House full of Bookworms http://www.housefullofbookworms.com helping find the right books for your child Tue, 18 Apr 2017 12:15:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.4 76678873 Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/furthermore-tahereh-mafi/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/furthermore-tahereh-mafi/#comments Tue, 18 Apr 2017 12:15:02 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1942 Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi is one of the most fascinatingly beautiful books I have read in recent memory. I finished it (the audiobook version) in less than a day. The Story In a fantastical land where color and magic are intimately connected, Alice is born completely without color. There’s nothing Alice longs for more than […]

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Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi is one of the most fascinatingly beautiful books I have read in recent memory. I finished it (the audiobook version) in less than a day.

The Story

In a fantastical land where color and magic are intimately connected, Alice is born completely without color. There’s nothing Alice longs for more than color of her own. Nothing, that is, except the return of her beloved father. The chance to find and rescue him comes unexpectedly in the boy Oliver, who Alice neither likes nor trusts. To save her father, they must travel to the land of Furthermore, a place even more fantastical, topsy-turvy, and dangerous than their own.

What I Loved About Furthermore

  1. Vivid Language and Imagination–Every descriptive sentence in this book is surprising in some way. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read. It’s similar to Alice in Wonderland with a thousand times more beauty, strangeness, and color. The strangeness of the world may be a turn off to some readers, especially the very literal, but I absolutely loved it.
  2. Message–Alice learns a very important lesson. She longs to have color, to look like everyone else. In the end, she learns to accept herself the way she is. This is a very relevant issue to middle-grade readers as they deal with peer pressure and media telling them they must look a certain way.

Parents Might Want to Know

  1. Strained Parental Relationship–While Alice adores her father, her relationship with her mother is strained. Her mother is neglectful, and Alice believes she doesn’t love her. This bothered me in the beginning of the story, but it is beautifully resolved in the end.
  2. Lying–Both Oliver and Alice tell a fair number of lies throughout the story. However, lying is never glorified or made to seem good.

If you love Alice in Wonderland or The Phantom Tollbooth, you’ll love Furthermore.

Did I mention that the audiobook is fantastic?

Do you or your kids enjoy books with fantastical worlds?

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Anno’s China: A Visual Exploration http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/annos-china/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/annos-china/#comments Tue, 04 Apr 2017 12:15:46 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=2026 Anno’s China by Mitsumasa Anno is a picture book for all ages. In fact, it’s beautiful enough to be a coffee table book. Originally published in Japan, Anno’s China was recently translated and brought to the United States by Beautiful Feet Books. When first flipping through, you might assume that it’s entirely wordless. However, the back matter contains […]

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Anno’s China by Mitsumasa Anno is a picture book for all ages. In fact, it’s beautiful enough to be a coffee table book.

Originally published in Japan, Anno’s China was recently translated and brought to the United States by Beautiful Feet Books. When first flipping through, you might assume that it’s entirely wordless. However, the back matter contains beautifully written descriptions (by the author) of each scene.

Anno modeled his artistic journey up the Yellow River after the famous Chinese scroll painting Along the River. Most of his exquisitely detailed illustrations depict China as he saw it 30 years ago. When he alters details, he notes it in that scene’s description. However, each scene contains many more details that he leaves for the careful observer to discover.

Though Anno is describing China as an outsider, his perspective is not Western. He sees China through his Japanise perspective, often relating different aspects of China to aspects of Japanise culture. Thus, you actually get a taste of two different cultures when reading Anno’s China.

There are multiple ways to explore Anno’s China, depending on your children’s ages. If you are reading with younger kids, I’d recommend you, the adult, familiarize yourself with the descriptions first to be able to point out details as you examine the illustrations with your child. For older children, you could read the scene description aloud while showing them each page spread. I think children and adults of all ages will enjoy pouring over Anno’s paintings of China as he observed it 30 years ago.

Do you have a favorite book about China?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Beautiful Feed Books <http://bfbooks.com/>. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Henry and the Chalk Dragon: For the Artist Within Us All http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/henry-chalk-dragon-artist-within-us/ Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:15:31 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=2032 {Before we dive into Jennifer Trafton’s latest book, Henry and the Chalk Dragon, I wanted to give y’all a heads up. I’m doing an INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY of Trafton’s first book, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic. If you’re interested, head on over to Instagram and find me at @housefullofbookworms. This giveaway will close on March […]

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{Before we dive into Jennifer Trafton’s latest book, Henry and the Chalk Dragon, I wanted to give y’all a heads up. I’m doing an INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY of Trafton’s first book, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic. If you’re interested, head on over to Instagram and find me at @housefullofbookworms. This giveaway will close on March 31, 2017}

One of the first things that struck me when I began reading Henry and the Chalk Dragon is that Jennifer Trafton’s prose sings. This book will make a great read-aloud. The second thing that struck me is that his book is hilarious. It reminded me of the Scholastic survey report in which the highest percentage of kids (70%) want a book that will make them laugh. Henry and the Chalk Dragon fits the bill.

Henry and the Chalk Dragon

The Story

Henry is an Artist. But he wants to keep all his imagination safely tucked away within his room and his sketchbook. So when he draws a dragon and it escapes to school, Henry has no choice but to try to recapture it with the help of his science-minded best friend Oscar. But things get complicated when the dragon begins changing shape into other drawings Henry has made. Henry realizes it’s only a matter of time until it becomes the drawing he most wants to keep hidden, especially from Oscar.

What I Loved About This Book

  1. Art and Imagination–The themes of art and imagination surface again and again in Henry’s story. Is art meant to be kept secret and safe, never to be seen by others? Or does sharing make it better? Is imagination dangerous, as most of the adults in the story would have Henry believe? Or is imagination exactly what they all need?
  2. We are all Artists–Reading this book, I felt Trafton was talking just as much to me, the adult reader, as she was to her child audience. We adults often forget that we are all artists. But all of us have some creative superpower whether it be drawing or writing or science. And her audience is right at the age where many kids decide they no longer have what it takes to be an artist. This story gives the message that it’s not too late for them and it’s not too late for us as adults either. After all, our kids learn from our example.
  3. Hilarity Ensues–Henry’s Dragon causes ridiculous mayhem throughout the school (which most of the adults are oblivious too). Most kids will likely think the craziness is hilarious. However, some more literal-minded kids may find the antics over the top.

A Favorite Quote

This is the kind of book that I found myself bookmarking multiple pages because the text was so beautifully resonant. Don’t get me wrong, the message never gets in the way of this rollicking story. The beauty is how naturally the theme fits into the story. If I hadn’t already convinced you to read this book, I hope this quote does the trick. (It was really hard to pick just one).

Henry and the Chalk Dragon Quote

 

I can’t recommend this book enough. It will make a great family read-aloud for kids as young as five and an independent read for kids seven to eleven.

Do your kids still believe they are artists?

Henry and the Chalk Dragon is currently available for pre-order. It releases March 4, 2017. Until then, don’t forget to head over to my Instagram account @housefullofbookworms to enter to win a copy of The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic before March 31, 2017.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher, Rabbit Room Press <http://www.rabbitroom.com>. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Fun with Palindromes for Kids http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/fun-with-palindromes-for-kids/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/fun-with-palindromes-for-kids/#comments Tue, 07 Mar 2017 13:15:36 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1997 I remember the first time I was introduced to the concept of palindromes. My sixth-grade teacher wrote on the board, “A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.” She asked us what was unique about this phrase. We puzzled and thought, but no one could get it. Finally, she told us. “It’s a palindrome.” Palindromes are […]

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I remember the first time I was introduced to the concept of palindromes. My sixth-grade teacher wrote on the board, “A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.” She asked us what was unique about this phrase. We puzzled and thought, but no one could get it. Finally, she told us. “It’s a palindrome.”

Palindromes are words, phrases, or sentences which, if reversed letter by letter–ignoring punctuation, spaces, and capitalization–spell the exact same thing. Basically, each half of the palindrome is a mirror image of the other. For example, the name Hannah is a palindrome. Spell it backward and you still have Hannah.

I thought it would be fun the introduce my kids and their co-op class to palindromes, so I checked out some books on the subject. If your kids get into it, it’s a fun challenge to try and write your own.

Books About Palindromes


Mom and Dad are Palindromes by Mark Shulman–This book is a great introduction to palindromes for kids… in the form of a hilarious story!


Madam and Nun and 1001: What is a Palindrome? by Brian P. Cleary--This book is a rhyming introduction to palindromes in the Words Are Categorical series.

Books of Palindromes


If you think writing one palindrome is hard (and it is), imagine writing three books of them! That’s just what author Jon Agee has done in Palindromania!, So Many Dynamos!, and Sit on a Potato Pan, Otis!. Each palindrome is illustrated with a line drawing, and most of them are pretty funny. My son couldn’t get enough of these books.

Palindrome-like Poems

I love Marilyn Singer’s reverso poems, and they have a lot in common with palindromes. The difference is her poems reverse line by line to form a new meaning. She has written three books of these clever poems. Mirror Mirror and Follow Follow are fairy tale retellings. Echo Echo features reverso poems about Greek myths. You can read my full review HERE.

Have you read any books of palindromes for kids?

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The Inquisitor’s Tale: Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/inquisitors-tale-three-magical-children-holy-dog-adam-gidwitz/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/inquisitors-tale-three-magical-children-holy-dog-adam-gidwitz/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2017 13:15:10 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1901 Rarely have a been more conflicted about a book. There is so much to love about The Inquisitor’s Tale. In fact, it just won the 2016 Newberry Honor Book as well as the Cybil audiobook of 2016. But I have a few concerns about it, particularly for Christian families. Make sure to read the full review […]

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Rarely have a been more conflicted about a book. There is so much to love about The Inquisitor’s TaleIn fact, it just won the 2016 Newberry Honor Book as well as the Cybil audiobook of 2016. But I have a few concerns about it, particularly for Christian families. Make sure to read the full review to help decide if this book is right for your kids.

Before I read this book, my main concern came from the subtitle. I was sure a book about “Three Magical Children and their Holy Dog” couldn’t be respectful of religion. I was wrong. Although there’s plenty of humor in this story, none of it comes at the expense of religion. In fact, Gidwitz treats both Judaism and Christianity with profound respect.

The Story

A girl with visions, a Saracen oblate, a Jewish boy with healing abilities, and a venerated dog miraculously resurrected are thrown together and end up on the run. They each must overcome ingrained prejudice for the others. In turn, this helps them identify prejudice in their society and unites them in their quest to save copies of the Jewish Talmud from being burned. (It’s ever so much more wonderfully complicated than that, but that’s the story in a nutshell).

What I Loved

  1. Hard Questions–I love books that make kids think. Gidwitz doesn’t shy away from hard questions like, “If God is good, why does he allow suffering?” While certain characters pose solutions, the children find their own peace with this question though the story itself.
  2. Historicity–Gidwitz provides wonderful explanations at the end of the book about where some of the surprisingly true elements of his story came from. In fact, while reading the book, several of the names, details, and stories stood out to me as ones I’ve had heard before.
  3. Homage to Chaucer–As a former English major, I loved the form Gidwitz chose for this story. Like The Canterbury Tales, this book is told as a series of tales by various people in a bar. The Inquisitor is trying to get at the truth, and various people take turns telling of their encounter with the three children.
  4. Art–Did I mention this book contains illuminations in much the same way as a medieval text would?

 

Possible Issues

  1. Profanity–“Damn” is used at least a handful of times and “Ass” more than that (with the double entendre fully intended). There are also at least a dozen cases of Medieval-style blasphemy (e.g. “God’s boots” or “God’s hat”).
  2. Some gross stuff–So, I didn’t love the farting dragon (which is bizarrely based on a historical account). There is also a very bloody scene where William, the oblate, kills a mob of fiends. However, at that section of the book, I thought they were actual people (I’m still not clear). Since he can only kill them with “flesh and bone” this scene is quite gory (e.g. smashing heads like melons). Although, if your kids have read his A Tale Dark and Grimm, The Inquisitor’s Tale is significantly less gory.
  3. Universalism–While I truly appreciate the respect Gidwitz treats both Orthodox Judaism and Christianity in the book, the universalism The Inquisitor’s Tale promotes is at odds with both religions. To me, this is the largest issue I had with the book. I’d definitely discuss it with my kids before (and after) handing them this story. In fact, the opportunity for discussion may just be a very good reason for your kids (10 and older) to read this book.

Have you read The Inquisitor’s Tale? Tell me what you thought, or tell me about another book that left you conflicted.

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Big Friends: A Book About Friendship http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/big-friends-a-book-about-friendship/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/big-friends-a-book-about-friendship/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2017 13:15:07 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1963 I adore picture books, but it’s rare for me to run across one and think, I have to dedicate a whole post to this book. But Big Friends by Linda Sarah is one of those rare books. It’s a book about friendship. Big Friends asks the question, can a twosome become a threesome? And it provides […]

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I adore picture books, but it’s rare for me to run across one and think, I have to dedicate a whole post to this book. But Big Friends by Linda Sarah is one of those rare books. It’s a book about friendship.

Big Friends asks the question, can a twosome become a threesome? And it provides the most inspirational answer.

Maybe it’s something that every kid goes through, but I’m certain it’s an experience every introvert has had. For me, it happened in fifth grade. I had other friends, but I was a one best friend kind of girl. And when suddenly my best friend didn’t share my homeroom and had made new friends of her own that she wanted to include at recess, I was crushed.

I wish I had this book back then.


In Big Friends, Birt and Etho are best friends (and, really, this book would be inspiring based on their creative play with boxes alone). But then Shu comes along. Etho is ready to include him, but Birt feels strange.

I know exactly how he felt. Maybe your kid does too.

Birt tramples his box and stays home. And that’s probably how most friendship stories in elementary school end. But this one doesn’t. Etho and Shu find a way to change the game and include Birt in brand new way. Until, finally, the twosome becomes a threesome.

If your kid is an introvert or has struggled with a friendship, give them this book. If you want to prepare your child for how to blend groups of friends together, this would be a great read as well. Sometimes friendships can’t last for one reason or another. But I wonder if my own childhood friendships might have been different if I’d had a model for inclusion like the one in this book.

What book has helped you or your child learn to navigate friendship?

 

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The Secret Keepers (New from the Author of The Mysterious Benedict Society) http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/the-secret-keepers-new-from-the-author-of-the-mysterious-benedict-society/ Tue, 17 Jan 2017 13:15:02 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1866 I love The Mysterious Benedict Society Series! We’d recently revisited the first book, and I’d been wishing for something new from Trenton Lee Stewart. So I was thrilled to find out about his newest book The Secret Keepers. The Story Reuben and his mom live in a rundown part of a city ruled by The […]

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I love The Mysterious Benedict Society Series! We’d recently revisited the first book, and I’d been wishing for something new from Trenton Lee Stewart. So I was thrilled to find out about his newest book The Secret Keepers.

The Story

Reuben and his mom live in a rundown part of a city ruled by The Smoke and his gangs of Directions. Because his mom must work multiple jobs to make ends meet, Reuben spends much of his time exploring the city while trying to blend in. Until he finds the watch. Suddenly, multiple people seem to be after it, and when Reuben discover’s the watch’s secret, he doesn’t want to let it go. In his quest to make things right, Reuben makes new friends who help him succeed.

Why I Loved The Secret Keepers

  1. Reuben has an awesome mom. Seriously, I want to be friends with her. I really appreciate when adult figures in books are not evil or idiots. His mom (and also Miss Genevieve the watchmaker) are wonderful and kind, and Reuben has a great relationship with each of them.
  2. This book asks tough questions. Like all of Stewart’s books, The Secret Keepers makes the reader consider important questions. Are secrets a good or bad thing? What about special powers? What is human nature’s response to power?
  3. Reuben can’t win on his own. Aspiring writers are often given the advice to let their characters solve their own problems. Adults should never be the ones to step in and save a child in a novel. I love that Stewart defies this trend. Although the kids solve 90% of the problems themselves, adults step in at a crucial moment to save them. In fact, the actions of one adult demonstrate how a community can unite together for a greater cause. This beautiful scene involving an old women bursting into a church seeking help made me cry (in public).

What Parents Should Know

The Secret Keepers contains a fair amount of peril, so it may not be great for sensitive kids. But, overall, it’s pretty mild. If your kids enjoyed The Mysterious Benedict Society, they shouldn’t have a problem with The Secret Keepers. I’d probably recommend this book for ages 9 – 12. (If you haven’t read The Mysterious Benedict Society yet, click HERE for my review).

Parts of the book are much slower than Stewart’s other books. I think this is primarily because Reuben is alone much of the book (rather than working with friends). A lot of time is devoted to Reuben discovering the properties of the watch. If you’re reading it aloud, be aware that some parts will be slower, but it’s still a great read. My 11-year old daughter gave it two thumbs up.

Also, in case you are wondering, The Secret Keepers appears to be a stand-alone novel rather than part of a series.

What book do you love that asks hard questions?

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Picture Books About Snow http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/picture-books-about-snow/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/picture-books-about-snow/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2017 13:15:03 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1426 Snow can be magical for children, which explains why there are so many picture books about snow! I must have checked out over thirty books to find our very favorites to share with you. Maybe you’re knee-deep in snow. Or maybe–like us–the only snow you’ll experience is through the pages of a book. Either way, […]

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Snow can be magical for children, which explains why there are so many picture books about snow! I must have checked out over thirty books to find our very favorites to share with you.

Maybe you’re knee-deep in snow. Or maybe–like us–the only snow you’ll experience is through the pages of a book. Either way, I hope you’ll snuggle down with your kids and enjoy these wonderful picture books about snow.


Big Snow by Jonathan Bean is absolutely my favorite picture book about snow. It perfectly captures the magical feeling of anticipation in a perfect, childlike way. If you want to add just one snow book to your home library, it should be this one or…

Snow by Cynthia Rylant is a beautifully poetic text about the wonderful thoughts, emotions, and activities associated with snow. I feel like this text made the idea of a snowy day come alive to my kids who don’t get to experience it for themselves. The whole book just makes you want to snuggle.


The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a beautiful classic about a boy’s experience of a snowy day. The simple depiction of his activities like dragging a stick and saving a snowball give a vivid experience of a snowy day.


No Two Alike by Keith Baker is about how, just like snowflakes, no two things are just alike. The illustrations and text are both lovely. This is a great read for preschoolers and toddlers.

Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins is an adorable story about three toys, a buffalo, a plush stingray, and a rubber ball, who experience snow for the first time. The writing is beautiful, and the characters combine curiosity, poetic thinking, and science facts in their exploration of snow. There is also a chapter book series featuring these same characters.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winder’s Wonder by Mark Cassino is just the book for your curious kid. It will answer all their questions about snow in an understandable way, and it contains beautiful enlarged photos of a variety of snowflakes.

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman is just a lovely wish for snow so that family could be together. The child’s mom, an airline piolet, is able to return home because of the snow.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner is a beautiful look at what different animals are doing in the winter. I was surprised at the amount of activity going on under the snow. The story is pulled together by the observations of a child cross-country skiing.


Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is a picture book biography of the man who first captured photographs of the intricate details of snowflakes. He was the first to discover no two snowflakes are alike. A few of his amazing photographs are included in the back.


Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton is a classic picture book about a snow plow who saves the day. The illustrations are charming, and it’s fun for kids to trace the path Katy takes as she plows the streets of her town. Burton also wrote Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.


Danny’s First Snow by Leonid Gore is the story of a bunny child going out to play in his first snow. He imagines the snow covered bushes and trees to be animals to play with, but then the trees look like scary wolves. Danny runs till the snow falls from them. This was a delightful read with the unstated theme of imagination.

Snow Globe Family by Jane O’Connor is about two families. One is a regular family and the other lives inside their snowglobe. The snowglobe family longs for a big snowstorm. My preschooler thought this book was incredibly fun.

What are your favorite picture books about snow?

 

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The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/the-wingfeather-saga/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/the-wingfeather-saga/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2016 13:15:49 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1859 I’ve been wanting to write a post about my favorite middle-grade series for a while, but it’s so hard to write. I guess I’m afraid I won’t get it right. Because I really do want you to love The Wingfeather Saga as much as I do. And now that I’ve read/listened through the books for […]

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I’ve been wanting to write a post about my favorite middle-grade series for a while, but it’s so hard to write. I guess I’m afraid I won’t get it right. Because I really do want you to love The Wingfeather Saga as much as I do.

And now that I’ve read/listened through the books for the third time, I think I’m ready to take a stab at reviewing them.

The World of the Wingfeather Saga

The Wingfeather Saga begins with On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. Siblings Janner, Tink, and Leeli live with their mother and grandfather in a world ruled by Fangs, evil, lizard-like creatures. Their world is turned upside down with the revelation of a family secret that their mother has kept from them. Their subsequent adventures in North or Be Eaten, Monster in the Hollows, and The Warden and the Wolf King take them all across their world, and eventually face-to-face with their enemy Gnag the Nameless.

The plot is full of adventure, peril, monsters, battles, and humor. And on that front alone, these are great stories.

But what makes these stories amazing is their characters.

Why It’s Good, True, and Beautiful

The characters in the Wingfeather Saga aren’t perfect people. They don’t always do the right thing. In fact, at the beginning of the story, they have quite a lot of flaws to work through, especially Janner and Tink. Your kids will identify with Janner when he resents having to take care of his younger siblings. They’ll get why Tink doesn’t want to shoulder the responsibility placed on him. And while we see into these character’s thoughts, we still get why they are wrong. And the terrible circumstances they find themselves in? That’s what pushes and molds their character into the heroes they must become.

And honestly, it’s really something I can’t describe. Sometimes when you read a book that’s profoundly true and beautiful, it’s hard to express it in words. But when you read this series, I know it will resonate with you. It’s the human experience of life, suffering, and character formation. And the Biblical narrative of redemption and self-sacrifice are more beautifully portrayed here than probably any other book I’ve read (aside from Narnia and Les Miserables). There is sadness in the ending, but there is also pervasive hope and promise.

Let me give you a taste for the substance of these books by naming a few of the themes that are woven throughout the saga: family relationships, the power of art, self-sacrifice, sin-nature, parental love (including adoptive), and the longing to be loved and belong.

And don’t think that all these big themes will turn your kids off to these books. They are among my kid’s all-time favorite books. In fact, when their dad would finish a book in the series, my two older kids would grab their Kindles to immediately start re-reading it. They’ve also both listened to the audiobooks.

If you are already a fan, there’s a brand new book that adds to the series! The Wingfeather Tales includes short stories by Andrew Peterson, A.S. Peterson, Jennifer Trafton, Douglas McKelvey, Jonathan Rogers, and N.D. Wilson. I’ve only just started reading it, but it’s great fun so far.

Tips for Reading

Some people seem to get bogged down in the first book and wonder if they should go on. So, here are my tips for enjoying the Wingfeathers.

  1. Skip the footnotes, especially if you are reading aloud. The first book in the series is filled with footnotes, and it’s easy to get bogged down in them (a believe they are, in many ways, an homage to J.R.R. Tolkien). Most of the information is for world-building purposes and is not essential to the plot. The details that do come in later will be recapped again in book four.
  2. If your kids are scared of the sillier monsters (e.g. toothy cows) in the first book, they aren’t ready for this series. The books grow in intensity. This series is too good to miss, but wait till your kids are old enough to appreciate it.
  3. If you don’t love the first book, trust me, it gets so much better. The last two books will make you cry (in a good, redeeming way). If you see flaws that bother you in the main character, that’s where the author is working on him. Keep reading.
  4. Don’t miss the power of reading these together as a family. If your kids are between the ages of eight and fourteen (maybe even older), I’d highly recommend you read these books as a family. My husband read them to our older kids when they were seven and nine, and I can’t wait for him to read them to the whole family in a few years when my little are old enough.
  5. Try the audiobooks. The narrator of the first two books does a fine job, and if you are tempted to get overwhelmed by the footnotes, this is the way to go. But the last two books are narrated by the author himself, Andrew Peterson, and they are spectacular.

If you haven’t heard my conversation with Sarah Mackenzie on the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, we talk all about navigating fantasy for Chrisitan families. The Wingfeather Saga was my top recommendation, but we talked about many other books as well and why I believe your kids can get a lot out of reading them. Click HERE to learn more.

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Give Your Kids Books for Christmas (Recommendations Plus Free Printable Bookplates) http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/add-books-childs-christmas-list/ http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/add-books-childs-christmas-list/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2016 13:15:31 +0000 http://www.housefullofbookworms.com/?p=1913 Books for Christmas are pretty much a staple at my house. The books I owned myself as a child hold a special place in my heart. In fact, I still have most of them to this day. Other presents my kids receive they will eventually break or grow out of. But a good book is always […]

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Books for Christmas are pretty much a staple at my house. The books I owned myself as a child hold a special place in my heart. In fact, I still have most of them to this day. Other presents my kids receive they will eventually break or grow out of. But a good book is always worth treasuring and coming back to.

Many years, I’ve simply gone to library book sales and given my kids a whole bag full of books. Other years, like this (I missed our book sale), I’ve carefully selected a few books I think each child will love. Do you have this same tradition?

If you are planning to get your children books for Christmas, the one’s below are a great place to get started. I love classic books as well, but these recommendations are all books that have come out in the last year or two. Many of these will end up under the tree for my kids or my nieces this year. (Shh! Don’t tell them!) I’ve got lots more suggestions of books for Christmas presents in my curated Amazon Bookstore.

If you’re looking for those free downloadable bookplates to personalize your children’s new books, keep scrolling to the end of this post.

Picture Books


Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty–If you have young girls, you really must get this book. I insist. My nieces and daughters are getting this one from me for sure.


Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds by Marianne Dubuc--This was my three-year old’s (now four-year-old’s) favorite library book this year. She’ll have her own copy under the tree this year.


A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney–I’ve heard such good things about this book from Sarah Mackenzie… I might just have to give this one to myself for Christmas!


They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel--One of my favorite picture books from this year. Read my full review here.


Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña--This award-winner is one of my all-time favorite picture books! If you don’t own it yet, it’s a must buy!


Return by Aaron Becker–This book completes the beautiful wordless series. The previous books are Journey and Quest. I highly recommend them.


One Day, The End by Rebecca Kai Dotlich–This book of itty-bitty stories is hysterical. You’ll enjoy this read as much as your kids.

Books for the In-Between


Echo Echo by Marilyn Singer–This is the third book of Reverso poems from Singer, and they really are fascinating. They take a little thought, so they are best for kids starting at age eight or nine and older. The equally fabulous books of Reversos are Mirror Mirror and Follow Follow.


Under Water/Under Earth by Aleksandra Mizielinska–I can’t wait to dig into this two-books-in-one with my fact-loving kids.


Animals by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins–Jenkins is a master of illustration and of rooting out fascinating animal facts. I’d recommend his books to any kid obsessed with animals and trivia.


Pig and Pug by Laura Marchesani–I haven’t seen this one in person yet, but it looks so sweet. I chose it for my beginner reader this year.


History of Fun Stuff and Science of Fun StuffMore fun for beginner readers who love science or history.


Mango and Bambang the Not-a-Pig by Clara Dulliamy–This sweet chapter book is a fun read, and a series for kids to get hooked on featuring a girl good at nearly everything and a talking tapir afraid of nearly everything.

Middle-Grade Books


Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley–I just love this book (and the audiobook is fantastic). Read my full review here.


Wingfeather Tales by Andrew Peterson and others–Wingfeather Saga fans, finally a new book! I’ve begun reading, and so far, it’s lots of fun. If you haven’t read the series, start with On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (series review coming soon, but let’s just say, these are my favorite books).


When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin–I love everything I’ve ever read by Grace Lin, particularly Where the Mountain Meets the Moon which I reviewed here. Now I just have to decide which kid to give it to…


The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart–This is the latest book from the author of the Mysterious Benedict Society, which you can read my review of here. My daughter and I both love his new book (review coming soon).

If you’d like my printable bookplates, just click the button below. Print on standard label paper. Simply write your child’s name and stick it in their books! They make great stocking stuffers, too.

Click Here for Bookplates

Will your kids get books for Christmas?

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