Tintin in Tibet
Because we were learning about China and Tibet in our history studies recently, our book (Story of the World) recommended reading TinTin in Tibet. I had never heard of Tintin, but my husband had and he was excited for us to start. I read the book in one sitting (60 min) and both girls loved it so much that the next day they asked me to read it again! So I read our first graphic novel again. When I had to split it into 2 sittings, Laurel picked it up and read a little bit out loud to Ella, which was so wonderful to see. I had no idea how funny this book would be! We all laughed a lot.... and learned a lot too. It's really neat how they work in a lot about the country and the culture.
 | author: Herge rating:  asin: 1405206314 binding: Paperback list price: $11.15 USD amazon price: $11.52 USD |
Journeying through the Himalayas in search of their Chinese friend Chang, whose plane crashed, Tintin and his faithful canine companion come face to face with the Abominable Snowman.
The Sign of the Beaver
As part of our History Curriculum (Story of the World) we are reading about the Colonial world and Native Americans. The book The Sign of the Beaver was part of the recommended reading and we all enjoyed it. A 13 year old boy is left alone to guard the homestead in the wilderness of Maine, waiting for his father to return with his mother and siblings. After being brutally stung by bees, he is taken care of by Native Americans and befriends a young boy. A story of friendship and loyalty.
 | author: Elizabeth George Speare rating: asin: 0440479002 binding: Paperback list price: $6.99 USD amazon price: $6.99 USD |
Until the day his father returns to their cabin in the Maine wilderness, 12-year-old Matt must try to survive on his own. During an attack by swarming bees, Matt is astonished when he's rescued by an Indian chief and his grandson, Attean. As the boys come to know each other, many months pass without a sign of Matt's family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe.
Jocasta Carr Movie Star
 | author: Roy Gerrard rating: asin: 0374437777 binding: Paperback list price: $4.95 USD amazon price: $4.95 |
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
 | author: Julie Andrews Edwards rating: asin: 0060218053 binding: Hardcover list price: $16.99 USD amazon price: $16.99 USD |
The Whangdoodle was once the wisest, the kindest, and the most extraordinary creature in the world.Then he disappeared and created a wonderful land for himself and all the other remarkable animals -- the ten-legged Sidewinders, the little furry Flukes, the friendly Whiffle Bird, and the treacherous, "oily" Prock. It was an almost perfect place where the last of the really great Whangdoodles could rule his kingdom with "peace, love and a sense of fun"-- apart from and forgotten by people.
But not completely forgotten. Professor Savant believed in the Whangdoodle. And when he told the three Potter children of his search for the spectacular creature, Lindy, Tom, and Ben were eager to reach Whangdoodleland.
With the Professor's help, they discovered the secret way. But waiting for them was the scheming Prock, who would use almost any means to keep them away from his beloved king.
Russian Fairy Tales (Everyman's Library Children's Classics)
This collection of classic Russian fairy tales is fascinating. Expect this book to be as violent as other classic fairy tales, complete with witches that threaten to eat you if you don't do her chores, heros that get cut up in pieces but somehow come back to life, evil step mothers and step sisters are burnt to ashes from a glowing skull, and so on. There aren't too many pictures, but the ones they do have are exquisite. This was a favorite of our (then) 5 year old, who was particularly fond of the tale "Vassilissa the Beautiful and the Witch Baba Yaga", which I think I've read over a dozen times.
 | author: Gillian Avery Ivan Bilibin rating: asin: 0679436413 binding: Hardcover list price: $14.95 USD amazon price: $14.95 USD |
Notable for their magnificent, jewel-like color illustrations by Bilibin, these traditional tales include "The Frog Princess," "Vassilissa the Beautiful," and "The White Duck." Though Russian Fairy Tales in the Pantheon Folklore Library is a book for adults, it has sold over 30,000 copies.
Kirsten: An American Girl : 1854 (The American Girls Collection/Boxed Set)
We all really enjoyed this book about Kirsten. Learning history through these gentle American Girls stories is wonderful, and our girls are so interested in the stories as well as all the facts at the end of the book.
 | author: Janet Beeler Shaw rating: asin: 0937295760 binding: Paperback list price: $39.95 USD amazon price: $26.37 USD |
The Wheel on the School
We listened to the audio version of The Wheel on the School (320 pages), a 1955 Newberry Winner that had all of us interested in riding in the car so we could hear it. It was really neat to hear about life in Holland, during a time when the village school had only 6 children, with only one girl - Lina. She surprises the teacher by independently writing a short composition, wondering why storks don't nest in their fishing village of Shora but they nest in all the neighboring villages. This inspires them to figure it out and they are are encouraged to spend their school time to work out the solution. It sounds dry but this is a very exciting book! This is a fantastic book about the power of hope, and the idea that it take a village to raise a child.
 | author: Meindert Dejong rating:  asin: 0064400212 binding: Paperback list price: $6.95 USD amazon price: $6.95 USD |
Why do the storks no longer come to the little Dutch fishing village of Shora to nest? It was Lina, one of the six schoolchildren who first asked the question, and she set the others to wondering. And sometimes when you begin to wonder, you begin to make things happen. So the children set out to bring the storks back to Shora. The force of their vision put the whole village to work until at last the dream began to come true. Winner, 1955 Newbery MedalNotable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)1963 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Kaya's Hero: A Story of Giving (American Girls Collection)
We're really enjoying these books about Kaya.
 | author: Janet Beeler Shaw rating: asin: 1584854278 binding: Paperback list price: $6.95 USD amazon price: $6.95 USD |
For more than 15 years, The American Girls Collection has captivated readers with its tales of heart, hope and history. Millions of girls have fallen in love with the series' strong, appealing heroines.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
An unusual tale of adventure and teamwork. We listened to the audio book, which is about 13 hours long. Our girls both give it 5 stars.
 | author: Trenton Lee Stewart rating:  asin: 0316003956 binding: Paperback list price: $6.99 USD amazon price: $12.95 USD |
"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"
When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.
As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?
Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story
 | author: Gloria Houston rating: asin: 0140558772 binding: Paperback list price: $6.99 USD amazon price: $6.99 USD |
Acclaimed author Gloria Houston has written a tale that is as joyful and timeless as Christmas itself. Jewel-like paintings by two-time Caldecott Medal winner Barbara Cooney capture all of the season's warmth and mountain flavor. "A heartwarming holiday story, simply told and graced with true sentiment rather than sentimentality."--Kirkus Reviews. Publisher's Weekly Bestseller. Booklist Best Books of the Decade. Full color.
