A good book fills a reader’s time. A great book fills a reader’s mind. An unforgettable book raises questions. I’ve noticed this in other forms of media, too. Television shows and movies that raise questions are more memorable. This makes sense. The brain is uncomfortable with unanswered questions, and it will pursue answers long after […]
Through books we encounter people who overcame tremendous odds, served humanity, invented and discovered new horizons, or created wonderful works for our enjoyment. There are also those we identify as “anti-heroes” whose example give us pause for discernment. Even the Bible is filled with one biography after another, each one reporting highs and lows of […]
Huddled under voluminous blankets, watching the white pile up outside my windows, I reach for the old purple paperback that first gave me the word snowbound. The book’s been sitting on a shelf next to the glider where I feed my four-month-old daughter six times a day. It’s there with the other children’s books whose […]
I’ve learned to avoid New Year’s resolutions; however, I may have to break that trend this new year, thanks to Squirrel’s Fun Day by author/illustrator duo Lisa Moser and Valeri Gorbachev. The big, wonderfully enchanting world fills squirrel with such enthusiastic delight he determines his only to-do for the day is to have fun. But when […]
Choosing books for Christmas is always a delightful experience. There are many from which to choose, so when selecting a book I ask myself how many things I might share with the children when we read this book. There needs to be more than the fun, excitement, and joys of the season. This helps me […]
“…our children shouldn’t have to be afraid. I shouldn’t have to be afraid when they walk out the door.” 1 Last week, my 5 a.m. consciousness struggled to place these newscaster’s words. Somehow, Deborah Wiles’ Revolution, fresh in my mind, projected like a newsreel right into the morning’s story. This news was Ferguson, MO, not […]
