Woods in the Books Blog

Sundays Are For Reading - The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle On Arranmore Island, the wind is a faithful friend and the past is a place to visit by the light of the Storm Keeper’s magic candles. The first in an ongoing fantasy adventure series and rooted in both Celtic mythology as well as themes of belonging, The Storm Keeper’s Island follows protagonist Fionn Boyle as he uncovers the mysteries and magic of the island to defeat a darkness that lies in wait. Family secrets intertwine with the island’s magical nature. Fionn’s sister Tara leaves her phone and Fionn behind...

Sundays are for Reading - Child of Galaxies by Blake Nuto and Charlotte Ager From gases to minerals, the elements of our world were formed in the heart of at least one star over billions of years. Scientifically speaking, the elements that make up the elements of the human body come from the stars. It’s this poetic sentiment that is the seed of Child of Galaxies, an uplifting read of wonder and courage. Told in second person and a lovely choice for rhyming read-aloud story, the poetry of stars, galaxies, and space intertwines throughout the narration. Blake Nuto’s writing places...

Sundays are for Reading - We're All Wonders by R. J. Palacio A heartwarming picture book read, We’re All Wonders explores themes of difference, kindness, and empathy. Written and illustrated by R. J. Palacio, the author of bestselling book Wonder which kicked off the Choose Kind anti-bullying movement, We’re All Wonders boils the message of Wonder down to its fundamental parts. We’re All Wonders is written from main character Auggie’s point of view. Almost every page contains no more than one line of narration, detailing how others single Auggie out for looking different. The relatively subdued narrative style contrasts against...

Sundays are for Reading - Every Child a Song by Nicola Davies and Marc Martin Written to mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Every Child a Song is an exploration of every child’s potential. Through recurring motifs and metaphors of song, flight, and growth, this picture book is a beautiful poetic affirmation of all children, everywhere. The language of book sings in effective simplicity and lyricism. Its illustrations burst with age-appropriate colour and movement. Yet the true magic of the book comes in how both these elements work together to create a...