Blog

Hateful: #6 – Family Court “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up…

Theodore Taylor’s Cay opens in the stunning setting of Curacao, a Dutch island off the Venezuelan coast. German submarines lurk nearby as World War II touches even the sunny Caribbean. Young Phillip and his mother seek to escape danger by fleeing to the United States, but their ship is torpedoed by the Germans. In the rush…

This month, I will highlight William J. Bennett’s collections of children’s books. His Book of Virtue and others like it make terrific reading for older children, but his picture book editions are equaling winning. Today, we’ll turn the spotlight on Bennett’s Children’s Book of Heroes. This collection provides a great assortment of stories, especially for…

Hateful: #7 – Dog Ears “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up…

In Soldier’s Heart, Gary Paulsen crafts the story of a young Minnesota farm boy who leaves home at age fifteen to join the Union forces during the Civil War. This work of historical fiction is more appropriate for older readers as Paulsen pulls his readers onto the field of battle with farm boy Charley. Depictions…

Illustrator Christian Birmingham brings C. S. Lewis’s beloved story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to young readers in a picture book format. Explore a wintry Narnia, the Beavers’ house, the icy palace of the White Witch, and, of course, Cair Paravel, the castle by the sea through Birmingham’s rich illustrations. “…Aslan is on…

The U.S. military prides itself on being the best in the world. When you consider special warfare operations, the options are many and the bar high: Navy SEALs, Army Rangers and Green Berets, and Delta Force, just to name a few. However, one group stands apart in their mission—Air Force PJ’s or Pararescue Jumpers. Air…

The rowboat rocked gently in the calm ripples of the harbor. Davi, Martin, and Adam dropped their lines into the water and surveyed the nearby battleships. The USS Nevada was anchored closest to the boys, but Adam’s father, a naval lieutenant, worked on the next ship, the USS Arizona. The December morning was calm and clear.…

Illustrator Susan Jeffers introduces a new generation of readers to Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Jeffers gives Frost’s poem her unique perspective as fur and feathers spring from the pages. Fluffy snowflakes float  down the paper in silent snowfall. Woodland creatures peek from behind bare branches. How many you can find…

Burn Notice Fire fascinates. It flickers and flares. Sparks shoot and singe. Candles, fireplaces, campfires—we are drawn to it. Colors dance and flames flirt with us. How close can you get without burning yourself (or your marshmallow)? Sin holds much of the same fascination. It, too, flirts with us, cajoling us to come a little…