Bless This Mouse

Title:  Bless This Mouse Author:  Lois Lowry Illustrator: Eric Rohmann Publisher: Houghton Mifflin ISBN: 9780547390093 Audience: Reading level 9 years Summary: Hildegard, the mouse mistress of the community of mice (219 members) at St. Bartholomew’s, has important responsibilities: counseling mice on the size of their families, leading them in the hymns and prayers from the [...]

All in a Day

Name of Book: All in a Day Author:  Cynthia Rylant Publisher: Abrams Books ISBN: 978-0810983212 Audience:  Ages 2-5 Summary:  Come and follow a boy through a beautiful summer day as he works in the garden, feeds the animals, plays games, takes a nap, and explores the wilderness. It is a full day and he is [...]

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Name of Book: All Things Bright and Beautiful Author:  Cecil F. Alexander; illus. Ashley Bryan Publisher: Atheneum ISBN: 978-1416989394 Audience: Ages 2-5 Summary:  Cut-paper collages depict scenes of people, animals, and nature that perfectly interpret this wonderful 19th c Irish hymn. Bryan has created a masterpiece in which art and text work together to God’s [...]

Mr. and Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen

Name of Book:  Mr. And Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen Author:  Nancy Wood Illustrator:  Timothy Basil Ering Publisher:  Candlewick ISBN:  978-0763612580 Audience:  Ages 5 and up suggested by publisher.  I would suggest older adolescent – adult learners could use this book as well. Summary:  In this picture book, Mr. And Mrs. God are in [...]

At Break of Day

Name of Book:  At Break of Day Author:  Nikki Grimes Illustrator:  Paul Morin Publisher:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers ISBN:  978-0802851048 Audience:  Ages 4 – 8.   This book, while categorized as a children’s picture book, is not at all juvenile in its language or illustrations. It would thus make an excellent addition to any [...]

The Water Hole

Name of Book:  The Water Hole Author:  Graeme Base Illustrator: Graeme Base Publisher:  Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers ISBN: 9780810945685 Audience: Grades Pre-K – 5 Summary:  The Water Hole is a counting book.  As animals from all around the globe gather around the water hole for a drink, the water hole begins to diminish in [...]

The Listening Walk

Name of Book:  The Listening Walk Author:  Paul Showers Illustrator:  Aliki Publisher:  Harper Collins Audience:  Ages 3 – 7 Summary:This is the story of a little girl who, while walking quietly with her father down city streets, a forest trail, a park path, and all around, encounters sounds—whrrring cars, bomping balls, prrroooing pigeons, bzzzing bees, [...]

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Title: Brother Sun, Sister Moon Author: Katherine Paterson Illustrator:  Pamela Dalton Publisher:  Chronicle Books ISBN:  9780811877343 Audience:  Ages 4 and up Summary: “The Canticle of the Creatures” or “The Canticle of the Sun” (13th Century) is one of the most familiar songs of praise in the world.  Written by St. Francis of Assisi in the [...]

The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone

Name of Book:  The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone Author:  Timothy Basil Ering Illustrator:  Timothy Basil Ering Publisher:  Candlewick Press Audience:  4 – 9 (but could be used with groups of all ages) Summary:   “Frog Belly Rat Bone, one, two, three…you must be patient and then you will see!” is the delightful, and I [...]

The Curious Garden

Title: The Curious Garden Author: Peter Brown Illustrator: Peter Brown Publisher: Little, Brown, 2009 ISBN: 9780316015479 Audience: 4-8 years Summary:  There was once a city without gardens or trees or greenery, a dull and dreary city where everyone stayed inside.  Except young, red-headed Liam who, while splashing in the rain one day, discovered a few [...]