I keep thinking Maisie Dobbs might start getting old-hat for me, but with each new installment of this series, I enjoy Maisie even more. Although she becomes a bit more introspective in this novel, I find inspiration in both her strong perspective as a professional woman and her quest to be true to herself. She is a woman who quietly, yet persistently, breaks down the stereotypes and barriers of the times. The groundwork is laid in the book for a whole set of new adventures for Maisie in the future, and I’m eager to learn what happens next!

As the days get longer and the sun warms the earth, we all eagerly await the arrival of the first spring blossoms. This book celebrates the arrival of spring not only through its content, but also through its vibrant colors and simple text. Spring Blossoms would make the perfect “first field guide” for the aspiring young naturalist in your family. Pick it up, throw on a pair of mudboots, and head out for the trees!

Although it might not be flashy or high-brow, this has become my go-to cookbook for busy weeknight cooking. The meals are simple, yet tasty and the author includes a “fork in the road” section for many recipes. These are places where you can stop adding ingredients to meet the needs of those with less adventurous palettes...or continue to spice it up for those with more “grown-up” tastes. Ms. Workman also shares many ways to encourage a child’s involvement in meal preparation. A great, everyday cookbook!

This book makes me laugh because the pictures tell a different story than the words. The little fish “knows” one thing, but the big fish knows something quite different. (And, I must say, that both fish look pretty darn cute in the hat!) Although it would appear that the little fish meets a sticky end at the conclusion of the book...the exact outcome is left open-ended. Open it up, and decide for yourself.

Historical fiction buffs rejoice, because Ms. Penman has woven her magic again.  This adventure into the Crusades under the leadership of Richard the Lionheart is impeccably researched and grippingly revealed.  As she demonstrated in The sunne in Splendor, Ms. Penman has a true gift for humanizing characters in history that have gotten a bad wrap by challenging basic assumptions and shining a new light on what may have motivated their actions. Historical fiction at its best!

This book isn’t so much a book about “how to parent” as it is an astute study in the difference between French and American cultures. As the mother of three young boys who travels frequently “en famille” to France, I have observed many of the things that Ms. Druckerman notes, especially around mealtimes. As my husband and I pass off our littlest boys from one to another to run around outside during the long french restaurant dinners, I’ve noticed with envy the french families sitting together calmly, chatting and enjoying their meals at a leisurely pace. How is this calm achieved?! Well it turns out that this skill is nurtured practically in utero in French society. (I think I might have missed the bateau!) This book gave me lots to think about, and even a few things to try out in my own household. It would make a great reading club selection with lots of rich topics to delve into!

Although the comedic novel is not my usual genre of choice, this book captured my attention because I am a fan of Frayn as a playwright. He employs many of the clever tricks-of-the-trade that worked so well in Noises Off. Mistaken identities, barely missed encounters, the newly invented Greek word “Phoksoliva”, and two cab-driving brothers who look alike feature in important ways throughout this zany tale. Laugh-out-loud at times and bitingly satiric at others, this book, which has made the Longlist for the 2012 Man Booker Prize, was a fun detour from my usual reading route.

Just in time for the Summer Olympics, Chris Cleave has woven his magic again. In this novel we explore the lives of elite track cyclists. We learn that the qualities that make people successful on the track, don’t always make them successful in life. We discover that the most important battles are the ones that are fought closest to home, and that sometimes only by slowing down, can you really live life. A great read for the summer, especially as the Olympic torch is being lit!

This book is deceptively simple at first glance. Immediately you are drawn into the bold paintings highlighting different shades of green. But on second glance, you become entranced by the creativity of the cut out sections...marveling at how a butterfly becomes a flower, or an inchworm transforms into paint chip on a faded fence post. Open up the book for yourself, and you’ll see what I mean...the pages pull you through on a magical journey.

It's hard to admit in this region of avid gardeners...but, try as I might, I just don't have a green thumb. Plants seem to wither and die when placed in my care. However, this spring I have been determined to plant a garden with my young family...and this book has given me the inspiration and knowledge to do it! There are lots of fascinating projects--each nourishing, beautiful, and educational in their own way--that I have begun to tackle with my boys. This is a perfect spring and summer book for a family with young gardeners.

This is a special book that grabs young readers from the first flip of the page--or should I say, flip of the book? It mixes science with imagination, taking you from the very real to the very unreal, and bringing you back again amazed by the journey. The text and the drawings are both whimsical and detailed. This is the perfect book for a child (or adult) with a keen eye for detail and an appreciation of humor, imagination, and adventure.

This book tells the inspirational story of William Kamkwamba, who through curiosity, hard work, and determination built a windmill to bring electricity to his drought stricken home in Malawi. For those of you inspired by his biography (with the same name), this is a wonderful vehicle for introducing his story to younger readers.

This book truly left me "wonderstruck!"Mr. Selznick deftly weaves his beautiful prose and appealing characters with the amazing pencil drawings that were so striking in his last novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. However, this time the drawings add an unexpected storyline of their own. I don't want to give anything away by writing too much, because it is so satisfying to unravel the intricacies of the plot! This is truly a book for all ages...a great read aloud with your children, or gift for for the young-at-heart.

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and also Scott Westerfield's Uglies Series, then you will enjoy this novel as well. Set in a post-apocolyptic world, this book explores the concept of choice. Is it better to live in a world where the "best" choices are made for you by an all-knowing Society, or in a world in which the freedom to choose is still your own? This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and I'm eagerly awaiting installment #2, Crossed, due out in November. (Young Adult)

Oh, such characters! I'd love to sit down with the Moses family at dinner and just listen to them talk, or to join the Moses family children as they play their imaginative spy games across the countryside. Here's a story about a strong family that loves one another through the ups and downs of life. As in all families, each person has his or her own foibles--but they only serve to make them more interesting. Pick it up, and enjoy the homecoming!

This is the perfect story for your early reader on a hot summer day...and maybe you'll even get to share an ice cream afterwards! If you haven't yet discovered Mo Willems' delightful Elephant & Piggie books, then you are in for a real treat. Mo just plain "gets" the silly humor of children. Although the illustrations and text are deceptively simple, I guarantee that you and your children will be laughing out loud. (We've also discovered in our family that this is a great series for an older sibling to read to younger siblings.)

What I enjoyed most about this book was the sweeping insight into the turbulent Haitian past. So much of what Haiti is struggling with today has seeds that were sowed during its time under French colonization, and the country's subsequent quest for independence. The voice of Zarit is singular and her journey is compelling. However, the back drop of Haiti and Louisiana are equally compelling and serve as characters in their own right. This book would be a great choice for a "thinking" summer vacation read!