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In Polish history, they tell the story of a boy whose trumpet call was cut short by an invader’s arrow through his chest. Trumpeters honor him by playing the tune, the Heynal, unfinished as it was the day he died. Author Eric Kelly, inspired by this story, crafted The Trumpeter of Krakow. The novel transports the…

Nancy Shaw’s Sheep Out to Eat provides a tasty treat for young readers. Teashops may be great places for moms, but lunching sheep are more like bulls in a china shop. Will the teashop survive the dining experience or be put out to pasture? Nibble on this delightful tale by Nancy Shaw.

The Benefits Package: Health Care A benefits package includes all the perks you receive when you get a real job, things like bonuses, insurance to pay the doctors, or perhaps a company car. For the next several weeks, we’ll examine some spiritual benefits of being on God’s corporate team. Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV): “Praise the LORD,…

In The Wednesday Wars, author Gary Schmidt walks a young man through life lessons as he and his teacher read the works of William Shakespeare. Okay for Now continues with Doug Swieteck, a character we saw in the first book. Doug’s family has moved to a small town in upstate New York. Family life presents…

Rosemary Wells crafts the perfect Mother’s Day book with Only You. Moms, when you’re tying that knot to hang on, read this with your little one. Only You reminds us that the sacrifices of parenting are so worth it. A precious book.

The Benefit Package: Life Insurance I was reading Psalm 103 when something caught my eye. In verse 2, David instructs us to “forget not all his (God’s) benefits.” As I thought about how I can’t even think of all of His benefits, I noticed this “—,” followed by a list. David felt led to name…

When a teacher at her new school recommends her for an after-school job, Elizabeth is grateful both for the opportunity to make some money and to make some new friends. She begins work at the New York Circulating Material Repository which lends items rather than books. Costumes, props for plays, tools, and—the Grimm Collection. The…

Wouldn’t it be great to be invisible? Well, maybe not, as Sy Kravitz, the fruit man, discovers in Arthur Yorinks’ Invisible Man. Sy has a fruit for every ailment, but finds his own fruit basket overturned when he mysteriously becomes invisible. Life becomes rotten as Sy finds himself accused and convicted of anything and everything…

Summertime is swimming time in Texas and I can’t wait. I love the water. My daughter and I teach lessons in our backyard pool. Every summer, two types of students give me the greatest concern: 1)      The child that is so afraid of the water that he can hardly stand to be in it, and…

Summertime is swimming time in Texas and I can’t wait. I love the water. My daughter and I teach lessons in our backyard pool. Every summer, two types of students give me the greatest concern: 1)      The child that is so afraid of the water that he can hardly stand to be in it, and…