Between a holiday and a snow day this week, my cat has had an awful lot of available lap time. He’s currently protesting that my lap is not currently available by walking back and forth across my desk, purring, and pushing his head under my fingers as they type. So, if there are typos, that’s totally the reason.

Around the Web
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
I’ve been eyeing this book and was delighted to read Hayley’s review over at Redeemed Reader.
- An intriguing, code-breaking adventure introduces young teens to the work at Bletchley Park.
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To Be or Not to Be
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the verb “to be” in my life, and I thought I’d share some of the more recent thoughts in the most recent Bandersnatch Books newsletter.
- In my own life as a logophile, I’ve delighted in long and surprising words, but I’ve also found wonder in one of our shortest English words: “be.” Though it is but little, it is mighty. (Since I already quoted the Bard in the title, I might as well riff on him here.)
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Love Your (Actual) Neighbor
Kirk Wareham reminds us of Jesus’ commandment.
- I have many neighbors who live down the twisting lane beyond my house. None of them, I suspect, will ever become presidents or emperors, bishops or millionaires, or even Division I football coaches with oversized egos. They are ordinary folk, these neighbors, singularly lacking in accolades or extravagance of any kind. But like me, they have dreams and joys and hopes and problems and struggles.
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Courage to Answer God’s Call: Saying Yes to God
Ann White explores what can happen with a Yes.
- It was the first day of class, a class that had outgrown my home, and had expanded from Wednesday evenings to Sunday mornings. A class that eventually grew into multiple classes, where individuals and couples eager to dive deep into God’s Word could gather together and learn from the Bible.
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Around the Warren
Pack Horse Librarians Deliver Hope
Amanda Cleary Eastep shares the story of how she became a pack horse librarian.
- Why do kids in western North Carolina need books when they don’t have drinkable water?
It was hard not to wonder this after the historic flooding from Helene had dumped up to 31 inches of rain on us at the end of September 2024, washing away small towns, taking the homes and lives of neighbors, and changing the face of our beloved mountains forever. Thousands of us lost power and water for weeks. Families in our holler went 23 days without.
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Cinderella and the Fairy Crocodile, part 3: The End
Isabel Chenot finishes her tale.
- It was the first stroke of midnight. The fairy crocodile waited in the road outside the palace garden. Cinderella was not there, and the fairy crocodile had thought of no conveyance to take her home. At the second stroke, nothing had changed. At the third, there was a rustle of feet, and Cinderella came running.
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Something to Do with Your Kids
In case you missed it, this week was National Handwriting Day (it was also National Pie Day, so it was a big week. While I have no pie resources for you, I do have some great printables and activities for handwriting!
Something to Watch
I’ve been on a space program reading kick again—that happens a lot, actually—and this video from Destin at Smarter Every Day is helping round out my knowledge of rockets.

Thanks for reading. We’re on your side.
–The Story Warren Team
- The Warren & The World Vol 13, Issue 5 - February 15, 2025
- The Warren & The World Vol 13, Issue 4 - February 1, 2025
- The Warren & The World Vol 13, Issue 3 - January 25, 2025
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