I don’t recall how I acquired A Blizzard Year. It’s a very interesting little book that could have belonged to one of my children once upon a time, or I may have picked it up at the library book sale. No matter, I have had it a while, and picked it up on a whim … Continue reading A Blizzard Year
The Strange Intruder
As a boy mom, a small part of my regular reading diet includes previewing books that come from trustworthy sources as possible reads for the often difficult-to-please 8-14-year-old boy niche. In this book list article, Diane and I mention that, in our experience as teachers, boy moms, and encouragers of readers, we have learned that … Continue reading The Strange Intruder
The Book of Three Book Club
Last month I had the pleasure of reading The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander with almost twenty young readers. It was a tremendously good book club because, after a year and a half of reading together, we have developed a common vernacular and culture. It isn’t enough to discuss the story arc or character … Continue reading The Book of Three Book Club
Miss Moore Thought Otherwise
I recently started off on a rabbit trail that leads back through prominent librarians of the 20th Century to the first women librarians in America. These women were influential in shaping ideas about the kinds of books that should be written for children. Many of them resorted to writing children’s books themselves. While sorting … Continue reading Miss Moore Thought Otherwise
Rose Campbell Books
“Keep good company, read good books, love good things and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as you can…” -Rose In Bloom My friends and readers of this blog are likely to know that I consider Louisa May Alcott to be in my list of very favorite authors. I say very favorite even though Diane … Continue reading Rose Campbell Books
Literature for the Ages – Year 2
Last year I had the privilege of teaching a literature class for four high school-aged homeschooled girls. I explained my goals and best attempt at planning the school year here. We get to do it again! This year two of my girls are seniors. My thought as I considered selections was to attempt to … Continue reading Literature for the Ages – Year 2
Amos and Boris
I enjoyed William Steig’s Sylvester and the Magic Pebble years ago, but not so much that I set out to find everything Steig had written. More recently, I read Dr. De Soto and didn’t love it. I also remember feeling that the cover of The Amazing Bone is a bit creepy; flashbacks to childhood nightmares … Continue reading Amos and Boris
The Green Ember Book Club
This week, I hosted a The Green Ember book club at Cathedral Book and Gift for 30 readers aged 7-15. It was one of the most fun book clubs we have had to date. Of all of the books that we have read together, this one, The Hobbit, and Jonathan Roger's Wilderking books have inspired the most … Continue reading The Green Ember Book Club
Boys of Blur
When the sugarcane’s burning and the rabbits are running, look for the boys who are quicker than flame. Crouch. Stare through the smoke and let your eyes burn. Don’t blink. While cane leaves crackle and harvesters whir, while blades shatter armies of sugar-sweet sticks, watch for ghost in the smoke, for boys made of blur, … Continue reading Boys of Blur
Book Club: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Earlier this month, I hosted a Wonderful Wizard of Oz themed book club at Cathedral Book and Gift with 15 young readers. I think that of all of our book clubs to date, this was my favorite. I do like the Oz books, but that is not why this was my favorite. Last summer we … Continue reading Book Club: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz