Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater, is one of the very best books I ever read as a child. Excellent for reading aloud, and written with just the right mix of easy and advanced vocabulary to challenge the intermediate reader. This is a Newbery Honor book. The story is that of the Popper… Continue reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Tag: children
Pegeen
I came across Pegeen when I was 10 years old, and it was an intimidating book: 2 inches thick and larger than a typical hardback. (It was in very large type, with many pictures.) I was, and am, so glad that I was brave enough to read it. In my adulthood, I searched for it… Continue reading Pegeen
Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is a childhood favorite. The day I found out I was pregnant for the first time, I started looking for a copy of this book. For those who like to know these things, it’s a Caldecott Medal winner. Mother and Father Mallard are seeking a place to build… Continue reading Make Way for Ducklings
Is My Child Sleep Deprived?
Of great importance and relevance to all parents is the book Is My Child Overtired? by Dr. Will Wilkoff. The section on the sleep needs of teens is highly informative, as is chapter 12, “It Takes a Well-Rested Parent….” Studies show that most children and a large number of adults are sleep-deprived. Sleep-deprivation causes irritability, health… Continue reading Is My Child Sleep Deprived?
The Trumpet of the Swan
The Trumpet of the Swan, by E.B. White should be on every child’s bookshelf, from the age of 3. It’s a great read-aloud book, and it has very strong messages about honesty, loyalty, friendship, love, and faithfulness. Louis, a Trumpter Swan, is born without a voice — the greatest handicap possible for these majestic and endangered… Continue reading The Trumpet of the Swan
The Trellis and the Vine
This book, by Jan Karon (the Mitford queen), is a new storybook for kids. I bought it on a whim, because I was cashing out my “Treasure Points” from the Children’s Book of the Month Club and it sounded interesting. It was wonderful. Of course, it helps that the kids and I grow moonflowers on… Continue reading The Trellis and the Vine
Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
The books in the Encyclopedia Brown mystery series by Donald J. Sobol, for pre-teen and early teen readers, are great books on a number of levels. The stories are short and to the point, packing a lot of detail into just a few pages. The mysteries are not esoteric, but they do require some thought… Continue reading Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries
Dangerous Island
Back in June, I found a bunch of books that people had tossed in the trash, and I rescued them all and brought them home to love them. In that stash, I was delighted to find this book, which I remember from my childhood and loved. Dangerous Island, by Helen Mather-Smith Mindlin, is an excellent chapter… Continue reading Dangerous Island
The Firebird
We checked this one out of the library, and the kids were spellbound by the beautiful and detailed drawings accented with lots of gold. The Firebird by Demi. This is a lovely Russian fairy tale, complete with the evil old Tsar and the beautiful fairy princess. But trouble starts when the handsome young archer finds… Continue reading The Firebird
What “Finding Nemo” Means
This was a great movie. Not a run-of-the-mill kid’s film by any stretch of the imagination. A truly great kid’s film. The plot is simple. A mother clownfish is killed while trying to save her eggs from a barracuda. The father clownfish finds only one of the eggs left, and from it comes Nemo. Nemo’s egg was… Continue reading What “Finding Nemo” Means