A Brave Writer's Life in Brief

April’s Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang selections spotlight dynamic characters navigating complex situations and feelings. Your family will be entertained and inspired as they explore:

• writing,
• mechanics,
• and literary devices.

And this month’s Quill is all about bugs! Your kids can skitter, hop, and fly into nature studies, exploring life cycles and habitats as they practice early reading, writing, and math skills.

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

Buggy Bugs

Are you ready for a new Quill to buzz its way to you? The April Quill (Bugs) is here! (And if you are wondering, we are using the term “bug” in a broad sense to include any tiny creepy-crawlies.)

In this Quill we’ll discover the fun facts tucked into author and illustrator bios; flutter, flap, and sting our way through a look at an array of action words; stare into the face of danger in an exploration of the warning signs used by bugs—and people; survey family members to find out which insect is best beloved and which is most loathed; delight in the symmetry of insect marketing as we build a butterfly; and spot shapes in buggy bodies as we build even more bugs!

Note: You can use any bug picture books you have in your stacks or find at your library.

Some suggestions:

• Inch and Roly by Melissa Wiley 
• Insect Detective by Steve Voake
• The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer 
• Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner & Sarah Forss
• Who Would Win? Ultimate Bug Rumble by Jerry Pallotta
• Origami Insects by Anna George 

Get the Quill.

Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly 

Your family will have fun getting to know eight-year-old Marisol and watching her overcome her fears. Warm humor and a dash of adventure make this story a special delight.

A story’s details are easier to digest in bite-sized bits, AKA chapters! And that’s what we’re looking at in this month’s literary device section.  

We’ll also: 

• investigate italics,
• ponder personification,
• consider commas,
• discover dashes,
• holler about hyperbole,
• observe onomatopoeia that makes our hearts go pitty-pat, and so much more! 

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy edited by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed

Celebrate Eid traditions, the sharing of festive meals, and the giving of gifts in this joy-filled short-story anthology.

April’s literary device is the narrative arc. We’ll explore the ways this important device gives a story a spine—its beginning, middle, and end!  

We’ll also: 

• get moving with action verbs,
• mess around with mood,
• investigate internal monologue,
• change the tone with end marks,
• consider complex characters,
• explore what makes graphic novel storytelling tick,
• keep the story flowing with em dashes, and so much more.

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

This powerful piece of historical fiction takes readers to Madrid in 1957, which is under the fascist dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. This novel is a page-turner sure to inspire lively conversation in your family!

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

• whisper secrets and scrawl furtive letters,
• dress up dialogue with action,
• analyze allusions,
• examine the evidence with primary and secondary sources,
• revolve around repeated imagery with extended metaphor and simile,
• forecast the future with foreshadowing,
• probe the past and ponder shifting perspectives and point of view, and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.

For ages 15-18, check out the Slingshot.

March’s Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang selections show characters who let curiosity and the desire to know the truth propel them toward powerful new discoveries. Your family will be entertained and enlightened as they explore

• writing,
• mechanics,
• and literary devices with these stories.

This month’s Quill rocks! Use it to make memories that sparkle like gems! Explore rocks, stones, and minerals as your child practices early reading, writing, and math skills.

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

Rocks Rock

Are you ready for an earth-shattering time exploring one of nature’s oldest toys? The March Quill (Rocks) is ready for you!

In this Quill we’ll have a fine old time with timelines; curate a gneiss collection of vocabulary words; set our senses sizzling with an exploration of imagery; engage our fine motor skills with the oldest writing materials on the planet; sharpen our sorting skills; and weigh in on a unique standard of measurement.

Note: You can use any rock picture books you have in your stacks or find at your library.

Some suggestions:

• A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker 
• Bok’s Giant Leap by Neil Armstrong, illustrated by Grahame Baker Smith
• The Stone Hatchlings by Sarah Tsiang, illustrated by Qin Leng
• If Rocks Could Sing: a discovered alphabet by Leslie McGuirk 
• What Can You Do With a Rock? by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Katie Kath
• A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals (Peterson Field Guides) by Frederick Pough

Get the Quill.

Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake

Your entire family can join Skunk and Badger on a rock-finding expedition! Surprises lurk behind every boulder!

Have you ever started reading a book about mazes and gotten lost in it? Oof, sorry, we couldn’t resist! That’s because this month’s literary device is puns. Author Amy Timberlake has loaded her story with puns that will make you giggle and groan! Explore how this wacky wordplay works.

We’ll also: 

• explore, investigate, and scrutinize some synonyms,
• keep an ear out for onomatopoeia,
• consider commas and colons in dialogue,
• embark on a Skills Tracker Scavenger Hunt,
• zig and zag through an exploration of verbs,
• give a list a nice big hug with parentheses, and so much more! 

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

Award-winning, neurodivergent author Elle McNicoll has written a story of the historical European witch trials and of a contemporary neurodivergent protagonist who is intent on setting the story straight. We’re confident this book will give your family lots to talk about!

March’s literary devices are alliteration, consonance, and assonance. We’ll explore the ways these devices make writing flow and provide a dash of pizazz!  

 We’ll also: 

• ponder how pronouns help you and me,
• advance our understanding of adjectives,
• activate our imaginations with action words—verbs,
• tune into interior monologue,
• capture clauses with commas,
• play with plural nouns, and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Put on your seatbelts and settle in for a wild ride! This month you’ll join Professor Lidenbrock, an adventurous geology professor, as he sets out on a journey to the center of the earth!

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

• get acquainted through characterization,
• turn over translation ups and downs,
• ponder punctuation fashions over time, 
• embark on an epic journey through a subterranean fantasyscape,
• inquire about science and research,
• wrestle with a resolution and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.

For ages 15-18, check out the Slingshot.

February’s Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang selections feature strong characters who are finding their way in the world even as it changes all around them.

These stories will sow the seeds for Big Juicy Conversations your kids won’t soon forget as your family explores:

• writing,
• mechanics,
• and literary devices,

And this month’s Quill contains the flavorful ingredients you’ll need to explore cooking with kids!

Discover new foods and the places they come from while your children practice early reading, handwriting, and math skills.

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

Break out the measuring cups! The February Quill (Cooking) is here!

In this Quill we’ll keenly observe the spices of life; cook up comparisons with kitchen language; put nursery rhymes into action; bake in order with sequencing; and compare measurement systems.

Note: You can use any cooking picture books you have in your stacks or find at your library.

Some suggestions:

• A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Sophie Blackall 
• Arab Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook by Karim Alrawi, illustrated by Nahid Kazemi 
• Awesome Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 50 STEAM Projects You Can Eat! by Megan Olivia Hall
• Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth
• Strega Nona and other books about cooking by Tomie dePaola 
• Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Get the Quill.

Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing

Things get interesting when Maya meets Ralph, a forgotten homemade robot who comes to life!

You won’t want to miss our story’s opening scene—it’s a food fight, oh my! And this story ends right where it started! You’ll have to read the book to see what we mean, but trust us, it’s the perfect example of this month’s literary device, hook and return! 

We’ll also: 

• shout about interjections and exclamation points!
• take a peek behind the curtain at prepositions,
• dive into some deliciously detailed descriptive language,
• look at the biggest, boldest literary device in the galaxy—otherwise known as hyperbole,
• snip out some syllables, thanks to contractions,
• see how juicy verbs can inject energy into writing, and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

This historical fiction novel takes us to Chicago’s postwar South Side where a boy named Langston discovers the power of poetry and the people who create it! A story that will warm your day, even if it’s snowing where you are!*

February’s literary device is First-person Narrative. Discover the power of stories told from a main character’s point of view.

We’ll also: 

• assess apostrophes,
• announce amazing articles,
• play with poetry,
• find out what’s happening with action beats,
• locate, look at, and learn about commas, and so much more! 

*Note About Content: Although this gentle coming-of-age story is ultimately one of hope and understanding, parents should be aware that just before the book’s opening, the narrator’s mother passes away, a fact that’s wrestled with as the story unfolds.

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

Watch Isaiah and Angel debate the teachings of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois and then decide what your family thinks!*

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

• justify juxtaposition,
• highlight historical fiction,
• pick apart point-of-view,
• dabble in dependent clauses,
• notice narrative tension,
• label literary foils, and so much more! 

*Note About Content: While ultimately hopeful and uplifting, Angel of Greenwood addresses harsh realities of history and depicts teenage romance (including kissing but nothing sexually graphic). We encourage you, the parent, to pre-read this novel to be sure it is right for your family. 

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.

For ages 15-18, check out the Slingshot.

While exploring writing, mechanics, and literary devices, January’s Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang selections demonstrate the power of stories and their ability to entertain, inform, and commemorate.

This month’s Quill explores the power of poetry! Play with pitch, voice, volume, and whimsical words while nurturing your child’s early reading, handwriting, and math skills.

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

Get ready to add rhythm and rhyme to your days. The January Quill (Poetry) is here!

In this Quill we’ll lift our pinkies and sip tea while reading poetry; commit our favorite verses to memory; discover the difference between a stanza and a paragraph; play with rhyme, two words at a time (see what we did there?); clap and count our way through a poem to find the rhythm; and combine rhyme and rhythm to write a limerick.

Note: You can use any transportation picture books you have in your stacks or find at your library.

Some suggestions:

• Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long
• Explosion at the Poem Factory by Kyle Lukoff and Mark Hoffmann
• Fancy Nancy Poet Extraordinaire! by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
• Kiyoshi’s Walk by Mark Karlins, illustrated by Nicole Wong 
• Poem in My Pocket by Chris Tougas, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon
• Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds, illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani 

Get the Quill.

Wondrous Rex by Patricia MacLachlan

Meet Rex: a Labrador retriever who has a special way with words!

Our story’s protagonist has a special gift he generously shares with others! What a perfect way to demonstrate the role of anthropomorphism, this month’s literary device!

We’ll also: 

• start a wondrous word hoard;
• capitalize some proper nouns;
• create breathing room with commas;
• plop pronouns into place;
• ponder some potent punctuation;
• capture qualities with adjectives, and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

You’ll meet Petra, who wants to become a storyteller like her abuelita. But first, she’ll have to summon all her courage to fight incredible odds to save herself and others. This page turner will keep your kids on the edge of their seats—enjoy!

January’s literary device is flashbacks. Find out how a trip back in time makes the here and now more interesting!

We’ll also: 

• engage with ellipses; 
• save time with contractions;
• talk about quotes;
• find the fun in figurative language;
• connect with coordinating conjunctions;
• tune into tone; and so much more! 

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.

The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds

Hinds has adapted Homer’s famous work into a gorgeous graphic-novel!*

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

• get lost in translation;
• wander through wordless sequences;
• contemplate commas;
• activate ALL CAPS;
• follow comic book transitions;
• explain encapsulation and closure, and so much more!

*Note About Content
The illustrations in this book depict the sensuality of the original text in much the same way ancient Greek sculpture you see in art museums might, including the human form in minimal clothing. The book also visually represents the violence of the epic with scenes of bloodshed and battle. Please review the book to decide if this story is right for your family.

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.

For ages 15-18, check out the Slingshot.

December’s Dart, Arrow, and Boomerang selections celebrate the power of family and friendship and provide shiny opportunities to explore in dynamic new ways:

• writing,
• mechanics,
• and literary devices. 

And this month’s Quill takes you on an exciting ride exploring modes of transportation, while also nurturing your child’s early reading, writing, and math skills.

[This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you click on those links to make purchases, Brave Writer receives compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you!]

Cars! Boats! Trains! Oh, my! Get ready to move with the December Quill: Transportation!

In this Quill we’ll size up books as we explore book anatomy; label pieces and parts; get a move on to memorize as we develop gross motor skills; train fine motor skills with tracing; keep track with counting; and see how one thing is not like another as we compare and contrast.

NOTE: You can use any transportation picture books you have in your stacks or find at your library.

Some suggestions:

• Choo Choo: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away by Virginia Lee Burton
• My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang & Huỳnh Kim Liên 
• Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López
• DK Smithsonian Our World in Pictures: Cars, Trains, Ships & Planes by Clive Gifford
• Stephen Biesty’s Incredible Cross-Sections by Stephen Biesty 
• The Amazing History of Transportation: Machines in Motion by Tom Jackson

Get the Quill.

The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el

Meet Duane, a lovable polar bear who finds friends and adventure wherever he goes!

Our story’s narrator this month has big opinions and can’t wait to share them with you! What a perfect way to demonstrate the role of the intrusive narrator, this month’s literary device!

We’ll also: 

• wiggle our way through a look at verbs describing the ways animals move;
• encounter a passage that uses repetition again, and again, and again (to great effect);
• savor some lyrical language;
• ponder the delights of personification;
• split up parts of a sentence and make lists with semicolons; 
• consider a cornucopia of color names, and so much more!

Purchase the book.

Get the Dart.

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

This heartwarming story of three siblings evacuated from London to live in the countryside during World War II is a feel-good story—a perfect family read aloud.

December’s literary device is genre. Find out what makes historical fiction unique and explore which genres your family especially enjoys!

We’ll also: 

• capture conjunctions and cling or string ideas together;
• show respect with honorifics;
• search for short sentences and some long ones too;
• slide suffixes in at the end;
• discuss the ins and outs of dialogue;
• catch commas carrying out all sorts of jobs; and so much more!  

Purchase the book.

Get the Arrow.

The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais

This look at a teen girl navigating Deaf culture, high school, and relationship struggles is sure to spark Big Juicy Conversation in your home.

In this Boomerang, we’ll:

• contemplate how conflict is constructed;
• provide background details about narrative exposition;
• get acquainted with character development;
• wait and wait to find out about suspense;
• chat about colloquial expressions with y’all; 
• enjoy an aha moment with an exhilarating epiphany and so much more! 

Purchase the book.

Get the Boomerang.

For ages 15-18, check out the Slingshot.