The books below came to me initially because of their relation to East, South, and Southeast Asia or the Middle East. As I read, images recurred: accomplished individuals, resourceful kids, legends and traditions. But by far the most common—and somewhat unexpected—was grandparents. On reflection I realized the theme is a natural one. While parents are…
For a fun audio experience that will enliven car rides, coloring time, or just about any other family listening time, I suggest checking out the “part book club, part game show” podcast-ish interactive show known as Withywindle. And to get you started, here’s a show featuring a special guest: our own Carolyn Leiloglou, author of…
Let’s get this out of the way first: Big Red is a boy-meets-dog story in which the dog doesn’t die in the end. That won’t come as much of a surprise once you begin reading, because Big Red, like his seventeen-year-old trainer Danny, is a survivor. This book was originally published in 1945, and the…
Let’s talk about a legend in children’s literature circles, the late Barbara Cooney. During her lifetime, Mrs. Cooney worked on over one hundred and ten children’s books. She was a gifted storyteller and artist. You will no doubt recognize some titles below, but I’ve tried to include some lesser-known ones as well. “I believe that…
This book, in addition to being written by the incomparable Gary Schmidt, contains three of the things I love most in a story: a very old house, some cloudy family history, and a cemetery. No—two cemeteries, one of which is hidden away and overgrown. Which is my favorite kind of cemetery. So regardless of what…
A real-world middle-grade fantasy built around the plot of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Yes please! Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca is a magical story about a young baker and her family. The Story Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson is the youngest of four kids in an Indian-American family. Mimi wishes she were talented like her older…
Early in my marriage, my mother-in-law suggested I might someday like to have her wax bust of Shakespeare. I don’t recall my response; I hope it was gracious, though I’m not optimistic on that point. What I thought was, What on earth would I do with it? A couple of decades later, the bust is…
My favorite kind of mail is Surprise Mail: the packages that I didn’t order, but that arrive on our porch unannounced and full of possibility. The Mousehole Cat arrived in just such a package: a friend sent it as a surprise, but also, because the card ended up arriving separately a few days later, as a…
We live in a college town, where jobs are few and far between and the cost of living is high. So that major event so many kids face at least once—the best friend who moves away—has happened to each of my daughters many times. It is hard to stay here, so many friends they love…
We all make history every day, whether we are the fundamental elements that make up the swift-flowing stream or the droplets that leap out and sparkle in the sunlight. In reflecting on what the women below possessed in common, one answer that turned up was, Not much. Many (but not all) worked hard to develop…
I’m naturally a trusting person. Really, I am. My husband and I joke that my method is “you have my trust until you break it,” while his is “you get my trust when you earn it.” And this way of operating holds pretty true for us…unless you’re remaking a story I love. In that one situation,…
Grumpy the Gator, written by Melissa Henderson and illustrated by Mark Brayer, is a friendly book that’s easy for preschoolers and kindergarteners to comprehend. Even older kids can appreciate the message in this short story. This tale takes place in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, and I like how the narration sets the background. It…
