I had fairly high expectations for this book, and was not at all disappointed with The Giver after reading it as an adult. Lois Lowry's world-building is both subtle and thorough, creating a believable futuristic community in which the seemingly trouble-free lives of the inhabitants are tightly controlled. Everything seems harmonious at first glance, but there are cracks of course, and Jonas, the main character, finds that his eventual "assignment" involves learning about some of the more unpleasant aspects of life, so that those around him don't have to.

He has to decide what to do with his new-found knowledge, especially when the life of a child hangs in the balance. I found it to be a very compelling, layered story -- though I would definitely recommend it more to young adults and adults than middle grade even though it won the Newbery Medal (due to some violence and thematic elements).

It was another sixteen years before this became a series and Gathering Blue was published. I liked this one too, also for the similarly intriguing world-building (in a different location than Jonas's), but while I loved the characters and most of the story, I thought the plot was ultimately a bit anti-climactic. Still, the introductions to the characters and place are important for the rest of the series.

Next is The Messenger which is set in the same place as Gathering Blue (with a different main character), but helps to widen the scope of the series' world. This one is bleaker than the last, with a sad ending, but I still really liked it.

The last book, Son, is my favorite of the sequels (though I would recommend all of them) as it gradually ties all the threads of the different locations of the world together (and introduces a new one), with a good mix of new characters without forgetting the familiar ones. The characters show love and determination, and experience a wide range of difficulties and triumphs by the end.

Scrounged From: PaperbackSwap.com and our local flea market

We really enjoyed Mary Ann Hoberman's clever rhyming story The Seven Silly Eaters (see my review here), and so I wasn't surprised that we also enjoyed her book of poetry for children, The Llama Who Had No Pajama.

Many of the poems contained in this book also contain elements of humor (as the title probably implies), but some also teach a little bit about nature (animals are a very common theme here) or involve relatable aspects of life for children (birthdays, growth, size comparisons, etc.) 

Overall this is a great way to introduce children to the variety, perspectives, and humor of poetry. We read this over the course of a kindergarten school year, but it should appeal just as much to other elementary ages, as some of the vocabulary might be a bit beyond a five-year-old -- but even so, this is a very fun way to learn new words!

Scrounged From: HomeschoolClassifieds.com (Sonlight Core A)

Format: Hardcover
Author: Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrator: Betty Fraser
Pages: 68
Content Advisory: None

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A Seed Is Sleepy is a wonderful nonfiction picture book that introduces children to the wonder of seeds. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, and the text manages to include important information in a way that is meditative and celebratory, without becoming too wordy or clinical.

The book covers seeds of all different sizes and types, and emphasizes the different ways seeds find to spread themselves out in order to germinate in new places. The process of germination is covered as well, and one of the most fascinating parts was a page that mentioned a seed from an extinct date palm tree that germinated after being preseved for over one thousand years!

Even though the book is poetic and quick to read, I still came away from it feeling like a lot of aspects of seeds had been covered, and was impressed again at the utter variety of seeds in the world. I'm looking forward to reading more from this series.

Scrounged From: Amazon

Format: Paperback
Author: Dianna Aston
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Pages: 40
Content Advisory: None

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I really enjoyed the soft and colorful illustrations in Joy even before reading the story, but I loved the story itself just as much. 

Fern's Nanna has been acting tired and less energetic lately -- it seems the joy has gone out of her life. Without getting into all the "adulty" explanations about aging and mental health, we simply watch Fern as she tries to physically capture joy in her determined, child-like way. As the reader likely expects, this doesn't work, so Fern tells her Nanna about her troubles. She learns that she can help bring joy to her Nanna by just being herself.

I loved the sweetness and concern that Fern displays for her Nanna, and that in the end, even though she can't fix all of her Nanna's problems (which aren't explained here), she can still help her to experience some joy in the midst of hardship. A very sweet and encouraging book.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)

Scrounged From: NetGalley

Format: Kindle
Author: Corrinne Averiss
Illustrator: Isabelle Follath
Pages: 32
Content Advisory: None

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James Herriot is unparalleled when it comes to stories of domesticated animals -- whether dogs and cats in homes or various farm animals -- and his keen observations and clear love and respect for animals.

While the stories in James Herriot's Treasury for Children are fictional, all of them feel to me as if they easily could be true, and no doubt he drew heavily on his veterinary experiences in describing these unique animals and their amusing and tender escapades. 

Herriot manages to capture the human-animal bond, even with farm animals, evoking compassion, joy, and sometimes sadness, without sentimentalizing or emotionally manipulating the reader.

I grew up reading "Oscar, Cat-about-Town" and "The Christmas Day Kitten," both of which are included here, and was also introduced to some new favorites, such as "Blossom Comes Home" and "Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb." The illustrations perfectly capture the animals, people, and the views of the beautiful British countryside.

Because Herriot is British and uses some words that might be unfamiliar to American children (or perhaps it's a generational thing as well), and at times can be a bit wordy, some of these stories will probably lose the interest of preschoolers. But it's worth hanging on and trying them again later, because the best animal stories are really for all ages and have no need to be written off as "for little kids."

Scrounged From: HomeschoolClassifieds.com (Sonlight Core A)

Format: Hardcover
Author: James Herriot
Illustrators: Ruth Brown, Peter Barrett
Pages: 260
Content Advisory: As noted, a few stories are a bit sad.

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