classic Archives

A Tribute to the Late, Great Children’s Author Beverly Cleary

March 29, 2021

Like many others in the past week, I’m writing to pay my respects to the late, great Beverly Cleary. Before becoming one of the foremost authors of children’s fiction, Cleary was a children’s librarian. Becaus...

A Brave Heart Triumphs Over Small Stature in The Tale of Despereaux

Bambi

October 8, 2020

Children's, Fiction

In my continuing coverage of spirited rodents who capture the hearts of humans, today we have Newberry Medal Award winner, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Set primarily in a medieval castle, the roya...

Rascally Rodent Seeks the Open Road in Ralph S. Mouse

Bambi

October 5, 2020

Children's, Fiction

A couple of months ago, we added a new pet to our family. We’d made a deal with our son that if he was able to keep a small garden alive for the summer, then he would be allowed to get his first ‘solo pet’, a ...

A Worthy Sequel Reunites Readers with the Fire-Breathing Fafnyr in Return of the Dragon

Bambi

September 25, 2020

Children's, Fiction

As promised, I’m back with a review of the sequel to The Dragon of Lonely Island by Rebecca Rupp. This installment is called Return of the Dragon and though it was published seven years later, in the story not...

Adventure Soars to New Heights in The Dragon of Lonely Island

Bambi

September 22, 2020

Children's, Fiction

So, let’s just start with some real talk. This is a hard time to be a parent, am I right? At this point, most of us have been cooped up at home with our families, to the extent that work and other obligations ...

A Classic Series So Good it Requires 3 Reviews – The Ramona Saga, Part 3

Bambi

June 20, 2020

Children's, Fiction

The final installment of reviews for the Ramona series includes the two remaining books. The events of Ramona Forever (1984) take place several months after Ramona Quimby, Age 8 ends. The book begins with Beez...

A Classic Series So Good it Requires 3 Reviews – The Ramona Saga, Part 2

Bambi

June 6, 2020

Children's, Fiction

This second grouping of books from the Ramona series begins with what I feel is a shift in the types of challenges our young protagonist faces. In 1977, Ramona and Her Father debuted. This installment in the s...

A Classic Series So Good it Requires 3 Reviews – The Ramona Saga, Part 1

Bambi

May 23, 2020

Children's, Fiction

I don’t usually split book series into different entries but once I starting writing, I ended up with a VERY long article. It became clear that a series this iconic is worthy of not just two, but three separat...

Chart a Course for Adventure with My Side of the Mountain

Bambi

April 11, 2020

Children's, Fiction

My 8 year old son is obsessed with the idea of living on his own in the wilds. He often talks about how he wishes he could live in the woods and hunt his own food. This coming from a boy who has never hunted a...

Bring Imagination (and Plastic Figures) to Life with The Indian in the Cupboard

Bambi

November 2, 2019

Children's, Fiction

My second suggestion for adventurous books for boys aged 7-9 is another older choice, The Indian in the Cupboard. Right away, just by the use of the word ‘Indian’ we know that this book will provide many oppor...