Posts by Betsy Farquhar
Book Bits (May 12, 2014)
Brown v. Board of Education Did you know it’s the 60th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education? Our children might take for granted that their schools include a variety of cultures and ethnicities, but that was not always the case–particularly in the South. It’s important that we teach our children…
Read MoreSpy Catchers of Maple Hill
Spy Catchers of Maple Hill by Megan Frazer Blakemore. Bloomsbury, 2014. 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-12 One-Sentence Summary: Young Hazel Kaplansky, imbibing the fear of the McCarthy era, is hot on the heels of a presumed spy when she begins to unravel several smaller mysteries that help her mature in…
Read MoreCongratulations to our Sonnet Contest Winners!
I know it’s usual to proclaim how great all the entries are for any given contest, but it really is true for our sonnet contest. We received some outstanding contributions–all the more outstanding because the sonnet form can be a tricky one. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write a sonnet and send it in!…
Read MoreBoys of Blur and Beowulf: Like Father, Like Son
It’s not often that we are privileged to read literary gems from both father AND son. But that is indeed the case here; to make it more interesting, both are tackling Beowulf. Interest piqued? I hope so because both of these books are truly outstanding. The first is an action-packed adventure novel full of the mysterious…
Read MoreBook Bits (April 21, 2014)
Happy Easter Monday! I spent a semester in the Czech Republic during college and vividly remember a quirky Czech tradition: on Easter Monday, boys “whipped” girls with little braided whips and the girls gave the boys decorated eggs in return. I was in a small town; I don’t know how much this tradition is still…
Read MoreThe Playmaker by (our very own) J. B. Cheaney
When I first read this book, I did not know Janie personally. I knew of her from WORLD Magazine, but it took a flyer at my local library for me to discover her middle grades fiction. I managed to finagle a face-to-face meet-up with Janie when she came to town for a Shakespeare Festival (and, like all…
Read MoreLibrarians’ List: Easy/Leveled Readers, part 2
Lovable/Quirky Main Character Frances books by Lillian Hoban Arthur books by Lillian Hoban Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik Penny books by Kevin Henkes Dodsworth books by Tim Egan Nonfiction/Informational Books/Series (please note that we have not read every science book in every list; these are starting points–use discretion; these are often mixed in with…
Read MoreBook Bits, March 17th, 2014
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! First, we must congratulate DL for winning the Freddie Ramos giveaway! During the month of March, we’re focusing on high interest reads. Two groups that the folks in the industry often talk about are boys (“boys don’t read”) and diversity (“where are the books for ‘diverse’ kids?”); the claim is that…
Read MoreRetro Reads: Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain
It’s Retro Reads week with Lloyd Alexander! Today, we take a look back to Lloyd Alexander’s marvelous Chronicles of Prydain, the first of which was published 50 years ago. The Prydain Chronicles are modern classics which have influenced contemporary fantasy literature for children and remain highly readable/enjoyable in their own right 50 years after their first…
Read MoreLibrarians’ List: Easy/Leveled Readers, part 1
Oh, those early (slow) reading sessions when your son or daughter labors to sound out each and every phoneme…. It seems to take forever to listen to one page, doesn’t it? And what should they be reading when the process starts to become just a little bit easier for them? Your friendly RedeemedReader librarians have…
Read MoreMeet Lulu and Freddie: 2 Terrific Chapter Book Characters (+ a Giveaway)
Ready to move on from Frog and Toad? Henry and Mudge getting too easy for your newly independent reader? Rest assured: Junie B. Jones, Judy Moody, Captain Underpants, and their ilk are not the only new kids on the block. Back in my day, readers would have graduated from Frog and Toad to a book…
Read MoreOphelia and the Marvelous Boy
This book is a “Best of the Best” pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee. Knopf, 2014. 240 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12. Recommended for: ages 8-12 One Line Summary: Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “Snow Queen,” Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is more…
Read MorePresidents’ Day: a Librarians’ List
Presidents’ Day is one of those weird little holidays: school children rejoice in their day off, and lots of people don’t give it another thought. Lincoln and Washington both have birthdays this month, but we thought we’d broaden our focus on this list to include the Presidents in general and a couple in particular. Below,…
Read MoreBook Bits (February 10, 2014)
Lots of interesting little links and tidbits for you today in our weekly Book Bits feature (formerly Web Newberys)! Please remember that we do not necessarily endorse every book listed through these links. Rather, these are interesting ways to see what the nation is reading, what book trends are circulating, and other oddments we bibliophiles…
Read MoreGhosts: Real or Make Believe?
Ghost stories: most of us relish that slightly spooky feeling we get when an urban legend or hair-raising tall tale is well told around a campfire. Our society seems to be erring on the side of “more is more” these days, though; instead of slightly spooky, we have shows like The Walking Dead, YA fiction has run…
Read MoreALA Midwinter Conference Reflections
Among children’s literature lovers like ourselves, very little else holds the mystique of the ALA Youth Media Awards. The ALA holds two major national events every year: Annual Conference, which happens in the summer, and Midwinter Meeting, which happens late January. At Annual, the winners of the Youth Media Awards have a celebration. At Midwinter,…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp
We’re coming down to the wire with our Newbery discussions. The ALA Youth Media Awards (which include the Newbery and Caldecott) will be announced Monday morning. Janie and I feel confident that we’ve touched on some of the better contenders. But we may be completely surprised! Today, we look at a National Book Award finalist (see our…
Read MoreTwerps and Bullies: Middle Grade fun for boys
I’ll admit it: I cracked up when I read Wimpy Kid. Clearly, my sense of humor is rather juvenile (or, maybe I’ve just spent a LOT of time around middle school kids). I still thought the kid was a jerk, though, and didn’t read any more in the series. I’m currently an intern in an elementary school…
Read MoreAnd the winner is…
And the winner for our New Children’s Bible giveaway is… Joey E. Congratulations, Joey! And thanks to those who shared their New Year’s goals with us and entered the giveaway.
Read MoreA New Year: Goals + Giveaway
(Giveaway is now closed) Reading-Oriented New Year’s Goals I’m one of those folks who enjoy making New Year’s Resolutions. I prefer the term “goal” to “resolution” because goals are usually more specific (and therefore more likely to get achieved). An avid reader (surprise, surprise), I am making a few New Year’s Goals specifically targeted towards…
Read MoreNewbery Buzz: Flora & Ulysses
Newbery Award Janie and I are back to discuss another potential Newbery contender (see our discussion of The Real Boy). The prestigious Newbery and Caldecott awards (along with other ALA awards) will be announced at the end of January; children’s literature fans across the country love trying to figure out which books the tight-lipped committee…
Read MoreNostalgic Christmas Picture Books
Many of our cultural Christmas celebrations are just that–cultural, not biblical. That being said, we can be Christians and still enjoy many of our cultural celebrations for what they are: cultural celebrations. No doubt, our regular readers here are investing time and energy to teach the real Christmas story. And, no doubt, many of you…
Read MoreThe Thing About Luck: National Book Award Winner
The National Book Award Finalists were announced earlier this fall, and this past week, the winners were announced. This year’s winner for Young People’s Literature is The Thing About Luck–a book I read earlier this fall. I enjoyed others that I read on the NBA shortlist (and longlist) more, but I can appreciate the choice.…
Read MoreLibrarians’ List: Favorite Picture Books of 2013
It’s time for another Librarians’ List! Since it’s picture book month, we’re indulging our list-making hobbies and bringing you yet another list of our favorites. Last week, we looked at Retro Reads, books published before 2000. Today, the list includes our favorite hot-off-the-press titles, all of which have been published this year (we’ll see how…
Read MoreTake Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon. Atheneum, 2013. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Take Me Out to the Yakyu is a colorful, joyous celebration of two cultures, two grandparents, and baseball. Using symmetrical text and images, Meshon compares and contrasts an outing to a baseball game with a boy’s two different grandfathers:…
Read MoreCharacter in the Midst of Diversity: 8 Titles to Note
2013 has given us lots of excellent diverse picture book titles: books about minority cultures, folktale retellings, and books by (or illustrated by) people of color. Some of them offer snapshots of a different culture without much commentary. Others show people (or animals) developing character and using hard work to fight opposition or simply to…
Read MoreLibrarians’ List: 25 Picture Book Retro Reads
We’ve been spending quite a bit of time this month looking at newer picture books–many of them published in 2013. But today we’re taking a look back to some favorite Retro Reads (published before 2000).* *You might think of retro reads as the books you could check out back when you used a card catalog!…
Read MoreSome Words About Wordless Books
For our purposes, wordless books are either entirely wordless or have very little text. A classic example is Peter Spier’s Noah’s Ark which begins with a centuries-old poem on page 1, and then proceeds with no further text. Mercer Mayer’s Four Frogs in a Box series is another absolute must in anyone’s wordless book education.…
Read MoreHistory in Graphic Format
As we conclude our History Month here at RedeemedReader, I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about historical fiction, church history, picture book biographies, general history, and more! One type of book we haven’t touched on is the graphic novel. A graphic novel will appear to be “just” a comic book to some, but the artists in…
Read MoreEmpire of Bones (Ashtown Burials, #3)
Empire of Bones (Ashtown Burials #3) by N. D. Wilson. Random House, 2013. 448 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades Recommended For: age 10 and up. We’ve been talking about history this month at Redeemed Reader, but today’s offering takes a different approach. Just out this week, N.D. Wilson’s third Ashtown Burials book, Empire of Bones,…
Read MoreSugar and P.S. Be Eleven: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
It’s another dual review by Janie and Betsy today! We’re teaming up to bring you reviews of two middle grade historical fiction novels during our History Month this October. Set almost 100 years apart, Sugar takes place during Reconstruction in the 1870s, and P.S. Be Eleven takes place in the 1960s. We’ll go through them chronologically;…
Read More*A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
*A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Knopf, 2013. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Maturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8) and up A Splash of Red chronicles the life and art of a man named Horace Pippin who was born in 1888.…
Read MoreOur Favorite Science Book Picks (and a Printable List!)
We’ve thrown a lot of titles at you during our Science September for science-related informational texts. Because we know many of you, like us, love to have a list available when shopping or heading to the library, we’ve gathered those titles all in one place AND added lots more! You may click on the main…
Read MoreScientific Fiction or Fictional Science? Three Genre-Busting Reads
Janie and Betsy team up once again to bring you reviews of three recent scientific fiction works! Janie does the first and Betsy the second two. Are they fiction? Sci-fi? Read on to find out! Itch: the Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter, by Simon Mayo. Splinter, 2013, 410 pages. Age/interest level: 11-15 Itchingham “Itch”…
Read MoreScience Picture Books: Authors and Illustrators of Note
It’s Science September at RedeemedReader! The world of picture book nonfiction (or “information books, ” as nonfiction is being called now) is exploding with very well done, well researched, and appealing titles. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are placing a premium on informational texts (aka “nonfiction”), so teachers are looking for solid nonfiction titles…
Read MoreLaboring and Resting: Books about Both!
In this digital world of ours, I can post this blog entry “on” Labor Day without having to do any work on Labor Day: I’m typing this a few days ahead, will schedule it to post right on time, our posts are automatically tweeted, …. Ironic, isn’t it? Work: Is it the problem or the…
Read MoreBeowulf: Legend, Worldview, and Contemporary Narratives
When I used to teach high school British Literature back in the day, Beowulf was always our first big study. It’s first chronologically, and it’s also an outstanding way to introduce worldview-in-literature concepts. As the school year gets underway, I thought I’d share a bit of my approach to Beowulf in particular and literature in…
Read MoreRose Under Fire: Sequel/Companion to Code Name Verity
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein. Disney, 2013. Age: 14 and up. Last year, I read one of the best books I’ve ever read: Code Name Verity. Thankfully, I’m not the only one who thought so: it garnered a Printz Honor among other notables. When a sequel or companion novel comes out for a book…
Read MoreSummer Reading Challenge: One Family’s Experience
As we end our Summer Reading Challenge, I thought it would be fun for you–our readers–to hear a personal reflection from me on how our family experienced the challenge. After all, we are real people with real families behind this website! A Little Background We are a family of five: mom (me), dad, daughter (aged…
Read MoreSummer Reading Challenge, Week 7: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Don’t forget to fill out the Redeemed Reader 2013 Survey if you haven’t done so! (There’s a giveaway involved!) Still hangin’ in there with us? We’ve packed our Summer Reading Challenge with some great books, but I must confess that we’re ending with my favorite of the lot. If you haven’t read it yet, do…
Read MoreSurvey Says… (and a Giveaway Announcement!)
We will be wrapping up our Summer Reading Challenge this week and taking next week OFF to regroup and tweak our plans for this fall. BUT, we need to hear from YOU, our faithful readers, before we finalize our fall plans. We want to make sure we are delivering the kind of content you enjoy…
Read MoreOne Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
A lonely boy and a lonely girl team up to rescue their dog friends and end up each finding a true home in this feel-good middle grades read. One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson. Scholastic, 2012 (first published 2011). 288 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 (especially…
Read MoreWhite Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan
A gentle chapter book that explores family emotional issues with a big dose of furry love on the side. White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan. Margaret K. McElderry, 2013. 128 pages. Reading Level: Chapter Books, ages 8-10 Recommended For: Ages 7 and up, as a read aloud or independent read MacLachlan is such a gifted…
Read MoreBoy + Dog = Good Read
Boy + dog is a solid formula that’s been in play in the literary world for decades. How many of you read Old Yeller in school? Flipped through Tin Tin comics growing up? Watched endless TV episodes of Lassie? Recent Boy + Dog Books Several boy + dog books published recently offer solid additions to…
Read MoreInteresting Picture Book Biographies (Librarians’ List)
Many people think picture books should be left behind in the preschool years. Megan and I heartily disagree with that sentiment, and we invite you to check out one of these picture book biographies at your local library to read through with your family of all ages. They are great jumping off points for more…
Read MoreSummer Reading Challenge, Week 2: The Middle of Somewhere by (our very own) J. B. Cheaney
If you’re new to our Summer Reading Challenge, welcome! If you started our Around the World adventure last week with us, congratulations and let’s continue our journey. This week we’re taking a road trip across Middle America. The Middle of Somewhere by J. B. Cheaney. Knopf, 2007. 224 pages. Worldview Rating: 4.5; Literary Rating: 4.…
Read More100 Great Adventure Books for Kids: Summer Read Along Book Lists are Here!
***To read the next post in this series, see our Summer Reading Challenge, Week 1: Around the World by Matt Phelan.*** Summer Reading Challenge June has arrived, and so has our Summer Reading Challenge! We hope you’re ready for a global literary adventure this summer. It’s not too late to join us in the read…
Read MoreWe Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson. Jump at the Sun, 2008. 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 A large, coffee table-sized book full of Kadir Nelson’s lush paintings and fascinating baseball history make this a must-read for baseball lovers everywhere. Skillful artwork depicts portraits of famous people in the…
Read MoreChristian Romance: part of a well-balanced “book diet”?
A Balanced “Book Diet” Reading is like eating: you need a variety of wholesome ingredients, a little sugar, and a little moderation across the board. Sometimes you need to chew on a steak (mull over a “deep” text), and sometimes you just need some brain candy. Most of the time, though, you need a well-balanced…
Read MoreSammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt and Cory Godbey
Sammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt and Cory Godbey. Reformation Trust, 2008. 56 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-8 Geared for slightly younger children than Hunt’s other children’s devotionals, Sammy and His Shepherd focuses on a single theme: using the 23rd Psalm as a clear metaphor for salvation. The story quality in this one is…
Read MoreCassie and Caleb Discover God’s Wonderful Design by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt
Cassie and Caleb Discover God’s Wonderful Design by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt. Moody, 2013. 96 pages. Reading Level: Devotional, ages 4-8 Susan Hunt and son Richie Hunt tell 20 short stories about siblings Caleb and Cassie and their Christian family. The stories are a touch contrived, such as you might expect from a story-with-a-meaning,…
Read MoreShort Summer-Length Devotionals for Families
Summer’s Just Around the Corner! My family’s summer schedule is quite different from our school year schedule. What with travel, fun in the sun, and other diversions, it’s easy to get completely out of our normal routine. I find myself steering away from big “commitments.” Part of the charm of these two devotional guides by…
Read MorePoetry Contest Update!
Poetry Contest Closed and Winners Announced Soon! Our Poetry Contest is officially closed–many thanks to all the contestants! We received some fantastic entries, more than 50 total. We are putting our heads together and plan to announce the winners this coming week. This will be a tough decision; there are some talented young poets among…
Read MoreShark Girl: Drama in Real Life (and in fiction)
This post has been planned for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to acknowledge a potentially sensitive connection with the victims of the recent Boston bombings. Books like the ones I’m discussing below can be great windows into the world of someone who suffers a physically altering tragedy such as some of the bombing…
Read MoreRed Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton Mifflin, 2009. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Recommended for: ages 4-8 Sidman and Zagarenski use color as an organizational schema through which they poetically explore the seasons in this unique book; it is a true work of art.…
Read MoreWaxing Poetic: a pop quiz and some homework from the teacher
It’s National Poetry Month! Who cares, right? Well, YOU should care. Not because it’s “National Poetry Month,” per se, but because poetry is worth enjoying and learning more about. Why? Well, for one, Scripture is full of poetry–and not merely in the Psalms, either. Poetry is often an expression of deep, intimate emotion or experience…
Read MorePoetry Contest and Challenge for National Poetry Month!
April is National Poetry Month, and we here at Redeemed Reader love to be in on any literary action. Therefore, Megan and I are sponsoring a children’s poetry contest! (Note: there will be prizes!) [Incidentally, I won the last Redeemed Reader Poetry Contest and have enjoyed my Notes From a Tilt-a-Whirl prize.] We are also…
Read More*The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small
Lydia shares her efforts to bring beauty to the world around her in this epistolary picture book. *The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1997. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4 and up, especially as a read aloud! Lydia Grace Finch is staying with…
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