Happy 2009, Everyone!

If you have been following our blog, you know we have one more book to give away.  Due to everyone’s desire to focus on our families and on the holidays in December, we decided to save our last book for the new year.  If you are visiting our blog for the first time, we are referring to our Christmas Book Give-away.  We have given away at least one book a week for the month of December. To be considered for a free book, all you have to do is subscribe to our mailing list and make a comment on our blog.  Please keep checking back to see what book we will be giving away this month!  In the meantime, we hope you enjoy Dana’s review of the book below.

Have a wonderful week!

Beth

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“What you are holding in your hands right now is a challenging book for teens by teens who believe our generation is ready for a change. Ready for something that doesn’t promise a whole new life if you’ll just buy the right pair of jeans or use the right kind of deodorant. We believe our generation is ready to rethink what teens are capable of doing and becoming. And we’ve noticed that once wrong ideas are debunked and cleared away, our generation is quick to choose a better way, even if it’s also more difficult.”

Thus opens the book Do Hard Things: a Teenage Rebellion against Low Expectations, written by Alex and Brett Harris, forward by Chuck Norris. If those names sound familiar, it is because the authors are the 19 year old twin sons of well-known homeschool veterans Gregg and Sono Harris, and younger brothers of popular author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye). This book lays the groundwork for understanding The Rebelution – a term coined by the twins (combining the words “revolution” and “rebellion”) to define a “rebellion against low expectations.”

Their insightful premise states that our culture has bought into the deception that teens are helpless, weak, irresponsible individuals, incapable of caring for anyone but themselves. They assert, as most fellow homeschoolers believe, that “the teen years are not a vacation from responsibility,” but instead “they are the training ground of future leaders who dare to be responsible now.” They exhort teens as well as adult Christians to be an effective countercultural force by truly living as salt and light in the world: by having Christ-like character, by a commitment to competency in their endeavors, and by their willingness to work in collaboration with other like-minded believers.

Not only do the authors feature accounts of several amazing teens who accomplished phenomenal, large-scale projects, but the Harris twins bring the concepts down to earth by also sharing stories of ‘normal’ teens who have chosen to stand apart from the stereotypical norms with smaller scale endeavors. This section includes a helpful, easy-to-understand list of principles that are recommended as a beneficial place to start self-examination before crafting one’s own action plan. Additionally, the Harris twins walk us through this process by sharing a few teens’ stories as well as their strategies to become ‘rebelutionaries.’

My favorite chapter describes accomplishing “Small Hard Things.” (Every mommy can relate: these are the things done behind closed doors that are often tedious, mundane, repeated constantly and don’t come with accolades or recognition.) As we know, often it is these small disciplines that have to be mastered before we are ready for the “big” things. The twins encourage teens to first identify those “small” things in their lives and to take control of them before launching into the larger-scale projects.

This challenging book is peppered with scripture, encouragement and simple strategies to help identify and deal with stumbling blocks in our teens (and our) lives and describes principles to adopt to help us accomplish more for Christ’s kingdom. The book ends with a very clear and compelling presentation of the gospel.

I recommend this book, especially for those teens who are likely to respond best to peer encouragement. Check here for more information!

May God bless your transition back to school!

Stephanie, from South Carolina, won the fantastic book and CD, A Child’s Introduction to Poetry! Thanks so much for commenting, Stephanie, and let us know how you like using your new book! If you haven’t won a book in Epi Kardia Christmas Give Away, there’s still time, so make sure you comment after you read this blog. In Beth’s current blog, you’ll discover books to teach the classics, even if you have children of varying ages. By subscribing to our mailing list on the right sidebar and making a comment on this blog by Sunday, December 14th, you’ll automatically be entered in this week’s give away of the anniversary edition of a real classic. Keep on reading!

Many blessings,
Dana

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My high school American Literature students just finished reading The Last of the Mohicans.  This classic was written by James Fenimore Cooper, a man known as the first American novelist. We read the unabridged version which is quite lengthy and very detailed in both description and story line. The 480 pages caused my students to groan initially, but I knew they would get through it and be better students for it! After finishing the novel, we decided to watch the movie and compare the two. Unfortunately, the movie greatly disappointed all of us as it didn’t follow the plot of the book and left out many significant scenes. One of my students, Robert, who isn’t known for his love of reading, said something that I believe neither he nor I expected, "Mrs. Harrell, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think the book was much better than the movie." The incredulous look on Robert’s face was amusing, but his comment made plowing through the lengthy book worth all of the effort!

At the same time as Robert suffered through reading the unabridged version, his younger sister, Katelyn, read the Classic Starts chapter book version. Although much less valuable in content, the introduction to this classic paved the way for Katelyn’s later experience. That’s the glory of the multiple versions of classics now available - they may not be incredibly well written or profoundly presented, especially compared to the original, but they do offer a simpler introduction and provide confidence for later reading. As well, when you have multi-age children, the different versions allow for discussion among different grade levels which can greatly increase comprehension and enjoyment. If you have an older student struggling with comprehending a full version of a classic, audio books and/or younger books may be a positive stepping stone.

I’ve compiled the following list of classics with a variety of versions. For those versions with DVDs noted, I’ve shared my opinion if I’ve seen the movie. I would strongly recommend previewing any others. Note that these lists are not all inclusive as publishers continually present new versions, particularly amongst younger chapter books and picture books.

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper - This book seems like a good place to start!  The unabridged version, while lengthy, offers a wonderful adventure and very interesting characters. You’ll need to wade through some detailed description, but the historical setting, the French and Indian Wars, is unique. Other versions of this classic include:

Oversized Picture book (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) with additional author Timothy Meis. I absolutely love that Meis took the initiative to create this vivid and memorable picture book!

 
 
Classic Starts – shorter chapter book appropriate for 2nd – 5th graders. Although not deep in content, this book presents an initial overview that students can read by themselves.

 Marvel Illustrated – this would probably appeal to middle school and early high school boys with 184 pages and Marvel comic illustrations. I thought this was a unique presentation!

 
 Classic Collection Audio book – for audio learners or multi-taskers! Although, I do believe all of the description might be more challenging to listen to than to read. I think the picture is more vivid when you read the words.
   

DVD – This is an absolute non-example of maintaining book integrity in a movie. It was disappointing that the story line barely resembled the book’s adventurous plot! You might enjoy the movie, but not based on its relationship to the book.

DVD (BBC Masterpiece Theatre mini-series) – I only discovered this version while writing this blog, so please comment if you’ve seen it. Typically, BBC Masterpiece Theatre follows the book content closely. I may have to ask for this for Christmas! 

Heidi by Johanna Spyri - This classic isn’t overly difficult in the unabridged version and could certainly appeal to a reader as young as middle school, especially girls. To get started with a different version, consider:

 
The Story of Heidi published by Usborne Young Reading Gift Books – hardcover book ideal for ages 8 and under.   

Read and Listen books – appropriate for elementary students.

 
 
DVD – older version with Shirley Temple. The movie is cute, a typical Shirley Temple presentation, but generally follows the story line.

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss – I read this book aloud to my children during the evening. Although the story has some fun adventure, the dialogue can be challenging and it took a while to get through the book. There is a strong Biblical emphasis in the original that isn’t always stressed in other versions.

Stepping Stone book – early reader chapter book. Again, not overly stimulating but at least a child can read it as a first experience.

Classic collection audio book – in case you don’t want to read it aloud yourself! The language in this book is lovely and you’ll appreciate it on the audio version. 

Classic Disney Film – originally released in 1960, an enjoyable family treat created before Disney became politically correct.

The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson – a television series from 2005. I never watched this program, so please comment if you have! I’d be interested in knowing if it’s worth the

Beowulf by Seamus Heaney – an ancient, violent adventure, this story usually appeals to young men. Actually a poem (a lengthy poem!) and originally written in 7th to 10th century Anglo Saxon language, a bilingual version with a side by side translation to English works best for adults and older students. The original language is fun to read and to try to translate, but would be extremely frustrating for most people. Some other versions include:

Picture book by James Rumford – not as violent to make it appropriate for older elementary aged children at 48 pages in length. I found it fascinating although a sensitive child might have issues. Be sure to preview visually!

The Hero Beowulf by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher – best for ages 9 and up. I do love Leonard Everett Fisher’s illustrations!

DVD – rated PG-13 and noted for violent scenes. I haven’t personally viewed the film, but would love to hear comments from others who have!

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – yes, this is the poet who created my favorite childhood poem, featured in the last blog. Stevenson also wrote exciting and adventurous books that most kids love. Check out these other versions:

Hardcover version with amazing illustrations by Robert Ingpen – ideal for ages 9 and up at 192 pages. A vivid, exciting presentation of the book!

A Young Reader’s Edition of the Classic Adventure – includes some original illustrations by N.C. Wyeth, one of the greatest illustrators of classic literature. Although the illustrations aren’t ideally presented, they may entice your child to explore Wyeth more. He also painted scenes from The Last of the Mohicans.  The book is 48 pages long.

Hear It, Read It – a full text version CD version that would be appropriate for late elementary students to adults.

DVD – Disney version released in 1950, a safe version of a classic adventure for the entire family!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – due to the adult content (a black man is accused of raping a white woman), there isn’t a younger version of this book. However, Lee’s presentation and writing style handles the storyline in a delicate and tender manner. The main characters, two children and their father, invite you in immediately and when the story ends, you feel like you’ve become friends with the whole family. I really appreciate this book in so many ways that I’ve made its 40th anniversary hardcover publication our free give away book this week!

There is also a DVD version, with the classic Gregory Peck, released in 1962 which I highly recommend as it follows the book’s plot, with a few exceptions. Gregory Peck gives one of his best performances. This is a must read for every high schooler and any adult who made it through high school without reading it!

 I hope you find these classics a welcome edition to your home school library, no matter which version you choose. Be sure to leave a comment on this blog by December 14th and automatically enter yourself in a drawing for the hardcover 40th Anniversary Edition of To Kill a Mockingbird!

Happy reading and blessings on your Christmas holiday!

Beth

Congratulations to our next winner of the Epi Kardia Christmas Book Give Away, Monica from South Carolina, who won two books: Johnny Tremain and Number the Stars. We appreciate Monica taking time to comment on the last blog, Award Winning Books, even over the holidays!  We really enjoy everyone’s comments and encouraging words.  By subscribing to our mailing list on the right sidebar and making a comment on this blog by Sunday, December 7th, you’ll automatically be entered in this week’s give away. Check out the awesome poetry book and CD in Beth’s blog below that we’re giving away this week!

God Bless,

Dana

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About ten years ago, I was asked to be a guest speaker at a home school event in Texas. The event had a literary theme and my job was to inspire young people to connect reading and writing. Poetry is one of the easiest ways to correlate reading and writing so I decided to impress everyone with my introduction: recitation of a poem I had memorized as a child. I decided that since I had known the poem my whole life, I didn’t really need to practice reciting it. Of course, that was a huge mistake! There I was, in front of an auditorium of eager parents and their children, and about halfway through "Block City" by Robert Louis Stevenson, I blanked. I literally could not remember the next word, let alone the next verse! After a moment of panicking, I continued my speech as if I had meant to stop mid-poem. God is good and He generously brought the second half of the poem to mind as I finished up my talk. I recited the remainder of the poem and ended my personal turmoil! My love for literature has always been accompanied by a love for poetry, as well. Probably my mother’s fault as she gave me my first book of poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson when I was in elementary school and I still have it today!

Poetry often gets overlooked in school, whether you’re in the classroom or home schooled. Some teachers and parents feel intimidated by poetry while others don’t view it as a required literary topic. The creativity and beauty of poetic language can teach children many lessons. Learning to understand poetry opens a child’s mind to looking at words differently. The word pictures created by poetry help children use descriptive words in their own writing. Also, children who are exposed to poetry as youngsters and continue to read it will find it easier to understand classic literature when they’re older. Poetry books make awesome gifts and may be used for educational purposes, too. Need some ideas? Check out our picks below:

A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson – Yes, this is the infamous book that my mother gave me as a child and praise God, none of the poems have been "updated" or "modernized". This ideal book for early elementary aged children presents gloriously naive and precious pictures of childhood. Two of my favorite selections include "Block City", of course, and "Foreign Lands." This version includes illustrations by Tasha Tudor who maintains the sweetness and innocence of childhood in her artwork, thus matching the traditional poetry by Stevenson. A couple of interesting notes: Stevenson wrote his book of poetry while in bed suffering from tuberculosis and he was also the author of Treasure Island.

The Random House Book of Poetry for Children compiled by Jack Prelutsky – This massive collection of poetry, at 500 poems, presents a wide variety of poets from the classic Emily Dickinson to modern silly man, Shel Silverstein. The book is conveniently divided into general categories such as nature, home, seasons, etc. which can be very helpful when planning a unit study. While you may not find every poem to your liking, there are so many from which to choose that the mere size of the collection makes it useful. The illustrator, Arnold Lobel, presents fun and childlike artwork. As a Caldecott winner for his Frog and Toad series, I can’t imagine a more appropriate artist!

Poetry for Young People series by various artists (the link is for Robert Frost, but it will take you to multiple books in the series) – While I didn’t review all of the books in this series, I did enjoy the Robert Frost selection. The books begin with a brief biography of the poet and then go on to share 25 or more poems. This series would be ideal for a student who becomes fascinated with one particular poet or if you want to study a poet from a specific time period. Even though this series is designed for older elementary and middle school students, it would be wise to preview before having your student read, as many poets, such as Emily Dickinson, lead complicated lives. Each book also has a different illustrator, in an effort to match the poet’s writing style and content. Henri Sorensen, an excellent and realistic illustrator, combines nicely with Robert Frost.

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children by Caroline Kennedy – The Kennedys have a family tradition of children creating poetry scrapbooks as gifts for parents and grandparents (see our related activity toward the end of this blog) and that tradition inspired Caroline to compile this collection. Organized in general themes such as seasons, animals and adventure, the themes may not be original but they’re definitely appropriate. A wide variety of poets are featured from Ogden Nash to T.S. Eliot to Rudyard Kipling, many of whom are not typically found in children’s poetry anthologies. Caroline Kennedy opens each section with a personal and encouraging message. The illustrations, most appropriately done, are lovely watercolors by Jon Muth and a cherished component in themselves.

A Child’s Introduction to Poetry by Michael Driscoll – Where should I begin?! This book will send home school moms around the world into fits of happiness. With poetry so challenging to teach, this publication actually makes it easier and more desirable to learn and share. Initially, you’ll notice that Driscoll actually explains the different types of poetry from haikus to ballads to nursery rhymes to sonnets in an articulate and interesting way. He then features famous poets all across history from Homer to Shakespeare to Dickinson to Sandburg and more! Each poet section includes a brief biography and a poetry sample. The "Words of Wisdom" component featured throughout the book introduces vocabulary from the poems that nicely accompany the detailed glossary in the back of the book. An extensive bibliography opens the door for continued research. One unusual quality is that this book could be used to teach children of every age. Even high school students could benefit from the information and the poetry examples. All of this wonderful text is accompanied by a CD with poetry selections read by professional actors to support the lessons. There are a couple of possible negatives. First of all, the selection for Shakespeare, excerpted from MacBeth, features the witches’ scene. For some families, this may be uncomfortable. Secondly, I think the illustrations are rather mundane for the content. Of course, that’s only my opinion. Children’s illustrators have established an environment of tremendous artistic ability, so my standards have certainly been raised in that area. Despite the possible negatives, I think this is one of the best options for home school parents when it comes to teaching their children to understand and appreciate poetry.

The Bible – Don’t forget Psalms and Ecclesiastes! The gloriousness of God’s Word should never be overlooked in teaching our children. An NIV (New International Version) could offer more clarity while a NKJ (New King James) version may sound more poetic.

Related Activity: For several years, my children created accordion books as gifts for their great grandmother. She had everything and loved handmade gifts. Made of high quality paper and cloth ribbon, the books soon became collectibles. We even purchased a decorative box for her to store the books. One year, the children copied their favorite poems and accompanied them by photos and original artwork. Such a gift can bring sweet memories and be repeatedly enjoyed.

I hope you discover these selections to be memorable gift ideas and helpful educational tools. To add to the excitement, we’re giving away A Child’s Introduction to Poetry (the book and CD!) to our next winner. In order to be in the drawing, be sure to comment on this blog by Sunday, December 7th.

And on a very serious note,

Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you. (Winnie the Pooh, as written by A.A. Milne)

‘Til we meet again, many blessings on your week,

Beth

Congratulations to our first winner of the Epi Kardia Christmas Book Give Away, Kristin from North Carolina, who won the drawing for The Perfect Mix by Diane Phillips!  As well, for commenting on Our Favorite Christmas Books blog post and having her name drawn, Angie from Illinois won a hard back copy of the beautiful children’s book,Christmas Day in the Morning. Keep those comments coming! Besides entering you in the next drawing, they are a real blessing to us! Subscribe to our mailing list on the sidebar at right and make a comment on the blog by Saturday, November 29th to enter our this weeks’ drawing.  Read below to see the two books we are giving away this week!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving,

Dana

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Have you ever been to the library and noticed that some of the children’s books have medals embossed on the front covers? For those of you who don’t know, these books are award winners. The two most common awards for children’s books are the Newbery Medal, for excellent writing, and the Caldecott Medal, for outstanding illustrations.

The Newbery Medal was the first award for children’s literature in the world and is named after John Newbery, an 18th century book seller. The first medal was awarded in 1922 to Hendrik Willem van Loon for his book, The Story of Mankind. Today, the committee that awards the medal is made up of school and public librarians. According to the American Library Association (ALA), the goal of the award is "To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. To give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children’s reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."

The Caldecott Medal "shall be awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year. The award shall go to the artist, who must be a citizen or resident of the United States, whether or not he be the author of the text. Any book published in the preceding year shall be eligible to be considered for either award or both awards" according to the ALA. Originally the Newbery committee also selected the Caldecott winners beginning in 1937, but for the 1980 medals, two separate committees were formed. The Caldecott Medal was created in honor of Randolph Caldecott, a 19th century children’s book illustrator and the engraving on the medal is taken from one of Caldecott’s books.Both medals designate honor books that didn’t win the actual award, but are considered honorable mentions.

While there isn’t room in a single blog to review all of the medal winners, I’ve selected some of our favorites, in hope of helping you narrow down your own selection. Award winning books make wonderful gifts and family keepsakes! As well, we use a large number of these books in Epi Kardia Curriculum, particularly the Newbery medal winners, in many different grade levels. So peruse our choices and let us know your favorites as well!

Newbery Medal

These books can all be found in various grade levels of Epi Kardia curriculum.

I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Bordon de Trevino (1965) - This book, written in the form of an autobiography, portrays the interesting and intense story of a slave who becomes an artist. After a challenging start, Juan ends up working with Diego Velazquez, a favorite of the Spanish court under King Philip IV. The two become devoted friends allowing Juan an insider’s view of the life of this acclaimed artist. The dialogue and descriptive writing create an enjoyable and historical story.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (1990) – I will never forget listening to this book on tape with my daughter, Ally, while we were traveling. It was just the two of us and I had to pull my car over at one point because I was crying! Based on a true story, this is the account of one Danish family who took in the Jewish friend of their daughter and hid her until her family could escape from the Nazis. Lowry writes with such a poignant voice that you’re drawn into the true courage of the people during WWII who risked their lives for others. One of my favorite books of all time, I recommend it to anyone, especially those families with girls ages 8-12.

 The Bronze Bow (1962) and The Witch of Blackbird Pond (1959) by Elizabeth George Speare – These books are both featured in Epi Kardia curriculum, not only for their wonderful relevance to history, but also because of Speare’s tremendous writing ability. Her characters seem so real that you feel like you’ve made new friends and are sad to see them go when the books end. I remember reading The Bronze Bow to my daughter and three other young ladies that I helped home school. Each day, they would work so hard to get to reading time because they couldn’t wait to continue the story. Some days, I read aloud for more than an hour because they didn’t want me to stop. These are the books that help you instill a real love of literature in your children from the early years!

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (1944) – Although not as ill-behaved, I do believe Johnny Tremain is as well known as Tom Sawyer! The story takes place during the American Revolution and you get to watch Johnny mature as he becomes more involved in the war effort. Boys love having a character their own age who chooses to be in the middle of the fray! Written during a time when children were still considered to be children, Forbes treats the time period and storyline with dignity while maintaining an exciting plot. Definitely in the top three works of fiction that every student should read by middle school.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray (1943) – This entertaining story presents an historical picture not often seen in literature: the world of the traveling bards during the Middle Ages. With vivid characters and great descriptive adventure, this tale tracks an eleven-year-old boy who is kidnapped and must hunt for his father and his dog. Along the way, he learns many life lessons. Gray is sensitive in her content, but doesn’t let the fact that this is a children’s book slow the story down for a minute.

Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith (1958) – Horn Book magazine calls this novel "the best Civil War fiction for young people." It is certainly among the best! One of the unique qualities about this book is it’s presentation of both sides of the war. As well, it covers the Western campaign, which is not commonly the setting of Civil War novels. Stand Watie, the key historical figure in the novel, was the leader of the Cherokees and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. Harold Keith, the author, grew up in Cherokee country and his obvious love for history became apparent when he interviewed over 20 Civil War veterans and spent five years writing this book. Boys and girls alike will appreciate the action and adventure! You will appreciate that your children are learning and enjoying it!

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Lamath (1956) – Nathaniel Bowditch, a true historical figure, created nautical navigation advancements that changed the sailing world. Written as a novel, the story of Nat’s life is fascinating to many children. Longing for the life of a sailor, but being physically too small, Nat found another way to dedicate himself to the high seas! The quality of writing and the historical accuracy make this a must have classic!

Caldecott Medal

Saint George and the Dragon written by Margaret Hodges and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman (1985) – Adapted from the much longer classic, The Faerie Queen, this is one of those wonderful books that introduces literature to younger children in a big way. Hyman’s award winning illustrations with vibrant colors and amazing details will keep even the brightest child interested! This is one of those books that children love to look at again and again.

Abraham Lincoln written and illustrated by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire (1940) – Despite the fact that this book was written almost 70 years ago, the content is as relevant and easy to read today as ever. The D’Aulaires present a well rounded, unbiased version of Lincoln’s life with unique illustrations. They use the illustrations to tell the story as much as the words. As Lincoln grows in text, he does the same in art. As he ages in text, you begin to notice the changes in the artwork details. Oversized and larger than life, this book, as well as others written and illustrated by the D’Aulaires, will appeal to children from very young to older elementary.

Ox-Cart Man written by Donald Hall and illustrated by and illustrated by Barbara Cooney (1980) – The simplicity of the artwork in this book for young children seems rather old world today. I was shocked when I realized that it was a more modern Caldecott Medal winner! It presents an honest and picturesque representation of 19th century farm life in New England. The details make an excellent introduction to rural living for little ones. The text, although not actually poetry, flows as if it is.

Grandfather’s Journey written and illustrated by Allen Say (1994) – This beautifully illustrated version of an immigrant’s path to the United States is based on the author’s grandfather, who came from Japan. The sepia tones and muted coloring remind one of actual aged photographs. It is clear that Say loves both the land of his birth and the land of his adulthood. As with all excellent children’s books, his writing is simplistic and dramatic at the same time. This book makes a useful source for copy work with its direct prose.

The Glorious Flight written and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen (1984) – This enthralling story of Louis Bleriot, a Frenchman who built and flew a plane across the English Channel, provides children with the great adventures involved in the history of flight. Again, sepia toned illustrations tie the straightforward and specific text with the time period. The basic structure of the characters in the illustrations appeal to children as they seem almost child designed themselves. The blending of colors creates a realistic backdrop for an amazing historical event.

Rapunzel illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky (1998) – Zelinsky spent a great deal of time and energy researching the origins of this fable, so this retelling provides a very traditional perspective in the prose. Many modern retellings of fairy tales have a politically correct twist; not so with Zelinsky. Even with this excellent retelling, the artwork really steals the show. Rapunzel’s golden locks make every young lady (and maybe even her mother) long to grow their hair. The illustrations are mindful of classic Renaissance paintings with full expressions and rich colors. Even the lighting astounds the eye, seeming realistic. Beware! You may cry when Rapunzel’s glorious trendels are shorn, but don’t worry, the story ends as it should. 

 Related activity: There are a multitude of wonderful books, whether it’s the writing or the illustrations, that never receive an award. Have your children design medals to give to your favorite books. You could give medals for writing and illustrations, but other ideas may also come to mind including books that demonstrate Christ and friendship books. Let your children design the medals on paper then you can adhere the designs to foil covered cardboard circles. If you don’t want to stick the medals right on the book fronts, you can punch a hole in each medal and tie ribbon through it, then have your children use the medals as bookmarks. If your child writes a "book" of his own, it’s a great opportunity to encourage him and create a medal just for his book.  

For a complete listing of the Caldecott and Newbery Medals, you can visit the American Library Association (ALA) at www.ala.org.      

We’d love to hear about your favorite Caldecott and Newbery books. If you comment with a title, be sure to let us know why you or your child prefer that particular book. Remember, by commenting on this blog, you are automatically entered in the drawing for our next book give away. You need to comment by November 29th in order to enter the next drawing. The winner of that drawing will actually receive two Newbery Medal books: Johnny Tremain and Number the Stars!

Now it’s time to get a cup of hot tea, gather your children around and take off on your next reading adventure! God bless you and your family during this Thanksgiving holiday!

In Christ,

Beth

Some of my most precious Christmas memories revolve around books. Every year, my Mom would unpack her Reader’s Digest collection of Christmas stories and place it on the coffee table. Every year, I would pick up the heavy, hardbound anthology and read it as if I had never read it before. I also had a well worn copy of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and I don’t think a movie version was ever made that rivaled my imagination, which swirled with a combination of frightening images and tender vignettes as Scrooge learned to love and be loved. However, the hands down favorite for me was my father retelling of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. My father is not a great lover of literature, being much more concerned with science and facts, but for some reason O. Henry’s irony held Dad captive. To this day, it is my favorite O.Henry story and I will never forget how romantic the couple’s sacrificial love seemed to me as an adolescent girl.

Imaginatively illustrated, simply written children’s picture books can create cherished family memories as well as prized gifts. If you’re looking for some new story treasures for your family, consider some of these favorites. You can purchase them from Amazon by simply clicking the links at the end of the blog:

• Shoemaker Martin written by Leo Tolstoy, illustrated by Bernadette Watts - This picture book actually became one of my favorites after I had my own children, even though it was originally written in the 1800s. The author, Tolstoy, also wrote the most acclaimed novel ever published, War and Peace, and yet, later in life became a Christian and wrote this beloved short story. With the focus on Christ, it’s an ideal story for Christmas although it’s not generally known as a holiday book. Tolstoy’s main point, as presented in this picture book, that Jesus reveals Himself through us in every day life isn’t overly challenging for a young child to understand and yet, it’s an excellent stepping stone for a mature discussion of how the things we do, as believers, affect everyone around us. The illustrations in this particular version are detailed and captivating while the text, translated from Russian, maintains its simplistic story telling quality.
•  The Gift of the Magi written by O. Henry – O. Henry is another one of those late 1800s story tellers, although he wrote mainly about American life. As I previously noted, this short story holds a special place in my childhood memories. We didn’t have the picture books, when I was a child, now available with their glorious original paintings. Both of the versions that I have read recently, one illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger and the other by P.J. Lynch, are very comparable in their presentations. P.J. Lynch, one of my absolute favorite illustrators (you will see the name several times in this blog alone) and his soft, but realistic paintings almost tell the story on their own. It’s no wonder that Lynch is a two time winner of the prestigious Kate Greenaway award. Yet, Zwerger’s tender illustrations in this particular book actually seem to give off the romantic gaslight qualities of the time period in which the story was written. You’ll have to make the decision or better yet, buy them both!
• We Believe in Christmas written by Karen Kingsbury and illustrated by Daniel J. Brown - This modern picture is ideally suited for younger children. The text clearly expresses one family’s reasons for celebrating Christmas, rather than "the holiday season." The vivid illustrations with bright colors and a realistic presentation make it easy for younger children to understand. Related Christmas activity: Make a book with your children revealing why your family believes in Christmas. Focus on what your family does each holiday season and how your traditions relate to your family’s belief in Christ and celebrating His birth. It could be as simple as pages stapled together where you write main ideas on each page and your children illustrate them. For a more sophisticated project, an older child could design the book on the computer.
• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski and illustrated by P.J. Lynch – Along a similar, but less dark, story line as A Christmas Carol, this is the tale of a reclusive, yet talented, wood cutter who comes to life after being asked to create a Christmas nativity for a mom and her young son. One of my favorite qualities of this story is the flowing language that the author uses including when she describes Toomey, "He went about mumbling and grumbling, muttering and sputtering, grumping and griping." More creative phraseology occurs when Wojciechowski expresses, "He traveled until his tears stopped." As usual, Lynch’s illustrations bring life and feeling to the sentimental story with vibrant details including a wood tone shading to match the main character’s gifted profession.
• The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth written by Dandi Mackall and illustrated by Deborah Chabrian – In this story, a depression era mother shares a family tradition with her son, Jack. The tradition involves baking cookies and giving them to others to share the story of Christ. When Jack receives an angel cookie as his only Christmas gift, he decides to give it to a stranger and share what he believes. Illustrations of warm watercolors appropriately accompany this simple, but essential story and the author even includes a Christmas cookie recipe. Related Christmas activity: Make Christmas cookies of angels and other Christian symbols to take to a homeless shelter, children’s hospital, orphanage or other institution where children can enjoy them while you and your family share this sweet book. You could also leave your copy of the book for the children to read repeatedly.
• A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens and illustrated by P.J. Lynch – Yes, another book illustrated by Lynch!  I would recommend this book for older children due to the seriousness of some of the illustrations. Although the illustrations are darker in places than his other books, this particular story requires them at certain points to maintain the integrity of the original plot.
• Christmas Day in the Morning written by Pearl S. Buck and illustrated by Mark Buehner – Pearl S. Buck is best known as the author of the classic novel, The Good Earth. This is the first time this story has been published in picture book version since its original conception in 1055 as a short story. Its realistic human qualities feature a teenage boy suddenly discovering how much his father loves him. With that realization, the son works to come up with a gift that his father will truly appreciate. A tie in with the nativity moves this story from a simple feel good plot to the real reason behind Christmas. With sincere expression and homey illustrations, this book is sure to become an inspiration for many children to honor their parents in practical and helpful ways.                                                                                                                                                                                   

I hope that my reviews of these favorites provide you with a tool for choosing some new Christmas books for your family and save you some shopping time this holiday season. Our free book give away for this week is a hard cover version of Christmas Day in the Morning, valued at $16.99 retail. All you have to do is submit a comment on this blog by Sunday, November 23rd, and you will automatically be entered in a drawing for this free gift. If you have a favorite Christmas book, please include it in your comment to share with other families.

If you haven’t already subscribed to our mailing list, please click here and subscribe at the bottom of the page — and then continue reading and commenting between now and Christmas to get your name in all of the drawings for free books from Epi Kardia’s book give away…our gift to you this Christmas season!  And don’t forget that those who subscribe (or resubscribe) to our new list by Novermber 14th will be entered in the drawing for another new book: The Perfect Mix by Diane Phillips!

Happy reading and many blessings,

Beth