Gist

Gist: The Essence of Raising Life-Ready Kids by Michael W. Anderson and Timothy Johanson is for anyone who is a parent or works with children between the ages of 8 and 18.  The book has three parts: Foundational Principles of Life, Core Development, and Unintended Parenting.  It would be a good book to read with another parent or teacher so you could discuss it.

Write to Me

Write to Me by Cynthia Grady is a book I enjoyed for three reasons-it is based on a true story, it is about books, and it is about writing letters.
The story begins when the Japanese Americans are ordered to internment camps during World War II.  The Japanese Americans children who frequent the library in San Diego need to go with their families elsewhere.  Librarian Clara Breed gives them postcards as well as books when they leave.  They write her notes and postcards after they leave. Later she visited them and gave them more books. This book is a good example of the impact a person's kindness can have on others.  For more about Clara Breed, look at this link.

Jars of Hope

Jars of Hope by Jennifer Roy is a picture book to read to mature or older children, but it is just as appropriate for adult readers.  The book tells the story of Irena Sendler, who risked her life to save many children from the Nazis.  It was a good book to read to my students after we had talked a little about Anne Frank and the Holocaust.  Jars of Hope gave details about the courage and ingenuity of Sendler and others as they attempted to save as many children as possible.