Nonfiction
Torpedoed by Deborah Heligman
By Janie Cheaney |
Torpedoed is a gripping saga of disaster, heartbreak, and heroism on the open sea. Torpedoed: the True Story of the World War II Sinking of ...
Read More Follow Your Stuff by Kevin Sylvester and Michael Hinka
By Janie Cheaney |
Young consumers will find Follow Your Stuff a fascinating trek through the global production market. Follow Your Stuff: Who Makes It, Where Does It Come ...
Read More *John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister
By Hayley Morell |
Lovely illustrations and beautiful narrative prose tell the story of Tolkien, from boyhood to The Hobbit. *John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. ...
Read More *Finding Narnia by Caroline McAlister
By Janie Cheaney |
Finding Narnia takes us into the lives of two brothers whose childhood inspired one of the world’s greatest fantasy series. *Finding Narnia: the Story of ...
Read More Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys by Mike Unwin
By Janie Cheaney |
Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys features well-known migration patterns as well as surprising facts, in a readable picture-book format. Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys by Mike Unwin, ...
Read More Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes
By Janie Cheaney |
This oversize, intricately-illustrated picture book relates the story of Manhattan in a series of maps. Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island by Jennifer Thermes. ...
Read More *Her Own Two Feet by Meredith Davis
By Janie Cheaney |
Her Own Two Feet is the true story of a severely disabled Rwandan girl who finds hope and healing through a Christian aid organization. *Her ...
Read More Games of Deception by Andrew Maraniss
By Betsy Farquhar |
Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U. S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany by Andrew Maraniss. Philomel, ...
Read More Martin Luther and the Reformation by Lou Hunley
By Betsy Farquhar |
A great middle grades-level look at both Martin Luther in particular and the Protestant Reformation in general. Martin Luther and the Reformation by Lou Hunley. ...
Read More Picture Books on Art and Music
By Janie Cheaney |
Three acclaimed picture books offer young readers a fun introduction to The Magic Flute, the Giacometti Brothers, and an introduction to art styles through dinosaurs ...
Read More “The Reading Life,” junior edition
By Janie Cheaney |
Two picture books by much-awarded authors and illustrators celebrate the joys of books and reading—sometimes extravagantly. This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart, Illustrated by ...
Read More The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brown
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Boys in the Boat is a gripping nonfiction story for middle grades about teamwork, perseverance, and triumph at the Olympics. The Boys in the ...
Read More Titan and the Wild Boars by Susan Hood and Pathana Sorhiran
By Janie Cheaney |
The true story of the daring rescue of the Thai Soccer team will bring its tension and drama home to young readers. Titan and the ...
Read More Breakthrough! by Jim Murphy
By Betsy Farquhar |
Three unlikely people team up to perform a dangerous new surgery in Depression-era times in this gripping nonfiction story. Breakthrough!: How Three People Saved "Blue ...
Read More Go Build Something! Engineering Books for Boys (and Girls)
By Janie Cheaney |
STEM is big in schools and publishing today, and many educators add an A to make STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Engineering ties ...
Read More 4 Books About the Reading Life: a Literary Nightstand Round-Up
By Betsy Farquhar |
Book lovers love books about other book lovers. After all, we share the reading life in common: its challenges, its delights, its unique common language. ...
Read More World Atlas: Essential Student Reference
By Betsy Farquhar |
Does your student have a world atlas at home to reference? Is your classroom or school library stocked with several? Do we even need a ...
Read More Cookbooks for Kids and Teens: A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
Have you ever wanted to go beyond cookie baking and decorating with your kids? Did you know there are some great cookbooks for kids and ...
Read More Laid-Back Language Arts
By Betsy Farquhar |
Do you remember your middle and high school English classes? Did you diagram sentences? Fill in endless worksheets with "S" for sentence or "F" for ...
Read More Captured by Alvin Townley
By Janie Cheaney |
The ordeal of Jeremiah Denton in the “Hanoi Hilton” is not for the squeamish, but stands as a witness to courage and faith. Captured: an ...
Read More The Lady Is a Spy by Don Mitchell
By Janie Cheaney |
This biography of Virginia Hall for young people tells the little-known story of a daring World War II spy. The Lady is a Spy: Virginia ...
Read More FBI Files: the Unabomber
By Janie Cheaney |
A new nonfiction series features puzzling and deadly cases cracked by the FBI. FBI Files: the Unabomber by Bryan Denson. Roaring Brook, 2019, 140 pages ...
Read More The Invention Hunters Series by Korwin Briggs
By Janie Cheaney |
By their wacky misunderstandings, the "Invention Hunters" help kids understand basic principles of applied science. The Invention Hunters Discover How Machines Work by Korwin Briggs. ...
Read More Look! I Wrote a Book! by Sally Lloyd Jones
By Janie Cheaney |
Sally Lloyd Jones shares the basics of book-writing with simple advice that works for any age. Look! I Wrote a Book (and You Can Too) ...
Read More The Delights of Childcraft, part 1
By Megan Saben |
I remember the first book that taught me to love poetry as a child. "Antonio, Antonio," by Laura E. Richards, was in the second volume ...
Read More Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion
By Janie Cheaney |
Superlative Birds is a “Guiness Book of World Records” for our feathered friends, with a fun poetry angle. Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by ...
Read More Tools for Leaving Home: a List for Fledgling Adults
By Janie Cheaney |
A list of books that might help with the difficult transition from teen to adult in today's confusing culture. Let’s get one thing straight: A ...
Read More *Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
By Hayley Morell |
Rebecca McLaughlin confronts some of the hardest questions faced by Christians today with thoughtful, engaging responses rooted in Scripture. *Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for ...
Read More *Transformed by Truth by Katherine Forster
By Janie Cheaney |
Transformed by Truth offers a lifelong approach to Bible study with practical helps for teens and adults. *Transformed by Truth: Why and How to Study ...
Read More Rocket to the Moon! by Don Brown
By Janie Cheaney |
Graphic artist Don Brown give us a comprehensive visual account of the Apollo space program. Rocket to the Moon! (Big Ideas that Changed the World ...
Read More *Sparky & Spike by Barbara Lowell
By Janie Cheaney |
Sparky & Spike is about a boy and his dog and the genesis of the world's best-loved comic strip. *Sparky & Spike: Charles Schulz and ...
Read More A Lunar List: New Books About the Moon
By Betsy Farquhar |
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing. And there are lots of new books commemorating that event and the moon itself! ...
Read More *O Captain, My Captain by Robert Burleigh
By Janie Cheaney |
O Captain, My Captain encapsulates the Civil War through the eyes of its most famous poet. *O Captain, My Captain: Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, and ...
Read More Wile E Coyote, Physical Science Genius
By Megan Saben |
Find out why that poor coyote never actually catches the speedy roadrunner in these clever science books for young physicists. Wile E. Coyote, physical science ...
Read More The Survival Guide to Money Smarts by Eric Braun
By Janie Cheaney |
Practical worksheets and relevant concerns make this “Survival Guide” a useful money primer for middle graders. The Survival Guide to Money Smarts by Eric Braun ...
Read More The Money-Smart Family System by Steve Economides
By Janie Cheaney |
"Money smarts" begin at home in this family-oriented guide to teaching wise management. The Money Smart Family System by Steve and Annette Economides. Thomas Nelson, ...
Read More Summer Reading for Moms
By Betsy Farquhar |
Moms need book recommendations, too! Those of you who enjoyed the Faith, Fiction, and Fellowship Read-Along in the spring read through Christina Fox's Closer Than ...
Read More Bible Review: NASB Children’s Edition
By Janie Cheaney |
This brand-new Children's Edition of the New American Standard Bible is a must-have for NASB users. NASB Holy Bible, Children’s Edition, Three Sixteen Publishing, 2019, ...
Read More Nine Months by Miranda Paul
By Janie Cheaney |
Nine Months shows the development of human life, from embryo to newborn, in gentle rhymes and beautiful paintings. Nine Months: before a Baby Is Born ...
Read More Let ‘er Buck! by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
By Janie Cheaney |
Black cowboy George Fletcher, the "People's Champion," is the subject of this story from the old west. Let 'er Buck! George Fletcher, the People's Champion ...
Read More Crossing on Time by David Macaulay
By Janie Cheaney |
David Macaulay again turns his drafting ability and clear prose on a massive engineering project, and this time it's personal. Crossing in Time: Steam Engines, ...
Read More Adulting 101 by Josh Burnette and Pete Hardesty
By Betsy Farquhar |
Adulting 101: #Wisdom4Life by Josh Burnette and Pete Hardesty. Broadstreet Publishing Group, 2018. 192 pages. Reading Level: Ages 16 and up Recommended For: Ages 14 ...
Read More Birds of a Feather: Bird Books for Kids
By Betsy Farquhar |
Do you have a young bird lover in your house? A bird nerd who, at age 10, can tell you all the migratory species that ...
Read More Bible Review: CSB Defend Your Faith
By Janie Cheaney |
The Defend Your Faith Bible equips middle graders for apologetics with arguments for the reasonableness and accuracy of the scriptures. CSB Defend Your Faith Bible: ...
Read More Bible Review: CSB Study Bible for Girls (and Boys)
By Janie Cheaney |
Though more of a devotional Bible than a study Bible, this edition offers thought-provoking questions and application features. CSB Study Bible for Girls. Baker, 2018, ...
Read More Sweeter Than Honey by Melissa Deming
By Betsy Farquhar |
Sweeter Than Honey offers readers a clear, step-by-step approach to studying the Bible. Sweeter Than Honey: Cultivating an Appetite for the Word of God by ...
Read More Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
By Betsy Farquhar |
Krosoczka, author of the Lunch Lady graphic novels, tells his own story in Hey Kiddo, a graphic novel memoir that is by turns harsh and tender. ...
Read More The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon
By Janie Cheaney |
In The Enchanted Hour, Meghan Cox Gurdon makes the intellectual, social, and emotional case for reading aloud, at any age, to any age. The Enchanted ...
Read More You Who by Rachel Jankovic
By Betsy Farquhar |
You Who: Why You Matter and How to Deal with It is a refreshing take on the "find yourself" messages blaring from our culture for ...
Read More 30+ Women in Church History: A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
Did you know that March is Women's History Month? Or that the theme for Women's History Month 2019 is "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & ...
Read More *The Promise of Change by JoAnn Boyce
By Janie Cheaney |
*The Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality by JoAnn Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy. Bloomsbury, 2019, 309 pages including ...
Read More 6 Noteworthy Nonfiction Picture Books
By wpengine |
Me: "That school must be named after Lise Meitner. Didn't she do something with uranium?" {the school in question was on a TV show and ...
Read More *Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them by Simonetta Carr
By Janie Cheaney |
*Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them: Schizophrenia Through a Mother's Eyes by Simonetta Carr. Presbyterian & Reformed, 2019, 359 pages. Reading Level: Adult Recommended for: ...
Read More It’s Up to You, Abe Lincoln by Tom and Leila Hirschfeld
By Janie Cheaney |
This unusual biography of Abraham Lincoln frames his life as a series of ten decisions, in which the reader is invited to participate. It’s Up ...
Read More *The Young Man’s Guide to Awesomeness by Barrett Johnson
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Young Man's Guide to Awesomeness is a well-organized, humorous, straight-talking guide for young men as they mature into godly adults. *The Young Man's Guide to Awesomeness: How to Guard Your Heart, Get the Girl, and Save the World by Barrett Johnson. INFO For Families, 2017. 158 pages. Reading Level: Teen, ages 12 and up Recommended For: Upper middle grades and up (ages 10+) Growing up is never easy. There are physical changes, ...
Read More At the Well by Kristen Tiber
By Betsy Farquhar |
At the Well is a short book urging singles (teens and up) to wait on the Lord for marriage and for his timing. At the Well: Discovering God's Plan for Finding True Love by Kristen Tiber. Kristen Summers LLC, 2018. 146 pages. Reading Level: ...
Read More 2019 Sibert Medal Winners are, well, Winners!
By Betsy Farquhar |
image from ALA website According to the ALA, "the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the ...
Read More The Biggest Win by Joshua Cooley
By Janie Cheaney |
In The Biggest Win, players from the 2018 Super Bowl championship team coach young athlete in winning the kingdom of God. The Biggest Win: Pro ...
Read More Birds of Pray by Rob Maaddi
By Janie Cheaney |
A sports reporter who was with the Eagles as their dream team came together tells the story of their amazing Super Bowl Win. Birds of ...
Read More 2019 Newbery Buzz #7: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Girl Who Drew Butterflies is a truly beautiful work of art, isn’t it, Megan? For readers who haven’t seen this gem yet, the book chronicles ...
Read More Cyrus Field’s Big Dream by Mary Morton Cowan
By Janie Cheaney |
Nobody said “No” to Cyrus Field once he got his brain around a big idea that transformed the history of communication—and history itself. Cyrus Field’s ...
Read More The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
By Janie Cheaney |
“The Disappearing Spoon” is one mystery solved by the periodic table, in this entertaining grab-bag of historical oddities from chemistry. The Disappearing Spoon (Young Readers ...
Read More Courage in the Face of Evil by Mark Shaw
By Betsy Farquhar |
Vera König must decide if she can trust the enemy in this moving, true Holocaust story of a Christian in Hitler's camps. Courage in the ...
Read More 2019 Newbery Buzz #4: The Faithful Spy
By Janie Cheaney |
Janie and Megan talk over one of the most impressive books we read this year: The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoffer and the Plot to Kill ...
Read More 10 Favorite Christian Biographies
By Betsy Farquhar |
Heaven: A Family Reunion? I don't know what heaven will be like, but I imagine it as one big family reunion at a feast table. ...
Read More Every Month is a New Year by Susan L. Roth
By Janie Cheaney |
This picture book gives a neglected holiday its due, celebrating “New Year” around the world with brilliant collage illustrations. Every Month is a New Year: ...
Read More *Picturing America by Hudson Talbot
By Janie Cheaney |
Picturing America is an appealing picture-book biography of one of the originators of distinctive American Art. *Picturing America: Thomas Cole and the Birth of American ...
Read More The Atlas Obscura Explorers Guide by Dylan Thuras
By Janie Cheaney |
The juvenile version of the Atlas Obscura travel guide may spark a taste for travel in middle graders. The Atlas Obscura Explorers Guide for the ...
Read More *Hallelujah: A Journey Through Advent with Handel’s Messiah by Cindy Rollins
By Betsy Farquhar |
Enjoy both Handel's Messiah and the season of Advent with this succinct-yet rich-guide to both. A good Advent family devotional option for busy families! *Hallelujah: A ...
Read More Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille
By Megan Saben |
What if God took the very instrument that caused your suffering and turned it into a tool of blessing for many? Six Dots: A Story ...
Read More The Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb.
By Janie Cheaney |
This fascinating true account of a prison escape during World War I will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The Grand Escape: the ...
Read More Nonfiction Picture Book Round-Up (Fall, 2018 edition)
By Betsy Farquhar |
It's National Picture Book Month, so we're celebrating picture books--both fiction and nonfiction! Nonfiction picture books are a truly exceptional--and often overlooked--way to introduce a ...
Read More We the People … A U.S. Government Booklist
By Betsy Farquhar |
Election Day is just around the corner, and our national media outlets love nothing more than a juicy political story. Gossip and slander aside, though, ...
Read More Heroes of WWII: A Book List for Tweens and Teens
By Betsy Farquhar |
World War II is perennially interesting and not just to history buffs! We've focused on church history the past couple of years during October, first ...
Read More *The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix
By Janie Cheaney |
*The Faithful Spy is an outstanding biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—and one of the best biographies for kids ever. The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the ...
Read More Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
By Janie Cheaney |
Nine-year-old Louie volunteers to save Winslow, a newborn mini-donkey, in this gentle story about loss and change. Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech. HarperCollins, 2018, 165 ...
Read More A Colorful Past by William Boekestein
By Janie Cheaney |
A coloring book for elementary through middle grades offers a sweeping view of church history, from the first century to the twentieth. A Colorful Past: ...
Read More *John Newton by Simonetta Carr
By Janie Cheaney |
John Newton’s colorful life is a welcome addition to the Reformation Heritage series of Christian biographies. *John Newton by Simonetta Carr. Reformation Heritage, 2018, 63 ...
Read More John McCain: An American Hero by John Perritano
By Betsy Farquhar |
John McCain had more guts and more patriotism than most of his American contemporaries--read all about him in this detailed young adult biography. John McCain: ...
Read More *Spooked! by Gail Jarrow
By Janie Cheaney |
The Mercury Theater broadcast of "War of the Worlds," a fascinating footnote from American history, has interesting implications for today. Ages 10-15 *Spooked! How a ...
Read More The Wright Brothers: Nose-Diving into History by Ben Thompson
By Janie Cheaney |
A new series about advances in technology begins with the indomitable spirit of the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers: Nose-Diving into History (Epic Fails #1) ...
Read More *Tending the Heart of Virtue by Vigen Guroian
By Betsy Farquhar |
How do the classic children's stories awaken a child's moral imagination? And how does that awakening contribute to their spiritual development and training in virtue? ...
Read More Science Ideas in 30 Seconds by Mike Goldsmith
By Janie Cheaney |
In spite of some outdated ideas about science and faith, these 30-second explanations form an interesting tour of science history. Ages 8-15 Science Ideas in ...
Read More Great History Authors for Kids
By Betsy Farquhar |
With school back in session, let's talk history books for kids! No matter who or what your kids or students are studying this year in ...
Read More Can You Identify the Five Nonfiction Categories?
By Janie Cheaney |
The Juvenile nonfiction designation has exploded, especially since the push for Common Core standards was supposed to increase factual reading. Common Core seems to be ...
Read More *A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
By Betsy Farquhar |
This popular middle grades story poignantly recounts the stories of a young boy and a young girl in Africa as one flees civil war and ...
Read More Up & Down by Don Brown
By Janie Cheaney |
Graphic novelist Don Brown offers a fascinating picture book about early hydrogen ballooning. Ages 5-10 Up & Down: The Adventures of John Jeffries, First American ...
Read More Pass Go and Collect $200 by Tanya Lee Stone
By Janie Cheaney |
Pass Go and Collect $200 is fun, relatable social history for Monopoly fans and anyone who ever had a great idea. Ages 6-up Pass Go ...
Read More House of Dreams: the Life of L.M. Montgomery by Liz Rosenberg
By Janie Cheaney |
L.M. Montgomery's life was overshadowed by sadness, but this biography shows how she was able to give the world one of its most beloved literary ...
Read More Sid Fleischman Biographies
By Janie Cheaney |
Near the end of his prolific career, Newbery medalist Sid Fleischman published remarkable biographies of three remarkable men. Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain, 1835-1910), Ehrich ...
Read More The Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman by Cheryl Harness
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman eloquently captures the hardships the early pioneers faced, the missionary ardor that inspired the Whitmans, and the unfortunate events ...
Read More Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids by Simonetta Carr
By Janie Cheaney |
Christian biographer Simonetta Carr explores the life of Cleopatra, one of the most fascinating and mysterious women in history. Ages 10-16 Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt ...
Read More The Flood of Noah by Bodie Hodge & Laura Welch
By Janie Cheaney |
Was there a worldwide flood? The various legends of such a phenomenon are explored and compared in this interactive history book. All ages The Flood ...
Read More Retro Reads: *The Book of the Ancient World by Dorothy Mills
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Book of the Ancient World is just what it sounds like: an interesting book about the ancient world, including Ancient Egypt, Israel, Persia, and ...
Read More Science Picture-Book Roundup
By Janie Cheaney |
Four new science picture books entertain while informing young readers about microbes, sparrows, hawks, and deep-sea exploration. Ages 6-10 The Bacteria Book: the BIG World ...
Read More New Picture Book Biographies Round-up (2018)
By Betsy Farquhar |
We love picture book biographies here at Redeemed Reader, and, thankfully, publishers seem to love them, too! Below are several new picture book biographies, some ...
Read More 50 Wacky Things Animals Do by Tricia Wagner
By Janie Cheaney |
“Wacky facts” about 50 animals introduce young readers to the amazing variety of creation. Ages 6-10 50 Wacky Things Animals Do: Weird and Amazing Animal ...
Read More The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery
By Janie Cheaney |
The Hyena Scientist takes readers on safari to observe a misunderstood species. Ages 8-14 The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery, photography by Nic Bishop. Houghton ...
Read More The American Revolution by Ben Thompson
By Janie Cheaney |
The latest addition to the "Guts and Glory" series is a readable and engaging history of the American Revolution for middle graders. Ages 10-15 The ...
Read More Diversity in Mini-Biographies: Refugees, African Americans, and More!
By Betsy Farquhar |
Diversity is a siren call these days, and, in regards to standard history book treatment of ethnic minorities and women, it's often needed. Check Your ...
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