Published 2000 Theme: Fairies Best for: 5 - 8 years old I love the Fairy Realm series, stepping from our human world into the world of the fairies, where magic, beauty, goodness, and yes, also a bit of evil, mingle together...
Fairy Realm
Too Moody for Judy Moody
When I started this website, I was thinking of children's books that would help struggling readers. For that reason, I purchased a copy of Judy Moody for a third grader I was working with. However, now that I'm in high gear with Litkidz.com, I re-read the same book in order to review it. And much to…
Children’s Books and Music – What’s in Common?
I just returned from a production of Peter and the Wolf, put on for families by the Santa Rosa Symphony and a pantomime team. The beautiful Green Music Center was packed with families, especially children of all ages. The whole hall was abuzz with the excited chatter. I wondered how the kids would settle down.…
Welcome to the LitKidz Blog
We love reviewing books. We also love sharing ideas that we gather pertaining to children's literature, reading, and development of children. You'll find our latest news on this blog page. We hope you will join the discussion.
Whitefoot – A Story from the Center of the World
Published 2009 Theme: Nature Best for: ages 5 - 8 This small little children's book has the best elements of combining fiction and non-fiction into a little tale. It is lyrical, it is sensitive, it is keenly accurate, and it is accompanied by the most delicate illustrations one could find in a children's book...
The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady
Published 1999 Theme: Selfless Service & Humility Best for: Boys 11 and up That is why the rare human who is truly good is so remarkable. And the rare human who acquires true wisdom...is so magnificent.". Yet again, Gerald Morris has taken a classic, Arthurian literature and created an inspirational children's book...
The Dragonfly Pool
Published 2008 Theme: Innate Wisdom of Children Best for: 11 and older "It was because of the king. Because he was brave and true to what he believed in and wouldn't let himself be bullied. Because he knew that if you have power you must use it well and not be afraid." A book that celebrates the power of independence in children's lives..
Journey to the River Sea
Published 2001 Theme: Adventure and self-discovery Best for: ages 10 and up Five Stars "Perhaps I'm mad--and the professor, too--but I think children must lead big lives...if it is in them to do so." What is the mark of a great children's book, really? For me, it is the feeling of immense goodness about the world that rises up when I finally read the last word of the book...
The One and Only Ivan
Published 2012 Theme: Relationships - Humans and Animals Best for: ages 9 and up The tears are barely dry on my cheeks as I write this. Reading The One and Only Ivan was both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. You get to experience their fullness of heart, their magnificence as animals. And at the end, it's impossible not to cry--out of joy, out of relief...
The Neverending Story
Published 1979 Theme: Fantasy Best for: Boys age 11-12 Almost written like a classic morality play, this amazing children's book weaves a message about selfishness and pride without ever appearing terribly heavy-handed. The fantasy elements of the story, a boy finding himself in a story being written as he appears in it, brings the reader far away from the real world.
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