Age 04-08. 5 stars. This story, told in the voice of a nine- or ten-year-old boy, tells of his weekly trip to his grandmother’s home… While the mood is somewhat idyllic, the story portrays a timeless relational scene where two family members care for one another in a stable, loving relationship. I especially appreciate the way the boy models cheerful manual work in service of someone else. A wonderful read

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Bobby has grown into mastery of basic motor skills under the affectionate supervision of his grandfather, affectionately named Bob. But one day he is terrified when Bob suffers a stroke and is fully paralyzed… Bobby (who is not a perfect child) models what it means to take care of others — even those who may have always taken the helping role toward him. While sometimes frightening, the story’s drama may help young children come to terms with the limitations of people in their lives and teaches them that they can have an important helping role. In the midst of fear and weakness, this picture of tender intergenerational love is very beautiful.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. De Angeli captures a little of the flavor of Pennsylvania Dutch language along with many details of everyday life. Her characters are appealing, the family is warmly loving, and the story itself is full of excitement and danger. It will appeal to both boys and girls, but especially boys. It contains more prose than most picture books and is a perfect fit for children who are just transitioning into chapter books.

Age 04-08. 4 stars. These stories are based on the real workings of a British rail yard, and they center around the activities of Thomas the Tank Engine, who is likable, hard-working and often cheeky. He and his friends the other engines have distinct personalities, and many of their adventures and conflicts hinge on character flaws and lessons learned through mistakes. Although sometimes heavy-handed, Awdry’s well-written stories illustrate the consequences of pride, self-importance and foolishness as well as the importance of friendship and respect….. While all children who like trains ought to enjoy them, these stories will probably have a special appeal to young boys.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Children who have enjoyed Charlotte’s Web and James Herriot’s Treasury for Children will love this story, which is exceptionally well written with humor, pathos, and drama… The characters are wonderfully drawn, and Babe exemplifies loyalty, courage, determination, and courtesy… An outstanding read.

Age 12-16. 5 Stars. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy continues the story begun in The Hobbit and more fully develops the world of Middle Earth. In this epic saga, ordinary beings must use their small gifts in a struggle against great evil…. This work has becoming a defining influence in the genre in fantasy literature, and none of the works that came after it have matched it for its marvelous use of language, the deep coherency of the fantasy world, and the epic themes which propel the story to its climactic finish. Christian readers have long appreciated the way in which Tolkien’s stories express his Christian view of reality.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. Travis Coates is a 14-year-old boy, left alone to protect his mother and younger brother on his family’s 19th-century Texas homestead…. [He performs] an extraordinary act of moral courage, but it comes at the end of a story filled with ordinary acts of responsibility. In this outstanding coming-of-age story, Travis’s manhood is achieved at great cost, and in this cost he proves his worth as a man.

Age 00-06. 5 Stars. This is a beautiful and unusual story about a mother’s unconditional love for her child throughout his life. It begins with her holding her new baby and singing a lullaby…. It is a beautiful tribute to the security that loving parents provide for their children…. The story also portrays an example of maturity, gratitude, and growth into responsibility: the boy becomes the one to nurture his mother at the end of her life, and he passes on the gift of love to his daughter, by singing the same song. This picture of healthy, intergenerational security is to be prized, and it is unusual to find a picture book that casts a vision for maturity and parenting for readers of this age…. The appeal of this story extends across generations and cultural boundaries.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis is one of the definitive works of children’s fantasy literature that still influences the imagination of our present culture…. [It] begins when the Pevensies, a family of British children, stumble upon the doorway to a magical kingdom called Narnia, wherein they are called upon to oppose evil forces… The world is populated with dryads, unicorns, and large talking Beasts as well as humans, and the ruler of this world is Aslan, the great lion. … Narnia has had a resounding impact on the fantasy of our present time, and there is still a lively discussion among scholars and other thinkers about the profound themes of Lewis’s vision.

Age 04-08. 3 Stars. This is the story of Libby Mitchell, a young European-American girl in Michigan during the mid-1800’s, whose best friend is Potawatomi. When other settlers become jealous the Potawatomi’s wealth, they force them to leave their ancestral lands. Because she is visiting her friend when this occurs, Libby is accidentally taken away with the tribe… Historical events are basically accurate, and the danger is exciting without being overwhelming to younger readers. The Mitchell family, particularly Libby’s father, evidence strong interfamily relationships and genuine friendship with the Potawatomi family. This would make a nice addition to a home library, or at least a good supplement for a history lesson.