Jul 03 2025
This month I reached the end of Diana Wynne Jones’s life in my year of reading all the books by Diana Wynne Jones! I read The Game, House of Many Ways, and Enchanted Glass. That’s one final book in Howl’s universe and two stand alones – three extremely strong books. The Game (2007) In The …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/07/03/a-year-of-diana-wynne-jones-the-late-2000s/
Jun 30 2025
Which parent hasn’t had the frustrating experience of being manipulated and possibly even outsmarted by their young children? It is, after all, to be expected as your kids get older and smarter, but being outwitted by an actual child, especially when you’re trying to get them to do things for their own good, is a …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/30/lila-said-no-by-kiki-frayard-aileen-bennett/
Jun 23 2025
Oh, huh, I didn’t realize that this second book in The Web Of The Spider series would have a different protagonist than the first one, but it makes sense! In Rise Of The Spider, our narrator was young Rolf, who watched with growing horror as the Nazi Party’s hatefulness infiltrated not only his beloved hometown …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/23/threat-of-the-spider-by-michael-p-spradlin/
Jun 16 2025
subtitled Flaco The Owl’s Dreams Take Flight. I cannot be the only person who keeps confusing Flaco the owl with the red tailed hawks who also famously made New York City their home. Fortunately, this picture book helps clear up any misunderstanding caused by the unwittingly cognate names! Told in the first person, this anthropomorphized …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/16/free-bird-by-christine-mott-ofra-layla-isler/
Jun 11 2025
subtitled Discover Earth’s Amazing Ecosystems. And oh what a lovely and surprisingly topical look this is at not only the ways that plants and animals form mutually beneficial ecosystems in nature, but also how integral they all are to human life! A lot of science books talk about humans almost as if we’re separate from …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/11/friends-in-nature-by-marina-ruiz/
Jun 03 2025
In my quest to read all of Diana Wynne Jones’s books in one year, this month I read The Merlin Conspiracy, Conrad’s Fate, and The Pinhoe Egg! We have now entered the era of Diana Wynne Jones books I read one time when they came out, and generally have not read since. It is an …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/06/03/a-year-of-diana-wynne-jones-the-mid-2000s/
May 27 2025
with illustrations from the award-winning Terry and Eric Fan. Oh my heart. I actually had to check my calendar to make sure that I wasn’t being particularly susceptible to this book due to hormones, and that I was in fact laughing and crying solely due to Growing Home’s charm, wit, and deeply understood and portrayed …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/27/growing-home-by-beth-ferry/
May 19 2025
As a chronic thinker who tries not to over-dwell on things, I cannot even begin to tell you what a relief it is to find a book like this. My constant compulsion to justify myself is likely a product of being raised by overly critical parents, so finding a kids’ book that short-circuits the idea …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/19/there-doesnt-have-to-be-a-reason-by-mc-kasper/
May 15 2025
Gosh, how long has it been since I’ve held a physical copy of a children’s chapter book in my hands? It was a genuine, nostalgic pleasure to read this in the company of my dog-nephew Mario, as he kept me company during downtimes in an otherwise frantic (if super fun!) performance week. Set in a …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/15/chip-and-chatti-save-the-farm-by-heidi-paul/
May 13 2025
This was a delightfully whimsical picture book about encouraging children to wonder about the world around them. Whether discussing science, art or feelings, it exhorts kids to stay curious and questioning about both realities and possibilities. Brenda Rodriguez’ illustrations are terrific: colorful, diverse and really bringing Gianna Davy’s questions to life. I also really admired …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2025/05/13/how-do-i-wonder-by-gianna-davy-brenda-rodriguez/
Al Singh
Doug Merrill
Doreen Sheridan
Emily Lauer
John Pitzel
Lars N. Goldschlager
Laura Eilers
Professor X
Robert Maedgen
Sylvere Ap Leanan
The Shire