Let's Talk About Books
From fantasy to realism, fiction to nonfiction, middle grade to YA, there are inspirational books out there with characters exploring their Christian faith. They aren't always easy to find, so I've done the leg work for you. Choose your genre. These are my favorites. FANTASY The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer Four kids are swept… Continue reading Middle Grade Christian Books
There's some darn good writing going on in the books that made this list. There's something for everyone. In addition to traditional prose novels, there's also a graphic novel and a book written in verse, both Newbery winners. There's a National Book Award finalist and two Coretta Scott King honor books. My personal favorite is… Continue reading African-American Books for Boys
Let's face it. The books selected to win the Newbery Award don't always appeal to kids. In fact, I've often heard kids say that Newbery books "aren't any good." I contend that if you sift through all those books with gold seals, there are bound to be some "good" ones. Here are my picks for… Continue reading Newbery Books Kids Will Love
Who says kids can't make money? These kids did. Follow them through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. With a little creativity and smart-thinking, you might just be on your way to some hard-earned cash. Comic books. Lemonade stands. Babysitting. Baking. Repairing things. Whatever your interest. There's a way to make money doing it. Lunch… Continue reading MG Books About Kid Entrepreneurs
Ice skating. Hockey. Skiing. Grab a cozy chair and a warm drink, then settle in for some good old-fashioned winter sports competition. You don't have to be a winter athlete to thoroughly enjoy the hilarity and/or drama you'll find among these winter picks. Sometimes the competition is more than you bargained for, but just as… Continue reading Books About Winter Sports
Picking the best books of the year is always hard. Undoubtedly some great ones get missed. One thing is for sure in 2019. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart solidly beats out all the others. My favorites are those from consistent performers like Kate DiCamillo, but I've taken notice of up-and-coming talent… Continue reading Best of 2019
Drama. What's middle school without the "D" word? We hate it. We love it. Throw together some friends and enemies. Top it off with a crush or two. Voila. Instant drama. If you're looking for middle school disasters, mix-ups, and competitions, all of that is also in store for you with any of these picks.… Continue reading Friends, Enemies, and Crushes
What to do when you've outgrown early elementary series, but aren't quite ready for middle grade? Check out these excellent bridge series. Whether you like historical fiction, realistic fiction, or fantasy, there's a book for everyone on this list. Even though these are targeted for boys, girls will enjoy them as well. Danger and excitement… Continue reading Series For 4th Grade Boys
Spirits are haunting the hallways of spooky old houses. Join these junior detectives as they seek to quell the mayhem and put the spirits to rest. Be careful. Ghosts will be jumping out at you around every corner and these ghosts have a bone to pick. A must read list for Halloween or any time… Continue reading Middle Grade Haunted Houses
4th grade is the year when kids are moving out of elementary books (K-3) and into middle grade books (5-8). Some kids need more time to acclimate to the lengthy, descriptive, middle grade books. These series are sweetly entertaining, with characters in grades 6-8, but with reading levels for grades 3-4. Definite winners for fun… Continue reading Series For 4th Grade Girls
You don't have to look any further than AGT to know Americans love magic. Magician Shin Lim stole the show in 2018 and Americans voted him the winner. Secretly, we probably all wish we could perform magic. While you work on that, check out these fantastic stories about young magicians and the magical worlds they… Continue reading Books About Magicians and Carnivals
Escape to a fantasy world where mermaids and unicorns really do exist. Looking for a successful book with a ton of sequels? The Tail of Emily Windsnap is your book. Looking for a short read with a modern day vibe? Go for Aquamarine. Are graphic novels more your thing? There's two on this list. Fish Girl… Continue reading Books About Mermaids and Unicorns
Everyone wants to be rich. The good news is everyone has a shot. If you have enough smarts, motivation, and perseverance there's no reason why you can't achieve it. Smarts. Motivation. Perseverance. Not words to take lightly. Check out these books on modern entrepreneur icons. Then read up on how you can get your own… Continue reading Books for Budding Entrepreneurs
These women athletes have two things in common. Talent and drive. In order to be the best, they gave up everything to devote 100% time and effort to develop their skills. No matter what sport you love, there's a book on this list for you. Surfing. Baseball. Gymnastics. Soccer. Basketball. Tennis. Be inspired by these… Continue reading Women in Sports
The Vietnam War continues to evoke strong emotions for those who served and those who protested, but few kids today know much, if anything, about it. It isn't covered in school curricula and doesn't reach the level of World War II. It was a war unlike any other, and many kids, if introduced to it,… Continue reading Vietnam War Nonfiction
There's something about motels and inns. The adventure of being away from home. A place to rest after exploring new places. Interesting people. Are you with me? Whether you're more interested in the mom and pop roadside motel or the grand hotel in the country, there's an adventure waiting on the pages of these highly… Continue reading MG Books Set in Motels/Inns
After the roaring 20s came the economic slump of the 1930s. Millions of people could not make ends meet. Worsening the problem was the midwest drought that forced families to leave behind their homes and belongings in search of a better life. Other struggles during that time were the racial inequalities in the south and… Continue reading MG Books Set During the Great Depression
China, Korea, and Japan have their histories. There's China with its Cultural Revolution that killed millions. Japan and its power grab of Korea, then Pearl Harbor. Perhaps most disturbing is the inhumanity in North Korea that continues as this is written. These books will give you a better understanding of the modern conflicts that have… Continue reading MG Stories Set in East Asia
Kids love to see themselves in the books they read. It's comforting to know they're not alone. Authors have become a significant force in bringing awareness of the mental challenges kids face. It's not easy dealing with or understanding ADD, OCD and anxiety, but these books help bring about some clarity and hopefully empathy. Focused… Continue reading MG Books About Kids With ADD, OCD and Anxiety
No war in history has stirred up as much controversy as the Vietnam War. A war that lasted 10 years and ended in American defeat. A war commanded by three presidents. A war that enlisted 25% of its soldiers through the draft. It was a tactical nightmare of jungle warfare unlike any America had ever… Continue reading Vietnam War Stories
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