Fairy Tales: The Beginning of Children’s Literature

  Fairy tales, in my opinion, are essentially the backbone and origin of children’s literature.  While they certainly represent much more than just a story, it’s interesting to see the social and cultural implications of the tales.  This concept of telling tales is similar too, if not overlapping, with nursery rhymes.  The oral storytelling of… Continue reading Fairy Tales: The Beginning of Children’s Literature

Sharon Creech’s Greatest Hits

  Sharon Creech is a Newbery winning author who’s written a variety of children’s and young adult books.  Creech’s writing is interesting because she’s able to write without formula which means each of her books has an individual message and life of its own. In  middle school, I read Walk Two Moons and really enjoyed… Continue reading Sharon Creech’s Greatest Hits

Road Trip Travel with Toddler

This summer we combined my husband’s business trip with a family trip for a long, two week vacation from our house in South Carolina to our family home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Along the way we stopped at my parents and other family homes to break up the trip and see relatives whom we don’t… Continue reading Road Trip Travel with Toddler

Bookworm’s Favorites: Goodnight Mr. Tom

Good Night, Mr. Tom Goodreads: London is poised on the brink of World War 11. Timid, scrawny Willie Beech — the abused child of a single mother — is evacuated to the English countryside. At first, he is terrified of everything, of the country sounds and sights, even of Mr. Tom, the gruff, kindly old… Continue reading Bookworm’s Favorites: Goodnight Mr. Tom

Celebrate America: 12 Great Picture Books for the 4th of July

The Fourth of July is quickly approaching this year; while many of us may be celebrating on vacation, it’s always a great time to introduce new books and history to children.  There are many, many great chapter books and historical fictions for young people to read about the broad history of the U.S.A, but thought… Continue reading Celebrate America: 12 Great Picture Books for the 4th of July