I closed several books during the dark month of December, the dark month that is more festive and bright with celebration than any other—just one of the paradoxes of life. With all the Christmas preparation, I had several books to keep me company and to enhance the enjoyment of the season. This rounds up the… Read More Last Month’s Reading
Where does the year go, we usually wonder. At least part of this past one was spent in reading all kinds of books. I’ve posted those I finished each month through October, and here are those I finished reading in November, but postponed listing because of Advent. I look forward to one more week of… Read More Books at the Finish
Living Books Library wishes you and your children a blessed Christmas. Here are a couple of poems to accompany your last-minute preparations and celebrations. It is the end of the year in the world, and the beginning of the year in the church, a calendar reminder of the truth that “Behold, he makes all things… Read More Fourth Week of Advent
Christmas gifts and Christmas journeys fill our thoughts and days this month. We share this experience with thousands who have gone before, not the least of which was the mother of our Lord, as these poems acknowledge: Mary’s BurdenByEleanor Farjeon My Baby and Burden,Tomorrow the mornI shall go lighterAnd you will be born. I shall… Read More Third Week of Advent
Living Library Press is pleased to announce our newest reprint of a previously out-of-print living book! Rain, Hail, Sleet, and Snow by Nancy Larrick is a living science book for elementary readers. Couples with Nicole Williams’ Living Science Study Guide: Elementary Weather, this book makes for a complete unit on Weather for upper-elementary students.
Perhaps nothing more obviously demonstrates the joy of the Christmas season than the constant presence of music. The contagious joy in the world is felt and mimicked even by the secular celebrations that surround us with songs everywhere we go. Unique to Christmas is its carols, those special songs telling and retelling the joy and… Read More Second Week of Advent
{The Annunciation (1898), Henry Ossawa Tanner} The church calendar is fresh and new and all is anticipation, expectation. The year begins with celebration. Secret gifts are made ready, special messages will be sent, feasting and songs and poetry will fill the season with jubilation. We celebrate by refreshing our remembrance that God came to us… Read More First Week of Advent
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the power the sound of our language has in a child’s life, so I just have to tell you a little story from last library day. As I conversed with a Dad about his plans for formal schooldays in the coming years, he mentioned that he reads… Read More A True Tale from the Library
When I looked at my calendar for October, I cringed. How does someone like me, who valiantly attempts to keep overcommitment at bay, get herself into such a pickle? Nevertheless, commitments are commitments, so I bowed to the burden and took one day at a time. And managed to read a little as I went.… Read More October’s Reading
Grandchild number nine made his entrance into the world a week ago and there is great rejoicing to receive him. I adore all things newborn, all things, but am awestruck afresh each time by their response to the human voice. Naturally, they know their mother’s voice, but when father comes into the room the baby… Read More Listening to Language