January 22, 2009 at 10:00 am (Judaism, ages 10-12, ages 7-9, picture books, religious)
Title: The Keeping Quilt
Author/ Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Simon and Schuster, Inc.
ISBN: 0-671-64963-9
Summary: Patricia tells the history of her own family’s immigration to the United States from Russia by following a beutiful quilt as it is passed from generation to generation.
Butterfly’s notes: I love watching family custom change with the times in this book. The story of the Keeping Quilt always makes me think of my own ancestors and what their stories might have been like. It is particularly nice that the illustrations are all in black and white, but the quilt is alive with colors.
Categories: ages 7-9, ages 10-12, Judaism, picture books, religious
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January 21, 2009 at 3:26 pm (Judaism, ages 10-12, ages 7-9, animal stories, picture books, religious)
Title: Mrs. Katz and Tush
Author/ Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Bantam Books
ISBN: 0-553-08122-5
Summary: Larnel makes friends with the neighborhood widow, Mrs. Katz, by bringing her a kitten to keep her company. They name the kitten Tush, and soon Larnel is visiting often. Mrs. Katz tells him stories of her own personal history, a history of immigration, opression, and Jewish tradition. This is a unique Passover story.
Butterfly’s notes: A good book for learning about immigration and for introducing children to Judiasm. I love the character of Mrs. Katz, she is a lovely old lady!
Categories: ages 7-9, ages 10-12, animal stories, Judaism, picture books, religious
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January 9, 2009 at 11:44 am (ages 7-9, picture books, profound messages, religious)
Title: Chicken Soup for Little Souls: The Braids Girl
Author: Lisa McCourt
Illustrator: Tim Ladwig
Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.
ISBN: 1-55874-554-8
Summary: One Sunday, Izzy goes along to help her grandpa with his volunteer work at the Family Togetherness Home for the poor. There she meets the Braids Girl, a young child living at the home. Izzy wants to help the Braids Girl, but no matter what she gives away, the Braids Girl does not seem happy. Izzy will learn that sometimes the best gift you can give is friendship.
Butterfly’s notes: Izzy comes to see volunteering, or “God’s Work”, as her grandpa calls it, as not a material thing you can give away but a piece of your heart to share with others. This is a wonderful story, especially for those wanting to learn about volunteering.
Categories: ages 7-9, picture books, profound messages, religious
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January 8, 2009 at 8:33 pm (Bible, Christianity, Judaism, Old Testament, ages 4-6, ages 7-9, animal stories, mythology and legends, picture books, religious)
Title: Noah’s Ark
Author: (Retold by) Lawrence T. Lorimer
Illustrator: Charles E. Martin
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0-394-83697-9 (B.C.)
0-394-83861-0 (trade)
0-394-93861-5 (lib. bdg.)
Summary: A re-telling of the story of Noah and the Ark
Butterfly’s notes: Lovingly written, this book has been put together with adorable cartoon-style drawings which make it very enjoyable.
Categories: ages 4-6, ages 7-9, animal stories, Bible, Christianity, Judaism, mythology and legends, Old Testament, picture books, religious
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January 5, 2009 at 9:50 pm (Bible, Christianity, New Testament, ages 7-9, anthologies, funny stories, mythology and legends, picture books, religious)
Title: One-Minute Easter Stories
Author: (Adapted by) Shari Lewis and Lan O’Kun
Illustrator: Pat and Robin DeWitt
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0-358-24960-8
Summary: Very short stories to do with the last days of Jesus, Springtime, and various Easter traditions.
Butterfly’s notes: Most of the stories in this book are decidedly religious, and a few are histories. They are lovely stories told in a short and sweet style.
Categories: ages 7-9, mythology and legends, funny stories, anthologies, picture books, religious, Christianity, Bible, New Testament
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January 5, 2009 at 2:56 pm (ages 7-9, animal stories, mythology and legends, nature, picture books, profound messages, religious)
Title: Special Gifts: In Search of Love and Honor
Author: Dennis L. Olson
Illustrator: John F. McGee
Publisher: NorthWord Press
ISBN: 1-55971-679-7
Summary: The Creator wonders where to put his two special gifts, love and honor, where Two-leggeds won’t use them selfishly. He asks the animals what to do, and they offer different solutions.
Butterfly’s notes: I love seeing all of the different animals in this book and the way they are portrayed. The illustrations are gorgeous and perfectly appropriate for the story.
Categories: ages 7-9, animal stories, mythology and legends, nature, picture books, profound messages, religious
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January 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm (Christianity, ages 10-12, ages 7-9, animal stories, nature, picture books, religious)
Title: Night Tree
Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Ted Rand
Publisher: Voyager Books
ISBN: 0-15-200121-2
Summary: A family goes out into the woods on Christmas Eve to decorate a live Christmas tree.
Butterfly’s notes: Although it is about a Christmas tree, this book isn’t particularly relgious. It is mostly about a walk in the woods at night and about decorating the tree.
Categories: ages 7-9, ages 10-12, animal stories, Christianity, nature, picture books, religious
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January 5, 2009 at 11:47 am (ages 10-12, ages 7-9, nature, picture books, profound messages, religious)
Title: Grandad’s Prayers Of The Earth
Author: Douglas Wood
Illustrator: P. J. Lynch
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0-7636-0660-X
Summary: A young boy takes walks in the woods with his grandfather, and his grandfather teaches him about the prayers of the trees, rocks, streams, and other parts of nature.
Butterfly’s notes: Warning, this book has been proven to bring grown-ups to tears! One of the most beautiful books about prayer, death, and nature ever written. This book is profoundly spiritual, but not specific to any religion.
Categories: ages 7-9, ages 10-12, nature, picture books, profound messages, religious
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January 3, 2009 at 4:59 pm (Bible, Christianity, Judaism, Old Testament, ages 10-12, mythology and legends, picture books, religious)
Title: Esther’s Story
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Juan Wijngaard
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books
ISBN: 0-688-12127-6 (trade)
0-688-12128-4 (library)
Summary: A re-telling of the story of Esther, the Jewish princess who saved her people from execution.
Butterfly’s notes: Beautiful, emotion-filled drawings fill this book, a detailed and complete version of Esther’s story. Esther herself narrates the story, which gives the reader a strong connection to her plight.
Categories: ages 10-12, mythology and legends, picture books, religious, Judaism, Christianity, Old Testament, Bible
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January 2, 2009 at 11:16 pm (Buddhism, ages 10-12, ages 7-9, anthologies, funny stories, picture books, profound messages, religious)
Title: One Hand Clappping: Zen Stories For All Ages
Author: (Selected, adapted, and retold by) Rafe Martin and Manuela Soares
Illustrator: Junko Morimoto
Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.
ISBN: 0-8478-1853-5
Summary: Zen stories that help us realize and understand at once both the simpicity and complexity of life.
Butterfly’s notes: As is the nature of Zen, children (and most adults, for that matter) won’t understand every story, but there are enough loveable, easy-to-understand tales to make this an enjoyable read.
Categories: ages 7-9, ages 10-12, funny stories, profound messages, anthologies, picture books, religious, Buddhism
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