Author: Karon

“Once upon a time” is a simple phrase composed of four small words. Yet when used together, these four words have the power to draw us into the magical world of make believe. Imagine, if you will, a book in which each of the chapters begins with this powerful phrase. The Milly Molly Mandy Storybook… Continue reading Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley

Billy and Blaze by C W Anderson is the first in a series of stories about a young boy and his horse. We are introduced to Billy and Blaze in the first story. Thereafter, each of the stories centers on an adventure that the two share together. Billy and Blaze Billy, like many a young… Continue reading Billy and Blaze by C W Anderson

The Railway Children, by Edith Nesbit, is one of my enduring favorites. Edith Nesbit has a captivating way of addressing her readers directly at key points throughout the story. This practice draws the readers in and gives them a vested interest in the story. The Railway Children primarily takes place in the English countryside, but… Continue reading The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

You will meet a beloved and endearing pig named Emily in Yummers by James Marshall. Emily finds that she is gaining weight and decides that the solution to this problem is to get more exercise. Her friend Eugene, a turtle, is convinced that walking is the best exercise, and he invites Emily to go on… Continue reading Yummers by James Marshall

You are in for a great winter adventure while reading Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan. But first, grab a cup of hot chocolate and a snuggly blanket. Then settle in for a good read. It was late winter in Norway, and the snow was piled high with no signs of a spring thaw. It was… Continue reading Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

We all have lingering memories of worlds created in our imagination as we traversed childhood. These worlds included everything from houses outlined and furnished with the fallen leaves to forts created from the piles of snow in our backyards to epic hideouts constructed out of blankets draped from the bunkbeds in our rooms. Roxaboxen, by… Continue reading Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran

The Wheel on the School, by Meindert DeJong, takes place in the small coastal village of Shora in the Netherlands. Its location on the North Sea surrounded by dikes provides an important backdrop for the adventures shared by its inhabitants. The book opens with a view into the tiny school house populated by one Teacher… Continue reading The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

One of the most memorable characters from my own childhood has to be a lovable badger named Frances. In the Frances books by Russell Hoban, Frances learns to navigate the challenges that are common to childhood. She has strong opinions about everything from trying new foods to what it means to be a friend to… Continue reading The Frances Books by Russell Hoban

I love the book, Little Lord Fauntleroy, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, for its charming simplicity. In the midst of an engaging tale, the character of one small boy shines through with stellar brightness. Cedric lives his life under the careful guidance of his widowed mother. As a result of her tender influence, he becomes a… Continue reading Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett

There is something iconic about an old-fashioned food stand. Often they are mom and pop establishments that excel at creating delicious food. Such a place serves the staples of American fare: hamburgers, hotdogs, French fries, and milk shakes. In Night of the Moonjellies, Mark Shasha brings just such a stand to life. He colorfully depicts… Continue reading Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha