Hello,
Last week I sent a list of read aloud books to you. I had a request for some ideas for read aloud books that are Christian, rather than secular, so this week I will focus on some titles that will fit that criteria.
Deborah by Margaret Heppenstall. One of my favorite read aloud books is Deborah by Heppenstall. This is REALLY old. I read it as a child and it was a real eye-opener to me that someone could and would write a whole book about a Bible character. (Now, we have dozens of them sold by our local ABC store and I have read many of them. They are all good, too, and while most of them are written for adults, they also might make good read alouds. You will need to decide that.) Back to Deborah. This is the story of the Little Captive Maid who was sold into Naaman’s household. Very little is known about her, but Ms. Heppenstall has written a wonderful story. Kids really like it and after I have read it, they want to check it out again. Make sure you have a copy or two in your library.
Voyager by Charles Mills. Charles Mills wrote a great story called Voyager years ago. It was published by the Review and Herald and soon was out of print. I just did a quick check on Amazon and see that there are nearly 30 copies for sale and a few of them are only $0.01 each. The story line is about a preteen boy whose parents have just adopted a young Asian girl. He wants his new sister to be happy and he builds a time machine. He and his sister go back in time to Bible times and view the new world immediately after it was created and many other places. They learn about the Bible and learn to love Jesus. I know. You might be worried about the time machine part, but trust me. It is really a great story. If you like this one, there is a sequel called Voyager ll: Back in a Flash where the story continues. He wrote a third book in this series called Truth Trackers, but I wasn’t quite as impressed with that one. The first one is good and the second one is almost as good. There was something about the third one that didn’t feel the same to me.
Speaking of Charles Mills; he also co-wrote a series with Ruth Redding Brand that I really like. A few friends find a hidden mansion back in the woods and they sneak around trying to see inside. An old man surprises them. He turns out to be the grandfather of one of the children. She is embarrassed by him at first, but the man – Professor Appleby – shows them some of his treasures sent by his sister who is traveling in the Holy Land. She also sends tapes for him to listen to and the children love the Bible stories. They return again and again to hear more Bible stories.
Ruth Redding Brand wrote the Bible stories and they are completely wonderful. Charles Mills wrote the connecting modern story parts. There are six books in the set and I think you really need to read them in order since the modern parts tend to build on one another. The first book sets up the whole series, and the second book builds on that information. My guess is that you have a few of these in your library already. If not, likely someone in your church has a copy you can borrow or you can go to the ABC or Amazon.
Book 1 – Mysterious Stories from the Bible
Book 2 - Amazing Stories from the Bible
Book 3 - Love Stories from the Bible
Book 4 - Adventure Stories from the Bible
Book 5 - Miracle Stories from the Bible
Book 6 - Heroic Stories from the Bible
Do not forget all the old mission stories. Here are a few of my favorites.
Clever Queen by Eric B. Hare
Jungle Thorn by Norma Youngberg
Dookie, Sookie, and Big Mo by Underhill
Dr. Rabbit by Eric B. Hare
There are many more. Also, check out Josephine Cunnington Edwards, the SDA quintessential storyteller. Swift Arrow is a fabulous story and I don’t know of anyone who does not like that story. George is captured by Indians and lives with them as the son of the chief for a number of years until he finally escapes and returns home. It is very exciting.
I hope you have a great week. Enjoy yourself.
Audrey
Currently reading:
A Life Inspired: C. S. Lewis biography by Christopher Gordon
Secret Lives of the First Ladies (audio book) by Cormac O’Brien
The Complete Works of P. G. Wodehouse (I’m 29% through on my Kindle)
Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
Monday, October 26, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
Read Alouds
Hello!
I had a request for ideas for books to read aloud. I began to make a quick list, but it turned into a much longer list than I had expected. I will star my favorites. Some of these are out of print, but you can get them through any online bookstore.
Books for Any Age
*The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You probably know about these and have them in your library. The TV show is loosely based on the books which are much better.
*The Secret Garden by Burnett. I never got to read this aloud to my third graders because they had already heard it in second grade. (Right, Dorice?!) Don’t be intimidated if the children say they saw the movie. None of the movies live up to the book.
*Ramona the Pest by Cleary. Actually, ANY book by Beverly Cleary. There are many to choose from. If you don’t have any of them in your library, don’t let me know about it!
*Frindle by Andrew Clements. Any of his school stories are terrific.
*Snow Treasure by McSwigan. Excitement, adventure, gold, Nazis, and a true story. You can’t go wrong with this one.
The Hundred Dresses by Estes. Story of bullying and regret. Powerful and simple. Great discussion starter.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Coerr. True story of a Japanese girl who contracts leukemia as a result of the atom bomb. Very touching and sad. Teach children to make an origami paper crane, then let them fold cranes while you read this book.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Robinson. Hilarious escapades of the Herdmans. Be ready for great big belly laughs.
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Dagliesh. Pioneer story of a young girl.
*Herbie Jones series by Kline. Very funny and realistic. The author is/was a teacher so she knows all about kids like Herbie. One of my favorites is the one in the bathroom.
*Owls in the Family by Mowat. True story of a young boy in Saskatchewan in the 40s or 50s who raises two owls as pets. Hilarious.
Stone Fox by Gardiner. Sled dogs, racing, prize money. This may be a lit set for some of you, so if it is, disregard for a read aloud.
**The Story of Holly and Ivy by Godden. My favorite Christmas story to read aloud to 3rd and 4th graders. I have a display case just outside my library and I turn the display case into a toy shop window when I read this book. I’m so happy that this is the year to read it. One of our volunteer aides collects dolls and is very involved in helping me with this display. We’ve been working on parts of it for nearly two years now. I’ll show pictures and tell you about it when I put it up. Meanwhile, buy this book if you don’t have it and read it. Get the edition that has the Barbara Cooney illustrations. That is the window that I copy.
*Safe Return by Dexter. I am currently reading this to fifth and sixth grades. They are studying countries in the world, so I chose to read this which is based on an event that happened years ago on the island just off Sweden named Gotland.
Caddie Woodlawn by Brink. The story of Brink’s grandmother in the mid 1800s. Won the Newbery medal so you know it is a good story. The story of the Woodlawn family continues in the book Magical Melons. There is one story in Magical Melons that the older boy tells to the younger ones that is absolutely hilarious, but I would recommend you read it first to see if it is something you want to read aloud. If not, the story can be skipped and none the wiser.
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. Robert McCloskey is most famous for his picture books, most notably Make Way for Duckings, but his chapter books are great fun. My favorite story is the one about the doughnuts. I seem to remember Captain Kangaroo reading the story when I was a child. Now I have just dated myself!
The Great Brain series by Fitzgerald. I haven’t actually read this series, but one of our teachers read the books each year to her classroom and the students loved it. I’ve heard others wax rhapsodic about them, too, so I include them in this list for you.
Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain by Burch. Ida Early is described as an Appalachian ‘Mary Poppins’. She comes to be the housekeeper for a family.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. You likely read this one when young, and know the story of the boy who runs away and practices survival skills. If you like this one, you might consider the sequels On the Far Side of the Mountain, then Frightful’s Mountain. And, if you do go this far with the series, you might as well add the resource book with survival skills to your library– Pocket Guide to the Outdoors: Based on My Side of the Mountain.
**Toliver’s Secret by Brady. This story is based on an incident during the Revolutionary Way. A young girl must carry a message baked inside a loaf of bread to another town across the river. It is easy enough. Get on her grandfather’s friend’s fishing boat which will take her to the town. Go to the tavern and deliver the loaf of bread to the owner, then he will make sure she gets home. She dresses up like a boy, but nothing goes the way Grandfather expected it would go. I LOVE this story.
**Understood Betsy by Fisher. The story of a young girl who is sent to relatives when illness prevents her aunt from taking care of her. Elizabeth Ann finds her courage and independence and grows into a strong happy girl. As Elizabeth Ann begins to become independent and learn to do things for herself, her name in the book goes from Elizabeth Ann to Betsy. I watch for this each time I reread this.
So, there is a list of read alouds that I like. I am positive that I left lots of books off this list, but that’s how things go. I might do another list again sometime and include some of your favorites.
Have a great week.
Audrey
Currently Reading:
The Edge by Roland Smith
Carney’s House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
A Life Inspired: C. S. Lewis biography by Christopher Gordon
Secret Lives of the First Ladies (audio book) by Cormac O’Brien
The Complete Works of P. G. Wodehouse (I’m 29% through on my Kindle)
I had a request for ideas for books to read aloud. I began to make a quick list, but it turned into a much longer list than I had expected. I will star my favorites. Some of these are out of print, but you can get them through any online bookstore.
Books for Any Age
*The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. You probably know about these and have them in your library. The TV show is loosely based on the books which are much better.
*The Secret Garden by Burnett. I never got to read this aloud to my third graders because they had already heard it in second grade. (Right, Dorice?!) Don’t be intimidated if the children say they saw the movie. None of the movies live up to the book.
*Ramona the Pest by Cleary. Actually, ANY book by Beverly Cleary. There are many to choose from. If you don’t have any of them in your library, don’t let me know about it!
*Frindle by Andrew Clements. Any of his school stories are terrific.
*Snow Treasure by McSwigan. Excitement, adventure, gold, Nazis, and a true story. You can’t go wrong with this one.
The Hundred Dresses by Estes. Story of bullying and regret. Powerful and simple. Great discussion starter.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Coerr. True story of a Japanese girl who contracts leukemia as a result of the atom bomb. Very touching and sad. Teach children to make an origami paper crane, then let them fold cranes while you read this book.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Robinson. Hilarious escapades of the Herdmans. Be ready for great big belly laughs.
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Dagliesh. Pioneer story of a young girl.
*Herbie Jones series by Kline. Very funny and realistic. The author is/was a teacher so she knows all about kids like Herbie. One of my favorites is the one in the bathroom.
*Owls in the Family by Mowat. True story of a young boy in Saskatchewan in the 40s or 50s who raises two owls as pets. Hilarious.
Stone Fox by Gardiner. Sled dogs, racing, prize money. This may be a lit set for some of you, so if it is, disregard for a read aloud.
**The Story of Holly and Ivy by Godden. My favorite Christmas story to read aloud to 3rd and 4th graders. I have a display case just outside my library and I turn the display case into a toy shop window when I read this book. I’m so happy that this is the year to read it. One of our volunteer aides collects dolls and is very involved in helping me with this display. We’ve been working on parts of it for nearly two years now. I’ll show pictures and tell you about it when I put it up. Meanwhile, buy this book if you don’t have it and read it. Get the edition that has the Barbara Cooney illustrations. That is the window that I copy.
*Safe Return by Dexter. I am currently reading this to fifth and sixth grades. They are studying countries in the world, so I chose to read this which is based on an event that happened years ago on the island just off Sweden named Gotland.
Caddie Woodlawn by Brink. The story of Brink’s grandmother in the mid 1800s. Won the Newbery medal so you know it is a good story. The story of the Woodlawn family continues in the book Magical Melons. There is one story in Magical Melons that the older boy tells to the younger ones that is absolutely hilarious, but I would recommend you read it first to see if it is something you want to read aloud. If not, the story can be skipped and none the wiser.
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. Robert McCloskey is most famous for his picture books, most notably Make Way for Duckings, but his chapter books are great fun. My favorite story is the one about the doughnuts. I seem to remember Captain Kangaroo reading the story when I was a child. Now I have just dated myself!
The Great Brain series by Fitzgerald. I haven’t actually read this series, but one of our teachers read the books each year to her classroom and the students loved it. I’ve heard others wax rhapsodic about them, too, so I include them in this list for you.
Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain by Burch. Ida Early is described as an Appalachian ‘Mary Poppins’. She comes to be the housekeeper for a family.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. You likely read this one when young, and know the story of the boy who runs away and practices survival skills. If you like this one, you might consider the sequels On the Far Side of the Mountain, then Frightful’s Mountain. And, if you do go this far with the series, you might as well add the resource book with survival skills to your library– Pocket Guide to the Outdoors: Based on My Side of the Mountain.
**Toliver’s Secret by Brady. This story is based on an incident during the Revolutionary Way. A young girl must carry a message baked inside a loaf of bread to another town across the river. It is easy enough. Get on her grandfather’s friend’s fishing boat which will take her to the town. Go to the tavern and deliver the loaf of bread to the owner, then he will make sure she gets home. She dresses up like a boy, but nothing goes the way Grandfather expected it would go. I LOVE this story.
**Understood Betsy by Fisher. The story of a young girl who is sent to relatives when illness prevents her aunt from taking care of her. Elizabeth Ann finds her courage and independence and grows into a strong happy girl. As Elizabeth Ann begins to become independent and learn to do things for herself, her name in the book goes from Elizabeth Ann to Betsy. I watch for this each time I reread this.
So, there is a list of read alouds that I like. I am positive that I left lots of books off this list, but that’s how things go. I might do another list again sometime and include some of your favorites.
Have a great week.
Audrey
Currently Reading:
The Edge by Roland Smith
Carney’s House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
A Life Inspired: C. S. Lewis biography by Christopher Gordon
Secret Lives of the First Ladies (audio book) by Cormac O’Brien
The Complete Works of P. G. Wodehouse (I’m 29% through on my Kindle)
Monday, October 5, 2015
Sunflower Award for 2014 and 2015
Hello!
I will culminate my Sunflower Award posts this week with a list of books previously read for our Sunflower Award. I’ll try to refrain from too many comments and instead just give you the titles of the books.
In 2014 the list included:
Almost Home by Joan Bauer – foster home, Joan Bauer is a favorite author
Same Sun Here by Silas House
A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami Dechristofano – nonfiction, science
Chickadee by Louise Erdich
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt – foster home, great author
The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin - nonfiction
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson – anything by this author is going to be good
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan
Above Average by Andrew Clements
Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – Winner for 2014
Dumpling Days by Grace Lin – Asian family and culture
In 2015 the list included:
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin – Winner for 2015 – I have read books by Ann Martin and chose the book because of the Asperger’s which I thought would help readers learn more about what it is like to have this, but in reading it we found that there is a place where the father (who is not too supportive of the daughter) takes the Lord’s name in vain. However, the story was so powerful, we decided to choose it for our favorite and I put a disclaimer in the front of the book. We hesitated and discussed this a lot, but finally came to this conclusion that works for our school.
All Four Stars by Tara Dairman – a girl loves to cook and becomes a food critic, slightly unbelievable, but fun
Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince – true story of a Somalian refugee who becomes a ballerina
Half a World Away by Cynthis Kadohata – story of adoption/ dealing with being adopted
Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald – Art mystery, great story, was a contender for the award
Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick – story about surviving Hurricane Katrina
Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord – girl moves to a beach town, befriends the neighbors, enters a photography contest, one neighbor has Alzheimer’s
Skink – No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen – Bought this because of the author, but it isn’t appropriate after all. We have others by this author, so I assumed it would be OK. Wrong assumption.
Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli
Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamina - story about surviving Hurricane Katrina
Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera
Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
I kept all the titles in so you could see that I have made a few mistakes in choosing books for the library. I have decided to buy them ahead of time now and read them or have a trusted parent read for me to assess them BEFORE I put them on the Sunflower list. I won’t make those mistakes again.
I have also tried to find books that are interesting to read, and have some kind of lesson to learn or information to learn from the book.
If you read something that you would recommend, please let me know and I will promote it here on this blog.
Have a great week and happy reading.
Audrey
Currently reading:
Tangled Vines by Kay Bratt (Book 2 of The Scavenger’s Daughters)
Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill
Adventist Spirituality for Thinkers and Seekers (the Faith I Highly Recommend) by John Thomas McLarty
The Haystacks Church by Andy Nash
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
I will culminate my Sunflower Award posts this week with a list of books previously read for our Sunflower Award. I’ll try to refrain from too many comments and instead just give you the titles of the books.
In 2014 the list included:
Almost Home by Joan Bauer – foster home, Joan Bauer is a favorite author
Same Sun Here by Silas House
A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami Dechristofano – nonfiction, science
Chickadee by Louise Erdich
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt – foster home, great author
The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin - nonfiction
Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson – anything by this author is going to be good
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
Kindred Souls by Patricia MacLachlan
Above Average by Andrew Clements
Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – Winner for 2014
Dumpling Days by Grace Lin – Asian family and culture
In 2015 the list included:
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin – Winner for 2015 – I have read books by Ann Martin and chose the book because of the Asperger’s which I thought would help readers learn more about what it is like to have this, but in reading it we found that there is a place where the father (who is not too supportive of the daughter) takes the Lord’s name in vain. However, the story was so powerful, we decided to choose it for our favorite and I put a disclaimer in the front of the book. We hesitated and discussed this a lot, but finally came to this conclusion that works for our school.
All Four Stars by Tara Dairman – a girl loves to cook and becomes a food critic, slightly unbelievable, but fun
Taking Flight by Michaela DePrince – true story of a Somalian refugee who becomes a ballerina
Half a World Away by Cynthis Kadohata – story of adoption/ dealing with being adopted
Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald – Art mystery, great story, was a contender for the award
Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick – story about surviving Hurricane Katrina
Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord – girl moves to a beach town, befriends the neighbors, enters a photography contest, one neighbor has Alzheimer’s
Skink – No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen – Bought this because of the author, but it isn’t appropriate after all. We have others by this author, so I assumed it would be OK. Wrong assumption.
Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli
Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamina - story about surviving Hurricane Katrina
Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera
Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
I kept all the titles in so you could see that I have made a few mistakes in choosing books for the library. I have decided to buy them ahead of time now and read them or have a trusted parent read for me to assess them BEFORE I put them on the Sunflower list. I won’t make those mistakes again.
I have also tried to find books that are interesting to read, and have some kind of lesson to learn or information to learn from the book.
If you read something that you would recommend, please let me know and I will promote it here on this blog.
Have a great week and happy reading.
Audrey
Currently reading:
Tangled Vines by Kay Bratt (Book 2 of The Scavenger’s Daughters)
Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill
Adventist Spirituality for Thinkers and Seekers (the Faith I Highly Recommend) by John Thomas McLarty
The Haystacks Church by Andy Nash
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
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