What we are reading this week

It's been a couple of weeks since I last shared the books we were currently reading.  If you want to see the books I missed posting about, check out this link.  It has all the books we have read for the past 4 years.  There are so many good ones on that list!  We finished the Bunnicula series.  My 7 year old just loved those books.  And another new favorite is Belle Prater's Boy by Ruth White.  It was such a beautiful story of friendship.  It tackled quite a few tough topics, but was just so beautiful.  This week we are on to 3 new books.

After Lunch Read Aloud- All 3 boys

The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick

                                                       

The boys and I started this book a week ago and are about 3/4 of the way through it now.  I have heard so many great reviews of this book and was really looking forward to it.  It is even written by an author that is from my area in the United States!  I think I may be "series-ed" out.  Every book is series today.  I just want a wonderful stand alone book.  So I think this may be where my review of this book is coming from.  We will only be reading the first one together and if they boys want to continue, they can finish the series on their own.

It's a story about a boy and his two friends that are searching for his sister.  They start to notice strange activity at their local zoo and begin to think the zoo may have played some part in the disappearance of his sister.  It is a cute story so far, but I think I am just really craving some good historical fiction.   Needing a little change from magic, kingdoms, and animals.


Nighttime Read Aloud- Britton

The Green Ember by S.D. Smith
                                                          

This another series that I have heard wonderful things about.  It's only two books, plus a prequel, so I think I can handle this one.  Again it is about animals and kingdoms, but we honestly are not far enough into it to give a good assessment.     It is recommended for middle grades and I would agree if the child was reading it alone.  I have had to explain a few things to Britton to help him understand what is happening, but so far he seems really interested in the story.  I'll have to tell you more next week because I can't even give you a summary of it since we just started it.


Nighttime Read Aloud- Greyson and Lincoln

The Ranger's Apprentice: The Icebound Land by John Flanagan

                                                          

We are on book 3 of the Ranger's Apprentice series out of 12.  This really is a series where you have to read all the books.  They do not end with closure at all.  So if you start, you will be committing to all 12.  But they are pretty fast reads.  We can get through them in about a week and a half.  The boys are really enjoying the story of the apprentice ranger, who has gotten himself into a little trouble in this book. I like how brave he is and how he never gives up no matter how beaten down he is.  I also like the relationships he has and how the characters will go to extreme measures to help out their friends in need.  It is a really positive story with positive role models for the boys.  I am interested to see where this series of 12 will take us over the next few months.

That is what we have been up to this week.  This is also our last week before school starts!  It was a short winter break, but I am excited to get back into the swing of things.

Any great books that you would like to suggest?