We have added a lot of books to the library this month. The first shipment was these two books from The Penderwicks series. We already had book 1, The Penderwicks, and had borrowed all of them from a friend to read together. When I saw them offered for sale, I knew we wanted them! They are on the Junior Fiction shelf.
I managed to read a few more books from my stack in the bedroom that are waiting for a judgment about their worthiness. Esther gave me Climb Every Mountain for my birthday last year. I have been wanting to read it for over 30 years, so I was delighted that she found me a copy! It is an inspiring biography of Paul Brand’s mother. We finished reading Blood on the River last week. It’s not a fun, easy read; the settling of Jamestown was a violent time. However, it’s a good way to learn history. The My Story book about Pompeii is one that I read aloud to my family in one day many years ago, while we shelled four or five bushels of peas one day. It’s another one that is not fun and easy, but true to history. Meet Grace falls into that category, too. It is the story of an orphan girl living in London in the early 1800s who ended up on a convict ship. This book ends with her going on board the ship; there are several more books in the series. It reminded me of the American Girls books, but set in Australia. This is a series I’ll be watching for. All three of these books are going on the Junior Fiction shelf.
Several of us went to town last week. One of the children had a dentist appointment midmorning, so we canceled school for the day and went secondhand shopping after the appointment. Along with some clothing and household items, we found a number of books–of course! These first few pictures are books that the children picked out. Three of the children each chose one book–the Roald Dahl and Encyclopedia Brown books. Miss Joy found five books that she wanted! She loves books, and do you see the common theme in these five books? There are animals on every cover!
Esther found some books she was delighted with. This edition of The Pilgrim’s Progress is easier to read than the other one she has–and it contains both Part 1 and Part 2–and it has illustrations! It joins The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on the Classics shelf. Rosette and the Muddy River is a delightful picture book of a girl and her father. Gospel Patrons is a book that she listened to at some stage, and when she found it in the free box at the Op Shop she grabbed it. I’m not sure yet which shelf it will go on, since I haven’t looked at it. I noticed And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers among the books in the shop, and she was delighted to get it for only a couple of dollars to add to her collection by that author, on the Adult Fiction shelf.
And here are the books I found! Pawprints in the Butter is a delightful collection of poetry about cats by a New Zealand author. Drawing books are rarely used here, but occasionally someone gets in the mood to use them and then I’m glad to have a selection on the shelf. Same with the Build it With Boxes book–once in awhile someone finds that kind of book laying around and is inspired. And then there is The Velveteen Rabbit. I got that just because it is a classic. The original publication date is 1922!
Esther went to town with someone. They had car trouble, so decided to go shopping while they waited. She made the mistake of going into the local used book shop, and came out with quite a stack. She was delighted to find hardcover copies of Emma and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. She bought Propeller Island because she wants to read Jules Verne. She’s actually reading a digital copy of The Whisper of Glocken aloud right now, so was surprised and delighted to find a paper copy. She’s also collecting books by the Brontes for our Classics shelf, and we all love Astrid Lindgren. This hardcover of Eric and Karlsson On-the-Roof is a actually a first edition!
Another book she found at the book shop was Jungle Doctor’s Fables. I was tickled that she found a hardcover with the dustcover in such good shape–I wish I had mylar covers to protect it! These books are delightful. I added it to the Junior Fiction shelf.
On the Facebook page from which I buy a lot of books, I found The Animals of Doctor Schweitzer. I remember reading a book about Albert Schweitzer when I was fairly young, and being fascinated by him, but hadn’t read anything else since then. However, when I saw this book, and that it was written by Jean Fritz, I knew it was one I wanted on our shelf! I read it to several of the children while we were traveling, and they all thoroughly enjoyed the antics of some of the animals that Doctor Schweitzer adopted. The illustration, ink drawings, are beautiful. I have placed this one on the Junior Biography shelf.
I also found Lynn Austin’s A Proper Pursuit. Esther has an extensive collection of her books (which she plans to read, someday!), and she didn’t have this one yet, so she was delighted to get it. It will be on the Adult Fiction shelf. Starting Strong was also listed that day. We used to have this one, but I hadn’t kept it during one of our moves. However, I was considering buying it again from Sonlight Curriculum to go along with the next level I plan to go through with one of my girls, so decided to get it while it was being offered for a fraction of the new price. It goes on the Junior Theology shelf with the other devotional books for children.
Another book I found on the Facebook page was All Through the Ages. I have a weakness for book lists. This one has some very interesting articles about historical trivia sprinkled throughout, along with lists of books for each time period or geographical region. It goes on the School Shelf.
I also purchased a few books for the New Zealand shelves. All About New Zealand Machines and Inventions is nearly a history of New Zealand in itself. At Home in the Bush is basically a field guide of plants and trees. A Children’s Guide to the Common Insects & Garden Animals of New Zealand is just what it sounds like–a field guide! It’s good to have these on hand for those times when someone needs to identify something–right now!
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