The opinion we form of any book is greatly determined by the expectations we bring to it. This is apparent from the hundreds of online reviews I’ve read of The Green Ember.  In this review, I’ll share how I discovered the book and how my expectations were set. I’ll share the strengths of the story […]

Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kellyis a delightful and entertaining read. If I were to create a best books for laughing out loud list, this book would rank toward the top. It is Jacqueline Kelly’s sequel to Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows.  The story begins with dear friends, Mole and Rat, enjoying a […]

Every year, Sam Beaver travels with his father to a remote cabin in the Canadian wilderness. Sam is a young naturalist who loves to observe the world around him and jot down notes and questions in his journal. One day, he notices a peculiar thing, a baby swan (called a cygnet) who has no voice. […]