WEDNESDAY: A Skeleton in God's Closet

This is an old favorite that rocked my world when I first read it. A Bible scholar discovers a skeleton on an archeological dig that could be the remains of Christ. As he investigates the clues provided by the skeleton, the faith community is shaken to its core.

I was reading this book over a weekend, so when I walked into church Sunday morning, I started to think how I would feel in church if the book was true. Imagine! If Christ's remains were found, the resurrection would be a fallacy. The hope of Easter would be empty and meaningless. I read the book with fingers and toes crossed that the scholar would find the evidence to disprove the remains and restore hope to the faithful. This was a great adventure to read. There is a sequel called More than a Skeleton that deals with the possible return of Christ.

TUESDAY: The Dragon Players (Knights of the Lunch Table)

Artie is back and this time he is trying to prepare for the Dragon Duel - a robot duel taking place at the Dragon Day fundraiser for his school.The Evil Horde has forced one of Artie's friends to help them win the contest, but Artie wants to win to help pay off the $300 they owe the principal for an unfortunate accident with a bowling ball. Artie ends up not only wrestling with the construction of a robot, but wrestling with dragons of the internal sort. Should he do the easy thing to win the duel, or should he do what he knows is right? Artie's friends, Gwen, Percy and Wayne are back, as are Mrs. Dagger the principal, Mr. Merlyn the science teacher and locker number 001XCL.

I may have said before that I don't always enjoy graphic novels. Some, honestly, give me a headache. But this series is a delight to read. (targeted to ages 9-12) The illustrations are colorful and enhance the story. The look of the book caught my son's eye and he keeps asking what the story is about. I think he is almost ready for these. I enjoy Artie and his friends and I look forward to reading more of their adventures. Be sure to check out the author's blog here.

MONDAY: When Dinosaurs Came with Everything

A young boy is NOT looking forward to Friday errands with his mom. But then he finds out that dinosaurs come with everything. No stickers from the doctor - just a stegosaurus. And the diner is giving out T-rexes! The boy is thrilled; his mother is not. But eventually she sees the benefits and comes around.

Terrific story - very clever idea that was an instant favorite with my son. He cheered for the boy every time he got a new dinosaur, laughing at the mom's annoyance. This made for a really enjoyable reading time!

FRIDAY: D. R. Meredith Series

This is an older series, and as you can see, it is no longer sold directly from Amazon. If you can find the series at the library, it would be worth your time.

The series begins with Murder in Volume and focuses on a mystery-reading group. The main characters are Megan Clark (reference librarian) and Ryan Stevens (historian and museum curator) and the rest of their book club that meets at the Time and Again Bookstore. The group starts investigating when one of their own is murdered. The second volume is By Hook or By Book with Murder Past Due coming next. The final two are Tome to Death and Murder by the Book.

I enjoy the characters in the series - some of the book club members are quirky and evolve well over time. I like that each story is told in alternating chapters by Ryan and then Megan. Megan is the go-getter, ready to jump in and investigate with almost no sense of self-preservation. Ryan is the squeamish one, fainting at the sight of blood. Together, they are an interesting pair.

If you are looking for a mystery series, try this set out. I only wish there were more of them.

THURSDAY: Diet Myths that Keep Us Fat

A lot of people are looking for ways to get more healthy. I know we are at our house. But it can be so confusing and so hard to know who to believe. I don't know if this particular book has all the "right" answers, but the advice seemed practical and reasonable. She talks about "the truth" regarding carbs and fats and proteins and how we need them and how they work. She provides sample meal ideas for healthy eating options and she recommends a starting goal of a weight loss of 10%. Even a 10% loss can make a tremendous difference in how you look and how you feel if you need to trim down. Check out these Diet Myths and maybe you will discover some new insights to help you enjoy greater health!

WEDNESDAY: An Altar in the World

Rediscover the sacred in your every day life through encountering others, saying no, living with purpose and pronouncing blessings. These are some of the topics covered by Barbara Brown Taylor in An Altar in the World. The basic premise is learning to encounter God outside of church walls or organized ministry experiences. This book has changed how I look at the check out person at Walmart and how I interact with strangers and friends. It has challenged my semi-comfortable faith experience.

My Sunday school class is using this book as our text for the fall and it has been a great journey so far. The book lends itself to a group because for the most part the chapters stand alone and can be read in any order. Each practice (like "The Practice of Living with Purpose") has led to wonderful discussion. Every person connects with a different statement in the chapter. Different chapters speak to people depending on their own journey. [I am discussing "The Practice of Saying No" which is about Sabbath, at my personal blog Just Me Jaymie.] No matter how old you are (there is a 30-year age span in our group for this book), there is something to encourage and challenge you in An Altar in the World.

TUESDAY: Captain Nobody

Newt Newman lives in the shadow of his older brother, Chris, high school football star. When Chris is knocked into a coma at the end of The Big Game, Newt feels even more invisible. Newt stumbles into a Halloween costume that changes everything. He becomes confident and people start taking notice of him. He's Captain Nobody!

This was a fantastic story. I just wanted to hug Newt! I was frustrated with his family through the first half of the book, wondering how parents can essentially forget a child. Probably my "root for the underdog" tendencies. I was glad to see them come around and strike a little balance between caring for their younger son while dealing with the injury of the older one. The three main characters are endearing and Newt's evolution is a joy to watch. Check out Captain Nobody's website here. The author's website can be found here - be sure to read the "About Dean" page. You may recognize some of his other work!

MONDAY: The Sleepy Little Alphabet

It's bedtime in Alphabet town, but none of the little letters wants to go to sleep. Some need hugs and kisses or baths while others are feeling snuggly. Sweet pictures for each letter make for a fun search for toys that go with each letter (a zebra for Z, a yo-yo for Y, etc.). The last page is probably my favorite, showing all the little letters snug in their beds (well, most of them - at least one is up to some mischief) with something that starts with their letter. And letter Z has its own copy of The Sleepy Little Alphabet to read before bed. Another winner from Judy Sierra.

FRIDAY: The Nursery Crimes series

When Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall and dies in The Big Overeasy, Nursery Crimes detective Jack Spratt is on the case to determine if it was an accident... or murder! In The Fourth Bear, Jack's nemesis, the murderous Gingerbreadman, is on the run from the asylum and the reporter, Goldilocks, is missing.

I am a huge fan of fractured fairy tales and these books are a huge part of my collection. I haven't yet read Fforde's Thursday Next series, but I have heard rave reviews of it. The reviews at Amazon from the "professionals" aren't glowing, but the ones entered by readers are strong, and I agree with them. In my opinion, this series is entirely too short! I have hounded Amazon and the internet for news of a third book in the series. He is scheduled to release a new book at the end of this year, but it isn't part of either of Fforde's existing series.

If you enjoy punny satire with a fractured fairy-tale spin, check these out!

THURSDAY: Please Understand Me II

An "updated" (1998 update of the original, published in 1984) discussion of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Keirsey's own Temperament theory. If you are looking for an introductory discussion of the Myers Briggs, this is a great book. It talks about each type alone, as well as each of the 4 temperaments (NF, NT, SP, SJ). Then it looks at each one in relationship to marriage, parenting and leadership.

I love learning about the Myers-Briggs. This has been a foundational book for me on the subject. I have found the information helpful when thinking about my marriage and my parenting style. I read it looking for early clues to my son's Myers Briggs type. I have used it when looking at communication between co-workers and in leading team-building exercises and discussions. I have also used it in a Sunday school class where we were doing activities for self-discovery and talking about our personal journeys. This is a favorite that I return to time and time again.

WEDNESDAY: Smart Chick Series

Josephine Tulip, and her best friend Danny, work together in this series to solve mysteries that come up in the course of Jo's personal life - a neighbor accused of murder, the death of a blind date, and an attempt on Jo's life. Her job of writing helpful household hints column makes an interesting tie-in to the stories. The faith message is not heavy-handed, but present as Jo deals with disappointments in her personal life and possible feelings for her best friend.

This is a great "cozy" type mystery series.

TUESDAY: The Red Blazer Girls

Four Catholic school girls in New York find themselves on a treasure hunt that will send them to a church and a museum as well has making them solve math puzzles on a Saturday night. And they fine allies for their tasks in unexpected places.

This was a fantastic story! There was some language (a little surprising for me in a book for kids between the ages of 9 and 12). The math problems are great for the age group. I thought the characters were terrific and I look forward to their next adventure, The Vanishing Violin, due out next spring. See more information here.

MONDAY: Little Granny Quarterback

Granny gave up football after she lost the big game. Now she has the chance to play again. How will she do this time?

This is not one of our favorite picture books, but it was nice to find a football book that could appeal to both boys AND girls. As football season swings into gear, this can be a nice title to check out for the football fans (and even the non-football fans) in your house!

FRIDAY: The Penny Pincher's Club

Kat has been living the life of a shopaholic, but has a rude awakening when she discovers her husband's secret bank account and email exchanges with his young and sexy assistant. She has a mountain of debt, a daughter about to start college, and divorce may be looming. Kat needs a financial makeover. Send in the Penny Pincher's Club!

Can she learn new habits and find some financial independence before her husband leaves her? Will her wealthy ex-fiance be another source of hope and help?

I never could connect with Strohmeyer's mystery series, but her stand alone novels, like Sweet Love, The Sleeping Beauty Proposal and The Cinderella Pact have been a treat for me to read. I look forward every summer to a new one and have never been disappointed. In fact, Penny Pinchers inspired me to look at our own household spending in a new way to see where we can pinch a few more pennies. Enjoy this one!

THURSDAY: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids

This is a great way to tune into the reality of being a mom today - whether you stay at home or work all day or something in the middle. Moms are under a lot of pressure - from society, from themselves, from other moms - and can feel like they are the only one feeling this way. This is a great book for normalizing the struggle of moms and giving suggestions to better enjoy the journey. Very affirming and supportive book.

TUESDAY: The Snowball

A fantastically funny story about a runaway snowball with great illustrations and rhymes!

I have a hard time finding Level 1 reading books that my son will find interesting. I want him to read aloud as much as possible, but when I show him some to try from the library, a lot of times he will say "Nah" and want to look at a Level 3 or 4, which I can read to him, but defeats the purpose of finding things for him to read aloud. The Snowball, though, was a huge hit with both of us. He was able to read it himself, we laughed at the story and the illustrations, and he wanted to read it again on his own as soon as we were done. That, in my mind, is the mark of a great book!

WEDNESDAY: Fearless by Max Lucado

Yes, I know it is Tuesday. No, I didn't make a mistake in posting a book about faith today, when I should be talking about a great book for kids. Today is the release date for the new Max Lucado book, Fearless and as a reviewer for Thomas Nelson, I needed to post my review today. So, come back tomorrow to hear about a fun children's book my son and I enjoyed this summer.


Fear. It paralyzes. It discourages. It holds back. It robs. Fear can keep us from enjoying the life God has given and it can keep us from venturing out on any new adventures with Him. Max Lucado's latest book, Fearless, hopes to challenge readers to leave behind the life of fear and keep our eyes on Christ.

For me, it succeeded. I was challenged and inspired by Fearless. There were portions of the book that seemed written just for me and brought me to tears. Each chapter examines a different sort of fear (fear of insignificance, fear of death, fear of violence, etc.) and gives recommendations for dealing with that fear. Each chapter includes trademark Lucado Bible analysis. I love how he breaks down a Bible story in a way you may not have seen before (my favorite in this book is a discussion of the Transfiguration). I believe this is a book I would read regularly, to refocus my eyes off my fears and onto Christ. It comes with discussion questions for groups or individuals looking for ways to dig farther into the material.

[I am a reviewer for the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program. I received a free copy of this book to read and review with no expectation of a positive review.]

MONDAY: Stacy Coolidge's Fancy Smancy Cursive Handwriting

Carolyn is so excited to be starting second grade - until they start learning cursive. She gets so discouraged with her struggles, especially when it comes so easily to Stacey Coolidge. What is Carolyn going to do?

A sweet book that deals with a great issue, explaining that not everyone is good at everything. It also emphasizes that handwriting is a skill that requires practice and work, but it isn't as important as things like ideas and imagination when it comes to writing and creating. This is part of a series called "The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses." You can go here to find out more about the books in the series.

FRIDAY: What Looks Like Crazy

Katie is a therapist with a very confusing personal life. Her aunt and mother are eccentric junk dealers who have taken it as their personal mission to decorate her new place (including the semi-pornographic sculpture they set in cement in her front yard). She has a nasty, nosy neighbor, an ex-boyfriend who is a complete sleaze and she is about to get a divorce even though she is still in love with her husband. As she tries to help out an eccentric group of clients as they deal with their mental health issues, she also has to start to get a handle on her own life.

This was a fun mystery with lots of interesting characters floating through Katie's office. The ex-boyfriend is awful, and watching Katie juggle all the things and people in her life were wearing me out. But it was worth it all for a good mystery and main characters that I enjoyed (except for that ex-boyfriend of hers - ewww!)

THURSDAY: Downhill Lie

A non-fiction offering from Carl Hiaasen, author of books like Hoot and Scat.

While I don't personally enjoy golf, my father is an avid golfer who plays at least twice a week every summer. I checked this out to see if it might be something he would enjoy. Hiaasen chronicles his return to the game of golf after over 30 years away from it. He shares, in great humiliating detail at times, the ups and downs of his return to the sport.

Even as a non-golfer, I found moments in the book where I laughed out loud. My father enjoyed the book as a birthday gift and has happily passed it on to his entire group of golfing retirees. Consider sharing this one with the golfers in your life.

WEDNESDAY: Will You Bless Me

A casual interaction between a father and his daughter, Anna, where she sneezes and he automatically responds, "Bless you" opens up a wonderful dialogue about blessings and about the birth of Jesus. Great gift book for children - especially for little girls named Anna.

TUESDAY: The Phantom Tollbooth

Milo is bored, bored, bored. Nothing around him is of any interest and he just wanders aimlessly from moment to moment until he discovers an unexpected gift in his bedroom - a toll booth. He assembles the booth, drives his little car through and finds himself in an unusual land. Through his adventures, Milo makes some unusual friends and learns some things about himself along the way.

This is one of my favorite books from my childhood. I recently purchased the audio version (read by David Hyde Pierce) to listen to in the car. I wasn't sure if my son would like it as he is still a little young for the book, and the vocabulary in the book is difficult. But he laughed along at the silly creatures and situations that Milo gets into. My husband, who never read the book and has never shared my enthusiasm for it, even laughed at parts and groaned at some of the great puns. This is a classic that I look forward to reading (and hearing) over and over again.