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Kids' Corner
"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
- Dr. Seuss
Inspiring a love of reading in children begins with creating joyful and positive experiences around books. When kids see reading as an adventure—full of fascinating characters, colorful illustrations, and exciting discoveries—they naturally become curious and eager to explore more. Parents and educators can nurture this passion by reading aloud, offering a variety of book choices, and letting children follow their own interests. Encouragement, patience, and making reading a shared, cozy activity help children associate books with comfort and connection. Over time, these early experiences build confidence, imagination, and a lifelong appreciation for stories and learning.
Featured Book
The Giving Tree
by, Shel Silverstein
"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy."
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Review: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden is a deeply moving story about change, healing, and what happens when a place—and a person—finally gets the chance to come back to life.
Review: Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
The story follows siblings Paul and Maureen Beebe, who dream of owning a very special pony—the legendary mare known as the Phantom’s Misty. From the beginning, Misty isn’t just any horse. She represents something rare and almost untouchable, tied to the wild ponies of Assateague Island and the famous annual Pony Penning tradition.
Review: You Are Special by Max Lucado
You Are Special is a gentle, heartfelt story that carries a powerful message about self-worth, acceptance, and identity. Though written as a children’s book, it’s one of those stories that resonates just as deeply with adults—especially anyone who has ever struggled with comparison, self-doubt, or the feeling of not quite measuring up.
Review: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women is a warm, character-driven story that follows the lives of the four March sisters as they grow up, face challenges, and try to figure out what kind of people they want to become.
Review: The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Little Engine That Could is a classic children’s story that has endured for generations, thanks to its simple message and uplifting theme of determination. It’s a short, straightforward tale, but one that manages to leave a lasting impression through its warmth, optimism, and gentle encouragement.
Review: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Wind in the Willows is a classic children’s novel that blends gentle adventure, humor, and reflection into a richly textured story about friendship and home. Set along the riverbank and deep in the English countryside, it creates a world that feels both peaceful and full of quiet discovery.
Review: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
The premise starts with a small, harmless action: a boy gives a mouse a cookie. From there, the story quickly spirals into a chain reaction of requests and events. Once the mouse has the cookie, he asks for milk, then a straw, then a mirror, and so on, with each request leading naturally into the next. That “one thing leads to another” structure is what gives the book its charm.
Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate factory is one of those children’s books that manages to feel both wildly fun and slightly sharp at the same time. On the surface, it’s a story about a poor boy winning a golden ticket to visit the most extraordinary chocolate factory in the world. But once you actually step into the story, it becomes a lot more than just sweets and surprises.
Review: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
A funny, relatable, and comforting children’s story that captures what it feels like to have one of those days where absolutely nothing goes right. From the very first page, it leans into that feeling fully, letting readers follow Alexander through a chain of frustrating, disappointing, and exaggeratedly unlucky events.
Review: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Jumanji is a suspenseful and visually striking picture book that turns a simple board game into something far more mysterious and unforgettable. From the very first pages, it creates a sense of quiet curiosity that slowly builds into excitement and tension.
Review: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
What makes Where the Wild Things Are so special is how it reflects the inner life of a child. Max’s anger, imagination, and desire for control are all expressed through his journey. The Wild Things themselves feel like extensions of those big emotions—loud, chaotic, and a little overwhelming.
Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of those series that instantly feels familiar if you’ve ever been through middle school—or even just tried to survive being a kid around other kids. It’s written like a journal, but what really makes it stand out is how honest and funny it is about the awkward, embarrassing, and slightly chaotic parts of growing up.
Review: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice in Wonderland is a whimsical and imaginative story that invites readers into a world where logic is turned upside down and curiosity leads the way. From the moment Alice follows the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole, the story unfolds into a series of strange, playful, and often puzzling encounters that feel both dreamlike and surprisingly thoughtful.
Review: Curious George by, H.A. Rey and Margret Rey
The story follows George, a small monkey brought from the jungle to the city by the Man with the Yellow Hat. Once there, George’s natural curiosity leads him from one situation to another—often getting into trouble without meaning to. Whether he’s making a mess, getting into places he shouldn’t, or trying to figure out how things work, George’s actions feel true to the way children explore their own world: with enthusiasm, little hesitation, and a lot of learning along the wa
Review: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Madeline stands out for her boldness and curiosity. While the other girls follow routines, Madeline isn’t afraid to explore, speak up, or test boundaries. There’s something refreshing about her confidence—it feels playful rather than defiant, and it gives the story its spark. When she wakes up one night with a stomachache that turns out to be appendicitis, the story shifts just enough to show her vulnerability, without losing its light and whimsical tone.
Review: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Wizard of Oz is a classic fantasy story that feels both simple and endlessly imaginative. It begins in Kansas with Dorothy Gale, a young girl living a quiet, grey life on a farm with her aunt and uncle. The early setting is deliberately plain and almost dull, which makes the sudden shift into the colourful world of Oz feel even more dramatic and unforgettable.
Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Once the children enter Narnia, the atmosphere shifts immediately. The land is trapped in an unnatural, never-ending winter under the rule of White Witch, and that coldness isn’t just weather—it feels like it affects everything. There’s a sense that the world is stuck, like nothing can properly grow or change while she is in control. That idea of being frozen, both literally and figuratively, runs through the early part of the story and shapes everything that happens.
Review: Peter Pan by Sir J.M. Barrie
Peter Pan is one of those stories that feels like it’s always been floating around in the background of childhood—flying silhouettes, ticking crocodiles, pirate ships, and a boy who insists he’ll never grow up. Even if you’ve only seen adaptations or heard references, the idea of Neverland tends to stick with you: a place where imagination runs things and bedtime simply doesn’t exist.
Review: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
The Secret of the Old Clock is the first book in the long-running Nancy Drew mystery series, written under the pen name Carolyn Keene. It sets the tone for everything that follows in the series by introducing a mystery that feels fairly grounded, but still full of secrets, hidden motives, and just enough twists to keep you turning pages.
Review: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
The Jungle Book is a rich mix of adventure stories, fables, and coming-of-age themes that all revolve around life in the Indian jungle. What makes it stand out is how it doesn’t just tell a single continuous story, but instead builds a wider world through a series of connected tales, each one adding something new to the characters and the rules of the jungle they live in.
Review: Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss
The book opens with a sense of movement and possibility, introducing the idea that life is full of directions you can take, even if you don’t always know where they’ll lead. The main “character” is more of a stand-in for the reader, which makes it feel personal in a way that’s easy to connect with. From the beginning, there’s this feeling that you’re about to step into something unpredictable, where decisions matter but outcomes aren’t always clear.
Review: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is a heartfelt coming-of-age novel that captures the uncertainty, curiosity, and emotional intensity of growing up with remarkable honesty. It’s often read as a middle-grade story, but its themes feel universal, especially for anyone who remembers the awkwardness and confusion of adolescence.
Review: The Mitten by Jan Brett
Each animal that enters the mitten makes the situation more crowded, but also more fun. The tension builds as more and more creatures try to fit into a space that clearly cannot hold them all. There’s a playful sense of anticipation as the reader keeps wondering just how far it will go before something finally gives.
Review: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Pippi Longstocking, is living entirely on her own in a colorful house called Villa Villekulla with a horse on the porch, a monkey as a companion, and absolutely no adults telling her what to do. Right away, the book sets up a world where independence isn’t just encouraged—it’s taken to the extreme.
Review: Corduroy by Don Freeman
The story follows a small teddy bear named Corduroy who sits on a department store shelf waiting to be bought. At first, he doesn’t really understand why no one picks him. He notices that he is missing a button on his overalls, and he begins to believe that this is the reason people keep walking past him. That small detail becomes surprisingly meaningful, because it reflects how easy it is to think something “missing” makes you less worthy of attention.
Review: The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
The story begins in an unlikely setting: the busy, noisy world of New York’s Times Square subway station. It’s crowded, fast, and a little overwhelming—which makes the discovery of a tiny cricket from Connecticut feel even more special. That cricket, Chester Cricket, suddenly finds himself far from the peaceful countryside he knows, dropped into a world that is loud, unfamiliar, and constantly moving.
Review: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
At first glance, the story is straightforward: a tree loves a boy, and throughout his life, she gives him everything she can—her apples, her branches, her trunk—until she is reduced to a stump. The boy, meanwhile, grows into a man who continues to take from the tree as his needs change. It’s told in Silverstein’s signature style: sparse text, simple line drawings, and a tone that feels almost quiet and matter-of-fact.
Review: The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The story follows Ralph, a young mouse living in a quiet hotel with his family. Life is fairly ordinary for him until he meets Keith, a boy staying in one of the rooms, and discovers something completely new to him—a toy motorcycle. What starts as curiosity turns into full-on adventure when Ralph realizes he can actually ride it. From there, the book opens up into a fun, fast-moving journey where a tiny mouse experiences a whole new sense of freedom.
Review: What Will We Do With Goo? by Haley Faulkner
What Will We Do With Goo? is a delightful and imaginative picture book that captures the playful chaos of childhood, the love within a family, and the irresistible charm of a mischievous pet. At the heart of the story is a young child, their two moms, and Goo—a dog who is equal parts troublemaker and sweetheart. I am particularly fond of this book also, because the author is my daughter and the illustrator is my son. Goo is a nickname we use for our actual family dog Goose.
Review: The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Hundred Dresses is a moving and thoughtful story about empathy, imagination, and regret. Through the experiences of Wanda Petronski and her classmates, it gently explores how words and actions can affect others in lasting ways, and how understanding often comes too late—but still matters.
Review: The Tawny Scrawny Lion by Kathryn Jackson
The lion himself is not a scary predator in this story; instead, he comes across as a little overconfident and easily outsmarted. That shift in expectation is part of the humor. Readers might expect the lion to be the most powerful character in the jungle, but instead, he’s constantly being outwitted in simple but clever ways.
Review: The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
The story centers on the “poky” little puppy, who is always the last one to arrive, the last one to dig, and the last one to get back home. While his siblings rush ahead and follow the rules, he tends to wander off, explore on his own, and take his time. That difference is what drives the whole story, and it’s what makes him so memorable.
Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
The plot of the first book is relatively straightforward compared to later entries in the series, but it serves its purpose well as an introduction. The mystery surrounding the Sorcerer’s Stone builds gradually, with small clues and discoveries leading toward a final confrontation that ties together friendship, bravery, and quick thinking. It’s not overly complex, but it is engaging and satisfying, especially for readers encountering the series for the first time.
Review: Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Frog and Toad are very different in personality, and that difference is really what makes the book work so well. Frog tends to be calm, thoughtful, and patient, usually able to see the bigger picture without getting too stressed. Toad, on the other hand, is more anxious and dramatic, often worrying about small problems or getting frustrated when things don’t go as planned. Even though they react to life in completely different ways, they still care about each other in a stead
Review: Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Mr. Popper's Penguins is a lighthearted and imaginative story that takes an ordinary man’s quiet life and completely turns it upside down with a flock of very unexpected pets.
Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
The story follows a young boy named Bruno, who moves with his family to a new home near a concentration camp during World War II. At first, Bruno doesn’t understand what is happening around him. He notices fences, strange uniforms, and people who look different from his own family, but he interprets everything through a very innocent, childlike lens.
Review: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The story follows a pair of mallard ducks, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard, as they search for the perfect place to raise their ducklings. After trying different spots, they finally settle on a quiet island, where Mrs. Mallard later hatches eight ducklings named Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. From there, the focus shifts to their careful and sometimes chaotic journey through the city.
Review: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a heartfelt and quietly powerful story told from an unusual perspective: the life of a horse narrating his own experiences. That choice alone makes the book stand out, because it invites you to see the world through the eyes of an animal rather than a human observer.
Review: Guess How Much I Love You by, Sam McBratney
The story follows Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare as they try to express just how much they love each other. What begins as a playful back-and-forth—stretching arms wide, reaching as high as possible, and comparing distances—quickly becomes something more meaningful. Each attempt to measure love grows a little bigger, a little more imaginative, until it’s clear that love isn’t something that can really be measured at all.
Review: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
One of the most memorable parts of the book is the idea of “wrinkling” time and space. Instead of travelling in a straight line, the characters move by folding space, which gives the story a slightly surreal, imaginative feeling. It’s not just a science concept—it’s used as a way to show how reality itself can be flexible and strange.
Review: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
The story leaves a lasting impression because it balances excitement with consequence. Peter Rabbit may be mischievous, but his adventure is what makes the tale memorable, turning a simple warning into a lively and engaging story.
Review: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The story follows Wilbur, a runt pig who is saved from being slaughtered by a young girl named Fern, and later befriends Charlotte, a wise and gentle spider who lives in the barn. When Wilbur learns that his life is still in danger, Charlotte devises a clever plan to save him by weaving words into her web—messages that convince the humans around them that Wilbur is extraordinary. What unfolds is a story that feels both magical and grounded, full of everyday farm life and mome
Review: The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Call of the Wild by Jack London is a gripping survival story that pulls you straight into the harsh, unpredictable world of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. It’s intense, direct, and focused on instinct, survival, and the pull between civilization and wilderness.
Review: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The story follows Sylvester, a young donkey who discovers a magical pebble that can grant wishes. At first, the magic feels exciting and full of possibility—Sylvester can transform situations instantly just by wishing for them. But everything changes when, in a moment of panic, he wishes himself into a rock. Suddenly, the story shifts from playful fantasy into something quieter and more emotional, as Sylvester is unable to move, speak, or reveal what has happened to him.
Review: There's No Such Thing as a Dragon by Jack Kent
The story begins in a quiet house where a little boy insists there is a dragon in his room. At first, the adults don’t take him seriously at all—they keep brushing it off and confidently repeating that there’s no such thing as a dragon. The twist is that the dragon really is there, and it keeps getting bigger every time it is ignored.
Review: Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield
Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield is a moving and thoughtful story that deals with change in a very personal, grounded way. It doesn’t rely on big dramatic events or flashy plot twists. Instead, it focuses on something quieter but much more lasting: what happens when a young person’s entire way of living is suddenly turned upside down, and how they learn to build confidence again from the ground up.
Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry
The story follows a boy named Jonas, who lives in a society where everything is carefully regulated—jobs, families, emotions, even memories of the past. At first, this world seems calm and safe because there is no conflict, no pain, and no uncertainty. But that safety comes at a cost: people are not allowed to experience deep emotion or make meaningful choices.
Review: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
What makes The Velveteen Rabbit so enduring is its emotional honesty. It doesn’t shy away from harder feelings. There’s a quiet sadness woven into the story, particularly as the rabbit faces separation and uncertainty. But that sadness is balanced with a sense of hope and transformation, giving the story a kind of gentle resilience rather than heaviness.
Review: Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
The story follows a little girl named Emily Elizabeth and her unusually large, bright red dog, Clifford. From the start, Clifford isn’t just a regular pet—he’s enormous, friendly, and completely out of scale with everything around him. That size difference is a big part of what makes the story so fun, because everyday situations quickly become much more complicated.
Review: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The story follows a mother and her son through the different stages of his life—from infancy to adulthood. Throughout it all, she repeats the same soothing lullaby: “I’ll love you
forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” That repetition becomes the emotional thread of the book, grounding each stage of life in a sense of constant, unwavering love.
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