OUT OF THE BEST BOOKS: The Rattlebang Picnic by Margaret Mahy, ill. by Steven Kellogg

One of my all-time favorite read alouds! Jack McTavish marries Marion McGillicuddy, and they decide to have 7 children over buying a "wonderful, speedy car." They go adventuring in their family jalopy, along with Grandma and her shark-teeth-breaking pizzas. How her pizzas rescue their family from an erupting volcano is the highlight of this hilarious story! (New York: Puffin Books, 1994)

About Out of the Best Books

Around 1994, my friend, Sara, and I started a book club with this same title. The name comes from the verse of scripture that reads, "...Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." With 7 children under the age of 18, my life feels too full for book clubs right now. But I still love books and have always wanted to read only the best. Many of you want the same for you and for your children. This blog is for you! I have invited some of my dear family and friends to join with me in finding and sharing the books we claim to be "the best."

How "Out of the Best Books" Works

Keeping in mind that the purpose of this blog is not to review every book we have read, but rather to highlight the very best ones: those books that edify, that inspire you to be better in some way. These books easily fall into the description given by Paul and reiterated by Joseph Smith, Jr.: "honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men" (Article of Faith 13). Invited authors add books or comment on books that have already been added. Comments might include: why you loved this book, a favorite quote from this book, what you thought made this book great, or possibly flags you might raise about a part that concerned you or might concern others, respecting the depth and diversity of feeling towards various subject matter.

Suggested Labels

5-Star Favorites
Arts (700's)
Beehive Books (A Utah library award)
Biography
Board Book
Caldecott Award
Children's Chapter Book
Children's Picture Book
Christian/LDS (Latter-Day Saint)
Classics
Family History
Family Science (Babies, Childbirth, Motherhood, Parenting, Pregnancy)
Fantasy
Folk Tale
Geography and History (900's)
Historical Fiction
Holiday
Humorous
Language (400's)
Lexile Rating
Literature and Rhetoric (800's)
Longer than 100 pages
Mental Health
Mystery
Natural Sciences and Mathematics (500's)
New
Newbery Award/Honor Award
Philosophy and Psychology (100's)
Phonetic Reader
Poetry
Preschool
Realistic Fiction
Reference
Religion (200's)
Science Fiction
Social Sciences (300's)
Technology (Applied Sciences) (600's)
Young Adult
Youth

Did you know?

Chasing Knowledge

The grandpa held the jar of honey so that all the family could see, then dipped a ladle into it and drizzled honey on the cover of a small book.

The little girl had just turned five.

"Stand up, little one," he cooed. "I did this for your mother, your uncles, your older brother, and now you!"

Then he handed the book to her. "Taste!"

She dipped her finger into the honey and put it into her mouth.

"What is that taste?" the grandma asked.

The little girl answered, "Sweet!"

Then all of the family said in a single voice, "Yes, and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book!"

The little girl knew that the promise to read was at last hers. Soon she was going to learn to read.

Patricia Polacco, Thank You, Mr. Falker

OUT OF THE BEST BOOKS

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Rattlebang Picnic by Margaret Mahy, ill. by Steven Kellogg

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About Out of the Best Books

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