This book has a delightful story-teller quality to it while being paired with the kind of point of view that we at Plumfield love and appreciate. Dalia is very knowledgeable and experienced with chicken keeping. She has done it on a small scale and on a large scale. She has a real passion for the birds themselves and the culture and traditions of chicken keeping throughout history. In this completely practical book, she shows you how to enter into chicken keeping in a variety of different ways so that you can choose the best possible option for your situation.
Author: Sara Masarik
Curators of things Good, True, and Beautiful
By Pond and River
Oh, what a treat this book is! Bravo to Living Book Press for not only reprinting the “Eyes and No Eyes” series by Arabella Buckley, but also for updating it with gorgeous full-color photos that cannot fail to aid the reader in nature study, and invite us into the magical natural world around us.
Martha of California
Otis does a marvelous job of helping young readers imagine what life was really like in the particular setting of the story. In Martha of California, for example, we get a compelling look at the wagon train traveling across the Great Salt Desert of Utah. Before they enter into the dangerous territory, Martha tells us the men have all agreed that this journey has to be made quickly regardless of any accidents or mishaps.
Elizabeth Ripley Binders
Elizabeth Ripley’s artist biographies are true living art books. The new editions reprinted by Purple House Press are simply gorgeous. We are particularly thrilled that Purple House Press chose to offer the option of adding 8 prints with the book. The prints are on high quality card stock with just the right amount of sheen.
Building on an idea from Sherry Early of Meriadoc Homeschool Library, I am keeping my books in a 3-ring binder with the prints in sheet protectors. I decided to make spine labels that would draw my patrons over to the shelf.
Seth of Colorado
Written in 1912 by James Otis, this compelling story about the settling of the West was written for children aged approximately 8-12 years old. The reading level is comparable to something like a “Childhood of Famous Americans” book whereas the point of view is something like the “We Were There” books. While Seth is fictional, Otis tells us, through the character of Seth, about the creation of Denver, Colorado as if he were giving us a real first-person account.
Hannah of Kentucky
Written with excellent language and writing, this story is very alive and a joy to read. The reading level is comparable to something like a Childhood of Famous Americans book whereas the point of view is something like the We Were There books. While Hannah and her family are fictional, Otis tells us, through the character of Hannah, about Booneborough as if she was giving us a real first-person account.
The Christmas Stove
In Alta Halverson Seymour’s beautiful Christmas story, The Christmas Stove, 11-year-old Peter and 8-year-old Trudi lose their parents in an avalanche. The children make the difficult journey down the mountain to the village of Zimmerli, looking for their Tante Maria in the hopes that she will adopt them. The children arrive a few weeks before Christmas to find a kind-hearted but sickly woman who is quite poor. Together, the three of them share the struggle for existence and feast on the love they have for each other. A sweet and innocent story, this one reminds a little bit of Ralph Moody’s Mary Emma and Company.
A Grandma For Christmas
This loving retelling of a special Christmas Alta Halverson Seymour’s father had as a boy in Norway is the jewel in her Christmas collection. A short read of only 59 pages (plus a few extra pages of Christmas recipes), it is warm and lovely and full of goodness. It is also exciting and perfect for boys. And, the Purple House Press reprint has full-color illustrations generously spread across nearly every page.
Officer Buckle and Gloria
When Greta and I were used-book treasure hunting this week, we came across Officer Buckle and Gloria. I may have squealed a little when I saw it! I lied up above. Ok, not lied exactly. I didn’t tell the full truth. I may have turned on those dvds for shower time and lunch prep . . . but I also frequently climbed on the couch with my babies to enjoy the videos too. And, Officer Buckle and Gloria, was one of my hands-down favorites. This Caldecott Medal book is just about perfect and absolutely demands many re-readings. It is the perfect blend of silly, sweet, and smart.
A Lot Like Christmas
With this recipe in mind, she has been writing Christmas stories for years and has pulled them together for this collection of short stories. All of them are deeply human while also being about everyday people. All of them deal with some aspect of humanity that needs the kind of transformation that only the Christ of Christmas can bring. And all of them end well even if it is unclear, while you are reading, how that can possibly happen. But, signature Connie Willis, all of them have a sci-fi twist of some kind as well. And that makes them more unpredictable and, frankly, more fun.
Lark
This book is fun, exciting, so interesting, and genuinely hard to put down. I loved it, and I have four library patrons in mind who will have to fight over who gets to borrow it first. That said, there are some challenging bits in here that I think a parent may wish to know about. So, as you read on, know that I loved the book and am so glad to have it. But also know that I think it is best suited to a reader about 12 and older. After my general thoughts, I will highlight the challenges as I see them.
Christmas Farm
This charming story is graced with lovely illustrations by Barry Root. The story shows the seasons, the waiting, and the magical process by which Christmas trees are grown and cared for. At the end of the book, there is a wonderful note from the author with a little history and science about Christmas trees.
Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride
On a cloudless evening in April, 1933, Amelia Earhart attended a dinner at the White House. She and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt were good friends. As the dinner progressed, one of the reporters present mentioned that the First Lady had just received her student pilot’s license. Eleanor in turn asked Amelia what it was like to fly at night. At this point in aviation history, very few pilots had flown in the dark.
I Am David (a.k.a. North to Freedom)
Once David successfully breaks free of the concentration camp, we realize that he has no memory of any life outside of the camp. He has no idea what cities look like, how normal people interact with each other, or what a beautiful mountainside looks like. Every experience is new and terrifying for him. His journey is a bit of a pilgrimage. And he is learning how to be human after only ever being a caged animal. In some haunting ways, he reminds me of Dr. Frankenstein’s monster – hiding in the woods, watching people in order to understand how to be really human.
Baseball Saved Us
Rallying together, the people of Camp cut up mattress covers for uniforms, found wood for bleachers, and friends from home sent bats, balls, and gloves. Everyone played baseball. The children as well as the grownups.