This week, we feature a fascinating biography of a train robber turned movie actor and a kids’ guide to everything your little one should know by the age of 5.
Biography
‘The Reel Thrilling Events of Bank Robber Henry Starr: From Gentleman Bandit to Movie Star and Back Again’
By Mark ArchuletaAs the Wild West faded away between 1890 and 1920, the movie industry was coming to life. Inevitably, the two met. Several former outlaws acted in movies about their crimes in “crime does not pay” dramas. Henry Starr was one. After a spree as a “gentleman bandit,” Starr turned to the movies, starring in a documentary of his life. Despite his success as a movie star, he returned to bank robbery. This book captures the America of a bygone age, one where movie crime blended with the real thing.
University of North Texas Press, 2025, 320 pages
Military History
‘Intelligence in War: The Value—and Limitations—of What the Military Can Learn About the Enemy’
By John KeeganHow important is intelligence gathering during war time? Keegan, one of the great military historians of the 20th and 21st centuries, takes the reader back to the era of the Napoleonic Wars and marches through World War II. He also touches lightly on the War on Terror. He discusses the various ways combatants have used intelligence, from spying enemy movements to studying terrain, as well as how advances in technology make for more efficient intelligence sharing. A very insightful read.
Vintage, 2004, 432 pages
Nonfiction
‘For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School’
By Susan Schaeffer MacaulayFirst published in 1985, this book remains in print because of the author’s warm and encouraging tone, her insights into schooling and the young, and her promotion of Christian educator Charlotte Mason. Mason aimed to teach by means of “living books,” meaning fiction and nonfiction that inspire learning, as well as by the study of art and nature. Well-known among homeschoolers, Mason’s ideas and this book are intended for all parents seeking to give their children a quality education.
It’s 1977 in Youngstown, Ohio. Danny is a high school senior at a Catholic school. Carly is a new transfer as the school year opens. He’s into computers, science fiction, and math. She’s into art and Harlequin Romances, but hates math. They become close friends despite their differences. But things get complicated: Danny’s dad is an FBI agent and Carly’s runs the Youngstown mob. A sweet coming-of-age tale perfectly capturing the angst of being a 1970s teenager living in a gritty Ohio steel town.
This 1895 Civil War novel heavily influenced 20th-century military fiction and remains an excellent account of combat. Crane took stories from veterans he knew to create this tale of the young Union soldier Henry Fleming, who first gives way to fear and panic in battle, returns to his regiment with his cowardice undetected, then succeeds in his quest for manhood by helping to rally troops and rebuff an attack while carrying the regimental flag. An excellent story both for teens and adults.
Dover Publications, 1990, 112 pages 
For Kids
‘Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five’
By Valorie FisherThis vibrant picture book presents the must-know basics for the pre-Kindergarten set. Whether it’s counting to 20, the ABCs, opposites, colors, shapes, or weather, this colorful read makes for an entertaining choice to build familiarity and confidence with fundamentals. A young child is sure to want to flip through this book again and again.
Schwartz & Wade, 2011, 40 pages
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