Posts by Betsy Farquhar
The Candymakers and the Chocolate Chase by Wendy Mass
Logan, Miles, Daisy, and Philip are off on a hunt to find the mystery chocolate in this fun follow-up to The Candymakers. The Candymakers and the Chocolate Chase by Wendy Mass. Little, Brown, 2016. 544 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 8-12 (especially voracious readers!) The four who solved a…
Read MoreThe Candymakers by Wendy Mass
Four children simultaneously solve a mystery and learn about teamwork in this sweet, chocolate-y mystery. The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. Little, Brown, 2010. 480 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Mystery lovers, ages 8-12 (especially voracious readers) Well, if you enjoy life while you have it, then it doesn’t matter how long…
Read MoreTowers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A tender exploration of the aftermath of 9/11 as one girl begins to understand her father’s connection to the events. Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Little, Brown, 2016. 240 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Middle grades, ages 8-12 Deja and her family are living in one room at the Avalon…
Read MoreNine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Four seemingly unconnected middle school kids are each connected to the events of September 11 in ways that help them mature and learn compassion. Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016. 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 8-12, especially for discussion…
Read More*God’s Design by Sally Michael and Gary Steward
Sally Michael’s newest Making Him Known family devotional delicately handles roles of men and women, sexuality, and gender issues in a manner that invites whole family participation. God’s Design (Making Him Known Series) by Sally Michael and Gary Steward. P&R Publishing, 2016. 127 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Families with kids ages…
Read MoreSave Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
“Don’t judge a book–or a 5th grader–by its cover” is the message that comes through loud and clear in this heart-warming middle grades title. Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan. Scholastic, 2016. 240 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 8-12 (and up!) Ravi (pronounced Ra-VEE) and his family…
Read MoreSteamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson
Inspired by true events, this is the story of a St. Louis reverend who moved his school off shore to neutral waters when the law made it illegal to teach African Americans. Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Ron Husband. Jump at the Sun, 2016. 40 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended…
Read MoreThe Kids’ Book of Simple Machines by Kelly Doudna
A perfect instruction manual for young tinkerers who want to know how things work and how to leverage the six simple machines to build cool stuff! The Kids’ Book of Simple Machines: Cool Projects and Activities That Make Science Fun! by Kelly Doudna. Mighty Media Kids, 2015. 144 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 9-12 Recommended…
Read MoreThe 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments by Miller, Homer, and Harrington
There’s no excuse to be bored with this book lying around: chemistry, physics, the natural world, and even the human body are just a page away! The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments: Awesome Things to Do With Your Parents, Babysitters, and Other Adults by Rachel Miller, Holly Homer, and Jamie Harrington. Page Street Publishing, 2016.…
Read MoreA Complicated Case by Ulf Nilsson
A funny, chapter book mystery for newly independent readers! A Complicated Case (Detective Gordon) by Ulf Nilsson and illustrated by Gittee Spee. Gecko Press, 2016. 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Ages 5 and up (new readers and as a read aloud) Someone is spreading unhappiness amongst the forest inhabitants and…
Read MoreEmma and Julia Love Ballet by Barbara McClintock
Emma, a young ballet student, and Julia, a professional dancer, simultaneously dance their way through a typical day in this sweet picture book. Emma and Julia Love Ballet by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic, 2016. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8, especially young ballerinas Young Emma and older Julia both love…
Read More*The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung
A vibrantly illustrated retelling of the story of the Bible: Jesus’s redemption of God’s people. *The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung. Illustrated by Don Clark. Crossway, 2015. 132 pages. Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Recommended For: All ages! Beginning in the Garden of Eden, DeYoung retells the primary…
Read More*When Green Becomes Tomatoes by Julie Fogliano
Short, free verse poems as journal entries over the course of a year capture the feel of changing seasons in this well-illustrated book for elementary school children. *When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano. Illustrated by Julie Morstad. Roaring Brook Press, 2016. 56 pages. Reading Level: Poetry Picture Book, Ages 4-8…
Read MoreSchool’s First Day of School by Adam Rex
The back-to-school narrative is flipped on its head in this colorful picture book as School, himself, is the main character! School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Roaring Brook Press, 2016. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 3 and up; anyone who might be…
Read MoreScience Experiments You Can Eat by Vicki Cobb
Kids will love getting to eat their science projects in this clever, well organized book all about science. Science Experiments You Can Eat, Revised and Updated by Vicki Cobb. HarperCollins, 2016. 256 pages. Reading Level: Nonfiction, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Ages 6 and up We eat science experiments every day: carbonated beverages, bread, yogurt, pudding,…
Read More*Spot, the Cat by Henry Cole
Can you spot the cat with the spot in this cleverly illustrated black-and-white wordless picture book? *Spot, the Cat by Henry Cole. Little Simon, 2016. 32 pages. Reading Level: Wordless picture book, ages 0-8 Recommended For: Kids of all ages who like seek-and-find books Spot, the cat, is on an adventure. His white body with…
Read MoreAll American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Rashad (a black guy) and Quinn (a white guy) take turns narrating this timely and moving young adult realistic fiction story about police brutality and standing up for what’s right. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Atheneum, 2015. 320 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 15-18 Recommended For: mature teens, ages 15-18 Rashad…
Read MoreThe BFG by Roald Dahl
After the BFG snatches Sophie from her orphanage, she learns a lot about giants and the BFG makes a new friend in this quirky, British romp. The BFG by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Puffin Books, 2001 (first published 1982). 199 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Read Aloud to ages…
Read MoreBook Bits (Friday, July 1, 2016)
Book Bits is a monthly feature in which we share assorted book-related links and links to news pieces that reflect Redeemed Reader’s purpose. Books on Bikes! Instead of a Bookmobile, these librarians take books on bikes (plus freezy pops) to kids in their community in the summer. Nabeel Qureshi We’ve included Qureshi’s book Seeking Allah, Finding…
Read MoreRetro Reads: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
In this British children’s classic, the brave Swallows (four siblings) are at war with the piratical Amazons (two sisters) in one glorious summer of sailing, camping, and treasure hunting. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. David R. Godine, 2010 (reprint; orig. 1930). 315 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: All ages (read aloud);…
Read MoreThe Unmapped Sea (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #5) by Maryrose Wood
Miss Penelope Lumley starts to solve some of the Ashton Place mysteries while on holiday by the sea in this fifth volume of the series. The Unmapped Sea (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #5) by Maryrose Wood and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. Balzer + Bray, 2015. 416 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12…
Read MoreThe Interrupted Tale (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #4) by Maryrose Wood
Volume 4 of this funny middle grades series has Penelope, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia back in London attempting to save the Swanburne School for Poor Bright Females. The Interrupted Tale (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #4) by Maryrose Wood and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler. Balzer + Bray, 2013. 385 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages…
Read MoreThe Unseen Guest (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #3) by Maryrose Wood
Volume 3 of this funny middle grades series has Penelope, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia back in London attempting to save the Swanburne School for Poor Bright Females. The Unseen Guest (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #3) by Maryrose Wood and illustrated by Jon Klassen. HarperCollins, 2012. 340 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For:…
Read MoreThe Hidden Gallery (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2) by Maryrose Wood
Miss Penelope Lumley and her three young charges are off to London in this humorous, satisfying follow-up to the first in the series. The Hidden Gallery (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2) by Maryrose Wood and illustrated by Jon Klassen. Balzer + Bray, 2010. 313 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages…
Read MoreBook Bits (June 3, 2016)
Read on for interesting book-related news from around the web…. Boston Globe-Hornbook Award Announced Yesterday! We’ve reviewed a few of them here and for World Magazine: Goodbye, Stranger, Most Dangerous, The Voice of Fannie Lou Hamer (World link), Symphony for the City of the Dead (World link). Summer Reading: In case you missed it, it’s the Summer of Great Family…
Read MoreThe Summer of Great Family Reads
For Everything, There is a Season There are patterns in Scripture of both the Lord and his people resting from their labors. Summer is such a time for contemporary students and teachers. After working hard during the school year, minds and bodies need a break whether they were in a traditional classroom all winter or…
Read MoreThe Pirate Jamboree
The Pirate Jamboree by Mark Teague. Orchard Books, 2013. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 0-8 Bottom Line: The neighborhood kids are sailing together for a pirate jamboree in this rollicking picture book. Neighbors Eye Patch Sue, Sharktooth Jane, and Cap’n Gunderboom along with the Johnson Brothers (Bluebeard, Blackbeard, and Beigebeard)…
Read MoreCaptain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bentley and Helen Oxenbury
Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bentley and Helen Oxenbury. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2016. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 0-8 Bottom Line: Jack, Zack, and Caspar imaginatively set sail in their pirate ship (made of sand) in this old-fashioned feeling picture book. Jack, Zack, and Caspar,…
Read MoreAsk-a-Librarian: 30 Great “New” Books
Ask-a-Librarian is an occasional feature in which we answer a reader’s email query. Here at Redeemed Reader, we love children’s books from all eras and all genres. We cherish the books we grew up reading–many of them the tried and true children’s classics–and we cherish many recent reads as well. Our hope and prayer is to shine…
Read MoreBook Bits (Friday, May 6, 2016)
Read on for interesting book-related news from around the web…. Adult Coloring Books? Adult coloring books are all the rage, but some Christians have concerns over coloring mandalas (Eastern religious symbols); not to fear! There are also Christian coloring books with texts and symbols drawn from Scripture, hymns, and Christian tradition. Tolkien fans, this is…
Read MoreHelp! My Kid is Developing Brain Cavities!
Maybe your kids, like mine, have recently read classic novels. Maybe your family, like mine, has been reading a biography of a famous scientist together. And maybe you have to say reluctantly, “It’s time to stop reading and fulfill other obligations.” But maybe your children, like mine, also lug home from the library encyclopedic StarWars…
Read MoreBook Bits: Beverly Cleary, banned books, National Cereal Day, and more (March 7, 2016)
Book Bits: a random collection of interesting, book-related news from around the web. Enjoy! Easter is just around the corner! Check out this Easter devotional that we reviewed last year. Oops! We missed it: World Read Aloud Day was February 24. It’s not too late, though–you can read aloud with your children every day! Beverly Cleary,…
Read MoreThe 6 Risks of Reading Old Books
I am a book list professional. I read, save, research, create, and share book lists. I own books of book lists. And I’m concerned with what I’m seeing amongst my fellow Christians: a heavy leaning on old books for so many school-related booklists. The fact is, if we submerge ourselves in old books, we run some serious risks.…
Read MoreRecent World Magazine Book Reviews
Our regular readers have no doubt noticed a dearth of book reviews recently covering new releases. We’re still offering up great lists, commentary, reviews of older titles, and other content here, but our staff has begun reviewing new releases for World magazine on a regular basis. Here are links to our four most recent review charts…
Read MoreBook Bits is Back! (2/5/16)
It’s high time we revived Book Bits: a random collection of interesting book-related links and information found around the web. Enjoy! Beatrix Potter has a new book coming out! Now you can ask the advice of a “book concierge” like you might a hotel concierge. Rumor has it that a new Little House movie is in…
Read More5 Fun Fairy Tale Reads for February
Love is in the air! Or is it? Despite the myriad of hearts, chocolates, and flowers festooning every available merchandising spot, not everyone wants to read a love story this time of year. But what about a romance? Merriam-Webster defines “romance” as: “a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and…
Read MoreOne Reader’s 10 Most Memorable Books of 2015
As a professional reviewer, book award committee member, teacher, and bibliophile, I read a lot of books in a given year. A. Lot. I recorded 170 titles in Goodreads for 2015, but that barely scratches the surface (as my local librarians can attest). Those were the titles that I liked enough to review, were getting…
Read More2016 Newbery Buzz: Drowned City by Don Brown
Continuing our series of discussions about “buzz” books, this time Janie and Betsy look at a nonfiction work in graphic novel format. Betsy: Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans is getting buzz on several Mock lists. Because it is a nonfiction graphic novel, I’ve heard it thrown about as a possible Caldecott, Newbery, and/or Sibert candidate.…
Read MoreThe Nutcracker: This is That Time of Year
The Nutcracker ballet is part of many Americans’ yearly cultural celebration of Christmas. The music plays everywhere, and even young children often recognize the strains of the “Waltz of the Flowers” or the “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.” If this rings true for your household, check out one of the books below to further your…
Read MoreBetrayed by Books: Always Read with Discernment!
I’m all for diversity in books–after all, God’s creation is full of so many different kinds of people and they are all created in His image. We should be reading about and seeing people of all shapes, sizes, and colors in books. There are plenty of diverse family situations, too; families don’t come in neat little packages…
Read MoreHappy 100th Birthday, Jean Fritz!
Prolific author Jean Fritz turns 100 today! During her long life, she has written numerous books–mostly biographies–for children. Before picture book biographies were so prevalent, elementary school children had few solid sources for biographies…except for Fritz’s works. Even with the advent of such young reader-friendly series as the “Who Was…?” series by Scholastic, Fritz’s works…
Read MoreIs Petunia Ready for Social Security? Picture Books and Retirement
Do Picture Books Retire? Petunia, that silly goose, is turning the ripe old age of 65 this year, the same age as my father-in-law who is retiring this fall from his long-standing position as nurse anesthetist. The Carrot Seed at 70 is the same age as my father who semi-retired this summer. And Harold and his trusty…
Read MoreI Don’t Know How the Story Ends: an Interview with Janie Cheaney
Janie’s newest novel for young folks, I Don’t Know How the Story Ends, hit store shelves this month, and she’s been busy signing copies and enjoying early reviews. Book babies are a bit like eggs in a nest: patiently, the author sits on the drafts of the book, keeping them warm until they hatch. Publication…
Read More5 Questions on Writing with our very own J. B. Cheaney
Janie’s sixth middle grades novel, I Don’t Know How the Story Ends, is due to hit store shelves this Wednesday (October 6th)! We will be featuring an interview with Janie about the new book in particular in two weeks (so you all have time to read it before then!), but today we are taking the opportunity…
Read MoreTop 25 Ancient History Resources
Top 25 Ancient History Resources “Ancient History” is primarily concerned with the world during biblical times and the early church. When the children of Israel were slaving away for Pharaoh, what might Egypt have looked like then? When Paul was traveling on his missionary journeys across the Roman Empire, what was the Roman Empire like?…
Read MoreThe 2015 PBOTY Committee Reflects….
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the closed doors of a book award committee’s deliberations? How a group of people can, with confidence, pronounce a particular book the “best” of the year? An earnest committee, regardless of their makeup, will go through a similar process in their deliberations. The PBOTY Committee… Our Picture…
Read MoreStory Tea: Picture Books of the Year (+printable)
World magazine has just announced their Children’s Books of the Year! Both the Children’s Book of the Year and the Picture Book of the Year lists are outstanding collections. While the five of us on the Picture Book of the Year committee–and any other grown-ups we could round up–scrutinized the nominated books in minute details,…
Read MoreBoats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley
Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley. Roaring Brook Press, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Buckley, a young beaver, lives with his mother by the sea. While he loves everything about the sea, his favorite thing to do is to make boats: “big boats, small boats, long boats,…
Read More*Water is Water by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin
*Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin. Roaring Brook Press, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 0-10 Most books about the water cycle show the classic diagram of ocean/lake, clouds, and land, using technical terms such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. In…
Read MoreGoodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead. Wendy Lamb Books, 2015. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 12-15 Bottom Line: Three best friends attempt to navigate seventh grade with their one rule–no fights–still in effect in this contemporary realistic fiction novel. Best friends since the fourth grade, Bridge, Tab, and Emily enter seventh grade…
Read MoreA+ Attitude (Morgan Love Series) by Stephanie Perry Moore
A+ Attitude (Morgan Love Series #1) by Stephanie Perry Moore. Lift Every Voice Books (a Moody Imprint), 2011. 144 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 6-10 Recommended For: Ages 6-10, especially girls Bottom Line: A Christian realistic fiction series about a young African American girl wrestling with family dynamics, a new school, and a bad…
Read MoreJust Jump! (Double Dutch Series #1) by Mabel Elizabeth Singletary
Just Jump! (Double Dutch Series #1) by Mabel Elizabeth Singletary. Lift Every Voice Books (a Moody Imprint), 2007. 160 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Ages 8-10, especially girls Bottom Line: A realistic fiction series about a multicultural group of friends who form a strong Double Dutch (jump rope) team. Nancy is from…
Read MoreMaking the Team by Stephanie Perry Moore and Derrick Moore
Making the Team by Stephanie Perry Moore and Derrick Moore. Alec London Series. Lift Every Voice Books (a Moody Imprint), 2011. 160 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Ages 8-10, especially boys Bottom Line: Alec London learns to trust God in the midst of parent issues, friend issues, and sibling issues in this realistic…
Read MoreMcSweeney’s The Goods, vol. 1
The Goods, vol. 1 by McSweeney’s. Big Picture Press, 2013. 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Ages 8 and up Bottom Line: A quirky compilation of McSweeney’s magazine inserts featuring clever, witty takes on such classic kids’ magazine fare as mazes, spot the difference, secret words, jokes, and similar elements. What happens…
Read More*Gingerbread for Liberty! by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch
*Gingerbread for Liberty! How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch. HMH Books, 2015. 32 pages Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 While there’s more to it than simple cooking finesse, one German baker put his baking talents to heroic use during…
Read More*The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
*The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown, 2009. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: All Ages Stunning illustrations, a vast African savannah setting, and perfect pacing make this picture book a true delight. As is typical of Pinkney’s art, the story begins on the front endpapers with a sweeping panorama inspired by…
Read More*The Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney
*The Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Vibrant, colorful water colors breathe new life into this familiar fable of the lazy grasshopper and industrious ants. Beginning with the front endpapers, illustrations tell of a lonely, proud, and lazy grasshopper…
Read MoreThe Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney
The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney. Little, Brown, 2013. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: All Ages Slow and Steady Wins the Race! Nearly wordless, this lively depiction of one of Aesop’s most famous fables starts right away on the front endpapers as the hare bounds over hills and the…
Read MoreSquelch Not the Series!
If you recognize names such as Jack and Annie or Patrick and Beth, know that mysteries can be ordered A to Z, or believe in Rainbow Fairies, then you likely have a child in second-fourth grade/aged 6-10. Series fiction exists for nearly every reading level, but it certainly reaches its peak during these significant elementary…
Read More*Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
*Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. Tenderly House, 1981 (reprint, orig. 1957). 274 pages. Reading Level: Young adult (ages 12 and up) Recommended For: ages 10 and up (see review) Bottom Line: The classic account of Jim Elliot and his four friends who earnestly desired to be used by God to bring the gospel to the…
Read MoreYard Sale by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Yard Sale by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Candlewick, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-10 Yard sales: passersby think, “bargains!” while sellers mourn, “my stuff!” Callie’s family is moving to an urban apartment presumably because times are tough; they are having a yard sale to help downsize. In one…
Read More*If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
*If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson. Blazer + Bray, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-4 Recommended For: Ages 0-8 If you plant a tomato seed, a carrot seed, and a cabbage seed, in time, with love and care, tomato, carrot, and cabbage plants will grow. What if you plant seeds of selfishness or kindness? A…
Read More*Daily Bible Reading Program for Children: 7/52 Bible Study
*Unfortunately, it looks like this program is no longer available. Consider this review a source of inspiration! If you create something like this, be sure to let us know. Daily Reading Program for Children by eThought.com. Part of the 7/52 Bible Study Program. 2014. Reading Level: Ages 4-10 Recommended For: Independent readers, ages 4-10 Daily Bible…
Read MoreLing and Ting books by Grace Lin
A delightful early reader series about Asian American twins, Ling and Ting. Ling and Ting books by Grace Lin. LB Kids, 2011 (and to the present). 48 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, ages 4-8 Recommended For: ages 4-8 Ling and Ting are twins, but they are not exactly the same. In a clever plot twist during…
Read MoreA Pet for Fly Guy (Fly Guy Series) by Tedd Arnold
A Pet for Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold. Orchard Books, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Early Reader, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8, especially boys The Fly Guy series is a must see for new readers, particularly boys. Arnold takes the “quirky pet” early reader theme (a la Danny and the Dinosaur or Henry and Mudge) a step…
Read MoreThe Dragon and the Garden by N. D. Wilson and illustrated by Peter Bentley
The Dragon and the Garden (The Old Stories) by N. D. Wilson and illustrated by Peter Bentley. Canon Press, 2007. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 8-10 N. D. Wilson brings his facility with words and storytelling to the stories in this picture book series featuring biblical characters such as Adam and…
Read MoreBallet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea
Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea. Disney-Hyperion, 2015. 56 pages. Reading Level: Easy Reader, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Shea, creator of the Dinosaur vs. Book series and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, “gets” kids. His books are universal kid pleasers, and this new easy reader series is sure to find loyal fans.…
Read MoreThe Cowboy by Hildegard Muller
The Cowboy (I Like to Read Series) by Hildegard Muller. Holiday House, 2015. 24 pages. Reading Level: Easy Readers, ages 4-8 Recommended For: new readers, ages 4-8, and young listeners, ages 0-4 The Cowboy is a German imprint that, like Holiday House’s other I Like to Read books, is shaped more like a picture book than…
Read MoreTime Together: Me and Grandpa by Maria Catherine, illustrated by Pascal Campion
Time Together: Me and Grandpa by Maria Catherine, illustrated by Pascal Campion. Picture Window Books, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books (ages 0-4) Recommended for: Ages 0-4 Stylized art and a simple text show children spending time with their grandfathers in a variety of activities. Each two-page spread features one child with his or…
Read MoreAvengers: Age of Ultron Resources! (+ Printable)
Emily reviewed Avengers: Age of Ultron at Worldmag.com. If you’ll click “Listen” at the bottom of that post, you can also hear hints from Kevin Harvey, author of All You Want to Know About the Bible in Pop Culture. We had a great response to our “cheatsheet” for Cinderella a month ago. Today we…
Read MoreQueen of the Diamond by Emily Arnold McCully
Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story by Emily Arnold McCully. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 4-8, especially girls Baseball is the all-American sport. And great picture book biographies of famous baseball players are in good supply. Understandably, many biographies of early baseball players…
Read MoreSilent Star by Bill Wise, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
Silent Star: The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy by Bill Wise, illustrated by Adam Gustavson. Lee and Low, 2012. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 Baseball games are full of distinctive sounds: the crack as the ball and bat make contact, the roar of the crowd, the umpire’s…
Read MoreNew Shoes by Susan Lynn Meyer, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
New Shoes by Susan Lynn Meyer, illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Holiday House, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 It’s difficult for contemporary children to really “get” the effects of segregation and Jim Crow laws in the South in the first half of the twentieth century. But contemporary children…
Read MoreSwing Sisters by Karen Deans, illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Swing Sisters: The Story of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm by Karen Deans, illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Holiday House, 2015. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-10 Recommended for: Ages 4-10 Did you know there was an all-female, interracial jazz band in the early 20th century? A little-known slice of music history comes to life in…
Read More*The Father Brown Reader: Stories from Chesterton adapted by Nancy Carpentier Brown
*The Father Brown Reader: Stories from Chesterton adapted by Nancy Carpentier Brown, illustrated by Ted Schluenderfritz. Hillside Education, 2007. 147 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended for: Ages 8-12 Bottom Line: This well-done adaptation of four famous Father Brown stories preserves the original lively spirit of Chesterton’s famous sleuth. The Father Brown Reader is a collection…
Read MoreAh! by Geraldine Collet, illustrated by Estelle Billon Spagnol
Ah! by Géraldine Collet, illustrated by Estelle Billon Spagnol. Holiday House, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-4 (plus older readers—see review) Recommended for: All ages Ah! by Géraldine Collet is a French import about two little rabbits…and two little spiders. A little rabbit, following cryptic signs, runs into a spider. Eek! He busily…
Read More*Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door by Hilary McKay
*Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont. Albert Whitman and Co., 2014. 91 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Bottom Line: Lulu and her cousin Mellie use kindness and creativity to win over their enemy—the new boy next door—in this delightful chapter book. Lulu is…
Read MoreThe House That’s Your Home by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jane Dyer
The House That’s Your Home by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Jane Dyer. Schwartz and Wade, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books (ages 0-8) Recommended for: ages 0-8 Speaking directly to the young reader (listener), the text sweetly highlights the various elements of a small child’s world in this old-fashioned picture book. Beginning with the outside world…
Read MoreThe Spider (Disgusting Creatures) by Elise Gravel
The Spider (Disgusting Creatures) by Elise Gravel. Tundra Books, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Children are fascinated by bugs and spiders, often bringing them to their more squeamish parents for a closer look. And there are plenty of picture books on these fascinating small carnivores of the animal world.…
Read MoreSpring Story Tea: Ducklings, Bunnies, and Tea with Dinosaurs! [Printable + Recipes]
It’s spring! Rain, puddles, flowers, ducklings, bunnies, new life, and tea with dinosaurs! Cuddle up with the children in your life, pour a cup of tea, and enjoy some springtime reads. (See printable with recipes here!) *note: all titles have been selected with group audiences in mind; all are suitable for a wide range of…
Read MoreFinding Good Chapter Book Friends: Junie B. Jones v. Jasper John Dooley
A Childlike Attitude My friends, there is an enormous difference between the childish and the childlike. George MacDonald famously commented that he didn’t write for children but for the childlike (no matter their “age”). This childlike essence helps explain why grown ups still read The Chronicles of Narnia or Edith Nesbit’s books with delight, and it is also part of the reason easy…
Read MoreBink and Gollie: Best Friends Forever by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Bink and Gollie: Best Friends Forever by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile. Candlewick, 2013. 80 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-10 Recommended for: Ages 4-10 Bink and Gollie are best friends. Like so many easy reader best friends, they are opposites on the surface and continuously overcome their differences to form a…
Read MoreFinding Spring by Carin Berger
Finding Spring by Carin Berger. Greenwillow, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-8 Recommended for: Ages 0-8 Maurice the bear just wants to find spring. He’ll hibernate once his mission is complete. He finally makes a glorious discovery, scoops up some “spring” into a ball to take home to his den, and settles comfortably…
Read MoreClick, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Click, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books (ages 0-4) Recommended for: Ages 0-4 Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy rhythm and sound effects, and this book delivers on both counts. Readers familiar with the creators’ former books (such as Click, Clack, Moo) will enjoy seeing…
Read MoreThis Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne
This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne. Henry Holt and Co., 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Books that turn the book format on its head and play with the reader are fun to read to children, especially those who are experienced listeners. This Book Just Ate My…
Read MoreSeeing Christ in Othello: Is Tragedy Inevitable?
Examining School Reading Lists Emily wrote a marvelous series in the fall on the complications typicalhigh school reading lists might pose for Christians, sensitive students, or any young, impressionable reader. As a high school English teacher, I have taught many dark works; Shakespearean tragedies are a particular recurring element. Historically, I’ve often fumed: Why are…
Read MoreCaroline Starr Rose: An Interview!
We’re privileged to feature a virtual interview today with Caroline Starr Rose, author of Blue Birds (just released on March 24; read our review) and of May B. (read our review). Both are historical fiction novels in verse. Caroline resides in Albuquerque with her pastor husband and two sons. She writes about faith, writing, her books, and other thoughts at her…
Read MoreBlue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose
Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose. Putnam, 2015. 400 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-12 Bottom Line: This historical novel-in-verse delicately explores cross-cultural friendship against the backdrop of the lost Roanoke Colony in the sixteenth century. Alis lands with her family on the New World beach, eager to be off…
Read MoreJasper John Dooley: You’re in Trouble! by Caroline Adderson
Jasper John Dooley: You’re in Trouble! by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Ben Clanton. Kids Can Press, 2015. 124 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Bottom Line: Jasper John Dooley drinks a high energy drink that makes him “Bad” in this funny, illustrated chapter book; early elementary students everywhere will…
Read MoreJasper John Dooley: Left Behind by Caroline Adderson
Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Ben Clanton. Kids Can Press, 2011. 132 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Bottom Line: A humorous illustrated chapter book that celebrates the special relationship a young boy has with his grandmother. First grader Jasper John Dooley spends every Wednesday afternoon…
Read MoreThe Charm of the Penderwicks (Janie and Betsy discuss)
Periodically, Janie and Betsy discuss great middle grades literature, trying to figure out what makes it so great. Today, the charming Penderwicks clan are held up to the microscope. [Betsy] Hey Janie! The fourth Penderwicks book is out this month, and I think it might be my favorite of the series. I know I’m not…
Read MoreThe Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall
The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall. Knopf, 2015. 352 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended for: Ages 8-12 Bottom Line: The best installment of the Penderwick family adventures to date features ten-year-old Batty, a new dog walking enterprise, the airing of family secrets, and new personal discoveries. Both long-time Penderwick fans and…
Read MoreThe Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall. Yearling, 2012 (originally 2011). 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended for: Ages 8-12 Bottom Line: While Rosalind and the Penderwick parents are off on their own adventures, the remaining Penderwicks head to the Maine coast for a very eventful summer vacation. At the start…
Read MoreSeeing the Gospel in Cinderella (Discussion Starters!)
Why Cinderella? —a joint post from Betsy, Hayley, and Megan We at Redeemed Reader love a good fairy tale. Cinderella is perhaps the quintessential fairy tale with its rags-to-riches princess, the fairy godmother, and fancy dresses. Indeed, the Cinderella story is one of the most ubiquitous stories worldwide, appearing in nearly every culture for centuries. The…
Read MoreThe Glass Slipper by Eleanor Farjeon
The Glass Slipper by Eleanor Farjeon. Viking, 1956. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 Bottom Line: Farjeon’s classic retelling of Cinderella is a fun read and may have inspired Walt Disney himself in the making of the animated Disney version. Every now and then we remind readers of an older, out-of-print…
Read MoreCinderella Read-Alikes for Boys and Girls of All Ages
Cinderella Read-Alikes for Boys and Girls of All Ages A few of our favorite picture books, chapter books, middle grade titles, young adult reads, and some specifically Christian resources that all relate to Cinderella. Not all are strict Cinderella retellings, but all have thematic connections to this famous fairy tale. Some titles may surprise you!…
Read More*The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye (Retro Reads)
*The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye. Puffin, 2002 (originally published in 1980). 128 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 Bottom Line: Princess Amy, cursed with being ordinary, discovers that she quite likes being ordinary in this charming modern fairy tale. Princess Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminta Adelaide Aurelia Anne of…
Read MoreThe Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose
The Secret Life of Squirrels by Nancy Rose. Little, Brown, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Squirrels are ubiquitous; big cities don’t deter them, and they seem more impervious to seasonal changes than most woodland animals. While many rue the squirrel presence in their backyards, Nancy Rose seized the…
Read MoreA Rock Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violetta Dabija
A Rock Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violetta Dabija. Millbrook Picture Books, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Recommended for: ages 0-8 Salas and Dabija team up once again to bring us a child-friendly description of all the many things a particular item or substance can be: in this case, rocks!…
Read MoreThe Queen’s Shadow by Cybele Young
The Queen’s Shadow: A Story About How Animals See by Cybele Young. Kids Can Press, 2015. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: Ages 8-10 The queen is throwing a party with all of her favorite animal friends when the lights go out and her shadow goes missing! Who has stolen the…
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