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 [...]

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Title:  Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Author: Simms Taback Illustrator: Simms Taback Publisher: Viking ISBN: 0670878553 Audience: ages 3 and up Summary: Joseph had a little overcoat that was worn and full of holes so he made it into a jacket.  As the jacket continues to wear out it becomes in turn a vest, a [...]

The Tallest of Smalls

Name of Book:  The Tallest of Smalls Author:  Max Lucado Illustrator:  Maria Monescillo Publisher:  Tommy Nelson: A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers Audience:  Ages 4 – 10 (but could be used with middle schoolers) Summary:  The Tallest of Smalls is the story of a young boy named Ollie.  Ollie lives in the land of Stilts.  [...]

Princess Furball

Name of Book: Princess Furball Author: Charlotte Huck Publisher: Greenwillow ISBN: 978-0688131074 Audience: Ages 4-8 Summary: To escape marriage to an Ogre, the daughter of a cruel king conceives a clever plan. Her plan fails, but leaves her with the tools to attain her ultimate happiness. This Cornwall variation on the Cinderella tale contains no [...]

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 [...]

Elmer and the Rainbow

Title:  Elmer and the Rainbow Author:  David McKee Illustrator:  David McKee Publisher:  Anderson Press USA ISBN:  978-0761374107 Audience: 3-6 years Summary: Elmer, the patchwork elephant, is the multicolored hero of a popular series of preschool books.  In this story the jungle animals watch a fierce thunder storm and anticipate seeing a rainbow. Alas, the rainbow [...]

The Clown of God

Name of Book: The Clown of God Author: Tomie dePaola Illustrator: Tomie dePaola Publisher:  Voyager Books (Harcourt Brace & Co) Intended Audience:  Ages 4-8 (I have used this book with a group of adults, all of whom were retired.) Summary:  Tomie dePaola retells an old tale of Giovanni, the juggler.  Giovanni was an orphan who [...]

Loser

Name of Book: Loser Author: Jerry Spinelli Publisher: Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0060540746 Audience: Ages 10-14 Summary: Donald Zinkoff is a great kid. He laughs easily, likes people, and loves school. When he blows a race for his team, all of his all of his previously ignored “quirks” become a focal point and brand him as [...]

One Special Me: A Book Celebrating How God Made Us Special

Name of Book:  One Special Me: A Book Celebrating How God Makes Us Special Author:  Allia Zobel Nolan Illustrator:  Pauline Siewert Publisher:  Thomas Nelson Audience:  Ages 3 and up Summary:  This children’s book shares the story of several children from different racial backgrounds that all have different physical features. They each take turns sharing one [...]

Shoe Magic

Name of Book:  Shoe Magic Author:  Nikki Grimes Illustrator:  Terry Widener Publisher: Orchard Books, A Grolier Company ISBN: 0-531-30286-5 Audience: Age 4 – 10 Summary: The author,  through colorful illustrations, has put together short poems about wearing different pairs of shoes.  The shoes allow the wearers to step into dreams of the future from playing [...]