I lead a book club, a small group of church friends who enjoy letting me challenge them with a variety of diverse and beautiful books. We have made it through a wide variety of stories, from Jason Reynald’s Long Way Down to Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi. It was over discussion of Virgil Wander (by the brilliant […]
West of Moonlight, East of Dawn: An Old Tale Retold and Illustrated
When I cozied into a chair and propped a cup of tea onto my knee to read Isabel Chenot’s West of Moonlight, East of Dawn, I already knew the story would stir me to wonder and sorrow. I’ve relished sharing multiple renditions of the old folktale with my kids, from “East of the Sun, West […]
Reading Aloud: Enjoying the Present Together
Our family recently finished reading aloud The Green Ember series by S.D. Smith (or “Bunnies Go to War,” as we affectionately refer to the saga). As we journeyed through the stories, we often had lively discussions as we shared opinions, asked questions, and made predictions. But the night we turned the last few pages of […]
His Grace is Enough | Melissa Kruger
If there is one message I want my daughters to take with them when they’re grown, it’s not “Pay your rent on time” or “If some guy tries something fresh, remember ‘Gift of Destruction’ from your karate class and take him out’” (though I hope they remember those, too). But really, the number one thing […]
The Words They May Need
If you were to look at my Amazon order history, you would see two books that have been bought over and over again. I hate buying them. I’ve tucked them into care baskets for mothers who have lost children. I’ve brought them into homes along with casseroles for the bereaved. I’ve shipped several copies across […]