classics
*Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin
By Megan Saben |
A classic Christmas story of an old sinner who finds redemption through visits from four spirits who convict him of his worldly wretchedness. Little Christmas ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Awesomely Austen Series)
By Janie Cheaney |
The "Awesomely Austen" series makes Jane Austen accessible to elementary-age readers. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. Hodder Children’s ...
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The Great Gatsby in Graphic Novel Form
By Betsy Farquhar |
Hayley and Betsy discuss the excellent, new graphic novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby adapted by K. Woodman-Maynard (Candlewick, 2021). First Impressions of The Great ...
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Picture-book Roundup: The Floating Field, *Hugo and the Impossible Thing, Yes & No
By Janie Cheaney |
Three outstanding new picture books demonstrate how life is better when we work together. The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their ...
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Running Wild: Awesome Animals in Motion by Galadriel Watson
By Janie Cheaney |
Running Wild gives readers ages 6-10 new appreciation for the immense variety and careful design evidenced in animal motion. Running Wild: Awesome Animals in Motion ...
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Lois Lenski
By Megan Saben |
Who was Lois Lenski? Lois Lenski was a prolific author who lived from the end of the 19th-century long into the 20th. She was a ...
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The Enduring Appeal of Little Women
By Janie Cheaney |
With the eighth major film adaptation opening on Christmas Day, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on this classic. I read it at the ...
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The Light Princess by George MacDonald {Rabbit Room edition}
By Betsy Farquhar |
A beautiful new edition of The Light Princess complete with foreword by Jennifer Trafton, afterword by Andrew Peterson, and illustrated by Ned Bustard. The Light ...
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The Odyssey: a Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
By Janie Cheaney |
This graphic-novel adaptation of The Odyssey has some beautiful panels and a few problems. The Odyssey: a Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds. Candlewick, 2010, 248 ...
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The Iliad: a Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
By Janie Cheaney |
Gareth Hinds' adaptation of The Iliad is an excellent introduction to Homer's classic for middle graders and teens. *The Iliad: a Graphic Novel Adaptation by ...
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The Pilgrim Travels on: Literary References to The Pilgrim’s Progress
By Janie Cheaney |
Few works of literature have had the cultural reach of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim’s Progress. That’s pretty amazing—who would have thought an adventure story that ...
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The Pilgrim’s Progress Movie
By Megan Saben |
The movie version of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, which included some creative liberties, was faithful to the themes of the classic allegory and fueled a delightful ...
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*Into the Jungle by Katherine Rundell
By Janie Cheaney |
In these four tales inspired by Kipling's Jungle Book, Mowgli the man-cub learns the backstories of his fellow creatures. *Into the Jungle: Stories for Mowgli ...
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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 ...
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Classic Reads: The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit
By Janie Cheaney |
This often-overlooked classic by the beloved fantasy writer introduces six children with lively imaginations and not much prudence. Ages 10-14 The Story of the Treasure ...
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Littler Women by Laura Schaeffer
By Janie Cheaney |
Littler Women pictures the four March girls as 9-to-13-year-olds growing up in a tight-knit family in modern-day Massachusetts. Littler Women: a Modern Retelling by Laura ...
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Historical Racism in Children’s Books–What do we do?
By Janie Cheaney |
The website Reading While White dedicates itself to issues involving the dreaded “-isms” in children’s literature: racism, anti-Semitism, ableism, classism, sexism, and more. A post ...
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40 Books for Dads to Read to Their Kids
By Betsy Farquhar |
Strong father figures, adventures, humor, and general fun await! 40 books for DADS to read to their kids: fantasy, realistic fiction, historical fiction. Humor, adventure, ...
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Natalie Babbitt, 1932-2016, and The Search for Delicious
By Janie Cheaney |
Somewhere amid the news of the last two weeks (pretty intense news cycle, I understand) came word that Natalie Babbitt had died of lung cancer ...
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Kid Beowulf by Alexis Fajarda
By Janie Cheaney |
A venerable legend gets a total makeover with this new graphic-novel series that does for early Europe what the Astrix series did for Rome. Kid ...
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The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
By Janie Cheaney |
In this series opener, four sixth-grade girls discover that reading the classics can change contemporary attitudes. The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick. Simon ...
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What Makes a GREAT Novel?
By Janie Cheaney |
When was “The Novel” as a literary form invented? The answer is, it wasn’t. The type of long-form fiction we call a novel was not ...
Read More *Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss
By Megan Saben |
*Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss. Random House, 1949. 56 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8 Recommended For: Ages 4-8 Bartholomew and the ...
Read More Is Petunia Ready for Social Security? Picture Books and Retirement
By Betsy Farquhar |
Do Picture Books Retire? Petunia, that silly goose, is turning the ripe old age of 65 this year, the same age as my father-in-law who ...
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*The Father Brown Reader: Stories from Chesterton adapted by Nancy Carpentier Brown
By Betsy Farquhar |
*The Father Brown Reader: Stories from Chesterton adapted by Nancy Carpentier Brown, illustrated by Ted Schluenderfritz. Hillside Education, 2007. 147 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 ...
Read More *Faerie Gold edited by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker
By Megan Saben |
*Faerie Gold: Treasures from the Lands of Enchantment edited by Kathryn Lindskoog and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker. P&R, 2005. 304 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...
Read More *Pioneer Girl: the Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder
By Janie Cheaney |
*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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*Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
By Betsy Farquhar |
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. Aladdin, 2006 (reprint; originally published 1935). 288 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially girls Bottom ...
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*Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel ...
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*Choo Choo by Virgina Lee Burton
By Megan Saben |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! *Choo Choo: The Story of a Little ...
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*The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
By Megan Saben |
*The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. Houghton Mifflin, 1969. 44 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8Recommended for: Ages 4-8 A little house living out ...
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Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
By Betsy Farquhar |
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. HMH Books for Young Readers, 1943. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8Recommended for: Ages ...
Read More Celebrating Virginia Lee Burton’s Classic Favorites
By Megan Saben |
Once upon a time there was a little boy whose mother regularly took him and his siblings to the library. Every time he went, he ...
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The Young Carthaginian by G.A. Henty, read by Jim Weiss
By Megan Saben |
The Young Carthaginian by G.A. Henty. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss. Greathall Productions, 2004. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8 and upMaturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) ...
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*Carry on Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss.
By Megan Saben |
*Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham. Audiobook read by Jim Weiss, Greathall Productions, 2009. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Maturity Level: Levels 3-5 ...
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Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
By Betsy Farquhar |
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. Viking, 1943. 149 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 8-10Recommended for: Ages 8-10 McCloskey has transformed his picture book hero, Lentil, ...
Read More Robert McCloskey: 100th Anniversary of His Birth
By Betsy Farquhar |
Today marks the 100th anniversary of Robert McCloskey's birth. McCloskey is the author/illustrator of such familiar American children's books as Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, One ...
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Lentil by Robert McCloskey
By Betsy Farquhar |
Lentil by Robert McCloskey. First published by Viking, 1940. Reading Level: Picture Books, 4-8Recommended for: Ages 4-8 Lentil, McCloskey's first picture book, is now 74 years ...
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Retro Reads: The Sword in the Stone
By Janie Cheaney |
This week we begin a series of occasional posts called Retro Reads: those modern-day classics you may have missed in your teen years or before ...
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Pilgrim’s Progress adapted by Anna Trimiew
By Janie Cheaney |
Pilgrim’s Progress: John Bunyan’s Classic Story Adapted for Children, by Anna Trimiew, illustrated by Drew Rose. Great Commissions Press, 2013, 109 pages, including glossary and ...
Read More *Pilgrim’s Progress: a Retelling by Gary Schmidt
By Janie Cheaney |
Pilgrim’s Progress: a Retelling, by Gary Schmidt, illustrated by Barry Moser. Eerdmans, 1994, 96 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, Ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12 ...
Read More *Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
By Janie Cheaney |
The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Anderson, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Harpers, 2013, 34 pages. Reading level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Maturity Level: All Bottom line: ...
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Classics in Comics
By Janie Cheaney |
We round out Picture-book month at Redeemed Reader with a look at some recent comic-book adaptations of enduring literary works--even though graphic novels, technically speaking, ...
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Summer Reading Challenge, Week 3: Mr. Popper’s Penguins
By emily |
Introduction We've added a Summer Reading Challenge tab at the top of our website, to help you keep up with the posts as the summer ...
Read More The Adventures of Achilles by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden
By Janie Cheaney |
The Adventures of Achilles, by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden, illustrated by Carole Henaff. Barefoot Books, 2012, 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages10-12 Maturity ...
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What is Virtuous Romance? A Discussion with Gina Dalfonzo and Rea Berg
By emily |
What is Virtuous Romance? Tonight at dinner, my husband, two daughters and I had our first conversation about...boys. They had curled up with daddy on ...
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Wholehearted Romance: Living Book Library Picks
By emily |
Many of you may remember our interview last fall with Liz and Emily, proprietors of the Living Books Library website. They were kind enough to ...
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Grace and Law and Two Silver Candlesticks
By Janie Cheaney |
I love musicals—always have, ever since my sister and I sang along to original cast recordings and movie soundtracks for Rogers & Hammerstein and Lerner ...
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The Giver Concludes
By Janie Cheaney |
Son, by Lois Lowry. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012, 393 pages. Age/interest level: 12-up. Lois Lowry’s The Giver, published in 1993, has become an iconic title ...
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What Flannery O’Connor Can Tell Us About Teaching Literature
By Janie Cheaney |
Near the beginning of her essay, “The Teaching of Literature” (in Mystery and Manners), Flannery O’Connor writes that fiction has no dearth of critics, because ...
Read More Happy Birthday, Mr. Dickens!
By Janie Cheaney |
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, which makes this coming Tuesday his bicentennial. They’ve been making a big deal of it for some ...
Read More The Pilgrim’s Progress: Introduction
By Janie Cheaney |
John Bunyan was a dissenting pastor of the mid-17th century: “dissenting” meaning that some of his biblical interpretations differed from those of the established (state-supported) ...
Read More Free Classic ebooks
By emily |
As many of you know--particularly those who've read our newsletter this week (and if you haven't signed up already, why not take a moment and ...
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