Tag Archives: Family Reads

A New Gospel-Centered Adventure Story

The Best Endorsement… My 11-year-old son got to this book first. Isn’t the cover amazing? Which fantasy-loving reader wouldn’t swipe it from his mom’s to-read pile? The next day he returned it, saying, “Mom, you gotta write a review for this book and put it in your next giveaway.” Wow. That’s a great endorsement. HeContinue reading “A New Gospel-Centered Adventure Story”

Book Review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

An Irreverent Christmas Read that gets at the Heart of the Holiday Ebenezer Scrooge. The Grinch. The Herdmans. Wait. Who? Herdmans. Six children from Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever who carve out…er, or burn down a place in history as best Christmas bad guys. Yet, I had never heard of Robinson’s humorous children’sContinue reading “Book Review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson”

Exploring Themes in The Wild Robot

Simple. Relatable. Human. Robot? You, like me, have probably seen the many amazing reviews for the just released The Wild Robot movie, based on The Wild Robot book by Peter Brown. While I haven’t seen the movie, I just finished the book and if you are wondering what the story is about and whether theContinue reading “Exploring Themes in The Wild Robot”

Book Review: New Kid

An award-winning book on perspectives and prejudices… New Kid by Jerry Craft, winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award, is a graphic novel with perspective…lots of perspectives. Twelve-year-old Jordan Banks is enrolled in a new school. Not only is it not in his neighborhood, it’s a private school of mostly whiteContinue reading “Book Review: New Kid”

Book Review: Katie the Catsitter

We all know it’s hard to go somewhere new. But sometimes it’s harder to be left behind. In Colleen AF Venable’s Katie the Catsitter, Katie’s best friend leaves for a summer camp that Katie can’t afford. Determined to get a job and earn the money for camp, she starts watching a neighbor’s numerous cats—cats withContinue reading “Book Review: Katie the Catsitter”

Book Review: Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Miss Communication

Growing up from graphic novels. Have a graphic novel lover? Ever wish you could get your kid to read a book with more words than pictures? I understand the graphic novel appeal because I love graphic novels myself. They are quick, often have beautiful illustrations, and pack a different punch than what can be doneContinue reading “Book Review: Babymouse Tales from the Locker: Miss Communication”

Book Review: A Sweet, Starry-Eyed Slice of Summer

Try saying that five times fast! Sweet starry-eyed slice of summer, sweetstarry-slice of summer, stweet sorry-slice… Oh, nevermind. Let’s stwitch, I mean switch gears and talk about the Penderwicks! The four Penderwick sisters and their absent-minded Father arrive at Arundel, a grand estate, where they have rented out the adjoining cottage for their summer vacation.Continue reading “Book Review: A Sweet, Starry-Eyed Slice of Summer”

Book Review: Merci Suarez Changes Gears

Pure middle school girl drama. I wasn’t ready for it. Merci Suarez isn’t ready either. Things are changing for Mercedes Suarez, a sixth-grade scholarship student at the fancy Seaward Pines. She doesn’t have one teacher this year, but lots of them. Edna, the most popular girl in their grade, has lost interest in things likeContinue reading “Book Review: Merci Suarez Changes Gears”

Book Review: A Duet for Home

Finding home in an unexpected place…Finding a heart for the homeless… Karina Yan Glaser, known for her Vanderbeeker series, tackles the subject of homelessness in her latest book A Duet for Home. June has lost her dad and her home. She can’t understand why her mom has given up, what the Huey House is, orContinue reading “Book Review: A Duet for Home”