The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

I have to use the word 'incredible' as in the title,  to comment about this book.  A truly inspirational, heartwarming book filled with beautiful writing and compassion. The book is generally intended for older kids but my 6yo loved it.
If you are not familiar with this classic Canadian story here is a little bit about it. The story is about 3 bonded animals, two dogs & a cat,  finding their way home across hundreds of miles of rugged country, encountering many hardships along the way. Your best bet is to just grab a copy, curl up and read it!  If you've read it before, read it again!
My 11yo & 6yo loved it.

We all give it 6 huge thumbs up.

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

My son wanted to write this book review so this is in his own words:
There are three odd preteen kids who don't have any friends because there Mom disappeared with no trace. There are rumors spreading around that someone killed there Mom. Their Dad is a painter who paints royalty no longer royal. Their Dad sends them to live with their Aunt and this is when many dark adventures begin. The story has many twists and turns which ends up revealing the truth about their Mom.
If you like dark, scary stories without a happy ending this story is for you.

He gives this story one thumb up and one thumb down.

The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren (picture book)

I love this story. I also love European stories. There is something deep and natural about their stories.  This is an enchanting little story about a friendly troll called the Tomten.  He moves silently through the night visiting his animal friends, reminding them that spring will soon come.  Only the children and animals can speak his language, which my young son finds magical.

A beautiful bedtime story to share.

The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans

This little story is very sweet and funny. The Wilson family decide to go on vacation to a hotel and end up staying in the Otis Room which happens to be the elevator! This charming family captures the hearts of the other hotel guests in a fun, whimsical  story. They even solve a mystery! My 5yo son loved this story and the idea of staying in an elevator couldn't be more exciting.

He gives this story two thumbs up.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

In the fast paced world we live in, re-reading this classic story to my 5yo son reminded me the importance of slowing down and appreciating  the simple things in life. Frog, Rat, Mole and Badger are just a few characters that warm your heart. The love and friendship they share fills our hearts with joy. The innocence of this book is so needed today. Children are bombarded by so much media that reading and imagining a world of simplicity brings us all back to what is really important in life, time spent cuddling and giggling without a care in the world.

The Nine Lives of Travis Keating by Jill MacLean

My son loved this book and asked if I would post about it. It is a story based in Canada written by Canadian author, Jill MacLean. The story is about a preteen boy named Travis, who lost his mother and lives with his Dad. They move to Newfoundland and he has a hard time adjusting and making friends. Travis ends up finding a colony of cats which he befriends and helps. He eventually makes some friends who also have difficulties and sadness within their families and the kids bond together through taking care of the cats. Much adventure, action & heart make this story a 'must-read' !

My son give it  two thumbs up.

Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan

 The story is about a group of friends in grade four that have a guest author speaking in their language class at school. She is teaching them about writing. She creatively brings our feelings in each of the children to really understand why they write. Each child has their own story of sadness to explore and understand. They eventually are able to find happiness through their words. This is a rich story with many new ideas to explore for younger children.

My son gives this story two thumbs up.

We would recommend this book for ages 6+