K-8 Back to School Discoveries

 

Sophie Dahl

ISBN: 9781536233568

Publisher's Synopsis:

Who is Madame Badobedah? Mabel sets out to prove that an eccentric new hotel guest is really a supervillain in this witty storybook about an intergenerational friendship.

There's a strange new guest at the Mermaid Hotel -- a very old lady with a growly voice, bags stuffed with jewelry and coins and curiosities, and a beady-eyed pet tortoise. Mabel, whose parents run the hotel, is suspicious. Who is this "Madame Badobedah" (it rhymes with "Oo la la") who has come to stay indefinitely and never has any visitors? To find out, Mabel puts on her spy costume and observes the new guest. Conclusion? She must be a secret supervillain hiding out from the law. The grown-ups think Madame Badobedah is a bit rude -- and sad -- but when she invites "dahlink" Mabel for a cup of forbidden tea and a game of pirates, the two begin a series of imaginary adventures together, and Mabel realizes that first impressions can sometimes be very wrong.

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."

Amelia Earhart

MrsK's Review: 

Meet Mabel who is a self-proclaimed "Adventurer."  She lives at the Mermaid Hotel because her mom and dad are the managers. Her job is to "watch" their guests, so many avenues for discussions, to learn secrets, as well as have an adventure or two!

Meet Madame Badobedah the oldest, "best-ever" guest. She loves sweets, building sandcastles, and traveling the world. Yet, at the Mermaid Hotel, Madame Badobedah has had no visitors. On Saturdays, Madame B and Mabel try their luck larking on the beach or at the river. 

Whether treasure is found on a beach, river, or in Madame's closet, or her dressing table with 507 drawers... there will be great discovers and grand adventures within the covers of this delightful picture book. An excellent read aloud for discovering new research projects.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Sophie Dahl (born Sophie Holloway) is an English author, cookbook writer and former model. She was born in London, the daughter of actor Julian Holloway and writer Tessa Dahl. Her maternal grandparents were author Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal. Her paternal grandfather was actor Stanley Holloway. She was the inspiration for Sophie, the main character in her maternal grandfather's book The BFG.

Multi-Cultural Discoveries

Johanna Ho

ISBN: 9780063320277

Publisher's Synopsis:

A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers'. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother's, and her little sister's. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future. Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment.

"My eyes crinkle into crescent moons...

carrying tales of the past and hope for the future."

MrsK's Review: Read Aloud

Beautifully woven story about a young girl who values her family and the world around her. This brief journey into the heart ignites a youthful look at the blessings that we can find that are unique to our heritage. In a poetic verse are threads of love, beauty, strength, and hope... such an endearing and yet simple belief that our hearts can recognize, celebrate, and stand alongside of the valued sentiment of life. A must for librarians, educators, and homeschoolers.

Meet the Author:

   Joanna Ho Bradshaw is the author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners (HarperCollins, Jan 2021), Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma (HarperCollins, Fall 2021), and One Day (Winter 2023). She is a writer and educator with a passion for anti-bias, anti-racism and equity work. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s from the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley. She has been an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, and a professional development mastermind. She is currently the vice principal of a high school in the Bay Area, where she survives on homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids.

Malala Yousafzai

ISBN:9780316564533

Publisher's Synopsis:

As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true. Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai's first picture book, inspired by her own childhood.

MrsK's Review: Read Aloud

What would you do with a magic pencil? Could you erase what was painful or draw that which you didn't have? In this "child" voiced collection of hopes, dreams, and hardships there is an inner heart that is beating a rhythm for opportunities unrestricted. A purity of common-sense justice and freedom that every child born should be provided. This eloquent story of the world's view must be experienced within our schools, homes, and churches. Bridging the gap between cultures has a courageous healing power for our next generation!

Meet the Author:

  Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. She is known for human rights advocacy, especially education of women in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. Her advocacy has since grown into an international movement.

Matt Tavares

ISBN: 9780763641375

Publisher's Synopsis:

Oliver Hall loves baseball. He loves the ritual of helping out in his grandfather’s store, Hall’s Nostalgia, and he loves listening to Grandpa Hall’s innumerable baseball stories. But one day, Oliver makes a startling discovery. It seems his grandfather has kept one very special story as his own. With stunning black-and-white and sepia-tone illustrations and a heartwarming narrative, Matt Tavares portrays one man’s lifelong love of the game, and the enduring legacy he passes on to his grandchild.

MrsK's Review: Home Teams

Oliver loves Hall's Nostalgia, listening to his Grandpa's stories, baseball and the Cubs! When a customer requests an item, Oliver is sent to Granpa's storage closet. What he discovers will lead him to a discovery that he never imagined. In 1941 the Cubs were getting ready to play the Cardinals. While the Cubs were practicing,.. a game of stickball was being played outside of his Grandpa's home. What became a homerun led to once in a lifetime invitation. Yet, there was an important world event that changed the course of so many lives... America was at war!

The beauty of generational stories is what leads the next generation forward. For a time, such as this, a story of baseball could provide a thread to the weaving of a family's tapestry of life. What better journey could a Read Aloud provide?

Meet the Author:

 

Meet Matt Tavares: For his senior thesis project, Matt wrote and illustrated a story called Sebastian's Ball, which eventually became Zachary's Ball, Matt's first published picture book. Zachary's Ball went on to win a Massachusetts Book Award Honor and was named one of Yankee Magazine's 40 Classic New England Children's Books.

Since then, Matt has published eighteen more books and has won several awards, including three Parents' Choice Gold Awards, an Orbis Pictus Honor, and two ALA Notable books. His artwork has been exhibited at the Museum of American Illustration, the Brandywine River Museum, and the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art.

When Matt's not working in his studio on his latest book project, he travels the country speaking (and drawing) at schools, libraries, conferences, and bookstores. He has presented at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Eric Carle Museum, the White House Easter Egg Roll, and he's even done a few book signings at Fenway Park. Matt lives in Maine with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters.

Dr. Ben Carson

ISBN: 9781737868415

Publishers Synopsis:

Why America Matters is a children's book about the Judeo-Christian values of America and its founding, and the importance of the Four Pillars of the American Cornerstone Institute: Faith, Liberty, Community, Life. Through rhymes and colorful illustrations, readers understand how our founding values continue with today's patriotic Americans.

"Does America Matter?"

MrsK's Review: 

It is with great hope that I've included this "much needed" American read-aloud. In a time, such as this, our young learners must have a grounding about our country. Dr. Carson has created America's story into an accessible understanding about the values that laid the foundation of our Constitution, Bill of Rights, National Holidays, and our American Symbols. Our American Story cannot be told without the common thread of values. Faith, liberty, community, and life are the essence of our Nation. Most 4th of July parades remind us about the hope, the value of life, and the essential "to-die-for" liberties that each generation before us protected. America didn't become a great nation without the values that mattered most in the hearts of the United States citizens. It's time for us to plant seeds about our Nation's goodness and truth about that which America changed.

Meet the Author:

Benjamin Solomon "Ben" Carson, Sr., M.D. is an American neurosurgeon and the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States by President George W. Bush in 2008.

Lindsay Currie

ISBN: 9781728259536

Publisher's Synopsis:

Crack the codes. Find the treasure. Escape the house. From the acclaimed author of Scritch Scratch and What Lives in the Woods comes a action-packed adventure novel about three friends who team up to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1950's funhouse. Twelve-year-old Sarah Greene wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends, West, and Hannah. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose your house bad...until now. Sarah feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a treasure rumored to be hidden in the walls of an abandoned funhouse. According to legend, Hans, Stefan, and Karl Stein were orphaned at eight years old and lived with different families until they were able to reunite as adults. Their dream was to build the most epic funhouse in existence. They wanted their experience to be more than mirror mazes and optical illusions, so they not only created elaborate riddles and secret passages, but they also claimed to have hidden a treasure inside the funhouse. Once in, Sarah, West, and Hannah realize the house is unlike any escape room they've attempted. There are challenges, yes, but they feel personal. Like the triplets knew who would get in. It seems impossible, but so does everything about the house. As soon as they're in she immediately worries that attempting the funhouse is a bad idea, but Sarah has no choice but to continue, since her future is at stake.

MrsK's Review: Gr5-8 Mystery

Meet the Delta's, Sarah, West, and Hannah middle school friends who seek the thrill of breaking through the Locked Rooms in their area's Escape Rooms. Knowing which clues will unlock the escape room in record time is what the Deltas have been "honing" since the first room they went to. To be on the board as an "escape master" is worth every moment of trials and error. 

Escape rooms isn't just solving a mystery by locating clues... lasers can set off alarms or unlock doors. Moving quickly almost always creates chaos. 

When Sarah's dad becomes bedridden, her family makes do, at least until the eviction notice is delivered. Has something terrible turned into a "quest" to find a solution that removes all the pain? Well, that's exactly what happens for Sarah. 

In an escape room, everyone's strengths must be "honed" to exact precision. Hannah has balance and an adventurous spirit without fear.  West has the wisdom of deciphering riddles, as well as excellent recall, his ability to recall also means that he has many moments of "random" facts because everything he sees is etched in his memory. Sarah knows numbers, patterns, and that there is only one right answer in solving any puzzle.

In an abandoned house, in which every room is a new puzzle, will the Delta's find the hidden treasure? Can Sarah save their home and remain living in their town? Will they survive or die like the legend suggests? Delta's don't give up!

I don't know if you've been an Escape Room, but I know that this book will provide much needed experience in how to look for clues, how "not" to be too focused on time and more focused on what the room is hiding... with plenty of "twists & turns," this book is one that keeps you reading beyond the end of a chapter...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

   

   

Lindsay Currie is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of mysteries for young readers. Her most recent titles are It Found Us and The Mystery of Locked Rooms. She grew up on Nancy Drew and loves a good mystery. Bonus points if it's spooky! When she's not writing, Lindsay can generally be found looking for an adventure of her own. She loves researching the forgotten history in her city, Chicago, taking long walks with her family, and as pretty much everyone knows . . . Disney World!

Derek Fridolfs

ISBN: 9781338166361

Publisher's Synopsis:

The follow-up to the bestselling hit Study Hall of Justice! Clark Kent is thrilled when he receives an invite to a spring break academic retreat. After taking down the villains of Ducard Academy the previous year, going back to life on the farm was a bit dull. Better yet, his friends Bruce and Diana have been invited there, too! What better way to spend spring break than with old friends (Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn) and new ones like Arthur Curry (Aquaman), Barry Allen (the Flash), and Vic Stone (Cyborg)?

When Clark arrives at Camp Evergreen he makes new friends, reconnects with old ones, and nothing seems weird at all! Well, that is until kids start disappearing... One by one... Plus, there's a lake monster, bigfoot has been spotted, there are reports of a boogeyman, and there may or may not be a UFO crashed into the lake. Clark, Bruce, and Diana will have to re-assemble the Junior Detective - er- Criminal Investigation Unit, in an all-new, supernatural adventure!

"It would be a crime not to join us..."

MrsK's Review: GN Grades 2-3+

When the young Clark Kent gets an invitation to the Evergreen Adventure Camp, he isn't that thrilled since he never has attended a camp before. His academic scores provided this camp experience for spring break. Now that CK has accepted the invite, he learns that many of those with special identities will be there as well. Will the camp be worth a week of his time, or will it be a rotten week in nature without his cell phone.

Superheroes aren't always those who "go along" with the rules. Even though they might be... well, super intelligent... they aren't necessarily ready for camp leaders who do not answer their questions. The daily routines, the friendly competition, the prescribed activities, and the mysterious disappearance of campers.

If a book could be a surprise, this is the one for every DC comic fan. Filled with journal entries, great black/white sketches, humorous discussions, as well as... a mystery to solve! Every reader knows the thrill of a "page-turner," usually your heart races and you just can't quit reading. What if a page-turner is such a fun experience that you don't want it to end? 

I'm so excited to share this with my grands & great-grands... and every learner... educator... and parent...

Check it out... give it as a gift... just don't let it leave your personal library... it's a keeper!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Derek Fridolfs has worked professionally as a writer, inker, cover & sequential artist for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Boom, IDW, and a majority of comic companies the past 20 years.
#1 New York Times Best Selling Writer for the DC Secret Hero Society book series through SCHOLASTIC. And Eisner Nominated co-writer of Batman: Li'l Gotham at DC.

He's also written for such titles as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Clarence, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Teen Titans Go! Dexter's Laboratory, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The New Animated Adventures, Batman Arkham City, Batman Arkham Unhinged, Adventures of Superman, Sensation Comics Wonder Woman, Justice League Beyond and many more.

  

MrsK's Review: Family Read-Alouds (all ages)

 

Kirk Cameron

"As seasons change, you will grow."

As You Grow: ISBN: 9781955550291

Wonderfully crafted quick statements about growing up to be the best you can be. With truthful wisdom, this story unfolds with topics for discussions, such as: kindness; brokenness; courage; compassion; gentleness and generosity. Simple sentences are supported with delightful illustrations by Juan Moreno. This a must read-aloud at home... in the classroom... and at library Storytimes.

"When you aren't being a great friend... what should you do?"

Pride Comes Before the Fall: ISBN: 9781955550390

 Valor is the best athlete, yet when he gets to the Great Raka Rapid Race, everyone already has a partner. Why wouldn't the others be excited to be his partner? Right before the race begins, Kevin showed up without a partner. Valor can't believe that Kevin would become his partner choice, it wouldn't matter anyway since it's his strength that will win the race... or so Valor thought. Valor will learn that everyone has unique strengths. This river race is enhanced with authentically comical illustrations by Steve Crespo. Get ready for the thrill of a "ride" into pure fun!

These books are well crafted, beautiful-engaging illustrations, exceptional story lines, as well as educating/reinforcing character strengths, values, weaknesses, and truths. These titles are a must for families who have story time as a treasured priority. Any Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle should gift these books for birthdays, Christmas, or at Easter. For educators and homeschoolers, it is so important to have books that will engage and educate the strengths of a learner's character... please consider these well-crafted stories. Find out more at this link

Seasoned Readers Hot August Nights!

 

Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN: 9780063080799

Publisher's Synopsis:

Summer Sullivan, the youngest founding member of Elm Creek Quilts, has spent the last two years pursuing a master’s degree in history at the University of Chicago. Her unexpected return home to the celebrated quilter’s retreat is met with delight but also concern from her mother, Gwen; her best friend, Sarah; master quilter Sylvia; and her other colleagues—and rightly so. Stymied by writer’s block, Summer hasn’t finished her thesis, and she can’t graduate until she does.

Elm Creek Manor offers respite while Summer struggles to meet her extended deadline. She finds welcome distraction in organizing an exhibit of antique quilts as a fundraiser to renovate Union Hall, the 1863 Greek Revival headquarters of the Waterford Historical Society. But Summer’s research uncovers startling facts about Waterford’s past, prompting unsettling questions about racism, economic injustice, and political corruption within their community, past and present.

As Summer’s work progresses, quilt lovers and history buffs praise the growing collection, but affronted local leaders demand that she removes all references to Waterford’s troubled history. As controversy threatens the exhibit’s success, Summer fears that her pursuit of the truth might cost the Waterford Historical Society their last chance to save Union Hall. Her only hope is to rally the quilting community to her cause.

The Museum of Lost Quilts is a warm and deeply moving story about the power of collective memory. With every fascinating quilt she studies, Summer finds her passion for history renewed—and discovers a promising new future for herself.

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction Series

Summer is returning to her Pennsylvania hometown and her treasured Elm Creek Manor. She is sure that the ladies at Elm Quilt Manor will help her move beyond her self-doubts. The realization that her doctorate program was creating doubts, struggles, writer's block, and stress beyond what she could deal with... so why not spend some time with her mother, the quilting ladies, and the summer quilting groups. Hopefully, she will get her doctorate paper finished before its due date. A small, yet desperate inkling of hope was bubbling forth once the taxi entered the turn off. Will she find what she is needing at Elm Creek manor?

The Waterford Historical Society has been working hard to restore the Union Hall in spite of Gregory Krolich's. Summer learns that the Loyal Union Sampler could help the society get Union Hall on the National Register of Historic Places. Upstairs the society has proposed opening a gallery to the public as a quilt exhibit that showcases "intriguing ties to local history." This could be the revenue source that would let the society keep Union Hall. What is needed is a curator... and Summer is more than qualified. Will she be able to locate, verify, arrange and write the history cards for the historical quilts and finish her doctorate work?

With the trusted "storyteller" craft that Jennifer is known for, this book has beautiful details about the art of quilting. Jennifer's historical details consistently add a unique and endearing depth to her stories. With an excitement for a new Elm Creek book, I eagerly began the summer in my newly designed garden room... snuggled in with an iced green/peach tea and began my summer journey back to Elm Creek. What I quickly discovered was the bonus pages in which Summer writes the historic object placards for each quilt. Those historical additions were fascinating and inspiring. Thank you, Jennifer, for never disappointing your readers! *Jennifer took a break from Elm Creek and began writing Historical Fiction about the everyday lives of extraordinary women throughout the centuries... be sure to read those books in which history of women who have walked before us can still reach across the ages to inspire and ignite an inner strength that is truly dignified with graciousness.

Read on....

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."

Mechthild Glaser

ISBN:9781250144232

Publisher's Synopsis:

Amy Lennox doesn't know quite what to expect when she and her mother pick up and leave Germany for Scotland, heading to her mother's childhood home of Lennox House on the island of Stormsay.

Amy's grandmother, Lady Mairead, insists that Amy must read while she resides at Lennox House—but not in the usual way. It turns out that Amy is a book jumper, able to leap into a story and interact with the world inside. As thrilling as Amy's new power is, it also brings danger: someone is stealing from the books she visits, and that person may be after her life. Teaming up with fellow book jumper Will, Amy vows to get to the bottom of the thefts—at whatever cost.

"The monster had slept for many, many years...

... now the time had come for the monster to open its eyes once more."

MrsK's Review: Fantasy YA

Amy Lennox and her mother, Alexis, quickly gathered some items as they headed back to her mother's homeland of Scotland. Amy knew little about her mother's life other than she had left home when she was pregnant and seventeen. This sudden departure meant that she would have to decide to leave her books, only her beloved Momo and Pride and Prejudice would accompany her on this journey.

Alexis has experienced a jarring break-up. All she knew was that it was time to return to Stormsay. As soon as they were at the gate of Stormsay, Alexis knew the next steps were bringing her back to a life she did not want to return to... yet here she was.

For Amy standing in the hallway of her grandmother's mansion was surreal. Leaving the small flat that she called home, her fake-friends, and a completely humiliating school year had left a hole inside. So being on this journey to her mother's home, which she now realized was on a small Scottish island and was her grandmother's mansion... a grandmother she didn't even know was alive, Amy pondered why her mother had kept all of this hidden from her. 

Lady Mairead is Amy's grandmother. She is proud of the family name, mansion, and the "very special library" on Stormsay. Some of the texts are unique, some were rescued from the Library of Alexandria, and most are considered the greatest classics ever written. Alexis only said one thing to her mother... "That you give her a completely harmless children's book... where absolutely nothing can happen to her." What does that mean?

Deep, deep underground... Amy steps into an enormous bibliophile's cavern of dark wood, scrolls, leather books, and the smell of old paper. Here was a place full of "whispered words... the lure of stories waiting to be read.... and the rustle of promise that hung in the air." 

Glen is the teacher of the Lennox and Macalister families. Amy would be given lessons? Right away she is led to a bookcase in "a far corner." It would be a red leather book that cries out to Amy, "Read me!"

There are two other learners in the library, William and Betsy Macalister. Will they be friends or foes?

Betsy Macalister is quite stuck up. Does not like anything about Amy. Giving her a chance is not an option for her. She would do anything to cause Amy grief... anything? To what length will she let her prejudgments sabotage Amy's time on the island?

Will Macalister isn't as despondent to Amy as his sister. He's not sure if she is a foe or just a girl that has arrived at the worst time. Amy just might the one who can help Will locate his missing friend. If he watches her, maybe... maybe she might be the one in whom many mysteries could be solved. Can he trust her? After all, being a book jumper is not for the faint of heart!

With all fantasies it must contain a well-woven story thread. Perfected word choice must be enticing. Characters must come to life. This story will surpass any reader's expectations. Yet, I warn you... you will want a sequel! I must add that I echo Amy's first response as she enters the Secret Library... I too would ponder "how many adventures were hidden in paper and in ink... how many great love stories.... how many epic battles!"

"Do you vow that whenever you read you will strive to protect stories...

and to do nothing that might destroy or alter them?"

Meet the Author:

   Mechthild Gläser was born in Essen in the summer of 1986. She lives and works in Ruhrgebiet, where she is dedicated to her studies and now and then dances ballet badly – but only when nobody is watching. She started writing at an early age, and her laptop is still on the rose-coloured desk pad on which she wrote her first stories. She finds inspiration everywhere, but best with a cup of peppermint tea.

Kristin Harmel

ISBN:9781982198435

Publisher's Synopsis:

At thirty-six, Hope McKenna-Smith is no stranger to bad news. She lost her mother to cancer, her husband left her, and her bank account is nearly depleted. Her own dreams of becoming a lawyer long gone, she’s running a failing family bakery on Cape Cod and raising a troubled preteen.

Now, Hope’s beloved French-born grandmother Mamie is drifting away in a haze of Alzheimer’s. But in a rare moment of clarity, Mamie realizes that unless she tells Hope about the past, the secrets she has held on to for so many years will soon be lost forever. Tantalizingly, she reveals mysterious snippets of a tragic history in WWII Paris. Armed with a scrawled list of names, Hope heads to France to uncover a seventy-year-old mystery.

What follows is “an immersive and evocative tale of generations struggling to survive” (Publishers Weekly) as Hope pieces together her grandmother’s past bit by bit. Uncovering horrific tales of the Holocaust, she realizes the astonishing will of her grandmother to endure in a world gone mad. And to reunite two lovers torn apart by terror, all she’ll need is a dash of courage, and the belief that God exists everywhere, even in cake.

"Life changes you, even if you don't realize it while it's happening."

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction

For Hope, September has arrived in Cape Cod. She has inherited her family's North Star Bakery which became her home after three life-changing events. Baking comes naturally for Hope, it also provides the much-needed peace while she adjusts to all of her life changes. Her daughter Annie, well she continues to make doubtful choices since the divorce.

Matt is the regional vice-president of the local bank. He is also Hope's ex-high school boyfriend. For Hope he is a "comfortable" grounding force. Yet, Matt continues to hope that one day they might become more than friends.

Gavin is a handyman. Someone who can help in your time of need... when Hope is need of someone to fix a water disaster... she meets Gavin. Is seems as if he is always at hand whenever Hope is dealing with some type of emergency. Can a handyman be a "fixer" of needs that aren't just items?

Annie is Hope's daughter. Divorce has totally unraveled her life. As a seventh grader, life is hard enough without a divorce rocking your foundation. Will there be any way for Annie to find what she needs, considering her "icy veneer" has quaked a wide gap between her and her mom.

Mamie is Hope's grandmother. The baker who taught her everything. Dementia took a turn for the worse after her daughter died and now, she lives in a care facility. Annie has started seeing her without telling her mother, yet when Mamie keeps calling her Leona, Annie had to ask her mom who Leona was? Rose is one name that Mamie remembers, of course her daughter's name remains clearly etched within her mind, Josephine the one she failed. Alzheimer's "grabs the memories" which once were a lifeline to all you knew. Rose knows that it is time, time to speak truth.

"I must know what happened to my family."

When one of those "clarity" days, a very special day so long ago, Rose wrote down seven names. Today would be the day that she would ask Hope to go to Paris and find out the truth about what happened to her family. Would Hope forgive her once she learns the truth of her life before America?

Life isn't always as it seems. Children never have a complete understanding about their parents. Every one of us is uniquely individualized with our own versions of childhood. Yet oftentimes there's a painful back story...  a moment of complete joy... waves that echo through time... shadows of days gone by. There is always another thread to our stories of life... and within those threads there are always uncompleted dreams of what we could have been. This book can soothe and heal that which you've been waiting for... a treasure of a woman's life that no one could have known.

Excellent storytelling about life worth living and hoping for that which is blessed,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling and #1 international bestselling author of THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES, THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into numerous languages and sold all over the world.

Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She travels frequently to France for book research (and—let’s be honest—for the pastries and wine) and writes a book a year for Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster.

Brave Books

Freedom Island

Publisher's Synopsis:

Our mission is to be the brand parents trust with their children's imaginations by creating a world, characters, and stories that not only enthrall them but build their character while doing so.

MrsK's Review: Family Read-Alouds (all ages)

These books are well crafted, beautiful-engaging illustrations, exceptional story lines, as well as educating/reinforcing character strengths, values, weaknesses, and truths. These titles are a must for families who have story time as a treasured priority. Any Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle should gift these books for birthdays, Christmas, or at Easter. For educators and homeschoolers, it is so important to have books that will engage and educate the strengths of a learner's character... please consider these well-crafted stories. Find out more at this link

 

  

Summer-Time Explorations: K-HS

  

Are you ready for a great read?

Nathan & Joy Clarkson

ISBN: 9780736982498

Publisher's Synopsis:

This celebration of the power of imagination will remind children young and old of the unlimited possibility and potential of creative play.

When you were young, what did you dream of doing? Riding high atop a dragon? Hurtling through space on a rocket ship? Unearthing an island treasure? Sailing on a shimmering sea?

Sibling storytellers Nathan and Joy Clarkson (children of bestselling author and educator Sally Clarkson) invite you and your kids to hang out with them in the clubhouse, a place of boundless creativity where the only limit is your own imagination. Follow along with a fictional boy and girl who turn their play structure into an airplane, a submarine, a cave, a castle, and so much more!

This timeless tale dedicated to the simple, oft-forgotten pleasures of imaginative play will awake wonder in your children and inspire them to dream up their own big adventures!

"What will the clubhouse be today?"

MrsK's Review: Family Read-Aloud, Fantasy

This book is a perfected read... ponder... and discuss picture book. Will it be an airplane... a castle... or maybe a submarine? Simple imaginations that could lead your family into great journal entries and family experiences. Could you design a family clubhouse in your front room... a spare room... somewhere outside for the summer? What about drafting a clubhouse each night in a family journal?

Unusual books can be an amazing opportunity of inspiration... take the time to discover a family read aloud and extend it into your own imagination...

MrsK

Meet the Authors:

 Nathan Clarkson is an award winning actor, best-selling author, indie filmmaker, podcast philosopher, and member of the well-known and beloved Clarkson Family.

"At around 10 or 11, Nathan, our epic adventurer wrote about it in a poem, “What will our Clubhouse be today?” Clay found the floppy disc on which the poem was stored. My two youngest and most extraverted kids, who played and pretended for hours and hours as children, got together to polish and finish the writing of their wonderful book, The Clubhouse: Open the Door to Limitless Adventure.

People are always asking us, “How did you do it? How did you inspire your children to be authors, movie makers, composers, college instructors, podcasters?” This was the way—imagination, nightly discussions over great meals, a close, delightful relationships every day. This is how their hearts, minds and lives were shaped into adults who could imagine influencing their worlds for good. Nathan, Joy and I recorded a podcast today to celebrate these ideas and this wonderful new book." 

https://sallyclarkson.com/

Laura Caputo-Wickham

ISPN: 9781784985783

Publisher's Synopsis:

In 1940, the Germans invaded the Netherlands, and Corrie ten Boom and her family helped to hide as many Jewish people as possible. They even had a secret room built in her bedroom. Corrie and her sister were caught by the German army and sent to a concentration camp, where God made sure they always had a Bible to read and plenty of opportunities to share the good news about Jesus. Corrie’s trust in God gave her the strength to go on until the war ended. From then on, Corrie talked about her life to big crowds, saying, “There’s no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still".

"You are my hiding place..."

MrsK's Review: Gr.1-2 Biography

As an educator, I had to get this simple biography. Right before C19, one of the books that was being banned in classrooms was Corrie's account of the Holocaust, The Hiding Place. Silencing the voices of those who have walked before us steals the opportunities of critical discussions with the next generation. Why would we want generations to forget history? The bravery and courage of so many during some of the world's worst experiences provides insights and values of character.

Within this appropriate biography, Corrie and her family gave all to save Jewish families from the inhumane actions of extermination. This book highlights the faith of the ten Boom's, as well as the value in helping those in need. There are extra learning opportunities such as: maps, age-appropriate discussion questions, a time-line, and a brief biographical page of Corrie. Life and death is not a forbidden topic... how would a generation that doesn't experience death become prepared if, as guardians, we choose to keep reality from them. Truth is the best educator...

Please share this book in your homes... read, discuss, and learn more with them. Value them and their need in knowing how "to cope" when death is the final chapter of life.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Laura Caputo-Wickham is a children’s author from Rome, now living in Kent with her husband, James, two young daughters and a cat. In her spare time, Laura is involved with her church’s toddler group and helps the children in her local school with their reading.

Travis D Peterson

ISBN: 9788269219609

Publisher's Synopsis:

Winner of the 2022 Northern Lights Book Awards in the Concept Book category! The 2022 Eric Hoffer Award recognizes the significance of Ada and the Helpers Grand Prize Finalist First Horizon Award Finalist (for debut authors)Honorable Mention in Children's Book Category" Be bold! Be brave! Let you be you... and let's help others, too!" That's Ada's motto. Ada is a dancing, deaf fox with cochlear implants who loves to help others. On her way to dance in a talent show one day, she meets three other creatures who are each facing a physical challenge or disability of their own. She decides to help each of her new friends to see past their challenges and discover their natural, God-given strengths. But can they help her in return? Ada's a bit nervous about the talent show! Will she be able to hear the music clearly? Will everyone laugh at her? Pick up a copy of Ada and the Helpers today and follow Ada and her new friends on an exciting new adventure that inspires friendship, helping others, inclusion, and finding your strengths.

"...she paid attention to noises far and near...

She danced to every sound...

She swayed along to music from the leaves..."

MrsK's Review: Read-To Gr. K-2 Friendship Fantasy

Meet Ada, she is a very clever young fox who loves to "tip-toe, skip, and spin." Her dancing joy is contagious... yet, she has a challenge... she is deaf and uses special hearing devices.

As Ada follows the path to a talent show, she meets various friends that have difficulties with their sight, their speech, or is unable to fly. By the time she reached the talent show... well let's say her new friends were there.

Friendships are not a new topic for picture books, not only is this the sweetest story about various challenges, it is a celebration about unique individual gifts and talents. Every two-page layout has sign language for young readers to learn. Melissa Fischer has created delightful characters with strong personalities portrayed in every detailed illustration.

Please share this "joyful" discovery... there's so much to do... "Let's help others... too!"

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Born & raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, Travis D. Peterson grew up building tree forts and exploring trails in the woods, riding waves, catching fish in the ocean and lightning bugs in the night air.

As a young adult, he worked as a bookseller and spent way too much money on stacks of books while pursuing degree in Computer Graphics Technology from Purdue University. Most of his experience is in print design, winning multiple awards from the Religion Communicators Council for his work.

Travis currently lives in Bergen, Norway where his wife, Anne Berit, is from. They have two brave and wonderful kids—one of which has profound hearing loss and has received bilateral cochlear implants that help her to hear. Travis' books for children feature characters with cochlear implants to bring awareness.

Elizabeth Raum

ISBN: 9781953743145

Publisher's Synopsis:

The Kentucky frontier was a beautiful place, but it was also a dangerous one. Jemima Boone and John Gass often heard wolves howling, bears growling, and snakes slithering through the tall grasses. There was no store, no school, no doctor at Fort Boonesborough. The settlers were on their own to deal with whatever threats arose. On a sunny summer day in July 1776, the crisis they faced was a kidnapping. . . Based on a true event.

"America was not built on fear..."

MrsK's Review: Gr2-3 Historical Fiction

This re-enactment of four days in the lives of frontier families in Fort Boonesborough, 1776, is woven between two brave teens. Just as with all the tweens and teens, they had numerous chores and they knew the value of each other and the protection of the frontier fort, as well as Daniel Boone.

John Gass is turning thirteen in a few months. His dream is to "prove" he is ready to go hunting with the men at the fort, which of course means he needs a rifle to be his birthday gift. If only his father would realize that he is ready to take his place as a young adult instead of a child. He is a quick learner, has keen awareness of his surroundings, and is loyal to every family member at the Fort. His best friend is Daniel Boone's daughter.

Jemima Boone is one year older than John. On the three week trek to Kentucky, John and her herded the cows on the "rough-cut" trail. Watching the youngest was one of her chores, she enjoyed times with them but now that she's older what she would like is a "bit of time" on her own. Yesterday, she had been herding the cows and her bare foot got a "cane-stab,"  which caused her much pain and a slowness in her walking. That's when she noticed the fort's dug-out canoe. That's the moment she knew that her foot would feel so much better in the coolness of the water and she could have a grand adventure of her own!

Jemima asked her father if her and her two friends, Betsy and Fanny, could go out in the canoe. Daniel thought it was a perfect day for a canoe ride, if Nathan would go along with the girls for protection. He warned her to stay away from the northern bank because that was where the Shawnee had their villages.

When Nathan didn't show up, the girls decided they could handle the short canoe ride before they had to help get supper ready. The girls were finally free from the never-ending chores. Will they be safe? The adventure begins...

Not only is this a delightful story about choices made that are disobedient to the wisdom of parents, it is a courageous story about the history and wisdom from those who have journeyed before us. What history passes on to the next generation is more valuable than any worldly offering. Life will always have moments of survival... those moments are learned from the stories and history of those who walked the path before us. This is a must read in any classroom and/or homeschool. There are pages of resources at the end of the book for further learning and referencing.

As a side note, I'm very grateful to this author. We are related to the Boone's and this novel is now a valued resource for the generations that will be walking life's path after me...

MrsK

"...America was built of courage,

on imagination, and an unbeatable

determination to do the job at hand."

Harry S. Truman 

Meet the Author:

   

As a child, I loved writing reports. For me, doing research has always been a kind of treasure hunt. My treasures are the facts that create pictures of past worlds and faraway places. I've put those facts into nearly 100 biographies, histories, and science books for young readers. I've also written two picture books and several interactive adventures that place you, the reader, inside the story. I hope that all my books lead you to imagine yourself in some intriguing place among fascinating people. Every book should take readers on new adventures in this big, beautiful world of ours.

                                                                       Aimee Lucido

ISBN: 9780358040828

Publisher's Synopsis:

In this innovative middle grade novel, coding and music take center stage as new girl Emmy tries to find her place in a new school.

"Did you know there's a language called Shakespeare?"

MrsK's Review: Gr. 4-6 Reality Fiction

Emmy is a 6th grader who has moved to California from Wisconsin. When you are in MS, clothing matters... a circle of friends is crucial... social acceptance plays havoc in all areas of your life. Music "swims in her bloodstream," yet playing an instrument... well it's not a talent that she has acquired. Her father is a composer and her mother has a voice that has been heard at Carnegie Hall. What she does have a talent for became clear once she met her computer teacher. Could she really become a "coder?"

Ms. Delaney is the computer-science teacher. She believes that writing code "is not the same as writing an essay... but... in time... it will flow out of you like you were born with it." For Emmy and Abigail this class will make all the difference in their MS days.

Abigail is one of the singers that decided to try the coding class. It's not easy for her given that her friends are all in the choir class. Her secret began during the summer when she learned some coding and became hooked.

As Emmy is learning the languages of Boolean and Java, she realizes that her coding "voice" is harmonizing with her musicality. Her school days might be long and hidden, yet with the computer... her coding is like her father's composing... it feels natural... it resonates with in her... as if she's at a piano instead of a computer.

This book is crafted with poetic verse... coding languages that sound like songs... humor... finding your worth... and a musical scale of character.

Enjoy,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

   

An artist, a horseback rider, a musician, an office worker, a chef… and an author, apparently. I had always loved words: big words, funny words, word games, word puzzles, alphabet soup, you name it. And as a freshman in college I (almost by accident) became a crossword constructor, too, publishing my first crossword in Brown’s puzzle week in the New York Times. And by the time I was a junior in college, I formalized that love of words by declaring a second concentration in literary arts, simply because I had taken so many of the required classes already, just for fun, that I figured I may as well receive a degree for it.

Kazu Kibuishi

ISBN: 9780545828659

Publisher's Synopsis:

The highly anticipated, thrilling conclusion to Kazu Kibuishi's #1 New York Times bestselling series! After her confrontation with Ikol, Emily finally understands the stone's power and what she must do to defend Alledia from the shadows. As she travels to Typhon to help her mom and Navin, Prince Trellis returns to the Kingdom of the Elves to save his countrymen -- and confront the fraud who has seized power in the absence of a king. The threat of darkness follows all Stonekeepers closely, and it will take the strength of both new friends and old foes to conquer it... and survive.

MrsK's Review: GN Fantasy Series/#9 MS

If you have read the Amulet series... you understand how hard it is to get a copy from your library. So for all the fans of Aumlet... here is a pre-view of book #9: Waverider!

"Every action creates a ripple in time and space..."

Emily has learned the true power of the stone. Defending Alledia must happen, the Stonekeepers are in such danger from the darkness. Emily is committed to locating her family and return to her home. But, first she must find the courage to overcome Ikol's influence.

The New Guardian Council has been in training. Could the void be an avenue between the worlds? Ronin believes that the amulet allows the Stonekeepers to travel between alternate realities. Has she discovered the truth? Will Trellis live to reclaim his seat as the King of the Kingdom of Elves or will he find a new calling?

How will the Amulet series end? It's up to you to complete the journey...

MrsK

"...What we do here resonates far beyond

our reach and vision."

Meet the Author:

Kazu Kibuishi (born 1978) is an American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper. He has also written (drawn) the Amulet series. The webcomic artist and noted critic Scott McCloud has said that some of Kazu Kibuishi's work is so beautifully drawn that "it hurts my hands when I look at it".

Gordon Korman

ISBN: 9781338629156

Publisher's Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of RESTART, the story of a middle-school "band of brothers" -- five friends who need to stick together after they set up a hideout in an abandoned bomb shelter and discover that the only way to be true friends is to reveal their secrets and help each other out. The morning after Hurricane Leo rips through the town of Canaan, residents awaken to widespread destruction -- power outages, downed branches, uprooted trees, broken windows and damaged roofs. Four eighth-grade friends -- Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and CJ -- meet to explore the devastation. The tight-knit group is dismayed to find that Evan has brought along a stray -- Ricky, who is new to their town and school, and doesn’t have any friends yet. Ricky is the one to find the strange trap door that’s appeared in the middle of the woods -- the door to an old bomb shelter, unearthed by the hurricane. Inside, the boys find a completely intact underground lair, complete with electricity, food, and entertainment (in the form of videocassettes). The boys vow to keep the place’s existence to themselves. Things soon get tense. Some bad locals keep snooping around. And what started out as a fun place to escape soon becomes a serious refuge for one of the kids who is trying to avoid an abusive home situation. In order to save the shelter, the friends must keep its secret... and in order to save themselves, they’re going to have to share their individual secrets, and build the safest place they can.

MrsK's Review: MS Reality Fiction

Meet Evan, he lives with his brother, Luke, and his grandparents. Hurricane Leo has just "blew" through their town of Canaan. Which creates even more chaos since the new kid in school needed a place to stay after a tree crashed into his bedroom. Since school is closed for the town to clean up and make repairs, Evan is anxious to meet up with his friends and do some exploring. Of course, that means that Ricky has to "tag along" with him. Walking outside is crazy... debris is all over, huge old trees are uprooted, and one whole side of his grandparents house is purple from a "bombardment" of blueberries!

Ricky just arrived in Canaan right before 8th grade starts. He doesn't have any friends yet, so staying with Evan could be a good thing. Then again, some of Evan's friends don't like that he is extremely smart. He skipped one full grade when he entered Canaan. That never is a "cool" thing in Middle School. His mom works with Evan's grandmother so that is why the day after "Leo" demolishes the area he is happy to follow Evan around.

Mitchell and CJ are waiting at the trail before the woods. CJ's newest "death-defier" skateboarding stunt has scrapped his face. Mitchell has many OCD moments, especially when it comes to the new kid. Unexpected twists are not ok for Mitchell. When Jason arrives, he questions why Ricky is with Evan... isn't it suppose to be a secret? Especially since his girlfriend, Janelle, wasn't allowed at the secret location. How will that work out?

Louder than loud... Jaeger's "unmuffled" car rumbles down the street toward them. Jaeger is the town's meanest creep. Why Evan's brother Luke is hanging with him is scary. Luke knows that Jaeger is no good and his influence is changing Luke. That's not ok, Luke knows the pains they both have battled since their parents were taken to rehab.

It seemed like everyone was showing up at the woods. If Evan and his friends thought their secret place was in danger... wait until they enter the woods and Ricky discovers a bigger secret. One is an amazing place to hang, the other secret will be life threatening.

When Korman's story-crafting brings humor... mysterious adventures... and very real problems together there is no "putting" the book aside. Expect late night page-turning... this book is one to pass along to all MS readers... a defendant "read-it-forward!"

MrsK 

Meet the Author:

  

Korman wrote his first book, "This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall", when he was 12 years old, for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English. He later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in "The Sixth Grade Nickname Game", wherein Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher.
Korman moved to New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While in New York, he met his future wife; they now live in Long Island with their three children. He has published more than 50 books.