Beyond Books

Back Porch Book Chat: Kristyn Getty (Singer, Hymn Writer, and Author)

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 30, 2024

Kristyn is the founder, along with her husband Keith, of Getty Music. She is an award-winning hymn writer and the author of Sing! and a ...

Where Did the Ratings Go?

By Hayley Morell | Aug 16, 2024

This post was first shared in our weekly newsletter. If you'd like to subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates: book reviews, book trivia, and ...

Gladys Hunt on Recognizing the Good

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 14, 2022

Editor's Note: In our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along this month, we're considering Chapter 15: "First Books for Readers." Settle in for some good ...

Home Library Management: Analyze the Situation

By Megan Saben | Aug 30, 2022

Home Library Management is a mini-series based on a presentation I originally gave to a homeschool group when I was a professional librarian years ago. These ...

Home Library Management: Where do I begin?

By Megan Saben | Aug 26, 2022

Home Library Management is a mini-series based on a presentation I originally gave to a homeschool group when I was a professional librarian years ago. These ...

Ukraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Part 1

By Hayley Morell | Mar 16, 2022

This post was originally published in 2014, shortly after Ukraine's Maidan Revolution. Emily's reflections and application are still timely today. From Emily: As my kids ...

Looking Behind in The Hobbit

By Hayley Morell | Sep 22, 2021

This essay was originally written by Hayley for the Redeemed Reader 2012 Writing Contest. We hope you'll enjoy it as we revisit The Hobbit this ...

Raising Writers in Four Simple Steps

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 7, 2021

Or, the Wordsmith philosophy of teaching composition Notice I said “simple,” not “easy.” Good writing is based on just a handful of sound principles—that makes ...

Meet the Team: Hayley at Christmas

By Hayley Morell | Dec 21, 2020

As 2020 draws to an end, we know we've added a lot of new readers. So, squeaking in for very last minute Christmas ideas, here ...

Meet the Team: Megan at Christmas

By Hayley Morell | Dec 18, 2020

As 2020 draws to an end, we know we've added a lot of new readers. So, just in time for last minute Christmas ideas, here ...

Meet the Team: Betsy at Christmas

By Hayley Morell | Dec 17, 2020

As 2020 draws to an end, we know we've added a lot of new readers. So, just in time for last minute Christmas ideas, here ...

Meet the Team: Janie at Christmas

By Hayley Morell | Dec 16, 2020

As 2020 draws to an end, we know we've added a lot of new readers. So, just in time for last minute Christmas ideas, here ...

The Fellowship: A Discussion

By Hayley Morell | Sep 10, 2020

Reading about the Inklings, Hayley and Megan discuss The Fellowship, an excellent book for Tolkien and Lewis enthusiasts. The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the ...

Shakespeare at the Movies

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 23, 2020

If you have a chance to catch a Shakespeare play performed on a real stage with live actors, DO IT! That's what he wrote the ...

Five Favorites: Old and New

By Hayley Morell | Sep 6, 2018

With leaves changing and school beginning, our Redeemed Reader intern, Zoe Watters, shares five books that can be enjoyed any time of year. As she ...

Behind the Bookcase “Read-Alikes”

By Betsy Farquhar | Jul 30, 2018

Unfortunately, we have removed the series "Behind the Bookcase," but we invite you to read one of the articles below instead. They are also by ...

Summer Books for Refugees

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 6, 2018

One of our co-founders, Emily Whitten, has a great opportunity for you, readers, to help support a book-based ministry this summer! Read on for her ...

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 26, 2018

Invictus takes science-fiction to the max with a wild ride that involves time travel, doppelgangers, and parallel universes. Ages 15-up Invictus by Ryan Graudin. Little, ...

Dame Agatha: Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 6, 2017

A Scene of Terror Sitting alone in the dark house, I gripped the book tightly, desperate to finish and petrified at the same time. Was ...

Sola Scriptura: The Bible is Pre-Eminent Among Books

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 30, 2017

500th Anniversary of the Reformation Tomorrow is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's famous act: the nailing of his 95 Theses on the church door in ...

Reading Diana Wynne Jones: an Author Portrait

By Hayley Morell | Oct 19, 2017

You just finished a good book. Now what? Many book lovers can relate to this sad, unsatisfied feeling. But what if you banished that feeling, ...

Portrait of a Reader: The Adventurer

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 13, 2017

Portrait of a Reader is a new feature in which we try to "unpack" a particular kind of reader. The portraits will overlap; most people will ...

Peter Spier, Reissued

By Janie Cheaney | May 9, 2017

Yesterday we received the sad news that Peter Spier, illustrator of classic children's books, had passed away on April 27. Given his age (89) and ...

2017 Newbery Buzz: Some Writer! and Snow White

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 14, 2017

Historically—and overwhelmingly—the Newbery Award has graced the covers of fictional prose novels. And yet, even “back in the day,” there were some outliers. Nancy Willard’s A ...

2017 Newbery Buzz: Pax and Wolf Hollow

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 6, 2017

January is Newbery month—that is, when the American Library Association holds their annual winter conference, the highlight of which is the ALA Youth Media Awards. ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 31, 2016

The Grown-Ups' 2017 Reading Challenge Perhaps you have seen Tim Challies's 2017 Reading Challenge. Inspired in part by an original PopSugar reading challenge, Challies has broken his challenge down ...

40 Books for Dads to Read to Their Kids

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 26, 2016

Strong father figures, adventures, humor, and general fun await! 40 books for DADS to read to their kids: fantasy, realistic fiction, historical fiction. Humor, adventure, ...

Church History with Tim Challies

By Hayley Morell | Oct 28, 2016

Today we are happy to bring you a virtual interview with pastor, author, and blogger extraordinaire —Tim Challies. Tim serves as a pastor at Grace ...

Getting to Know A. A. Milne (1882 – 1956)

By Hayley Morell | Oct 15, 2016

It began with a poem. A poem about a little boy saying his prayers. A. A. Milne gave it to his wife, and she mailed ...

The Virtual Nightstand

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 16, 2016

In lieu of our former "Book Bits" and "Web Newbery" posts, we're going to share a bit more of our personal reading lives with you, ...

Cooking Up Fun: ‘Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes’

By emily | Jul 7, 2016

Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Puffin, 1997. 32 pages. Reading Level: Ages 8-10 Recommended For: all ages ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Jul 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 ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 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, ...

By Betsy Farquhar | 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 ...

By Megan Saben | May 2, 2016

What do you do when spring is shining and the kids are squirming? If you have a child who is enthusiastic about Legos, enrich their time ...

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 16, 2016

Of all the charges hurled against Christianity in the modern age, one of the most potent is "paternalistic." Christianity, it's said, has kept women in ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 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 ...

The 6 Risks of Reading Old Books

By Betsy Farquhar | Feb 29, 2016

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 ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Feb 5, 2016

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 ...

One Reader’s 10 Most Memorable Books of 2015

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 18, 2016

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 ...

By Megan Saben | Nov 25, 2015

Alice in Wonderland turned 150 years old this year! Here are seven of the many reasons I believe Alice is worth celebrating with a tea ...

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 4, 2015

We live in the Age of Narrative. And increasingly, novels stop telling stories and become about story, gazing at themselves with calm adoration. This is ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 2, 2015

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 ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 3, 2015

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, ...

By Megan Saben | Jun 24, 2015

During our break this summer, we are taking the opportunity to experience the richness of great literature in a multi-layered fashion. We don’t have all ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Apr 13, 2015

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 ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 20, 2015

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 ...

By emily | Mar 14, 2015

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/195843489" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] Thanks to Megan Saben, Betsy Farquhar, Kristen Eicher (producer!) and my daughter, Rebecca, for making this review possible! ...

By emily | Nov 21, 2014

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/177935219" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] Thanks to Kristen Eicher for her help with sound editing! Thanks also to Dana and Chris Cowherd for ...

By emily | Nov 20, 2014

Don't forget to check out our Winter Book Fair with 50+ gift book recommendations for kids and teens! INTRODUCTION I recently sat down with Christian ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 15, 2014

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Robert McCloskey's birth. McCloskey is the author/illustrator of such familiar American children's books as Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, One ...

By emily | Jul 8, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

By emily | Jun 17, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

The Power of a Picture

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 5, 2013

It’s picture book month! And boy, do we have a lot of picture books to talk about. I keep hearing that the pb market is ...

Sea of Monsters: Movie Review

By The Redeemed Shall Read | Aug 9, 2013

Today, we welcome our former intern and current Executive Assistant, Hayley Schoeppler, back to the site. She's is the one who covered Percy Jackson this ...

Eat, Pray, Read…and Eat Again! Around the World Food Facts with Nive Burris

By emily | Jun 20, 2013

In our trip around the world (see our Summer Reading Challenge), what could be more fun than using food to explore different cultures? Today, Nive ...

Let’s Take a Road Trip–and Write a Story!

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 11, 2013

Our Around the World reading challenge book this week is The Middle of Somewhere, and it’s written by . . . um . . . ...

Adult-Teen Summer Reading, Introduction: Conversation and a Contest!

By emily | Jun 8, 2013

Other Lemonade and Lit posts: Introduction, Week One: Booked, Week Two: Booked Discussion, Week Three: Beauty, Week Four: Sexuality in Booked, Week Five: Beauty Discussion, ...

By emily | May 30, 2013

Congratulations to Kim, who won the Summer Reading Challenge giveaway this week! And thanks to everyone who signed up for the Challenge. Just a few ...

By emily | May 15, 2013

***This internship opportunity has been filled. See here for the winners.*** If you are a high school or college student, love literature and movies, and ...

Web Newberys, News and Freebies

By emily | May 13, 2013

News Booklists, sick a Summer Reading Challenge, and one of the funniest interviewees I've ever met...all coming up soon on Redeemedreader! But for now, here ...

Church Literacy, Part Two: Welcoming Kids and Adults with Reading Difficulties

By emily | Apr 11, 2013

Last week in Church Literacy, Part One, we heard from a Christian mom who dealt with dyslexia in her son. I hope that gave you ...

Web Newberys, News, and Freebies (Mar 25)

By emily | Mar 25, 2013

News It's the last week of March, and RR is gearing up for some spring-a-licious posts this week. With Easter only a few days away, ...

Oz the Great and Powerful: Discussion Questions

By emily | Mar 14, 2013

Introduction Last week I had the happy opportunity of watching Disney's new Oz the Great and Powerful. I had to turn around a review that ...

Home Mission: Letter to the Helpless Mom

By emily | Feb 22, 2013

Today some of my dear friends in the blogging world stop to honor and encourage a beautiful and brave woman of God. Our sweet sister-in-Christ, ...

Words and Pictures: a Talk with Doug TenNapel

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 20, 2013

Yesterday we reviewed two graphic novels by a rising star in the world of "comics" who also happens to be a Christian and a homeschooling ...

Identity and Revolution, part 2

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 25, 2013

Last week we looked at some YA titles that celebrated the “coming out” of gay and lesbian characters. “Young Adult” has traditionally been the accepted ...

By emily | Nov 7, 2012

Question #1 Winner (Annie and Snowball and the Thankful Friends): Maggie Dolch Question #2 Winner (Simonetta Carr’s The Weight of a Flame and Lady Jane ...

Web Newberys (Oct. 15)

By emily | Oct 15, 2012

Such an exciting week ahead! Tomorrow we'll post our interview with Sally Lloyd Jones, and she'll tell us her thoughts on kids' devotionals as well ...

The Librarian Trilogy: Interview with Jennifer Ball

By emily | Oct 13, 2012

This week, we heard from two librarians, including Betsy of Literaritea and Emily Cottrill of Livingbookslibrary.com. I thought we would round out the week with ...

Web Newberys & Tea (Literaritea, that is!)

By emily | Oct 8, 2012

Today, instead of writing our Web Newberys, I've decided to drink green tea and memorize Greek vocabulary words with my kids. Well, I'm going to ...

By emily | Aug 15, 2012

As a former editor, believe it or not, I like critiquing manuscripts. While I'm no C.S. Lewis, I have learned a few things about analyzing ...

By emily | Jul 23, 2012

Noteworthy book-related articles and news: Olympic Christians: Betsy at LiterariTea.blogspot.com reviews Zonderkidz kids' books about Olympic athletes. Get 'em while they're hot! New Christian ereader: ...

By emily | Jul 16, 2012

Noteworthy book posts I'm ruminating on these days: Big Truths for Little Kids: a wise and thoughtful review of Susan Hunt's classic book at The ...

By emily | Jun 14, 2012

Over the past 16 months since launching this website, Janie and I have the opportunity to interview a number of authors and cultural critics who ...

By emily | May 24, 2012

With summer approaching, I'm frantically trying to piece together a summer "curriculum" for my kids, as well as researching what we'll study next fall. Exciting ...

A Death Observed, Part Two

By emily | May 10, 2012

In April, I began this series of reflections on my mother's death. A few weeks before she went to be with the Lord, I received ...

By emily | Jan 19, 2012

Maybe your child realizes his aptitude in writing, or maybe he doesn't--but you do. What are some things you can do to foster that talent ...

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 4, 2011

Nobody knows yet exactly what causes it, or why it occurs more in certain income levels, or even quite what defines it, but autism becomes ...

By emily | Sep 30, 2011

We started our LIGHT YOUR LIBRARY campaign nearly two weeks ago, but Janie and I had been planning it since at least the summer. So ...

By emily | Aug 31, 2011

When we teamed up with Reelthinking.wordpress.com, Janie and I hoped there would be a little interest in the subject. Little did we know that in ...

By emily | Aug 24, 2011

Back-to-school time means hitting the books and living more structured days. All the more reason to look forward to a good, family movie at the ...

By emily | Aug 17, 2011

Yesterday as I was emptying the contents of my husbands' pockets and my own, preparing our clothes for the Great Machinated Flume Ride that is ...

By emily | Aug 15, 2011

I'll admit it. Janie and I like abstract thinking--cultural analysis and big picture type stuff. But occasionally we try to offer practical help for parents ...

By emily | Aug 1, 2011

Finally getting around to this post. I had hoped to post it during our six-month birthday celebration, but I ran out of room. So...here are my ...

By emily | Jul 28, 2011

A few years ago, my grandmother passed on to me a set of children's records from the 1950s and 60s. Many of them were filled ...

By emily | Jul 12, 2011

What does it take to make a blog? Besides a computer, internet connection, and credit card, of course? Some might say passion, intelligence, computer saavy. ...

By emily | Jul 11, 2011

Happy Half-Birthday, guys! Redeemed Reader has been online for roughly six months this week. It seems ages ago since that cold, February morning when Janie ...

By emily | Jun 19, 2011

Thanks to everyone who entered our Father's Day contest! Janie and I have enjoyed both hearing your dad stories, as well as the opportunity to ...

By emily | Jun 6, 2011

SUMMER CAMP We are eventually going to do our first summer camp next month. But in the meantime, I have been looking for ways to ...

By Janie Cheaney | May 31, 2011

Just when you thought we'd done a pretty good job of knocking down stereotypes, a new study (those three words have to be among the ...

By emily | May 18, 2011

We don't usually do teasers on this blog. But we don't usually do interviews with scholars as distinguished as Gene Edward Veith, Jr. either. If ...

By emily | May 9, 2011

Yesterday wrapped up our Mom with a Blog Contest. And the winner was...Julie of www.learningtotreasure.blogspot.com! She won the Game of Sovereignty (that's as opposed to ...

By emily | Apr 27, 2011

We're jumping on the bandwagon today. Mother's Day is around the corner, and we're gearing up to celebrate good old mom. Rather than creme-filled candy ...

By emily | Apr 23, 2011

Saturday happy: Just found out that folksinger/songwriter Caroline Herring just put a CD out called The Little House. It's a retelling of Virginia Lee Burton's ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 19, 2011

In Surprised By Joy, C. S. Lewis wrote about the flowering of his imagination at an early age--especially through books, which were piled up everywhere ...

By emily | Apr 13, 2011

As many of you know--particularly those who've read our newsletter this week (and if you haven't signed up already, why not take a moment and ...

By emily | Apr 11, 2011

So, we've been up and running here at Redeemed reader for roughly a month and a half. It's amazing to think about that, considering all ...

By emily | Apr 10, 2011

Can't wait for my kids to read this in a few years. If you don't have a copy already, here's a great way to enjoy ...

By emily | Mar 21, 2011

$20 Bookshelf Challenge Winner Today is the big day for one Redeemed Reader: the announcement of our $20 Bookshelf Challenge winner. Thank you to everyone ...