“The Keeper of the Bees” was written in the 1920s, the last novel written by Gene Stratton-Porter. (Note, my copy pictured above is obviously very old. Newer, prettier versions are available.) The hero is a soldier, discharged from the army with a wound. He is seriously ill, and has lost everything, yet he takes his […]
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“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a folk tale written by the prolific author Hans Christian Anderson in 1837. While close to 200 years old, the message of this story is as relevant today as it was then, because human nature remains the same. Two conniving thieves trick the vain emperor into believing that they can
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“Mine for Keeps” is the first of more than fifty (!) children’s books that Jean Little (My favourite Canadian children’s author) wrote. The story is about a girl with cerebral palsy who has been at a boarding school for children with special needs, but is now finally going to live at home and go to
“Shira’s Hanukkah Gift” is set in a Jewish community in Canada and is about the aspiration of a ten year old girl, Shira. Her father thinks his daughter’s dream is imossible, but is told by Shira, “Papa, this is Canada, where anything is possible.” With the help of a mentor, Shira does achieve her dream.
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“Little Britches” by Ralph Moody, is autobiographical, but you’d never know it, as it is filled with adventure and drama and reads like an interesting novel. Ralph’s parents are hard-working and full of integrity, not to mention wisdom, and this is how they bring up their children. This book is a great read aloud for
In “Put Me in the Zoo”, the main creature wants to go live in the zoo, but is rejected. When he shows off his many tricks to two children, they realize that there is a better place for this fellow, and recommend he go to the circus. He does and it is the perfect place
In July I reviewed, “From Anna” by my favourite Canadian author, Jean Little. “Listen for the Singing” is the sequel, where Anna, who has been in a special class for those with poor eyesight must now attend a regular highschool and is terrified. Her journey to not only find her place, but help her brother
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“The King’s Daughter” by Josh Gilman is a book that every father will want to read to his daughter. In this story a king goes for a walk with his daughter and along the way she gets dirty through her own and other people’s actions. She feels ashamed and unworthy until her father explains to
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“Little Lord Fauntleroy” by Frances Hodgsonn Burnett is the story about a little boy living with his poor, widowed mother, who finds out that he is an English lord (via his deceased father) and eventual heir to a fortune. He moves to England with his mother to live with his granddfather. His mother, an American
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“Maria” by Maria von Trapp is the autobiography of the woman many of us know from “The Sound of Music.” This book takes us from before her birth until fifteen years after her earlier book “the Story of the Trapp Family Singers” which, as the title suggests, is focused on the whole family. Getting to
