THIS IS PART 2. WE HOPE YOU SAW PART ONE, SENT PREVIOUSLY.

PART TWO OF A TWO-PART BOOKNOTES.

Just a bit ago we published the first of this long post about recent children’s picture books. We have so very many and we wanted to feature a few favorites from this year, some about Christmas and more that were overtly Christian, Biblically-based ones. Some were really clever and some were visionary and some were beautiful. All were highly recommended.

Here, then, are some others that can also enhance a family’s spirituality and learn more about the values of Christ’s Kingdom. While these may not be obviously Christian (or utterly secular) we wanted to share them with you. These are some great reads, good for nearly any family with young children. All are 20% off.

We are shipping promptly, while supplies last. Did we mention they are all on sale, 20% off. Order today.

Drawn Onward Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Matt Rockefeller (Harper Alley) $19.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

Part adventure story, part graphic novel, part poetic rumination on loss and hope, this is a vividly illustrated story with only a few words by the great Daniel Nayeri —I hope you’ve read and discussed his spectacular YA novel Everything Sad Is Untrue — which is hard to explain. To say it is a work of art is not a cop-out, but, still, it is hard to put into words what this might evoke. On the surface the story is simple: it seems a boy and his dad are lamenting the loss of the wife and mother. The boy wants to know if his mother was glad to be his mom. He heads into the forest to find her, to ask, to know.

The illustrations are fabulous, the adventure exciting, the fantasy world just a little odd, but mostly, it is a tale of a book coming to terms with his being loved.

Aaron Becker, author of the Caldecott Honor Book Journey, says it is “A gift for those who believe books to be living things”

“A gift for those who believe books to be living things”

If You Can See the Dark Timothy Mudie & Jenny Ward, illustrations by Mattie Rose Templeton (Appalachian Mountain Club Books) $19.95 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.96

The Appalachian Mountain Club was founded in 1876 and their books are legendary among hikers and outdoor folks; this lush, creative, children’s book deserves a big, if quiet, shout out. It’s about nighttime, after all. Each animal through-out this beautiful book — printed on black paper — has what almost looks like a not filled in paint by number design over it, and it is such a striking (modern art, dare I say urban) image that it makes this simply stunning. It is not somber at all, but almost alludes to stained glass. It is very striking.

Even without the extra doodles, this artful reproduction of various animals that hibernate or who need the dark, will teach you and your children so much. If you can see the dark, the book suggests you will see all kinds of good stuff. Dark skies allow animals to sleep soundly, for instance, and can improve the lives of creatures great and small. (Dark skies are important, we learn, for humans, too, and for plants.) Light pollution is a problem and you might want to check out zoning hearings and such in your own area. But first, enjoy this lovely, stimulating, aesthetically pleasing work

Kingdoms of Life Carly Allen-Fletcher (Eerdmans) $18.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers is a prestigious publisher of excellent, if often eccentric, children’s books’ curiously, they often publish in North America some of the more artful and allusive books first released by the more artful publishers in Europe. This splendid volume is done by a prominent British illustrator and author and the pages are so vibrant, so bright, and so colorful one has to study them to see if they are photographs or not.

This is the book for the science kid on your list. It is ideal for ages 6 or 7 up to about 12. The magical illustrations are so vivid and psychedelic they will be sure to be studied carefully for hours. The publisher says it “explodes with mind-boggling details” and they are right. But, more, it offers fabulous information about the life that is all around us. Tracing the six kingdoms of classification (animals, plants, protists, fungi, bacteria, and archaea) each page will spark curiosity and wonder (and maybe questions about the tiny things wiggling under microscopes, or odd stuff like seaweed or bread molds.)

This is lush and rich and fun and very, very informative.

The Girl with the Big, Big Questions  Britney Winn Lee, illustrated by Jaco Sousa (Beaming Books) $17.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39

“Why can’t people live on the moon?” “Are monster’s real?” “What makes a person good?” This isn’t about religious questions exactly, even if, in a way, all questions are religiously-motivated. Like its companion (The Boy With the Big, Big, Feelings) this book nicely authorizes kids to be themselves, and, in this case, to develop a curious mind, to continue to ask questions, to learn how to grow, think, and make stuff happen in the world. The girl’s sharing what she’s learned with her classmates is risky (not everybody likes those who ask questions) and she is admirable.

As it says on the back cover, it will “inspire girls to bravely take up space and ask their thought questions!”

Between My Hands Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Naveen Selvanathan (FSG) $19.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

We have followed Mitali for years, selling her important, excellently-crafted YA novels and delightfully realizing she was a Christian. We finally met at this past year’s Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing and she was as delightful as we had experienced when we corresponded briefly. Born in India and living in the US she is remarkably productive, speaking all over, writing new books for different audiences (including a tremendous adult book about reading children’s literature, published by Broadleaf, called Steeped in Stories. She contributed to an important Square Halo Book release as well (Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children) so you know we feel somehow connected. She was and continues to be one of the important figures in the vast field of children’s books.

This new one, Between my Hands, is the third in a series in which she has the word “between” in the title. (See, also, Between Us and Abuela — which she notes is about separated families and the power of art, and Home Is In Between — which is about immigration, new customers, and being a new school.) This one adds to this fun children’s books which engage in social-emotional learning by writing about the “between” of self and community and neighborhood and family, and more.

The question on the cover of Between My Hands is “How will you namaste the world?”  It’s a good question. Although it is a tender and cheerful book, Perkins has a lovely “author’s note” in a page on the back noting that this third in the “Between” picture books is “an invitation to children to offer their gifts and talents in service to the planet through the Indian gesture of namaste, which means, “I bow to you.”

“Given the huge problems in the world,” she continues, “children may not believe they can make a difference for good.” She tells, then, about the character in the story (Maya) who lives in Oakland, California, home of murals and gentrification (and protests.) She says that she chose the names of her characters intentionally; Alvaro is a Spanish name that means “truth” and Jubilee is, she explains, based on the Bible’s Year of Jubilee when slaves were to be set free, and Karina is the Sanskrit word for “mercy.” Maya, Mitali explains, in her own mother tongue, Bangla, means “love.” Highly recommended for ages 4 – 8.

Folktales for a Better World: Stories of Peace and Kindness Elizabeth Laird, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amino (Crocodile Books USA) $12.95 / OUR SALE PRICE = $10.36

Oh my, what an amazing and utterly delightful collection, nicely done in an oversized paperback (with hefty paper) and great, contemporary illustrations that capture the culture and tone of each story. This book is obviously a labor of love, nicely done by an indie publisher we are glad to have discovered.

I will not go on and one about each tale — some are more captivating than others, but each has memorable plots and the fables teach vital lessons. Some are clever, some are funny, some are mysterious. Each are wonderfully illustrated and told with empathy and grace.

As they say on the back cover, “The importance of peace and kindness in our lives shines through these timeless, inspirational stories from seven countries.”

The folktales come from Ethiopia, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and a Uighur story from China.

The Prince of Yorsha Doon Andrew Peterson, illustrated by Kristina Lister (Waterbrook) $14.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99

What a lovely, fun, mysterious, powerful story this is. As you may know, Peterson is a singer-songwriter, adult author, worship leader and youth fiction writer, and has grown famous not only for his songs and books about the creative life, but for the Wingfeather Saga, a great four-book set of adventure / fantasy stories. After those were written, a collection was released (by a handful of authors) of other Wingfeather stores, called Wingfeather Tales. Not everyone who loved the four-part saga knows this extra volume and this new book, The Prince of Yorsha Doon, is a picture book adaptation of a chapter from Tales. Got it? It doesn’t matter, though, as the book really stands alone, especially now as a picture book. Hooray.

As they entice us on the back, in this book you will, “Decode mysteries, unlock secrets, infiltrate a palace, and discover hidden treasures. The hero is reluctant, he will rescue a prince, and learn the importance of true friendship. Andrew Peterson is great. Did I say hooray?? Hooray!

Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Jamiel Law (Harper) $19.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

This is a stunning book (and I’ll admit I was pulling for the excellent illustrator and deigned to get a Caldecott this year.) They say it for ages 4 to 8 but I think I’d say 6 to 12. The artful, energetic prose is so good it sounds like poetry (and the graphic design of the book is fabulous and fitting.) This tells you much of what you need to know about this novelist, writer, essayist, public intellectual. This year I enjoyed and learned from the adult book by Greg Garrett (The Gospel According to James Baldwin) but this, really, tells you in exciting writing and pictures most of the contours of his life and art.

On the back cover, in beautiful jagged type, it says:

“Writing is electric blue, bright, brilliant swirls of letters and words flying, flipping, flowing to the beat.”

Do I hear an Amen?

Why Not? A Story About Discovering Our Bright Possibilities Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Gabriella Barouch (Compendium) $18.95 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.16

This is another large, lavishly illustrated, rich and imaginative book by the team that brought us What Do You Do With An Idea? (Not to mention, What Do You Do With a Chance? and Maybe and other allusive, inviting books that make us think and believe in the best possibilities of doing good stuff in the world.) These are classy, creative books.

I love this story of realizing that good things might happen, and that world is alive with possibility.

The back cover, in embossed gold, handsomely asks, “What if life is even more miraculous than you’ve imagined? Why not find out for yourself?”

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon (Abraham) $20.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $16.79

I’m not going to lie: this is not a new book in 2024. It came out a decade ago and somehow I missed it. I loved The Band and have all of Robbie Robertson’s solo albums. I adored his big memoir Testimony. Yet, this wonderful, beautiful book — illustrated by a talented oil painter and Caldecott Award winner — is new to me and I can’t help but want to share it. It is the story of warfare among indigenous tribes (Mohawk, Iroquois, etc.) and how a peacemaking leader emerged, calling them to reconciliation and harmony. Hiawatha, of course, according to oral tradition among First Nation peoples, was the person who delivered the Peacemaker’s message, and it deeply transformed his own heart.

Included in this handsome book is a CD of an original song by Robbie Robertson telling the story. What a well-made and gorgeous book, inspiring not only for those who are interested in Native people’s history but for those eager to learn about peacemaking.

The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts Ann Patchett, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser (Harper) $19.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

Okay, start here: you have to know Ann Patchett, the famous adult novelist and beloved owner of one of the great independent bookstores in the whole country (in Nashville; yes it is on my bucket list to visit someday.) She is a great writer with a gracious moral center and is, beside her fiction work, an extraordinary essayist, speaker, storyteller, and more. (I truly loved her two collections of essays, These Precious Days and This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage: A Collection, but I digress.) It shouldn’t surprise us, I guess, that she would be able to pull off tremendous children’s picture books; this is now her third. She knows everybody in the field, and these energetic and fun-filled illustrations by the artist that gave us the Fancy Nancy books, deserves a lot of credit for making this book so very, very fun. And fun it is.

The adventure is wild and electric and yet the story is tender and touching; the plot simple: two siblings, Ivan and Estie, learn to value their very different temperaments and celebrate their differences.

Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples Mavis Staples, illustrated by Steffi Walthrall (Rock Pond Books) $19.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

I suppose you know the black gospel and roots singer Mavis, who sang with her parents (Mom and Pops Staples) and increasingly became known as one who did her amazing gospel work with others. She played and sang with everybody from Dylan to Pavarotti to Prince to her friend Aretha Franklin. This children’s book tells her story with gloriously upbeat illustrations, making his a real treasure. The theme of building bridges is inspiring and it tells about Pops famous meeting with the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King and features her standing alongside King and other activists. What a person she is, and what a book, telling her story.

A Star Shines Through Anna Desnitskaya (Eerdmans) $18.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

This is a simple story, sparse and rather sad text and modern illustrations but it seems it could be read out loud and it would lead to many, many good conversations. It is breathtaking, really. Simple but breathtaking.

We learn a bit more in a long author’s note at the end, which you won’t want to miss.

The story unfolds as a young person (not a little child) observes that in her home country she walked home from her music lessons happily to see a star in the window of their home apartment. Now that she has immigrated to another country she is out of sorts, lonely, the food is unusual, the language complicated. It is, in short, simple sentences and moving graphic illustration, evoking a world of disorientation from being exiled from one’s home. Why? What will they do? Well, the spoiler alert is true and simple: this is a real story and the mother helps them make another cardboard star that will light up which they will put in the window of their new apartment. Things will seem a bit more normal, now.

We learn from the author’s note that she and her family were on vacation (in Greece) when, the day they were returned to their beloved Moscow, their country started a war with Ukraine. Anna could not (or would not) go back. They found a temporary home in Israel where they made the glowing star. They took it with them as they went to another country where they now reside. A Star Shines Through is a moving story that our own children might need to read. It is a simple true story that might touch your heart.

The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien. John Hendrix (Abrams Fanfare) $24.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $19.99

We will be announcing this yet again soon when we do our Best Books of 2024 list. Surely this graphic novel, powerfully and expertly illustrated and designed by the master John Hendrix, deserves all kinds of accolades. They say it is for youth maybe 10 years old and up but the detailed illustrations (and the juxtaposition of written text and copies of real artifacts — not unlike his must-read, visual striking  —The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler) makes it a piece of work that is, frankly, enchanting even for adults. I shudder to call it mere cartoons.

The book has gotten wide acclaim, from early starred reviews in places like Kirkus, Booklist, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Horn Book, and other respected lit journals. It is also a coveted volume for those in the Lewis / Tolkien orbit.

For what it is worth, this brilliant graphic novel type study includes some weighty, intellectual stuff. It talks about how the respective friends had different philosophies of storytelling and both influenced 20th century literature. The book explores their creative differences and how it impacted their friendship. It explores their theology of the arts and creativity and it looks at their respective notions of modernity. And mythology. Naturally, there is lots about mythology. It is a really well informed study and is a beauty to behold. Good for any thoughtful teen, for sure.

Order now and we’ll let you know when we hope to have more back in stock. Sorry that for this one, the delivery schedule is a bit unsure. Any day, I hope…

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It is helpful if you tell us how you want us to ship your orders. And if you are doing a pre-order, tell us if you want us to hold other books until the pre-order comes, or send some now, and others later… we’re eager to serve you in a way that you prefer. Let us know your hopes.

The weight and destination of your package varies but you can use this as a quick, general guide:

There are generally two kinds of US Mail options and, of course, UPS.  If necessary, we can do overnight and other expedited methods, too. Just ask.

• United States Postal Service has an option called “Media Mail” which is cheapest but can be a little slower. For one typical book, usually, it’s $4.83; 2 lbs would be $5.58. This is the cheapest method available and sometimes is quicker than UPS, but not always.
• United States Postal Service has another, quicker option called “Priority Mail” which is $8.70, if it fits in a flat-rate envelope. Many children’s books and some Bibles are oversized so that might take the next size up which is $9.50. “Priority Mail” gets more attention than does “Media Mail” and is often just a few days to anywhere in the US.
• UPS Ground is reliable but varies by weight and distance and may take longer than USPS. Sometimes they are cheaper than Priority. We’re happy to figure out your options for you once we know what you want.

If you just want to say “cheapest” that is fine. If you are eager and don’t want the slowest method, do say so. It really helps us serve you well so let us know. Keep in mind the possibility of holiday supply chain issues and slower delivery… still, we’re excited to serve you.

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