Nonfiction

The Founding Fathers! by Jonah Winter

The Founding Fathers! Those Horse-Ridin',Fiddle-Playin', Book-Readin', Gun Totin' Gentlemen Who Started America, by Jonah Winter, Illustration by Barry Blitt. Atheneum, 2015. 40 pages Reading Level: ...
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*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 ...
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cover of Through Gates of Splendor

*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 ...
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Pilipinto’s Happiness by Valerie Elliot Shepard

*This post is revisited from the archives in honor of Elisabeth Elliot's passing into glory. Pilipinto's Happiness: The Jungle Childhood of Valerie Elliot, by Valerie ...
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The Well-Gifted Grad

Our favorite graduation gift is, of course, books—whether timely, practical, inspirational, or scholarly. We would never recommend sending a young person off to college (or ...
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*Finding Truth by Nancy Pearcy

*Finding Truth: Five Principles for Unmasking Atheism, Secularism, and Other God Substitutes by Nancy Pearcey. David C. Cook, 2015. 383 pages Reading Level: Young Adult, ...
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One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Millbrook, 2015. 32 pages. Reading Level: ...
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You Have a Brain by Ben Carson, M.D.

You have a Brain: a Teen’s Guide to THINK BIG by Ben Carson,M. D. (with Gregg and Deborah Lewis). Zondervan, 2015. 281 pages Reading Level: ...
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Queen 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 8-10Recommended for: ...
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Silent 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 ...
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Swing 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 ...
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Legends by Howard Bryant

Legends: The Best Players,Games, and Teams in Baseball by Howard Bryant. Philomel Press, 2015. 228 pages, including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended ...
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Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson

Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. Scholastic Press, 2009. 194 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: The ...
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Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson

Guts & Glory: The American Civil War by Ben Thompson. Little, Brown, 2014. 317 pages, including index. Reading Level: Middle Grades,  ages 10-12 Recommended for: ...
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10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis

10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 197 pages. Reading Level: 12-15 Recommended for: 15-18 Bottom Line: Blogger Kari Kampakis ...
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*What’s Up? by Jack Klumpenhower

*What’s Up?: Discovering the Gospel, Jesus, and Who You REALLY Are (Teacher Guide), by Deborah Harrell and Jack Klumpenhower. New Growth Press, 2015. 228 pages. ...
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Bible Review: The Story

The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People (Also available in NKJV). Zondervan, 2011. 513 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...
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Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. Beach Lane Books, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-4 Some Bugs is a fun, ...
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A 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 ...
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The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPré

The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPré. Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8, ages 8-10 ...
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*Pioneer Girl: the Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder

*Pioneer Girl: the Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder (edited by Pamela Smith Hill). University of South Dakota Press, sale 2014. 400 pages. Reading Level: ...
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The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis: an Introduction

This thing called “love”—what is it? Something we long for, feel vague stirrings about, idolize, draw inspiration from, and abuse left and right. It’s unpredictable, ...
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*Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi

This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! *Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim ...
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Keeping Your Cool by Lou Priolo

Keeping Your Cool: A Teen’s Survival Guide by Lou Priolo. P&R, capsule 2014 (new edition). 251 pages, unhealthy including appendices. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages ...
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*Rise by Trip Lee

*Rise: Get Up and Live in God's Great Story by Trip Lee.  Thomas Nelson, 2014.  240 pages.  Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 and up Maturity ...
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*Wise Words by Peter J. Leithart

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring Proverbs to Life by Peter J. Leithart. Canon Press, 2003. 148 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 2 ...
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Jonathan Edwards by Simonetta Carr and Matt Abraxas

Jonathan Edwards by Simonetta Carr, illustrated by Matt Abraxas. Reformation Heritage, 2014. 64 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, Ages 8-10 Recommended For: Ages 8-10 Simonetta ...
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Hymns for a Kid’s Heart, Vol. 1-4 by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada

Hymns for a Kid’s Heart, Vol. 1-4 by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada. Crossway, 2003-2004. 96 pages. (Audio CD included) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...
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*A Light for my Path: An ABC Book Based on Psalm 119 by Davis Carman, illustrated by Alice Ratterree

This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! *A Light for My ...
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Every Valley by Albert L. Blackwell

Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah by Albert L. Blackwell. Westminster John Knox Press, 2014. 160 pages. Reading Level: Adults (16 and up)Recommended ...
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I Survived True Stories: Five Epic Disasters by Lauren Tarshis

 This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! I Survived True Stories: ...
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*Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus

Note: this review was originally published on February 4, 2011.  Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Preus, Amulet Books, 277 pages plus historical note and ...
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Popular by Maya Van Wagenen

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen. Dutton, 2014. 259 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 11-12 Maturity Level: 5 (ages 12-14) ...
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El Deafo by Cece Bell

El Deafo by Cece Bell. Amulet, 2014. 241 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 3 (ages 8-10) Bottom Line: Author/illustrator Cece Bell ...
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Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Penguin, 2014. 320 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 5 (ages 12-14) Bottom line: Award-winning author ...
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Come On, Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss.

Come On, Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody. Bison Books, 2003. 172 pages. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss. Greathall Productions. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12, Young Adult, ages 12-18, ...
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D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy, 1944 by Rick Atkinson

D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy, 1944 by Rick Atkinson. Holt, 2014. 202 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 10-12) On the ...
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The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming. Shwartz & Wade, 2014. 292 pages including index and bibliography. Reading ...
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The War to End All Wars by Russell Freedman

The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedman. Clarion, 2010. 176 pages including notes and index. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...
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World War I: An Interactive History Adventure by Gwenyth Swain

World War I: an Interactive History Adventure by Gwenyth Swain. (You Choose Books), Capstone, 2012. 112 pages including timeline, index, etc. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...
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cover of George Washington

National Geographic Kids Biographies: George Washington

George Washington by Caroline Crosson Gilpin. National Geographic Society, 2014. 128 pgs. Reading Level: Early reader, leveled reader (ages 4-8) Recommended for: Ages 4-8 National ...
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Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Simon and Schuster, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Recommended for: ...
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Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi

Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi. First Second, 2014. 125 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) and up This ...
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The Pilot and the Little Prince by Peter Sis

The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry by Peter Sis. Farrar, Straux, and Giroux, 2014. 48 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages ...
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The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edward Fotheringham

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edward Fotheringham. Scholastic, 2010. 48 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-10Recommended for: Ages ...
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Treaties, Trenches, Mud and Blood by Nathan Hale

Treaties, Trenches, Mud, and Blood by Nathan Hale. Amulet, 2014. 128 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12Maturity Level: 4 (age 10 and up) This ...
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The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes

The graphic edition of Amity Shlaes' acclaimed history presents a different view of the effectiveness of government action during the Great Depression. The Forgotten Man: ...
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Picture Book Biographies

Picture Book Biographies Picture book biographies are excellent choices for introducing students of all ages to a particular author or historical figure. Many times they ...
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*The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet

*The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2014. 42 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ...
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A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Eerdmans, 2008. 34 pages. Reading Level: Picture ...
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Junk Drawer Physics by Bobby Mercer

Junk Drawer Physics: 50 Awesome Experiments That Don’t Cost a Thing by Bobby Mercer. Chicago Review Press, 2014. 187 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...
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Corrie Ten Boom by Kaylena Radcliff

The Torchlighters Biography Series: Corrie Ten Boom by Kaylena Radcliff. Christian History Institute, 2014. 93 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 3, 4  ...
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Eye: How it Works by David Macaulay

Eye: How it Works by David Macaulay. David Macaulay Studio, 2013. 32 pages. Reading Level: Easy/Leveled Reader, ages 4-8Maturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8) and up ...
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Explore Gravity!: With 25 Great Projects by Cindy Blobaum and illustrated by Bryan Stone

Explore Gravity!: With 25 Great Projects by Cindy Blobaum and illustrated by Bryan Stone. Nomad Press, 2013. 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades (ages 8-12)Recommended for: ...
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Eye Benders: The Science of Seeing and Believing by Clive Gifford

Eye Benders: The Science of Seeing and Believing by Clive Gifford. Ivy Press, 2013 (U.K.) and 2014 (U.S.A.). 64 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, 8-12 ...
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National Geographic Kids Biographies: Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison by Barbara Kramer. National Geographic Kids, 2014, 32 pages. Reading Level: Early reader, leveled readerMaturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8) and up National Geographic ...
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National Geographic Kids: Robots

Robots by Melissa Stewart. National Geographic Kids, 2014, 48 pages. Reading Level: Early reader, leveled readerMaturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8) and up It can be hard ...
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Zoobots by Helaine Becker

Zoobots: Wild Robots Inspired by Real Animals by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Alex Ries. Kids Can Press, 2014, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ...
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An Eye for Art: Focusing on Great Artists and Their Work

An Eye for Art: Focusing on Great Artists and Their Work by the National Gallery of Art. Chicago Review Press, 2014, 176 pages. Reading Level: Middle ...
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Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music by Ana Garhard

Listen to the Birds, by Ana Garhard. The Secret Mountain, 2013, 48 pages each (CD included). Reading level: Picture Books, ages 9-12 Maturity Level: 3 ...
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Water Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas

Water Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija. Millbrook, 2014, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture BookMaturity Level: All Water Can Be is a fun ...
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A Leaf Can Be…by Laura Purdie Salas

A Leaf Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija. Millbrook, 2012, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture BookMaturity Level: All Who would have imagined that ...
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This Plus That by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This Plus That: Life's Little Equations by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jen Corace. Harper, 2011. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, Ages 4-8 Recommended ...
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*National Wildlife Federation World of Birds by Kim Kirki

*National Wildlife Federation World of Birds: a Beginners Guide, by Kim Kirki. Black Dog & Levanthal, 2014, 80 pages including glossary and index. Reading Level: ...
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Through Middle-Eastern Eyes: I Am Malala and Hidden Girl

Two real-life memoirs of girls living in a turbulent time and place: Hidden Girl: the True Story of a Modern-Day Child Slave, by Shyima Hall, ...
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Genesis in Space and Time by Francis Schaeffer

This review was originally written by Valen Caldwell as part of the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge.     Genesis in Space and Time by Francis ...
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It’s Summertime! Let’s Learn Something!

While we're gearing up for our summer reading challenge (still time to sign up!) the kids may be looking around for something to read. Fiction ...
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Raising “Wild” Readers

How do you teach the pleasure of reading to non-readers? Convinced by research studies and personal experience that worksheets and conventional methods of teaching literary ...
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Digging in the Dirt

Due to the loooong winter experienced by those of us in the Midwest and eastern United States, we’ve been slow to get our garden in. ...
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Gifts for Grads, 3rd Edition

If you have a high school or college graduate, you’re thinking about how fast time flies and how bittersweet the occasion of this very special ...
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Thinking Christianly–about Everything

Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition series, by various authors. Crossway, 2012-2016, 110-140 pages each. Age/interest level: 16-up. This fall, bright, committed Christian students will pack ...
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Shakespeare: life, theater and historical context

Here are some resources that weave together the life of William Shakespeare with the world he lived in, how the plays were produced, and what ...
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Ukraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Pt. 2

Last week, we began our Ukrainian series with a personal reflection from our executive assistant, Hayley.  Having recently visited orphans in Ukraine,  Hayley gave us insight ...
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Presidents Day–What the Hayes?

There didn’t used to be a Presidents Day; instead, Americans observed Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Washington (Feb. 22) separately.  But since those two had thoughtfully ...
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Award-Winning Science Picture Books

The Animal Book: a Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest—and Most Surprising—Animals on Earth, by Steve Jenkins.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, 208 pages.  ...
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A Quick Trip around the World

Maps, by Eleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski.  Candlewick, 2013, 107 pages.  Age/interest level: 4-up You like maps?  We’ve got maps!  After a view of the ...
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Walk Like an Egyptian–and a Roman

It’s nonfiction week at Redeemed Reader—or not entirely, but we’ve got a lot of nonfiction titles to review, including a quick trip around the world ...
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The Spiritual World of The Hobbit + Giveaway

(Giveaway is now closed) The ever-increasing popularity of Middle Earth has brought a profusion of books written about both J. R.R. Tolkien and his created ...
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Nurturing a young reader’s literary tastes

Parents with avid readers often find themselves with a dilemma: after my child has read all the age-appropriate books, where do we go from here? ...
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The Case for Christ for Kids: 90-Day Devotional

The Case for Christ for Kids 90-Day Devotional, by Lee Strobel and Jesse Florea.  Zonderkidz, 2013, 199 pages.  Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 8-10 Recommended ...
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C. S. Lewis at War: Radio Theatre for Teens and Adults

C. S. Lewis at War: The Dramatic Story Behind Mere Christianity (Radio Theatre) by C.S. Lewis and Paul McCusker.  Tyndale Entertainment, 2013.  Ages 12 and ...
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*Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed

Twelve Kinds of Ice, by Ellen Bryan Obed, illustrated by Barbara McClintock.  Houghton Mifflin, 2012, 64 pages.  Reading level: Middle Grades, Ages 10-12 Maturity Level: ...
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Call of the Klondike: a True Gold Rush Adventure by David Meissner

This middle grade history uses original letters and contemporary news accounts to recreate the drama of the Alaska Gold Rush.  Call of the Klondike: a ...
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Truth in the Tinsel: A Family Advent Tradition

Truth in the Tinsel Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I suppose the Christmas race has officially begun now, and with that in mind, ...
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November 22, 1963

Fifty years ago a president was violently assassinated.  John F. Kennedy’s place in history is mostly emblematic: baby-boomers remember his ease and charm and clever ...
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Flood by Alvaro F. Villa

Flood, by Alvaro F. Villa.  Capstone, 2013, 32 pages.  Reading Level: Picture books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 8-10 It’s hard to imagine rain doing ...
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Veterans Day: The Warrior’s Heart

The Warrior’s heart: Becoming a Man of Compassion and Courage, by Eric Greitens.  Houghton Mifflin, 2012, 263 pages.  Age/interest level: 15-up. You stand in freezing ...
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History 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 ...
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Hear That Lonesome Whistle: Locomotive and Train

Every year children’s publishing offers at least one major picture book related to trains, but this year we’ve been blessed with three.  One of them, ...
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Anselm: An Interview with Simonetta Carr

Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr.  Reformation Heritage Books, 2013.  64 pgs.  Ages 8-up. Simonetta Carr recently published Anselm of ...
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Church History for Everybody

This 12-volume set documents the church from its earliest days to 2001, with lavish illustration, original source material, and literate commentary. The Christians: Their First ...
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*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: ...
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Little Histories

One thing we’ve lost, in our modern fragmented world, is a sense of the story of history.  Between the rock of political correctness on one ...
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Our 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 ...
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More Favorite Science Books

Welcome back to Science September at Redeemedreader!  Last week, we heard from Janie on Science Biographies, as well as Betsy on some of her favorite ...
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Solving Mysteries with Science (and a disappointing collective biography)

One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science! by Eric Yoder and Natalie Yoder. Science Naturally, 2013. When I was growing up, ...
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The Secret Lives of Scientists

On a Beam of Light: a Story of Albert Einstein, by Jennifer Berre, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky.  Chronicle, 2013, 50 pages.  Age/interest level: 6-9 Despite ...
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Science 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 ...
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Laboring 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 ...
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Creative Math

When I was in elementary school it was called “arithmetic,” and one of the most terrifying aspects of that class was timed drills—the teacher would ...
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