MrsK's New Year's Explorations for K-12

 

There is no better time of the year for snuggling in with a good book.

The weather says... to stay inside,

The chill reminds you that you need a warm cup of cocoa,

and...

A story is always a welcoming adventure!

Family Read Aloud:

Peter H. Reynolds

ISBN: 9781338572322

Publisher's Synopsis:

Celebrated, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds brings his signature touch of love and kindness to this special, timely picture book, as families now, more than ever, are rediscovering and reevaluating what means the most: time together with one another.

Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller.

Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?

MrsK's Review:

What should you do when your family is too busy to be family? In this family fable, Violet is concerned that her family is so connected to their devices that she began daydreaming about a time when they could be together in one room at their table. As with every good fable... the unthinkable happens. The table begins to shrink!

How will Violet get her family to reconnect? That's a tale that will need readers to discuss and enjoy. A perfect family read-aloud filled with a tale of woe, characters that must work together, and hope for a better tomorrow.

MrsK 

Meet the Author:

Peter Hamilton Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children's books and is the co-founder and CEO of the educational media company FableVision.

 https://www.peterhreynolds.com/meet

  

 

Patricia MacLachlan

ISBN: 9780063116016

Publisher's Synopsis:

Jacob is nine years old when his life changes. He wants a litter of puppies. But instead, his parents have a different surprise. Jacob will be an older brother soon. And there won’t be only one new baby. There will be three! When the triplets are born, Jacob thinks puppies are cuter. The babies look identical to him and he gives them a name: “the Trips.”

For a school science project, Jacob decides to study the Trips. It feels like magic as they begin to smile, talk, and grow. Slowly, he gets to know each of them. They call his mother “Mama” and his father “Da.” But what will they call him One day, one of the Trips calls him “Jay.”

As each of the triplets become unique and more special with each day, Jacob starts to wonder if “the Trips” is still a good name for them. They aren’t puppies, or a bunch of bananas, and they aren’t just “the Trips” anymore. What should he call them that will show what they mean to him Can he figure out their “forever name” And will he ever get a puppy?

MrsK's Review: Grades 1-3

Do you believe in the sweetness of discovering a story so "good" you must share it with others? Can you remember an author from your youth? Have you tried to pass on that type of a story to a new generation? Whether you answer a yes or even a no... this is a story that must be shared!

Jacob was rather disappointed when he was told that he wouldn't be getting a puppy. Who wouldn't be feeling sad, cheated, or even a little bit mad? Why would he want a new baby instead? Well, it won't be a new baby... it is going to be three new siblings!

Given a school assignment, Jacob decides to "study" the Trips. What he learns is just how unique his sisters are, as well as how much he has grown beyond his wants. 

Once again, Patricia has crafted a story that will become a classic in classrooms, in homes, and in the hearts of readers. This is her final story... yet, it is just as touching as Sarah, Plain and Tall. Don't miss this story of family, love, growing up, and learning the value of being unique.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

    Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts. March 03, 1938 - Died March 31, 2022

 MrsK's Review: Just for fun Gr.3+

Who doesn't find some reading enjoyment in browsing a book for a good joke! These are the best and silliest joke books. I once heard that a joke a day kept the doctors away! What reader wouldn't want to help their friends, family, and teachers to have better health? Brighten your reading choices and learn how to engage others beyond their phones......!

Rodman Philbrick

ISBN: 9781338736298

Publisher's Synopsis:

Davy and Jo Michaud have been recently orphaned. Taken in by a distant relative—a famous aviator—they are now working with a group of stunt pilots who spend their time wing walking, leaping from plane to plane, and flying through fireworks! But though the stunts are dangerous, the real threat is building behind the scenes.

The KKK is on the rise in Maine that summer, inspired by the racial fears promoted in Birth of a Nation. They spew hatred of immigrants, Blacks, Jews, and French Catholics—that last, a rage that will be directed at Davy and Jo. When Davy and Jo cross paths with the Klan, they get tangled up in a terrible revenge plan, and held as hostages. Can they escape with their lives?

MrsK's Review: Grades 5+

At the graveside service for their mother, Davy and Jo learn that they have a relative that will offer them an amazing adventure. An adventure that is better than being orphans working at a cotton mill in 1924.

While they are working for the Ruthie Reynard's Flying Circus, they will have a place to live... meals... and a paying job. Davy will begin as a popcorn maker and Jo will begin as the ticket/cashier for the air show. With the sense of adventure their lives will take a path that neither of them are prepared for.

They will meet professional aviators, death-defying feats stunts, motorized races with speeds exceeding 100mph, and the unfortunate bigotry and hatred of the KKK.

Have you heard about the wing walkers? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to a daring bi-plane walker? Don't miss this historical novel about what life as a wing walker might have been! The characters are uniquely defined. The historical accuracy of the settings and the trials of life is crafted with a mixture of wonder, spunk, and an ability to be intellectually flexible!

Historical fiction isn't always a "review-mirrored" glance of perfection, it can be a "snapshot" into the life of those who lived before us. Yet, it is an opportunity to learn about that which needed to change. To learn what courage, determination, and "grit" looks like. To live outside the box and to create a better life out of hardships. An inspiring novel for a read-aloud in grades 3-6 (so many discussion points + research opportunities = a literary must).

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Rodman Philbrick grew up on the New England coast, where he worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. For many years he wrote mysteries and detective novels. The Private Eye Writers of America nominated two of his T.D.Stash series as best detective novel and then selected Philbrick's 'Brothers & Sinners' as Best Novel in 1993. Writing under the pen name 'William R. Dantz' he has explored the near-future worlds of genetic engineering and hi-tech brain control in books like 'Hunger', 'Pulse', 'The Seventh Sleeper'. And 'Nine Levels Down'.

Inspired by the life of a boy who lived a few blocks away, he wrote 'Freak The Mighty', the award-winning young-adult novel, which has been translated into numerous languages and is now read in schools throughout the world. The book was adapted to the screen in 1998 as 'The Mighty', starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, James Gandolfini, Kieran Culkin, and Elden Henson.

Philbrick, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is the author of a number of novels for young readers, including 'The Fire Pony', 'Max the Mighty', 'REM World', 'The Last Book In The Universe', 'The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds' and 'The Young Man And The Sea'. His recent novels for adults include 'Dark Matter', 'Coffins', and 'Taken'. He and his wife divide their time between Maine and the Florida Keys.

Brian Selznick

ISBN: 9781338180633

Publisher's Synopsis:

A mysterious voice has been speaking to Louise in her dreams. She and her brother Merwin are Sycamore seeds, who hope to one day set down roots and become big trees. But when a fire forces them to leave their mama tree prematurely, they find themselves catapulted into the unknown, far from home. Alone and unprepared, they must use their wits and imagination to navigate a dangerous world—filled with dinosaurs, meteors, and volcanoes!—and the fear of never finding a safe place to grow up. As the mysterious voice gets louder, Louise comes to realize their mission in life may be much bigger than either of them ever could have imagined!

"What does the old one tell you?"

MrsK's Review: Grades 4+

Meet the sibling seeds, Louise and Merwin. They are young seeds changing, developing, and unfortunately set free during a fire evacuation. With words of wisdom from their mother Sycamore, these two will journey in and out of environmental habitats trying to find the perfect soil conditions that their loving mother had taught them to find.

Within the seedball, Louise longed to see the sights outside. Yet, inside she believed she heard the stars calling to her. To Merwin, the world seemed to be "nothing but danger." They must head to the Beautiful Mountain, that's what their mother had told him.

Who knew Sycamore seeds could have discussions? Only the author Brian Selznick could weave an entertaining and poignant story about sibling seeds! Will the sibling seeds get the Beautiful Mountain? Will they find the perfect soil conditions to settle into? 

Once upon a time...

Enjoy, MrsK

Meet the Author:

   Hello there. My name is Brian Selznick and I’m the author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was born in 1966 in New Jersey. I have a sister who is a teacher, a brother who is a brain surgeon, and five nephews and one niece. I studied at The Rhode Island School of Design and after I graduated from college I worked at Eeyore’s Books for Children in New York City. I learned all about children’s books from my boss Steve Geck who is now an editor of children’s books at Greenwillow. While I was at Eeyore’s I also painted the windows for holidays and book events.

My first book, The Houdini Box, which I both wrote and illustrated, was published in 1991 while I was still working at the bookstore. Since then, I have illustrated many books for children, including Frindle by Andrew Clements, The Doll People by Ann Martin and Laura Godwin, Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan and The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, which received a 2001 Caldecott Honor. I have also written a few other books myself, including The Boy of a Thousand Faces, but The Invention of Hugo Cabret is by far the longest and most involved book I’ve ever worked on.

"You know me, Maxine. I always land on my feet."

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

ISBN: 9780759555402

Publisher's Synopsis:

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.

To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into a sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a con-woman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

MrsK's Review: YA

Meet Avery, a teen that has been living in her car. Her mother raised her to "play" games that would sharpen her intellect and promote an "out-of-the-box" creativity. One of the few stabilities in her life began the day her mother's secret took her life. Her one and only best friend, Max, is the only one she can confide in... the only one who knows she left her step-sister's house and is now living in a car.

Avery knows the value of her education, especially when her finances will depend on her grade point average for a university that will give her a degree in statistical risk assessment. Life might have seen her into college, if it wasn't for her step-sister Libby. 

The morning before her life changed forever... or so it seemed, Avery had been in the park playing a game of chess with a homeless man named Harry. People play chess for various reasons, Avery played the game with Harry because it was the only way she could make sure he would have a meal every day.

Maxine, Max, moved during their 8th grade. Their phone connection kept their friendship strong. Avery had just informed Max that Libby's boyfriend had moved in again and that she is staying in her car. Will her last words to Max be her strength in the year ahead?

The next morning, during her English class, an office aide came to escort her to the Principal's office. Avery quickly learns that she was not summoned because of her test scores, she was summoned by Grayson Hawthorne. A young man who was claiming that he had been sent there by his Grandfather's lawyers to bring her to the reading of will. Libby had been brought to the school, because she was Avery's guardian. What is this about? Who is Tobias Hawthorne? How could someone be taking her and her step-sister off to Texas! What was this all about?

And so the inheritance games begin... What would be going through your mind as a junior in high school? What are these Hawthorne's playing at? Why would a multi-billionaire request her to be present at the reading of his will?

Mysterious rooms in a mansion; four grandsons who should be sharing an estate from their grandfather; and a body guard placed in charge of Avery. Be prepared to be turning pages until some of the game has begun! Excellent read...

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. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

David Hoffman

ISBN: 9781567314427

Publisher's Synopsis:

The man who commissioned the Mona Lisa refused it. Three of the first five U.S. Presidents died on July 4th. The company name Atari was chosen so consumers would think the Northern California-based company was Japanese. These and other eye-opening revelations await the reader of Who Knew? Part pop culture, part pop quiz, this quirky compilation of little-known facts and figures will amaze and amuse readers of all ages. Who Knew? collects tidbits and trivia about well-known personalities and products that we are all familiar with—or at least think we're familiar with. From Twinkies to Tupperware to toys and television, these offbeat informational nuggets are guaranteed to entertain and enthrall.

MrsK's Review: Young Adults

Do you know why peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth? How many ridges are there on a dime? Why did they call the book of maps an Atlas? Do you know what key a housefly hums in? Did you know that there is one "soothing" smell from childhood that could lower your blood pressure?

This is a book that is truly a hidden treasure! Every page has a quick fact that you probably never knew and most importantly probably will begin sharing with others more than once,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

The author of seventeen books about popular culture, ranging from Kid Stuff (which takes a look at classic toys) to Doofus and Darling's Manners for the Modern Man, The Sand Bucket List (366 Things To Do With Your Kids Before They Grow Up) and Little-Known Facts About Well-Known Places (a travel series covering the world’s most popular destinations), Hoffman has also turned his titles into brands. From Pigging Out, he assembled a $2.5 million licensing campaign that included greeting cards, calendars, plush, t-shirts, mugs, and magnets as well as a line of kitchen textiles; he not only sold Kid Stuff as source material for two television documentaries, but for (and with) the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, he co-created and curated a 4500-square foot interactive traveling exhibition based on the book that toured internationally for 12 years; and as the author of two novelty cookbooks (The Easy-Bake Oven Gourmet and The Breakfast Cereal Gourmet), he has served as a media spokesperson for publicity campaigns for Quaker Oats, White Castle and Hasbro.

2021-2022 Christmas Seasoned Readers: Moments to Rekindle Joy-filled Strength

 

Christmas comfort... Holiday cheer...

Small moments of escape...

So many titles... Inspired... Collected!

The Wayside: Home of Authors

Massachusetts

Margaret M Lothrop

MrsK's Goodreads Review Link: simply click the link to read the book review!

Thomas Kinkade

ISBN: 0200049045121

Publisher's Synopsis:

Celebrate the birth of the Savior with Thomas Kinkade. Come Let Us Adore Him will warm both your heart and home with selected passages from the New King James Version, accented by Kinkade's luminescent, full-color art.

A meaningful blend of Scripture, fireside stories, seasonal reflections, and the words of classic Christmas hymns, Come Let Us Adore Him provides a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Superbly printed and bound in juniper green bonded leather, this keepsake collection of Kinkade's beloved paintings makes a beautiful display piece for the coffee table or mantle.

"On the canvas of my mind, I see the picture clearly..."

MrsK's Review:

Holiday traditions, what inspires you to open the covers of a holiday book? Could it be that within the covers of the book you find comfort, renewal, and joy? Might it be that there are moments "just for you" that you could steal away and re-read a favored treasure?

With the beauty of Kinkade's painted heart-light, the season of our Lord will bring inspirations perfected for this season of celebration. Take a brief moment daily... to remember your Christmas' of love and years gone by.

"For unto us a Child is born..."

IS 9: 6-7

Meet the Author:

  Thomas Kinkade was known as the "Painter of Light." His works, although spurned by the secular art establishment, were very popular with Christians and many others.

Karen Kingsbury

ISBN: 9781451687576

Publisher's Synopsis:

As Christmas nears, John Baxter makes a bold gesture - he invites a stranger to share Christmas Eve dinner with his family. But not just any stranger. This woman is the recipient of his daughter Erin's heart. John knows the invitation will impact each of his adult kids and their families. But will they choose to embrace their guest? And how will the woman's presence affect his granddaughter - the one who feels the loss of her mother most keenly?

Kendra Bryant, John's surprising guest, has been given a second chance at life, but at great cost to the Baxter family. Maybe meeting them will instill some much-needed peace into her life. And maybe Christmas Eve dinner will even help heal Kendra's failing marriage.

Meanwhile, Maddie West's job at the local theater has her working alongside an amazing guy. But Maddie knows she has to keep him at a distance or risk exposing a secret she's hidden for years. In a moment of faith, she sends up a desperate prayer for help. What happens next leaves Maddie - and the entire Baxter family - shocked at God's perfect grace and timing.

"Heavy snow clouds hung low over Blooming, Indiana..."

MrsK's Review:

Whether you already know the Baxter family, or you are choosing to meet this faith-filled family for the first time, what you will discover is the yearly tradition of a family gathering this is treasured throughout the years. 

Gatherings can be heartbreaking... Gatherings can be filled with anticipation... Gatherings can bring the expectation of cherished love... and gatherings can bring together those who have graced your years with understanding. 

It's within the covers of this book that you will discover the treasure of your Christmas spirit, as well as the necessary strength for a season of hope... 

Meet the Author:

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

Lauren Elliott

ISBN: 9781496720214

Publisher's Synopsis:

Addie's getting into the spirit for the upcoming Charity Auction—especially since she's got an 1843 copy of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol to donate. Her former colleagues at the Boston Public Library have confirmed that its worth runs toward the high five figures, which should help with the new pediatric wing. Her mood darkens, though, when a visitor from the past appears—Jonathan Hemingway, the father of her late fiancé. His presence stirs up sad memories for Addie, but also has her fuming when Jonathan, true to his womanizing ways, runs off for a lunchtime liaison with Teresa Lang, who's in charge of the auction.

Soon after, Addie heads to Teresa's office at the hospital—and finds the poor woman's dead body. What she doesn't find is her valuable first edition. What sort of Scrooge would steal from sick children and commit murder in the process? As a Nor'easter bears down and a mystery emerges about Jonathan's past, Addie must find out if she can appraise people's motives and characters as well as she can appraise rare books . . .

MrsK's Review:

Addison is creating a winter wonderland of lights in the bayed windows of her Beyond the Page book and curio shop. She is so thrilled about her discovery of Charles Dickens's first edition. The rare book could help build the new pediatric wing. The book promised to be the main "attraction" for the annual Christmas Charity Auction. Yet, now that the "ghost" of her Christmas past has arrived in town, Addie is unnerved about this season of compassion and joy.

Jonathan is once again creating havoc in Addison's life. Even though his son has passed, Addison has not forgiven him for all of the heartaches he caused his son. Why has he come to town?

With trepidation already in her heart, Addison arrived at the hospital to meet with Teresa. She is thrilled with the book's estimated value of $60,000 and is looking forward to handing in the certified document. Unfortunately, Teresa is not in her office. Have you had great news one minute and plummeted descended into a despairing moment of panic the next? Yep, Addison locates Teresa... at the bottom of the stairs... her head is in an odd direction... and she isn't breathing. Plus the book is missing! 

Learning to set aside emotions... learning to trust all of those in her life... and learning to follow the lead of her heart... Addison will have quite the not-so-happy holiday. The postponed auction, incoming snow storm, no Charles Dicken's book, could anything be worse? Absolutely... she's a person of interest in the murder of Teresa! Could it be Jonathan?

Enjoy a quick who-dun-it mystery for the holidays,

Meet the Author:

  

Lauren grew up devouring the entire Nancy Drew series and then graduated to Victoria Holt, Agatha Christie, Barbara Erskine, Lynn Kurland, and Michael Crichton to name a few of her favorite authors. When it came time for post-secondary education, journalism seemed like the logical choice as she had written for as long as she could remember. Soon after graduation, while working for a small publication, she discovered that reporting wasn’t what fueled her writing passions. As someone with an additionally strong background in professional theater who had the love of storytelling and captivating and holding an audience, her fiction-writing career began to take center stage.

Lauren Elliott’s new Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series promises to keep readers guessing right up until the last chapter. Plot twists and an array of colorful characters make for page-turning,, whodunit adventures filled with suspense, mystery, murder and just a touch of romance.

Jenny Colgan

ISBN: 9780063252141

Publisher's Synopsis:

When the department store she works in closes for good, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. She doesn’t want to move in with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered Edinburgh life.

Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want Carmen there either. Her sister has always been sarcastic and difficult. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs a retail assistant for his ailing bookshop, so welcoming Carmen might still have some benefits for everyone.

At Sofia’s behest, Carmen is thrown into the daily workings of old Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the streets of the old dark city. Can she use her design skills to revamp the store and bring it back to popularity in time to benefit from Christmas shopping traffic? Can she choose between bad boy literary rock star Blair and quiet Quaker student Oke? And will she heal the rift with the most important people of all: her family?

"And oh, how sweet and pleasant it is to the truly spiritual eye to see

several sorts of believers..." Isaac Penington

MrsK's Review:

Carmen has chosen many different pathways for success. Yet, once again she is low on cash and so not ready to return home for the holidays. Who would be if your sister was always the perfect daughter? Sofia has the perfect house, the grandchildren, and the station in life that completely un-nerves Carmen. Will she make it through the holidays and/or the rest of her life? She doubts it!

Sofia can't believe that her mother wants her to "help" sort out her sister's life. With three children, plus one on the way, a husband, and a case that she must finish before the baby arrives... well the last thing she needs is her "brat" of a sister under her roof!

Sometimes a door opens and there is a choice to walk through it, at least for the time being. Sofia has a client that is going to lose his family's bookshop if he doesn't turn a profit during Christmas. Carmen doesn't have a job and has always been a reader. Mr. McCredie's ancient bookshop in Edinburgh just might be a chance for both of them.

This holiday story is about finding hope in a hopeless situation. Discovering the inner joy when you begin helping others. Unveiling the calling of your personal interests as a career. Most importantly, dusting off the treasured volumes hidden within a quaint bookshop, in order, to bring life back to those treasured stories that have been awaiting a new reader.

Meet the Author:

  

Jenny Colgan is the author of numerous bestselling novels, including 'The Little Shop of Happy Ever After' and 'Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery, which are also published by Sphere.' Meet Me at the Cupcake Café' won the 2012 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance and was a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller, as was 'Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams, which won the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2013.

L. M. Montgomery

ISBN: 9780771061998

Publisher's Synopsis:

Share Anne’s delight at receiving the dress of her dreams, the joy of a young woman reunited with her long lost brother on Christmas Eve, and the surprise of a trio of sisters who inadvertently end a family feud by arriving at the wrong uncle’s house for Christmas dinner.

Featuring some well-loved characters from the Anne of Green Gables books, as well as plenty of new characters, this collection of short stories by L. M. Montgomery celebrates the joys and tribulations of Christmas and the hope of the new year. The perfect escape during the hectic holiday season and all year round.

"Christmas and New Year's is a season of celebration and reflection,

of taking stock of the months gone by...

and looking forward to the year to come."

MrsK's Review:

Family reunions, old traditions, eagerly awaited gifts, and plenty of good food... isn't that what every home wishes for? There are 16 stories from Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Windy Poplars. Short vignettes that will bring you the value of human kindness. You will shed a few tears for those in need. You will smile at Anne's unlimited hope. You will contemplate the concerns of past generations, as well as compare the concerns of today's generation.

Is there any better read for the holidays than short chapters that will melt away today's anxiety? Moments for a family read-aloud filled with hot cocoa and buttered popcorn. Reminders about the simplicity of smaller heart-full gift giving. Acknowledgment for those who are experiencing holidays that have no monetary value. In 2022, just for a moment, our families are in need of the valued treasures from those who wrote about their lives so long ago. Finding moments to discuss, moments of connections, and moments that will plant seeds of compassion. Isn't that what this season is about? The very first gift... was a child.

Meet the Author:

 Lucy Maud Montgomery was a Canadian author, best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908.
Montgomery was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911. She had three children and wrote close to a dozen books while she was living in the Leaskdale Manse before the family moved to Norval, Ontario in 1926. She died in Toronto April 24, 1942 and was buried at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.

Thomas Kinkade

ISBN: 9780736910996

Publisher's Synopsis:

Now in a compact edition, this collection of 20 paintings of cozy cottages and stately Victorian mansions glowing with the brilliant lights of Christmas by the beloved Painter of Light includes stories, quotes, poems, and carols that evoke the spirit of the season. Full color.

MrsK's Review:

Some of us travel many miles to be home for Christmas. Some have grown, and get go home. Yet, most of us remember the glow of anxious anticipation... the closer we got to our holiday home and the lights of warmth awaiting us.

Thomas Kinkade's  English cottages and Victorian homes will welcome you with his beautifully illuminated paintings. There are short passages that will create a ten-minute family moment in front of the fire. For those who are in the "grand" season of life, share your personal connections with these pages. Your insights... your memories... your story can be found within these pages. Many of us are now the guardians of today's future generations... let's gather them and share the stories of lives well lived.

"This then is Christmas..."

Alexander Smith

MrsK's Seasoned Reader Picks for Fall's 2022 Picks

 

When autumn arrives... it's a wonderous season for cozy reading nooks, great Holiday reads, and wonderfully delicious goodness... enjoy your discovery of these titles...

 Fall for these Reading Adventures...

Ellery Adams

ISBN: 9781496726445

Publisher's Synopsis:

While January snow falls outside in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, Nora Pennington is encouraging customers to cozy up indoors with a good book. Even though the shop and her bibliotherapy sessions keep Nora busy during the day, her nights are a little too quiet—until Deputy Andrews pulls Nora into the sci-fi section and asks her to help him plan a wedding proposal.

His bride-to-be, Hester, loves Little Women, and Nora sets to work arranging a special screening at the town’s new movie theater. But right before the deputy pops the question, Nora makes an unsettling discovery—someone has mutilated all her store’s copies of The Scarlet Letter, slicing angrily into the pages wherever Hester Prynne’s name is mentioned.

The coincidence disturbs Nora, who’s one of the few in Miracle Springs who knows that Hester gave up a baby for adoption many years ago. Her family heaped shame on her, and Hester still feels so guilty that she hasn’t even told her future husband. But when a dead man is found on a hiking trail just outside town, carrying a rare book, the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society unearth a connection to Hester’s past. Someone is intent on bringing the past to light, and it’s not just Hester’s relationship at stake, but her life…

"The secret lies in the reading and the writing.

You are able to read.

Every day you must read one page from some good book to your child.

Every day this must be until the child learns to read.

Then she must read every day.

I know this is the secret."

Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

MrsK's Review:

Don't you love book titles that call out to you? The Vanishing Type, I wonder what would this book be about? Could it be a book in which certain codes might need your attention? Could it be, I wonder... that part of the content vanishes on the page? Opening the cover of this book invites you with that quest to make a warm cup of chocolate... a dash for your favorite quilt... and a fire's glow with calming classical music.  Now that your reading "cove" is set... it's time to snuggle down "into" this book.

Once again Nora will inspire her patrons to snuggle up with a delightful warm cup of cheer and that perfect "uniquely" chosen book. This winter, Nora will be asked to help plan a special occasion for her closest friend, a friend who cherishes and rereads "Little Women" every year. She will discover a mysterious death along her hiking trail, seriously... what would you do if you're enjoying a crisp winter jaunt in the glorious wilderness... and there it is... an unknown lifeless body. How would you react if you had just locked up your bookstore, after reading a winter extravaganza, only to discover that your friend is lying completely still in the rain?  

Reading books about books is always a delight. So many new titles to be discovered... so many wonderful bookshop adventures... and a murder mystery... is there any other way to spend an evening? Yes, there is! I spent the evening in search of book snacks that would match the wonderfully delicious scones and meals that are discussed throughout this novel. Let me tell you... nothing in my pantry came close to the delicacies in this novel! *Read this novel with a pencil and journal... I wonder... is there a limit to a "To Be Read" pile?

MrsK

"May we all be people ahead of our time!"

Meet the Author:

USA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written over forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on her next novel, she bakes, gardens, drinks vats of coffee, spoils her three cats and searches for snacks. She lives with her husband and two children (aka the Trolls) in North Carolina. Ellery's Series Include: Secret, Book, & Scone Society (Kensington) Book Retreat Mysteries (Kensington) Books By the Bay Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries ((Berkley Prime Crime), Molly Appleby Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries (Beyond the Page), and Hope Street Mysteries (Beyond the Page).

Amy Clipston

ISBN: 9780310366652

Publisher's Synopsis:

Salina Petersheim runs her own booth at the Amish market, where she’s known for having the freshest and most delicious produce in the area. Her father is the bishop of her church district, and her brother is a deacon. They are a very close family, yet sometimes she tires of being compared to her older brother, Neil, who is married and has two children. She also feels the pressure of having to be the perfect daughter for her parents.

Salina has been dating Josiah for almost a year now, but he feels more like a friend than a boyfriend. Her parents approve of Josiah, who is a hardworking roofer. He’s handsome and easy to talk to, but he just doesn’t warm her heart the way she feels a boyfriend and future husband should. She secretly longs for more.

Along comes William “Will” Zimmerman, a Mennonite chef who runs a restaurant located next door to the Amish market. He wants Salina to supply the produce for his restaurant, and as they forge a business relationship, they both feel themselves falling in love. Salina especially tries to deny her feelings for Will since her father wants her to marry within the community.

MrsK's Review:

Salina is a dedicated farmer. Her farm fresh vegetables and fruits are desired at her Amish market booth. Her heart is filled to overflowing when she is tending her garden. If you have ever been a gardener... you will understand the closeness to our Lord as you tend the fruits of your labor. 

Will is a Mennonite chef who has opened his own restaurant across the street from the Amish market. In need of extra vegetables, Will ventures across the street to the market where he sees Salina's produce, he is thrilled with the discovery of fresh and local produce for his patrons. 

Both characters have their own paths... their own perspective relationships... their own independent futures. Given the ease of their interests, the agreed agreed-upon standing business connection, and the joy of a friendship. Yet, they understand the difference and boundaries of their faith. A faith that leads them to a "fork in the road," choices that require personal surrender unto the will of the Lord.

The farm stand offers inspiration, friendships, heart, and joy in a season of thanksgiving...

MrsK

An Amish Marketplace Series

The Bake Shop (2019) The Farm Stand (2020)

The Coffee Corner (2020) The Jam and Jelly Nook (2021)

Meet the Author:

Hi! I'm a bestselling author of heartwarming romance and happily ever after.

My favorite young adult book is "Roadside Assistance." I consider that the book of my heart because I poured a lot of myself into the main character, Emily Curtis. My favorite Amish book is probably "The Forgotten Recipe", which will be out in December. It's the first book in my new series, The Amish Heirloom Series. I think this may be the most emotional Amish book I have written so far.

Nancy Coco

ISBN: 9781496731784

Publisher's Synopsis:

For the picturesque town of Oceanview on the Oregon Coast, May brings blossoming fruit trees and the annual UFO festival. As Aunt Eloise tries out alien costumes on their Havana brown cat Everett, Wren is off to meet with a bee wrangler, her go-to guy for local fruit tree honey.

But when she arrives, Elias Brentwood is lying on the ground amidst destroyed hives and a swarm of angry bees. The bees didn’t kill him, a blow to the head did. As blue-eyed Officer Jim Hampton investigates and the town is invaded by its own swarm of conspiracy theorists and crackpots, Wren and Aunt Eloise decide the only way to catch the bee wrangler’s killer is to set up a sting . . .

MrsK's Review:

Wren owns a delightful honey shop, "Let It Bee," in a small coastal shop. Her customers enjoy bee candles, bee treats, bee specialty gifts... and of course an inside view of a bee colony actively at work through an outside bee hive cased in a glass window honeycomb. She has spent her time making honey products and learning how to care for bees. Did you know that the Pacific NW coast has "bee wranglers?"

Unfortunately, Wren discovers her friend, Elias, on the ground with angry bees flying all around him. After calling in professional bee wranglers, Wren learns that Elias is dead. His hives have been destroyed and Wren is not going to "bee" satisfied until the killer is arrested.

With a delightful assortment of friends, Wren will find plenty to make, do, and investigate. Everett, her feline consultant, help has his own thoughts about the killer. Her Aunt Eloise will remain loyal to Wren, her shop, and to her efforts in keeping Wren out of trouble.

For a quick "Beetective" read, this enjoyable mystery not only has numerous red-herrings, community involvement, crazy outings, as well as noteworthy "honey" recipes.

Mrs.K

Meet the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, Nancy J Parra AKA Nancy Coco AKA Nell Hampton is the author of over 30 published novels which include five mystery series: The Oregon Honey-comb Mystery Series (Kensington), The Candy-Coated Mysteries (Kensington), The Kensington Palace Mystery Series (Crooked Lane), The Wine Country Tours Mystery Series (Crooked Lane) The Gluten-free Baker’s Treat Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), and The Perfect Proposal Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime). Her writing has been called witty and her protagonists plucky by reviewers around the world. Nancy is a member of Sisters in Crime, and loves to hear from readers.

 

Sulari Gentill

ISBN: 9781464215872

Publisher's Synopsis:

The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation, and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer.

"Open me carefully..."

Emily Dickinson

MrsK's Review:

Absolutely, you must open the covers of this book...carefully...very carefully. You must have time to discover this unfolding mystery. Time to decipher the taunts, the deceivers, and the trail of the killer.

Hannah is the author, and Leo is a friendly editor/author reading Hannah's latest transcript. You are the audience, the reader looking into their relationship as Hannah is writing her newest mystery.

In the Boston Public Library, Freddie has gone into the Reading Room to focus her writing. She's an author stuck in what she writes about. While "people-watching," as most writers will do, she begins taking notes and wondering about those sitting around her. That is how she thought her day, her life would proceed... until that piercing scream startles everyone. And so the story begins...

Within the covers of this book, you will discover inside perspectives of a writer's mind. You will meet four strangers as they move on from an "unforgettable" library journey. Most of all, you will try to tie together the murdering threads...

Time to read... time to re-read... time to ponder... and time enough to be led astray...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Once upon a time, Sulari Gentill was a corporate lawyer serving as a director on public boards, with only a vague disquiet that there was something else she was meant to do. That feeling did not go away until she began to write. And so Sulari became the author of the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries: thus far, ten historical crime novels chronicling the life and adventures of her 1930s Australian gentleman artist, the Hero Trilogy, based on the myths and epics of the ancient world, and the Ned Kelly Award winning Crossing the Lines (published in the US as After She Wrote Hime). In 2014 she collaborated with National Gallery of Victoria to write a short story which was produced in audio to feature in the Fashion Detective Exhibition, and thereafter published by the NGV. IN 2019 Sulari was part of a 4-member delegation of Australian crime writers sponsored by the Australia Council to tour the US as ambassadors of Australian Crime Writing. Sulari lives with her husband, Michael, and their boys, Edmund and Atticus, on a small farm in Batlow where she grows French Black Truffles and refers to her writing as “work” so that no one will suggest she get a real job.

Jenn McKinlay

ISBN: 9780451492654

Publisher's Synopsis:

In the twelfth Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay, the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew follows the clever crumb trail of a killer who's anything but cookie-cutter.

Life is all sugar and spice for the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers--Melanie Cooper is engaged to the delectable Joe DeLaura, Angie Harper and her husband Tate are savoring married life, and the bakery is bustling with happy customers. Until one of their most valued cupcake connoisseurs ends up dead.

Local glass artist and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has always suffered from a wide variety of health issues. In an effort to cheer her up, her doting husband, Peter, brings her a four-pack of her favorite cupcakes every week. But when the police discover that Rene has been poisoned, there's no sugarcoating the fact that the last things she ate were the bakery's signature pumpkin spice cupcakes! With their lives and bakery at stake, it's up to Mel and Angie to find out who poisoned their artist friend and why, before their future is frosted for good.

MrsK's Review:

Melanie (Mel) is a delightful cupcake baker, a steadfast friend, and quick-witted... especially when it comes to unexpected deaths. Joe is Mel's fiancé, her childhood sweetheart, who happens to be one of Angie's brothers.  Angie is Mel's best friend, the clerk at Fairy Tale Cupcakes, and a soon-to-be mother (including 7 brothers as guardians). And then there's Uncle Stan, an inspector who happens to have been Mel's father's brother. The Uncle relationship has perks for Mel's inability to stay out of mysteries or murders. The Uncle relationship can get a bit dicey since her father's death, but Uncle Stan is now the steadfast rock for her mother.

One would think that having your own delectable cupcake bakery, a community of friends and businesses, excellent in-laws, and amazing staff would be enough to keep Mel away from her sleuthing personality. Yet, that would be a mistaken character analysis.

When Mel arrives for her meeting with Rene, a crime scene is underway. Which means that someone is hurt or dead. No matter what her intentions were for her cupcake orders, Mel just has to get into the "scene." Of course, once she finds out it's her friend Rene... well you know Mel will be involved.

Rene is a local glass artist who is consumed with her approaching exhibit, most important showing off her creations beyond her shop in the Desert Winds Gallery. She is also a big fan of Mel's cupcakes, which will be the only dessert for Rene's art gala-extravaganza. Rene's unpredictable behavior was causing concern for those around her. Could it be her lack of sleep, nourishment, stress about the exhibit, or maybe too much caffeine?

With wonderful twists, delightfully intriguing characters, and yum-inspired cupcake recipes... this book is a perfect Fall cozy read,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewer's Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for the best cozy mystery. Her work has been translated into multiple languages in countries all over the world. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband's guitars.

MrsK's Fall Picks K-YA for 2022

 

When autumn arrives... it's a wonderous season for cozy reading nooks, great Holiday reads, and wonderfully delicious goodness... enjoy your discovery of these titles...

 Fall for these Reading Adventures...

Cozy Fall Read-Aloud: Family nights within a story...

Cole, Henry

ISBN: 9780062658128

Publisher's Synopsis:

In this sequel to A Nest for Celeste, Celeste is hundreds of miles from home following an unexpected journey aboard a Mississippi steamboat. After mishaps and disasters, she finds herself on the frontier in southern Indiana. It's 1822, and Celeste meets a tall, lanky boy wielding an ax: a young Abraham Lincoln.

The journey reveals the harsh realities of frontier life for the Lincoln family. But with the help of Celeste’s new woodland animal friends and some creativity, she may just prove that even the littlest creatures can make a big difference. And it’s in losing her way that Celeste finds herself in a place she never expected—home, finally.

“A stand-alone sequel to A Nest for Celeste (2010), this chapter book has everything that made its predecessor so enjoyable: an inviting format, good storytelling, and at least one large, beautifully drawn shaded pencil illustration on each double-page spread. An inviting entry into historical fiction.” –Booklist

MrsK's Review:

When Celeste becomes separated during her evening excursion, she finds herself traveling away from the safety of her home. As the wagon of cotton completes it's journey, Celeste realizes that she must get off of the wagon in order for her friends to find her. While she scurries away from the busy loading platform... and all of those feet and cats, she locates an apple crate in which she could hide. With high hopes, Celeste is awaiting her friends rescue.

Unfortunately, that apple crate is loaded on a Mississippi steamboat.  With an amazing stroke of luck, she encounters a gentle-souled dog who isn't interested in eating a mouse. Rosebud watches over Celeste as the steamboat begins sinking. Getting to shore is paramount for Celeste.

Once on shore, Celeste finds a new home in a tree. It wasn't as nice as her room at home, yet it was dry and secure. Or so she thinks. Celeste will meet new forest friends and one young boy with an axe.

This beautifully crafted journey of forest critters and a young boy, who is destined to be America's President, will provide delightful "storytime" memories again and again!

MrsK

Meet the Author/Illustrator:

  

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children's books. He has worked on nearly one hundred and fifty books for children, including Nesting, Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack's Garden, and On Meadowview Street. Henry loves being outside where he can sketch and write.

Snuggling into an adventure: Grades 3-5

Dusti Bowling

ISBN: 9781454932994

Publisher's Synopsis:

Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she’ll have to answer the question over and over again.

Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It’s hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven’s about to discover she can do it all . . . even without arms.

MrsK's Review:

Aven has "grit!" She meets her struggles with humor, compassion, and with the most delightful determination toward any and all situations. Yes, she was born without arms... yet she does not allow others to sway her abilities... even if it is in her art of storytelling.

Have you ever considered the way others see you? What would you do and/or feel if little kids looked at you and ran away screaming? Where would you eat at school if you had to eat with your feet? How would you deal with boots during the winter? Every day Aven has grown up without the feelings of a "can't-do" attitude. She knows how to combine her critical thinking skills with all life skills that come her way. Plus she knows the truth behind being a "real-time" friend!

Her family has moved to Stagecoach Pass and Aven will now be enrolled in a new middle school. Needing to make new friends will be difficult, and yet, Aven is ready for the challenge. Would you be?

Aven's story will take "room" within your heart, as well as give your inner spirit the delight to soar with joy. Be the reader that discovers a "must read to share" novel...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

   

DUSTI BOWLING grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where, as her family will tell you, she always had her nose in a book. She released her first middle grade novel in 2017 and hasn't stopped writing since.

Dusti's books have won the Reading the West Award, the Sakura Medal, a Golden Kite Honor, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and have been nominated for a Cybil and over thirty state awards. Her books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and have been named best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, A Mighty Girl, Shelf Awareness, and many more.

Dusti currently lives in New River, Arizona with her husband, three daughters, a dozen tarantulas, a gopher snake named Burrito, a king snake name Death Noodle, and a cockatiel named Gandalf the Grey.

Falling for a must read: MS-YA

Gary D Schmidt

ISBN: 9780544022805

Publisher Synopsis:

Okay For Now, his latest novel, explores another seemingly improbable alliance, this one between new outsider in town Doug Swieteck and Lil Spicer, the savvy spitfire daughter of his deli owner boss. With her challenging assistance, Doug discovers new sides of himself. Along the way, he also readjusts his relationship with his abusive father, his school peers, and his older brother, a newly returned war victim of Vietnam.

"The only lousy thing in the room was a very

MrsK's Review:

In 1968, Doug's family moved to New York, do you know how rough it is to be uprooted as a middle schooler? Add in the fact that things were tough between him and his dad. His oldest brother was somewhere in Viet Nam, and his other brother was a jerk. No days were good days!

Do you remember your first steps into a public library? If not, that's ok... for now. For Doug, his first steps will lead him into a place of refuge, incredible discoveries, and hope in making something wrong... right. It all begins when Doug goes up the library stairs into a room with a huge book, a very old... huge book. 

How this "huge" book of birds becomes Doug's "crossroad" for change will affect his actions, his heart towards the weight of his father's wrath, his feelings towards accepting new friends, as well as his determination in helping his older brother who returns home from the war.

This is a story of redemption. One that is sparked by an ornithologist's art collection, a chance meeting during his father's work picnic, the power of friendships, as well as a life changing quiz about the New York Yankees.

A true treasure for your bookshelf, any classroom shelves, and a must for school libraries,

Enjoy meeting Doug...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Gary D. Schmidt is an American children's writer of nonfiction books and young adult novels, including two Newbery Honor books. He lives on a farm in Alto, Michigan, with his wife and six children, where he splits wood, plants gardens, writes, feeds the wild cats that drop by and wishes that sometimes the sea breeze came that far inland. He is a Professor of English at Calvin College.