Picture Books
by Lita Judge
A year before President Grant declared Yellowstone a National Park, Thomas Moran, a magazine illustrator from Philadelphia, joined forces with a well-known geologist and his team of explorers as they headed to the Rocky Mountains. The city-slicker had never ridden a horse before but was determined to keep pace with his fellow travelers. His aim: to paint the beauty of the land in hopes of convincing Easterners to protect it from development.
This is the story of Moran's grand adventure and the painting that inspired the formation of the National Park Service.
by Jeff Gottesfeld
After the War to End All Wars, I came home. Unknown. My remains were transported by the Navy to the Capitol, where I lay in state as a representative for all the men and women who never came home or whose identities were lost on the battlefield. I was buried on a hill crest with a tombstone commemorating us all. In time, however, folks forgot the significance of my resting place. One day, a soldier took guard, marching twenty-one steps, symbolizing a 21-gun salute. Since then, I have never been alone. A few more men have joined me, one from each of the major wars of our nation's history. More soldiers came to march and protect, too, watching over us and honoring our sacrifice.
This beautifully illustrated book is told in first person and details the history and current ceremonial traditions of the tomb of the unknown soldier.
We Were Tired of Living in a House
by Liesel Moak Skorpen
When four siblings get bored inside, they pack a bag of warm clothes and head outdoors to find adventure. They move to a tree and build a treehouse. When the branch breaks, they tumble to the ground and go in search of another place to call home. They end up at a pond, then a cave, and even the seashore. But, as the old saying goes, "There's no place like home." The crew eventually make their way back to their house, exhausted but satisfied.
The modern remake of the story includes only three siblings and unappealing illustrations. I appreciate the 55th-anniversary throwback and its vintage two-color sketches best.
by Demi
In this modern retelling of a Chinese folktale, the aging and childless Emperor passes out flower seeds to all the children of the empire with a charge, "Whoever can show me their best [flower] in a year's time will succeed me to the throne." Determined to grow the finest blossom, Ping, a young village boy, spends an entire year nurturing the seed. Sadly, it never grows. The next year, surrounded by the beautiful flowers of all the other children, Ping apologetically presents his empty pot to the Emperor. He is rewarded with the entire kingdom.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a year earlier, the Emperor had given the children dead seeds that he knew would never grow. His was a test of loyalty and honesty--a test that only Ping passes.
Leveled Readers
by Corey R. Tabor
Fox is tired of being a fox. He'd rather be a tiger. Since Fox pretends to be a tiger, Turtle decides to be a race car, and Rabbit begins acting like a robot. Before too long, though, they each realize that being exactly who they were created to be is best.
While this Level 1 reader doesn't directly counter transgender ideology, it inadvertently declares a great message about being content with who you were made to be.
by Nancy Smiler Levinson
Danny's Pa is somewhere on the other side of the mountain, digging for gold. But, it's almost Christmas, and he should be home. Safe. So, Danny writes him a letter, pleading for him to return. When a sudden storm covers the mountain with a blanket of snow, the mail can not get through. Brave John Thompson steps forward and volunteers to deliver Danny's message the Norwegian way. Together, they make a pair of skis that will cut across the snow and deliver the letter in no time!
Based on the true story of John Thompson--goldrush mail carrier--and his treacherous five-day journey across the Sierra Nevada range, this book is full of adventure.
Please note: When he sees John strap on his homemade skis for the first time, one onlooker declares, "John will hit a tree and dash his brains out."
Illustrated Chapter Books
by Patricia MacLachlan
Grace spends much of her time next door at Aunt Lily's, listening in as the older woman and her writer's group--"The L's"--talk about words and books. Lately, Aunt Lucy has seemed a bit uninspired. She's in a word slump. So, she places an ad in the paper for an assistant to help organize her jumbled thoughts and her humbled life.
A magician answers the call. He delivers his dog to Aunt Lily's doorstep with the promise that the canine companion is not just any dog. He's a wondrous Labrador retriever named Rex!
Will this more-than-a-dog Rex be able to help Aunt Lily find her words again? And what's more, can he help Grace realize she has a story of her own to tell?
by Julia Sauer
Two weeks--Aunt Martha and young Ronnie agree to relieve Byron Flagg of his lighthouse post for two whole weeks. At first, their stay at Tern Rock feels like a real adventure. Their days are spent chasing gulls, watching the waves beat upon the island, and caring for the great mechanisms inside the tower. However, when Flagg does not return on December 15, the agreed-upon date, the pair becomes concerned. Has something happened to the Keeper? Will Aunt Martha and Ronnie miss Christmas at home? Will Flagg ever return?
Middle-Grade Novels
by J.D. Peabody
Everett and his younger sister Bea have been told that their beloved father—the town vicar who moonlights as a comic book writer—has been killed in a horrible train accident. But the story doesn't add up. While searching through his belongings, the siblings discover a pen filled with ink that transports them to a secret society aimed at stopping sinister "blotters" from stealing the ink that writes the good stories of the world. They join forces with a motley crew of "good guys" to find their father and save creativity from destruction.
This Narnia meets Harry Potter fantasy is the first in a three-part series. Like C.S. Lewis, J.D. Peabody has sprinkled Biblical analogies throughout this fast-paced, imaginative title without being heavy-handed, preachy, or moralistic.
Please note: Everett lies twice to protect himself and his sister. Additionally, one of the sinister evil-doers thinks one of the children has a set of "witching sticks." They are actually "divining rods" that can help lead a person to the ink they need. When confronted about the sticks, the children's father replies, “We are Christian people. We do not practice witchcraft of any sort.”
by S.D. Smith
From the desk of the "award-losing author" of The Expert's Guide to Expert Guides: An Expert's Guide comes a harrowing memoir of deserted-island living (not to be confused with desserted-island living).
This over-the-top, sketch-comedy style book introduces readers to Wally Warmbottom, a prolific writer of over ten mediocre books. Since he's stranded at sea and can not actually publish his latest story, Wally sends it to you, dear reader, via letters in a jug (similar to letters in a bottle, only bigger). In each missive, he tells of his solitary life on Peachpitistan--an island covered by peaches and pits and peach pits. Because he's a published author by trade and can't help but live his life through literature, Wally attaches stories to his letters for your reading pleasure. Each tale is a stand-alone and can be enjoyed in any order.
Move over Captain Underpants and Dog Man. There's a new funny man in town. His name is Wally, and he'll entertain you without having to resort to bathroom humor!
I'm often asked for book suggestions for tweens struggling to read. They don't want to settle for "baby" books. They want age-appropriate content but breezy writing. Mooses with Bazookas definitely fits the bill.
The Balloon Boy of San Francisco
by Dorothy Kupcha Leland
Joseph "Ready" Gates, a young paperboy who thirsts for excitement and purpose, dreams of heading north with his father to strike it rich in the gold mines. His life takes a thrilling turn when he meets Lydia, a young lady fresh from New York who's come to California in search of her brother. Eager to help his new friend and to earn enough money to buy mining supplies, the plucky redhead stows away on a riverboat, performs in a stage production with the famous Lola Montez, and eventually finds himself in Contra Costa (now Oakland), riding a runaway hot air balloon.
Based on news reports of a real boy who spent a few heroic hours riding a hot air balloon over the bay area of California, this book will give readers a colorful look at the history and culture of the 1850s gold rush days.
Please note: In the first few pages of the book, Ready admits to having sipped whiskey. Later, he uses the term, "Dadblame it!" Additionally, in a desperate attempt to find her missing brother, Lydia visits a fortune teller. Ready is quick to point out that the "gypsy's" services are a sham and that the two should stay far away from "charlatans who prey on people in dire circumstances." In the end, Lydia realizes how foolish and wrong she was to seek a "diviner." Later, another secondary character also visits the fortune teller and receives fraudulent information.
by Kimberly Bulcken Root
Great Aunts Harriet and Frances have only ever referred to their Vermont relations as "horrid." According to the cultured sisters, the Putney cousins are backwoods folk. Rural. Uncivilized. When it becomes clear that the two can no longer care for their orphaned great niece Elizabeth Ann, however, they must ship their young charge to the Putney's.
Arriving with trepidation, Betsy, who has never done a day's work in her life, is now tasked with farm chores like everyone else. This stark contrast between her past and present life underscores the depth of her character development. With great responsibility comes great privilege. Betsy is given the freedom and delight of childhood. She can run, play, and embark on daily adventures.
Don't allow the lackluster cover to fool you. This beautiful story has been entertaining kids for generations. It's an impressive look at child-rearing with plenty of humor mixed in. I cracked it open with my four sons years ago and am pleased to announce that it still stands as one of their favorite read-alouds of childhood.
Parents, Be Aware
by Kate DiCamillo
Five puppets hang in a toyshop window until a lonely old sea captain buys them and brings them home. Tragically, he dies the next day, and the puppets are packed up. They change hands many times, their fate uncertain, until they land in the toy room of two imaginative sisters who use them to create a fantastical tale. Little do they know that their maid is the ex-love interest of the sea captain who left her side long ago to make something of himself. On a whim, the maid steals the puppets and never returns. Years later, the two sisters recall their beloved nursery toys and decide to write a story about them, presumably The Puppets of Spelhorst.
Things to know: In classic bedtime story style, this illustrated chapter book contains simple, repetitive text. However, much of the plot feels unnecessarily dark and over-emotional for the intended audience.
One of the sisters makes the king a wizard in her puppet show and uses him to put a curse on the boy puppet.
by Rodman Philbrook
To avoid placement in foster care while his mom attends rehab for her addiction to car accident-related painkillers, twelve-year-old Sam Castine agrees to spend the summer at a sleep-away camp. When he wakes up one morning to find the entire camp evacuating because of a forest fire, he doesn't head to the bus with his fellow campers as instructed. Instead, he sneaks back to his bunk to grab his cell phone. That one split-second decision changes his life. The bus leaves without him, and Sam must find a way out of the inferno before it's too late.
Eventually, he crosses paths with Delphy, an older girl from another camp who is also lost and left behind. Together, they steal an abandoned WWII jeep and attempt to race to safety. They learn that the fire was no accident. It was arson, and the guilty pyros are in hot pursuit.
This action-packed middle grade is the first in The Wilds series, a trio of disaster dramas that focus on friendship and adventure. I've not read the sequels.
Things to know: While the mother's drug addiction is not a main element of the story, in one chapter, Sam reflects on finding her passed out on the floor from an overdose. Delphy is attending a fitness camp that she refers to as "fat camp" and mentions wearing a one-piece swimsuit when planning to meet with a boy at the lake so that she can't be pressured into skinny dipping. Additionally, One character does a "Homer Simpson impersonation," and others use a few crass words, including " sucked/sucks," "double darn rat puke." and "Oh, my Lord."
Just for you, Mom
by Abigail Shrier
Recent studies show that Gen Z is the most over-therapized generation that has ever existed, and yet, they are also the most anxious. Could it be that forced rumination of their struggles is actually making their mental health worse? Is the therapy to blame? While the author, a former op-ed journalist for the Washington Post, admits that some children need therapy to work through legitimate trauma, she concludes that most American kids do not receive the right kind of therapy and/or have been over-diagnosed by doctors, counselors, teachers, and "gentle" parents.
Her voice is grim, if not a bit sarcastic.
Whether you agree with Shrier's findings or not, her words will stay with you and force you to consider how our Western ways are coddling our very capable children. If I ever curate a Must Read for Moms book list, this one would be on it.
Please note: There are a few expletives in the text.