Book Review: The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser (2018)

Isa Vanderbeeker is away at camp, but her four siblings - twin sister Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, and Laney - are at home with their neighbor Mr. Jeet when he suffers a stroke. While Miss Josie sits vigil at Mr. Jeet's hospital bedside, the Vanderbeeker kids begin to consider her repeated request that they turn the overgrown lot near the local church into a garden. Once they survey the land and receive (albeit vague) permission from the pastor, Triple J, to begin work, they become extremely enthusiastic about the project, hoping it will bring joy and healing to Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet upon their return to the brownstone. Unfortunately, not long after they begin transforming the space into a garden, developers begin visiting, and it is clear that they have purchased the property for the purpose of building condominiums. The Vanderbeekers do their best to keep on with their plans despite the obstacles that arise at every turn, but they worry about what will happen if their garden is gone before their neighbors get to see it.

Though I don't think this series is quite as well-written as some of the family stories of years gone by (The Moffats, The Melendys, All-of-a-Kind Family, etc.) I really appreciate the fact that an author and publisher are still producing books of this type for the families who enjoy traditional children's novels. Like many of its predecessors, this book celebrates kids working toward a goal without assistance from adults, and it shows the benefits of having a bit of a free-range childhood. Sometimes the characters come across as a little too perfect, and even with Isa absent in this story, it feels like each individual Vanderbeeker still doesn't get enough time to develop a distinct personality, but there is still something so endearing about the way the kids work together toward a common goal that will benefit someone they care about. The fact that it's a garden is a bit of a cliche, but that can mostly be forgiven, especially since the book is clearly, at least in part, an homage to The Secret Garden. 

On a personal note, I also think this book handled the aftermath of a stroke very realistically. During the last year, between the time of my dad's stroke and the day he passed away, my kids overheard me on many phone calls similar to the ones Mrs. Vanderbeeker makes in this book, and the author also accurately describes how a stroke patient might look while lying in the hospital. (The fact that kids could sneak into the ICU requires a pretty strong suspension of disbelief, but this certainly isn't the first book to ask for that kind of leeway from readers!)

Fans of the first book of the series will be pleased by this follow-up. Though I do think the first book was better, this is still a worthy sequel, and one that will be readily embraced by fans of this old-fashioned but tried-and-true genre. (Thanks to Edelweiss for the review copy!)

Book Review: 51 Sycamore Lane by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (1971)

In this quirky middle grade novel by Nate the Great author Marjorie Sharmat, a group of boys become convinced that a woman in their suburban neighborhood is a spy. Once they come to believe this, they immediately begin looking for ways to prove her true identity, leading to a series of mishaps and misadventures.

Though the subject matter and intended audiences are different, I did see quite a few similarities between this book and Nate the Great. In both books, the narrator is a boy of above-average intelligence with an unusual vocabulary for a child. And in both books, the main characters are concerned with uncovering clues in their own backyards to help solve some mystery. I have to say, though, that of the two, Nate the Great is the more polished and more compelling book. 51 Sycamore Lane felt a bit disorganized, and it took me a while to figure out which direction it was going in, and what I was supposed to care about. (The subplot regarding a petition to remove a chicken from the neighborhood seemed like it was the main plot at first.) After a while, it started to feel like the characters (and author) found themselves more amusing than I did, and I had a hard time feeling immersed in the book.

The highlights of this book are the dialogue and the strong first-person narration. The plot is weak, and though there are some mildly entertaining comments about upper middle class life, most of them are either rooted in cliches or simply no longer relevant to a contemporary audience. I own this book and will keep it for now, but if my kids aren't interested in it in a few years, it won't be hard for me to slip it into a donation box and say goodbye!

The RAHM Report for 9/24/18

What I Finished Reading

• Queenie Peavy by Robert Burch ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This middle grade novel set during the Great Depression is an interesting character study about a young girl who gets angry when other kids comment on the fact that her father is in jail and acts out as a result. The story has a moral, but not a preachy one, and I enjoyed Queenie's journey as she started to gain control over her emotions. 
• The Motoring Millers by Alberta Wilson Constant ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I own books one and three of this trilogy about two sisters living in Kansas at the turn of the 20th century, and because this second book is so rare, I thought I'd never see it. I was so surprised when my husband brought it home the other night! It's a library copy borrowed through inter-library loan, but I got to read it, and I loved seeing how this story bridges the gap between the other two books. Because the story involves a road trip, there are also lots of fun details about the way early cars worked. I'll have a review next month sometime. 
• Not Of This World: A Catholic Guide to Minimalism by Sterling Jaquith ⭐⭐
  This book was pretty terrible. It talks quite a bit about hoarding, and much of the advice seems to be a paranoid response to a fear of becoming a hoarder. As the child of a hoarder, I was surprised that the author, who has relatives who had this problem, seemed to think that all you do is call in some professional help and the problem goes away. Hoarders have to want help; otherwise, legally, they are permitted to live however they wish. Also, people who simply have a hard time getting organized or knowing how to start de-cluttering are not hoarders. The author says this, but then seems to go on as though we are all one box of mementos away from a serious mental problem. Personally, I think all the hoarding stuff should have been cut. Aside from that, the suggestions for living a more minimalist lifestyle are pretty generic, and other than vague references to being "not of this world," there is nothing particularly Catholic about much of the advice. The author also suggests getting rid of stand mixers, woks, and even microwaves, which would be completely ridiculous in my household, as those are our top three kitchen tools! I would not recommend this book. 
• The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I started this as an audiobook, then found a copy on OpenLibrary and finished it there. I love the way Krista Davis writes, and I really enjoyed all the personalities she introduced in this first book of the Domestic Diva mystery series. I also thought the mystery was really well thought out and surprising. I'm planning to skip ahead a few books and read a Halloween-themed mystery from this series during October. 

Did Not Finish

• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts
  I got 50% of the way through this book before my loan from Open Library ended. When my turn came up again, I was determined to finish it, but I was reading too many books and really not enjoying this one. I finally decided that, even though it was for a challenge, I couldn't justify reading another 200 pages of a book I didn't like when so many other books are waiting for me. I'd still like to read a Nora Roberts book, but the only ones I've ever really enjoyed were the Bride Quartet books, and I've read all of them.

What I'm Currently Reading

• Charm City by Laura Lippman 48%
  I'm really enjoying this now that I'm halfway through my second time borrowing the ebook from the library. I like that the book is teaching me more about Baltimore and the state of Maryland in general. I also really enjoy Tess and her many friendships with a host of diverse people.
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 24%
  I didn't spend as much time with this book this week as I wanted, but I am excited to get back into it. I really like the writing. 
• Watching the Detectives by Julie Mulhern 23%
  I love this series. Mulhern can even get away with ridiculous character names like Anarchy and Khaki. 
• Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert 11%
  This is my next audiobook. The main character is a library director and the story is set during leaf-peeping season in Virginia. I'm enjoying it so far. 
• My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok 6%
  I'm reading this for a Well Read Mom book club that I'm doing with a couple of my friends. I have a few weeks before we meet, but I took a peek at the first chapter, and I love the writing style already. I may not get into it again until next week or so, but I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it.
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass 0%
  I'm reading this for some homeschooling "professional development." I read a few pages a few weeks ago, but it's pretty slow-going and I'll probably need to start over and just power through it to get all the information. 

What I'm Planning to Read Next

• Naomis Too by by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and Audrey Vernick
  I have a digital ARC of this book and I need to get to it ASAP so I can post a review before too much time passes since it was published on 9/11. 
• If the Coffin Fits by Lillian Bell
  This is another ARC of a book published on 9/11 that I keep forgetting to start. Now that I have a Chromebook, I can't read ARCs on my computer anymore, and I'm having a hard time getting into the habit of reading these exclusively on my phone. Hopefully adding them here will help me remember! 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Book Review: A Long Line of Cakes by Deborah Wiles (2018)

A Long Line of Cakes is the fourth book in the Aurora County series by Deborah Wiles. Picking up immediately where book three, The Aurora County All-Stars, left off, the story begins with the Cakes family arriving in town. They are itinerant cake bakers, so they never stay in one place too long, but as soon as she sets foot in their new home, Emma Lane Cake, one of the five Cake kids, wishes she could make Aurora County her permanent address. Knowing she can't, however, and feeling heavy with the sadness of having said goodbye to many best friends in the past, Emma hesitates about making yet another new friend she will have to leave behind. But when Emma meets Ruby Lavender, she decides to put herself out there just one more time. Soon, the two girls hatch a plan that might help Emma's parents change their minds about moving so often.

I think of this author as Fannie Flagg for tweens. Each of the books of this series is so gentle, and the setting is so idyllic, that a reader can't help but feel a sense of cozy comfort when she is immersed in these stories. That said, for a fourth book of a series, published 11 long years after the third book, it assumes a lot of background knowledge on the part of the reader. I read the entire series for the first time in order to be ready for reading my ARC of this one, and it's a good thing I did. Had I not done so, I definitely would have been lost for much of the book. There are so many characters, and they share so many memories and traditions that the reader really can't appreciate the Cakes' love for Aurora County without understanding all of these details, most of which have been established by an earlier book and are only alluded to in this one. It felt like the book was trying both to tell a new story and to bring all of the previous stories to a satisfying conclusion at the same time, and it often felt like too big of a task.

All that said, for fans of the series, or those willing to go back and read the earlier volumes, there is a lot to like about A Long Line of Cakes. Kids can relate to the importance of home and friendship and they will easily become invested in understanding Emma's father's long-forgotten connection to Aurora County. The way things are resolved is also very satisfying, especially for kids like I was, who crave uncomplicated happy endings and hate goodbyes. This was an okay read for me, and it definitely does not stand alone, but for the right child who has enjoyed the earlier books, it could become a favorite.

Book Review: The Animal, The Vegetable, and John D. Jones by Betsy Byars (1982)

Clara and Deanie are looking forward to being on vacation with their dad until they find out he is bringing along a girlfriend, and the girlfriend's son, John D. John D. isn't crazy about meeting the girls either, and rather than calling them by name, he refers to them as the Animal and the Vegetable. The kids do their best to avoid each other until a near-tragedy bands them together unexpectedly.

Though this book has a quirky title, it's really a very straightforward story about the tension between kids who are forced to interact because of their parents' relationship with each other. What makes it stand out is the way Byars describes each character and brings each one to life in his or her dialogue. Each chapter is like a small character study in which the reader shares brief glimpses into the thoughts of the three main characters. Byars manages to inspire feelings of empathy for all three of them, making it difficult to take one side against the other. This means that the reader begins to accept friendship for the trio before the characters themselves can even imagine it, which contributes to the reader's feelings of satisfaction at the conclusion of the story.

I sometimes wonder why Byars seems to solve so many of the problems in her books with tragedies. In the books of hers that I have read in the past few years, conflicts have been resolved by a drowning, a car accident, a near-drowning, a punch in the face, and a flood, just to name a few. I can't tell if Byars believes that people only change when life throws dire circumstances at them (something that feels very Southern a la Flannery O'Connor) or if she is just trying to keep things exciting by throwing in these high stakes. Either way, it's a definite pattern in her work, and it has varying degrees of success. In this book, the dangerous situation works well enough, but also I think the story could have made its point just as well without putting a character in that situation.

Compared with Goodbye, Chicken Little, The Animal, the Vegetable and John D. Jones was the better book, but it is by no means as original or well-written as something like The Summer of the Swans or the Blossom series.  It's a solid three-star read which is dated, but which might still appeal to a 21st century kid in a similar situation to that of the characters.

Books On My Fall 2018 TBR

I made TBR lists for both spring and summer. Of the titles on my spring list, there are still 11 I haven't read, and from my summer list (which was much shorter), there are still 2 titles outstanding.  I have learned that I just can't stick to a list no matter how hard I try. But there are some books I'm already planning to read this fall, and that I'm pretty certain I will actually complete, so I'm going to go ahead and share those today for Top Ten Tuesday.

• Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
  I have been on a binge of books about books. I have this and Honey for a Teen's Heart sitting on my desk, and I know I will get to them soon because I want to do a blog post about books of this type. 
• Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin
  This is another book about books that I want to include in the aforementioned blog post.
• Barking with the Big Dogs: On Writing and Reading Books for Children by Natalie Babbitt
  Yet another book about books. This one comes out in November and I have an ARC from Edelweiss. 

• X by Sue Grafton
  I need to read this because I'm doing an alphabet challenge and it's all I've got for the letter X. I basically have to read it this fall if I'm going to finish it by the end of the year! 
• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
  I downloaded this for Kindle when it was on sale a few months ago and saw it pop on blogs a lot when Top Ten Tuesday focused on back to school a couple of weeks ago. A mystery set at a boarding school feels like the perfect fall read to me! 
• The Figure in the Shadows and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring by John Bellairs
  These are the sequels to The House with a Clock in its Walls. I've heard the third book is set around Christmastime, and I'm always looking for a seasonal read during December, so I'm going to try to finish book 2 between now and then so I can read book 3 when that holiday mood strikes.
  

• The Hangman by Louise Penny
  This is a novella about Armand Gamache that isn't really connected to the series and was written for adults learning to read English. It appears to be November in the story, so it seems like it will be a good book to enjoy as the weather gets older. 
• Deadly News by Jody Holford
  This is a new cozy mystery to be published at the end of October. I have an ARC from NetGalley. 
• Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass
  I started this a few weeks ago, then got distracted by other books. It's one of a few homeschooling-related books I hope to get through in the next month or two. 
• The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis
  I have a hard time finding Halloween-themed books that actually interest me, even though I always feel the need to read one when October comes around. I'm only just reading the first book of this series now, so I may go out of order just so I can read this one when it's seasonally appropriate. I just hope I snag a library copy before they all get checked out. 

What will you be reading this fall? 

The RAHM Report for 9/17/18

What I Finished Reading

• Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny, audiobook read by Ralph Cosham ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This is the best of this series so far. It was different from the ones preceding it, but beautifully written and emotional. I went back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and really enjoyed Cosham's voice. I also liked hearing the author's interview about the book at the end of the audio recording. 
• The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I read this with three Instagram friends and really enjoyed it. I avoided scary books like the plague as a kid, but this one has great character development. I'm already planning to read at least the next two books in the series. 
• The Happy Hollisters and the Indian Treasure by Jerry West ⭐⭐
  This was a read-aloud with my four-year-old. It's the weakest of the four books we've read from this series so far, but she still enjoyed the time the Hollisters spent searching in caves for stolen treasure.
• Come Back To Me by Sharon Sala, audiobook read by Amy Rubinate ⭐⭐
  I started this on audio, got fed up with all the random chapters about characters not connected to the main plot and plowed through the rest in the ebook edition. It was fine, but not as good as I'd hoped.
• I'd Rather be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I read this quick, light celebration of the reading life in just two days. It's a really fun little book in which the blogger behind Modern Mrs. Darcy shares her observations about the habits of readers. 

What I'm Currently Reading

• The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davis, audiobook read by Hillary Huber 50%I'm really enjoying this audiobook. Krista Davis is one of the best cozy mystery writers, and I love all the characters in this book. 
• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 49%
  I was halfway through this book a week and a half ago when my loan period on Open Library ended. I put myself back on the waiting list for it, and of course, as I soon as I started a bunch of other books, it became available again. I will definitely finish it before it expires this time. 
• Queenie Peavy by Robert Burch 42%
  I've been meaning to read this book for months to satisfy the letter "Q" for the A to Z Challenge hosted by Ginger Mom and the Kindle Quest. It's a quick read and I will probably finish it today. 
• Watching the Detectives by Julie Mulhern 20%
  I love this series, and it's been a little while since I read book 4, Send in the Clowns. So far, it's every bit as good as the earlier titles of the series. This author's writing style really clicks for me. 
• Not of this World: A Catholic Guide to Minimalism by Sterling Jaquith 13%
  My husband brought home a stack of Catholic and homeschooling books for me to read. I'm starting with this one because it's quick, and the subject matter is far removed from anything else I'm reading. So far it's dwelling a lot on hoarding. 
• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 7%
  This book was mentioned by Anne Bogen in I'd Rather Be Reading. I normally don't read much involving magic or fantasy, but this book appealed to me in spite of that, so I'm giving it a try. So far, I like the writing a lot. 
• Charm City by Laura Lippman 0%
  My loan period for this book also expired a couple of weeks ago, and I put myself on the list again, and my turn came up again a couple of days ago. I'm going to try really hard not to let time run out again! 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Paging Through Picture Books: New and Forthcoming Titles

Here are some of the new and soon-to-be-published picture books I've been reading thanks to Edelweiss (*) and Candlewick (**). 

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I Know Exactly What You Are by Julia Kregenow, illustrated by Carmen Saldana (9/4/18)*
  The text of this book provides lots of scientific information about stars, all set to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Though the rhyme scheme and rhythm works well, and the information is interesting, I think the meaning of the text is drowned out by the gimmick of the song. When I finished the book, I had the tune stuck in my head but couldn't really remember most of the facts that had been presented. The scientific details require more attention than simply singing through the book allows. That said, the illustrations are gorgeous, and I think it's a good book for introducing the scientific concepts as long as it also supplemented by other texts.
• The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (9/4/18)**
  This poetic and visually explosive picture book describes the big bang in lyrical text that captures the beauty and drama of the beginning of the universe. My almost-five-year-old was fascinated by the illustrations and though the book does not mention religion at all, she immediately attributed the images she saw to God, which made me feel good about her understanding of the relationship between faith and science. This book makes the abstract concept of how the universe came into being into something relatable, dynamic, and awe-inspiring. 
• Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise by David Ezra Stein (9/11/18)**
  In this sequel to Interrupting Chicken,  Chicken comes home from school with instructions from her teacher to find the elephant of surprise in every story she reads. Her dad tries to explain that her teacher is talking about the element of surprise, but Chicken is determined to write elephants into every story instead. Though the artwork is just as great in this book as it was in the first, there is little more to the text than this one joke, which is pretty well played out before the story is half over. I expected more from this book. 
• Night Job by Karen Hesse, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (9/11/18)**
  This is a nice slice of life story about a boy who goes to work at night with his janitor father. The writing is poetic and the illustrations capture the warmth and humor of the characters' relationship. The story taps into two ideas kids are fascinated by - what happens at night and what their parents do at work. Though this is a quieter book with a subdued color scheme, it appealed strongly to my almost-three-year-old and my almost-five-year-old. 
• Leo Gets a Checkup by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Ruth Hearson (9/11/18)*
  Geared toward toddlers, this is a pretty straightforward book about going to the doctor's office. It includes some details that champion particular causes (the doctor gives Leo a free book, and a mom is nursing in the waiting room) but otherwise, it's pretty much like every other book of this type. 

• Liza Jane and the Dragon by Laura Lippman, illustrated by Kate Samworth (10/2/18)*When Liza Jane fires her parents and hires a dragon to take their place, she encounters a variety of problems, chief of which is the dragon's desire to set on fire everything that bothers, annoys, or makes life difficult for Liza Jane. While the thought of being fired doesn't thrill me as a parent, I think there is value in books that allow kids to imagine the logical conclusions to some of their fantasies. This book also reminded me a lot of Princess Cora and the Crocodile, which I love.
• You Can Be by Elise Gravel (10/9/18)*
  I enjoyed the cartoonish illustrations in this simple book which celebrates kids' freedom to be whoever they want to be and to feel however they'd like to feel. Because there is minimal text and the illustrations are more humorous, this book doesn't feel as preachy as What If? (see below) even though the subject matter is essentially the same. There is a bit of bathroom humor on the page for "Smelly" but otherwise I wouldn't have a problem sharing this book with my girls.
• What If?: What Makes You Different Makes You Amazing! by Sandra Magsamen (2/1/19)*
  This is a saccharine and preachy book about celebrating one's uniqueness. It panders shamelessly to the push for more diverse books but offers nothing of real substance. In my experience, kids think of themselves as pretty great; adults are the ones who suggest it might be otherwise by writing books like this. 
• The Smallest Elephant in the World by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Milton Glaser (2/19/19)*
  This is a reprint of a sweet vintage book from 1959 about an elephant the size of a house cat who disguises himself as a cat and attempts to live among a family. The red, black, and green illustrations are charming and the story is just the right mix of humor and imagination. 

Book Review: Mistletoe and Murder by Robin Stevens (2018)

Mistletoe and Murder is the fifth book in the Wells and Wong series by UK author Robin Stevens, which will be published in the US on September 18th. As the title suggests, this mystery is set during the Christmas holiday, which Daisy and Hazel are spending with Daisy's aunt at a women's college in Cambridge, England. Also in Cambridge, but staying at the all-male Maudlin College are Daisy's brother, Bertie, Hazel's friend Alexander and his crime-solving partner George (whom Daisy has always seen as rivals), and a pair of twins, Donald and Chummy Melling, who are about to come of age, at which point the older of the two, Donald, will inherit the family fortune. Daisy and Hazel notice right away that there seem to be a lot of accidents whenever the twins are around, and they suspect the impending inheritance might be the motive behind them. When one of the twins dies as a result of one of these accidents, the Detective Society is desperate to find out who did it, even if it means relying on their rival detective agency for clues and inside information.

The festive holiday atmosphere and new setting make this book feel charming right from the outset. Though I am typically disappointed when a story is not set at the girls' own school of Deepdean, the fact that the backdrop was a university made up for that in this book. I was intrigued by the way colleges so severely segregated students by gender in the '30s and I liked the way the author handled the girls' difficulties in gaining access to evidence in a dormitory they were not even supposed to enter. The fact that Daisy, in particular, was forced to get along with her rivals, felt like a good point of character development for her. I didn't quite feel the same tension in Hazel's friendship with Daisy as I have in previous books, but I also appreciate that some books of this series might just want to tell a really good mystery story without exploring too many subplots.

Truly, my only complaint about this series is how quickly each book goes by and how long I have to wait before the next volume is published in the U.S. Book six, A Spoonful of Murder, just came out in the UK in early 2018 and the Goodreads reviews are all so positive that I'm already dying to know when I'll get to read it!  Thankfully, the author has done a reading on YouTube, so I can at least have a taste to tide me over until it makes its way over here - but I still hope it will be sooner rather than later! (Thanks, as always, to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for the ARC of this book.)

Book Review: Our Library by Phyllis R. Fenner (1939)

Published in 1939, Our Library is a book-length reflection on the successes of Phyllis Fenner's career as a school librarian in Manhassett, New York. This was one of the first books written about elementary school libraries, and it provides advice on everything from materials selection to the involvement of students in running the library.

I found this book completely fascinating not because of how much has changed in librarianship in 80 years but because of how much has remained exactly the same. Fenner's concerns mirror many that today's librarians still consider: welcoming all races, reaching reluctant readers, developing a diverse collection, etc.  Sometimes I think forward-thinking young librarians have a tendency to only look ahead at what's coming next without regard for the foundations that have been laid by the pioneers of the profession. This leads to professionals who feel as though they have just discovered things (like diversity, for example) that, in truth, have been around for decades. There is a lot to learn from professional texts of the past. Sure, some of the tools Fenner uses are out of date, but her reasons for using them, and the end results of their use, are very much the same as the purposes of today's librarians.

I found this book to be both a charming walk down memory lane (I do love the card catalog!) and a valuable professional tool that helped me renew my understanding of what the field of youth librarianship is all about: connecting kids with books they will love that will help them achieve academically and become lifelong readers. When Kirkus reviewed the book upon its original publication, the reviewer noted, "It should prove very constructive and stimulating to school librarians, to teachers who are uncertain to what extent the school library can meet their needs, to parents who should understand the extent to which library work is of value to their children." Though decades have gone by, I still found this to be an accurate assessment of Our Library.

Hidden Gems of my Home Library

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is hidden gems. As we have been reshelving our books since our move, I have been taking note of some of the lesser-known vintage children's titles we have in our home library, and this seemed like the perfect time to share!

• No Boats on Bannermere by Geoffrey Trease (1949)
  This is a British children's novel from 1949 about a group of children who move to a new neighborhood only to learn that one of their neighbors, a wealthy man named Sir Alfred Askew, doesn't allow any boats on the nearby lake. As they set out to learn the reasons behind this rule, they uncover a shocking murder mystery. This is like Swallows and Amazons meets The Boxcar Children meets Minnow on the Say, and it's just great. The sequels are harder to find, but I have managed to read Black Banner Abroad and Under Black Banner, though there is sadly little hope I will ever own them. 
• The Wonderful Farm by Marcel Ayme, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (1951)
  This book has the distinction of being the first children's book ever illustrated by Maurice Sendak! Translated from French, it is the story of two little girls, Delphine and Marinette, who live with their stern parents on a farm which is in every way normal except that the animals can talk. Each chapter follows the girls through a particular adventure involving animals either from the farm or the surrounding forest, and the episodes are funny, sad, suspenseful and everything in between. I read the book aloud to my older two girls this winter, and it was just a joy from beginning to end. 
• The Cottage at Bantry Bay by Hilda van Stockum (1938)
  This is a novel about the O'Sullivan family of Glengarriff, County Cork, Ireland who introduce the reader to Irish culture through their everyday adventures. This book is often overshadowed by van Stockum's semi-autobiographical Mitchells series and by her Newbery honor book, A Day on Skates, but it's a gentle and engaging story in its own right, and I'm still hoping to read the sequels, Francie on the Run and Pegeen. 
• The Secret Language by Ursula Nordstrom (1960)
  Ursula Nordstrom was the children's books editor for Harper & Row for over 30 years, and she mentored many beloved authors  including Maurice Sendak, E.B. White, Margaret Wise Brown, Louise Fitzhugh, and Russell Hoban. She only published this one book herself, but it embodies so much of the advice she gave to the authors she worked with (which I read about in another gem, her collection of letters called Dear Genius) and I was disappointed to learn that she wrote another book and subsequently burned it because she didn't think it was good! 
• The Open Gate by Kate Seredy (1943)
  This wonderful novel is set right near where I grew up, so it has a special place in my heart. It also seems to be the most difficult Seredy novel to find, which is a shame because it's so good! It follows the Preston family as they move from the city to the country on the spur of the moment and try to learn to farm. Set in 1941, it also explores the reaction of average Americans to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and its ramifications.
• Sticks Across the Chimney: A Story of Denmark by Nora Burglon (1938)
  Siri and Erik live with their widowed mother in Denmark, where they live near a Viking burial ground, as it is the only place they can afford. The community ostracizes them for living there and threatens them with ghost stories, but they do their best to remain true to themselves and loyal to their mother while they wait for their luck to change. There are some old-fashioned sensibilities to the story, but overall it's a great novel for building character. 
• (George) by E.L. Konigsburg (1970)
  Konigsburg is a well-known author, but this odd book of hers flies a bit under the radar. It's about a middle school student, Ben, whose best friend is his "concentric twin" George who lives inside of him. The story is well-written and funny, but there is also an underlying A Beautiful Mind vibe that keeps you both questioning Ben and rooting for him through the entire book. I put off reading it for a long time because I thought it would freak me out too much, but now I'm actually glad to have it on my shelf.
• The Far-Distant Oxus by Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock (1937)
  The Far-Distant Oxus was written by two teenage girls, Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock, as an homage to their favorite author, Arthur Ransome of Swallows and Amazons fame. Ransome enjoyed the book and helped to have it published. Though the writing is unpolished and many plot points are unresolved, this is an interesting read both because the authors are so young and because it's basically vintage fanfiction. 
• Those Miller Girls! by Alberta Wilson Constant, illustrated by Joe and Beth Krush (1965)
  This is the first book in a Penderwicksian trilogy about two sisters, Maddy and Lou Emma Miller and their widower father, Professor Cyrus Miller, who have just moved to Gloriosa, Kansas, where they struggle to settle in among the locals. The story includes great dialogue and lots of fun detail about daily living around the turn of the 20th century. This book is hard to find, and the sequels are even harder. I have a signed copy of book three, Does Anybody Care About Lou Emma Miller?, that was a Christmas present from my husband last year, but I'll probably never even see book two, The Motoring Millers.
• Ellen Grae by Vera and Bill Cleaver, illustrated by Ellen Raskin (1967)
  Vera and Bill Cleaver are better known for Where the Lilies Bloom, which was a 1970 National Book Award finalist, but Ellen Grae, published in 1967, shares a lot of the same vivid language and emotional dilemmas. Ellen has such a strong reputation for telling tall tales that when she is taken into the unlikely confidence of the town recluse she wonders whether she will be believed if she decides to report what she has learned to someone who can help. It's a really challenging novel, just right for the advanced middle schooler. Interestingly, this book is illustrated by Newbery medalist Ellen Raskin. 

The RAHM Report for 9/10/18

What I Finished Reading

This was a really slow reading week, but I did get through two middle grade novels:

• The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden (ARC) by Karina Yan Glaser ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I know gentle family stories like this aren't trendy right now, but I'm still thankful someone is writing them. 
• You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I have been curious about this book just based on the cover. Though I expected there to be more interaction between the two alternating narrators, I thought the author really captured how excruciating middle school can be.

What I'm Currently Reading

• Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny 77%
  I am really close to done with this and I'm hoping it will be the first book I finish this week. 
• Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala 53%
  I was listening to the audiobook, but I wound up downloading the ebook too because I haven't had many occasions to listen to audio this week and I want to get it done before I forget what happened in the early part of the story.
• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 49%
  I had this from Open Library, but just could not read fast enough to get it done before it went to the next person on the waiting list. There are 2 people ahead of me now so I figure I'll get back to the book in about a month and finish it then. 
• The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs 11%
  I'm doing a buddy read of this book with some people on Instagram. I'm trying to read it slowly so I can discuss as we go. (I have a library copy with the movie cover, but I hate that, so I'm posting a different cover here.)
• Charm City by Laura Lippman 0%
  This library ebook expires in three days and there are 4 holds. I'm going to see if I can power through it. 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Homeschool Highlights: Teaching Toddlers and Preschoolers About Our Catholic Faith

One of the many reasons we will homeschool our children is that we want to incorporate our Catholic faith into every aspect of their lives, including their academic studies. Unlike other homeschool subjects, only a few of which we have even begun to explore with Little Miss Muffet (age 4.5), Catechism is something we have introduced almost from birth. In the Catholic communities I belong to on Facebook, I see a fair number of questions from new moms about how to start introducing the faith to their very young children. Today I want to share what's working for us so far with our three daughters under five.

Mass Attendance

Our kids attend Mass pretty much from birth, and unless they are horrendously loud, we keep them in the pew for the duration. (No cry room, no children's liturgy, etc.) I really feel that the best way for kids to learn how to sit through Mass quietly and attentively, is to sit in the congregation, observe others, and practice doing it. (This is how I was raised, and it worked for me!) We do take screaming children to the vestibule to calm down, and we take potty training toddlers to the restroom, but we typically come back to the pew in time for Communion. We also don't allow toys or food during Mass. The girls are allowed to look at the hymnals and missalettes, but we don't bring anything to entertain them, as we want to send the message that the Mass is exciting and interesting all by itself.

Prayer

Praying is a part of our daily routine, mainly at mealtimes and bedtime. (I plan to become more organized about morning prayer now that we are getting into more of a homeschool routine.) At meals, we pray the Sign of the Cross in English, say the Grace Before Meals, and then pray the Sign of the Cross again in Latin. For a few years, at bedtime, we said a variety of prayers, repeating them again and again so they would become familiar. To date, my oldest has memorized Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Memorare, Hail Holy Queen, the St. Michael prayer, and a good portion of the Apostle's Creed. (Our second daughter has mostly memorized these just by imitating her sister.) We have also used a set of board books by Maite Roche to model more spontaneous types of prayer that reflect on the events of the day. Lately, we have started lighting a candle and praying Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours using the iBreviary app, which we follow up with a sung "Salve Regina," and a few other prayers. Sometimes we give each of the girls a chance to ask God to bless five people of her choosing and we ask our patron saints, or the saint of the day, to pray for us. During Lent, I also try to have the girls join me in praying the Rosary (using their Chews Life mini decades) and/or the Stations of the Cross (either at home or in the church).

Gregorian Chant

We have been attending Mass in the extraordinary form several times a year for several years now, and it has really made me want to learn more chant. Currently, I am working on learning the Marian antiphons for each season of the Liturgical Year, and the girls are picking it up as I go. We mastered Regina Caeli during Easter, and now we're working on Salve Regina for ordinary time. Next, I plan to learn the Credo and the Pater Noster that is sung at the Latin Mass.

Liturgical Year Activities

A great thing about homeschooling is how easily you can conform your school year to the rhythm of the liturgical year. With help from the wonderful monthly saints coloring books created by Angie from Real Life at Home, we are able to keep track of saint days easily. We also encourage the girls to pay attention to vestment colors on Sundays, and even if we don't do anything in particular to celebrate, we try to point out different important feast days as they occur. During Advent we have a Jesse tree, we "bury" (really hide in a bookcase) the Alleluia during Lent, pray for the dead on All Souls Day, and put treats in shoes on St. Nicholas day. When I have the time and inclination to be more crafty, we also occasionally do some projects from Catholic Icing. I do keep a calendar that lists all of the occasions I want to remember, but we don't always get to them all, and that's okay. Even celebrating one or two things a month helps the girls start to understand how the church year flows.

Shining Light Dolls

We received our first Shining Light Doll - Our Lady of Fatima - from my second daughter's godparents on her first Easter. Now, my non-Catholic mom has started collecting these dolls for us and we receive them as birthday and Christmas gifts. In addition to Our Lady of Fatima, our current collection includes: St. Nicholas, St. Patrick, Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of Lourdes,  St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel, and St. Raphael the Archangel. The girls absolutely love these, and they enjoy lining them up, pretending to fight Satan, and in the case of the baby, chewing on their heads. I was taught as a kid that it was sacrilegious to "play" anything church-related, but I find that playing with these toys makes the girls feel comfortable with the idea of Heaven and with the concept of Jesus as someone they can love and trust.

Catechism Memorization

My oldest child has always been very advanced verbally. She talked early, read early (at 3.5) and has a great memory for facts, poems, etc. Because of her oddly advanced abilities in this area, we started having her memorize the The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism. After a little less than two years of working on this on and off, she is about 8 lessons into the book, but she can answer all the questions in those lessons with probably 95% accuracy. She also recognizes many words and phrases from the Catechism when they come up in the readings at Mass. We do plan to have all three girls memorize this version of the catechism before First Communion, but when the next two will start will depend on their own verbal capabilities. In general, though, it seems to be wise to start young because their little brains just soak it all up and then they can make more and more connections as they grow older.

Illustrated Children's Bibles

Finally, what has been great for our girls is having access to children's Bibles with good pictures. They especially love to study the New Testament, looking for Mary and Jesus, but they also enjoy picking out Old Testament figures like Jeremiah, Noah, Moses, and Job, to ask their names and learn a little bit about them. Inevitably, when they hear the names in the readings at Mass, their faces light up. The Bible we like best for pictures (but not for the text, because there are some strange spellings and such) is The Catholic Children's Bible by Mary Theola, with illustrations by J. Verleye. We also have a Baptism bible that retells some of the more kid-friendly Bible stories in a simple way that is good for really little kids, as well as The Golden Children's Bible, which is the one I plan to read aloud in our homeschool starting this fall.

Book Review: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (1945)

Pippi Longstocking, a spirited young girl, lives alone in a house in Sweden called Villa Villekulla with only her monkey and her horse for company. When she meets her neighbors Tommy and Annika, some attempts are made to get Pippi into school or a children's home, but it soon becomes clear to everyone that this unusual child, who fights off robbers and jumps into circus acts is probably better off on her own.

I didn't have a lot of patience for misbehavior and over-the-top silliness as a kid, so I never wanted to read this book. My kids, however, have a much greater tolerance for characters who are not completely serious and realistic, so I decided to bite the bullet and read this book aloud to them. (My main audience was my oldest daughter, age 4.5, but my middle daughter, age 2.5, also listened in.) Alas, even though my kids adored this book and now pretend to be Pippi on a fairly regular basis, I found the reading experience excruciating.

I guess I can understand the appeal of a child who defies authority and lives life on her own terms if you're the kind of person who is uncomfortable with rules and who dreams of greater freedom. (My four-year-old is such a person.) I, on the other hand, thrive on rules and order and mostly just wished that some adult would pin Pippi down and get her to start living more conventionally. And I think what frustrated me most is that Annika and Tommy, who basically represent the point of view of the child reader in the story, weren't more troubled by her, or at least more skeptical about her way of life. As a mom, I also wasn't sure my own kids needed anymore incentive to disobey rules, though I haven't seen any changes in their behavior (or levels of misbehavior) since we read the book.

We have an omnibus collection of three Pippi books, but I don't think I can stomach anymore of them as read-alouds. I have decided that, if the girls are interested, they can read them independently when they're ready, or listen to them as audiobooks. Generally, when it comes to picture books, I'll read even the ones I'm sick of, because the time investment is so minimal, but with a book this long, I just can't put myself through it. In most cases, the books I refused as a kid turn out to be great reads I wish I hadn't missed. Pippi Longstocking, however, is just not on that list.

TV Shows I Use for Background Noise

I do a little bit of freelance proofreading for a crossword puzzle publisher. The work is pretty tedious at times, so while I would like to listen to audiobooks while I test-solve puzzles, sometimes I just can't focus enough on the book to make it worthwhile. Therefore, proofreading time is often when I watch shows on Hulu and Netflix. Since we don't have cable (or a TV), I often save up episodes of shows I want to keep up with so that I have them when a proofreading set arrives, or I watch older shows that I missed when they aired. For Top Ten Tuesday's Bingeworthy TV Shows topic, here's a sampling of what I typically watch.

• Catfish: The TV Show (Hulu)
  I got into this show recently, just before Max Joseph announced he was leaving. I have to admit that the repetition from episode to episode is getting old now that I've watched 5 seasons, but the formulaic nature of it makes it very easy to follow even when I'm not fully paying attention. And I enjoy the friendship between Nev and Max, and will be sad to see that end. 
• Frasier (Netflix)
  I am almost done with this show. I like it because it's set in the 90s and makes me nostalgic. The humor is also really smart, and most of the jokes are wordplay so I don't have to be looking at the screen constantly to appreciate them. I also love the romance between Niles and Daphne. I wish there were newer sitcoms that were as good as this one. 
• Law and Order: SVU (Hulu)
  I have seen every episode of this show and though I miss Chris Meloni as Stabler, I think the show has done a great job of reinventing itself since his departure. I am not so devoted to this show that I watch every episode as it airs, but I do tend to catch up once a month or so. (And if Alex Cabot is ever on, or Robert Sean Leonard guest stars, I drop everything and watch that episode!) This is another one where dialogue often carries the plot so I can listen without having to see every scene. 
• Chicago Med (Hulu)
  In theory, I like the concept of "One Chicago," but this is the only show from the franchise I've gotten into and been able to stick with. I especially love Dr. Charles and Dr. Reese. 
• E.R. (Hulu)
  This past winter, I watched the first two seasons of E.R. in about two months' time. Then I got burned out and took a break. The writing and characterization are so great, though, that I plan to pick it back up again soon.
  
  
  
  
• The Staircase (Netflix)
  This is a true crime documentary about an author who is accused of killing his wife by pushing her down the stairs. It's one of those stories with twists and turns where you're never quite sure if he is innocent or not. I checked it out on a whim one day and immediately binge-watched the whole thing. 
• A Crime to Remember (Hulu)
  This show, which airs on Investigation Discovery, is a documentary series with dramatic reenactments of scenes from real-life crimes. I have watched almost every available episode, but I have lost interest as other shows have appealed to me more. 
• Criminal Minds (Netflix)
  I am currently caught up on all the episodes that are available on Netflix, but I suspect season 13 will be available soon, at which point I will start watching again. This show can be scary, so I like only half-focusing on the details of what is going on. 
• Stranger Things (Netflix)
  I started out watching this in the background, but got so sucked into it that I wound up starting it over and watching it with my husband. We are caught up and will definitely jump back in when the next season comes out. 
• This is Us (Hulu)
  Finally, I'm including this show because it's the only new show I watch every week. I can't watch it when it airs, but to avoid being spoiled by postings on social media, I try to get to it the next day at lunch time before spending much time on Facebook. I typically don't proofread while I'm watching this one because I want to give it my full attention, and often I need to cry at least once an episode. 

Do you watch any of these shows? What other shows should I watch when I'm done with these?

The RAHM Report for 9/3/18

What I Finished Reading

• Read and Gone (ARC) by Allison Brook ⭐⭐⭐
  This was a decent cozy mystery, on par with the first book of the series, Death Overdue. I'm still not sure of the purpose of the ghost character, but I did enjoy gaining more insight into Carrie's relationship with her jewel thief dad.
• Reading Together by Diane W. Frankenstein ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This is a book everyone who reads with kids should find immediately! The author succinctly summarizes everything you could possibly need to know about reading aloud in a few short sections and then provides dozens of recommendations for books to read with kids of all ages, along with great questions, quotes, and ideas to spark discussion. 
• Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller and Susan Kelley ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I liked this companion to The Book Whisperer even more than the first book. It made me think a lot about my own reading habits and the habits of lifelong readers that my young daughters already exhibit.

Did Not Finish

• Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction by Catherine Pearlman, audiobook read by Christine Williams
  I wanted to read this, but my library only has the audiobook and I just don't like listening to parenting books. If I can find an ebook or a physical copy, I might revisit it in the future. 

What I'm Currently Reading

• Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny 46% 
  I started out listening to the audio book but my mind kept wandering and I had a hard time following the changes in scene and time period without seeing character names in print. So I downloaded the ebook from the library and things are going much faster. I am especially enjoying how the story revisits the murder from the previous book.  
• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 2%
  Two people are waiting for this book after me on Open Library and it's due back in 4 or 5 days. I've been wanting to read it for a while, so I think I might just try to power through it tomorrow. I have a cold and have mostly just been resting so I should be able to do it. 
• Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala, audiobook read by Amy Rubinate 44%
  I wanted a quick, light audiobook and this was was a new featured audiobook on Hoopla. It's been much easier to listen to than Bury Your Dead and so far, and I'll probably finish it in another day or two. 
• The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser 5%
  I realized I didn't read any children's novels this week and quickly got this one going. I'm just starting out, but so far it seems very much like the first book (which I enjoyed so that's good!) 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?