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This book is an absolute delight! The most aptly named Van Go animal family lives in Scotland. They love their home country but Mom and Dad would like their children to see more of the world. So…off they go during their school vacation. Children and their parents will enjoy traveling with them.

The family travels through Europe, India, Australia, New Zealand, New York and more. With bright, cheerful illustrations reminiscent of Richard Scarry, all kind of vehicles are seen. There are trains, boats, planes, taxis and bikes, just to name a few.

I highly recommend this book. It was great fun from start to finish and will remind children and adults that there is a great world out there just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Originally published in the Netherlands, this is an illustrated mystery for young readers or listeners. The questions…Who is wreaking havoc in town? Who is the vandal? How will the case be solved? How does the prisoner escape? How does a young girl save the day? Spend a little time with this book and find out!

From Library Journal

This has been a busy and satisfying week for me.  In addition to having received 1,000 likes on my site, I have now written 500 posts.  When I first started the blog, I never expected to get so far or to find so much satisfaction in it.  Yet again, thank you readers!

Do you know a child who loves nature?  One who is interested in birds?  If yes, this could be a lovely addition to their bookshelf.

There is lots of talk about the environment these days.  In this book, children will discover that nature and preservation were being discussed in 1900 as well.  This book tells the story of Frank Chapman and his contributions.  About Mr. C:

“He worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City…He wrote book and magazine articles about birds.  He studied birds’ habits and habitats…Frank Chapman loved birds.”

Mr Chapman was dismayed by sport hunting that took place on Christmas Day.  He initiated changes that led to bird counts rather than bird culls.  This book tells how he did that and how today’s young explorers can become bird counters too.

The book has informative illustrations.  These include pictures of a number of bird species.  There are additional resources and suggestions at the back of the book.  The note from the author is also interesting.  We learn that she was the little girl in Jane Yolen’s book, Owl Moon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this great book on nature and birds.

I adored this book.  It has everything that an Anglophile could possibly want.  There are churches, books and searches.  There is romance between a Brit and an American.  There are mysteries and family connections. There are even arguments about print versus digital.   On your first cold night in the fall, imagine you are by the fire and enjoy this read!

My children’s lit class has progressed through fairy tales, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan (in the edition that is a play) and is now focused on Little Women.  I first read Little Women when I was twelve or thirteen.  That was the first time that I realized the term classic did not translate to boring.  I was looking forward to reading this most loved American novel again and wondered if the magic would still be there…it is!

Little Women can be read as an engaging family novel.  Set during the Civil War, it chronicles the March family.  Marmee is wise and always eager to provide moments of learning for her daughters, Father is a man who does his duty, even when it is inconvenient and then there are the girls Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth.  Each has her own personality and struggles.  Most readers have a favorite March sister, who was yours?  For me, it used to be Jo but this time around I found it more difficult to choose.

I had forgotten that Alcott can be very funny.  The scenes of Meg’s early marital life and her jam disaster  show the humorous side of the expectations in relationships.  Jo, who was modeled on the author is an iconic character who represents the possibility of independence for  young girls, in an era when marriage was generally expected.  This time around, I was more aware of how Amy grows over the course of the novel.  I enjoyed reading about her travels in Europe.  Beth, deeply loved by most readers, is present in her quite quiet and loving way.

Of course there are many more characters including the irrepressible Laurie and Grandfather March.  The community also comes to life with its schools, festivals, parties and daily life.

According to my professor, the novel reflects a progressive ideology, including being anti-slavery and in favor of education reform.  It reflects the circle of Bronson Alcott, Emerson, etc. with an emphasis on self-reliance, open mindedness and empathy.  Becoming a “good Christian woman” is emphasized and reflects the values of the time.

If you have not read Little Women, I recommend that you do.  If you have a daughter, suggest it to her.  She will identify with the girls as may you; you may also be inspired by Marmee’s parenting.  If you have read the novel, think of the joys of reading it again.

Please let  me know your thoughts about LW.  I would love to hear them.

This edition of Buzz Books left me feeling quite excited.  A small sample of what is forthcoming includes A Light of Her Own, “a fictional account of artist and Rembrandt contemporary Judith Leyster;” Becoming by Michelle Obama; Louise Penney’s Kingdom of the Blind and a new novel by George Saunders who wrote Lincoln in the Bardo.  If you enjoyed The Dark Lake, there is Sarah Bailey’s sophomore effort, Into the Night and  new books by Lee Child and Lisa Jewell.  The nights may be getting darker but the reading will be bright!

This circle represents 1000 likes from those of you who read my blog.  Thanks very much!  It is such a pleasure to share the joys of reading with you.  I look forward to writing about more of my adventures in reading and hope you will continue to enjoy the blog.  Suggestions are always welcome.  Again, many thanks.

This volume will be a welcome addition to a young reader’s library! A number of classic children’s books are abridged and retold within it. All of the re-tellings are easy to follow and may well encourage children to seek out the unabridged versions of their favorite stories. Sixteen tales are included in this volume so there should be something for everyone. A sample of what is included…Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, Peter Pan, Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. I enjoyed revisiting these stories. The book is illustrated and the artwork added to my enjoyment of the book. Definitely a good purchase for a child’s reading collection.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me spend time with my favorite classics from childhood.

#TheChildrensClassicsCollection #NetGalley