Fairy Tales for the New Age
In my opinion this is one of the finest collections of fairy tales
I've read. They aren't syrupy and super-positive. They are gentle,
original stories of children overcoming their fears, learning powerful
lessons, and meeting magical spirits. We savor this book and I read
the a story from it every few weeks and it is a real treat the whole
family enjoys.
 | author: Arlene Williams rating:  asin: 0960544445 binding: Paperback list price: $12.95 USD amazon price: $12.95 |
A collection of twelve original fairy tales with a gentle, sensitive flavor. There are no wicked witches threatening to cook and eat small children, no big, bad wolves devouring your grandma. You will find instead, stories in which good things happen to characters who work at making their lives and relationships better--with and without magic.
The Day It Rained Hearts
 | author: Felicia Bond rating:  asin: 0066238765 binding: Hardcover list price: $16.99 USD amazon price: $13.25 USD |
From the illustrator of If You Gave a Mouse a CookieOne day it rains hearts, and Cornelia Augusta catches them. Each heart is special in its own way, and Cornelia Augusta knows exactly who to send them to.
The Ballad of Valentine (Picture Puffin Books)
This whole book is a silly, loving song that you sing to the tune of "Clemintine." We sing it around Valentine's Day each year.
 | author: Alison Jackson rating: asin: 0142404004 binding: Paperback list price: $6.99 USD amazon price: $6.99 USD |
Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Valentine. I have written forty letters, but you've never read a line. Set to the tune of the song "Clementine," Alison Jackson tells the sweet tale of Valentine and her beau. Valentine goes about her day, doing chores around her mountain cabin, while her secret admirer is hard at work trying to ask her an important question. He tries many ways to contact her, including Morse code and smoke signals, but he can never complete his message. Will he ever be able to reach his beloved Valentine?
Samantha: An American Girl (The American Girls Collection/Boxed Set)
We listened to the audio version of this book and really enjoyed it. I especially like the part about how one of the girls Samantha befriends ends up working in a factory, and Samantha learns a lot and ends up giving a really great speech about how progress is not worth it if children are getting hurt.
 | author: Susan S. Adler Valerie Tripp R. Grace rating:  asin: 0937295779 binding: Paperback list price: $39.95 USD amazon price: $38.57 USD |
The American Girls Collection. This is Samantha. There are 6 books about Samantha and her family and friends.
Magic Tree House #39: Dark Day in the Deep Sea (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Another great Magic Tree House book, we listened to this one on CD.
 | author: Mary Pope Osborne rating: asin: 0375837329 binding: Paperback list price: $4.99 USD amazon price: $4.99 USD |
Take the plunge with Jack and Annie!
Jack and Annie continue their quest for the secrets of happiness—secrets they need if they're going to save Merlin. But when the Magic Tree House leads them to a tiny deserted island in the middle of the ocean, they’re not sure who needs help more—Merlin or themselves! The brother and sister team are soon rescued by a ship of explorers and scientists. But that isn’t the end of their troubles, because the crew isn’t looking for the secrets of happiness. The crew is looking for . . . a sea monster!
Mary Pope Osborne takes young readers back to the mid-nineteenth century, a time of exploration and adventure. This paperback edition contains all-new backmatter full of activities, and the first printing includes temporary tattoos.
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook
Published in 1925 these stories of 7 year old Milly-Molly-Mandy are charming and sweet. We loved reading about how she lives in a tiny village her travels through it. At one point she visits the general store and the woman who runs it has an important errand and actually leaves Milly-Molly-Mandy at the front counter to take care of the store. As soon as we finished the girls (then 5 & 8) asked to hear it again. This is the first in the series and we are excited to read more.
 | author: Joyce Lankester Brisley rating: asin: 0753453320 binding: Hardcover list price: $13.95 USD amazon price: $11.16 USD |
Tatterhood and Other Tales
 | rating: asin: 0912670509 binding: Paperback list price: $10.95 USD amazon price: $8.76 USD |
All the central characters in these folk tales are spirited females-decisive heroines of extraordinary courage, wit, and achievement who set out to determine their own fate. Some of their stories are comic, some adventurous, some eerie, and some magical. The 25 traditional tales come from Asia, Europe, India, Africa, and the Americas; detailed information about their sources is given. "A sparkling gathering or traditional, yet little-known tales."-Chicago Sun Times
The King with Six Friends
 | author: Jay Williams rating: asin: 0819303429 binding: Hardcover list price: $5.99 USD amazon price: $5.99 |
The Quiltmaker's Gift
 | author: Jeff Brumbeau rating: asin: 0439309107 binding: Hardcover list price: $17.95 USD amazon price: $12.21 USD |
The Quiltmaker's Gift celebrates the quilting tradition, the value of generosity, and the spirit of community in a beautiful and touching fable for our times. This richly illustrated picture book celebrates the joy of giving and gently emphasizes the age-old truth that material wealth does not necessarily buy happiness. The Quiltmaker's Gift is a heartwarming children's fable, a celebration of quilters and quilting, and a challenging adult parable all wrapped into one.
Baby Island
Two girls, ages 12 and 10, end up ship wrecked on a deserted island with 4 babies! Fortunately they adore babies and this is a fun and mostly realistic adventure. It amazes me though, that changing diapers is never mentioned! We just finished reading this book (2nd reading in the past year) and as soon as we finished it our 5 year old said "Let's read it again!" Mind you, it takes a week to read this chapter book.
 | author: Carol Ryrie Brink rating: asin: 0689717512 binding: Paperback list price: $5.99 USD amazon price: $5.99 USD |
