Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

An enjoyable historical Christian fiction novel, Mine is the Night is set in 1700's Scotland. When Margery Kerr loses her sons and her husband along with her wealth she travels to Selkirk, Scotland with her daughter-in-law, Elisabeth, to try to begin her life again. Though in danger and unwelcome they arrive at their cousin, Anne's home where they are allowed to reside.  Elisabeth's tender nature and talent with a needle bring her work and the ladies are able to buy what they need to survive, though frugally. Eventually Elisabeth obtains a position as a seamstress at the estate of Lord Jack Buchanan sewing clothes for the large household staff. Though still in mourning for her late husband a romance blossoms between Elisabeth and Jack. Rich in historical detail including proper behavior and society of the time, clothing, and interesting characters along with humor make this an engaging book. This book is a sequel to Here Burns My Candle, a novel I have not read but I was able to grasp the plot and connect to the characters in this second book of the series.

Wee Sing in Sillyville (Wee Sing DVDs for Children)

     This month I am picking a set of really good musicals for kids. These are oldies but goodies! I played them for my daughter and son when they were little and now I am playing them for my granddaughter.
     I think these DVDs are best enjoyed by children aged 0-7. The library has nine different selections of Wee Sing. Each one has a theme. My favorite is Grandpa's Magical Toys. My daughter loved The Big Rock Candy Mountains and my son loved Wee Sing Train. My granddaughter is still too young to say!
     All nine musicals are delightful and we like them all. The music, the characters and a little bit of a story line make for colorful, rhythmic fun. To see the complete list on the catalog, pick Movies Only under Everything, and Title under All Fields, and type Wee Sing in the search bar.

Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White

Now that it is finally spring (it is spring, isn't it?) you might be considering doing some serious spring cleaning. Now I don't mean sweeping up a couple of dust bunnies or Windexing some nose prints off of the sliding doors; I mean serious, life-altering cleaning, more like dehoarding or decluttering. If you have reached this point in your life, but you are not sure if you can pull it off, I recommend Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White.
White's book takes you to that step and seriously pushes over the edge when you feel like it is time to get rid of those things you have been holding onto for years, maybe even decades. You know those boxes of items you have been collecting for that one day in the future when you need them? Well, clear up the closets of your life and discover what space can do for you.
White tackles everything  from that pile that always shows up on the kitchen counter, or on that chair in the corner that attracts clutter like a magnet. She does it with logic, and helpful advice, never scolding, but firmly suggesting ways you can free up your life, your home and your storage areas from things you don't need.
As a life-long collector and saver, something clicked for me with White's book and I am now in the process of trashing or donating parts of my life I have hung onto for up to fifty years - without ever really having a use for them. White's ideas and philosophy do work. If you are seeking change, and room in your home, Decluttering at the Speed of Life may offer you the chance to make it happen for you.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Castle “Ghost” Crenshaw has always liked to run, not as a sport...but as means to get away from things.  Ghost, along with his mom, had to run away from his dad and he has to run from classmates.  When he stumbles upon an elite track team practice he realizes how much he likes to run and how good he is.
Ghost is the first in the Track Trilogy by Jason Reynolds. Each story tells of a different person on the track team, what they run for and how it changes their life.

In the Great Green Room: The Brilliant and Bold Life of Margaret Wise Brown by Amy Gary

In 1990 Gary found manuscripts, diaries and letters hidden in a trunk in Margaret Wise Brown’s sister’s attic and begins to research the popular children book author of Goodnight Moon.
Gary’s fascinating biography chronicles Brown’s hands-on approach to writing children books by immersing herself in nature to experience the wonder of it.  Brown was ahead of her times in engaging children’s interest in the interactive format of her works, incorporating sight, touch and sound.
I learned of an adventurous woman who defied conventions in both her career and love life and had lived life on her own terms.  It was an interesting read but sad to see how untimely her life ended.