Welcome to my obsession with children’s books–especially the ones that deal with everyday challenges in a fun and compelling way. I’ll share old classics, new gems, and everything in between to help support you and your kids (or just your kids if they like to read solo). Sign up and you’ll get my top-pick resources, delivered to your inbox each month on the full and new moon.
Out of my Mind by Sharon M. Draper (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010)
Melody is 11 and has never spoken a single word out loud. She can’t walk, talk, feed herself, or go to the bathroom on her own. Melody has cerebral palsy. She has a brilliant mind and a photographic memory—and no one knows. The kids in her integrated classroom think Melody’s… Read More
Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran (Harper Collins, 1991)
It was a rocky hill in the Arizona desert with nothing but sand, rocks, old boxes, cacti and desert plants. Marian called it Roxaboxen. It was an enchanted place—brought to life by the children’s imagination. Marian, her siblings and friends create a village and lively play worlds using what they… Read More
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (Harper Collins, 2009)
18-year old Sophie is afraid and overworked when she’s cursed by The Witch of the Waste. After being turned into a 90-year old woman, Howl’s Moving Castle is the only place she can get help—but Wizard Howl is feared and dreaded by all. What’s so fun about this book is… Read More
The Three Questions by Jon J. Muth (Scholastic Press, 2002)
Nikolai wants to be a good person but he isn’t always sure how to do that. He sets out on a quest to answer these questions: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? Nikolai… Read More
Bee Dance by Rick Chrustowski (Henry Holt and Company, 2015)
I love seeing the dandelions pop up on my lawn in May and watching the bees return. When my kids were younger they made signs saying “Save the Bees, Keep the Dandelions”. We knew how important the bees were to our eco-system but we didn’t know that honeybees perform a… Read More
In Our Mother’s House by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books, 2009)
I can’t tell you how many Patricia Polacco books I’ve read. My youngest brought home every Polacco book she could find during library time at school. She loved the pictures and we all loved the stories. Each of her books shares a unique message that always made us think and… Read More
In Every Moon There is a Face by Charles Mathes and Illustrated by Arlene Graston (Illumination Arts Publishing Company, 2003)
When the energy in my home is frenzied and we’re arguing more than usual, I look up at the sky and the moon is full. It’s a full moon today. Energy is heightened during a full moon. Emotions, feelings and dreams are all amplified and sometimes it can feel a… Read More
The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can by Dr. Tererai Trent (Viking Penguin Young Readers, 2015)
Have you ever been told that your dreams are impossible? For Tererai, a young girl growing up in rural Rhodesia, learning was difficult. Girls didn’t go to school with their brothers; they stayed home to cook, clean, and bring supplies to their village. Tererai uses an ancient ritual to feed… Read More
Old Turtle by Douglas Wood (Scholastic Press, 1992)
When Old Turtle spoke, all the beings of the world became quiet and listened. She hardly ever said anything. It started out as an argument long ago. Back then, all the beings of the world (animals, rocks, wind, water, trees, birds, and fish) could understand each other. The argument was… Read More
Holes by Louis Sachar (Scholastic Inc., 1998)
This dark, funny, and clever story takes place at Camp Green Lake, a boys’ detention centre. There is no lake at Camp Green Lake. And the boys spend all day digging holes to “build character.” This book is about bad boys being punished in harsh conditions. It’s an edgy read… Read More