Resources

The Best This World Can Do: Thoughts about “Not Nothing” by Gayle Forman

Christian book reviewers face certain challenges. We could review only Christian books and be reasonably assured that we won’t run into glaring content problems like ...
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Choosing Biographies: Practical Considerations

Before we look at some practical considerations for choosing biographies, have you already answered the most important question before choosing biographies? That might seem like ...
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Choosing Biographies: Start with Your “Why”

Deshawn comes home from school with a dreaded school book report assignment: biographies. Leyla needs to diversify her fantasy reading, and Dad thinks biographies are ...
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Back Porch Book Chat with William Boekestein

Back Porch Book Chat: a casual conversation about books and writing. Today we're visiting with William Boekestein. Bill is an author best known around here ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Kristyn Getty (Singer, Hymn Writer, and Author)

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 ...
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Where Did the Ratings Go?

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 ...
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Kentucky Derby Book List: Books for Young Horse Lovers

The Kentucky Derby runs every first Saturday of May. Will there be another Triple Crown winner this year? Will an underdog horse come from nowhere ...
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Ten Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak

Ten Little Rabbits, published ten years after the author’s death, doesn’t detract from the Sendak legacy. Ten Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak. Harper, 2024, 26 ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Elizabeth Farquhar (Teen Writer)

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Josiah DeGraaf (Director of Young Writers Workshop)

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...
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Gift Books for Grown-Ups

Redeemed Reader exists to "shed a gospel light on books for children and teens." But you know what? We read books for grown-ups, too! We ...
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Niche Nonfiction for Teens (AKA “Living Books”): A Book List

Living Books Are Full of Ideas Those of us in Charlotte Mason educational philosophy circles like to talk about "living books." A living book is ...
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Janie’s Favorite Books, Old and New

We are excited to be partnering with Story Glory Kids for our Winter Book Fair this year! In the past, we linked to amazon for ...
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Hayley’s Favorite Books, Old and New

We are excited to be partnering with Story Glory Kids for our Winter Book Fair this year! In the past, we linked to amazon for ...
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Megan’s Favorite Books, Old and New

We are excited to be partnering with Story Glory Kids for our Winter Book Fair this year! In the past, we linked to amazon for ...
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Betsy’s Favorite Books, Old and New

We are excited to be partnering with Storyglory Kids for our Winter Book Fair this year! In the past, we linked to amazon for all ...
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The Hiding Place, A Christmas Carol, Hinds Feet on High Places, and Les Miserables: An Engaging Visual Journey

The four books in the Engaging Visual Journey series provide beautiful, dignified forms to stories that are dearly loved spiritual classics. The Hiding Place by ...
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Children of Israel: Our Book List of Jewish Life, History, and Culture

The terrifying attack on Israel on October 7 has brought new awareness to the ancient phenomenon of antisemitism. Though small in number (and reduced by ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Carolyn Givens (Author, Publisher, Reader)

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...
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Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons, 20th Anniversary Edition

Those who love dragons and long for more lore will find this field guide an excellent companion. Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons, 20th Anniversary ...
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5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books

When are children old enough to begin appreciating quality art? As soon as they start looking at picture books. Note: even though this post references ...
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authority vs anarchy book list

Authority vs. Anarchy: A Book List for Teens

Authority vs. Anarchy: Opposites? Two sides of the same coin? Romans 13 reminds us to obey our governing (civic) authorities. Exodus 20 and Ephesians 6 ...
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Teaching the Faith: *The Illustrated Westminster Shorter Catechism

A new edition of the Westminster Shorter Catechism uses cartoon illustrations as an aid to understanding and discussion. *The Illustrated Westminster Shorter Catechism in Modern ...
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Books and Schoolhouse Battles

Those of us who homeschool admire the one-room schoolhouse model of previous centuries. With simple resources, a wide-range of ages, and a school year that ...
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How to Throw a Book-themed Party for Kids

(Originally published at Redeemed Reader on July 10, 2013, in connection with that year's Summer Reading Challenge) This week on our Summer Reading Challenge, we're ...
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cover of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Gladys Hunt on Re-issues: Good, Bad, and Ugly

A story betrayed Originally published on the Tumblon website January 29, 2010 It’s sometimes like wandering into unknown territory if you’ve had favorite books in ...
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Summer Fun Ahead: a Picture Book Tour

(Originally published at Redeemed Reader on May 21, 2013) The Not-for-Parents Travel Book, Lonely Planet Publications, 2011, 207 pages.  Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 ...
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Gladys Hunt on Starred Reviews

Editor's Note: "Starred reviews" are a guideline for librarians figuring how to spend the budget for the children's section. (We take particular notice of them ...
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Batter Up! Books About Baseball (a Librarian’s List)

(Originally published at Redeemed Reader on May 27, 2013; updated July, 2023) Aside from the beach, nothing says "summertime" and "American" more than a game ...
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Gladys Hunt on Personal Libraries

Editor's Note: As we head into the last month of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along, we share the late Gladys Hunt's further thoughts ...
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Beach Books! (Librarians’ List)

Originally published at Redeemed Reader on June 6, 2014. Of course a professional book reviewer and librarian takes books with her to the beach—for herself ...
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Gladys Hunt on Stellar Historical Fiction

Editor's Note: We're wrapping up our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along with Chapter 19, on historical novels. Sarah, Plain and Tall Series Originally published ...
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High School World Literature: A Thematic Approach

High School World Literature: What to Cut? "World literature" can mean literally any book ever written. The hard part of planning a world literature class ...
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Gladys Hunt on Pop-up Books

Editor's Note: Pop-up books could be one of those "Fresh Ways to Read" we're considering in our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along this month. ...
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Gladys Hunt on the Magical Tool of Language

The Power of Words Originally published on the Tumblon website, April 14, 2009 “If you know how to use words, you don’t have to be ...
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Gladys Hunt on an Exaggerated Demise

Editor's Note: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated," wrote Mark Twain, in response to a mistaken obituary. Likewise the reports of the death ...
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Gladys Hunt on Diversity

“Teacher, do you have any books with pictures of kids that look like me?” Originally published on the Tumblon website, October 10, 2009 Probably more ...
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Gladys Hunt on Disappearing Mothers

Where are the Mothers? Originally published on the Tumbln website, April 8, 2009 Sometime when you are with people who like children’s books, try out ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Josiah Pettit (Director of Westminster Books)

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...
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Gladys Hunt: In Praise of Mothers

Mothering Day Originally published on the Tumblon website, May 10, 2009 The British call it “Mothering Day”—the day they honor mothers. Adding that ing gives ...
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Gladys Hunt on “Improving” the Classics

Editor's Note: Our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along this month takes us to Chapters 8 ("Who Influences Your Children?") and Chapter 21 ("Young Adult ...
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Gladys Hunt on Getting Them to Sleep

Go to Sleep Books Originally posted on the Tumblr Website, June 23, 2009 A new mother told me that her baby received four copies of ...
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Practical Graduation Gifts: A Book List

We have a robust list of book recommendations for graduation gifts. Why another? This book list is all about practical graduation gifts: books that offer ...
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Gladys Hunt on Developing a Sympathetic Heart

Editor's Note: This month's Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along looks at Chapter 23, "Nourishing Your Child's Spiritual Life." This must include a sympathetic heart ...
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Gladys Hunt on Taking Notice

Editor's Note: The Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along is focusing this month on Chapter 7 ("Honey from the Rock") and Chapter 23 ("Nourishing Your ...
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How to lead a book discussion without really trying, part 2: The book club

Often the best way to do discuss books effectively is to not plan it all out ahead of time. Megan's family started with a motif ...
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Gladys Hunt on Library Blessings

Editor's Note: The American Library Association may be a perpetrator of much mischief in children's publishing, but we can be grateful for libraries! In praise ...
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How to lead a book discussion without really trying, part 1: The motif journal

Often the best way to do discuss books effectively is to not plan it all out ahead of time. Megan's family started a motif journal ...
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Gladys Hunt on Simplicity

Editor's Note: Bored with reading the same picture books over and over? Hang in there--you're teaching little ones to turn pages as well as exercise ...
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15 Books for 15-Year-Old Boys: A Book List

15-year-old boys: learning to drive. Wrestling with heavy high school work (10th grade is usually more intense than 9th, in terms of work load). Taking ...
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Gladys Hunt on Pigs and Possibilities

Editor's Note: Are there any animal lovers in the family? Gladys Hunt can recommend nine--count 'em, nine--recommendations for a classic story involving not one, but ...
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Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 7

Welcome to month 7 of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read Along! Not sure what we're talking about? Find out more here. Each month, ...
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Gladys Hunt on Shared Adventures

Editor's Note: This month's Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along chapters are "The Pleasure of a Shared Adventure" and "Animal Lovers." Here's Gladys Hunt with ...
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Understanding Ukraine

A year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, here is an updated booklist from Hayley's 2014 series of posts about Ukraine. In 2014, as Russia invaded ...
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Gladys Hunt on the Music (and Magic) of Words

Editor's Note: The universe began with spoken words ("And God said . . .") and in a sense, so do we. We wrap up this ...
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Why Your Church Nursery Needs a Library

The Lord has been challenging my reading skills and assumptions lately, both humbling and teaching me in the process. I had offered to teach a ...
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Gladys Hunt on Raising Readers

Editor's Note: "Literacy" begins long before a child can read for herself. Here, Gladys Hunt muses about how to take those first steps. How do ...
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Gladys Hunt on Enjoying Poetry with Children

Editor's Note: This month we're reading the two chapters in Honey for a Child's Heart that address poetry. Do you enjoy poetry? Would you like ...
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love and laughter

Love and Laughter Book List

A Valentine's Day list of books that celebrate family love and wholesome romance. It’s the season of hearts and flowers and chocolate. Valentine’s Day is ...
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romantic reads for teens

Romantic Reads for Teens: A Book List for Girls and Guys

Enjoy this unapologetic list of romantic reads for teens: great love stories and high romance without LGBTQ elements. For the genre-junkies out there, it's worth ...
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Gladys Hunt on Choosing Mother Goose

Editor's Note: It's a new month--meaning a new chapter in our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along. Or actually, two chapters: #5: "Poetry" and #22: ...
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Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 6

Welcome to month 6 of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read Along! Not sure what we're talking about? Find out more here. Each month, ...
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The 2023 ALA Youth Media Awards

A Redeemed Reader Tradition This morning, a Redeemed Reader tradition of multiple years continued: listening to the ALA Youth Media Awards. Last year we gathered ...
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Gladys Hunt on Enduring Value

Editor's Note: The "something new" Gladys Hunt notes below has been around awhile now and changes have occurred which she would probably have deplored. Something ...
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Gladys Hunt on Award-Winning Books

Editor's Note: On Monday, the American Library Association announces its annual Youth Media Awards But how many of the honored books will still be read ...
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2023 Newbery Buzz #3: Northwind

Might Gary Paulsen's last novel be a sentimental favorite for Newbery recognition? The State of Nature Betsy: Janie, this is only the second Paulsen book ...
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2023 Newbery Buzz #2: The Door of No Return

Back for our second buzz, Janie and Betsy talk over a troubling but moving verse novel. Out of Africa Janie: Kwame Alexander scored a gold ...
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Gladys Hunt on Metaphor and Imagination

Editor's Note: Continuing this month's Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along, we're thinking further about value of literary fantasy. A Metaphor Says This is Like ...
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wintry stories

Wintry Stories: A Book List for Middle Grades and Teens

Whether you live in a place with snow or not, January is the perfect month for a cozy snow story (or three). Look for some ...
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wintry picture books

Wintry Picture Books: A Book List

Whether you live in a place with snow or not, January is the perfect month for a cozy snow story (or three). Look for some ...
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Gladys Hunt on Little Golden Books

Editor's Note: You may have to be of a certain age for Little Golden Books to tweak your memory, but there was a lot of ...
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Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 5

Welcome to month 5 of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read Along! Not sure what we're talking about? Find out more here. Each month, ...
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Gladys Hunt on Reading Together

Editor's Note: Most of us don't need persuading, but how do you find the time to read together as a family? Glady Hunt has some ...
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Gladys Hunt on Book-Gifting

Editor’s Note: We assume that most Redeemed Reader readers love books, and love to give them. But you may wonder, how can I choose for ...
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Bookish Gifts for Boys

What makes good gifts for book lovers besides more books (and infinite bookshelf space)? Here are some lovely things we've recently discovered that would be ...
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Bookish Gifts for Girls

What makes good gifts for book lovers besides more books (and infinite bookshelf space)? Here are some lovely things we've recently discovered that would be ...
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Gladys Hunt on Christmas Books

Editor's Note: Is reading aloud beside the Christmas tree one of your family's holiday traditions? If so, you'll want to copy & paste this list ...
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Gladys Hunt on Enjoying Picture Books–at Any Age

Editor's Note: I hope everyone enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving with family and good food. Everybody knows what happens next: Christmas! And, as it's still Picture ...
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Gladys Hunt on The Scent of Thanksgiving

Editor's Note: Are the smells of sage and pumpkin spice already wafting through the house? In this post, Gladys Hunt finds wonderful smells in the ...
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fairy tales and folk tales

Fairy Tales and Folk Tales: A Picture Book List

Google the difference between fairy tales and folk tales (or is it folktales?), and you'll find some answers. For instance, folk tales are part of ...
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family advent devotionals

Family Advent Devotional List

Do you have a favorite family Advent tradition? Perhaps your family does a Jesse Tree together. Or maybe you have an Advent wreath on your ...
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Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 3

Welcome to month 3 of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read Along! Not sure what we're talking about? Find out more here. Each month, ...
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Gladys Hunt on Literary Excellence

Editor's Note: This month, our "Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along" partners are thinking about Chapters 3, 13, and 14. The latter two chapters are ...
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Are Cozy Animal Stories Cozying up to Gay Ideology?

One of our readers alerted us to Katherine Applegate’s latest book, as it seemed to her to feature a lesbian relationship. Odder, picturing a beyond-cute ...
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abc books

20 ABC Books for All Ages

We're celebrating Picture Book Month here at RedeemedReader! ABC Books are some of the most common picture books young children see, but there are many ...
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reformation day traditions

Reformation Day Holiday Traditions

Inventing a Celebration I’ve never had much use for Halloween. We didn’t celebrate it when I was growing up, substituting other family fun that day, ...
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Gladys Hunt on Nursery Rhymes

Editor's Note: Our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along readers are thinking about Chapter 15: "First Books for Readers." Beginning readers should be primed with ...
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truth and story

Truth and Story

(Note: Betsy and I are indebted to Ethan Pettit, librarian and Children's Literature professor from Covenant College, who enlightened us so much in seeing Christ ...
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the three little pigs book list

The Three Little Pigs: A Book List

Just for fun, here's a round-up of some delightful version of the classic folktale "The Three Little Pigs" along with some funny spoofs and spins. ...
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Gladys Hunt on Recognizing the Good

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 ...
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Our Hymns, Our Heritage by David and Barbara Leeman

The Leeman’s excellent student hymnal has been republished by Moody Press, with additional songs and supplements. *Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs ...
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Gladys Hunt on Your Family’s “Honey Ratio”

Editor's Note: During this month's Honey for a Child's Heart Read-Along, we'll consider Chapter 2: "Milk and Honey," and Chapter 15: "First Books for Readers." ...
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HLM curating and storing

Home Library Management: Curating and Storing the Collection

A solution for managing your books before investing in more bookshelves. When the books overflow the shelves into piles on the floor, on every surface, ...
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honey for a child's heart month 2

Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 2

Welcome to month 2 of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read Along! Not sure what we're talking about? Find out more here. Each month, ...
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Gladys Hunt on the Very Earliest Readers

Editor's Note: In our Honey for a Child's Heart Read-along this month, we're looking at four chapters, including Chapter 12: "A Child's First Books." What ...
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Gladys Hunt on Longing for Home

Editor's Note: Four years ago, Redeemed Reader obtained the rights to republish several original blogs by the late Gladys Hunt, author of the classic children's ...
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Cozy and Clever Books for Teens and Adults

During uncertain* times, there’s something reassuring about a cozy book. But even better than a cozy book is a cozy and clever book with bits ...
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Home Library Management: Weed out the M.U.S.T.Y. titles!

NOTE: This post is an expansion of the previous post, "Analyzing the Situation." If you feel like the MUSTY acronym is helpful for you or ...
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image for fantasy books for teen girls

Fantasy Books for Teen Girls: Keeper of the Lost Cities Read-Alikes

We have several fantasy book lists here on Redeemed Reader, but this list is especially for those who enjoy books like Keeper of the Lost ...
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honey for a child's heart

Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Introductions

Welcome to month 1 of our Honey for a Child's Heart Read Along! Not sure what we're talking about? Find out more here. Normally, these ...
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