Skip to main content

November Parent/Child Book Club Books

For November we have two great choices for the Parent/Child Book Club Books. For Girls Read we are going to discuss the Newbery Award winner The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. At the monthly Guys Read we will discover the adventures of a sailing cat in The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs by Gerald Kelley.



I have to confess: The Witch of Blackbird Pond has been one of my all-time favorite books for decades (since I was the age of the Girls Read girls). I loved the history, the romance, the suspense, and the friendship that comes with this book. Though mostly as a twelve-year-old it was the romance that really got me hooked. I love Kit. I love how she tries to find a place with her family (even though she had never met them before). She is spunky and just wants to love and be loved—and do what is right (which is the part that tends to get her in trouble in a world of suspicion and witch trials). This is one of those books that changed my life. And I am excited to talk about it at Girls Read!



In The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs Jacob is a cat born to a famous ship cat. His mother was known for keeping ships and sailors safe. So when Jacob becomes a ship cat, he has to learn how to best take care of the ship and crew (such as providing comfort, keeping vermin off the ship, and trying to discern odd weather patterns). Only, he isn’t quite sure how to accomplish all that. This book is full of great adventures and a lot of Jacob’s struggles, worries, and coming into his own.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...

Display: Be A World Traveller

Real Castles Around the World Written by Kaitlyn Duling Vero Beach, Florida : Rourke Educational Media, 2025. Informational. 48 pages Take a trip around the world as you read about the most impressive castles ever built! Explore fierce fortresses, castles that have inspired stories, uniquely colorful castles, and the history behind them all as you Travel to Real Castles Around the World! Part of the Travel to Children s Book Series, this 48-page nonfiction book explores castles both past and present, the kings that inhabited them, and knights that fought to protect them! Lower the drawbridge, cross the moat, and travel to real castles from all around the world as you learn about our magical history with fun-filled facts and vibrant photos. History Book Features: Before- and after-reading activities. Extension activity. Glossary About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to...

Review: Grounded for All Eternity

Grounded for All Eternity By Darcy Marks New York : Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2022. Fiction. 375 pgs. Malachi, Crowley, and Lilith are just your average, normal, middle-school kids. That is, if you consider living in the suburbs of Hell and having black feathered wings normal. They want to enjoy their school free vacation, but Hell is on lock down after the soul of Reverend Samuel Paris, leader of the 1693 Salem witch trials, escapes. Malachi and his friends travel to Earth, looking for some fun, but accidentally bring the Reverend's soul with them to modern day Salem, Massachusetts. Chaos ensues, and Malachi meets many new types of characters, such as witches, angels, and humans. Malachi and his friends must work together to return Reverend Sam's soul to Hell, or else all of Salem will be destroyed. Or worse, be grounded for all eternity.  Read this book for the ultimate Halloween experience, and if you want to revisit the ...