Story Warren

Kindling Imagination for Kingdom Anticipation

The Warren & The World Vol 12, Issue 21

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I’m to write a blog post on something bookish or writerly this week and—while I’ve started one—I haven’t actually decided yet what I’m writing about. It’s a funny thing, this kind of process, where you start with a general direction, but you don’t know quite what it’s about until you finish. I’ve started writing about my jump to “big books” while we lived in Hong Kong when I was 9 and 10, but I am not sure yet if it’s a story about reading or something else. I’ll go work on it in a little bit, and perhaps we’ll see.

Around the Web

15 New Nonfiction Books (+ Activity Books)

Melissa at Imagination Soup has great nonfiction recommendations

  • Nonfiction is so important for kids to read starting young — but they need good book choices. Here are some new nonfiction books from 2024 to consider when you pick your next nonfiction reading choice.
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The Minor Miracle

Carolyn Leiloglou reviews a graphic novel.

  • My favorite line from the Spiderman movies was always, “with great power comes great responsibility.” That idea is echoed in the new middle grade superhero novel The Minor Miracle by Meredith Davis. Because having super powers isn’t what makes you a hero. It’s what you do with them.
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A Grand Laughter

Kelly Keller writes at Cultivating about troublesome grace.

  • Last week I received a square card in the mail. The front of it had a painting of Highclere Castle, “Home of the real ‘Downton Abbey.’” The note was from a friend of mine, one of those few who still send real mail. She had sent me a thank you note for a gift.
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3 Powerful Prayers to Fill Your Child with Wisdom

We all want the kids in our lives to be wise as they grow up. Here are prayers you can pray for them.

  • Wisdom can be defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Some forms of wisdom come naturally as our kids grow up and experience more of life. Other forms can be taught. My prayer is for my children to be open to wisdom, recognize it for what it is, and learn to love living it out.
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A closeup shot of American Goldfinch perched on a tree on a blurred background

Around the Warren

Extravagance

Caitlin Clase looks at the extravagant world around us.

  • I stepped out my door yesterday evening to find a sky of the gentlest, most kindly gray imaginable, every edge and angle softened by a pale, pearled light. Come sunset though, that mild sky had leapt up into a wildly riotous shout of color, the sharp black outlines of the pines at the end of our street standing in lightning strike contrast to the fiery orange and white hot pink burning behind them.
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Kathryn Butler Kicks off Withywindle season 7

James D. Witmer points us to another one of our own on Withywindle.

  • 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. For example, here’s a show featuring a special guest: our own Kathryn Butler, author of the Dreamkeeper Saga!
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Impromptu Picnics

Jocelyn Flenders recommends making space for impromptu picnics.

  • On a warm Saturday afternoon, our ten-year old neighbor from Italy stopped by. He’s lived in our community for several years, and I often enjoy chatting with him. He and the rest of the neighborhood gang were taking a break from playing soccer to have an impromptu picnic. One kid brought strawberries, another grapes. My husband cooked hot dogs, and I picked cherry tomatoes.
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What Are Ears For?

Théa Rosenberg reviews a set of delightful lift-flap books.

  • Reading can be such an interior journey, with the things we imagine all tucked away inside our minds—we sit back; we receive; if we’re being read to, we listen. But I love a hardy lift-the-flap book that invites readers to get their hands involved in the story. 
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Anne-Girl Reviews

Clementine

“Clementine, pay attention!”
That’s a phrase that Clementine hears a lot. But it’s not her fault she is “allergic to sitting still,” or that she has had “not so good of a week.” For instance, her best friend Margaret gets to have braces and she doesn’t. Third grade is tough for a spunky, enthusiastic, creative girl who has a name that is also a food. Ideas are always sproinging into her brain, and she can’t stop them. Clementine means well, but it’s just hard to pay attention in class when you can pay attention out the window. Yup, things aren’t going her way, but she’s just trying to help. If Margaret wants to have red hair like she does, Clementine will make it happen. 
Reminiscent of early Ramona books, Clementine by Sara Pennypacker is a great book. Short and sweet, engaging and humorous, Clementine has it all. It’s a delightful story, and I highly recommend it!

Ember Falls

Ember Falls is the highly anticipated second book in The Green Ember Series. For Heather and Picket, the stakes are higher, the danger is nearer, and the war is not over. They are joined by new friends and new enemies in this thrilling sequel that will keep you on the edge of your seat! I love this book, and was shocked by all the twists and turns of the story! Heather and Picket become so much more beloved along with the new characters that are introduced in this installment. Take my word for it, when you finish Ember Falls, you’ll be so ready for book 3!

Something to Do with Your Kids

Here’s a fun bubble art activity that will be a blast for all ages! 

Something to Watch

Destin at Smarter Every Day reports back on his solar eclipse viewing from April.

Thanks for reading. We’re on your side. 

–The Story Warren Team

Carolyn Clare Givens
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