Russia text set

To support our study of Russia, we utilized the following books (for photographs or information)-
All books were borrowed from the library.

1. A Wicked History-Ivan the Terrible by Sean Price
I read this book over a few days to my sons.  It is labeled as "Young Adult".  Although the sentence structure and word choice are suitable for elementary age, the content may be shocking and offensive to sensitive readers.


2. Peter the Great by Diane Stanley
A longer picture book suitable for late elementary age.


3.  Country Profiles- Russia
Great photographs  The facts displayed in graph-form were eye-appealing, interesting and easy to read.


4. Social Studies Explorer Russia by Katie Marsico
Great photographs; activities to try-(We made and drank a tea recipe.)


5. Foods of Russia by Barbara  Sheen
Lots of recipes and photographs
We especially liked reading about "taking tea with a bit".



6. Welcome to Russia by Elma Schemenauer
Simpler text with lots of photographs

The Old Truck by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey

Readers witness a girl grow up on a farm alongside a hard-working truck.  Eventually the girl becomes a woman who runs the farm, and the truck sits in a patch of overgrown grass. 
A sweet story about perseverance and family.
I loved the artwork in this book.  The brothers, Jarrett and Jerome,  crafted stamps to create to the illustrations. 

A Breeze in the Willows by Allen Johnson Jr. illustrated by Roger Michell*

A Celebration of the Wit and Wisdom of The Wind in the Willows
Mr. Johnson Jr. has created sweet poems that retell Mole and Rat's adventures. 
Very clever and creative!
The illustrations are adorable.
Pair with The Wind in the Willows. 
Strategy: context clues/vocab. development
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Amos Fortune Free Man by Elizabeth Yates*

Award-Winner- John Newbery Medal
I had my ten-year old read this book to himself to support our study of slavery in Colonial America.  I read my own copy and was amazed by this generous man.
Ms. Yates begins when Amos (At-mun) is a young prince in Africa.  She then relates how he was captured,  his years of slavery, how he earned his freedom and how he lived out his life in freedom. 
Amos's forgiving spirit, emphatic heart, and generous actions are ones to emulate and over which to marvel. 
This biography generated a lot of discussion points!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers*

Although the beginning was a bit slow for me, once the body of an unknown man was discovered this story had me trying to piece together the characters' tales and evidence with Lord Peter Wimsey to the last couple of pages.
When Lord Peter Wimsey and his manservant, Bunter, crash into a ditch near Fenchurch St. Paul, East Anglia, they find themselves taking refuge in the rectory with its absent-minded but kind rector, Mr. Venables and his organized wife, Mrs. Venables.  Little do they know they will be summoned in the spring to solve a complex murder case.
Background knowledge about fens, dikes, change-ringers, bells and church layouts will prove beneficial.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

India text set

To support our study of India, we looked or read the following books-(Most of the books are the reading level for early elementary.  I shared them for their photographs and quick information.)
1. Where is the Taj Mahal? by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler


2. Taj Mahal by Cynthia Kennedy Henzel
My ten-year old is reading this one to himself.


3. Taj Mahal by Grace Hensen


Peacocks are India's national bird.
4.  Peacocks by Megan Borgert-Spaniol


5. Peacocks by Mandy R. Marx  Gail Saunders-Smith, PhD, Consulting Editor

Pirate text set

We recently learned about the Golden Age of Piracy.    These books have supported our study.

I am currently reading aloud to my sons Who Was Blackbeard? by James Buckley Jr.
We have discovered an incorrect fact in it (based on what we have read in other resources)-that he put burning ropes in his beard.  What we have read is he actually put the burning  ropes in his hat.


2. P is for Pirate  A Pirate Adventure by Eve Bunting and illustrated by John Manders


3. Lives of the Pirates Swashbucklers, Scoundrels (Neighbors Beware!)
by Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt
My thirteen-year-old is reading this book to himself.  Nineteen pirates are featured.

-All books are borrowed from the library.

Barbara Cooney text set

After hearing Sarah Mackenzie's podcast about Barbara Cooney, I checked out a few books  illustrated by Mrs. Cooney from the library.
Below are a few I have read:
1. Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Ms. Yolen shares how a valley, the "Swift River towns", is flooded to build a reservoir to provide water for the city of Boston.  The story focuses on the beautiful life before the Quabbin Reservoir was built, how the area was cleared and then how the main character had to process it and move on with life.


2. Hattie and the Wild Waves written by and illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Ms. Cooney shares the story of her mother, who longed to be an artist all of her life and then finally gathers up the courage to do so.
Points to discuss: adults drinking, Hattie consults a fortune teller machine.


3.  Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall illustrated by Barbara Cooney
*Highly recommend.
The Caldecott Medal Award 
I loved this book! The ox-cart man travels ten days to sell the goods he and his family have made in Portsmouth.  He returns with special items from the city.  His family then commences to create goods for him to sell again in the fall. 

-All books were borrowed from the library.

Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito illustrated by Laura Freeman

Ms. Romito relates how Georgia Gilmore, an excellent cook and baker, assists the boycott by using her natural gifts and abilities-cooking and baking!
I love learning about ordinary individuals who have made a difference.
A recipe for Georgia's pound cake is on the end page.
-Borrowed via Inter-Lib. Loan (The library system in my county does not own it.)

Wintercake by Lynne Rae Perkins

Thomas loses his basket of dried fruits.  Now he cannot make wintercake.    How can he celebrate Winter's Eve without wintercake??!  His friend Lucy, a cardinal, figures out who took the basket and trails him. 
But is she jumping to conclusions?
New friendships and joyous adventures await Thomas and Lucy.
My son and I chuckled at a few parts of this story.  It is a longer narrative infused with wit and humor.
-Borrowed from the library.

A Race Around the World by Caroline Starr Rose illustrated by Alexandra Bye

The True Story of Nellie Bly & Elizabeth Bisland
Nellie Bly, a New York reporter, decides she could travel around the world in seventy-five days (less than Jules Verne's book Around the World in Eighty Days).  After she has sailed away, Elizabeth Bisland's publisher at the Cosmopolitan magazine commands her to race Nellie.  Reluctantly, Elizabeth steps on a train, traveling west. 
The illustrations constantly compare the progress each lady is making. 
Who will win?
I like how Ms. Rose illuminates a little known historical figure, Elizabeth Bisland. 
The illustrations are rich, colorful and expressive.
-Borrowed from the library.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie *

I absolutely loved this book!  Ms. Christie is a compelling story-teller. 
Hercule Poirot , an international detective, solves a murder crime by just using his wits.   The Orient Express becomes stuck in a snowdrift.  The next morning Samuel Ratchett is found dead in his compartment.  Only one of the twelve passengers can be the killer. 
I enjoyed "watching" Mr. Poirot in action, as he gathers clues and logically and cleverly solves the case.
*Highly recommend.
Warning if younger readers (not adults) read this: lots of smoking, one man has "pornographic thoughts" as he thinks about his wife (no details are given).
-Borrowed from the library.

Samson in the Snow by Philip C. Stead

Samson, a woolly mammoth, loves the color yellow and his dandelion patch.  He longs for a friend.  One day a red bird comes along and asks to take a few dandelion to his friend who is having a bad day.  Samson generously selects three of the best dandelions.
Samson falls asleep and awakes to a world of winter.  Worrying about the red bird, he searches for her in the snow drifts and discovers, not just one friend, but two.
I read this aloud to my ten year old, and he loved it (He says he would like to own it!).
A sweet story.
Strategy: predicting
-Borrowed from the library.

From a Small Seed-The Story of Eliza Hamilton by Camille Andros illustrated by Tessa Blackham

The amazing story of Alexander Hamilton's wife, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton.
She was witty and compassionate, constantly helping others. 
Even at an elderly age she was hopping fences (in her eighties!!), helping her daughter and fundraising to build the Washington Monument.
She contributed to the founding of our nation more than the general public realizes!
-Borrowed from the library.

The Man Who Didn't Wash His Dishes by Phyllis Krasilovsky illustrated by Barbara Cooney

Sarah Mackenzie featured books by Barbara Cooney on a recent podcast.  After listening, I requested a few books by Ms. Cooney.
The man makes himself a huge dinner and is too tired to wash his dishes.  This pattern continues evening after evening until he has no clean dishes or containers.  How will he gather the energy to clean all of them?
-Borrowed from the library.

Delivered by Beth Moore

Experiencing God's Power in Your Pain
Beth Moore delves into Psalm 40:1-3 and discusses each verse in depth, giving the reader an opportunity to be free from the pit. 
With her warm, candid writing, Beth knows how to reach every type of person.
I read this book over a couple of months so I could meditate and process the truths. 
-Borrowed from the library.

How is a Simile Similar to Metaphor? by Rebecca Stefoff

Through examples and explanations, readers will thoroughly learn how to identify similes, metaphors, and personification. 
-Borrowed from the library

No Map, Great Trip by Paul Fleischman

A Young Writer's Road to Page One
Mr. Fleischman relates to readers his eclectic childhood and young adult life which shaped him as a writer.  I really enjoyed learning how specific life experiences later inspired and influenced particular published writings.   His life proclaims that no experience is wasted.  Rich content and the best ideas lie in one's own life. 
I was expecting more direct writing advice for young writers, but the book was more about his life with ideas woven into his narrative. 
As an adult reader, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his adventures.   I am not sure how many kids will voluntarily read this book. 
-Borrowed from the library.

Mac B. Kid Spy- Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett illustrated by Mike Lowery

Mac Barnett, the author, shares with readers that when he was a kid, he was a spy and the following account is true!

The Queen of England calls Mac to recover her missing spoon, promising to write an excuse note for school.  He flies to England where the Queen of England briefs him on the case and then promptly sends him off to France.  

Humor and adventure make this book a fun read.  The short chapters and numerous illustrations will appeal to reluctant readers.  

I liked how Mr. Barnett mixed in interesting history tidbits throughout the story.

-Borrowed from the library.

Text Set of Washington Irving

My sons and I enjoyed Washington Irving's two popular pieces of literature-Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.


1. The Literary Adventures of Washington Irving-American Storyteller by Cheryl Harness*(highly recommend)
-Borrowed from the library.
A great book to build background knowledge about Washington Irving's entire life.
Detailed illustrations and borders


2. Unabridged The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Blackstone Audio Inc. read by Anthony Heald (*highly recommend)
-Borrowed from the library
My sons and I listened to this audio version over a few days.
Mr. Irving incorporates a lot of description of Sleepy Hollow and the countryside and also includes challenging vocabulary.  Listening to it enables the reader to thoroughly enjoy his writing and the story itself.  I even followed along with a physical book since I am a visual learner and also loved savoring the word choice and descriptions.


3.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other selections from Washington Irving Edited and with an Introduction by Austin McC. Fox
I read from this book while listening to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
-Borrowed from the library.


4.  Great Illustrated Classics-The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving
Adapted by Jack Kelly
My ten-year-old read Rip Van Winkle from this book.
We own this book.


5.  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving  retold and illustrated by Will Moses
Since the vocabulary and sentence structure was challenging for my ten-year -old as we listened to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I also required him to read this picture book to himself to build up his schema and background knowledge.
A delightful retelling!
-Borrowed from the library.


6. Rip Van Winkle illustrated by Arthur Rackham
I read this version to myself.  I was impressed and challenged by the vocabulary!


7. Rip Van Winkle illustrated by N.C. Wyeth
My twelve year old read this illustrated copy to himself.

Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo*

Beverly, the third girl from the book Raymie Nightingale, has just buried Buddy, her pet dog.  She has had enough of her life with her alcoholic mother so she hitches a ride with her cousin Joe Travis Joy to the next town.  As she explores the town by the ocean, she meets Iola, an elderly woman who cannot drive to BINGO.  If Beverly (who is only fourteen) drives her to the VFW to play BINGO, Iola will feed her (tuna melts) and give her a place to sleep.  Beverly agrees.  Just down the road she gets a job busing at a fish restaurant (She hates fish!) and forms a friendship with Elmer who works at Zoom City, a discount store.
Various people surround Beverly, giving her a place to heal and to walk bravely.
I love these companion novels-Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana's Way Home and Beverly, Right Here and highly recommend them.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warning/points to discuss: running away, her cousin Joe Travis smokes and offers her a cigarette (she refuses), an uncaring, alcoholic mother, driving illegally, the only "Christian" represented is a weird lady who pushes tracks on kids with very scary pictures.

The Adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt illustrated by Dan Santat

I read this aloud to my ten-year-old.  My twelve-year-old even liked to listen to it!  The events and characters are very humorous and ridiculous!  I, however, did not like Nanny Piggins and I also did not like what she considered "acceptable".   On the other hand, the incidents are extremely absurd so I do not think many kids would conclude that this is how they should live life!
*Before the book begins, the author has  included a disclaimer that children should not copy Nanny Piggins' behavior in anyway!
Mr. Green, a widower, advertises for a nanny.  When Sarah Piggins arrives on his doorstep, he is initially surprised to see that she is a pig.  Her rate is cheap; the kids like her, so she stays. The children experience many crazy adventures with her and experience happiness for the first time in their dreary home.
Warnings/points to discuss: lying, skipping school, forging adults' names, manipulative, selfish behavior, disrespect to authority, mother died in a mysterious boating accident
-Borrowed from the library.

Louisiana's Way Home by Kate DiCamillo*

Two years after Raymie, Louisiana and Beverly become friends at baton twirling "lessons",  Louisiana's Granny awakes her at three in the morning to flee Florida.  Upon arriving in Georgia, Granny begins to have pain in her mouth.  Louisiana, who is twelve-years-old, must drive and find a dentist.  The dentist has to remove all of Granny's teeth.  The odd pair then settles into a motel so Granny can recuperate.  As the days pass Louisiana discovers many lies about her life.  She processes these discoveries with a couple of caring people willing to listen and to be the family she never had. 
Once again, Ms. DiCamillo offers a tender story that does not shy away from life's difficulties.  Somehow she weaves in hope and humor with the harsh realities of humankind. 
I want to be like Burke Allen who gives Louisiana two bologna sandwiches when she had asked for one. I want to be like grandfather Burke Allen who gives Louisiana his bowl of ice cream and holds her hand as she cries and eats it.
Points to discuss: parent abandonment, lying, stealing, manipulative behavior
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo*

I do not know why it took me so long to read this book!  It was delightful.  Although the characters are experiencing heart-wrenching situations, hope keeps pushing through as the story unfolds. 

Raymie Clarke's father leaves her and her mother with the dental hygienist.  Raymie knows if she wins the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition he will see her photo in the paper and want to return to them.  She signs up for baton twirling lessons to learn a talent for the competition.  At these lessons, she meets Louisiana Elefante whose parents have drowned and Beverly Tapinski whose father is a police officer, but lives in NYC.   As these girls deal with their sadness, their friendship deepens.
This review does not capture how beautiful the story is and how Ms. DiCamillo chooses just the right words to make the story come alive.  I just love her descriptions and word choices.  The reader will even love and come to know minor characters well.  Ms. DiCamillo is amazing. 

*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Points to discuss: fathers who left their families, smoking, shoplifting, lying, a minor character dies, the concept of a "soul"