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Book Thoughts: Carl’s Summer Vacation (Day)

Type: [mostly] wordless picture bookAges: 3-6Author: Alexandra Day Reading this as a parent, I couldn’t help but be displeased–with both the daughter for disobeying and with the mother who had no idea where her small child was all afternoon. BUT,…

Book Thoughts: A Voyage in the Clouds (Olshan)

Type: (mostly) biographical picture bookAges: 5-10Author: Matthew OlshanIllustrator: Sophie Blackall It’s always gratifying to read picture book biographies–often they’re more memorable than adult ones! The author’s note in the back reveals that he added some of the conversation plus a…

Book Thoughts: Animals Hidden in the Desert (Rusick)

Type: non-fiction picture bookAges: 4-8Author: Jessica Rusick We’ve seen a number of picture books that touch on Arizona’s desert creatures (this book isn’t specifically about AZ), and yet I still learned something in this new-to-us one! Each page has you…

Book Thoughts: Possum and the Summer Storm (Hunter)

Type: picture bookAges: 2-6Author/Illustrator: Anne Hunter Everyone is very friendly and kind to the possum family as they each help in their own unique way. The book left me with questions, though: First, what happened to the mother possum? Babies…

Book Thoughts: The Umbrella (Brett)

Type: picture bookAges: 3-8Author/Illustrator: Jan Brett As in a lot of Jan Brett’s outstanding books, this one’s illustrations show multiple scenes happening at the same time, as well as a bit of foreshadowing. The boy has no idea what those…

Book Thoughts: Zoe’s Hiding Place (Powlison)

Type: picture bookAges: 4-8Editor: David PowlisonIllustrator: Joe Hox One of the neat things about this book series is there are always brilliant talking points for the parents. Each of the several points include Scripture as well–something even adults might need…

Book Thoughts: Understood Betsy (Fisher)

Type: chapter bookAges: 6-12Author: Dorothy Canfield Fisher I absolutely loved reading this one aloud. The long sentences were so rich and uniquely penned! More than once, I had to fight tears (happy ones!), and my children loved the overall story.…

Book Thoughts: Uncle Elephant (Lobel)

Type: longer picture book (9 short “chapters”)Ages: 3-8Author: Arnold Lobel What a dear, wonderful uncle. I wasn’t sure where the story would go at first after the first scene of sadness (it’s kept minimal, if that’s a concern), but it…

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