Book Review: Pocket Bear

I was knee-deep in viewing war scenes in Masterpiece Theater's All Creatures Great & Small, when I came across this book by Katherine Applegate (author of Crenshaw and The One and Only Ivan). Pocket Bear tells the story of a small bear created as a lucky token for a soldier to take into battle. Pocket bears were made with upturned eyes, so that it appeared they were looking up at, and out for, their owners. I had never heard of these bears, nor did I know the history of the teddy bear.

Most toys at the Second Chances for the Tossed and Treasured are rescued by the sneaky, theiving cat, Zephyrina. They receive care from a Ukranian mother-daughter team intent on placing the stuffed animals back into loving hands. Of course, Picky Vicky hovers on the horizon, hoping to snatch any that might be worth a fair price. She will go to any lengths to get her hands on the valuable ones. Can the toys and the cat work together to get the bears where they belong? I'm sure this book has been selected for read-alouds in classroom settings. I abandoned The One and Only Ivan, yet stuck it out through this book. While the information about bears was interesting, it was still not my favorite.

Book Review: The Magician's Nephew

After completing a re-read of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I headed to the library hoping to find the second book in the series. The librarian (with obvious pride in knowing these details) explained that the order actually (although "actually" is a subjective word here) starts with The Magician's Nephew. I think I had heard this whole dilemma before, but had forgotten. In my humble opinion, I'm glad I read LWW first. It was a more striking entrance into the idea of Narnia. I preferred that book to this prequel. I may not even continue with re-reading the series.

In The Magician's Nephew, we meet Digory and Polly, two bored children in London. The kids, with the help of Uncle Andrew's magic rings, go on adventures to other worlds. By the end, they land in Narnia and meet Aslan. This book holds the clue to how the evil witch entered Narnia. It bears some similarity to Biblical stories of the first sin. While it was entertaining, I don't feel compelled to stick with this. I need something that grabs my attention with more force. Besides, I had already reviewed the entire series when I read a few of them with my younger sons (and then completed the series on my own) back in 2011. 

I would be interested, however, in seeing the upcoming movie of The Magician's Nephew, slated for the end of 2026. It will star Carey Mulligan as Digory's ailing mother. It is due to be released in IMAX theaters on November 26, 2026. If you want to know more, here's a You Tube video about the movie.

Book Review: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

My job at the Marion E. Wade Center, during my college years, required hosting tours for small groups of school children. I loved showing them the actual inspiration for the wardrobe. It bore a sign declaring the Wade Center free of any legal obligation associated with children who disappear into the wardrobe. I needed an audio book for my endless May car rides (lots of ferrying people here and there while we were down to one car). What a joy to return to the Narnia series with the ever-popular The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie live with a professor in the country during the Blitz. While enjoying a game of hide-and-seek, they enter a wardrobe and a land of imagination full of satyrs, dwarves, centaurs, and giants. In Narnia, the White Witch, who has overtaken the land and brought endless winter, wants to capture them. But, Aslan is on the move. He, alone, can save the children and restore them to their rightful places as kings and queens in Narnia.

Though Lewis had no children, he did a fine job of tapping into child-appealing storytelling mode. I have fond memories of reading this to my two younger sons when they were small. We didn't complete the whole series (their attention spans were typical of this generation), but I enjoyed sharing this snippet with them. I will have to see if my library has more of the series in audio form.

Book Review: Happy & Sad & Everything True

Sometimes I settle for a middle grade book out of sheer frustration over the content in women's fiction. I have recently read and tossed aside 3 or 4 books. In two different books, I waded through 4 or 5 CDs (1/2 the book) before coming upon content I just couldn't tolerate. So discouraging! Indeed, for our December book club meeting, we had a book exchange. I received a psychological thriller from a popular author. In seeking an audio book for my car trips, I selected one of her other books as an introductory sample. With that one, I overlooked smut until half-way through, when I just couldn't take it anymore. 

Thus, on the next trip to the library, I selected Happy & Sad & Everything True by Alex Thayer. Slated for readers 10 and up, it straddles the age brackets of children's and tween. The main character is in the 6th grade, but includes characters who are in 2nd. I appreciated a clean book for a change.

Dee is sure her mother doesn't understand. She expresses her devastation at being placed in a class apart from her best friend Juniper. Her mother says it will give her the opportunity to make new friends. But watching a best friend detach from you is never easy. As she hides out in the school bathroom, she discovers she is not the only one with problems. As she helps others, she heals her own wounds simultaneously.

Thayer has presented, as the title describes, a range of emotions that children face, and presented them with honesty. The reader cannot help but feel for Dee as she endures mortification, confusion, frustration, and hope. She is an empathetic character who draws empathy from the reader. This would make a good read-aloud, but I would steer it toward 4th or 5th graders.

As for the gifted book, I cannot decide if I will wade through possible cautionary content or not (easier when it is a physical book and you can skip a page). I'm not against psychological thrillers, and this author has quite a following. I just prefer not to get bogged down in sexual promiscuity with graphic details. So sad! It has become harder and harder to find clean women's fiction. Perhaps I will have to stick with Christian fiction and miss out on reading skilled writers who cannot write without bludgeoning the reader with language, filth, and smut.

Book Review: The First State of Being

I adored Erin Entrada Kelly's Newbery Honor Book, We Dream of Space. As usual, I feel I must apologize when I don't relish a book. I'm guessing I might have had a different response to this Newbery winning Kelly book, The First State of Being, if I had read it years ago. Maybe, I'm just in too deep a funk to rally. The story held my interest, but didn't wow like the other one.

Set at the turn of the century, the story follows Michael Rosario as he prepares for the uncertainties of Y2K in 1999. His encounter with a boy named Ridge, from the future, leaves him hoping for answers to ease his fears. Alas, Ridge cannot offer any consolation. The only real tid-bit Michael gleans is a prediction of an earthquake across the world. He has plenty of challenges apart from his Y2K woes and Ridge's appearance may bring even more.

The title focuses on Ridge's advice to focus on "the first state of being," or the present. It is easy to allow fears over the future to overwhelm and capsize our equilibrium (I'm guilty). Through the story of Ridge's intersection into Michael's world, young people gain a powerful message of strength and resilience in the face of the uncertainties of life. Kelly writes well, and the story is worthwhile. For readers aged 8-12, it appeals to those interested in time travel or science fiction. 

Book Review: The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman

We've been dealing with some serious issues at home since early July. Unable to focus on much of anything, I needed a distraction. Thank goodness for an exceptional children's writer like Gennifer Choldenko. This read was not only timely but also touching and entertaining. I had read Choldenko before, her book Al Capone Does My Shirts. This one, The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman, was charming and stirring.

Hank Hooperman has a problem. His mother has not come home for a week and the landlord is banging on the door, threatening to evict them. But Hank Hooperman is resourceful. He finds a contact name on his field trip permission slip and travels with his 3-year-old sister Boo to find the woman listed there. While everyone loves a bright and sunny 3-year-old, not everyone is interested in taking on a pre-teen.

Both Hank and Boo are loveable and endearing, but Hank is carrying the world on his 11-year-old shoulders (not a fair position for a child). I could relate to much of his rumination. It is hard to love someone whose addiction makes them untrustworthy. The love doesn't go away, but the danger remains real and intense. Hank wants to be with his mother, but cannot trust her when the substances take over. While the subject is tough and may require some conversation, if read with the intended audience (ages 10-12), it is certainly one that is important in this day. I struggle as a parent with an addicted child; I cannot imagine carrying this weight as a child with an addicted parent.

Mid-month Mention: Beloved Author Kate DiCamillo's Journey

Last month, I happened upon this article celebrating Kate DiCamillo's 20th anniversary of her book, The Tale of Despereaux. What joy! What happy memories I have of listening to Ms. McKee enthrall her 3rd grade class with her narration of this book! We were all transfixed, kids and teachers alike. This tender story of a hero-mouse tapped our deepest longings and healed our hidden wounds. I remember thinking, "Now, THIS is an outstanding writer!" Of course, this was just the beginning of my love affair with DiCamillo books. Then came Because of Winn-Dixie (one we listened to on our drive to and from CBLI family camp one year), and the Mercy Watson books (inciting my younger sons to parrot often, "toast with a great deal of butter"), and when they were a bit older, The Tiger Rising. I adored The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, another one I listened to while on a car trip, but I don't believe the boys were with me.

As I watched the accompanying video (a video of Jenna Bush interviewing Kate and encouraging children to read during the summer), I was blown away by a truth I didn't know. Kate asked students to guess how many rejection letters she received. I'm with them, my calculations would be between 5 and 50, but that is way out of the true range. 473! Unbelievable. Further admonishment to never give up! This is a fantastic writer, who accumulated more rejection letters than I can even fathom. I have not been as persistent! Indeed, for a spell, I have given up writing (apart from journaling and blogging) altogether. It saddens me to think of all the world would have lost, if Kate DiCamillo had responded the way I respond. Congratulations Despereaux on thrilling young readers for two decades! I'd give anything to travel back in time and relive those days in Ms. McKee's classroom watching children catch a passion for books and story.

Pilgrim's Progress in Many Forms

In February, a lovely friend of mine contacted me to ask if I would write a four-part play for her church's Vacation Bible School. She was reading Pilgrim's Progress for the first time with her sons and the story moved her. She wondered if I could work the book into a children's play with appeal for kids from ages 5 to 12. This sent me on a hunt for the beautiful children's version I had purchased in England during my time living there. (Side note: My husband is desperate for me to lean down our extensive collection of children's books, since our boys are now teens and young adults. This book reminds me why I hang on.)

My edition was retold by Jean Watson and published through Scripture Union in England in 1980. It is a beautiful book. The illustrations by Peter Wane are described as "warm, energetic drawings [that] capture the unique spirit of Bunyan's world, where dragons and demons mix with very human heroes and down-to-earth villains." The sketches are stirring and accompany the story well. After reviewing (and working from) several children's versions of Bunyan's esteemed book, I think this one is my favorite. Here is an example of one of the drawings within the book:

My second favorite children's version is also adapted by Jean Watson. It is called The Family Pilgrim's Progress and was also published in England by Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., in 2007. What I appreciated most about this version was the inclusion of accompanying scripture passages. I noticed this, too, in the one adult version by Bunyan that I checked out on my library's Hoopla. This is so helpful, because it parallels the story line to truths from God's Word. Clearly, John Bunyan was working from a solid knowledge of the Bible.

My third favorite was a bit of a surprise to me. One of my favorite middle grade authors is Gary D. Schmidt. He is the author of The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, Orbiting Jupiter, and a major favorite, Trouble. I had no idea he had written a retelling of Pilgrim's Progress. His version was published by Eerdmann's Books for Young Readers in 2008. I was dismayed when my library said the book was due back with no renewals available because someone else wanted to read it. I milked the last 3 days with that book for all they were worth.

I consulted three other versions: A 2-volume Pilgrim's Progress Comic version published by Kingstone Comics. This would hold more appeal for young people seeking a heightened visual re-telling but, given some of the content, might be more appropriate for teens than children. Then there was Dan Larsen's retelling for Illustrated Christian Classics, published by Barbour and Company, Inc., in 1992. Finally, I briefly consulted Helen L. Taylor's Little Pilgrim's Progress, which claims over half a million sold, yet it was my least favorite version. I think my chief complaint is portraying Christian as a "little pilgrim." I suppose the constant identifier of "little Christian" didn't sit well with me. Not that this is a bad re-telling. I simply prefer the others over this one.

Since my library had an animated movie version, I figured I should research that, as well. Wow! If I had sat down with my young children, I might have turned this off. It is incredibly dark and the portrayal of evil, with grunts and screeches, and guttural sound effects, is almost terrifying. I understand that this is a story of good versus evil. I know that evil is always attempting to lure Christian off the path. Yet, in attempting to maintain children's attention, I think the embellishment of evil in the tale was extreme.

I was thrilled with the opportunity to work on a writing project again (my focus has been so absorbed with marketing my book that I haven't written regularly, apart from my daily morning pages). Plus, it was exciting to draw so many spiritual applications through re-telling Bunyan's splendid story. I guess my enthusiasm for these applications took hold because without prompting, I also worked up supplemental materials (curriculum they could use with the play presentation, scripture memory verses and games, and even a Walk-Through-the-Journey exercise to help kids cement the main ideas into a logical pattern with phrases and actions - similar to the Walk-Through-the-Bible program).

I came across one other version I would have loved to review. My sister texted to ask if I had seen the children's Pilgrim's Progress book that our friend, Sonja, sent with her grandchild as their family moves to do missionary work in Albania. It looked marvelous! Thankfully, I had enough options to work with to complete the task. The press for completion was so intense that I often woke from a dream about the play (that, and dreams of praying, since I've been laser-focused on that, as well).

Book Review: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

I know I read this book when I was younger. Perhaps I liked it better the first time around. It wasn't regrettable, yet I expected so much more (both from its reputation and my memory). I'm guessing it was a read-aloud in one of my elementary classrooms. Fitting.

Claudia Kincaid is running away. She selects her younger brother Jamie to come along (he's thrifty with his money and has amassed enough to finance her venture). They execute her plans, from hiding in the Metropolitan Museum of Art to bathing in the fountain (and making off with the coins in the fountain). She seeks to change somehow, yet finds the little adventure not as fulfilling as hoped. They stumble upon a mysterious statue. Is it truly a famous work of art purchased by the museum for a pittance, or is it just an ordinary statue of an angel?

I enjoyed the sections on sneaking in and living in the museum. The parts about bathing and washing their clothes entertained. Sadly, when they came to the climax of the story (the mysterious statue), it fell flat for me. Thus, I'd say the beginning and middle were strong, but the end felt contrived and dissatisfying. I loved the glorious name of the elderly woman (and the title of the book). The interesting idea of children hiding out in a museum will still appeal to elementary students.

Book Review: Lucky for Good

My memory can be a dodgy mess. I assumed I had read the first book in this trilogy by Susan Patron (a Newbery Award winner, The Higher Power of Lucky). So I picked up this audio version of the last book in the trilogy. Yet, I cannot find a record of the first book on my blog, and I don't really recall the story line. Perhaps I abandoned that book.

To be honest, this book will NOT be for everyone. Many gave Lucky for Good a five star review. I, too, saw the thoughtful characters facing realistic challenges. I loved the story of moving an old cabin down to the town, which was full of tension and adventure. Who wouldn't root for a young girl, abandoned by her father and basically orphaned by her mother's death? The adoptive mother, Brigitte, is a lovely character. The book explores family ties and recognizes that children have questions and concerns.

All of that is true, and the book taps many truths about life. Yet, I cannot embrace the worldview this book promotes. It is very pluralistic and relativistic. It encourages children to identify God as "the God of all our understandings," an emblem Lucky writes on her family tree. Its message is, "believe what you want." Denying absolute truth, even mocking those who cling to the cross of Christ as the only way to reconciliation with our Creator, this book proclaims that many perspectives can all be followed equally. It is the typical blurring in using the term "higher power." Your higher power is deemed every bit as effective as whatever I choose as my higher power. 

As Lucky struggles with questions about religion and Darwinism, heaven and hell, she lands on society's standard solution - make your own path. I am not saying, "don't read this with your kids." I'm saying, "read this along with your kids, so you can discuss the subtle deception society wants to foist on our children." If my sons had picked up this book, I would have wanted to know that it ridicules my beliefs, nullifies Christ, and treats the Bible as just another book. It even suggests it was, perhaps, written "by God when he was six." Seriously? I cannot review this without warning those who mistake it for a "Christian" book, only to discover it pits science against faith (of course, landing on the impression that these are mutually exclusive, and that science is truth where faith is fiction).

Book Review: Rascal

Written in 1963, two years prior to my birth, this children's memoir tells of a simpler, more wholesome time. Set in 1918 in Wisconsin (near to my past home in northern Illinois), it recounts the adventures of 12-year-old Sterling North and his pet raccoon. This book has sincere boy appeal, but is also entertaining for all. It made me hearken back to times when you could go on a trip and neglect to lock your house doors, when family was nearby and always at the ready to help you in times of need, and when young boys could make pets of wild creatures without worrying about legislation against them. Dipping back in time with Sterling is a satisfying exercise and made me want to know more about the author. The Amazon listing for the book shows the 1st edition copies go for over $300 now. Of course, you can still access it in cheap paperback modern form and I listened to the audiobook. I wonder if they illustrated the book. Suitable for ages 8-12, this would make an excellent classroom read-aloud.

Book Review: Lifeboat 12

My library set specific categories for the winter reading challenge. Normally, I despise such dictates, but when prizes are involved, I'm more willing to play at their game (didn't win though, 😢). Thus, in searching for "a book based upon a true story," I discovered this children's book available in audio form (yay - I'm always looking for clean audio reads).

In Lifeboat 12, we meet thirteen-year-old Ken, a boy from Wembley who learns he is being shipped off to Canada to avoid the London bombing of WWII. He doesn't want to leave his dad, but figures his step-mother considers it a way to get rid of him. He boards the SS City of Benares, bound for Canada. His opinion of the banishment changes when he makes friends onboard, eats glorious meals, and flees war dangers. The crew claims they have made it to safe waters. Then the enemy torpedoes the ship. As the boat sinks, Ken feels he must go back for the expensive wool coat his step-mother warned him not to lose.

The cover illustration and back cover copy seem misleading. They imply Ken is alone with five other boys. The story explains there are other crewmen, a Catholic Father, and a female chaperone. During the perilous days drifting at sea, Auntie Mary keeps their spirits and anticipation high by regaling them with a story. Leaving them each day with a cliff-hanger, Mary strengthens their will to survive. This recounting of a true tale is worth sharing with children (suggested ages 8-13) who may one day struggle to survive.

Book Review: Walter the Farting Dog: Banned from the Beach

Walter may be banned from the beach, but some parents wish this series about Walter banned from the children's shelves. Seriously! There are parents out there concerned about the overuse of the word "fart" in a series of books with special boy appeal. Now, if only they could ban farts, an ever-present problem in our homes. Ha!

My boys, in their younger days, loved the first two Walter the Farting Dog books. I find the series harmless fun. In every book, Walter's farts save the day. In this book, Walter farts "philosophically" and, in a maneuver of biblical proportions, clears a way for his beloved children to make it safely back onto dry land. Since I needed to read a banned book for my library's winter reading program, the final three books in this series fit the bill. By all means, avoid these books if you are sensitive to discussions of natural bodily functions, but leave them on the shelves for boys who might feel more amenable to books because of this hilarious take on a dog plagued by difficulties and judged for his flatulence.

Book Review: Lives of the Musicians

Since I enjoyed Kathleen Krull's Lives of the Writers, I sought another similar volume. This time she delved into the fascinating biographies of twenty famous musicians in Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought). Written in 1993, this is the first book in this series of biography compilations. As in the other book, she presents oddities and tid-bits with flair.

I was intrigued to learn that Chopin shared some of Dickens' obsessive quirks and got ideas while walking. He was quite meticulous. He spent six weeks working on one page of music. Brahms was also intense. His first symphony was the product of ten years of devotion. Like other famous musicians and writers, he burned what he didn't like and started over. 

I enjoyed the section on Gilbert and Sullivan the most. It was full of new and interesting facts. I hadn't known about the friction between them. Nor did I realize that Sullivan wrote "Onward Christian Soldiers." Even more perplexing, someone kidnapped Gilbert when he was two and held him for ransom. 

Many of these famous musicians turned to their colleagues' music for comfort. When sad, Ives would play "Onward Christian Soldiers," until his melancholy lifted. Of course, some sought unconventional cures. Stravinsky relaxed by standing on his head. Crazy!

My library only has a few more of these titles, covering athletes, explorers, presidents, and scientists. I probably won't seek those out, but I may seek a neighboring library's copy of her Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (and What the Neighbors Thought). The other inaccessible titles explore the lives of extraordinary women and pirates. Sadly, this author passed away a little over a year ago. No more interesting children's biographies from her entertaining pen!

Book Review: Lives of the Writers

When seeking the Gilbert and Sullivan book by Kathleen Karr (mentioned in my recent compilation of books about music), I stumbled onto this listing. My library no longer has Kathleen Karr's book, but they have several biographies by Kathleen Krull. Intrigued, I requested one. This delightful children's book introduces kids to twenty famous (or semi-famous, as I didn't recognize a few of the names) authors. Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) shares all the tidbits and oddities that make lives interesting. I've studied Dickens for years, yet I was unaware of his obsessive-compulsive traits. Who knew Louisa May Alcott wrote for 14 hours a day, only taking breaks to run? So many of these authors felt they had to write to support their poverty-stricken families. Many went to work at young ages. Stripped of leisurely childhoods, did this prompt them to create fantastical worlds? Many took long walks of ten or twenty miles. This would make a great read-aloud for elementary classrooms. Informative and interesting.

Book Review: The Tale of Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite children's authors. Her books hold timeless truth and suck the imagination into alternate realities with compelling characters and plots. I will never forget the experience of listening to Ms. Sharon McKee read this book aloud to her third-grade class in DeKalb all those years ago. The eagerness of the students for each read-aloud session was palpable. That is the sign of a truly outstanding book (and also of a truly great narrator, Ms. McKee).

The Tale of Despereaux tells of a small mouse, an abused servant girl, some rats, and a princess. It communicates the light available for our dark world through story. It emphasizes the tremendous power of love. In a kingdom saddened by the death of a queen, Despereaux is born to fulfill a purpose he cannot imagine. Even though all the mice are against him, love drives him to right a wrong. Every child needs to hear this story as a reminder you can overcome darkness with light, and hatred with love. 

Of course, in seeking an accompanying photo from Amazon, I discovered many negative reviews (in most, the readers didn't finish the story). They argue the tale is "incredibly dark," and "promotes evil and torture," "makes light of child abuse and death." I would argue that children are going to encounter darkness in this world where sin is rampant. Yes, they might even encounter death (indeed, one boy in that class mentioned above had already lost his 2-year-old sister). Some may know what it is like to be abused or to be dismissed because they do not fit the mold. If you stop there, of course it is incredibly depressing and demoralizing. But redemption shines throughout the tale. We live in a dark world, yet the light can penetrate the darkness if you bother to light a candle. (Sin exists to reveal our need of a Savior.) Kate DiCamillo's message is clear. Story holds healing power, but only if you see it through to the end. One abandoning reader remarked, "at what cost for the journey?" Journeys that cost are often the most worthwhile. If you've never read this book, please do so now and let me know if, after fully reading it, you regret that decision.

Book Review: Ghost Knight

Despite hearing of Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkwell trilogy, I had read none of her books. I've been seeking lighter fare and seem only capable of audio books, for now. I wanted to like Ghost Knight more. Perhaps the timing was off. It was quite difficult to focus, so I'm sure I wasn't in best reading mode.

When 11-year-old Jon Whitcroft's mother sends him off to boarding school, he expects to hate the entire experience. Thanks to a host of murderous ghosts and the friendship of a beautiful girl, Jon ends up enjoying his time at school. Jon and Ella go on a quest to find the heart of a murdered knight. The narrator's voice made for easy-listening and the story contained enough difficulties to hold my attention (as I said, perhaps I am just distracted these days). I would consider more from this author, but may not seek it out soon.

Book Review: The Unseen Guest

It has been a while since I've listened to an episode of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood. I probably wouldn't have picked it up again (as the narrator, who does an excellent job of providing various voices, veers on nerve-shattering with some voices), but I have only had attention for audio books. I'm always in need of new audio options and this popped up when I searched for books about England. 

The Unseen Guest is the third book in the series. Some things I enjoy and some things I tolerate. The books have a somewhat patronizing tone - I think this is intentional, though. It is simply part of the voice of the books. The idea is interesting enough and prods many questions: How did the wolf children survive in the woods of Ashton Place for so long? Where are governess Penelope's parents? Who is hunting for the children and why? Lots of puns, lists of synonyms, light-hearted banter. But, I should point out to parents that this volume includes a séance, so if you're not wanting to lead your children into such territory, stay out of the environs of Ashton Place. Unsure if I will continue.

Book Review: At the Back of the North Wind

During my college years, I worked in a museum housing the collections of 7 Christian British writers, including George MacDonald. I have read little by this author, but know that he influenced both C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Perhaps this title is one of his most famous, At the Back of the North Wind. All three museum-showcased writers held a rare talent for making the story preeminent while weaving in metaphysical truths.

This audio version was a radio theatre performance put on by Focus on the Family. I loved the fact that Juliet Stevenson narrated for The North Wind. She has such a lovely lilting voice. The story takes the reader back in time to Victorian London, where a sickly boy encounters The North Wind. While others believe he is daft in the head, he insists that he has ridden in a nest of The North Wind's hair and flown over London. You cannot help but come away with a sense of peace about the afterlife. It was a perfect read for the holidays. 

Book Review: The Life of Our Lord

At some point I wandered down to the bookshelves in our basement. I noticed this Charles Dickens book propped up against the top shelf (I think it was a gift from my mother-in-law after she learned of my love of Dickens). This was a lovely retelling of the life of Jesus Christ. How thrilling to view the pages of Dickens's actual manuscript, written for his children in 1849 and never intended for public consumption! Indeed, only after his son, Henry, died did other family members allow publication. While it was a little weak on theology (presents Jesus as a good person and emphasizes being good over the gift of salvation through Christ's sacrifice on our behalf), I loved this beautifully done Thomas Nelson gift book. Dickens was not only a brilliant writer but also a devoted father who intensely desired his children to know about the Savior (not necessarily to know his saving grace, but to know who he was and emulate his character).