Tag: book-review

Eight Exciting Picture Books

Published on by Abigail Rehmert2 Comments

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Grizzlies, skyscraper rooftops, night escape, mystery!

Maybe your children are a little older but you still want to bond and engage with picture books. Here are a few exciting (sometimes deliciously scary) children’s books, and some of them are even true stories. Reading aloud is such a gift we can together and enjoy art, history, thrill, beauty, drama and truth. Here are eight exciting adventure picture books your family will enjoy.

THE BIGGEST BEAR by Lynd Ward

This is an award-winning, personally special story in our family growing up (we have a thing about bears). The Biggest Bear is not for the faint of heart — young Johnny Orchard wants to keep a bear for a pet and then must deal with the serious, dangerous consequences. It’s heartwarming and witty with a happy ending, thankfully.

Side note: if you ever drive through the midwest and want to see a National Treasure, there’s a small-town library, home of a large chainsaw-carved bear reading this very book and grinning (carved by my dad). “Better a bear in the orchard, than an Orchard in a bear.” –Johnny’s grandpa

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

This picture book conveys a true story of a French tightrope walker who set his heart on walking between the twin towers. I will not spoil it. But it’s a fascinating nod to the twin towers and an excellent way to visit (and let’s hope learn from) the past. It’s very cool, and the artist really captures the breathtaking height, but I have to agree with one reviewer who kept thinking, “GET DOWN FROM THERE! YOU COULD FALL ON SOMEONE’S SWEETIE!”

Flight for Freedom: The Wetzel Family’s Daring Escape from East Germany 

Flight for Freedom (Kristen Fulton) makes my heart beat faster. The intrigue, the suspense, the escape in the darkness! From its Amazon summary: “Peter was born on the east side of Germany, the side that wasn’t free. He watches news programs rather than cartoons and wears scratchy uniforms instead of blue jeans.” This is a true historical account about a family who developed a unique plan to escape to West Germany via a homemade hot air balloon. Excellent, nail-biter history to help kids understand the Berlin Wall. There is some bonus behind-the-scenes pages in the back.

Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully 

Don’t worry, I’m not trying to entice my children to become high wire walkers. Thankfully, our experiences through fiction give us a chance to vicariously experience the lifestyle! Mirette is a charming French girl who lives at a boarding house in Paris and becomes acquainted with the retired Great Bellini. Mirette decides she too wants to take to the rooftops. Lovely watercolors with a lesson in courage and perseverance.

The Night Gardner by Terry Fan and Eric Fan

The Night Gardener depicts a mysterious transformation that happens in a drab little town. Whimsical magic blossoms through the streets when a night gardener takes his talent to the trees one by one, much to the delight of the children. Creative, stunning art. The book gets more colorful as the beauty spreads and the seasons change.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

A cozy read-aloud of Owl Moon will bring a frosty shiver up your back and refresh you with eerie moonlight. Vivid language and sound effects (yes) may have contributed to my son’s hesitancy toward owls. We haven’t encountered an owl face-to-face yet, but this fictional owling through the woods will make you feel like you have. “When you go owling you have to be brave.” –Owl Moon

The True Story of Noah’s Ark by Tom Dooley

The True Story of Noah’s Ark is a must for every home library! We have worn ours out already. The artist’s imagination surrounding Noah’s ark helps build faith and spur worship. It’s just an experience to study each page as it moves through God’s mercy and power at bringing a family safe through a worldwide catastrophe. The author does an exquisite job of setting the stage, and posing potential ways these biblical characters may have dealt with some of the logistics of building the ark and taking care of the animals.

Dinosaurs Unleashed

Dinosaurs are cool, but even more so when you imagine what must have been their relationship with humans. Both the creation science and imagination-full art within this book will fascinate the whole family.

HAPPY PAGE-TURNER READING! I would love to hear if you have enjoyed any of these or perhaps about another exciting picture book from your childhood.

From Dinosaurs Unleashed
From the Man Who Walked Between the Twin Towers
From Owl Moon
From The True Story of Noah’s Ark
From The Biggest Bear
From Mirette On the High Wire
From The Flight to Freedom
From The Flight to Freedom
From The Night Gardener

Yearend “Thoughts After Bookends”

Published on by Abigail RehmertLeave a comment

It seemed the consistent thing to do to share the last of my 2023 book reviews. This year I’m hopeful to read more NEW-to-me books. But how I love the old favorites! Do let me know if you have any must-reads you think I’d enjoy. My favorite time period for fiction is early 1900s, but I’d love to broaden my horizons in this as well.

Virgil Wander

(Leif Enger)

Virgil owns a movie house in a small, sleepy midwest town. He loses his memory in an accident so he must uncover his own personal history. Quirky, small-town ups and downs unfold. I enjoy Enger’s vivid writing style, but this storyline didn’t have the same depth as Peace like a River in my humble opinion. Not much plot, and sometimes a modern setting can just feel cheesy to me. I gave it three out of five stars on Goodreads.

Betsy and the Great World

(Maud Hart Lovelace)

Betsy decides college is not for her, and she goes off to tour Europe, hoping to broaden the scope of her imagination to fuel her writing. She soaks in the foreign cities, street cafes, and cultural traditions, and even witnesses the first dawn of WWI. When an author plucks a beloved character out of her endearing setting, I always feel homesick right along with them.

Betsy’s Wedding

(Maud Hart Lovelace)

I enjoyed this book more than the other times I’ve read it, perhaps because I’m married now too! Young couple in young America makes me smile and enjoy the authentic history of fashion/economics/etc. woven into the setting. How I wish young couples today could buy their first charming homes besides the lake with only $600 down. I think married Tacy and married Betsy are the best versions of themselves, and I’m relieved Betsy doesn’t chase another immaturity that leads to more heartbreak. Joe brings out the best in Betsy, and Harry brings out the best in Tacy. The young wives turn their energies toward homemaking, hospitality, writing, and babies . . . and trying to marry off the third in their trio, Tib!

Surprised by Oxford

(Carolyn Weber)

Carolyn sets out to study at Oxford as an agnostic, and through the kindness of a Christian, she begins to wrestle with the truth about the universe and her. A clever and honest book, making you really think about how we interact with those who are yet to meet God. Are we able to patiently endure when others ask us tough questions? A beautiful memoir!

Quote: “I’m very particular about mugs: I can taste how it influences my drink. I liked this one right away.”
Carolyn Weber//Surprised by Oxford

Carney’s House Party

(Maud Hart Lovelace)

I had a little trouble getting into this one, but stuck with it until the suspense of Larry’s visit took over. Carney hosts a “house party” for her friends in a hot, Minnesota summer. It includes Betsy! It’s a slow but sweet unfolding romance with some surprises at the end.

Memorizing Scripture: The Basics, Blessings, and Benefits of Meditating on God’s Word (Glenna Marshall)

Simple nourishment for a heart that longs to know His Word better. Thank you for writing this book, Glenna! We can also use compelling reasons to memorize and meditate on Scripture. I enjoyed her personal stories throughout this book, and it was inspiring to see how her different memorized passages encouraged her in various seasons of her life.

Quote by author: “Meditating on God’s Word–thinking deeply about it as we work to memorize–helps us to remember what the world would like us to forget: Christ has died. Christ is coming. Christ will come again!” –Glenna Marshall

         Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva *spoiler*

                  (Samantha Silva)

I wanted a cozy, Chirstmasy book for December. At first, it reminded me of the movie The Man Who Invented Christmas. I begun this book with great enjoyment; the style of it felt true to Dickens, easy to follow, and cast promise of the good feels of A Christmas Carol. I wish I had actually read A Christmas Carol instead for my December read. Mr. Dickens was primarily about his obsession with chasing down a couple different women, while his wife and children fended for themselves to enjoy Christmas. After looking it up, I understand historical evidence lends itself to perhaps make this a believable plot about Charles Dickens. But I didn’t want to read about it.

The Lord God Made Them All

(James Herriot)

More endearing stories from a country vet, with some war stories mixed in. Of course, I wanted more about Tristen, but we do get to meet Herriot’s kids.