It’s going to be frigid this weekend, so go ahead, curl up on your sofa with a hot cup of tea, some cookies, a good book, and a blanket (or small child – both are equally cozy).
My closest and mostest friends know that I love to read (in fact, some of my closest friends are actually books). I’m raising two avid readers as well, a ten year old, and a six year old. My husband has no choice but to follow our lead – majority rules.
Every week, my family reads it’s way through a pile of books (now that the little one doesn’t eat books anymore), usually bought home from our lovely local library. Here is a look at what we have been reading this week, there is something for every age group on this list….
The Graveyard Book (Youth)- Neil Gaiman
This is a great fantasy book about a boy who can cross over between the realms of the living and the dead. Even though it is aimed at young readers (middle school and up), I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. I’m a Neil Gaiman fan, and have read almost all of his books. He manages to infuse the spookiest stories with an irreverent wit, and lots of interesting nerdy, historic detail. Neil himself narrates the audiobook version of this and, I don’t say this often, he is a cracking narrator.
The Poe Estate (Young Adult)- Polly Shulman
Another spooky fantasy book, this time for young adults. I’m not a young adult (well, not physically), but I love the series that this book comes from. I have to admit that I prefer the first two books in the trilogy, The Grimm Legacy and The Wells Bequest, their storylines were a lot meatier, but these are great books for young fantasy and sci fi fans. Also, they have the added bonus of introducing you to other books and genre along the way. I’m thinking of buying the series for some teens in my family.
All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr
I loved this book. It was tough going to start off with, but if you stick with it, it is a beautiful, poignant story. The book is historical fiction, set in France and Germany before and during the second world war, and examines the lives of two people whose lives are connected in an unusual way. I would recommend reading the book, rather than listening to the audiobook (mispronounced words in German, French and English), but then again I am very hard to please where audiobooks are concerned.
A Wicked Boy – Kate Summerscale
This is a contemporary examination of an actual Victorian murder case and it’s trials. Fascinating for all its socio-historical and cultural context, and pretty gruesome too. It’s not something I would normally pick to read, and I’m getting through it at a relatively slow pace, however I’m hooked on the psychological angle, this is a crime committed by a child, and the way children were regarded, portrayed, and treated in those days.
Rad Women Worldwide – Kate Schatz
I got this awesome non-fiction book out for my ten year old daughter, so that she can read about groundbreaking women, and how they have made their mark on this world. When my son is old enough, I will get it for him too. Over the past few months, I have been increasingly aware of a need to educate my children on gender and race equality. This book is a great window into the broader world around us, and a wonderful resource for teaching about tolerance and empathy .
Mother Bruce – Ryan T Higgins
Bruce is a grumpy bear, who unwittingly adopts a flock of goslings. My six year old loved this book, and I absolutely loved reading it to him. It has the type of humor that adults will find funny as well as kids, and hilarious references to current consumer trends.
The Mercy Watson Series – Kate DiCamillo
Okay, my kids are nuts about this series. If you have a kid who is beginning to read chapter books, get this out of your library. Most early chapter books are kind of dry and pedantic, but this one is hilarious, and has illustrations on each page for kids who are squirmy readers. Each book has a different madcap adventure involving a pig, who loves buttered toast. Enough said really.
Oh No George! – Chris Haughton
I took this book out of the library when my son was a preschooler, he spotted it again last weekend, and checked it out. George the dog is such a lovable and mischievous character, that pretty much everyone in my family fell in love with this book. Great for animal lovers, readers who like to do silly voices, and kids who are working on their self control.
Ned The Knitting Pirate – Dianna Murray
This book is written in verse, and is about a pirate who likes to knit. I don’t think I need to say anymore. I love doing pirate voices, it’s a winner.
Books are really the key to everything. Relaxation, imagination, creativity, empathy, happiness, therapy, and more.
Have a lovely weekend, and read something!
I love the concept of the “Rad Women” book. I’m going to see if we have that at our library so I can read it with my sons! 🙂
It’s an awesome book!