RAISING RESILIENT SONS by Colleen Kessler While at the homeschool convention I sat in on a class taught by The Real Moms Tour (Pam Barnhill, Sarah MacKenzie, and Colleen Kessler). I tend to find most of their suggestions good, practical information. I stopped by their booth and picked up a few resources. One of them was Colleen Kessler's Raising Resilient Sons. Kessler's book begins with a peek into her early ideas about raising a boy and how they quickly changed! She desired to raise her son without guns and violence. He could play with trucks and cars and baby dolls, so a soft, caring side would develop. That wasn't quite what ended up happening! (I always appreciate when we establish right out of the gate that there is a clear difference between boys and girls.) This little boy had some thoughts and ideas all his own! Just as I expected there was a lot of practical advice offered. She covers topics like self-control, relationships, and resiliency from young boys to teenagers. There are lots of real-life examples along with scientific studies. Since this book was written during the pandemic, there is a lot dedicated to handling difficult situations and how to walk those times with our sons. This would be a good book on your own or grab a group of moms with a boy (or boys) and start reading!

As I mentioned in a previous post, there were some pretty amazing groups that emerged during the wars. Another one of these groups was the Navajo Code Talkers during WWII. The Japanese were amazing at cracking our codes until Philip Johnston came up with a solution. Johnston had been born to missionaries on a Navajo Indian Reservation, and he knew that if a code were developed based on the Navajo language it would be very difficult to break. Twenty-nine Navajos were chosen to develop the code, but by the end of the war over 400 served with every marine unit as code talkers. These men were not allowed to share with anyone, including their families, what they were doing until twenty-nine years later when it was determined their code was no longer needed. Most of them had grown up being told that they needed to learn English and forget their language, yet it was their language that helped us win the war. Today there is a memorial at Window Rock, Arizona dedicated to these brave men. Left to right - Navajo Code Talkers by Brynn Baker (similar to a DK book), picture book Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code by Joseph Bruchac (there is a little bit about the Navajo's spirituality in this book), and Graphic Library comic book Navajo Code Talkers: Top Secret Messengers of World War II by Blake Hoena.

OUT OF A JAR by Deborah Marcero This is a beautiful picture book for young and old alike. Out of a Jar is the story of a bunny named Llewellyn who doesn't like to share his emotions. Instead when he feels an emotion he takes it and shoves it in a jar and stores it deep down. All of this seems to work until one day he discovers there is no more room to store his emotions and an explosion occurs. This is not just your typical "let kids express their emotions however they want" book. This teaches kids to acknowledge the emotion, share it with others, and let it go. It just approaches emotions in a much more respectful way while still feeling and expressing them. This is a lesson we could all benefit from.

THE JOURNEY THAT SAVED CURIOUS GEORGE: THE TRUE WARTIME ESCAPE OF MARGRET AND H.A. REY by Louise Borden. Illustrated by Allan Drummond. What child doesn't love the antics of Curious George? We have spent countless hours reading and chanting together over and over, " George was a good little monkey but always very curious." So what does Curious George have to do with war? In this remarkable children's book, The Journey That Saved Curious George by Louise Borden, we learn that H.A. and Margret Rey (authors of Curious George) were German born Jews living in Paris during WWII. When the Nazis turned their attention to France the Reys began their escape to the U.S. Even though it looks like a Curious George book this book is not written on a Curious George age level. It is chock full of information, pictures, and well done cartoon illustrations by Allan Drummond. You might be able to read-a-loud in several sittings to a younger elementary age child, but I would say this book would be most appreciated by a mid to upper elementary age child. If your jr. higher or high schooler grew up loving Curious George even they may be fascinated to see what the Reys endured! Alongside Activity- 1. Enjoy reading a Curious George book together! 2.Part of the Reys journey was by bicycle. Take a bike ride together! 3. Trace the route the Reys followed on a map.

SURVIVING HITLER BY Andrea Warren Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren is the true story of fifteen-year-old Jack Mandelbaum. Jack was born into a well-to-do, loving, Jewish family in Poland. Their lives quickly changed due to the Nazis when the Germans occupied Poland. Separated from each other never to be reunited, this amazing man faced horrific hardships but decided to live his life not allowing himself to hate. This book is a testimony to forgiveness in the harshest of situations imaginable. Lots of photographs help to bring even more life to the text. So why the small, blue flowers alongside the book in the picture? They are forget-me-nots. We often think of them with a romantic notion, but in this case I felt that it was applicable to put them alongside this precious book. I will remember! Heads Up- This is not an easy read. It says it is for ages 10 and up, but I would push it up to more like 12 and up unless you have a child that can handle concentration camp violence. I can remember watching my first actual footage from concentration camps in eighth grade history. My teacher in my next period class always knew we had watched these films, because I would come into class as white as a sheet.

JIM ELLIOT: ONE GREAT PURPOSE by Janet and Geoff Benge January 7 was the anniversary of the deaths of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, and Roger Youderian by the hands of the Auca Indians. These brave, missionary men were committed to reaching out to this warrior tribe no matter the cost, and they paid the ultimate price. In doing so the door was opened, and the Aucas were reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I saw a post in January remembering the anniversary I knew it was time to sit down as a family over devotions and retell their story. Jim Elliott by Janet and Geoff Benge does just that. It follows Jim's upbringing, his commitment, and his sacrifice, but it goes on to share about the doors that opened because of this tragedy. True heroes are not sports figures or movie stars or pop singers. True heroes are those that lay down their life for the good of another. We would be wise to keep them in front of our children's eyes.

UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand I read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand a few years ago, and it was a book that touched me deeply. Unbroken is the amazing story of Louie Zamperini. Without giving away too many details of the story, Louie ends up becoming a Japanese POW during WWII. I truly had very little knowledge of the Japanese involvement in WWII other than Pearl Harbor before reading this book. It was horrific. Louie ends up being rescued at the end of the war, but then begins his journey of dealing with PTSD once he returns home. Just when we think that Louie will remain a broken, angry man for the rest of his life we see the faithfulness of the Lord revealed and how He meets us just where we're at. Beautiful!! HEADS UP- As shown in the picture below there is an adult version and a young adult version. There are a lot of disturbing parts in the book since it is a POW story, and the young adult version steps it down a level, but it is still intense. There is a sprinkle of language. Alongside Activity- I cannot vouch for the film, but Angelina Jolie directed and produced the movie version of Unbroken.

Beautiful Feet Books  puts together a gorgeous pack of 5 picture books for Memorial Day. The five books cover a range of topics including how wearing the red poppy came to be, how one pilot dropped candy to children over Germany, how to set "a white table," the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom that happens every Memorial Day in Washington D.C. These moving stories will help each of us pause and think about those who have gone before us to give us the freedoms we enjoy today! The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven America's White Table by Margot Theis Raven Rolling Thunder by Kate Messner The Wall by Eve Bunting

THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS by Kelly Barnhill Sometimes you read a book and you know it's a fit for your "pass to your Jr. High to high school kids to read and then have a discussion" pile. (Probably be hitting my 12 and 15-year-olds' piles!) I always love to have those "what is the author trying to say to you" discussions! The Ogress and the Orphans is chock full of author Kelly Barnhill's message. The Ogress is a very kind and generous character who just wants to belong. Since Ogres and Ogresses live for a very long time, she's lived in many places but has never been able to stay long due to not fitting in, growing bored, destruction, etc. Then she hears about a town called Stone-in-the-Glen that has suffered a great fire. This town once was a happy and beautiful place, but since the fire everyone is suspicious of each other, holds grudges, etc. The Ogress believes she can be a help, so she moves to the outskirts of the town. So... what caused the fire? Enter the antagonist. A new mayor is on the scene, and we learn early on about dragons that can take on other living things' outer skins and become them. The mayor is a dragon who has taken on the skin of a shiny, sparkling savior/human. He will protect them from all dragons. After all, he himself is a great dragon hunter, or so he's convinced the town. He stirs up dissension between the people who hang on his every word. Yet he himself is none other than a dragon himself. (Do you have a guess who Barnhill is telling us the mayor is? Maybe a certain recent president?) When everyone in the town, minus a group of orphans, are under his spell and the town is convinced all the bad that is happening is the result of the kind Ogress, the orphans are going to have to act. They are the only ones who can still hear the "foundations" of the town try and remind the people who they once were. Obviously not to the same degree as Animal Farm, but it is clear that Barnhill has specifically made her characters represent different people or events in very recent history. It will be fun to hear my kids label what they think each symbolize. Ultimately Barnhill asks the questions what is a neighbor and who is my neighbor which are questions we all have to wrestle with. Can this be a read aloud for younger kids on kindness, deception, healing, etc? Absolutely. But for the child who is ready to read messages behind the words, this one is brimming with them!

THE LITTLE SHIPS: THE HEROIC RESCUE AT DUNKIRK IN WORLD WAR II by Louise Borden. Illustrated by Michael Foreman With Memorial Day coming up this month, I will be doing some featured books on war. The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in WWII doesn't fit in the Memorial Day topic, because it has to do with British history of WWII. However, the anniversary of Dunkirk is at the end of May through the beginning of June, and this little picture book does it justice! Told in free verse form from the point of view of a young girl, The Little Ships is a heart tugger. Growing up around her father's fishing boat, she knows how to do the work it takes to be a help on the boat. She dresses like a boy (so no one but her father knows who she really is) and sets sail with him to rescue the British soldiers trapped at Dunkirk including her brother John. She recounts her journey, the hard work and what she sees, ending with the amazing accomplishments of these privately owned boats and their fishermen captains. It really is a reminder that great things can happen when we are joined together in a common purpose! Alongside Activity- How about some herring, mackerel, or cod alongside the reading of The Little Ships? It could even be some good, old-fashioned, fish sticks and tartar sauce! The next time you do a family chore together point out the benefit and need of everyone working together to accomplish the task!

THE PUFFIN KEEPER by Michael Morpurgo The Puffin Keeper by Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse When a young boy, Allen, and his mother are rescued from a sinking ship by a lighthouse keeper, a lifetime friendship is forged. After the passing of his father, Allen and his mother were on their way to England to live with his father's cold, loveless parents, because they have nowhere else to go. After enduring boarding school and other hardships Allen returns to the lighthouse in time to help "save" the lighthouse keeper. Before long he receives notice that he is called to serve in WWII. More hardship occurs. When he returns from war he finds a very peaceful place to call home. This story is a beautiful tale of overcoming hardship, friendship, and finding belonging. Inside the cover it is listed as a work of fiction. However, it is dedicated in the Afterward to the Puffin Man who is Allen Williams Lane founder of Puffin Books. The illustrations by Benji Davies are so well done and perfectly portray the emotion of the story.