picture books
*Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman
By Betsy Farquhar |
*Three Bears in a Boat by David Soman. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Recommended for: Ages ...
Read More Hello Ninja by N. D. Wilson
By Betsy Farquhar |
Hello Ninja by N. D. Wilson and illustrated by Forrest Dickison. Canonball Books, 2013. Reading Level: Picture Books, 0-4Recommended for: Ages 0-4 The youngest ninja ...
Read More Jesus is Most Special by Sally Michael, illustrated by Fred Apps
By Megan Saben |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Jesus is Most Special by Sally ...
Read More *A Light for my Path: An ABC Book Based on Psalm 119 by Davis Carman, illustrated by Alice Ratterree
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Tea With Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg
By Megan Saben |
Tea With Grandpa by Barney Saltzberg. Roaring Book Press, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 0-8Maturity Level: 1 (0-4), 2 (4-8) Grandparents who live ...
Read More *Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! *Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems. ...
Read More Fix This Mess! by Tedd Arnold
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Fix This Mess! by Tedd Arnold. I ...
Read More Number One Sam by Greg Pizzoli
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Number One Sam by Greg Pizzoli. Disney-Hyperion, ...
Read More The Big Fib by Tim Hamilton
By Betsy Farquhar |
The Big Fib by Tim Hamilton. I LIKE TO READ series. Holiday House, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Easy/Leveled Readers, ages 4-8Recommended for: Ages 0-8 New ...
Read More *Christmas is Here by Lauren Castillo
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! We are participants in the Amazon LLC ...
Read More Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
By Megan Saben |
*Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp. Tyndale, 2014. 154 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4 and upMaturity Level: 2 (ages ...
Read More Noah Webster and His Words by Jeri Chase Ferris and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch
By Megan Saben |
Noah Webster and His Words by Jeri Chase Ferris and illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch. Houghton Mifflin, 2012. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8, ...
Read More Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse by Torben Kuhlmann
By Megan Saben |
Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse by Torben Kuhlmann. NorthSouth, 2014. 96 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, Chapter Books, ages 4-10Maturity Level: 2 (ages 4-8), ...
Read More Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
By Betsy Farquhar |
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: ...
Read More The Pilot and the Little Prince by Peter Sis
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edward Fotheringham
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Picture Book Biographies
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More *The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet
By Betsy Farquhar |
*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, ...
Read More A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Gravity by Jason Chin
By Betsy Farquhar |
Gravity by Jason Chin. Roaring Brook Press, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, 0-8Recommended for: All ages Gravity is a complex concept to explain ...
Read More Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins
By Betsy Farquhar |
Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, 4-8Recommended for: Ages ...
Read More Zoobots by Helaine Becker
By Betsy Farquhar |
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, ...
Read More The Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky
By Janie Cheaney |
The Carnival of the Animals, by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Mary GrandPre. Knopf, 2010, 32 pages (CD included). Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Maturity ...
Read More Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music by Ana Garhard
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
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 ...
Read More 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 ...
Read More Water Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More A Leaf Can Be…by Laura Purdie Salas
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by Steve Jenkins
By Betsy Farquhar |
This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer ...
Read More Achoo! Bang! Crash!: The Noisy Alphabet
By Betsy Farquhar |
Achoo! Bang! Crash!: The Noisy Alphabet by Ross MacDonald. Neal Porter Books, 2003. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, 4-8 Recommended for: Ages 4-8 This ...
Read More Count on the Subway
By Betsy Farquhar |
Count On the Subway by Paul Dobois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. Knopf, 2014. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, 0-4 ...
Read More What in the World?: Fun-Tastic Puzzles for Curious Minds
By Betsy Farquhar |
What in the World?: Fun-Tastic Puzzles for Curious Minds by Julie Vosburgh Agnone. National Geographic Society, 2014. 48 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, 4-8 Recommended ...
Read More This Plus That by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More One Smart Cookie by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
By Betsy Farquhar |
One Smart Cookie: Bite-Size Lessons for the School Years and Beyond by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer. Harper, 2010. ...
Read More Flight School
By Megan Saben |
Flight School by Lita Judge. Atheneum, 2014, 32 pages. Reading Level: picture books, Ages 0-4, Ages 4-8Recommended for: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-8 An ambitious penguin ...
Read More Hickory Dickory Dog by Alison Murray
By Betsy Farquhar |
Hickory Dickory Dog by Alison Murray. Candlewick, 2014 (first published in U.K. in 2012), 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture BookRecommended for: All ages Murray applies her ...
Read More *National Wildlife Federation World of Birds by Kim Kirki
By Janie Cheaney |
*National Wildlife Federation World of Birds: a Beginners Guide, by Kim Kirki. Black Dog & Levanthal, 2014, 80 pages including glossary and index. Reading Level: ...
Read More For the Birds II
By Janie Cheaney |
Feathers: Not Just for Flying, by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. Charlesbridge, 2014, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, Ages 4-8 Maturity Level: ...
Read More Baseball Is . . . by Louise Borden
By Janie Cheaney |
Baseball Is . . . by Louise Borden, illustrated by Raul Colon. Simon and Shuster, 2014. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture book, ages 4-8 Maturity ...
Read More Shakespeare: life, theater and historical context
By Megan Saben |
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 ...
Read More Ukraine: Lessons in Liberty and Compassion, Pt. 2
By Hayley Morell |
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 ...
Read More Retro Reads: Lloyd Alexander’s Picture Books
By Megan Saben |
In reading Lloyd Alexander’s picture books, I observe three things: 1) he is well-versed in a broad range of folklore traditions, 2) he loves cats, and 3) ...
Read More *The Man with the Violin
By Megan Saben |
One ordinary Friday morning in January, a famous musician in disguise descended into the busy Metro station in Washington D.C.to share the glory of his music ...
Read More Presidents Day–What the Hayes?
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Valentine’s Day
By Megan Saben |
As Christians we are called to practice so many forms of love besides the romantic kind. Themes for Valentine's Day can be broadened to emphasize ...
Read More Award-Winning Science Picture Books
By Janie Cheaney |
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. ...
Read More Nostalgic Christmas Picture Books
By Betsy Farquhar |
Many of our cultural Christmas celebrations are just that--cultural, not biblical. That being said, we can be Christians and still enjoy many of our cultural ...
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: ...
Read More Librarians’ List: Favorite Picture Books of 2013
By Betsy Farquhar |
It's time for another Librarians' List! Since it's picture book month, we're indulging our list-making hobbies and bringing you yet another list of our favorites. ...
Read More Reading Rapunzel
By Megan Saben |
Today I'm going to demonstrate a close reading of one version of a classic fairy tale. My favorite book to use in demonstrating the illustrative ...
Read More Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
By Betsy Farquhar |
Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon. Atheneum, 2013. 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 Take Me Out to the Yakyu is a colorful, ...
Read More Character in the Midst of Diversity: 8 Titles to Note
By Betsy Farquhar |
2013 has given us lots of excellent diverse picture book titles: books about minority cultures, folktale retellings, and books by (or illustrated by) people of ...
Read More Flood by Alvaro F. Villa
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Mr. Wuffles! by David Weisner
By Janie Cheaney |
Mr. Wuffles! by David Weisner. Clarion, 2013, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: Mr. Wuffles, ...
Read More Bluebird by Bob Staake
By Janie Cheaney |
Bluebird, by Bob Staake. Schwartz & Wade, 2013, 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: This ...
Read More Journey by Aaron Becker. Candlewick, 2013. 26 pages
By Janie Cheaney |
Journey, by Aaron Becker. Candlewick, 2013, 26 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up Bottom Line: Journey uses luminous illustrations--and ...
Read More *Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley
By Janie Cheaney |
*Hank Finds an Egg, by Rebecca Dudley. Peter Pauper, 2013, 36 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-4 Recommended for: ages 0-4 and up ...
Read More Librarians’ List: 25 Picture Book Retro Reads
By Betsy Farquhar |
We've been spending quite a bit of time this month looking at newer picture books--many of them published in 2013. But today we're taking a ...
Read More Some Words About Wordless Books
By Betsy Farquhar |
For our purposes, wordless books are either entirely wordless or have very little text. A classic example is Peter Spier's Noah's Ark which begins with ...
Read More *Unspoken by Henry Cole
By Janie Cheaney |
*Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole. Scholastic, 2012, 40 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, Ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-10 and ...
Read More Looking Forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas
By Janie Cheaney |
Every holiday season brings forth a crop of shiny new picture books, and we're on the beat. Today, two for Thanksgiving and two for Christmas--the ...
Read More How NOT to Read a Picture Book
By Megan Saben |
Ten guaranteed ways to destroy a good picture book (without a Sharpie or a bonfire) Always read in the same tone of voice, without expression or ...
Read More The Power of a Picture
By Janie Cheaney |
It’s picture book month! And boy, do we have a lot of picture books to talk about. I keep hearing that the pb market is ...
Read More Hear That Lonesome Whistle: Locomotive and Train
By Janie Cheaney |
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, ...
Read More *A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
By Betsy Farquhar |
*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: ...
Read More Three delightful picture books based on historical events
By Megan Saben |
Candace Fleming is blessed with a wonderful combination of skills as a writer. Since she enjoys both writing and research, as a result she writes fun ...
Read More Our Favorite Science Book Picks (and a Printable List!)
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More More Favorite Science Books
By emily |
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 ...
Read More The Secret Lives of Scientists
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More Science Picture Books: Authors and Illustrators of Note
By Betsy Farquhar |
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 ...
Read More Three Tea Picture Books
By Megan Saben |
Tea Rex, A Visitor for Bear, and The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig are lively variations on the traditional tea party. My ...
Read More Creative Math
By Janie Cheaney |
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 ...
Read More *The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins
By Janie Cheaney |
*The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012, 40 pages Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 4-8 and up (especially ...
Read More *Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette Cate
By Janie Cheaney |
*Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard, by Annette le Blank Cate. Candlewick, 2013, 54 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ...
Read More Interesting Picture Book Biographies (Librarians’ List)
By Betsy Farquhar |
Many people think picture books should be left behind in the preschool years. Megan and I heartily disagree with that sentiment, and we invite you ...
Read More American Lives
By Janie Cheaney |
“There is properly no history, only biography,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson—an exaggeration with a lot of truth in it. When I was growing up, I ...
Read More Mission Work for Kids: Sewing School and Crafts for Hope
By emily |
In our Summer Reading Challenge, we've just read the story of Nate Saint, one of the men who entered glory alongside Jim Elliot trying to ...
Read More Steaming into Sunset: an Interview with Sherri Rinker
By Janie Cheaney |
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (see our review here) hurled Sherri Rinker’s star into the picture-book firmament. Accepted by the first publisher she submitted it to, ...
Read More A Novel in Verse and Verse in a Novel
By Janie Cheaney |
We're rounding out our Poetry Month coverage with three books for middle-graders: Gone Fishing: a Novel in Verse, by Tamera Will Wissinger, illustrated by Matthew ...
Read More Poetry Anthologies
By Megan Saben |
A good poetry anthology is like going to a friend's house with a basket, and being told, "Oh, you must read this one, and this one, and ...
Read More Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
By Betsy Farquhar |
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton Mifflin, 2009. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages ...
Read More Waxing Poetic: a pop quiz and some homework from the teacher
By Betsy Farquhar |
It's National Poetry Month! Who cares, right? Well, YOU should care. Not because it's "National Poetry Month," per se, but because poetry is worth enjoying ...
Read More *Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
By Megan Saben |
Tops and Bottoms is a clever folktale that illustrates the wisdom of diligence and warning against laziness in the book of Proverbs. *Tops and Bottoms ...
Read More *My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza
By Megan Saben |
My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza. Puffin, 2005. 32 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8 When a fat pig shows up at a hungry ...
Read More Proverbs, Tricksters and Fools
By Megan Saben |
The book of Proverbs is full of instructions for the simple to obtain wisdom and avoid disaster. Stories about tricksters demonstrate common-grace examples of using ...
Read More *The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small
By Betsy Farquhar |
Lydia shares her efforts to bring beauty to the world around her in this epistolary picture book. *The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small. ...
Read More Toddling into the Word: First Bible Storybooks and Early-Reader Bibles
By Janie Cheaney |
What could be more appropriate for Holy Week than a survey of children’s Bibles and Bible storybooks? That’s what I foolishly thought, treatment but this ...
Read More Easter Picks from the New Crew
By emily |
We thought we'd kick off our new partnership with Megan and Betsy with a few Easter book recommendations. (If you missed their introduction, read about ...
Read More New Nonfiction: Titanic, Moonbird, and Bodyguards
By Janie Cheaney |
These three books have nothing in common except their general category and the fact that the first two won honors in the ALA Youth Media ...
Read More Zeus, King of the Gods by George O’Connor
By Janie Cheaney |
Zeus, King of the Gods, (#1 in The Olympians graphic-novel series) by George O’Connor. First Second, 2012, 80 pages. Reading Level: Picture books (graphic novel), ...
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 ...
Read More *Greek Myths by Marcia Williams
By emily |
*Greek Myths by Marcia Williams. Candlewick, 2011. Ages 4-up. Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8, Ages 8-10, Ages 10-12 Marcia Williams' Greek Myths is a ...
Read More ALA Awards: Newberys and Caldecotts, Splendors and Glooms
By Janie Cheaney |
One month ago was “Oscar night for Librarians,” when the American Library Association announced their “best of” picks for children’s literature. We’ve given some space ...
Read More Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln
By Janie Cheaney |
I’ve heard that aside from William Shakespeare, more books have been written about Abraham Lincoln than any other historical figure. That makes it difficult to ...
Read More Valentine Books for Little Ones
By emily |
VALENTINE'S DAY PRESENTS With Valentine's Day creeping up on us, I thought I'd throw out a few of my favorite Valentine books for the little ...
Read More Picture Books for Sharing and Giving, Part Two
By Janie Cheaney |
The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau, by Michelle Markel, Illustrated by Amanda Hall. Eardmanns, 2012, 32 pages. Age/interest level: 4-8 “Henri Rousseau wants to be ...
Read More Picture Books for Sharing and Giving, Part One
By Janie Cheaney |
A post for grandmas out there: when we go to the bookstore at this time of year to pick out something with no plastic in ...
Read More A Very LOGOS & Parnassus Christmas, Part One
By emily |
One Hip Town. Two Bookstores. And Lots of Great Books for Kids! Here in Nashville, we have at least two exceptional bookstores: Logos Bookstore and ...
Read More The History of Faith: Wiliam Boekestein’s and Simonetta Carr’s New Books for Kids
By emily |
This week in our library month theme, Janie took us back to the 8th century in a review of Hand of Vengeance by Douglas Bond. ...
Read More Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing: Savoring Sally Lloyd Jones’ New Book
By emily |
This October, the team that brought you The Jesus Storybook Bible released a unique new book, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. At 224 pages, ...
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