Book Review: Chime Travelers Books 1 & 2 by Lisa M. Hendey (2015)

Twins Patrick and Katie Brady love being Catholic, but sometimes they struggle to live up to their faith. When these situations arise, suddenly they find themselves whisked back in time to meet saints who help them rediscover God's love in a deeper way. In the first adventure, The Secret of the Shamrock, Patrick gets in trouble with his parents and priest after he brings his pet frog, Francis (named for the Pope!), to his newly adopted sister's baptism. To make up for his mistake, Patrick and his family join the parish Cleaning Team, but before he gets much cleaning done, Patrick is sent back in time to spend a few days with his patron saint, St. Patrick. In the second book, The Sign of the Carved Cross, Katie is struggling to stand up to the mean girls in her class, who are purposely excluding a new girl. When she is sent back  in time to 1675 New York, it is St. Kateri Tekakwitha who teaches Katie how to welcome a newcomer, and how to love herself as God does.

Lisa Hendey's website, CatholicMom.com, has been a huge help to me in planning CCD lessons as I have taught on and off over the last 10+ years. That's why I was so excited to see not just a Catholic chapter book series (a very rare find), but one with her name on the cover! These books, collectively known as the Chime Travelers series, are perfect for Catholic kids in the early elementary grades, especially those who are studying the saints. The books are illustrated with full-page black and white drawings, and have short chapters that break up the story into easy-to-digest scenes. The premise of the series - traveling back in time to meet saints - is the perfect way to help kids get to know the holy men and women who serve as their role models in the faith without forcing them to read dry, boring textbooks. Each story is based on known facts about the central saint's life, but the fictional stories in which the information is embedded are more engaging than any religion textbook I have ever used. An author's note at the end of each book also provides useful follow-up information, including a brief biography and prayers associated with the saint, which teachers and parents can use to flesh out their lessons after the story is over.

As for the characters, Patrick and Katie are wonderful Catholic role models, but they are not too perfect or too preachy, so kids can relate to them. Their family includes a father who has recently converted to the church, and a baby girl adopted from Vietnam, and Father Miguel, their pastor, is a friendly and approachable man who really  normalizes priests and the priesthood. The twins themselves are also perfect complements to each other, as Katie is more pious and careful, while Patrick is more skeptical and impulsive. Sometimes having twins as the main characters of a story seems gimmicky, but in this case, having these two different personalities espouse the same religious faith is a great way to show kids the many correct ways to be a Catholic.

Catholic schools (and their libraries) and Catholic homeschoolers will absolutely want to purchase this series. While Catholic children can certainly learn a lot from non-religious reading material, there is something special about also having a series on their bookshelves that is explicitly about the things they experience (baptisms, going to Confession, attending Mass, etc.) that are typically not represented (at least not accurately) in secular books. For that reason, these would also make wonderful gifts for First Holy Communion.

For similar (secular) chapter book series, try Magic Tree House, Recipe for Adventure and Greetings from Somewhere. Also look for books 3 and 4 of the series, which will focus on St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare, respectively. 

Reading Through History: My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier (1975)

Tim Meeker is the younger of the two Meeker sons, who grew up in a Tory family. As the American Revolution begins, Tim's older brother, Sam, decides to join up with the Rebels to fight against the British, setting into motion a series of events that ultimately culminates in his death. Tim comes of age during this time, as he is required to take on more and more responsibility as the horrors of war move closer and closer to his own doorstep.

This book is interesting mainly because it is does not strictly align itself with the point of view of Americans who favor the Revolution, but focuses instead on a family who is perfectly content to live under British rule. Showing how the war made enemies not just of British rulers, but of British subjects living on would-be American soil, is a powerful way to drive home the ugliness of war, and it will certainly be eye-opening for kids who have been taught about the Revolution only from the Rebel point of view. Equally eye-opening are the ways the Tory characters are forced to suffer the violence of the Rebel troops, even when they are not violent themselves. This book gives a much broader picture of what America was like during the Revolution than many other books of its type.

Another selling point for this book is that the characters speak primarily in modern parlance. The language does not sound "old-fashioned" and in particular the way the brothers interact with each other feels very true to what contemporary kids are probably used to with their own siblings. (The realism of these exchanges might also be connected to the fact that the authors are themselves brothers.) While the contemporary language is somewhat jarring, after reading books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Blood on the River, it does make for quick and easy reading, and it will help kids engage more readily with the subject matter.

Because of the anti-war sentiments, and the Tory point of view, this is probably not the most balanced view of the Revolutionary War, but coupled with a book representing the Rebel ideology, it would make a great addition to a lesson on early America. There is plenty of adventure and excitement to keep even reluctant history students hooked on the story, and the ending, though obvious from the title, still manages to surprise the reader with a few unexpected events.

5 Things I Love About The Bear and the Books

On our way north to New York last week, my husband and I and Little Miss Muffet made a stop at a lovely little bookstore in Hopewell, New Jersey called The Bear and the Books. We really enjoyed our visit, and I want to recommend stopping by if you happen to be in the area. Here are the five things I loved most about the store.

1. Focus on kids' books. I haven't been to too many bookstores which are solely focused on children's books, so this was a real treat. There was no wandering around trying to find the children's section, and I didn't have to worry about Miss Muffet wandering off into adult romance and bothering customers who were trying to browse in peace. Being surrounded by children's books on all four walls made me feel very at home, and it made me feel comfortable coming into the store with a toddler.
   
2. Great selection. The shelves of the shop were filled with so many great titles, most of which I knew, but some of which were unfamiliar. I had the impression, just from browsing the shelves, that each book had been chosen very carefully and very specifically, with the hope that just the right reader would find it. Not every book was necessarily an award winner, or even a book I would suggest, but there was much less fluff than the average bookstore carries, and a real sense of respect for the child reader as someone who is worthy of great stories. (I was also thrilled to see one of William Bee's Stanley books!)
   
3. Friendly and knowledgeable owner. The owner of the store, Bobbie Fishman, was everything you'd want in a bookstore owner. She was welcoming, asking us about where we were from and wondering what Miss Muffet likes to read. We talked about Mr. Gumpy and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, as well as Richard Scarry and nursery rhymes. I could tell instantly that we were speaking the same language when it came to books, and that if I had needed a recommendation, she could have given me a great one (or ten!) It was obvious that she had a strong knowledge not just of the new and popular books, but of the tried and true favorites as well, and when she spoke of ordering books, I could tell she took great care with her work.
   
4. Interesting displays.The window displays were fabulous! Books faced out toward the street as well as in toward shopping customers, and they included many interesting titles, some of which were known to me, and others of which I did not recognize but was happy to discover. The books were grouped thematically (many were about elephants) and they caught my attention right away, and repeatedly throughout our visit. Unlike Barnes & Noble, where displays usually focus on the newest and most popular materials, this was a display that had clearly been put together by a thoughtful person who wanted to highlight great books, regardless of how well known they were.
   
5. Child-friendly environment. We take Miss Muffet to a lot of bookstores, and they vary in terms of how friendly they really are toward child visitors. This one is definitely one of the most welcoming toward kids. There were toys for Miss Muffet to play with, and board books were at her eye level so she could easily see what was available. The owner spoke to her as well as to us, treating her as her own little personality with unique interests and abilities. The only drawback to the welcoming environment is that Miss Muffet didn't want to leave and we had to drag her out in tears.
   

The Bear and the Books is located at 45 West Broad Street Hopewell, New Jersey. The store's hours are available on its website, along with contact information. You can also see a photo of the inside of the store, as well as an image of the sweet and simple sign which hangs outside the door. If you are passing through - or if you are lucky enough to live locally - this is a great place for children's book lover to visit with kids, or on their own.

Why I Won't Read Go Set a Watchman

To Kill A Mockingbird was the best book I read in all four years of high school, and for years afterward, it was the title I gave when I was asked to name my favorite book. (Now I usually name a children's book because that is primarily what I read, but To Kill a Mockingbird is still among my favorite novels for grown-ups, and it's still my answer when "serious" grown-ups are the ones posing the question.) Despite my love for the novel, however, I could not be less interested in Go Set a Watchman, which comes out today, and I do not plan to read it. There are four main reasons:

1. I am still suspicious of the circumstances under which this book is being published. I have always admired Harper Lee for her willingness to walk away after writing just one great book, and I find it hard to believe that she is suddenly interested in having the public read what is essentially a rough draft of her beloved classic. It strikes me as suspicious that this decision came about only after Lee's sister died, and during a time when she is living in an assisted living facility. It doesn't sit right with me, and deep down, I don't think this is what Harper Lee truly wants.
2. It was never intended to be a sequel. I've already read several articles talking about how the representation of Atticus in Go Set a Watchman has "ruined" readers' visions of him and caused them to question their devotion to his character. My response is that of course it has! Go Set a Watchman is not a continuation of To Kill A Mockingbird; it's essentially the writing exercise that led to To Kill a Mockingbird. I might be interested in a true sequel, but this is not that. I don't want to know what might have been. I appreciate To Kill a Mockingbird as it was originally published.
3. It is a guaranteed disappointment. There is absolutely no way a second Harper Lee book published 55 years after the first can live up to the anticipation and hype surrounding it. Even if I found that I kind of liked Go Set a Watchman, it would still be a let-down compared with To Kill a Mockingbird. Why set myself up? There are plenty of other books for me to enjoy.
4. Ignorance is bliss. If Go Set a Watchman is going to ruin To Kill a Mockingbird for me, or if there is some revelation about a character that would forever change my reading of the original novel, I am better off not knowing anything about it at all. There is nothing about To Kill a Mockingbird that leaves me feeling unsatisfied or that I have been deprived of a proper resolution. I think, for true fans of the classic novel, Go Set a Watchman is a can of worms best left unopened. 

Reading Through History: The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter (1953)

The Light in the Forest is a novel which was assigned to me as a seventh grader in the mid-1990s, and which I always remembered fondly as being one of the books I was forced to read in school that I actually enjoyed. When John Butler was four years old, he was kidnapped from his white family and adopted into the Lenni Lenape tribe, where he was given the name True Son. At age fifteen in 1764, he is now being forced to return to his birth parents' home, where he is expected to immediately adopt the white lifestyle. This is a struggle for True Son, who wants nothing more than to return to his Indian parents and the freedom he associates with tribal life.

I have to confess that I can't figure out why I liked this book so much as a twelve-year-old. Though the premise of the story is intriguing from a psychological perspective, the writing seems much more dry to me than I remember. I can see why the themes in the story - alienation, isolation, identity, and finding one's place - would be appealing to a middle school audience, and I'm sure this is why the book was assigned to begin with, but I don't see what would have made it stand out as such an interesting book to me personally. As an adult, I didn't really connect with the characters at all, and I found it a struggle to finish to the end.

From an educational perspective, this book does provide important details about the differences between the Indian way of life and the white way of life, and about the impact each culture had on the other during the early days of the United States. It is a logical choice to include in American History lessons for middle schoolers, as it provides an emotional way to connect with the subject matter. I think I like Elisa Carbone's Blood on the River slightly better, especially because its characters are based on real people, and the story provides a broader view of the time period, but this is a matter of personal preference more than a statement about the quality of either book.

Reading Through History: King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry (1948)

King of the Wind, is the fictional biography of Sham, the horse which will come to be known as the Godolphin Arabian, and his master, Agba, a mute orphan, whose loyalty to his horse never wavers despite serious hardships.

I had a really hard time getting into this book on my own, and I wound up relying heavily on the audiobook, read by David McCallum, to get me through most of the story. I am not interested in horses - or animals, really - so reading a book about a horse where the human main character doesn't even speak felt somewhat tedious to me. Hearing the language in the voice of an actor really helped me appreciate the value in the book, despite my own lack of interest in the subject matter.

Marguerite Henry truly has a gift for writing detailed descriptions that convey strong emotions. She is also a very economical writer, giving the reader only those scenes which truly add something to the plot. She handles time well, jumping forward in large chunks as needed to keep the story flowing, and her characters, even those who appear only briefly, have memorable traits that make them easy to get to know. This is especially true of Agba, whose "voice" is very strong despite his physical inability to speak.

There is some general historical value in this book. The reader is able to see what life was like in 1724 Morocco, as well as France during the reign of Louis XV. Like Adam of the Road, it focuses on a journey, so readers are able to meet people from many different walks of life and get a taste for how they lived. First and foremost, though, this is a story about a boy and a horse, and its primary audience is always going to be kids who love horses.  I would certainly not disapprove if my kids want to enjoy it for pleasure reading - it is a Newbery winner, after all -  but it doesn't seem like it will be a strong part of my homeschooling curriculum beyond that.

Book Review: Sprout Street Neighbors: Five Stories by Anna Alter (2015)

In five illustrated episodes, this new beginning chapter book introduces the residents of the apartment building at 24 Sprout Street. Readers meet introverted mouse Henry, sweet squirrel Emma, self-conscious rabbit Fernando, artistic chicken Violet, and nature-loving cat Wilbur. Each story places one of these characters at the center of a problem which the other neighbors help to resolve using their unique skills and their empathy for one another's difficulties.

This is an ideal book about friendship for both preschool and early elementary audiences. For younger kids, it is an engaging read-aloud, filled with lots of interesting personalities that come to life through lively dialogue. For newly independent readers, it presents some challenging vocabulary (bougainvillea, marzipan, papier-mache, stupendous, enormous, etc.), but overall, it is a great bridge book between easy readers and novels, especially for kids who have enjoyed and outgrown series like High Rise Private Eyes, Poppleton, Frog and Toad, and Oliver and Amanda Pig. For both age groups, it provides insight into how to be a true friend in times of trouble, and it demonstrates the way in which each member of a community is able to contribute something to the greater good.

Few beginning chapter books are set in apartment buildings, so it is great to see something new and different, and the setting and format of the book work well together to help readers feel the neighborly camaraderie that exists among the characters. The inclusion of common household problems, such as leaks and noisy neighbors, also engages kids' interest in the happenings of the grown-up world and might even spark a connection between the story and something that has happened in their own homes. For urban kids, especially, it will be neat to see their own living arrangements mirrored in the lives of these animals.

The Sprout Street Neighbors will appeal to parents seeking wholesome reading material for their young readers, as well as to kids, who will fall in love with the characters and eagerly enjoy their funny, surprising, and touching adventures. This book is only the first of what will hopefully become a sizable and beloved series.