Skip to main content

September Mother/Child Book Club Books

On the fourth Tuesday of September the Mother/Daughter Book Club will be discussing the book How They Croaked: The Awful Ends to the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg. On the fourth Wednesday of the month the Mother/Son Book Club will be discussing the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.



How They Croaked: The Awful Ends to the Awfully Famous 
By Georgia Bragg
Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley
Walker & Co., 2011. 184 p.

This is probably one of the funniest biography collections I have ever read. And that is saying something. In this book Bragg starts off with a warning that “if you don’t have the guts for gore, do not read this book.” (And even though there are bits that are a bit gruesome, Bragg writes in such a way that the true history is presented almost comically—which will hopefully make the girls laugh.) Then readers can go on to learn things about how famous people like Cleopatra, King Tut, King Henry VIII, and Albert Einstein died. For example, most people think that Cleopatra died thanks to a snake bite (as written in a Shakespearean play; however, readers learn that Cleopatra really died (probably) due to poison. Other gruesome and gory details of how George Washington died (an infection of the mouth that would be cured today by antibiotics) or Marie Curie (who died thanks to extreme exposure to the radiation she was studying). This book is not for the squeamish reader, but it is an interesting read to give a little more perspective on famous people (and their lives and death) in history—and that is why it is the book for September’s Mother/Daughter Book Club. If you would like to register to be part of this program, click this link.



The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 
By C. S. Lewis
HarperTrophy, 1950. 189 p.

 In the second edition of “The Chronicles of Narnia” (at least second according to chronology of the stories, not according to when the books were actually published) the adventures of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy while in Narnia begin. With a backdrop of World War II in England, the four children are shipped off to the English countryside to avoid the London bombings. While exploring the house, Lucy discovers a passageway into another world—a world full of snow and winter and where animals that talk. The children soon discover that all is not as it seems in the world. There is an evil witch that wants to take over everything. With courage and determination the four siblings learn to trust in themselves and their new home-away-from-home. This classic foray into children’s literature will be a fun book to discuss at the September Mother/Son Book Club. If you would like to register to be part of this program click this link.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

An ABC of Flowers

An ABC of Flowers   by Jutta Hilpuesch New York, NY : Philomel Books, [2019] It turns out there really is a flower for every letter. This sweet book has a photograph of every flower and  a sweet cartoon illustration to go along with it. All your favorite flowers are here (forget-me-nots, mums, and sunflowers), along with some you probably haven't heard of before (billy ball, kalanchoe, xeranthemum?).  This is a perfect book for reading together, and readers of any age will enjoy every page. Don't miss this great springtime alphabet book. 

From Story Time: The Letter "B"

From Monday Book Babies Bird, Balloon, Bear By Il Sung Na Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.  Picture Book. Bird is new to the forest, and he’s looking for a friend. Bear could use a friend, too. But Bird is too shy to introduce himself. Just as he musters the courage to say hello . . . it’s too late! Bear has already found a friend: a bright, shiny red balloon. Has Bird missed his chance?  From the acclaimed Il Sung Na comes a charming and beautifully illustrated story about courage, kindness, and friendship.  --Publisher From Monday Cuentos El primer dĆ­a de un colegio Texto de Adam Rex Ilustraciones de Christian Robinson Traducción de Teresa Mlawer Editorial Corimbo, 2017.  Spanish Picture Book. Aquel verano, cuando terminaron de construir la escuela Frederick Douglass, el edificio comenzó a hacerse muchas preguntas: ¿CuĆ”l serĆ” mi destino? ¿QuiĆ©n vivirĆ” entre mis paredes? ¿Para quĆ© me utilizarĆ”n? AtravĆ©s de sus conversaciones con el conserje y t...

Display: Out of this World Books Found Here

Hello By Aiko Ikegami Berkeley, CA: Creston Books, 2019. Picture book. In this wordless picture book, an alien visits Earth, makes friends with a little girl, and returns to his home planet to share his experiences. - Publisher We Are Definitely Human By X. Fang Toronto: Tundra Books, 2024. Picture book. When three mysterious visitors from "Europe" crash-land in Mr. Li's field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and offers to help fix up their "car". No, there's nothing strange about these guests at all. Just like other humans, they "make business", "play sportsball" and "wear hat". As the townsfolk also come to the aid of the visitors and the gathering turns into a little party, interplanetary relations reach an all-time high. - Publisher Greetings Floof! Written by C.J. Hong Illustrated by A.J. Smith Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2024. Picture book. Floof from planet Ploof has landed! And it...