Book Thoughts: The Labors of Hercules Beal (Schmidt)
7th grader Hercules is given an assignment to establish relevance between the 12 Labors of the mythical Hercules and his own modern life.
Keenly Kept
Category Books
Book Thoughts: First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers (Shea)
Type: picture bookAges: 4-8Author: George SheaIllustrator: Don Bolognese Most readers ought to find this short book upbeat and exciting. How neat a time period to look back on!
Book Thoughts: Lepunia: The Last Galloper (Ford)
Type: chapter bookAges: 8-12Author: Kevin T. FordIllustrator: Michael GenovaMap by: Amanda Bird The rabbits and squirrels of Lepunia unite again as they resist the enemy–an evil badger and his army of coyotes. Readers will meet several old friends (prairie dogs,…
Book Thoughts: Adèle & Simon (McClintock)
Type: picture bookAges: 3-8Author: Barbara McClintock A delight to read. Big sister Adèle picks up Simon from school. On their way home, they chat with acquaintances, see a parade, visit a museum, watch a puppet show in the park, and…
Read-Aloud Recommendation: The Burgess Animal Books!
Are you looking for new read-aloud books for your family? Or are you seeking beginner chapter books for your blossoming readers? Perhaps you have already discovered Thornton W. Burgess and now need a way to keep track of which books…
Book Thoughts: The Wednesday Wars (Schmidt)
Type: young adult novelAges: 12+Author: Gary D. Schmidt Schmidt doesn’t shy away from hard topics in his books. The Vietnam tensions plus less-than-stellar parents plus the pressures of public school lead to a lot of big feelings and situations. Yet,…
Book Thoughts: The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine (Stead, Twain)
Type: short, illustrated chapter bookAges: noneAuthors: Philip Stead, Mark TwainIllustrator: Erin Stead This book irked me from beginning to end, and I hope the wonderful friend who gifted this to my daughter never reads this review… Turns out, contrary to…
Book Thoughts: Sydney & Taylor and the Great Friend Expedition (Davies)
Type: beginner chapter bookAges: 4-8Author: Jacqueline DaviesIllustrator: Deborah Hocking Friendships can be hard to make, but they’ll happen when you least expect them to! This installment in the series was both funny and exciting. Definitely check out the first two books if you’re looking…
Book Thoughts: Sydney & Taylor Take a Flying Leap (Davies)
Type: beginner chapter bookAges: 4-8Author: Jacqueline DaviesIllustrator: Deborah Hocking Sydney the skunk is always willing to help Taylor the hedgehog with his “Big Ideas,” but Taylor’s latest plan is just too much. This puts a temporary divide in their friendship, but…
Book Thoughts: Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World (Davies)
Type: beginner chapter bookAges: 4-8Author: Jacqueline DaviesIllustrator: Deborah Hocking Get ready, parents…Your young readers may suddenly embark on adventures of their own after reading this one. Sydney and Taylor initially pack way too much for their journey (which is comical),…