From Author Rebecca Grabill
This Joyful Mess
What a Pest, Ramona
A smiling adult voice narrates the story. This could be patronizing, but rather is understanding and warm. Ramona didn’t mean to be a pest, she wanted to be good. The narrator has tremendous insight into a child’s psyche, using everyday, even mundane experiences that might seem (to an adult) out of proportion, but are...
Is Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney Worth a Fight?
You know you're a kiddie lit geek when you're arguing with an eight-year-old over who gets to read the library books first. St. Nick snagged this one, I sneaked it while he was playing his Nintendo DS, and he sneaked it back later. I, gracefully I think, allowed him to finish it...
Is there a Doctor in the House? Two by Seuss
Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat, 1957.
Singsong rhyme and controlled vocabulary are great for beginning readers. The story is incredibly imaginative, with the twist that the cat is the “child” who tears up the house and makes a mess, while the children are the...
No Holes Here: Louis Sachar
Most distinctive for its magnificent plotting, Holes is the adventure story of the unlikely hero, Stanley. He’s been falsely convicted of a crime and sent to a work camp for boys in the Texas desert. There he and the other boys dig holes, only he quickly begins to suspect...
Not-so-Captivating Classics: Red Sails to Capri by Ann Weil (1952)
Red Sails to Capri was published in '52, won a Newbery Honor, and I guess that's why it ended up in St. Nick's curriculum. Or maybe the sheer drudgery made it adequate school reading?
But I'm being unfair. It's a book for younger readers, so it can't be too breath-holding...
A Family Favorite: Goodnight Moon
Where abstract meets concrete. This is a perfect sleepytime book with a lulling, rocking-chair rhythm as the little bunny says goodnight to all the familiar things in his room. Bold and simple illustrations show...
Hi, I’m Rebecca. I write books and I write here at This Joyful Mess to inspire everyone to find JOY in the everyday messes of life. Here you’ll find inspiration, educational resources, and so much more. Please explore and connect. I’d love to hear from you!