Annie Rose is My Little Sister

Annie Rose Is My Little Sister by Shirley Hughes.
This is just one of many books by this author that we enjoy. What I particularly like is the attitude of the brother and sister. It gets to be a bit tiresome to read about siblings not liking each other. Rather Shirly Hughes presents a far better and more realistic picture. Loving patience by the older brother is beautifully expressed in this story.

Picture Books with violins

Mole Music by David McPhail.

Mole spends his life digging tunnels, but he feels he is missing something, until one day he sees a man playing a violin on TV.  Mole thinks the man plays the most beautiful music he ever heard and wants to play beautiful music too.  Mole then sends away for a violin and when it arrives practices faithfully.  At first it does not sound very good, but he keeps on trying.  In the end, his beautiful music not only inspires himself, but others as well.

The Bat Boy And His Violin (Aladdin Picture Books) by Gavin Curtis.

While most boys would rather play baseball, than play an instrument, let alone a violin, not Reginald. In the end, his violin playing inspires the team his father manages.



Bravo, Ernest and Celestine! by Gabrielle Vincent

Ernest is unhappy.  The roof leaks.  How will he pay for it?  Celestine devises a clever plan that involves Ernest dusting off his violin, practicing, and performing.  But somehow, that is not enough.  Celestine joins in the act with her lovely voice.

 Rosie's Fiddle by Phyllis Root 

When the devil comes to Rosie's door, she enters into a fiddling duel with the devil himself. Has Rosie gone too far?

Elsie's Bird

Elsie's Bird by Jane Yolen, illus. by David Small, 2010.

After her mother dies, Elsie's father takes her on an adventure to the great, vast plains of the west. This is quite the dramatic change from Boston, a big city by the ocean. A lovely story about a sweet, little girl.

First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy

First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick, 2007.

The photos are gorgeous! Just breathtaking! Although the text can be poetic at time, the story is only mediocre. For one thing, animals are not human and do not reason. The pictures are definitely worth looking at.

The Doll People series

The Doll People by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin.








The Meanest Doll in the World by Ann M. Martin, Laura Godwin, and Brian Selznick








The Runaway Dolls (The Doll People) by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin.









The girls (10 and 13) have been listening to this series on audiobook CD. The links do not match. We have been fortunate enough to get them from the library. Lynn Redgrave does a wonderful job of bringing to life the story. The recording can be found on Listening Library. The stories include plenty of drama, excitement, and adventure.