Stories that leave the real and ordinary world behind often intrigue readers more than the everyday stories of “real life.” The books in this issue of Endpapers do just that. Fantasy lands, magical creatures, and the real that seems unbelievable. Lose yourself in a land beyond reality.
 
Mice, and similar woodland critters, are the heroes in Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George. Why is it that young readers find books about animals more engaging than books about people? I don’t know. But this book, and its sequels, bring a forest world to life. Each story explores the meaning of home, making good decisions, putting friends first, and being part of a community.
 
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss is part of a series, but I can only speak for this one book, not the whole collection. The book’s singular character travels around a labyrinthine world in constant search. Her goals are ambiguous, but her purposes are somehow still noble. It seems odd to label something as meaningful but also vague, yet that is the sense this book gives. It’s a story about value and sacrifice. And while I don’t know if this author has any faith background, the story of this girl and her careful preparations smacks strongly of the church and its preparations for the return of its Lord. A story I would read again.
 
Kate DiCamillo has a voice of her own. The Puppets of Spelhorst and Hotel Balzaar are two of her most recent stories and once again her simple prose lights up a complex story. In The Puppets of Spelhorst, a collection of puppets is sold to a new owner who delivers them to a pair of sisters for playtime. Each puppet has distinct hopes and fears. So, while they find a story being written for them by their human playmates, they must come to grips with the reality that is out of their control. In Hotel Balzaar, a girl befriends a mysterious old woman who tells tales, teaching her to be open to the unexpected. Both stories serve as modern-day fairy tales which would be best if read with an adult so that truth can be found amid the sparse plot.
 
Our family loved Knight Owl so this sequel, Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise, was an exciting find at the library. With the same charm as the first book, this sweet picture story shows how different personalities and skills can complement one another, even if annoyance pervades a friendship at first.
 
A dying old man. His faithful grandson. A nasty great-aunt. A mysterious circus that not everyone can find. A treehouse and a neighborhood friend. Hope and wonder and memory and sacrifice. Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley brings elements of magic, family, and friendship into a story about a magical circus and its circus-folk. This is a great story for lower middle-school readers who like fantasy. Certainly not the most profound of fantasy tales, but fun and completely clean.
 
The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer is a wordless picture book about animals who make a travelling carnival their own after nightfall. The art is beautiful, the characters are engaging despite the absence of dialogue, and the story is told brightly and cheerfully. Highly recommended for a read-aloud (or a… “look-along?”) with little readers, but equally enjoyable for the whole family.
 
If you’ve ever stood, transfixed, before a piece of art in a museum somewhere, The Art Thief by Michael Finkel may resonate with you. Following the true-life story of Stephane Breitwieser, a man who walked out of museums with over 200 pieces of stolen valuable art over six or so years, The Art Thief reminds us that truth really is stranger than fiction. From Stephane’s first heist until the – I’ll admit it – shocking conclusion, I was riveted by this incredible tale. This book gave me (1) an appreciation for art, (2) an appreciation for those who tend and preserve it, (3) insight into the criminal mind, (4) sadness for the lostness and depravity of man, and (5) awareness of the complexity of hunting a criminal across a continent with coordinated law enforcement.

Our at-home reading has been all over the map this fall. Here are just a few things we’ve read and appreciated recently. Grab one or two for the long nights of darkness this season.
 
The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon takes a scientific approach to finding the benefits of reading aloud. I skimmed through some of the anecdotes and data, but overall I found the book inspiring and helpful, as I continue to think regularly about the place reading aloud has in our family. (It remains a high priority, in case you’re wondering!)
 
If you’ve ever loved any animal, you will enjoy On Animals by Susan Orlean. I might get bored reading a whole book about donkeys. Or rabbit illnesses. Or lost pet dogs. Or homing pigeons. But in this captivating volume, Susan Orlean dishes up amazing stories on all of these animals and more, each chapter no more than 20 or so pages, some quite a bit shorter. I found myself invested in stories about taxidermy, the ethics and laws surrounding animals used in films, and diseases running rampant among wild rabbits. The stories also brought people to life, the owners, caretakers, veterinarians, and trainers of these many creatures. I loved everything about this book. It’s the sort I wished would never end.
 
Michael Morpurgo’s Beowulf adaptation is a real literary treat. Despite the adaptation into modern English for kids, Morpurgo kept much of the original language’s gorgeous alliteration. Much of the story is beautiful to speak. I read this to my children, aged 6 and 10, and would happily read it aloud again. While it would be a good independent read too, its musicality keeps it connected to the many times in ages gone by when the Beowulf tale was undoubtedly told aloud.
 
Our family discovered The Kingdom of Wrenly books by Jordan Quinn this fall and fell in love. Each one is a mini adventure for Prince Lucas and his friend Clara, with mild peril and some threatening foes, but written on a first grade (or so) reading level. Lovely black and white illustrations accompany the stories, and repeating characters bring a whole world to life. A few of them involved spells and magic, so if that is something your family censors, you will want to pre-read the books before passing them to your kids.
 
You’ve read Corduroy, but did you know Don Freeman wrote other books too? I stumbled upon Don Freeman’s Come Again, Pelican, and as a beach lover I found it delightful. It would make a good Christmas present for picture-book lovers in your family who long for summer days throughout the winter months.
 
Since our trip to the Czech Republic this summer, central Europe has held a new interest for me. Stars of the Night by Caren Stelson tells the story of children escaping from pre-WWII Czechoslovakia. While the illustration style isn’t something I’m naturally drawn to, I loved the untold slice of history unpacked in this book. Not everyone has a special spot in their heart for the Czech Republic the way we do, but this book is a great way to appreciate one tiny piece of a faraway land.
 
Birth of the Bicycle by Sarah Nelson is packed with gorgeous illustrations and rhyming text about the history of the bicycle. Looking for something to break up your usual library fare? This is a great option.

It was a thin summer of reading for me. Instead of my own usual stacks of personal reading, our living room piles were mostly of early chapter books for our soon-to-be-first-grader. Here are a few favorites that we enjoyed this summer.
 
Fabled Stables is a sweet three-book series about a boy who tends magical creatures, often chasing them off into other worlds to solve problems and pursue adventures. Both of my children loved this series by author Jonathan Auxier. Auxier’s other books include Sweep and Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, both worthy pieces of literature for slightly older readers. One caution about Fabled Stables: I am fairly thin-skinned when it comes to potty humor and the second book in this series does use some light potty humor to make its point about the dangers of unkind words. I stand behind the series anyway, but I do wish a different approach had been employed there. Something to keep in mind, if you’d like to pre-read that one before handing it off to your children.
 
Tales from Deckawoo Drive by Kate DiCamillo has been praised on this blog before, but it was delightful to see my six-year-old reader finally diving into these for herself. The volume pictured, Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?, may be my favorite in the series. But you should read them all.
 
Summer Story by Jill Barklem, along with the rest of the Brambly Hedge series, is perfect for any time of year. There are four seasonal books (aptly named Summer Story, Autumn Story, Winter Story, and Spring Story), as well as assorted other tales to read. With delicate and detailed illustrations, these stories are a made to be savored. Not quite simple enough for a new reader, but ideal for a quick afternoon read-aloud.
 
Good Dog by Cam Higgins is a sweet series of light chapter books written from the dog’s perspective. With farm friends, dog pals, and human companions, Bo faces a new adventure with each new book. Quick reads for our six-year-old.
 
Sophie Mouse by Poppy Green became an immediate favorite and we currently have four more books in the series (books 13, 14, 15, and 16) waiting at the library for us. In each story, Sophie and her friends tackle simple problems in their woodland world, usually involving making new friends or understanding another critter’s perspective. Sophie loves art, so the series might especially appeal to girl readers who also love to paint and draw. Her mom owns a bakery, which means that woodland baked goods find their way into most stories as well. I’m glad it’s an extensive series, because we can’t get enough Sophie Mouse around here!
 
The Once Upon a Time Map Book by B. G. Hennessey is a fun seek-and-find style book with imaginary maps of storybook lands such as Oz, Neverland, or Aladdin’s kingdom. Following clues, readers make their way through the map to find hidden secrets. Perfect for cozying up with on a long summer afternoon or a long drive to the beach. (Or, a chilly fall evening!)

I’m in book preview mode. Every summer, as part of my preparation for next school year, I make reading suggestion lists available to our school community. These lists provide parents with vetted book titles that will correspond to the history cycle our school is studying the following year. This spring, I’m brushing up our lists by previewing books about medieval and renaissance times. Right now, I have 77 books checked out from the library, most of which are part of this preview process. Some books are instant winners. Others are instantly returned to the library bag. Some need a full read-through; for others I can just scan the index or read a few pages at random. I’m happy with the list that’s taking shape! In the meantime, here are a few recent winners (and one obvious loser) that I’ve come across in my library piles.
 
Thimbleberry Stories by Cynthia Rylant was perfect for my growing six-year-old reader. Nigel the chipmunk lives on Thimbleberry Lane. Each tale in this sweet collection introduces a new neighbor or friend of Nigel and an idyllic adventure they share. Reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows, the stories feature small wild creatures and highlight generosity, patience, and thoughtfulness. (No, it’s not about the Middle Ages, just a gem we found recently that was new to me.)
 
A blanket recommendation for Bill Bryson would be unwise. Some of his material, though fascinating and skillful, is also crass and sarcastic. Bill Bryson’s Shakespeare: The World as Stage, though, is safe to suggest for high school or adult readers. A short look at the known details of Shakespeare’s life (there aren’t many) is laced into a historical exploration of his era. It’s history, the fun way. Facts about life in Elizabethan England bring the time period to life and help us realize that even if we can’t know much about Will for sure, we can at least settle his context pretty firmly.
 
Roman Numerals I to MM by Arthur Geisert was a slightly silly take on learning Roman numerals. Each page features pigs on their farm, and helps young readers learn Roman numeral values by counting the pigs. It’s funny, but hopefully effective. Worth a try if number games are something your child likes.
 
I’m already a Shakespeare fan, so I’m easy to please with books about the Bard. But Will’s Words by Jane Sutcliffe was truly a lot of fun. Vivid illustrations are paired with explanations of words and phrases coined by Shakespeare. With citations from the plays in which they appear, each word or phrase is defined and given context. Add this to your list when we reach our Shakespeare studies in the coming year.
 
My ten-year-old did a preview read of The Sword in the Tree by Clyde Robert Bulla for me. He assessed it as perfect for upper elementary, with large text, short chapters and some occasional illustrations. It’s a story set in the time of King Arthur and would make a great leisure read for students studying medieval times. A fun piece of old literature about even older times.
 
Everyday Life in Bible Times by John A. Beck provided helpful information on ancient pottery making for my ten-year-old’s research speech this spring. It also looked like a promising resource for information on many aspects of the biblical time period. Topics are arranged alphabetically and include things like Engrave, Sacred Stone, Smelt, Stiff-Necked, and Yoke. Though I’m truly glad this is available at the library, this is also a book worthy of a permanent spot on any bookshelf.
 
And finally, an un-recommendation. I started Kathleen Krull’s Leonardo da Vinci with high hopes. It looked just right for middle grade: beefier chapters than a picture book, but not too overwhelming. I had only reached chapter four, though, when things took a turn. The chapter outlines da Vinci’s arrest for homosexuality, even implying that his arrest (if such an arrest occurred) was unfair. While I have no knowledge of da Vinci’s innocence or guilt in this matter, the fact that it appears in a book for ten-year-olds alarms me. My takeaway from all this was the importance of pre-reading (or at least pre-skimming) the books we give to our children. It is not enough for a book to check all the boxes externally. If the worldview of its author and publisher are not aligned with your own, you will want to assess what your child is being fed. We make choices every day about which snacks our children get, which produce to buy, which ice cream brand, which cereal. I remind you, even as I remind myself, to research just as much about the mental diet we provide for our kids.
 
Soon, the library will have these books back on their shelves. Until then, a library of my own is sprouting up in the dining room!

Book lovers often have a problem: not enough shelves. This becomes a compounded issue when a book lover decides that one edition of a prized book is not enough. No, having two different versions would be better. Or even three.
 
For some books, of course, this does not apply. But when it comes to classics of which editions abound or to collections of stories or poetry, the options can sometimes be too vast to settle on just one. In today’s issue of Endpapers, I suggest a few specific collections of which it is well worth having more than one.
 
Aesop’s Fables.
You can get a cheap paperback of Aesop’s fables anywhere. You can probably also find more than one illustrated option at your local bookstore. But with a classic like Fables, images matter. Despite individual preference, some illustrations stand above the rest. Here are a few collections of Aesop’s Fables in which the illustrations aid in the telling of the story, and will help the lesson of the fable to linger.
 
A Classic Illustrated Edition from Chronicle Books.
With illustrations by such renowned artists as Arthur Rackham and Milo Winter, this collection includes a wide variety of styles. Some are black and white; others are full color. Some are realistic, while others are caricatures. The assortment reminds us that these stories bridge time and place and are applicable wherever people and their animal counterparts dwell.
 
Illustrated by Heidi Holder.
Holder’s illustrations are richly detailed, soft in color, and include intricate decorative borders. Some span two pages. This collection does not include a large number of fables (only nine), but the illustrations are quite pleasant.
 
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
Pinkney was a prolific illustrator who just died in 2021. His work is usually watercolor, and captures movement even in its stillness. This collection is extensive, with more than 50 fables, and quite enjoyable, though some fables do not get a whole illustration of their own.
 
Illustrated by Charles Santore.
These illustrations are distinctly more modern, with less fine detail and more striking colors. But they are memorable images and capture each fable well. This collection includes twenty-four fables, each one with its own illustration.
 
A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Every child should own a personal copy of this collection. The poems capture a time in history, as well as a time in a child’s life. Wishes for growing up, playing with neighbors and siblings, sick days, going to bed, imaginary worlds, and the changing of the seasons: all are explored with the tender insight of a child. A collection of poems like this can stand alone, but it will adhere to a child’s heart all the more permanently if it is accompanied by beautiful pictures. I recommend the three following collections. One of my favorite things is looking up the same poem in all three collections and exploring how each artist imagined the scene in her own way.
 
Illustrations by Tasha Tudor.
The copy of this at our house is inscribed from a friend of my mom’s at the baby shower before I was born. What a treasure. Tasha Tudor is one of America’s finest illustrators, and every child should enjoy her homey artwork.
 
Illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith
This collection has fewer total illustrations. Many are small black and white images accompanying a poem, but a few full color plates are scattered throughout as well. Willcox Smith is another American illustrator, about a generation before Tasha Tudor. Her paintings are full of light and her drawings, though simple, capture the magic of childhood.
 
Illustrations by Gyo Fujikawa
You’ll probably recognize Fujikawa’s illustrative style. It’s more similar to a cartoon than any of the illustrators I’ve suggested so far, but it has a seriousness that elevates it from the sillier types of picture book illustrations. This collection has some black and white pictures and some color ones.
 
If your shelves are too full to bear the burden of another of these collections, you’re in luck: Most of these can be easily checked out from your library!

The Odyssey is one of the oldest tales in the world, one of the first epics, and a prototype for hundreds of stories that followed it over the centuries. Tackling the original may be reserved for high schoolers and adults (and I mean tackling it in an English translation) but the story has much to offer younger readers as well.
 
In this issue of Endpapers, I hope to encourage you to take a first (or second or third) look at Homer’s Odyssey and find realistic ways to integrate it into your own reading and your homeschool curriculum. One great richness that a story like the Odyssey offers is the promise of many re-reads. It may seem unlikely now, if you’re facing down your first daunting reading, but you and your child will almost certainly return to this story. It deserves the chance to be read over and over. So the first rendition that you choose for your child is an introduction only, not a final choice. Still, we must choose well each book our children read.

My library system offers 87 titles with a search for “Homer The Odyssey.” From graphic novels to interpretive essays on the epic, to rewrites from different character perspectives, to film adaptations, to CliffsNotes, and of course a variety of English translations, the ways to access this story are plentiful. But which is best? As I took the time to (finally) read the Odyssey this year, I also checked out a stack of versions for kids from the library, read some, skimmed others, kept many past their due date, and compared illustrations, searching for what makes this epic timeless and how we can help our kids interact with it. Admittedly sampling just a small segment of the options, I assessed six or seven different youth versions of the story and offer a few suggestions for you here. Whatever age your children are this year, they can enjoy the Odyssey. 

The original: I am nearly done reading the translation by Lattimore, primarily because it is the one we had on the shelf at home. The translation by Fagles is supposed to be quite good, and there are other translators as well. If you’re tackling the original (in English), I highly recommend pairing it with the podcast episodes by Close Reads. Each episode covers a few chapters, so you can pace your reading and intersperse the podcast episodes along the way. I was enormously helped by the conversations between these three wise literature lovers, learning more about the book than I ever could have figured out on my own. I am glad to have taken the time (very slowly) to read the text in its entirety.
 
A more advanced retelling: Now’s a good time to tell you: the original telling of the Odyssey is not presented chronologically. Rather, it begins near the end with an introduction to Odysseus’s wife and son in the absence of their family head. Then, it takes the reader to meet up with Odysseus and to see how he finally receives help to reach home. During this section, Odysseus himself retells the first part of his journeyings to the islanders who are assisting him. After this interlude of flashback, we return to his current trip home where he eventually is reunited with his family. The Children’s Homer by Padraic Colum takes this approach, telling the story in roughly the same sequence and structure as Homer’s original. I greatly appreciated another of Colum’s books, The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, which I read to my children this winter. This author’s style has a pleasantly ancient feel to it, and is accompanied by beautiful line drawings.
 
A single chapter book for developing readers: The version by Geraldine McCaughrean is well organized. It does take a chronological approach, but that’s to be found in nearly any version for children. This is a short version and includes all the major episodes in Odysseus’s journey. A decent introduction, if you want something very brief.
 
A simple version for young readers: My children (ages 5 and 10 this year) listened to the audio version of Mary Pope Osborne’s Tales from the Odyssey. The story presents the epic of Odysseus as a series of short chapter books, which provide an excellent way for growing readers to read the story on their own. The audio collection we checked out (yes, we still use old-school cd’s) was a compilation of all six books and was an engaging listen! I recommend either the book series, or the audio set. This version even starts with a brief description of the Trojan War, which sets the stage quite helpfully. 
 
A vivid picture book for family reading: The Wanderings of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff is a classic for home educating families. It does arrange the story chronologically, but places a chapter midway through the book about Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, and his quest to locate his father. I like the organization of this one. It’s also accompanied by beautiful art by Alan Lee, though be aware: some of the illustrations include partially-nude women. Consider previewing for your children first.
 
A few versions I did not like:
 
The Legend of Odysseus by Peter Connelly includes excessively graphic illustrations of nude goddesses. While the illustrations by Alan Lee, mentioned above, show some female nudity, it is subtle. The illustrations in this version are quite gross.
 
The Odyssey by Gillain Cross intrigued me at first, with its simple text and eye-catching illustrations. But after reviewing some versions that were so much better, I realized how inadequate this rendition was. Spare yourself and select a tried and true version, rather than a flashy new publication.
 
I hope you’re inspired to find the right version of Homer’s Odyssey for you and your family! Let me know if there’s a version you love that I’ve overlooked. Happy reading!

Magic and fun can be the doorway into enjoying literature of all kinds. In this issue, I suggest three imaginative novels for kids, a set of math adventure stories for younger kids, and a peek into the (magical?) past for readers of any age. Dive into history or fantasy worlds this spring as you choose literature for warming-up days.
 
Sweep by Jonathan Auxier tells the story of a chimney sweep girl and her somewhat unconventional friend. This novel for middle-grade readers shows the importance of love and sacrifice and demonstrates the powerful effect of putting others first. Probably most suited to 5th and 6th graders, but suitable for older middle schoolers too, or as a readaloud with younger children.
 
A boy on the fast track to a permanent life of enslavement and forced crime is whisked away to bewildering adventures in Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, also by Jonathan Auxier. The story is peopled with odd beings (talking crows, a horse/cat/goat man) and odd places (a sea into which all messages-in-bottles eventually fall, a desert with no edges), but our hero navigates his quest with fervor and courage despite his looming impediment: he is blind. This book was enjoyed in our home by a fourth-grader, but it’s not too childish for avid middle school readers.
 
If only all learning could be accomplished through children’s literature… but wait: can it? The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone by James Cross Giblin is an accessible telling of how the Rosetta Stone unlocked the secrets of ancient Egyptian language. While there is certainly much more to learn on the subject, readers of this book (adults or children) will find themselves feeling adequately informed about how the Stone was found, how it was deciphered, and even the rudiments of how hieroglyphs work. A worthy work for readers of any age!
 
Each book in the Sir Cumference series by Cindy Neuschwander tells a knightly adventure that uses math to find the solution. Math puns abound with creative character names such as Lady Di of Ameter and their son, Radius, and places such as Angleland and the Isle of Immeter (visited by Radius’s cousin Per). The stories are funny, and do not require math skills to read, but expose students to mathematical ideas in the course of each tale.
 
I prefer to take my magic seriously. This The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson, a magical tale for young readers, takes very little seriously. Though that isn’t my usual reading mood, I appreciated a number of things about this book. First, even though it’s silly from start to finish, it never adds unnecessary humor: no potty talk, nothing I’d feel uncomfortable reading aloud. Second, the silliness never affects the crisp line between good and wicked. The unsavory characters are funny, but only in their unlikableness. And the good characters, though humorous, do not lose their moral high ground amidst the humor. Third, I found the story predictable in its summary plot arc, but there was plenty to surprise me along the way.

Christmas is over, but good reading never ends. Here are a few books our household enjoyed over this season. Extend the season by reading them in January, or save them for reading next December!
 
The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit is a collection of individual stories about children and dragons. The dragon is always the foe, and the young person is always the hero. The stories are humorous, full of little asides to the reader like “I’m sure you’d like to know what happened to so-and-so,” and references to the known traits of dragons. But each one has plot twists and even character development. We enjoyed these one at a time over a few weeks’ time and definitely plan to revisit the collection someday.
 
The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer is an easy reader chapter book that features a boy at a lighthouse. It was part of the reading curriculum for 3rd and 4th grade last year, during the “Year Four” rotation in the classroom. The story is set at Christmastime and explores the emotions of the season from various angles. It’s a mature story for little ones, not in a way that requires adult caution, but in a way that will attune a child to the elements of Christmas celebrations that pertain to grown-ups. A very sweet story for a family read-aloud in the week or so before Christmas.
 
The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by Sinclair Ferguson is an advent reading book for December. Advent books abound, and this is just one of many good ones. It’s best if you have experience with Ferguson’s teaching so you can read it to yourself in his voice. J
 
Flower Fairies of the Winter by Cicely Mary Barker is a sweet collection of drawings and poems, each telling the imaginary story of a fairy who inhabits a wintertime plant. It’s ideal for bedtime reading with a little girl, or for inspiration to get outside during the cold months of the year. The author has other collections, which I also hope to explore.
 
Winter Eyes by Douglas Florian is a modern-day collection of poems for wintertime. While I’ll always choose classic poetry over contemporary poetry, this set of poems made me smile and was accompanied by sweet paintings. See the winter season with “winter eyes” as you make your way through this book’s pages.
 
The Twelve Days of Christmas with illustrations by Jan Brett has been a long-time favorite of mine. Jan Brett’s iconic margin illustrations enhance the telling of this story-song, while the featured “gift” of each day is given a glorious two-page spread drawing. Brett has illustrated many winter and Christmas books including The Mitten, a version of The Nutcracker, Annie and the Wild Animals, and The Wild Christmas Reindeer, but this is a classic worthy of many re-reads.
 
Favorites for winter and Christmas are often established by family tradition, so no matter which great books you choose, make sure your children can look forward to that special bundle of favorites that only come out at the close of the year.

Take a look at the books piled in every room of our house, and you’d be able to tell we read a lot. I wondered what a Week in Books would look like, if I catalogued it. I did just that over the past seven days. Here are the results! Some of these we read in their entirety; others were only sampled during the week. Some are recommended; others are just an honest look at what this family’s reading life looks like. (Note: I didn’t catalog what Dad read, just the readings of the kids and me, or things we read as a family.)
 
Pyramid by David Macauley
It took us about 40 minutes in just one sitting. The kids and I loved this fascinating telling of how an Egyptian pyramid is built. Highly recommended! 
 
A Tangled Web by L. M. Montgomery
By the author of Anne of Green Gables, this charming book for grown-ups explores the ripple effects of life choices through the fictional account of a large extended family. Each family member has his or her own dreams and doubts, fears and fantasies. As they intersect, the results create a tangled web indeed. A sweet end of summer read for me. 
 
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
I’m not sure which of my kids read this, to be honest, but it was on the couch when it had been in the reading basket. Someone enjoyed this sweet story of a tiny owl who only wants to help keep his land safe.
 
Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant
Our kindergartner is making strong strides in reading and loves tackling small chapter books (this series is a favorite) with a bit of help.
 
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
My current read-aloud with the kids. My second time reading it, their first hearing.
 
Story of the World: Volume One by Susan Wise Bauer
Our history text. We read chapter five this week.
 
“The Big White Book” (Natural History by Smithsonian)
We often summon “The Big White Book” when we read or hear about an animal, plant, or mineral that is foreign to us. With pictures and one-line descriptions of thousands of species, it’s a perfect resource. We consulted it this week regarding swallows, gentian flowers, and milkweeds.
 
Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
After a long hiatus, we finally returned to this Narnia book, a family read-aloud that had been abruptly cut short sometime around May. Completing the final few chapters would have been more satisfying if we had read without such a long break, but it was nevertheless a rewarding read.
 
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw  
I’m trying something new with my fourth-grader for this history novel. We both have a copy and are reading it independently, but keeping the same pace. Every few chapters, we have a little chat about it. It’s our own mini book club and so far it’s delightful.
 
Hints on Child Training by Henry Clay Trumbull
I started this book years ago. I pulled it off the shelf again this week and am hoping to finally read the whole thing. Trumbull keenly explains how to train your children toward what is good, without over-correcting or ignoring their own individuality. There are many lessons I need to learn in this book.
 
Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans
There are more prayers in here than I will ever need to pray. I have been lingering on just one of the prayers in the section “Help Me Begin the Day” for a few weeks, praying it every few days as I need its reminders again.
 
Shanghaied to China, Spy for the Night Riders, and Defeat of the Ghost Riders by Dave and Neta Jackson
The fourth-grader is picking away at all three of these stories of famous Christians during his reading times. Yes, he’s reading three at once. I guess he takes after me!  
 
Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone
A favorite. This was a bedtime story one night this week.
 
With Love, Edith by Edith Schaeffer
Speaking of missionary stories, I have been savoring this collection of Edith Schaeffer’s letters for years. Even just one page of this book displays enough faith to coast on for a few days. Edith, her husband, and their three (later, four) children followed God’s call to ministry in Switzerland. Her stories of the highs and lows and everyday middles of ministry life are a huge encouragement to me.
 
Mio, My Son by Astrid Lindgren
After finishing Caspian, we picked up this sweet fairy tale to start as our next read-aloud. We’ve gotten through a few chapters now. I read it to our now-fourth-grader a few years ago. He and I both loved it, so I hope the whole family enjoys it!
 
The Ology by Marty Machowski
Every couple days, I read one (very short!) section of this to the kids and we discuss it. This week, it was “God is Perfect.”
 
New City Catechism
My fourth grader has been memorizing these question and answer sets for a few years. He is on question sixteen. My kindergartner is just getting started. In the past week, she mastered questions one and two.
 
In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World by Virginia Hamilton and Creation: Read-Aloud Stories from Many Lands by Ann Pilling
I skimmed these two collections, hopeful that they would aid me in teaching my kids how unbelieving cultures have distorted the true story of God’s creation, yet retained a kernel of truth. While that aim could certainly be met in careful reading and discussion of these stories, I found too many of them to be distasteful and/or desperately off-base, and decided not to spend time unpacking them with my children. It could be an excellent study topic for older students.
 
The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry collected by Louis Untermeyer
We’re gearing up for our next Family Poetry Night, so I found one in this book to memorize myself and two short ones to help our 5-year-old memorize. I can’t tell you what they are; it’s a family rule to keep the poems a secret until Poetry Night.
 
An Illustrated Catalog of American Fruits and Nuts published by the US Dept of Agriculture
To be clear: I didn’t read this book. It’s more drawings than words anyway. But I did page through it, appreciating the skill and care of the artists from 1886 – 1942 who brought these fruits to life on the page. Though I doubt the publisher intended this result, I found myself impressed once again at the way God built his world of orderly categories and creation that is both beautiful and useful. I stumbled upon this tome when searching on the library web catalogue for books on Egyptian or Sumerian agricultural life. It looked intriguing, so I requested it. And that is the beauty of a good library system.
 
There you have it: the reading life of one family in just one week. What would your reading spread look like if you collected it over seven days?

For Your Kids

We all love our kids to read biographies of famous figures, especially famous Christians. J.R.R. Tolkien for Kids by Simonetta Carr is just such a book… but with a fun twist. In the book’s eight chapters, Carr tells the life story of this much-loved inventor of Middle-earth from his childhood through his retirement. But scattered amongst the narrative of his life and literary achievements are instructions for projects: a recipe for marmalade, directions for building a kite, a sample of a fictional map, a guide for inventing a new code, and many others. While the text of the biography may be slightly advanced for elementary reading, the projects are spot-on for kids in grades 3-ish through 6-ish. That makes this an ideal book for home educating families: enjoy the biography as a read-aloud, or let older kids read it solo, while the whole family can choose a few projects to try together. 
 
Grammar. I love it. Maybe you do too, or maybe it’s among your fake-it-til-you-make-it subjects. Either way, this collection of grammar picture books from Ruth Heller is likely to be a treat. It will either make you grin with the way she plays with parts of speech, or open your eyes afresh to how our lovely language works. I especially like Many Luscious Lollipops, the one on adjectives, but they are all good.
 
The aptly titled Classic Myths to Read Aloud, collected by William Russell, makes myths bite-sized. A few years ago, I was astounded to learn how little of Greek and Roman mythology I actually knew. If you’re in a similar boat, knowing where to start can be daunting. Many great anthologies of mythology are available, and this is just one good one. Each story is preceded by a short summary along with a pronunciation guide for the names, and description of each character. The myths are short, and each one even tells you how long it takes to read aloud! It’s been a great mythology introduction for me and my kids!

For You

If your tea comes in gauzy paper packets (like mine does), you may not even know what a tea plant looks like. I didn’t. You may also, occasionally, stumble over the realization that tea is not native to England, yet seems to issue forth from that motherland like the steaming of great boiling teapots. For all the Tea in China by Sarah Rose will set the record straight. It’s a fascinating look at the history of the tea trade, its link with the opium trade, the geopolitics of the nineteenth century, and the journey of a botanist-turned-spy into the interior of China on a quest to collect living tea specimens. It’s told in sparkling detail and laced carefully together with firsthand accounts. Recommended for any tea-drinker!
 
Have you read the first few chapters of Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman? It’s not too late to join the community-wide read-along as we prepare for our Parent Book-Talk this fall! If you haven’t started yet (or even if you have!), here’s a shameless plug to add this book to your nightstand or coffee table or library hold list. Postman wrote his book in 1984, an ominous year if ever there was one. But though the reality of 1984 was nothing like George Orwell’s famous predictions, the predictions that Postman made in Amusing Ourselves to Death (now nearly forty years ago) have been uncannily accurate. He worried that the cultural conversation would shrink to its least common denominator, i.e. the media of the masses. Today, this is precisely what we see in a world dominated by the ultra-brief clip. He foresaw the shift from the preeminence of print, which is necessarily slower in all ways, to the preeminence of the screen, which capitalizes on a far shallower and quicker form of thinking. Possibly most intriguing of all, he briefly discusses the two dystopian pillars: 1984 and Brave New World, suggesting that “Orwell feared… those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.” And isn’t the unnerving plight in which we now find ourselves? Amusing Ourselves to Death isn’t an easy read, but it’s a gripping one. Get a copy so you can catch up and join the conversation this October!

For Both You and Your Kids

Have you ever longed to enjoy a riverbank picnic? Sip campfire cocoa or make toast over a fire? Make paper dolls (and not the storebought kind) or magical chalk-drawing lands? I know you have. Turkish Delight and Treasure Hunts by Jane Brocket is the book for you (and for your kids). Collecting inspiration from classic children’s books like The Wind in the Willows, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, A Little Princess, A Wrinkle in Time, Heidi, The Borrowers, Betsy-Tacy, and many more, Jane Brocket (whose name sounds like it was lifted right out of one of those stories!) provides instructions for bringing the activities of our best-loved characters to life. Her introduction alone is splendid, exploring the reasons why some activities that make up children’s literature are not feasible for attempting in “real life.” Yet she yields to the magic of making a cake from scratch, decorating a hat with flowers, creating a tiny post office or secret spot, or even sitting up late to enjoy a dark and stormy night. This book is good enough to read even without scheduling the activities. But you’ll want to try them all.