This Is Just...Great

Here's a feel-good story to read going into the weekend: Less than 15 hours after their Missouri home was destroyed by a tornado Sunday night, a family was standing in a brand-new home, built in a day by their Amish neighbors.

Coincidentally, my 11-year-old and I are reading Lois Lenski's SHOO-FLY GIRL this week, which is about a Pennsylvania Amish family. This book was one of my childhood favorites.

Author-illustrator Lenski excelled at telling the stories of children in different regions of the country, including COTTON IN MY SACK, JUDY'S JOURNEY, PRAIRIE SCHOOL, BAYOU SUZETTE, and her Newberry winner, STRAWBERRY GIRL.