Tanya's Reunion Book Review

Tanya's Reunion is a story about a girl named Tanya whose Grandma teaches her things about life.  The story starts in Tanya's family's kitchen.  While they were eating, Grandma said something uncalled for.  " I would like to go to the farm early before the Family Reunion."  Tanya's Mom was not so sure that this was a good idea because just a little while ago Grandma was very ill.  Grandma sees her fear so she says, "If it makes you feel any better I'll take Tanya ahead with me to make sure that I'm okay.  Tanya looked excited and hopeful.  To her surprise, her parents let her go with Grandma.  On the trip to the farm, Tanya has lots of fun on the buses but she wanted to know what the farm looked like.  When they finally got to the farm Tanya looked at it closely.  She was very disappointed.  It wasn't anything like she imagined.  That night when Tanya laid her head on her pillow she wanted to go home.  Will Tanya's visit to the farm get any better?  Find out in the book Tanya's Reunion.
~Hope Katherine   

A Pocket For Courduroy Book Review

A Pocket For Corduroy is a book about a stuffed bear who is owned and loved by a little girl named Lisa.  When Lisa and her mother go to the laundromat to wash their clothes Lisa takes Corduroy with them.  When they get there Lisa wants to help her mother with the laundry so she sits Corduroy on a chair and tells him to wait there for her.  Corduroy was waiting for them to be done when he heard Lisa's mother tell Lisa to take everything out of her pockets.  "I wish I had a pocket." Corduroy thought to himself.  He slid off of his chair and went to look for one.  Will Lisa and her mom have to leave without him?  Find out in the book, A Pocket For Corduroy.
~Hope Katherine

Saint Patrick and the Peddler Book Review

Saint Patrick and the Peddler is a story about a peddler who is very poor and no one is buying anything from him so he is going hungry.  One night, Saint Patrick came to him in a dream and told him to go to Dublin which was very far away and told him to stand on the bridge and he would hear what he needed to hear.  "To Dublin!" He thought. "That is such a long ways away."  So he didn't go.  The next night he had the same dream.  Again he refused.  The next night it came again.  Would the peddler ever listen?  This is a good book for kids of all ages.  The pictures are very well drawn.  I really liked this book.
~Hope Katherine

Saint George and the dragon Book Review

Saint George and the Dragon is a story about a knight who comes with a princess named Una to help try to slay the dragon that is hurting Una's people. When George gets to the kingdom he is attacked by the dragon. After a big fight, George is badly wounded and can't get back up. Will he survive? I recommend this book for kids nine and up because the pictures are a little gruesome in some areas. This book is nicely written and has good pictures.
~Hope Katherine

The Patchwork Quilt Book Review

The Patchwork Quilt is a story about a girl named Tanya and her Grandma. Grandma was cutting out squares of fabric one day and Tanya asked her what she was doing. They worked on it together for a year and when it was done, Tanya found writing on the bottom of the quilt that said, "To Tanya from her Grandma." This is a very good story. I recommend this book for everyone. It has pretty pictures and it is well written. I hope you read this book!
~Hope Katherine

How Many Days to America? Book Review

How Many Days to America is a book about Africans who are going to be taken as slaves so they get on a boat in the middle of the night and escape from the mean men. when the boat's engine gives way, the women knot clothes together to make a sail. When they finally reach land three men jump off of the little boat and swim to shore. There are men on the land but they do not look happy to see the boat. The men bring the dark skinned men back to their little boat with food but say that the boat could not land here. Will they ever reach America? I recommend this book for kids ages seven and up because kids younger than seven may not understand what the story is about.
~Hope Katherine

Train to Somewhere Book Review

Train to Somewhere is a book about fourteen orphans who get on a train with their teacher to see if anyone wants to adopt one or more of them. A girl named Marianne is hoping that her mother will be at one of the stops waiting for her. During the trip, Marianne and her friend Nora get separated. In the end, Marianne gets adopted by an older couple who she knows will love her. It didn't end the way I thought it would. I recommend this book for kids ages seven and up because the story is kind of sad.
~Hope Kate

Thee, Hannah Book Review

Thee, Hannah is about a Quaker girl who has a neighbor who has lots of pretty things like flowers on her bonnet. Hannah cannot have pretty things because her parents are Quakers. This is a very good story. Hannah is constantly getting into trouble by doing something that Quakers should not do. I recommend this book for girls of all ages.
~Hope Kate

Robin Hood Book review

Robin Hood is a very good book. The thing I like about it is that it tells the whole story. Before I read this book I had only herd a little of the story. Now I know the whole story. I would recommend this book for 8 and up because there are a few gory pictures and words. The book Robin Hood is a very suspenseful book.

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Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves review by Anya (and Mom)

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is a fictional book that is suspenseful, yet unrealistic. In the book Ali Baba, a salesman in the marketplace, uncovers a mystery of a secret cave. The setting of the book is very different than here. There aren't thieves where I live. There is a marketplace and it's not called ShopRite or Walmart. Also, they carry around swords and daggers and do a lot of killing.

I would recommend this book for ages 9 and up because it has a lot of gory things. It was pretty easy reading but there are a lot of words on each page. The story is about girls and boys and could be enjoyed by both, but in the end, a girl is the hero.

You should check out this book and read it. But once you've read the ending, the mystery is over, so you'll probably only want to read it once.

***NOTE*** Hope read the book and said NO ONE should read it. Too much killing. So, reader: beware!

Paddington at Work Book Review

Paddington is a bear who is constantly getting into mischief. Paddington doesn't try to get into mischief, but when he tries to do something right, mischief just sort of follows him wherever he goes. He lives with the Browns who found him in Paddington Station. Now they live in a house with a big, green front-door. This book is a funny chapter book because of the adventures he has. Every chapter is a different story. I recommend this book for all ages.
~Hope Katherine :)

Paddington Helps Out Chapter One - by Anya

Paddington is a funny, mischievous bear who loves surprises. In Paddington Helps Out, he wakes up early one morning to hear a lot of noise coming from the garden. He jumps out of bed to make sure he isn't missing anything. He was surprised to see the Browns all gathered around a picnic basket and Mrs. Bird carrying out a large plate, piled high with sandwiches! Paddington decided he would go out because he didn't want to miss any fun. They were surprised to see him up so early because he usually slept later. They told him they were going to have a picnic on the river.

When they got to the river, Mr. Brown announced that Paddington would steer the boat. They set sail and they hit a wave. One moment Paddington was standing in the boat and the next moment he was not. Where is Paddington? Is he in the river? Will he drown?!?!?! To figure out what happens- read the exciting book of Paddington Helps Out!

~Anya

Mom's note: These original Paddington chapter books are really funny to read aloud to early elementary aged kids. I remember laughing to tears as my mother read these aloud to me. Don't miss an opportunity for sharing lots of joy with your kids! :D Also, though in Reading for the Heart this is listed as a Picture Book, the originals have only a few black and white illustrations. I would classify it as Children's Fiction I think. Still- largely for late preschool/early elementary ages. ~Katherine

William Tell, illustrated and retold by Margaret Early

This is a good, classic story about a mean man who took over William Tell's homeland and ruled the people harshly. One day, the mean man told the people to bow down to his hat that he put on a pole. Tell did not hear of this law because he lived on a mountain. So when he went into the village where the hat was to visit his father with his son, he didn't bow. One of the guards saw that he hadn't bowed and told the ruler. The mean ruler was very angry and knew that Tell was a good shot with his bow and arrows. He told Tell that his punishment for not bowing was that he, the mean ruler, would put an apple on his son's head. Tell would have to shoot an arrow through the apple. Would William Tell be able to shoot it without accidentally killing his son?!?!

Billy and Blaze, Book Summary by Anya

Billy and Blaze by C.W. Anderson

At the beginning of the book there is a boy named Billy. And Billy loves horses. Whenever he gets a chance to ride a horse he takes it. On his birthday his dad says, "Billy go look on the lawn and you will find your birthday present." So he went out side and looked on the lawn. Then he saw a beautiful bay horse (a bay is a black and brown mix). He could not wait to ride him! That night after dinner was over he went to the barn, said good night to his horse, and went to bed. A few days later he found a name for his horse. The name was Blaze. When he was riding he heard a dog in pain. So he followed the sound. And he found it in a trap that was used for a wild animal. He named it Rex. When he was riding he saw a sign that was taped to a tree that said......????? I guess if you want to find out what happens, you will have to read it your self . : ]

~Anya

Song and Dance Man, Book Review by Hope

The Song and Dance Man is about a grandfather who used to be a song and dance man on stage. One day his grandchildren come over and want him to perform for them in the attic where his tap shoes, vest, cane, and hat are stored away in a trunk. This picture book is appropriate for kids and pretty short. I recommend this book for small children around the age of four because a younger child might not understand it (and it might be boring for an older child).

I read this book to my brothers, aged 6 and 3. They liked the pictures. My three-year-old brother thought grandfather's red nose looked like Rudolph, and he laughed so hard!

~Hope

Anya's Review of Araminta's Paint Box by Karen Ackerman

Araminta's Paint Box by Karen Ackerman

Arminta's Paint Box is a story about a paint box given to a girl named Araminta by her Uncle as her family is moving west. The paint box gets lost several times. Will Araminta ever get her paint box back?

I would recommend this book for all ages. I particularly liked the horse wagons in the story.

~Anya