https://www.geoguessr.comThe Warren & the World is Story Warren’s weekly newsletter, providing a round-up of our favorite things from around the web as well as a review of what was on our site over the past week. We’re glad you’re here!
Around the Web
The Practical Magic of Joan Aiken, the Greatest Children’s Writer You’ve Likely Never Read
Well, you may have read Joan Aiken’s work–she’s the author of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, which we recommended back in June. But in case you haven’t or if you just like reading stories about the lives of authors whose work you love, this New Yorker piece on Aiken reveals a fascinating woman whose work is a delight.
- n the early nineteen-fifties, before she published any of the novels that established her as one of the twentieth century’s great children’s-book writers, Joan Aiken lived on a bus. Aiken and her husband, the journalist Ronald Brown, had acquired a piece of land on which they meant to build a house. But building licenses in England could take years to be approved. To continue renting an apartment seemed wasteful, and since food was still being rationed—this was only a few years after the war—they wanted to start a garden right away. The obvious solution was some sort of temporary residence, a structure that could be brought onto their new plot and then dismantled or moved away once the house was done. But where could they find a home like that?
Stuck in the Muck of Parenting? 5 Thought Models Provide Direction
- During the summer months I was blessed by grandchildren in my home, with overnights and cousin time a big priority for them and for me. The grandkids blessed me with their love, and I blessed their parents with time off of parenting—a win-win for everyone, right? One three-week stretch was mostly dedicated to these blessings, and I began to remember why being a stay-at-home mom is A VERY HARD JOB.
The Boy Who’d Never Tasted an Apple
Rachel Donahue introduces her parable thus: “Sex pops up frequently in conversations with our kids. In a culture that’s inundated with strong messages, we want to give our children an opportunity for God’s story to take hold in their hearts first. We want to tell them the truth in positive terms, not just negative ones. So I wrote a parable for us, and for you. I hope it helps you to foster beneficial conversations, too.”
- There was once a boy who lived 15 years without ever tasting an apple.
Oh, he knew what apples were. They were everywhere. Apples on billboards and bumperstickers, t-shirts and magazine covers. The lady on the car commercial was holding an apple. The hero of his favorite movie had a thing for apple pie. But the boy had never seen an apple in real life, much less tasted one himself.
The Art of the Stroll
- My grandfather taught me to walk. Not literally, though I am sure he and my grandmother were present for many of my first toddling moments. But the veteran and pharmacist was a passionate walker of the streets, and taught me from a young age to love traversing sidewalks.
Around the Warren
This is Why I Want Them to Read
Carey Pace reminds us why we (and our children) read.
- We got in bed very late last night. The last few weeks have been discombobulated to say the least. I was exhausted and drained. I had already settled down once only to realize I left my book in the other room and had to get up to retrieve it (knowing full well that it would be a miracle if I made it three sentences before my eyes closed involuntarily). No sooner had my head hit the pillow again did she call.
I shouted across the hall, asking for what she needed.
She asked me to come to her.
I said no.
Saving A Pocketful of Cricket
Anne Marshall recommends an old favorite.
- When evacuating from a wildfire what books do you bring? That may not be a question most people ask, but that’s a big question for a living-book homeschooling mother and, a few weeks ago, it was a question I suddenly had to answer.
I’ve been building our family’s library for 10 years now, scouring thrift shops, garage sales and library cast off stores. Some of the books I’ve collected are hard to find while others are practically irreplaceable. So for me and for our family this was a hard question. We had a bit of time to think; we knew the fire was coming our way as we watched it creeping closer and closer despite the heroic efforts of the firefighters. So I began looking at what was essential in the likely event we would be evacuated.
Something to Do with Your Kids
In my part of the world, September is a weird month when it still feels like summer outside but the stores have all put up fall items and my soul has turned toward autumn. So in light of this schizophrenic confusion, here’s a list of September activities which for some random reason includes “Embrace Winter Fun” as one of it’s recommendations.
And Something to Watch
Sometimes watching someone tickled by a story is almost as fun as the story itself.
Thank you for reading. We’re on your side.
You can find her at carolyncgivens.com or on Facebook or Instagram at @carolyncgivens.
- The Warren & The World Vol 13, Issue 8 - March 15, 2025
- The Warren & The World Vol 13, Issue 7 - March 8, 2025
- The Warren & The World Vol 13, Issue 6 - March 1, 2025
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