The Wild Robot

 

Mom's Notes: I had heard rave reviews about this from friends and podcasts, so the buddies and I listened to it while we were out and about. Robots, nature, wild animals, adventure - it has the components of an exciting story for kids. And it is! But I didn't personally take to the writing or semi un-original plot as readily as those who recommended it so highly. Maybe it's because we rarely read aloud chapter books written on a very young level? (At least not many modern ones.) While it was wonderful to learn about nature and specific animals through Roz's story, I think this story might do much better as a personal read. And yes, we saw the movie in the theaters shortly after finishing the book. We really enjoyed it! (The parenting plot points were more powerful in the movie than in the book, in my opinion. I teared up a bit for sure!) 

Additional Notes: I half-listened to the second book with my my boys, and we began the third but stopped reading. Again, I am confused why the hype over this series. I don't recommend beyond the first. Better yet, in this case, just watch the movie! 

The Trumpet of the Swan

 

Mom's Notes: I read this one myself (for the first time?) a few years ago after reading an amazing biography about E.B. White. It's quirky and funny and different. So it was a great one to start out our year with! I had it in mind after we traveled to Montana, but had forgotten about how some of it takes place in Billings specifically, where we visited the Mathews this summer! That was a fun connection. But it didn't stop there. I also remembered that Louis spends some time in Boston working on the swan boats. Again, we had a visual of the Public Garden from our own memory banks! I had forgotten, however, that he also ventures to Philadelphia. So there you have it! It was very fun to relate to Louis's travels, playfully suspend our belief as he plays the trumpet and gets employed at various establishments, and laugh at his father's sophisticated speeches. Bravo, E.B.! 

Drawings by Evy

The Magician's Nephew

Mom's Notes: The evening before we left on a roadtrip to Montana, I downloaded the whole series. Surely it will come in handy! It did, as we finished reading Swallows and Amazons on the way there, and this one provided a story for the way home. The buddies and Evy were quite young when we last read this, so the fantastical tale of the children and the rings and the creation of Narnia was practically new to them. (Gabe and his sharp memory had. held on to much of the story.) I always love Cabby Frank rising to the occasion as King! 

(Note: We have read the whole series to the kids - and then some - in the original publication order. That is my preferred order, especially as a first reading. But I think we might pick these ones up on roadtrips and such at random, or maybe even go in chronological order this time around, since all of us are very familiar with the world of Narnia already, thanks to our previous reads and the three wonderful movies.) 

Swallows and Amazons

Mom's Notes: This had been recommended by various sources, including Nana Jan - who gave us a chocolate bar and a can of sardines to eat while reading it. (We have yet to try the sardines!) It fit right in with other ship and sailing books we've read this past year. Though some of the jargon was still fuzzy for us! (It's easy enough to look things up and learn something new.) This is one of those stories that you wish you could live out. Four siblings who get to live on a small island on their own for a few weeks in the summer?! I appreciated the realistic checking in on them that the mother does. She is so fun to play along with their ever-present make believe. Interesting note - we finished this book while Julia was in Brazil. She was on the actual Amazon River while we read about their make-shift Amazon!  

Redwall

 

Mom's Notes: Jonny read this one aloud to the three youngers. It's been years since he read it to Julia and Gabe, and he was in the mood to return to the medieval woodlands! They were all highly invested in the story and spent many evenings in our bedroom reading by lamplight. Gabe would join in for a listen on occasion. (He read the entire series years ago.) 

The Time Garden

Mom's Notes: It's always fun to usher in the summer with a fun, whimsical book. Edward Eager has fulfilled that need for us a few times now! I've had this one as a reread in mind since our trip to Boston. The chapters that include Jo, Laurie, and a few more Concord folk did not disappoint! There was also much we could relate to from our very recent studies of the the the American Revolution and the Underground Railroad. The chapters that take place in jolly old England, of course, now have me wishing to plan a trip there... Someday, hopefully!? 

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

 

Mom's Notes: This was one I wanted to read before our New England trip, but we didn't have time after Johnny Tremain. It worked out even better to read Nat Bowditch's story after being in Boston, stepping in to Harvard, and exploring three different ships on our New England trip. (Now I just really want to go back at see his statue in Mount Auburn Cemetery!) It was especially appropriate to go along with our study of the brand new United States after the war, as well as our study of the solar eclipse. (Even Leap Year came up in the book, during our reading on the very 29th of February! We had just learned the hows and why of Leap Year, so we were in the know about why the charts were wrong in the year 1800,  a skipped Leap Year for the century date.) Nat's story is repeatedly heartbreaking, but that makes his resilience and passion to write his book on navigation all the more inspiring. He was always learning, always curious, always wanting to understand things. It would be incredible to look through his stacks of notebooks. Though the sea tales and jargon were a little long-winded at times, I'm so glad we read this book and are now familiar Nathaniel Bowditch's incredible story, as well as his contribution to the mathematical world of navigation.