Betsy-Tacy and Tib (Betsy-Tacy)
This is the 2nd book in the series. We loved it!
 | author: Maud Hart Lovelace rating:  asin: 0064400972 binding: Paperback list price: $5.99 USD amazon price: $5.99 USD |
Three of a KindBetsy and Tacy are best friends. Then Tib moves into the neighborhood and the three of them start to play together. The grown-ups think they will quarrel, but they don't. Sometimes they quarrel with Betsy's and Tacy's bossy big sisters, but they never quarrel among themselves.They are not as good as they might be. They cook up awful messes in the kitchen, throw mud on each other and pretend to be beggars, and cut off each other's hair.
The Doll People
 | author: Ann M. Martin Laura Godwin HPFC rating: asin: 0786812400 binding: Paperback list price: $7.99 USD amazon price: $7.99 USD |
Annabelle Doll is eight years old-she has been for more than a hundred years. Not a lot has happened to her, cooped up in the dollhouse, with the same doll family, day after day, year after year. . . until one day the Funcrafts move in.
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (Betsy-Tacy)
This is the 3rd book in the series - excellent!
 | author: Maud Hart Lovelace rating: asin: 0064400999 binding: Paperback list price: $5.99 USD amazon price: $5.99 USD |
Betsy, Tacy, and Tib can't wait to be ten. After all, getting two numbers in your age is the beginning of growing up--exciting things are bound to happen. And they do!
The Cardboard Piano
A story of friendship, with one friend attempting to pass on the passion of piano playing to the other.
 | author: Lynne Rae Perkins rating:  asin: 0061542652 binding: Hardcover list price: $17.99 USD amazon price: $32.87 USD |
When Debbie gives Tina a cardboard piano, she is sure that Tina will love it. After all, Debbie spent a long time making it, and it looks just like a real piano. Now Tina can learn to play, too. It will be so amazing.
But just because you are friends with somebody, and just because you are the same in most ways, doesn't mean that you will always see eye to eye.
Friendship can be tricky. Really, really tricky. Even for true best friends. Even for Debbie and Tina.
Felicity: An American Girl (The American Girls Collection)
We listened to the audio version of this book and we all really enjoyed it. I love how we are learning about history in this gentle way. This book is just at the eve of the American Revolution and it's fascinating the way people started splitting up, some in favor, some not.
 | author: Valerie Tripp rating: asin: 1562470442 binding: Paperback list price: $39.95 USD amazon price: $38.75 USD |
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.
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.
Franklin's Friendship Treasury
Since Laurel (then 9) has been enjoying hearing the Franklin stories so much, I got another in the series, Franklin's Friendship Treasury. As soon as the girls saw this book they wanted to hear all 4 stories right away. Part of me finds these stories boring, but I must admit I really love how the parents talk to thier kids. Franklin is a good role model, even if he doesn't always do the right thing, he makes it right in the end.
 | author: Paulette Bourgeois rating: asin: 1550748726 binding: Hardcover list price: $15.95 USD amazon price: $10.85 USD |
Franklin learns about the meaning of friendship in these four classic stories, now available in one volume. Franklin Has a Sleepover, Franklin's Bad Day, Franklin's New Friend and Franklin's Secret Club are gentle stories that have helped make the lovable turtle one of the world's best-known and most endearing children's book characters.
Roxaboxen
This book sweeps you up in the imagination of children who spend their summer building a town, Roxaboxen, out of rocks and bits of desert glass. This book is truly a favorite of my (then) 7 yo, and has been for years.
 | author: Alice Mclerran rating:  asin: 0060526335 binding: Paperback list price: $6.99 USD amazon price: $6.99 USD |
Marian called it Roxaboxen. (She always knew the name of everything.) There across the road, it looked like any rocky hill -- nothing but sand and rocks, some old wooden boxes, cactus and greasewood and thorny ocotillo -- but it was a special place: a sparkling world of jeweled homes, streets edged with the whitest stones, and two ice cream shops.
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 |
