjourney.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Three children become involved in a series of adventures when left under the care of a detestable governess in a rural English manor.

Measle and the Wrathmonk by Ian Ogilvy
Twelve-year-old orphan Measle Stubbs is shrunk down to half an inch tall and placed in a train set by his evil guardian, the Wrathmonk.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Celebrate Your Freedom to Read


Did you know that a majority of the books that are censored are children's and teen books?  Here are some of the teen books that have had objections made against them being in public libraries across the country . . .

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie Sherman
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

One of my favorite authors for young children is Jan Thomas.  Her books are short, simple, funny and engaging.  Check them out!

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Brave Cowboy tries to sing his young calf pals to sleep on a dark, dark night, with humorous results.

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Chicken's cow visitors try to jump, dance, and wiggle on his couch, which is much too tiny for such exuberant activities.

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
A ladybug invites the reader to play a game of "let's pretend."

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
As three dust bunnies, Ed, Ned, and Ted, are demonstrating how much they love to rhyme, a fourth, Bob, is trying to warn them of approaching danger.

The Doghouse by Jan Thomas
Cow, Pig, Duck, and Mouse are afraid to retrieve their ball when it goes into the dog's house, but when they do go in they are pleasantly surprised.

What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas
A group of animals is terrified at the prospect of being sat upon by the imposing Fat Cat, until the mouse comes up with a solution that satisfies everyone.

Check out the rest of Jan Thomas' books at the library. 

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Have you Read the Movie?

I love the fact that many children's books are now being made into movies.  It's fascinating to see how the book is different.  Is the book better or the movie better?

Read the following books and watch the movies to see which you like better.

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander
The land of Prydain is threatened by the evil Arawn and his band of invincible warriors.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
The wind brings two English children a new nanny who slides up the bannister and introduces them to some delightful people and experiences.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.




Thursday, September 19, 2013

Once Upon a Time . . .

I have always loved to read fairy tales.  The adventure, magic and romance combine together to make compelling stories.  Here are three of my favorite fairy tale novels for teens.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen
Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli
Based on the fairy tale Rapunzel, the story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Zel, her mother, and the prince, and delves into the psychological motivations of the characters.


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

The Long, Long Line by Tomoko Ohmura

Fifty animals are all standing in a long, long line.  It is creeping forward very, very slowly.

Why are they in line?  What is at the end?

Read this book to find out!

Try identifying all fifty different animals as you read their excited comments about the upcoming fun.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

It's a Hard-Knock Life . . .

The life of an orphan can be hard . . .

Pip and the Wood Witch Curse by Chris Mould
After running away from an orphanage, Pip arrives in the walled city of Hangman's Hollow, where children must hide to avoid imprisonment by citizens or danger from evil creatures in the surrounding forest.

Splendors and Glooms by Amy Schlitz
After running away from an orphanage, Pip arrives in the walled city of Hangman's Hollow, where children must hide to avoid imprisonment by citizens or danger from evil creatures in the surrounding forest.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
In this tongue-in-cheek take on classic themes in children's literature, the four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Football Season

With the start of school comes the start of the football season.  Check out one of these great football stories for teens . . .

Pop by Gordon Korman
Lonely after a midsummer move to a new town, sixteen-year-old high-school quarterback Marcus Jordan becomes friends with a retired professional linebacker who is great at training him, but whose childish behavior keeps Marcus in hot water.

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker
Football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson, who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life.

Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp
In his senior year, high school star linebacker Hampton Greene finally begins to think for himself and discovers that he might be interested in more than just football.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

We Remember . . .

Today is the remembrance of 9/11.  This is a topic that is difficult to explain to young children.  One way to broach the topic would be share one of the following books . . .

America Is Under Attack by Don Brown
Narrates the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, from the plane hijackings to the collapse of the World Trade Center.

September 12th: We Knew Everything Would be All Right by The First Grade Students at H.Byron Masterson Elementary in Kennett, Missouri
Conveys the sense of hope and comfront found in the routine of everyday activities following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

September Roses by Jeanette Winter
Two sisters find a good use for the roses they have grown when their plane from South Africa is delayed by a storm, causing them to miss a flower show in New York City.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

In Celebration of Grandparents!

Tomorrow is Grandparents' Day!  In celebration, read one of Patricia MacLachlan's wonderful stories of children with their grandparents.

The Truth of Me: About a Boy, His Grandmother, and a Very Good Dog
Robbie and his dog, Ellie, spend the summer at his grandmother Maddy's house, where Robbie learns many things about his emotionally distant parents and himself.

Kindred Souls
Ten year-old Jake shares a special bond with his grandfather, Billy, but when Billy asks Jake to build him a sod house, Jake is not sure he wants to do it.

Grandfather's Dance
As her family gathers for the wedding of her sister Anna, fourth-grader Cassie Whiting sees the many changes brought about by everyday life and finds comfort in the love of those around her, especially her grandfather.

Through Grandpa's Eyes
A young boy learns a different way of seeing the world from his blind grandfather.