Books Can Change Lives

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever read a book and have it change your life? Do you have a childhood favorite book that just got your thinking? I know I have read a few in my life. Today I am going to share books that celebrate books and authors as well as one of my childhood favorites. The first book is Journeys: Young Readers' Letters to Authors Who Changed Their Lives edited by Catherine Gourley and Library of Congress Center for the Book. 

Is your child looking for an inspiring book? This book will give them all sorts of ideas as to which book to read next. The book is comprised of a quick introduction to the book and then a child's letter to the author about how the book changed his or her life. There is a letter from a Jewish girl to Anne Frank. She talks about how alone she feels as one of the only Jewish girls around and sometimes she is ashamed until she thinks of all that Anne had to go through and how she stayed proud of being Jewish. 

The book has three parts to it: Upper Elementary, Middle School and High School. Each part has a couple of chapters. The letters are grouped in ways that the books changed the child's life. It is heart touching and full of inspiration and quite honestly makes you want to read or reread the book the child is writing about again. This is an amazing resource for teachers, parents and librarians as well as a book that will inspire the kids who read it. 

When I was young I received as a gift one Easter a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit. It was a paperback and more like a chapter book than a picture book. I loved that book and still have it. It is on Hazel's bookshelves now. I always loved reading it and decided to keep it even though I have gotten rid of most of my books from my childhood. I do believe this book helped fuel my love of stuffed animals and dolls. I truly believed if you loved them enough they would come alive. 

Today I get to share with you an absolutely gorgeous version of my childhood favorite. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams and illustrated by Sarah Massini. This story is the classic story of the little stuffed bunny who eventually becomes the favorite toy and than has to be thrown away (well burned) because of the boy getting scarlet fever. This version has absolutely beautiful illustrations and is a such a fun way to enjoy this story.

I hope you will check out this classic story presented in an amazing manner. I did not download the free recording of the story, so I cannot tell you about it, but it is offered with the book.

Our final book for today is Books! Books! Books! by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. This book takes you to the British Library, the National Library of the United Kingdom. It is the largest public building constructed in the UK and holds one of the largest collections of books, prints, letters, drawings, maps, stamps, newspapers, plays, and music in the world. It shares with you some of the amazing things that are kept in this great library. It includes the oldest surviving book produced in Europe to have its original cover and binding, which is a handwritten Gospel of John. It has an 11th century handwritten copy of Beowolf. It also brings to light Chaucer, Shakespeare, Jane Austin, and Dickens. There are also treasures from da Vinci and handwritten music by Handel. This book is a wonderful introduction to this special library as well as to some important literature and works of art in the world. It is a fun book and is suggested for middle grades.

I hope you will check out these inspiring books and have them lead your kids to all sorts of other books!! Happy reading!!