Resources
The Best This World Can Do: Thoughts about “Not Nothing” by Gayle Forman
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Choosing Biographies: Practical Considerations
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Choosing Biographies: Start with Your “Why”
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Back Porch Book Chat with William Boekestein
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Back Porch Book Chat: Kristyn Getty (Singer, Hymn Writer, and Author)
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Where Did the Ratings Go?
By Hayley Morell |
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 ...
Read More Kentucky Derby Book List: Books for Young Horse Lovers
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Ten Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Back Porch Book Chat: Elizabeth Farquhar (Teen Writer)
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Back Porch Book Chat: Josiah DeGraaf (Director of Young Writers Workshop)
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gift Books for Grown-Ups
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Niche Nonfiction for Teens (AKA “Living Books”): A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Janie’s Favorite Books, Old and New
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Hayley’s Favorite Books, Old and New
By Hayley Morell |
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 ...
Read More Megan’s Favorite Books, Old and New
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Betsy’s Favorite Books, Old and New
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More The Hiding Place, A Christmas Carol, Hinds Feet on High Places, and Les Miserables: An Engaging Visual Journey
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Children of Israel: Our Book List of Jewish Life, History, and Culture
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Back Porch Book Chat: Carolyn Givens (Author, Publisher, Reader)
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons, 20th Anniversary Edition
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More 5 Ways to Encourage Art Appreciation with Picture Books
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Authority vs. Anarchy: A Book List for Teens
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Teaching the Faith: *The Illustrated Westminster Shorter Catechism
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Books and Schoolhouse Battles
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More How to Throw a Book-themed Party for Kids
By emily |
(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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Re-issues: Good, Bad, and Ugly
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Summer Fun Ahead: a Picture Book Tour
By Janie Cheaney |
(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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Starred Reviews
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Batter Up! Books About Baseball (a Librarian’s List)
By Betsy Farquhar |
(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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Personal Libraries
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Beach Books! (Librarians’ List)
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Stellar Historical Fiction
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More High School World Literature: A Thematic Approach
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Pop-up Books
By Janie Cheaney |
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. ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on the Magical Tool of Language
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on an Exaggerated Demise
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Diversity
By Janie Cheaney |
“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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Disappearing Mothers
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Back Porch Book Chat: Josiah Pettit (Director of Westminster Books)
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt: In Praise of Mothers
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on “Improving” the Classics
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Getting Them to Sleep
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Practical Graduation Gifts: A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Developing a Sympathetic Heart
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Taking Notice
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More How to lead a book discussion without really trying, part 2: The book club
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Library Blessings
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More How to lead a book discussion without really trying, part 1: The motif journal
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Simplicity
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More 15 Books for 15-Year-Old Boys: A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Pigs and Possibilities
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 7
By Betsy Farquhar |
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, ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Shared Adventures
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Understanding Ukraine
By Hayley Morell |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on the Music (and Magic) of Words
By Janie Cheaney |
Editor's Note: The universe began with spoken words ("And God said . . .") and in a sense, so do we. We wrap up this ...
Read More Why Your Church Nursery Needs a Library
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Raising Readers
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Enjoying Poetry with Children
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Love and Laughter Book List
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Romantic Reads for Teens: A Book List for Girls and Guys
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Choosing Mother Goose
By Janie Cheaney |
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: ...
Read More Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 6
By Betsy Farquhar |
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, ...
Read More The 2023 ALA Youth Media Awards
By Hayley Morell |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Enduring Value
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Award-Winning Books
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More 2023 Newbery Buzz #3: Northwind
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More 2023 Newbery Buzz #2: The Door of No Return
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Metaphor and Imagination
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Wintry Stories: A Book List for Middle Grades and Teens
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Wintry Picture Books: A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Little Golden Books
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 5
By Betsy Farquhar |
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, ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Reading Together
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Book-Gifting
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Bookish Gifts for Boys
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Bookish Gifts for Girls
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Christmas Books
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Enjoying Picture Books–at Any Age
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on The Scent of Thanksgiving
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Fairy Tales and Folk Tales: A Picture Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Family Advent Devotional List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 3
By Betsy Farquhar |
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, ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Literary Excellence
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Are Cozy Animal Stories Cozying up to Gay Ideology?
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More 20 ABC Books for All Ages
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Reformation Day Holiday Traditions
By Megan Saben |
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, ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Nursery Rhymes
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Truth and Story
By Megan Saben |
(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 ...
Read More The Three Little Pigs: A Book List
By Betsy Farquhar |
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. ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Recognizing the Good
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Our Hymns, Our Heritage by David and Barbara Leeman
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Your Family’s “Honey Ratio”
By Janie Cheaney |
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." ...
Read More Home Library Management: Curating and Storing the Collection
By Megan Saben |
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, ...
Read More Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Month 2
By Betsy Farquhar |
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, ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on the Very Earliest Readers
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Gladys Hunt on Longing for Home
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Cozy and Clever Books for Teens and Adults
By Hayley Morell |
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 ...
Read More Home Library Management: Weed out the M.U.S.T.Y. titles!
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Fantasy Books for Teen Girls: Keeper of the Lost Cities Read-Alikes
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Honey for a Child’s Heart Read Along: Introductions
By Betsy Farquhar |
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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