Family Book Club: February Edition
Can you believe it’s already February? January flew by in a flash and now we are all getting ready for Valentine’s Day and longer holiday weekends. Which means more time to read, of course. This month there are three great picks for Family Book Club, with expanded details and insight about each book author. Younger kids will enjoy these books as a read-aloud and middle grade readers are sure to enjoy reading the stories to themselves. Pick a book for your family’s book club and get reading. After all, this month is a bit shorter than the rest.
Insignificant Events in Life
Hardcover $14.95
Insignificant Events in Life
In Stock Online
Hardcover $14.95
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling
About the Book: Born without arms, Aven must move from Kansas to Arizona when her parents get a new job at the dusty and rundown Stagecoach Pass theme park. Physical challenges aside, being the new girl in school is always tough, not to mention all the questions she’ll have to answer. Her attitude is inspiring though, as she befriends a boy with Tourette Syndrome and they discover secrets at Stagecoach Pass, embarking on a journey of friendship. While the main character of this book is not a cactus, the southwestern landscape and the resiliency of said plants plays a large role in this story. Aven’s preseverence and her impressive ability to overcome her disability, stay strong, and survive in harsh conditions will stay with your family long after you finish this book.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling
About the Book: Born without arms, Aven must move from Kansas to Arizona when her parents get a new job at the dusty and rundown Stagecoach Pass theme park. Physical challenges aside, being the new girl in school is always tough, not to mention all the questions she’ll have to answer. Her attitude is inspiring though, as she befriends a boy with Tourette Syndrome and they discover secrets at Stagecoach Pass, embarking on a journey of friendship. While the main character of this book is not a cactus, the southwestern landscape and the resiliency of said plants plays a large role in this story. Aven’s preseverence and her impressive ability to overcome her disability, stay strong, and survive in harsh conditions will stay with your family long after you finish this book.
About the Author: Dusti Bowling was born and raised in Arizona, moving away before settling back into the Grand Canyon State with her own family. In addition to a husband and three daughters, she has a pack of animals outside her back door—including some coyotes, a bobcat, rattlesnakes, and javelina. This is her debut middle grade novel, although her love of books dates to her own childhood. Dusti often escaped into books during difficult times. Inspiration for this book came from an online video of a woman without arms who could do tasks with her feet and accomplish amazing feats by using her body. That woman in the video, and another, ultimately served as first readers of her story to gauge for authenticity.
For the Meeting: Consider what life would be like without arms. How would you eat? Open the fridge? Do your homework? Serve up a snack and set out some paper and pencils. Attempt some of these tasks without using your arms and consider what life would be like if you had to do things like this all the time.
Questions for Discussion:
- What kinds of problems does Aven face because she does not have arms? How does she work to solve some of the problems?
- Aven and Connor have traits that make them stand out. Do you think we all have traits that make us different, in some ways? Are there people in your life that have traits that make them different? How can you show empathy?
- How do Aven’s blog posts help you understand her better?
- Consider the setting of Stagecoach Pass and Arizona: how did this impact the story? Did you like the setting of this book?
The Wonderling
Hardcover $21.99
The Wonderling
By
Mira Bartok
Illustrator
Mira Bartok
Hardcover $21.99
The Wonderling, by Mira Bartok
About the Book: A fantasy middle grade novel, readers will find themselves drawn to Number Thirteen. A groundling, part-human and part-animal, he lives at the Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. Shy and fox-like, he silently works in the classroom and factory, under the supervision of the cruel Miss Carbunkle. When he courageously rescues a bird groundling named Trinket, he earns his name, Arthur, as well as a friendship. Together they escape the orphanage and venture into the unknown world beyond. Hunting for his past, Arthur takes the reader through a musical and mythical land full of rich detail, and inventions. What starts off as the story of an unclaimed creature, will ultimately claim your imagination and heart.
The Wonderling, by Mira Bartok
About the Book: A fantasy middle grade novel, readers will find themselves drawn to Number Thirteen. A groundling, part-human and part-animal, he lives at the Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. Shy and fox-like, he silently works in the classroom and factory, under the supervision of the cruel Miss Carbunkle. When he courageously rescues a bird groundling named Trinket, he earns his name, Arthur, as well as a friendship. Together they escape the orphanage and venture into the unknown world beyond. Hunting for his past, Arthur takes the reader through a musical and mythical land full of rich detail, and inventions. What starts off as the story of an unclaimed creature, will ultimately claim your imagination and heart.
About the Author: The Wonderling was inspired from an illustration of a one-eared rabbit the author did in 2014, blossoming into a book. Throughout the book, many small illustrations enhance the story of the anthropomorphized creatures. Mira Bartok takes inspiration from Charles Dickens, steampunk, and the Victorian era. As a child, her first loves were music and art and her mother taught her how to play the piano. Even though she was told she didn’t have a good voice by a middle school classmate, she always felt that singing was important, and sentences should have a musical quality to them. This is her first novel for middle-graders, and as she wrote this book she was continually encouraged by the thought that anyone can change the course of history, regardless of size.
For the Meeting: When Trinket tells Arthur things about the outside world, he’s most intrigued by the sounds of food like cheese toasties, ice cream, and pie. And music plays a large part in the book. Turn on some Mozart or Beethoven and snack on some of Arthur’s favorite food discoveries.
Questions for Discussion:
- How do you think Arthur felt when he first stepped into Pinecone’s home?
- Why do you think some humans dislike the groundlings? Do you think they suspect the Wonderling could be magical?
- A second book is due to come out. Do you think the author wrote any clues about it into book one? What do you think will happen in the sequel?
- This book is also going to be adapted into a movie! How do you envision the characters and setting?
Walking with Miss Millie
Hardcover
$12.14
$16.99
Walking with Miss Millie
By Joe Lockwood
Hardcover
$12.14
$16.99
Walking Miss Millie, by Tamara Bundy
About the Book: Alice is living in Rainbow, Georgia in 1968 and wondering if she’ll ever feel at home. After she is caut eavesdropping on her neighbor, Miss Millie, an apology turns into a dog walking gig. The only problem is pup Clarence won’t budge without Miss Millie. Soon the two of them venture out together to walk Clarence. Every time they walk, Alice meets someone new and learns a little bit more about Miss Millie. Alice also opens up about her own personal struggles. From segregation to prejudice to family dynamics, this unlikely pair forms a bond that explores many facets of the human experience.
Walking Miss Millie, by Tamara Bundy
About the Book: Alice is living in Rainbow, Georgia in 1968 and wondering if she’ll ever feel at home. After she is caut eavesdropping on her neighbor, Miss Millie, an apology turns into a dog walking gig. The only problem is pup Clarence won’t budge without Miss Millie. Soon the two of them venture out together to walk Clarence. Every time they walk, Alice meets someone new and learns a little bit more about Miss Millie. Alice also opens up about her own personal struggles. From segregation to prejudice to family dynamics, this unlikely pair forms a bond that explores many facets of the human experience.
About the Author: This story was inspired by the author’s own daughter, who had an opportunity to walk their elderly neighbor’s dog, although the dog refused to walk with just her daughter. The neighbor lady went along too—”just until he gets used to you”—and that day never came. Her daughter and neighbor developed a unique relationship and Tamara knew there was a story in there. It was a Judy Blume book that first showed her how books can open a whole new world of friendship possibilities. She still has her original copy! This debut novel took her three months to develop and two years to find an agent. Some of the names in the book come from real people in her life, helping her create a meaningful connection, particularly Alice. After reading this book, it is no surprise that she would choose a dove as her spirit animal; a symbol of peace and love.
For the Meeting: Go for a walk around your neighborhood. Choose a sunny day, put a leash on your dog (if you have one), or offer to walk the neighbor’s pup. Then walk and talk and discuss this book in more detail.
Questions for Discussion:
- What do you think of the age difference between eleven-year-old Alice and ninety-two-year-old Miss Millie? Do you think friendships can exist beyond the typical constraints of age?
- What do you think it was like to live in the south during segregation? How do you think things have changed in our society from 1968 to 2018?
- Do you think older people in your life have wisdom to share? What have you learned from a parent or grandparent that you will never forget?
- Author Tamara Bundy requires silence when writing. How do you prefer to write?
Is your family excited for February’s Family Book Club?