HONORING HOLIDAYS WITHOUT USING LESSON PLANS HOW DO I HONOR A HOLIDAY WITHOUT USING LESSON PLANS? Sometimes certain stages of life are too busy to plan a lesson around a holiday. My quick fix? Fill a basket with books about the holiday Give the kids/teens a set amount of time to choose books and read from the basket during the day. Let them know they will be sharing facts they found interesting at the supper table with the rest of the family. (You can set an amount of facts based on age/ability, or you can see what your child naturally gravitates to.)

HALLOWE'EN PARTY by Agatha Christie I thought I had read all the Agatha Christies. I thought I owned all of them. Recently, I saw this one in a bookstore, and for once, I did the responsible thing. I went home to see if I had it, found I did not, and purchased it. If I thought And Then There Were None was a bit spine tingling, Hallowe'en party takes us to the next level. In general, I am not a horror person and we don't do Halloween at our house. (We do a Night of Light instead for anyone who cares.) So for me typically, a book with Halloween in the title wouldn't have much of a chance coming home with me, but slap Agatha Christie's name on it, and it's game on! In the middle of a Halloween party thrown for local teens, Joyce, a seriously annoying thirteen-year-old, blurts out the statement that she once witnessed a murder. She just didn't realize what it was until recently. Since she is known to be a liar, everyone blows her off and goes about the party. It's not until she's found dead with her head in the bobbing for apples bucket, that it is considered that this time she might have actually told the truth and someone wants her quiet. Thus, the stage is set for Hercule Poirot to unravel what Joyce possibly could have seen a few years ago and who was responsible for that murder and now Joyce's as well. Agatha Christie does a fantastic job of keeping us on the edge of our seats until the big reveal. HEADS UP- Obviously, a child dies. Later a second one does as well. There is some discussion of ritual killing and spiritual things in the end, SPOILER ALERT but it's good old fashioned greed that is the ultimate motive.

THE LIBRARY OF CURIOSITIES by Jenny Lundquist Rowan Fitzgerald has just been kicked out of another boarding school for breaking the rules. This time her grandfather isn't immediately enrolling her into a new one. He's bringing her to Fitzgerald Manor, his home. It's time she learned about her heritage. She's never been there despite her grandfather becoming her guardian after the drowning accident of her parents years ago. When she arrives she discovers her grandfather's house isn't a typical home. It houses a massive library but not just any library. There are no books here. Instead it is filled with Curiosities, items that contain just a bit of magic. People come and check them out, use them, and then return them. Items such as a key that can mold itself to fit any lock, a camera that takes a picture of what something will look like seven days in the future, and so on are found among the vast collection. There's a problem. Curiosities are disappearing, not from patrons but internally. But that's not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is a magician named Silverjack. His name is spoken in feared whispers. Rowan discovers that there is a history that stretches back in time between Silverjack and her family that she is not being told. Somehow, Silverjack is holding her grandfather responsible for something that happened in the past, and his patience is wearing thin. Overall, I really enjoyed The Library of Curiosities. There is a book two already in the works, and it's one I'll be watching for! HEADS UP- There is an element of magic in the story that is wrapped into the curiosities. Because of this, the book has more of a feeling of a science magic than a witchy magic if that makes sense. There is a talking cat. Silverjack is definitely an antagonist bent on revenge and there is a slight air of creepiness around him.

THE LEAF THIEF by Alice Hemming. Illustrated by Nicola Slater. One of you wonderful members recommended this super fun picture book to me! I added it to my order and am so glad I did! This is another great example of a picture book that was published in the UK first, and then here. If you have little ones at home and you're on the hunt for a humorous, fall book with just a tad bit of a science lesson mixed in, this one is for you! Squirrel is in a panic! He is convinced that there is a thief about stealing all of his beautiful fall leaves. He starts noticing his neighbor animals with their leaves, and he asks if they've taken them from him. He finally makes his way to Bird who shows him who the real Leaf Thief is! You'll want to check out the end pages of the book that give some great facts about fall! Illustrator Nicola Slater gives us the perfect artistic rendition of an overactive, slightly-crazed squirrel in The Leaf Thief. It's not hard to imagine a squirrel flipping out, and the hurried, jerky movements that would follow the intense searching. Slater captures this perfectly! Highly recommend!

THE CAPTIVE KINGDOM (BOOK 4 OF THE ASCENDANCE SERIES) by Jennifer A. Nielsen Now that King Jaron thinks everything is peaceful in Carthya, and he prepares to settle down into the life of ruling his kingdom, he is kidnapped and taken prisoner. Just when it seems things couldn't possibly be more unthinkable, aboard his captors' ship, the crown and sword of his dead brother, Darius, are found. Darius, the one who was supposed to be crowned king in the first place There is a deep game at play here. The question is, who is pulling the strings? Is it possible, at the heart of it all, his brother could still be alive? There is some fantastic plot twists in The Captive Kingdom. The underlying story will continue to keep readers on their toes.**LIGHT SPOILER ALERT** However, this is my least favorite of the series, because of the falling apart of some friendships. There is a bit of feeling of "been there, done that," and a couple of silent begs to Nielsen that she please not make us go down that road again. All things wash out all right in the end, but it can be a tad annoying when you want to stick to the storyline. In spite of this, I'm still making it one of my TOP PICKS, because the squeaky clean series is so good!

SEASONS: A YEAR IN NATURE by Hannah Pang. Illustrated by Clover Robin. As we step into a new season and watch the changes transform the landscape all around us, it's easy to assume that this is what seasons look like in other countries around the world. Hannah Pang 's book, Seasons, helps us to get a better understanding of what the changes actually look like in 6 different areas around the globe: Europe, Arctic, Alaska, Australia, China, and Kenya. Some of these places have 4 seasons, some have a winter and summer, and some have a dry and wet. Each area has a stairstep styled set of pictures that show a completed image portraying the area in all of its seasons. (See the picture below in the comments.) Every season has animals featured that would be spotted during the season. The artwork is gorgeous! You can almost always spot right away a book originally published in England. There's just something about the colors, the paper, literally the lushness of it. SEASONS is no exception. Highly recommend!

PATIENCE: A SLOW DOWN BOOK by Rachel Williams. Illustrated by Leonie Lord. In a world traveling at breakneck speed, Rachel Williams brings us a book that reminds us of all the good things in life that take time. They can't be rushed no matter how much we might try and push. Starting with the amount of beats our hearts make in a minute and working through 17 different topics, gradually increasing the time that each topic takes to reach completion, we end with the life cycle of the Galapagos giant tortoise at 100 years. Patience causes us to slow down. Covering topics such as the completion of a dragonfly's metamorphosis, a grizzly bear's hibernation, the formation of a coral reef, etc, each topic helps us see that "good things come to those who wait." Patience is a 77 page "meaty" picture book. With four pages dedicated to each topic, the first two pages timeline the topic from start to finish. The next two pages put the topic in its natural surroundings. It expands on what type of things are going on around the topic and other facts about it. Leonie Lord's artwork matches the subject of the book perfectly. Focusing on each topic, the illustrations include pictures of children slowing down and enjoying the beauty and wonder of nature. Completed in muted tones, there is a softness to the pictures that is both relaxing and absorbing to the reader!

SONG FOR A WHALE by Lynne Kelly This moving story is one of my TOP PICKS FOR 2025. Iris is a 12-year-old girl who is deaf. Because of this, she really struggles with connecting with her classmates. She lives in isolation despite being surrounded by people. One day, while at school, her teacher introduces the class to a whale that is being left behind by its pod. For some reason, the whale sings at a different pitch than the rest of the whales around it and is rejected because of it. Scientists are trying to figure out what's going on with the whale they have named "Blue 55." Iris wonders if possibly the whale is partially deaf and unable to sing with its pod mates. Understanding the isolation the whale must be feeling, Iris sets out with a plan on how to let the whale know it is heard. This beautiful story is another marvelous accomplishment in literature form of seeing and interacting with individuals with special needs. Just because someone has special needs does not mean that they can't accomplish big feats and make the best of friends. Song for a Whale showcases this brilliantly. Be sure to see the Author's Notes at the end. HEADS UP- Spoiler Alert Iris travels with her grandmother to Alaska to see Blue 55 without her parents knowing. There is some family struggle that is overcome in the course of the story. ALONGSIDE ACTIVITIES- Learn about whales! Choose a species and listen to their songs. Learn about what a "Hertz" is. At what frequency do the whales that you chose sing? Learn about sign language. Consider learning a few basic signs.

PAPILIO by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser. PAPILIO is one of my TOP PICKS for 2025. This super fun picture book follows the metamorphosis of a butterfly and is told in three distinct parts each written and illustrated by a different author! The first section follows the hatching of the egg and the caterpillar stage. While on the caterpillar's journey to find food, she befriends a little mouse. Part two continues the story through the chrysalis stage and what's happening inside to our little caterpillar friend. Part three finishes the story with the emerging of our sweet butterfly. She's not used to wings and struggles a bit getting a handle on flying, but before long, her confidence builds and she's on the move. The format for this story makes it very engaging and enjoyable for kids as they learn about this cycle going on all around them. Highly recommend!

ALL AT ONCE UPON A TIME by Mara Rockliff. Illustrated by Gladys Jose. All At Once Upon A Time is a hilarious read for kids that are familiar with lots of fairytale stories. This fun picture book references lots of traditional stories like Rapunzel, Pinocchio, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and more. However, each time you think the book is taking you in the direction of the traditional tale, it throws a curve ball at you and has the characters doing something unexpected. The result is lots of laughs, and who doesn't like a book that gives you a few of those?!

FISH FRY FRIDAY by Winsome BIngham. Illustrated by C.G. Esperanza. Fridays are Fish Fry days at Grandma's house for the whole family, and this time her grandson gets to help out! They get up early and head to Grandma's favorite fishing hole to catch some fish. Back home they batter them up and get ready to fry them, but the grandson notices something is missing - hush puppies. He whips some up and the meal is complete just in time for the relatives to start pouring in. (By the way, the recipe is in the back of the book!) Fish Fry FRIDAY is a beautiful story about the bonds of family and traditions that impact the generations. Beautifully written and tons of fun to read! I would be remiss if I didn't mention the gorgeous artwork in this book. Vivid colors splash across the pages importing excitement and action into each picture. Good luck trying to turn the page without stopping to soak it all in! Absolutely Fantastic!!

DEAR ACORN (LOVE, OAK) by Joyce Sidman. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. While not entirely dedicated to fall, this book of letter poems is going on my fall booklist because of 3 of the selections: the letter poems from Oak to Acorn and back, one from the school to a brick and back, and one from a coat to a button and back. I love a great picture book dedicated to a certain poetry type. This one checks that box. I love to read books like this to all my kids that are home at the time, and then have them write their own poem in that particular style. I jump in as well on the writing, and then we all share. What makes this book fun is the initial letter of one connected thing to another and then the return response. Pair that with Melissa Sweet's fantastic collage-styled artwork. Mix up some whimsy, nature, and children playing and frost it with the element of movement, and you'll have Melissa Sweet's personal style of art. It is wonderful! As a side note: the book contains poems from Bubble and Sky, Cloud and Droplets, Pebble and River, Toes and Child, etc.