Spring Retreat for Seasoned Readers

  

Sara Nisha Adams

ISBN: 9780063025288

Publisher's Synopsis:

Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing after losing his beloved wife. He shops every Wednesday, goes to Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who hides in her room reading while he spends his evenings watching nature documentaries.

Aleisha is a bright but anxious teenager working at the local library for the summer when she discovers a crumpled-up piece of paper in the back of To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a list of novels that she’s never heard of before. Intrigued, and a little bored with her slow job at the checkout desk, she impulsively decides to read every book on the list, one after the other. As each story gives up its magic, the books transport Aleisha from the painful realities she’s facing at home.

When Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list… hoping that it will be a lifeline for him too. Slowly, the shared books create a connection between two lonely souls, as fiction helps them escape their grief and everyday troubles and find joy again.

"Everyone needs to ask for help sometimes..."

MrsK's Review: Reality Fiction

Meet Mukesh, a gentle man who is in a season without his beloved Naina. Not really alone since his daughters have lives that are full. Yet, there is a cloak of loneliness that covers him in aloneness. Until the day he chooses to step forward. Those steps lead him to the small library in his community. Naina's books kept her company, he never took the time to "enter" into her world of books... maybe it's time?

Meet Aleisha, she has taken a summer job at the Harrow Road library.  Her brother, Aiden, always claimed that this library was peaceful, the people were "endlessly fascinating," and that he could find a "sense of quiet companionship" within its endless shelves of journeys. Currently, her "Mum shift" was all she did outside of the library job. Aiden and she shared the care of their mother, well truth be told Aiden did the most for her Mum, he always had.

Meet Priya, who is carrying on her grandmother's legacy. Naina had encouraged her desire for good books. Now, her grandfather is opening his life to her as he discovers his relationship with her. Is there an avenue for them to grow together?

Meet Nilakshi, Naina's friend. It's been so long since she had seen Mukesh. Out of concern, she has decided that it was time for her to move beyond her grief and reach out to Mukesh. Companionship is valued when grief has moved on. 

Meet Indira, Izzy, Chris, and Zac those whose life will become interwoven by the book list and the "Big Library Get-Together." Their journey repairs the foundation for the Harrow Road Library. When a community center, an area's hub, seems to be "outdated" how can those who value its existence keep its doors open for tomorrow's readers?

Once in a while a book is in hand, a book that proclaims, "Here is a journey... crying open me... experience the journey within these pages." To be read by those who know the power of sharing... "in case you need it!"

MrsK

With a "quiet" gentleness of uniqueness, 

this book list weaves its characters' lives through their own reviews of these titles.

 As a book reviewer, I applaud Karen Hawkins for the crafting of this endearing journey.

" A Bookish Wonderland"

Meet the Author:

Sara is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents. Her debut novel The Reading List is partly inspired by her grandfather, who lived in Wembley and immediately found a connection with his granddaughter through books.

Karen Hawkins

ISBN: 9781982195960

Publisher's Synopsis:

When an antique tin of love letters is found hidden in her family home, noted historian Tay Dove rushes home to Dove Pond to investigate. Tay is still reeling from a romantic betrayal, so she’s relieved to refocus her energies on her latest a biography of her great-great-grandmother Sarafina, a star reporter who began her career in Dove Pond in the late 19th century before abruptly leaving town.

Tay believes the letters could be the key in solving what happened, but they only add to her questions—especially when they reveal a forbidden love affair with William Day, a wild youth who took part in a notorious train robbery. Some answers might be found in eighty-year-old Rose Day’s bookshop, which doubles as a town archive, but Rose is curiously resistant to give Tay access. Just when Tay thinks she’s reached a dead end, she finds an unlikely ally in Rose’s grandson, Luke, a fellow puzzle lover. Together, they set out to uncover what really happened all those years ago…and find the truth behind a love story that could be more precious than gold.

"I'm without you, and it's as if my soul has lost its way...

I think of you and all the darkness disappears,

because you are my brightness, my light..."

MrsK's Review: Mystery

Tay is dedicated to her writing, her research, and to her love for literature. She has a PhD in history and works at a University in Boston. Yet, an unexpected circumstance derails her current assignment. When Tay learns that her sisters discovered an antique tin of love letters belonging to her great-great grandmother Sarafina Dove, she feels "called" to return to Dove Pond. With such a delightful and intriguing discovery, the allure to the possibilities of a new research project might just be the distraction she needs to refocus and begin a better path. Who wouldn't want to know more about a famous ancestor? Will Tay be able to use the Dove family "gifted" talents to discover who and why someone was writing love letters to her "married" great-great grandmother?

Rose's Bookshop is a generational bookshop in Dove Pond. Every reader knows the "calling" of an established book shop. The smell of the "welcoming" pages that greets you when the bell over the door announces that arrival of a new discovery. Rose is the perfect guardian of the town's archives. At 82, Rose is perceptive, willing to let her readers wander the shelves, can match a reader with a book that is desperately needed, and is always "turning pages of her ever-present book" at the checkout counter.

Will Tay uncover the "hidden" truth of her ancestor William Day?

Luke is Rose's grandson. Currently he has returned to Dove Pond to help Rose raise Lulu, his sister's little, yet inquisitive daughter. Luke had received a full scholarship to Georgia Tech and graduated early. Everything seemed to come easily to Luke. For the present, his leaving his career to look after his niece was an unexpected characteristic. What will he do with this new journey home?

Sarafina showed talent in New York City, she had left Dove Pond for the big city and her dream as a writer for the New York World newspaper. All that anyone could remember about her move, was that at 19, in 1897, a young lady heading to New York to become a writer was quite an extraordinary decision. After a series of reports, as an "undercover" reporter, she gained high notoriety for being likened to Nellie Bly.

William, everyone in Dove Pond in 1890, knew how William and two other men had robbed a train ending in a gun fight. All three of the men went to prison. Why would a train robber write notes to a female reporter, especially one who was married to a wealthy man?

Such a delightfully crafted story. Within these pages, a story unfolds. One in which the main character will "hone" her craft, as well as her ability to discover relationships that will fulfill her heart's desire Another that recognized that living involves taking a risk when truth sends you on a pathway that must be derailed. Courageously crafted... a reader's delight with book quotes that must be remembered,

MrsK. 

Rose's was special... "the thousands of books that waited for new homes,

all carefully selected by the meticulous curator."

Meet the Author:

 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond books are a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible.

Percival Everett

ISBN: 9780385550369

Publisher's Synopsis:

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with nuanced humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

"Waiting is a big part of a slave's life...

Waiting for demands. Waiting for food. Waiting for the ends of days.

Waiting for the just and deserved Christian reward at the end of it all."

MrsK's Review: Excellent Rendition of Huck Finn and Jim

James, a man who meets life with courage, sincerity, and determined hope. Secrets are a given part of life. For many, they learn situational translations. Some learn to read and write. Some learn to "read" others... and then there are those who secretly must do what they must do.

This journey creates a woven backstory to Twain's classic tale of Huck and Jim. What I discovered was heart-warming. Revisiting characters that had planted seeds of explorations, daily adventures, and a common understanding of "goodness" in each other. When childhood matures into adulthood, there remains a hardship against the wrongs we meet in our world. 

When Jim must leave Sadie and Lizzie, it's not a runaway that is selfish, it's a grander love that signifies a determined hope. When Jim meets Huck on the island, it's a courageous friendship that helps them survive the escape. When Jim meets with evil... that's when what matters most must be action that will bring a renewed safety. Commonality can only become grace... when we seek to do what's right, life becomes a value statement of decency. 

In life, there are some who enter into our seasons, they experience our moments that we aren't sure we can get through... that someone speaks volumes into your story... blessing or not.... they are etched within your heart. Gratitude is an aged seasoning that becomes a fondness that is lifeless...

MrsK

"I kin keep me a secret, Huck. I kin keep yo secret, too."

Meet the Author:

 There might not be a more fertile mind in American fiction today than Everett’s. In 22 years, he has written 19 books, including a farcical Western, a savage satire of the publishing industry, a children’s story spoofing counting books, retellings of the Greek myths of Medea and Dionysus, and a philosophical tract narrated by a four-year-old.

James Patterson and Dolly Parton

ISBN: 9780759554344

Publisher's Synopsis:

From America’s most beloved superstar and its greatest storyteller—a thriller about a young singer/songwriter on the rise and on the run and determined to do whatever it takes to survive.

Every song tells a story.

She’s a star on the rise, singing about the hard life behind her.

She’s also on the run. Find a future, lose a past.

Nashville is where she’s come to claim her destiny. It’s also where the darkness she’s fled might find her. And destroy her. Run, Rose, Run is a novel glittering with danger and desire—a story that only America’s #1 most beloved entertainer and its #1 bestselling author could have created.

"Is it easy... No, it ain't.

Can I fix it... No, I cain't."

MrsK's Review: Reality Fiction

Meet AnnieLee a spirited and talented songwriter. She is fleeing someone, someone who will hunt her, someone who haunts her, someone who is a dangerous reminder of a life she had to leave. As long as she can remember, she's been making melodies. Her story begins when the "dazzling" red brake lights offer her a ride to her Nashville destination.

Meet Ruthanna, one of country music's "grandest queens." She's determined to remain retired, yet her writing songs and gathering her small group of musicians into her home for her "recording" of songs is baffling since... she would never release them to the public. Would she even agree to receive another honor award at this year's Country Music Awards?

Meet Ethan, a guitarist who is grateful to be hired by Ruthanna for her "recording" sessions. Often times, Ethan, plays at Ruthanna's bar. When he hears this young girl with a borrowed guitar, he knows that Ruthanna must hear her "celestial" voice. What he isn't prepared for is the job he is given. A matter of life or death.

When AnnieLee steps into the perfect dive bar... she is determined that this will be her Nashville debut. "Will you be the one to give me my first big break?" Boldly, she has entered the Cat's Paw Saloon. Would anyone recognize that she sang for joy? This was the moment that she would "woman up and take like a man." Her life depended on it!

AnnieLee's story is a true country melody. From rags to promised riches. From a fear that causes a leap beyond faith. From a bold acceptance to an acclaimed future. However, you, the reader, interprets this story... I'm sure you will discover a melody that is endearing... 

MrsK

"But I sure ain't gonna take it lyin' down."

Meet the Authors:

 Dolly Rebecca Parton is a Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter, author, actress and philanthropist. To date, she remains one of the most successful country artists, with 25 number-one singles (a record for a female performer) and 42 top 10 country albums (more than anyone else).

 James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Blooming Spring Reads for K-YA

Spring is a wonderful time for a new book exploration!

Shirley Barber

ISBN: 780760723814

Publisher's Synopsis:

This is absolutely one of my kids' favorite books. The stories are creative and fun, but it's the excellent artwork that really sets this book above others. The pictures are richly colorful and highly detailed with plenty to look at and entertain even the most fidgety child while you read the text. The artwork in this book is simply stunning. Each picture is rich in detail and has a border that has elements of the picture reflected in it. As you read the stories, the pictures make you feel as if you are looking into Martha B. Rabbit's world. The first story is called Martha B. Rabbit and the unexpected Guests. It is about Martha and her friend Tabitha the cat preparing for a long, cold winter The second story is called Martha B. Rabbit and Daphne the Forgetful Duck The third story is called Martha B. Rabbit and Those Wicked Rats Again. The stories are creative and fun, but it's the excellent artwork that really sets this book above others. The pictures are richly colorful and highly detailed with plenty to look at and entertain even the most fidgety child while you read the text. Martha B Rabbit Tabitha Cat Daphne Forgetful Duck Rats.

What is Springtime Goodness?

MrsK's Review: Read-Aloud

A visit with Martha B Rabbit is the perfect spring Storytime! 

"Small brown birds sing,

Nestlings on wing,

Gone is winter frost and snow,

Skies are deep blue,

And all day through,

Forest dwellers come and go..."

Martha and Tabitha are discussing the fall colors outside of their apple-tree house. It is time to gather berries and nuts for those who will need food during the cold months. Not only will deer come to drink from the water hole, but many will stop by to get warm and cozy, as well as hear a story by the fire.

One sunny morning, Martha, Tabitha, and William Elf began preparing their streamside garden. Greetings were shared with Daphne and her six fluffy ducklings. Of course, six little ducklings can be a bit mischievous when at the local market.

Summer adventures lead into the fall and winter. The fairies' party is being planned until... the three wicked rats decide to steal the party food.

Gather around for this tale is to be told... How Martha and Tabby became so well known,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Shirley Barber grew up in the Channel Islands, where she gained her lifelong love of nature and painting. A third-generation artist, she always dreamed of writing and illustrating children's books. But this dream did not come true until she had moved to Australia and her children had grown up.

Her first picture book Martha B. Rabbit - The Fairies' Cook was published by The Five Mile Press in 1988 and became an instant success. The following year it won first prize in the prestigious Critica Erba awards at the Bologna Children's Fair - an extraordinary achievement for a first book.

To date, Shirely Barber books have sold in excess of 10 million copies. They have been published in over 70 international editions in North America, Europe and Asia. Shirley's best-selling fairy title in Australia is The Tooth Fairy closely followed by The Enchanted Woods and Rainbow Magic. Shirley lives quietly in rural Victoria and continues to write and illustrate delightful storybooks enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Karen Wane

ISBN: 9781858543178

Publisher's Synopsis:

Designed to help improve numeracy, the book mirrors primary teaching methods to help ensure continuity and build confidence.

MrsK's Review: Pre-2nd

Who is the ten family? What are jumping numbers? What's the difference between fish, a starfish, and an octopus? Why do sports teams double? How would you compare a giraffe with a porcupine?

Each of these questions can be found within a math puzzle. Will you know how to solve these problems?

This is a perfect 5 minute warm up before introducing mathematical functions... so much to ponder, learn, and remember,

MrsK

Sam Garton

ISBN: 9780062845092

Publisher's Synopsis:

This My First I Can Read book is carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and sweet illustrations—which means it's perfect for shared reading with emergent readers. The active, engaging My First I Can Read stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Read about more of Otter’s adventures in I Am Otter, Otter in Space, Otter Goes to School, Otter Loves Halloween! Otter Loves Easter! Oh No, Bath Time! The Best Job Ever! Hello, Sea Friends! and Let’s Go Swimming!

MrsK's Review: Beginning Readers

Otter wants to go on a fun trip. What reader doesn't? After all books take us around the world, we can become our own "pirates" of adventure. Not only does otter have an endearing personality, Otter's love for the library and all of its grand discoveries, it is Otter's voice that brings great conversations with any beginning reader. Igniting a desire to become a life-long learner is an everlasting exploration.

This is one of the sweetest stories, perfect for inspiring beginning readers!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

I’m Sam, I’m 33 and I live in Wokingham! I have a degree in illustration, and I spend most of my time drawing Otters whilst generally making a mess and thinking about why I still haven’t bought a kitten. I like putting inappropriate sweets in the freezer (Jelly tots) and my favorite film is Homeward bound. I wish I looked cool wearing headbands, but I don’t. Oh, and I’m rubbish at looking after house plants.

Oliver Jeffers

ISBN: 9781536235500

Publisher's Synopsis:

Dictionary wishes she could tell a story like other books. So, one day, she decides to bring her words to life. How exciting it is to finally have an adventure on her very own pages! But what will she do when her characters collide and everything gets all in a jumble, causing the most enormous tantrum to explode? This isn’t what she wanted at all! Luckily her friend Alphabet knows exactly what to do and sings a song that brings calm and order to Dictionary’s pages once again.

"One day, Dictionary decided to...

... bring her words to life."

MrsK's Review: 3rd+ Gr. Resource/Read & Discuss

Have you ever pondered that a Dictionary has all the words ever said? There within the dictionary's pages an alligator, a very hungry alligator appeared! Dictionary quickly learned that a "story was finally happening" within her pages!

This delightful tale is a perfect introduction to an often lonely, shelved book. Every reader will enjoy spending a moment or two with Dictionary and her chaotic tale. Yet, once Dictionary's tale is completed and the cover is closed... what type of discoveries could bring further adventures and tales to life?

As an educator, I wish I had this book for my classroom, once a month my learners would have had a creative writing day in which they would all "un-shelf" the dictionaries and create a tale for the day.

Have a word-playing time,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  Oliver Jeffers' work takes many forms. His distinctive paintings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, and HarperCollins UK and Penguin USA publish his award-winning picture books, now translated into over 30 languages.
In 2007, Jeffers was the official illustrator for World Book Day, and in 2008 Lost and Found became Oliver's first book to made into animation by London-based Studio AKA.

Jeffers won a NY Emmy in 2010 for his collaborative work with the artist and director Mac Premo, and in 2013 Jeffers co-directed the video for U2's Ordinary Love with Premo. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jeffers now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Richard Ayoade

ISBN: 9781536222173

Publisher's Synopsis:

What if you could send fan mail to your fairy tale idols? And what if they wrote back? “Happily, ever after” takes on a new meaning in this book from actor-comedian-author Richard Ayoade and best-selling illustrator David Roberts.

It’s once upon a time . . . as only the irreverently witty Richard Ayoade can tell it. In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious—and opinionated—fans. So, if you’ve ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away. Multihyphenate Richard Ayoade, author of The Book That No One Wanted to Read, hilariously imagines what questions modern children would have for characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, and Little Red Riding Hood—and what they might have to say in return. Complete with clever, spoof-gothic illustrations from David Roberts, this wry storybook may have even the Brothers Grimm cackling in their graves.

When is it "unwise to be what we are not?"

MrsK's Review: 3+Gr. Fairy Tale Resource

C. C. Cecily is the Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club. What a delightful job that would be, the possibilities of engagement with readers and their questions would be endless. I can only imagine what a classroom writing assignment would produce.

So... let's begin this humorous tale. What would you like to know from Little Red Riding Hood? Would you be asking how a wolf can swallow someone whole like Ira does?  What would you ask Rapunzel, or the Little Mermaid? 

Cinderella, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, and Hansel/Gretel responses are encouraging, yet full of characteristics that a reader of their tales rarely enjoys. Of course, the Big Bad Wolf and Rumpelstiltskin are a bit more poignant in their responses. Then there's Jack, he points out the disadvantages of having magic beanstalk beans. Humpty-Dumpty's truth attempts to point out that not every tale is completely retold. 

Whether it is a frog activist or a princess/prince, or even C. C. Cecily... these letters and fairy land responses are sure to engage readers to write for clarifications or additional fairy tale truths...

May your reading be happily ever after,

MrsK

Meet the Author:  

Richard Ellef Ayoade is a British comedian, film director, screenwriter, television presenter, actor, and author best known for his role as the socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, for which he won the 2014 BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance.

Anne Nesbet

ISBN: 9781536234725

Publisher's Synopsis:

In an exciting wilderness adventure, 

three cousins are cut off from their parents by a huge earthquake—and must hike long and treacherous mountain trails back to safety, with only each other to rely on.

During a hiking trip with their parents in the mountains of California, cousins Owen, Vivian, and Amy are finally allowed to camp for one night at a little lake all on their own. But when a massive earthquake blocks their return path, there’s only one way the long way around, through a wilderness filled with fierce animals, raging rivers, unstable weather, and high passes. The hardest challenges the cousins face, however, are the troubles they’ve brought with bold Vivian’s fear of starting middle school and of changes she can’t control, Owen’s lingering emotional scars from a car accident, and Amy’s desire to live in stories rather than in boring regular life. Drawing on courage and humor, the cousins weather storms, make the most of dwindling rations, and face their deepest fears in order to bring each other safely home. This gripping contemporary novel from celebrated author Anne Nesbet is bursting with excitement, rich natural settings, and characters who will have readers rooting for them all the way.

"Before they could even think...

an even louder roar, a terrible shaking roar...

WHOOOMPF!"

MrsK's Review: Gr.3-5 Reality Fiction/Adventure

How does your family outing stories... begin? For this cousin wilderness adventure, it begins with excited anticipation. While camping, they will have one day alone at a lake. Parents don't worry...

the adults will be staying at a lake close by.

Meet Vivian, she is preparing for middle school, and this grand adventure will be her chance to gain the confidence to face her fears.

Meet Amy, she is only eight and although she would rather stay close to the adults, she doesn't want to be considered "little" any longer.

Meet Owen, he is the girl's cousin. Even though his dad and aunt were raised having family trips to various parks, he isn't really a camper. Especially since the life-changing event that has caused such emotionally charged struggles. Yet, he has been delegated as the cousin chef. Why not try staying a night at a lake alone with his cousins.

Imagine being cozy within your tent after a day of being on a wilderness trek, you are finally snuggled into your sleeping bag and suddenly, there are "noises that shouldn't be happening, crashing and splashing noises." From the moment the cousins are awakened, nothing will be easy or the same. Will their individual strengths match their survival skills? Or could their food supply run out before they can be reunited with their parents? 

Every family adventure creates more than memories... skills are being modeled... books provide further discoveries and insights. Did you know that during the summer there is more water in a river in the afternoon because the snow way up high has been melting all day?

Enjoy this adventurous journey together, you never know when a camping skill might become a lifesaving reality, 

MrsK

"All the cousins were very fond of maps...

Vivian liked them because they were a tool...

Amy, because some of the best books about magical journeys had maps...

Owen liked them because of the contour lines..."

Meet the Author:

Anne Nesbet’s novels for young readers are filled with adventure, friendship, and richly imagined worlds, both magical and historical. Her Cloud and Wallfish (Candlewick 2016), about children navigating the borders of East Berlin in 1989, won the California Book Award and was named an ALA Notable book, and her other novels have earned their share of honors and critical acclaim, too. Daring Darleen, Queen of the Screen (Candlewick 2020) received four starred reviews! When not writing novels for kids, Anne teaches film history, plays violin and viola, and goes on long hikes in the mountains. She reads while walking, by the way, which means she relies on echolocation (or chance) to avoid injury. She lives with her entertaining family and demanding dog in California.

Dan Gemeinhart

ISBN: 9781250292773

Publisher's Synopsis:

It's been almost a year since Coyote and her dad left the road behind and settled down in a small Oregon town. . . time spent grieving the loss of her mom and sisters and trying to fit in at school. But just as life is becoming a new version of normal, Coyote discovers a box containing her mom’s ashes. And she thinks she might finally be ready to say goodbye.

So Coyote and her dad gear up for an epic cross-country road trip to scatter the ashes at her mom’s chosen resting place. The only problem? Coyote has no idea where that resting place is—and the secret’s hidden in a book that Coyote mistakenly sold last year, somewhere in the country. Now, it’s up to Coyote to track down the treasured book . . . without her dad ever finding out that it’s lost.

It’s time to fire up their trusty bus, Yager, pick up some old friends, discover some new ones, and hit the road on another unforgettable adventure.

"Sometimes stories start with a bang,

and sometimes stories start with a whisper,

and sometimes stories start with..."

MrsK's Review: 5-MS Reality Fiction

Since the Coyote and her father has "settled down from their road trip and into a house. "Coyote has been adjusting to a life in school, bullies, a school library refuge, and loneliness away from her "Yager" lifetime. 

Just when she was getting a comfortable routine with the one girl from the school, the librarian, and the library lunch retreats, Coyote discovers her mother's remains. Her life will once again need to "hit the road." She must locate a poetry book that her mother had written down where she wanted her ashes to be scattered. Of course, Covid 19's shut down is a welcome surprise. Not only will they be on a "Yager" road trip, but they can also pick up Coyote's best friend as they head off into an unknown destination.

The quest will be to locate where Coyote had traded used books from their last trip. Which bookstores has her mother's poetry book? How far will she go before her dad finds out the book is missing? To what level of desperation will Coyote be driven?

It is a delight to be on the road again in Yager, with Coyote, Rodeo, Salvador, and few new sojourners. Personalities are brilliantly lively, the quest is worthy and frustrating. The treasure chase for a lost book is enticing. Most importantly, will the consequences of deceptions be worth the journey?

MrsK

"The funny thing about sadness, though, is that you can't

really run away from it. Not ever!"

Coyote's first Journey

Meet the Author:

Dan Gemeinhart lives in a small-town smack dab in the middle of Washington state with his wife and three young daughters. He was lucky and grateful to be a teacher-librarian in an elementary school for thirteen years, where he got to share awesome books with awesome kids. He loves camping, cooking and traveling. He also plays guitar (badly) and reads (constantly). His house is always a mess. He is really pretty darn happy.

Meg Shaffer

ISBN: 9780593598856

Publisher's Synopsis:

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it’s like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy.

For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it!

"Where are you going?

Five O'clock.

When will you be back?

By the lighthouse.

MrsK's Review: YA+ Playful Fantasy Fiction

According to the unique clock on Clock Island, not everything is as it appears. Jack Masterson is an author who owns an island. His children's book series has inspired many readers. Some have wished to be on Clock Island... some have even run away to the island. Yet, it's been years since Jack has published his 66th book.

When the publisher's decided to update the Clock series, they hired Hugo as the new series illustrator. The one condition, Hugo had to live on the island. Since Jack kept his rights to oversee the new illustrations, years went by without Jack writing a new story. Will Hugo leave Clock Island?

Lucy was one of the few "run-aways" to Clock Island. At twenty-six, she is currently working as a teachers-aide. One student suffered a nightmare at his home and needed a quick foster home. Lucy offered to look after Christopher. Her plans would be to adopt Christopher, but the authorities said she didn't have the funding to raise him in a steady home life. Is it by chance that the author of her favorite book series is offering a "Make a Wish" contest? Could she and Christopher finally be a forever family?

The contest was announced, a riddle had to be solved in order to gain an invitation to Clock Island and the contest.

"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"

Only four contestants were chosen, of course all four had been "run-aways."  Noone knew the contest rules, yet all were sent the invitations, and the media circuit was going crazy over the prize, which of course would be the unpublished sixty-seventh book. "The game is a foot..."

Delightfully crafted. Characters aren't always what they seem. Riddles are frustrating. Facing ones' fears is a finale option,

MrsK

"The only wishes ever granted..."

Meet the Author:

Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Story and The Wishing Game, which was a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a Reader’s Digest and Washington Post Best Book of the Year and has been translated into 21 languages. Meg holds an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College. She lives in Kentucky.

Wintery Reading Reviews for K-YA Readers

 

Grab a cup of cocoa... a quilt... and curl up for

moments of 

explorations...

Grades 2-3:

Kate DiCamillo

ISBN: 9781536223316

Publisher's Synopsis:

At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta’s mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly—like a little mouse. While her mother cleans rooms, Marta slips down the back staircase to the grand lobby to chat with the bellman, study the painting of an angel’s wing over the fireplace, and watch a cat chase a mouse around the face of the grandfather clock, all the while dreaming of the return of her soldier father, who has gone missing. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot check-in, promising a story—in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father’s disappearance lie in the countess’s tales? Book two in a trio of novellas bound by place and mood—with elegant line art by Júlia Sardà—The Hotel Balzaar masterfully juggles yearning and belief, shining light into every dark corner.

"... my little ray of light."

MrsK's Review:

Meet Marta, a young girl who lives in an attic room of the Hotel Balzaar. Her father has gone missing in the war and her mother is working at the famous Balzaar hotel, in which Marta cannot be in the lobby or talking to the staff. Not only is Marta very lonely, but she is also longing for her father to come and worried that he might not know where they have moved. There isn't much to do at a hotel, quietly looking at a painting or watching an extraordinary clock does pass the time when the days seem long.

On a cloudy and gray day, an old woman enters the lobby. Meet the Countess who uses a cane, can demand the hotel to provide their best room, and has a parrot named Blitzkoff. Can you imagine a parrot on your shoulder? The countess sees Marta hiding behind a lobby plant and invites her to come to room 314. What might the countess teach Marta? Will she let her talk with her parrot? Marta has been told never to be seen or talk with anyone at the hotel, and yet, the countess has invited Marta to stop by her room.

As the tale unfolds, Marta discovers that the countess has seven stories to share with Marta. Stories that are intriguing, stories that must be told in order, stories that Marta will think about until the next day. 

Within the weaving of these seven Norendy tales, many wonders become enchanting. Layers of imagination... fascinating intrigue... and possible truths unfolding,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

    Kate DiCamillo, the newly named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2014–2015, says about stories, “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.” Born in Philadelphia, the author lives in Minneapolis, where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week.

Kate DiCamillo's own journey is something of a dream come true. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, homesickness and a bitter winter helped inspire Because of Winn-Dixie - her first published novel, which, remarkably, became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. "After the Newbery committee called me, I spent the whole day walking into walls," she says. "I was stunned. And very, very happy."

Grades 3-5:

Kekla Magoon

ISBN: 9781536230888

Publisher's Synopsis:

Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already grooming her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure—including an exhilarating outing with pirates—she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history. Soon she’s visiting every day to escape the demands of the present. But the library has secrets of its own, intentions that would shape her life as surely as her mother’s meticulous plans. What will Dally choose? Equal parts mystery and adventure—with a biracial child puzzling out her identity alongside the legacy of the past—this masterful middle-grade fantasy rivets with crackling prose, playful plot twists, and timeless themes. A satisfying choice for fans of Kindred and When You Reach Me.

"My dearest Dally-bird... I know your eager heart... the map

is for you and you alone... it is our final shared secret..."

MrsK's Review:

Meet Dally, a young girl who is determined to discover her Grandpa's secrets. Her family's heritage business is currently managed by her mother. Her mother is determined that Dally will be the next CEO, which means that Dally hasn't experienced any grand adventures since her Grandpa's death. It was her grandpa who recognized Dally's loneliness, as well as encouraged her spirited imagination with daily outings beyond her schooling and business classes. What does Dally need now that her days are regimented? With a mysterious envelope, a map that leads to a secret library, Dally's future will be forever changed.

Through the halls of Peteharrington, Dally bravely picks the lock and enters her Grandpa's study. To Dally these were "extenuating circumstances," in which she needed to locate the letter that Grandpa wanted her to have when she turned twenty-one. Being eleven and a half was only a minor challenge. Granpa knew all the stumbling blocks that Dally experienced, as well as how she didn't fit into this world, he would have been her much needed adventure guide... if he were still alive.

Grandpa's map would lead her the "X marks the spot," the TSL! Dally knew the days of dullness and predictability were over. Patience wasn't a virtue she had, yet, with Grandpa's map a new adventure was about to begin.

 "Everyone who finds the library...

is meant to be here."

Meet Jennacake, she is the librarian of secrets. She will be the guardian who will help Dally navigate the books of secrets. The books will provide travels to the moment that a secret was revealed, shared, or occurred. Once someone enters the pages... the adventures begins. Reader's must be mindful of the white fog for it will be a boundary within the journey. Only one secret can be read per visit, and the reading must be within one of the many reading rooms.

Dally's adventures began with little secrets that had something to do with her daily life, school, and the current past of her mother and father. But... then a chosen secret would mean she had to dress for a time in the past. 1850 is a vastly different life, especially if you've just arrived aboard a two-masted ship!

Meet Jack, he has been aboard the ship with Captain Eli and the first mate Pete since their last sail. Pirate life isn't necessarily what Dally had previously read about. There is so much more to being on a ship in the 1800's in comparison to when she was in the sailboat with Grandpa. There would be life-threatening storms, treasure under the sea, maps to be coded, the possibility of a hang-man's noose, and of course resilience to continue reading the various books of secrets.

With many twists and turns in the plot, this story is woven with adventurous threads of past lives, self-discoveries, and life changers. Characters are decisively crafted. Social acceptance is intricately woven into surprising realizations. Don't expect an ending in which a reader might "foresee" a prediction...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

   Kekla Magoon writes novels and nonfiction books for children and teens, often on themes of identity, community, empowerment and social justice. Acclaimed titles include The Season of Styx Malone, The Rock and the River, How It Went Down, and Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People.

Kekla received the 2021 Margaret A. Edwards Award, a body of work recognition for her significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. She is also a recipient of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, a Michael L. Printz Honor, four Coretta Scott King Honors, two Walter Award Honors, and an NAACP Image Award, in addition to being a finalist for the National Book Award.  

Grades 4+:

Juneau Black

ISBN: 9780593315712

Publisher's Synopsis:

Reporter Vera Vixen is a relative newcomer to Shady Hollow. The fox has a nose for news, so when she catches wind that the death might be a murder, she resolves to get to the bottom of the case, no matter where it leads. As she stirs up still waters, the fox exposes more than one mystery and discovers that additional lives are in jeopardy.

Vera finds more to this town than she ever suspected. It seems someone in the Hollow will do anything to keep her from solving the murder, and soon it will take all of Vera's cunning and quickness to crack the case.

"Shady Hollow is a tale of woodland creatures... welcome...

Up in the far north, lies a small village..."

MrsK's Review:

Meet Otto (as a reader I find him to be much more than an average toad), to be sure he is cranky and cantankerous. He lives in a mud hut at the pond. Why might you wonder is a toad important... well he is the mystery.

Of course, within the village, you will become a type of visitor at all of the quaint businesses. You'll meet the owner of the Von Beaverpelt Sawmill and some of its workers (beavers, muskrats, woodchucks, mice, rabbits, sparrows, and minks). You'll stop at Joe's Mug where you can get your morning cup of Joe and learn a thing or two. There's always news being discussed around town thanks to the Shady Hollow Herald. At the Goody Crow's Restful Home for the Aged Creatures, you will meet Ruby who just isn't getting enough sleep. If you are a reader, like most of us, your first destination should be Nevermore Books where Lenore will deliver the perfect read for anyone seeking a new journey. For a tasty vegetarian dish, stop by the Bamboo Patch, Panda Sun Li will be thrilled to meet you.

On a late August morning, Gladys Honeysuckle was flying to work at the Herald. Unfortunately, this morning would prove to be the worst of her flights. There he was, floating in the middle of the mill pond. When she arrives at the Herald, Vera Vixen is already at work. Vera did not expect to start her day with the task of quieting a "weeping and hysterical hummingbird!" Once Vera visits the pond to verity the scene, she heads to the station to report what Gladys saw (or rather snoop to scoop her byline).  Chief Meade is not at work and Deputy Orville Braun will investigate with Vera close behind.

I will not spill the beans; this is a mystery with more than one murder, suspects galore, and the most delightful "red-herrings" to intrigue every arm-chair detective, enjoy for there are more mysteries to unravel in this series,

MrsK

Meet the Authors:

 Juneau Black is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and a good murder (in fictional form only). Though they are two separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This is a little unnerving for any number of reasons. Sharon lives in Wisconsin 🧀, where she works as a librarian. Jocelyn lives in the city-state of Philadelphia 🥨, where she also writes romance as Elizabeth Cole.

Seasoned Readers YA:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

ISBN: 9780316481014

Publisher's Synopsis:

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year’s game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Some of the players are in it for the money. Some for power. Some for reasons all their own. Every single one of them has secrets. Amidst it all is Grayson Hawthorne, tasked with a vital role in this year’s game. But as tensions rise and the mind-bending challenges push the players to their limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally—it soon becomes clear that not everyone is playing by the rules.

MrsK's Review:

Avery inherited a vast estate, including the heirs known as the Hawthorne brothers. At first her required quest for a surprise inheritance lead into her own game of wits, twists and turns, reliance's and conspirators. Now she has created the second annual competition in which seven will arrive at a secluded Hawthorne Island for the grandest game of their life.

What is known is that the winner will win fame and fortune. What is needed is strength, endurance, talents for "brain-bending" puzzles, and the courage to remain centered during extreme conditions. This year's players have been invited. They have an experienced connection with either Avery or the Hawthorne brothers in one way or another. They will all be expected to win or leave the game!

Are you ready for the grandest game? Have you been following Avery, her inheritance and her Hawthorne co-inheritors? Have you the desire to invest in a game that requires more than courage? Are you a reader who enjoys unraveling puzzling plots?

There are not enough ways for a book reviewer to express the enjoyment of a book worth experiencing. What I can express is that Jennifer Lynn Barnes has not disappointed her readers with this series. She has crafted five characters in which any reader will "hunger" for more adventures. The woven threads of plot twists, puzzling quests, and magnificent settings are tantalizing bits of exquisite word play.

 

Enjoy this masterly crafted journey, pages will be turned swiftly, and characters will become "booked" friends forever...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen. Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006.

MrsK's 2024 Holiday Picks for Seasoned Readers

  

Season's Blessings

Jennifer Sienes

ISBN: 9781962377218

Publisher's Synopsis:

Amelia Hutchinson can’t seem to find her place in the world. Or maybe she’s just watched too many Christmas Hallmark movies. But come on, how come Aurora Teagarden and Hallie Dean get more exciting careers and all Amelia gets to be is a mail carrier? Not to mention, she’s living in her sister and brother-in-law’s guest house and the only man she could find was one who didn’t appreciate the purity ring her daddy gave her.

Rayce Jasper just wants to sell his late granddad’s farm and throw away the painful past that comes with it as soon as possible. But the memories of the man who betrayed him, a ditzy mail lady, and a strange request put a kink in his agenda.

As Rayce’s and Amelia’s worlds collide, neither of them can deny that God must be weaving His own Christmas story for the two of them.

MrsK's Review:

Meet Amelia, a mail lady who had one of those moments in which what should have been a mundane event turned into a momentous "trajectory" change in her life. It all began when she was delivering her last package at an old farmhouse in Shelbyville. The delivery to a Mr. Rayce Jasper would prove to be one of the most heart stopping moments of her life.

Rayce is a copywriter who is notified that he is now the last of his bloodline. His granddad's estate is now his to clean up and get on the market. The last thing he expected on that October day was an attack on a mail lady by his "sweet" Cane Corso. That's all he needed was a possible lawsuit.

As an inspired mystery sleuth, Amelia couldn't let the encounter pass. While at the local library, she discovered a 2004 suspicious headline about a death at the Jasper Farm. Who was Bruce Benton? Why after all this time had Rayce moved into the old farmhouse? Why was he at the library while she was investigating his family?

With a plan in place, Amelia begins her "further" investigation by making a deal with Rayce. She would help him clean out his grandad's farmhouse if he would help train a puppy for her niece. Will Amelia solve the mystery of the farmhouse death... or does she embrace the pivotal reality... that some moments in life are really God's unexpected grace?

This short novella, was an unexpected reader delight. The characters are well crafted with an endearing capacity to entice an afternoon curled up with a holiday retreat. The conversations are humorous and engaging. The story line, well, is there anything more enjoyable than an old farmhouse with a library filled with first editions or a mysterious romance? This is a keeper, if you have family, friends, or a book club this is the book to pass around for your holiday read!
MrsK

Meet the Author:

Award-winning author Jennifer Sienes holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in education but discovered life-experience is the best teacher. She loves Jesus, romance, and writing—and puts it altogether in inspirational fiction. Two of the three novels in her Apple Hill Series (set in Northern California) were inspired by actual events. Her Southern fiction Bedford County Series is set in Tennessee where she now resides with her real-life hero (and husband).

Daniel Petronelli

ISBN: 9781737485513

Publisher's Synopsis:

It’s Christmas Eve in the small foothill Village of Shiloh.

A father retells the miraculous story that no one will ever forget.

A group of young boys lost in a powerful storm

fight to survive on that glorious night. 

The incredible chance encounter with a kind stranger, may be their only hope..

This award-winning book chronicles the spiritual journey of these children.

The lessons learned, the gift received and the lives that were changed.

MrsK's Review:

Meet Stephanie a bright and charming 10-year-old who is excited about preparing for the Christmas celebration. Her family lives in a cabin in Shiloh. On this Christmas eve, Stephanie is getting a cup of cocoa and a blanket to join dad for a moment before the town's celebration. Her sister, Jessica, is preparing for her first date to the Annual Christmas Eve Celebration on Faith Hill. Her mother is baking the blueberry pie for the evening's gathering. Everyone is feeling joyous anticipation and for a brief moment in time, Stephanie and her dad are enjoying a quiet time together.

"The sparkling lights were reflections of the evening's first winter stars."

With cocoa in hand, Stephanie asks her dad how the mountain became Faith Hill. And so, the story unfolds...

Two towns, six boys, and a Nor'easter blizzard. Forty years ago, Shiloh had "suffered" a devastating drought into winter. On Christmas Eve there arose two decisive plans in bringing a Christmas tree of hope to the town of Shiloh. The result of that evening became known as the "True meaning of Christmas." Seeds of faith were planted within the hearts of both towns (Joshua 1:9).

This Christmas tale is wonderous story of giving and helping others. The masterful storytelling about Faith Hill and it's two townships is woven with a purity within a period of time that has gotten lost in today's commercialized celebrations of Christmas. This novella is a perfect read-aloud for all ages. The journey of the boys, the town's committed search, and the message of hope is felt in those moments on Faith Hill in the bitter cold. The glory of the quest becomes the lesson of those who experienced the true meaning of Christmas.

Create a new Christmas tradition... bake a blueberry pie... make hot cocoa... gather some quilts... and settle in for a "read-aloud" moment in time...
Blessings to all,
MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Dan Petronelli was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts. He currently divides his time with his wife between West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and Stuart, Florida.

He is a strong member of his local community and has served as a Christian worship leader.  Home - The Seed of Faith Christmas Story

Dan Petronelli participated in Smith Magazine’s Six-Word Memoir contest, and his memoir was selected and later published by HarperCollins.

When not with his family and friends, he can be found on the first tee … asking for another mulligan.
Dan found a message in a bottle when he was a young boy tinkering on a rocky shoreline. It was a profound spiritual message that he has kept and still treasures today.

This inspired story was written as a cherished Christmas gift for his family, and it is his hope that the SEED OF FAITH will also bring joy and continue to grow in the hearts of readers around the world.

Meet the Artist:

Emily Pritchett has loved both drawing pictures and reading books since she was a little kid, so she has combined her two passions into illustrating books for young readers. She has now illustrated ten books, including three Christmas stories! Her favorite holiday memories are of building the artificial Christmas tree, branch by branch, and decorating it with her family. Emily studied illustration at Brigham Young University and now lives in Boston with her husband and son. She misses the mountains of Utah but still enjoys the snowy winters!

Family Read-Alouds:

MrsK's Review:

Since 1997, this delightful "sing a-long" version of a Christmas carol has delighted many of the learners within my home, classrooms, and or library story time. Lisa's whimsical creatures portray the hi-lights of the season... the fun of sledding in a "one-squirrel" open sleigh. Those precious giggles will jiggle your heart with joy.

MrsK's Review:     

It's Christmas Eve and all should be asleep... yet there are those who would try to trap Santa! Seriously, who would want to set traps? Unfortunately, in this story those un-named children have decided this year to try to get Santa's elf instead. Even though this story will bring much delight, I feel the stress of the catastrophic dishevel within each home is most disconcerting Warning for the adult reading this story aloud... closing one eye will alleviate half of your stress!

MrsK's Review: Snow falling is one of the most delightful moments in any classroom.

So much joy, excitement, and peace-filled environments. It seems that those flakes dancing through their journey to the ground inspires childhood memories to become playful once more. Grab the paper, scissors, and tape... create uniquely beautiful snowflakes for your windows... enjoy these treasured moments.

 MrsK's Review:

On the first day... It wasn't until I was at our school's Holiday concert that I realized the joy of this agitating classic. The parents were given the "privilege" of the 5 golden rings... the gym was transformed into one the most hysterical sing-alongs. Give it a try and have fun around your holiday this year!

 MrsK's Review:   Much has been portrayed about the yearly Christmas tree. Whether it's a memory, the adventure of seeking the perfect tree, the stress until the tree is standing straight in the stand and the lights have been strung, or the sigh when the top must be removed for the elegance of a bought "tree-topper," all is not in vain... nope. In fact, in this story that top gets shared in many other homes. This classic tale is a merry-making delight as you read... pause... predict.... and turn its pages.

 MrsK's Review: 

The moment I heard this story on the radio... I was caught up in the delightful melody... 

the unforgettable zip! ...pop! ... and whir!

This song brings a delight that lasts for generations.

  

 MrsK's Review:

It's the night before Christmas when nothing on the farm is stirring not even the... duck!

Silly duck, now the whole barnyard is in a ruckus and Santa will soon be there!

Warning... there will be giggles... shout-outs... groans... and moans. 

   MrsK's Review:    

Meet Humphrey... he is one sad, sad, sad camel who has lost his

"beauteous" and glorious carpet. As he journeys to a city called Bethlehem,

he becomes uncomfortable carrying the three burdensome chests.

And then... when the traveling kings stop at a stable... 

a Beauteous and Glorious moment happens.

 MrsK's Review:

In a snowy New England village there are two elf stowaways from the

North Pole. Mischief and mayhem begins up on a roof top...

and with a wink of his eye...

all will know there is nothing to dread!

Blessings for a season of Joy!