Hannah's Winter

This is a first novel by Kierin Meehan, an Australian writer, for kids about 10 and up. I was VERY impressed.

It's a fantasy/mystery/ghost story that takes place in Japan. Hannah, an Australian girl, spends a winter in Japan living with a Japanese family.

Your child will learn a lot about Japan, without FEELING like they learning. I found her descriptions of the people, land, temples, etc. very beautiful and thorough without going on and on - which I often find annoying in books.

The book is narrated by Hannah and I thought Ms. Meehan wrote in a very authentic way - I FELT like a 12 year old was telling the story. I didn't want to put it down once I started and look forward to future novels by this author.

Once again this is a book published by Kane/Miller and I must say that all in all I have been impressed with their books.

I'm going to have a 10-year old girl I know read this and I will let you know what she thinks.

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A Friend

This was a book I saw at a show and just fell in love with it immediately. What MAKES a real friend? How can I BE a real friend? These are concepts that little kids (AND adults) struggle with every day.

How many times have we, as parents, witnessed our kids being hurt by another child that they called friend? How many times have we witnessed our own child telling their friend "I'm not your friend"?

This book helps explain what being a real friend entails. Someone who is there to help. Someone who tells us the truth when others laugh. Someone who holds us when we need it and who lets us go when we need it. Aren't these the truths we want our child to learn? AND practice?

This is a Kane/Miller book from Germany. Be sure and point out to your child that this is a book from another country and that kids there are just like us.

Miss Stacey

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Matthews's Pick of the Month: Why?

This is a really cute book for the 4-to-8 year old set. Inside, questions, such as "Why do zebras have stripes?" are asked. Then several silly answers are given. The real answer is also provided.

Matt enjoyed the silly answers and we were able to make a game of it all. I asked the first question and Matt's response was "Because God made them that way". I then gave the first silly answer and asked if that's why God did it. Matt said "Nooooo". We proceeded that way through every silly answer until I gave the real answer when Matt very happily said "YES!"

The book is published by Kane/Miller, which distributes books from around the world. This book is from Slovenia.

Matt & Miss Stacey

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