The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston; ill. by Barbara Clooney Dial, 1989 32 pages Christmas is a tricky holiday. Commercialization is not exactly a new problem (the Victorians sent cards, gave presents, and decorated their department stores, too), but it is a pervasive and pressing one, particularly where children are concerned. … Continue reading The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
Ladybug Girl
Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis Dial Books for Young Readers, 2008 40 pages I have a confession to make: I'm a book snob. I usually avoid bestsellers like the plague. This is partly due to experience. When I have tried to read John Grisham, Tom Clancy, or the like, I've found them … Continue reading Ladybug Girl
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams by Alexandra Wallner Holiday House, 2001 32 pages Grade-school lessons about the women's movement are pretty limited in scope. They tend to focus on the women's suffrage campaigns of the late 1800s and early 1900s, then skip ahead to the '60s and '70s and the battle over the ERA. As a result, young … Continue reading Abigail Adams
Read Like a Girl 