“Candles behind the Wall”: Remembering Barbara J. Elliott
It was with great sadness that I learned of the recent passing of Dr. Barbara J. Elliott. Though I only met her […]
Better than It Ever Was: Fiction and the Redemption of the World
I’ve heard many people remark recently that they “just couldn’t get into the ‘Little House’ books.” By this, they mean that the […]
Madeleine L’Engle’s “Meet the Austins,” a Story about Family Life
Madeleine L’Engle is, without a doubt, a giantess of middle grade fiction. “A Wrinkle in Time” holds a place of beloved esteem […]
Will There Be Books in Heaven?
I had a wonderful time writing this article for the Stella Maris Center about how to find good books. The short answer […]
Stuck in the Winter Blahs? Try Elizabeth Von Arnim’s “The Enchanted April”
“… Why, it would really be being unselfish to go away and be happy for a little, because we would come back […]
Looking for Cheap Thrills? Try Sentence Diagramming
I was fortunate to have a few teachers old enough to remember sentence diagramming, and I got a taste of it in […]
Betty MacDonald’s “Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic”: The Inspiring Fiction of Adults Who Enjoy Children
“Of course the reason that all the children in our town like Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is because Mrs. Piggle Wiggle likes them. Mrs. […]
Unlikely Advent Reads
There are many good and worthy meditations for the Advent season. There are also stories that would not make an obvious choice […]
Elizabeth Goudge’s “The Little White Horse” Revisited: I Was Wrong
Having reread “The Little White Horse,” I can say with confidence that I was a nincompoop for not appreciating it more the […]
Books to Give as Gifts to Everyone You Know
There are picture books I’ve given as gifts no less than a dozen times. Whether the oldest child in the family is […]