The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The BoxCar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner is the book we are reading this month.  We started with the 1st one and have moved on to the next.  Having not read these as a child, they have been extremely enjoyable for me as well.

My daughter has truly enjoyed them and even my little 2 year old asks for "the Box Children" before bed each night. Though he doesn't stay lying still and engaged for the entire chapter, he does seem to enjoy it for a while and certainly enjoys reading.


My daughter was enthralled with the 1st in the series. She enjoyed the thought of making a boxcar of her own, drawing pictures of the boxcar as the children had theirs as well as how she would like hers to be, and narrating the story back to me has been rewarding.


The questions accompanying this timeless piece has been great. Making a refrigerator in the stream, building a wagon, and picking berries have been thing that have continued conversations regarding this book. 


We highly recommend the Boxcar Children series and hope your family will enjoy it as well. We are looking forward to moving through more of the adventures of the Boxcar Children.


Avarie's review: I liked the boxcar children book because it tells about 4 kids living in a boxcar and it shows how the kids care about each other and other people and how lucky they were to find their grandfather that cared about them.

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

The Little House is a book originally published in 1942. It is a book as told by the Little House herself.


A little house is built in the country where she is taken care of and loved by her owners. She is painted pink and landscaped beautifully. She talks about how she loves to enjoy the countryside, watching the flowers bloom, children playing and seasons changing. She is intrigued by the lights of the big city in the distance.

Over time, the city expands and envelopes the little house and the countryside. No more does the little house enjoy her quiet life in the country. She has high rise buildings on either side of her and trains and roads running in front of her. She is sad because she cannot enjoy the seasons or see the stars and moon at night. She only enjoys the warmth of the sun at noon each day.

One day the great-great-granddaughter of the man who built the house notices the dilapidated house sitting among the hustle and bustle of the city. She realizes it was the house her great-great-grandmother lived in. She and her husband move it to the country and place it on a hill and there the house is taken care of and loved again and the little house is finally happy again.

Though it is definitely not a positive public service announcement for city life, it is a cute book that makes you feel for the little house. The descriptions are vivid and the illustrations are beautiful. It is an excellent book that all the kids enjoyed.

Probably best for ages 4 and up but the pictures keep the attention of younger listeners as well.

Avarie's review: I love the little house. She is painted my favorite color, pink, and loves the country, which is fun. I don't like that the city doesn't care for her and doesn't let her see the stars and moon at night. I'm glad that the great-great-granddaughter moves her back to the country and loves her again.

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon is a book about a duck that takes the opportunity to ride a bicycle around the barnyard and what the barnyard animals have to say about the duck's display.

We liked this book very much. It is easy to read and funny for all ages. It gives us the opportunity to imagine how each of the barnyard animals would speak and tells us what they think about the duck riding around th barnyard on a little boys bicycle. The kids love it to be read using various animal voices.

Good for young listeners to work on the sounds that animals makes as well since each animal has a response to the duck riding by on his bike.

Avarie's review: "I think its funny to see the duck on the bike and talk like each of the animals. I think its funny when they all stare at the bikes and then ride them too."

I WILL NEVER NOT EVER EAT A TOMATO by Lauren Child

A Charlie and Lola book, if you are familiar with the Charlie and Lola characters.

We like this book. It gives a great idea on presenting foods that your child doesn't like or doesn't want to try. My daughter asked for "cloud fluff" for dinner (that's mashed potatos if you read the book) and has since decided that we should read this book before dinner each night so we can decide what to call the food. She thinks its fun to figure out fun names for the foods and then eat them pretending they are rain drops or cloud fluff. We spent last night at dinner renaming the foods on our plate.

May be a good one for your picky eaters to read. Or for the parents of picky eaters to get some ideas :)

Avarie's review: "It's very funny. We should read this book everyday when we have carrots and stuff. And when we are eating potatos we will be eating cloud fluff."