Great read-alike for Charlotte's Web. ( )

Enchanting! Perfect for fans of [b:Charlotte's Web|24178|Charlotte's Web|E.B. White|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386925651s/24178.jpg|987048], this timeless tale features an endearing cast of barnyard characters that will have readers cheering them on.

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher. ( )

Bond used a childhood experience of a barn burning down in her home town as inspiration for this book, but the rest of the story is a delightful true fantasy. Both Bond's pen and ink drawings and her sentences are carefully crafted. She doesn't hesitate to use more difficult words and complicated comparisons. I wonder how I will explain to the 6 to 8 year olds in my classroom that people sometimes purposely burn property to get money from the insurance. The story also touches only big issues like the difficulty small farms are having to stay afloat and the treatment of animals, but the main theme of the book is building a community where the individuals can rely on each others' strengths. I highly recommend this book also for adult. ( )

I received the ARC from NetGalley but had problems with my computer, so I had to wait for my library’s copy to be returned – and to catch it before another patron checked it out! The kids are liking this one. It’s a charming tale of friendship/family-ship, hope, and the strength in cooperation. Reading it over the weekend, I also couldn’t help but see parallels to the current refugee crisis. Not sure if this is intentional or not but might be something to consider. ( )