A Look Back: Kersten Hamilton

If you’ve been around my blog this week, you know that this week is all about Kersten Hamilton!

During her interview, I found out that she has written over 28 different books for children of varying levels and topics. So I thought, what better way to celebrate this amazing author than with a look back at some of her past work? Ready? Away we go!

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While reading Kersten’s interview answers, I saw her mention of the Millie Keith books and became enthralled. A whole series of books I hadn’t heard of? *gasp* I needed to know!

Millie Keith is actually a character that was created by Martha Finley in the late 1800’s! Kersten was asked to take this character, and write a new set of books about her.

Millie’s Unsettled Season is the first book in the series, and in this book we meet Millie in 1833. Her family has just decided that they are picking up from their happy home in Ohio, and moving to the unsettled frontier. Millie’s journey leads the reader into this unknown territory with her, while she explores her Christian Faith.

Millie Keith is a delightful, energetic young girl who lives a life of commitment, courage and faith in this fast-paced, captivating book series for girls. In book one, Millie’s Unsettled Season, readers first meet Millie as an almost-thirteen-year-old living in Ohio in 1833. Millie is about to begin the adventure of a lifetime, moving out to the wild frontier! As Millie journeys west with her family, she learns that everyone must begin to trust God at some point in their Christian walk. Girls of all ages will be able to relate to Millie’s struggles with her faith and with her all too active younger brothers and sisters. (From Amazon)

Did you know that there are a whole set of dolls dedicated to these stories too? Just like American Girl! I thought that was really neat! For more on A Life of Faith, you can visit their website.

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When I first saw this book on the list of past works, I knew I HAD to read it to my second grade class! So off to the library I went, picked it up, and brought it into class.

The boys were enamored with the cover instantly, and started talking about firefighters, and how brave they are and (“Oh Ms. Jessica did I tell you my uncle is a firefighter!”) on and on until they were making me giggle! 

When we sat down to read it all the kids were so quiet. They were whispering about the pictures and even though the words were simple reading, they loved the story! (Kersten, they now want to write you letters.)

For youngsters who can’t get enough of heroes in fire hats and yellow slickers, Hamilton and Davis send a hose company roaring through retro, small-town streets to a smoky house fire: “An orange glow. I see the fire! Firefighters to the rescue!” Opening with glimpses of the firefighters cleaning up their station residence after a meal, and closing with good-bye waves from a lad cradling a puppy rescued from the flames, this dramatic, tersely worded episode makes a satisfying alternative or companion for Lisa Desimini’s Dot, the Fire Dog (2001) and its many cousins. (From Amazon)

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Lastly today, I give you an adorable web book that you can go look at right now! I had to read it. I did. I’m obsessed with teddy bears and am not the least bit ashamed to admit that I own a rather large collection! They are just so cute and fuzzy…..um, yes well anyway back to this book.

You will fall in love with the pictures. They reminded me coloring pages and I was just smitten! Please take a look, especially if you have a little one!

The Teddy Bear Buccaneers

Here is a bit from my favorite page:

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Thanks for stopping by my friends and I hope I sparked some interest in some of these books! Hopefully some of you can take these books home to your families, to your little ones, and they will appreciate them too :). Don’t forget to stop back by tomorrow for a big giveaway!