2018 Children's Book Reviews

Here is a second book list, one of books completed with my children in 2018. I would have been happy to read any of these on my own as well, but it was a pleasure to spend time reading them with my kids.

2018 Kids’ Book List

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett (1948). This is the hilarious story of how Elmer Elevator risks his life to save a baby dragon from the dangerous animals of the jungle. We laughed out loud at the descriptions of his surprising schemes, and spent several nights staying up too late because we were unable to put this book down. 

The Mystery of the 99 Steps by Carolyn Keene (1966). All the charms of the typical Nancy Drew story are here. Nancy and her friends are off to Paris while they and Mr. Drew solve several puzzles dealing with money and a mysterious staircase. We had fun with French phrases, and imitating the many accents.

The Indian Medicine Man by Robert Hofsinde (1966). A description of medicine man practices among various American Indian tribes, such as the Sioux, Iroquois, Apache, Navajo, and Ojibwa. This book describes wide contrasts to our Christian beliefs, providing much material for discussion. The text is written in language that offers enjoyable reading about concepts that are strange to us. 

The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West (1953). This is the first book in a big series about the five Hollister children and their parents. Written in a cheerful 1950’s style, the Hollisters solve the mystery of who has been prowling around the basement of their new home. Like Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys, there are elements of danger (such as going off alone, or talking to strange people) that can be used to warn kids about unintelligent risks. I like this series better than Boxcar Children, and enjoyed the family camaraderie. 

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886). We read two chapters of this book every week for fifteen weeks. I love the typical Stevenson writing of shipwrecks and wayfarers, of fighting and obscure characters. David Balfour is winsome, and his strange pal Alan Break grew on me, too. This is not an easy read, but worth the adventures. The Scottish accents are fun to attempt.

The Ocean of Truth by Joyce McPherson (1997). This biography of Isaac Newton is an easy, entertaining, informative read. We were taken through his life from boyhood to death. I’m fascinated by his pursuit of knowledge, and enjoyed learning about his walk with Christ.

The Storybook of Science by Jean-Henri Fabre (1917). I can’t imagine a richer way to make science come to life. We learned so much from the character Uncle Paul, who describes many parts of God’s creation in detail to his niece and nephews. Topics such as cotton, cows, bees, caterpillars, metals, lightning and thunder, poisonous plants, pollen, earthquakes, and shells are covered thoroughly. Children will enjoy and appreciate science taught in this living way, much more than un-relatable textbooks. Who can question God’s design after the awe-inspiring descriptions of nature given in this book?

George Washington’s World  by Genevieve Foster (1941). We love this approach to history: living stories about historical figures who were alive during Washington’s lifetime. Sections of the book are divided thus: when George was a boy, a soldier, a farmer, a Commander, “just a citizen,” and when he was president. It’s interesting to see how other people’s lives unfolded over the same time period, and what was happening throughout the world. This book gives thorough instruction on the American Revolution and world events of the time.

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford (1961). This is the story of three animal friends who trek across part of the Canadian wilderness to track down their family. The cat and two dogs have been left in the care of a friend while their family is on vacation, but they miss home. Full of rich description and little dialogue, this seems better for read-aloud than for silent reading. (In general, I find that books are more enjoyable when read aloud; I tend to miss things and mind-wander when reading silently!). 

Uncle Wiggly’s Storybook by Howard R. Garis (1921). This delightful book is made up of small chapters, each containing a tale about Uncle Wiggly the rabbit, who lives in a “hollow stump bungalow.” He is always finding situations in which he can offer help to unfortunate animals or humans. His animal friends all speak to one another, and Uncle Wiggly understands human talk, although he is unable to communicate with people. This lighthearted book of sweet tales of kindness gently teaches morality and doing right. Much better read aloud than silently!

Minn of the Mississippi  by Holling C. Holling (1951). Minn, a snapping turtle with three legs, slowly makes her way down the entire Mississippi River. The reader experiences each step of her journey in a short chapter describing her encounters, beginning in Minnesota and ending in the Gulf of Mexico from New Orleans. This is an excellent resource for teaching United States geography and history. We read it slowly, a chapter a week, over a school year. As in all his books, Holling’s illustrations are extraordinary.

The 4th of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh, illustrated by Marie Nonnast (1956). This short, simple book is an easy one to pull out on Independence Day for a few moments of joyful reading aloud. It is an ideal refresher of what the kids have learned about the American Revolution during the school year. The illustrations are delightful! 

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (1943). This book contains several hilarious and charming tales about Homer’s adventures in the town of Centerburg. He learns how to operate his uncle’s donut machine, meets a superhero, finds out why an unusual man came to town, and obtains a pet skunk. This is a wonderful read-aloud at bedtime, complete with drawings in the style for which McCloskey is famous.

The Story of Your Blood by Edith Lucie Weart (1960). We spent four weeks reading this book, taking 6-8 pages twice a week. Although the author describes the blood and its components in detail, her style is entertaining and easy to understand. I highly recommend this living book for any type of school.

Titanic: Voices From the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson (2014). This is a thorough, excellent resource for learning the living stories behind the Titanic disaster of 1912. All history should be taught as it is here, in the tales of real lives, rather than dates and boring facts. 

Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West With Lewis and Clark by Gail Langer Karwoski (2002). What a fantastic way to take the journey west with America’s most famous explorers! Great care is given to the details of the expedition, with excerpts from the journals of Lewis and Clark. Seaman adds life and fun to the exciting adventures, in which we also get to know Sacagawea, a slave named York, other men in the Corps of Discovery, and the traits of many Indian tribes. 

Cherry Ames, Student Nurse by Helen Wells (1943). This first book in the series tells how Cherry becomes a nurse, taking readers through her learning experiences as a student nurse. Not only is it packed with educational medical terminology and scenarios, but keeps readers engaged with exciting plots. 

The Story of Madame Curie by Alice Thorne (1961). This is a simple yet full biography of Marie Curie, from her childhood in Poland to her death in Paris. We enjoyed learning of her work with Pierre, and their excitement in discovering radium. Biographies are highly desirable in exploring history, as opposed to dry textbook facts. Books like this one teach us to care!  

2018 Book Reviews

This year I set up my book lists differently: I decided to give a short, opinionated synopsis about each one. These are books that I completed during 2018, not including daily Bible excerpts and certain chapters from Charlotte Mason's Parents and Children. My desire is to remind others that little bits of reading every day can add up to lots of time in which to digest a wide feast of books. A subsequent post will include books completed with my children. Be encouraged!

2018 Book List

Jean and Johnny by Beverly Cleary (1959). The awkwardness of a teenage crush for a plain girl who realizes that popularity isn’t everything. A light, happy read. I wish my own teen experience had been so insightful, and highly recommend this book for teenage girls.

The Girl Who Knew it All by Patricia Reilly Giff (1979). I was given this book as a first grader and wasn’t ready to read it, so I glanced at parts over the years but never fully read it. It’s the simple story of a small-town girl who has trouble reading, which she tries to hide by acting like a know-it-all. It’s a typical early ’80’s book: neighborhood children are relentless in their remarks to one another, and parents are working all day, leaving kids to their own raising during the summer. Okay for a mindless read, but not ideal mind-food for children (or adults!).

Eve by Evelyn Minshull (1990). This is the story of Eve based loosely on a Biblical plot, with a lot of fiction added. The descriptions were fairly interesting, with the shocking exception of a drunk Adam raping Eve, which I never did get past. Also, the author goes out of her way to paint Cain as a good guy, and to gloss over his murdering Abel, who is barely mentioned at all. Minshull uses Adam and Eve for inspiration, but creates a soap opera to depict their lives. It’s also not Biblical that after one generation, there appears a population of random folks with no accounting of origin. Take this book with a grain of salt, or better yet, skip it and read the truth in Genesis.

Come Home Laughing by Tanya Lyons (2017). This book was written for adult children of divorce. It is the fictional story of several adults who begin to face and process childhood wounds from their parents’ divorces. They form friendships and attend a church retreat designed to begin their healing processes. I tore through this book in a few days. It put words to many feelings I also have experienced. I enjoyed the unique format of factual data sprinkled throughout the story, explaining the clinical points behind the feelings. This is the only book of its kind I’ve encountered, and I’m grateful for such a treasure.

The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis (1949). This is a typical, meaty Lewis book. I confess that the chapter on “Theology as Poetry” was so over my head, I had to skip the second half and move on. My favorite chapters were “The Inner Ring,” and “Forgiveness.” He says, “At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door,” and “We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.” Lewis’s wisdom never disappoints!

The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers (1996). Rivers bounces the plot back and forth  between two characters: the modern day life of Sierra Madrid, and the pioneer journal of Mary Katherine McMurray as she travels the Oregon Trail. This author’s fiction is always true to life, diving into the hearts and minds of broken people, showing Christ’s love for them, and His redemption in their lives. Overall an outstanding read, but two areas disappointed me: Sierra blames herself too much for her husband’s poor behavior (as “good Christians” often do), and too many details of Mary Kathryn’s life are left unknown at the end of her diary. I enjoyed her journal most, and would love more stories about her. 

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (1971). I had never read this classic, and am glad I finally did! The Christian Ten Boom family hid Jews in their Dutch home during World War II. We get to know Corrie in her early adulthood, and are taken through her horrific experiences after being caught breaking the law. Packed with accounts of deep faith and miracles, this book sharpens believers, and no doubt will convince non-believers. 

Take Your Life Back by Stephen Arterburn, M.Ed. and David Stoop, Ph.D. (2016). A must read for everyone, this book gives Biblical wisdom and clinical facts regarding taking our lives back from past wounds and lies we’ve believed. The authors give personal examples and practical insight to help break negative behaviors, create healthy boundaries, and walk in freedom. There is also a workbook to accompany this book.

Good Grief by Granger E. Westberg (1962). This booklet that has circulated through churches for decades is a pithy, easy guide to understanding the stages of grief, even in the small losses we face regularly. 

Mama, Get the Hammer!…by Barbara Johnson (1994). Another classic from the lady who lived through serious heartache, and used her experience to bring godly encouragement with a humorous twist to others. In true Barbara style, this book contains stories, quips, and cartoons to uplift and bring truth.

The Red Sea Rules by Robert J. Morgan (2014). A friend told us about this easy read, then surprised us with it as a gift! Morgan’s book centers around the fact that in every situation, God makes a way. He illustrates this with ten principles from what happened to the Israelites and the Red Sea, and cites personal examples. 

White Like Her by Gail Lukasik (2017). Packed with impressive genealogical research, the author traces her mother’s roots after discovering that her mixed-race mother left her family to “pass” as white. This book is a good blend of racial history in New Orleans, the author’s personal ancestor stories, and her memories of her mother’s family and their strange behavior. I commend Lukasik for this tribute to her family and her handling of a tough topic with courage and respect. She honors her mother and ancestors, as well as family members she never knew she had. This should inspire us all to dig deeper into our own family histories.

Angels by Billy Graham (1975). I had never read a book by Graham before, and I wasn’t disappointed. I love the “old-school” feel of this work, which reads like a living textbook. Billy Graham’s tone throughout is one of love, comfort, and truth; it’s like reading something written by a wise, caring friend. There are some modern-day examples of angels cited, but this book is primarily filled with incidents in Scripture that educate readers on who angels are, as well as their many purposes. Such meat will be worth re-reading in the near future, as I’m sure I missed a lot this first time.

Understanding and Loving a Person With Borderline Personality Disorder by Arterburn and Wise (2017). Psychology has become a topic of interest to me lately, as I realize that we are all a product of what we’ve believed. The intricacy of the heart and mind is fascinating. Gaining understanding about Borderline Personality Disorder is an integral part of having healthy relationships and setting boundaries, and the authors present an easy read on the subject. 

Fire Road by Kim Phuc Phan Thi (2017). This is the fascinating story of the famous “Napalm Girl,” whose photo was snapped in 1972 as she ran screaming after being attacked by a napalm bomb in Vietnam. Kim Phuc shares how she learned peace and forgiveness, and how her scars have affected everyday life. This book is an easy, personal biography, excellent for middle-schoolers and beyond. Kim is transparent about what following Christ looks like in major as well as in daily struggles.

A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola (1998). This is my favorite homeschooling book, one that I have read through several times. Karen and her husband, Dean, unearthed Charlotte Mason’s essays and had them republished, making her methods available and more widely known. Here, she offers insight into these methods, and what they look like practically in a modern-day homeschool. Karen’s style is warm, winsome, and inviting. She provides rich, doable examples of a CM education. 

Finding Home by Jim Daly (2005). This autobiography of the president of Focus on the Family is fascinating. Daly intimately describes the brokenness of his childhood, and how he came to know Christ. I wanted to adopt the little boy whose story he tells, and wonder how many children grow up in dysfunction that those around them ignore, or know nothing about. His story is proof of God’s redemption, and a reminder of the importance of loving children well. I was a Daly fan before, but his story increased my admiration for this godly man.

Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola (2002). This is the fictional diary of Carol, a 1930’s mother who decides to homeschool her children. She gives vivid descriptions of their nature study subjects, and how her children keep nature notebooks. This came at the perfect time for me, as I’ve decided to be diligent in implementing regular nature study into our school year. Carol’s charming story is a living, doable example of home education.

Dear Papa by Thyra Ferre Bjorn (1963). I was introduced to Bjorn’s books by some friends who described them as an older Mitford series. When I found this signed first edition on the library sale rack for a quarter, I knew I’d hit gold! The story is a treasure indeed. Mama writes to Papa, who has passed away, and fills him in on adventures involving their eight children. She is now eighty-one, enjoying a quiet life in Miami, looking back on the joys and sorrows of the past. Mama is the ideal picture of a godly woman; I enjoyed spending time with her in this book!

Middle School: The Inside Story by Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuña (2014). I heard about this book on “Focus on the Family,” and it piqued my interest, as I am now the parent of a middle-schooler. This is an easy, entertaining read. I found the information about body changes and communication more pertinent to our situation, but I believe this will be a valuable tool to parents and teachers of middle-schoolers in traditional public and private schools, as the school setting is also discussed in detail. There are certain points about which I disagree, but this is an overall informative, good book.

Born For Battle by Arthur Mathews (1978). This little book consists of thirty-one short chapters on fighting the good fight of the faith, and doing battle against the enemy. I liked being able to read each chapter in one sitting, and take on deep points each time. It’s an easy, ten-minute morning read over several weeks.

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson (2015). This is the most interesting, well-written biography I’ve read to date. Larson does a compelling job of giving Rosemary Kennedy the dignity she deserves. We learn about Rosemary as a person, rather than an obscure member of the Kennedy family. Some biographies include dry, boring details, but every part of this one held my attention. 

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer (1948). I had never read Tozer before, but my husband gave me a volume that includes three of his works. This first book was a clear read that sharpened my faith and gave me plenty to ponder. It’s not one to read quickly, but rather a chapter a day, or even per week. I especially enjoyed the short biography of Tozer included at the end. 

Lost Boy by Greg Laurie (2008). "Thankfully, God doesn't look for the 'religious type.' He looks for the 'sinner type.' I qualified. And against all odds, He changed my life.” This quote describes the tone of Pastor Greg Laurie’s story. He was brought up in horrible conditions, and saved by the Lord at age 17. He is a likable, funny guy, with a powerful testimony that speaks to Christ’s rescuing power.

Wounded By God’s People by Anne Graham Lotz (2013). I read this book when it was new five years ago, because I had been wounded by several who claim to be God’s people. I reread it this time because it covers the story of Sarah and Hagar, which I had gone slowly through in my Bible, and wanted to remember what Anne had to say about it. She is a likable author, like a godly mother, who is candid about her own wounds. This is an overall helpful read, although I don’t espouse the idea of “That was then, this is now” woven throughout. In my opinion, there is a tone of “Get over it and move on” that can cause people to bury wounds that haven’t been fully healed. That, plus some differences in theology, make this just an okay book for me. 

Tortured For Christ by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand (1967). This is the fascinating autobiography of Pastor Wumbrand, who endured fourteen years of torture in Communist prisons for his Christian beliefs. His description of modern-day martyrdom in vivid, heart-wrenching detail is a call to action in sharing our faith, no matter the cost. The “underground church” is alive and needs our help and prayers today. This book is a challenge to examine our own faith, and the sacrifices to which God calls us in Christ’s name. 

Out to Canaan by Jan Karon (1997). Another heartwarming volume about Mitford! I can’t get enough of this series. Does Esther Cunningham keep her status as mayor when Mack Stroupe stops at nothing in the contest? What becomes the fate of Fernbank? Can Father Tim really be considering retirement? All this and more!