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RecoMonday: The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

My RecoMonday for this week is a recent Newbery Award Winner. I read it in 2 days and could barely put it down. The chapters are quick and short and leave it easy to keep reading.

Ada is a 9 year old girl who has never left her apartment. Her mother is too embarrassed about her twisted foot. She’s never been to school and everyone in town thinks there is something wrong with her mentally, but when all the kids are shipped out of town because of the war, Ada decides to sneak off with her little brother.

The story that unfolds is just excellent. One of the best books I’ve read in a while. The characters were real and Ada is a delightful girl who learns to trust others and herself. Bradley’s writing was superb. This book definitely deserves that gold sticker.

It was in the tween section at my library, but would still be a great book for an adult book club. I gave it to my 11 year old son to read when I was done and he started ravenously reading it as well. Recommended as a read-aloud for ages 8+, or as a great book for any adult to read.

Favorite Books of 2015

I posted 2 pictures on Instagram in December of my favorite books from 2015. First I posted my 5 favorite chapter books that I read to the kids this year: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor; Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis; Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary; Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald; and Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner.

To be honest, I didn’t read Roll of Thunder out loud to my kids. My oldest read it in 4th grade at the beginning of the year and I wanted to talk with him about it so I read it too.

I read Bud, Not Buddy and Dear Mr. Henshaw to Blake and Clark (11 and 9). And I read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Stone Fox to Isaac (7). I had read both of these books before to Blake and Clark so I knew they were good and Isaac enjoyed both of them. In fact, my husband sat down to read some of Stone Fox to Isaac, and after Isaac went to bed Dan had to read the whole book. Because it’s that good.

My 5 favorite books that I read were: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristin D. Randle.

These books all left me happy and fulfilled after reading them. Some of them had hard subjects, but I think the stories were real and dealt with the issues so well. I felt connected to the characters, which is very important to me, but they also had excellent plots. Check them out.

Previous Favorites: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009

RecoMonday: That Terrible Halloween Night

In honor of Halloween, today I’ll recommend Jane’s very favorite Halloween picture book. We read this all the time.

James Stevenson is so clever.

RecoMonday: A Friend for Dragon by Dav Pilkey

I kicked off our Mommy & Me Book Club this month with some fun Dragon books. All of my kids love this series by the author of the Captain Underpants books, Dav Pilkey. We made some apples and/or pumpkins to go along with the books.

These books are a little longer than the average picture books, so probably good for 3 1/2 year olds and up.

RecoMonday: Mitchell Goes Bowling

We found this Young Hoosier Book Award Nomineee today at the library. The story is great, but the pictures really sell the story.

I haven’t heard of the author before (Hallie Durand), but I’ve definitely seen the illustrator. Tony Fucile is the illustrator for Bink & Gollie books by Kate DiCamillo and we love those books! I found out there’s another book about Mitchell so I’ve already put it on hold at the library.