Mother Goose
Eulalie Grover

Many believe there is no need for Mother Goose books any more, or that nursery rhymes are outdated. As a result, children are beginning school without the ability to rhyme. This important skill is a major building block in reading development. This book would make a great toddler gift. Nursery rhymes are the perfect length to begin reading before bedtime and can be continued the next evening. The illustrations are beautifully done.

—Pam

 

Margaret and the Moon
Dean Robbins

Margaret Hamilton was a girl before her time. She loved math and space as a child. This propelled her to a job of writing code for computer, during a time of space exploration. She was able to work in NASA at a time when it was unusual for a woman. Due to her abilities, we saw the success of the Apollo 8, 9, 10, and 11 missions. This inspiring book is a reminder, especially to our girls, to follow your dreams. It’s for children ages 4 to 8.

—Pam

Think the book will be made into a movie?

Orphan Island
Laurel Snyder

I'm listening to Orphan Island on libro.fm.

Laurel Synder is one of my favorite kids-lit authors. Orphan Island is much more magical than Snyder's past middle grade books (notably Bigger Than a Breadbox and Penny Dreadful) On Orphan Island, a boat magically appears once a year to deposit a new, young orphan and to whisk away the island's eldest orphan so that the island always is home to nine orphans. This year, Jinny loses her best friend, Deen (the eldest), gains Ess (the newest orphan delivery) and must take up the leadership role of the now-eldest orphan on the island. As always, Snyder has a keen sense of her young characters that will yank your head and heart around in unexpected ways.

—Jen

The Problem with Forever
Jennifer L. Armentrout

Mallory was a foster child who has been adopted but is still traumatized by her past. For the past five years she has been homeschooled, but for her senior year she decides to go to high school and face her biggest fear (talking.) On her first day of school, she runs in to a former friend, Rider, who protected her at one time. They rekindle their friendship and eventually begin dating, but Mallory realized that although she has begun to let go of the past, Rider has not. I liked the way this book dealt with romance as well as serious issues.

Words on Bathroom Walls
Julia Walton

Adam has schizophrenia and suffers from hallucinations. He’s in a medical trial for a drug that may help him and is sent to a new school after an incident at the last school left him afraid that others to find out his secret illness. The drug starts to work and Adam’s hallucinations stop consuming his life, helping him to make friends, and even begin dating. But the drug has no guarantees and the fragile new life that he has created could be destroyed at any time. This book is written as Adam’s journal entries to his shrink; his dry humor and wit make this an enjoyable read while still dealing with a serious mental illness.