Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Zoe, traveling with her family to Nebraska, knows her mother has doubts about moving to an unsettled territory, but her father is unable to provide for them back in Illinois… Bunting’s spare text gives just enough detail to evoke the feelings these settlers must have experienced, leaving the reader with the desire to learn more about this piece of American history.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. The Plymouth Thanksgiving is a readable, straightforward retelling of the events leading up to the American Thanksgiving, targeted for readers ages 4-8. Based on William Bradford’s diary, it tells the story of the Plymouth settlers in their difficult journey, first to Holland and then to the New World, and of their struggle to survive their first year in Massachusetts…. It’s a fine addition to the holiday reading basket.

Age 04-08. It is important to acknowledge that while Thanksgiving symbolizes a young America’s hope and potential, it also commemorates the beginning of colonization, an event which meant grief and destruction for the original inhabitants of our country… [this story] emphasizes the sovereign, redemptive plan of God through Squanto’s personal suffering, and Squanto’s ability to do good in the midst of tragic circumstances. This is a hero worth emulating, and a perspective on Thanksgiving that should not be missed.

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 04-08. 4 Stars. This wonderful book tells the story of William Tell in songlike rhyming text, with watercolor illustrations… The text is well written, and the artwork, while not artistically spectacular, is pleasing and full of period detail. It’s best for children who are old enough to understand that Tell’s son was in real danger of death, without being traumatized by the knowledge.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. This unusual story combines the drama of bereavement with comedic humor. Young children will enjoy the way Babar takes on human characteristics as he puts on his suit, and spreads the human influence of civilization to the entire elephant “people.” Although he is shown grieving for the life he has lost, the evil that brought about his orphanhood is counterbalanced by the Old Lady’s kindness, and his story is suffused with expectant hope. His traumatic bereavement remains a part of him, but it does not prevent him from bettering himself, helping others, marrying Celeste, and building a royal family together.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. The Hobbit, like The Chronicles of Narnia, defines the standard for fantasy literature for children…. Tolkien’s works have attained classic status through their excellent story quality, deeply coherent story world, and a perceptive eye toward human nature. Christian thinkers especially appreciate that Tolkien’s stories, while not allegorical, are firmly rooted in a Christian view of the world.

Age 08-12. 4 Stars. The Wild Children is a well-written story about orphans in the Soviet Union near the time of the Bolshevik Revolution in the 1920s, who are faced with a choice between cold and hunger in an orphanage, or cold and hunger on the streets. Upon awakening in his home to find that his family has disappeared, twelve-year-old Alex flees the authorities with the help of his teacher and eventually joins a gang of street children…. This survival story is fictional, but it portrays the universal plight of orphans across the world while also capturing a period of Soviet history that is not well known. If your children are ready for this kind of story, it can help to cultivate compassion in them as well as faith in God, who is the Father to the fatherless.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. This is a masterfully crafted science-fiction fantasy about a widowed mouse and her young family, who live on the edge of hunger at the Fitzgibbon farm…. she discovers that an advanced rat society exists under cover of the rosebush. The rats have escaped from a place called NIMH (the National Institute for Mental Health) and are planning to end their parasitic existence on the farm, where they use the Fitzgibbons’ electricity and other resources. Their plans are disrupted by the coming of representatives from NIMH, who have been trying to recapture them since their escape…. A great science fiction premise, convincingly anthropomorphized animals, several heroic characters, a strong tenor of loyalty, friendship and family, all combine under the pen of a skillful writer to make an unforgettable story.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. Swimmy’s courage and leadership, the teamwork and cooperation of the small fish, and the creativity with which they solve their problem, combine to make a satisfying story. The predatory behavior of the bigger fish is presented neutrally, as neither good nor evil — and since fish are less easy to identify with than other kinds of animals, the loss of Swimmy’s family isn’t too traumatic. Still, sensitive children may have trouble with this story’s beginning, so parents may want to use caution.