Declaration of Independence text set

The following books were helpful when we studied the Declaration of Independence:
All books were borrowed from the library.
1. For Life and Liberty by Becky Levine
'
2. The Declaration of Independence in Translation: What It Really Means by Amie Jane Leavitt


3. The Declaration of Independence Illustrated and Inscribed by Sam Fink
*I especially liked how the illustrations help explain the words.

New Kid by Jerry Craft *

Award winner- Newbery Medal-2020, 2020 Coretta King Scott Award and many other  awards!

Jordan, a seventh grader, loves to draw and is disappointed when his parents send him to a prestigious private school known for academics instead of an art school.  His ethnicity and social class make him feel different at Riverdale Academy.   However, as the school year progresses, he finds himself not really fitting in his neighborhood either.  As he observes people (including teachers), he begins to discover the importance of valuing people for who they are, not their ethnicity or social status.  He realizes that he too judges and  . . .even his parents allow social status influence them.
A very hopeful, insightful book.  It made me evaluate my sometimes erroneous conclusions.
I really like Jordan and his dad.  His mom is portrayed well too, but I like the dad better! 😉
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Poems for Two Voices text set

Our February Poetry Tea featured poems for two voices.  We had lots of fun!  Below are books that feature poems for two voices.

1. Math Talk Mathematical Ideas in Poems for Two Voices  by Theoni Pappas
-Borrowed from the library-Intra Lib. Loan (Love this one!!)


2. Bugs Poems About Creeping Things by David L. Harrison drawings by Rob Shepperson
-Borrowed from the library (Not all of the poems are for two voices.)


3. A Foot in the Mouth by Paul B. Janeczko illustrated by Chris Raschka
-Borrowed from the library.
*Not all of the poems are for two voices (6 poems are for two voices).
Favorite one by  Douglas Florian called "Ping-Pong Poem".


4.  Joyful Noise Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman illustrated by Eric Beddows
-Borrowed from the library.


5. The World's Greatest Poems by J. Patrick Lewis and Keith Graves
*Not all of the poems are for two voices (about two are).
-Fun because it features real record holders!
-Borrowed from the library


6. Farmer's Dog Goes to the Forest by David L. Harrison illustrated by Arden Johnson-Petrov
-Borrowed from the library


7.  Scholastic -Best Practices in Action Partner Poems for Building Fluency: Grades 4-6
-Borrowed Inter-Lib. Loan


8. A Stick is an Excellent Thing by Marilyn Singer illustrated by LeUyen Pham
*About three poems can be read by two voices.  The other poems are not for two voices.
-Borrowed from the library.


9. The Day the Universe Exploded My Head by Allan Wolf illustrated by Anna Raff
Although this book is not designated as poems for two voices, there are seven poems for two voices!  Some other poems are for more than two voices.
-Borrowed from the library.


10.Boom! Bellow! Bleat! by Georgia Heard illustrated by Aaron DeWitt
-Borrowed via Inter-Lib. Loan


11. Any of the titles in the You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series by Mary Ann Hoberman
-I own this one plus Very Short Stories to Read Together.


12. I Am Phoenix by Paul Fleischman illustrated by Ken Nutt
-I own this book.


13. Grumbles from the Forest -Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich illustrated by Matt Mahurin
-I own this book.

The Story of the Orchestra by Bruce Koscielniak

An Introduction to Musical Instruments and the Symphony Orchestra
When we began to learn about composers and the different musical periods, we read through this book to understand more about each period and the development of musical instruments and the orchestra.
-Borrowed from the library.

Pair with A Child's Introduction to the Orchestra by Robert Levine illustrated by  Meredith Hamilton:

Right Ho, Jeeves by P.J. Wodehouse*

I have never read a book like this one!!
Most of the book is told via dialogue.  Mr. Wodehouse must been a very clever, witty, creative man to be able to develop a plot through dialogue!
Bertram (Bertie) Wooster, a wealthy man with a man servant, Jeeves, reluctantly leaves London to assist his Aunt Dahlia with dissensions within her home.  He is confident that his intellect and sound planning can solve all of the problems.  Jeeves seems a bit off kilter, so Bertie disregards any of his advice.
As Bertie executes his plans to mend relationships, situations only become more complicated and confounding.  In steps Jeeves . . ..!
Great British humor!
Warnings for younger readers: drinking, a character becomes extremely drunk, some swearing, smoking
-Borrowed Inter-Lib. Loan (No library in my county owns this book.)
*Highly recommend.

The Declaration of Independence with Short Biographies of Its Signers by Thomas Jefferson

A tiny book that contains the complete Declaration of Independence plus sketches of its signers and their biographies.

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

Kendra, a history major, interviews Isabel MacFarland, a survivor of the London Blitz, for a college project.  As Isabel shares her story, she reveals how our choices have great consequence and how investing in others has lasting impact.
A story about forgiveness, selfishness and perseverance. 
A well-written, compelling story. 
Warnings: Sisters, Emmy and Julia, are born out of wedlock and have different fathers.  Their mother participates in an affair (no details are given of their intimate interactions).  Emmy has premarital sex, but not many details are given (closed-door). 
Sarah Mackenzie from Read Aloud Revival had this book listed as one of her top reads from 2019.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Farewell Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel*

A captivating story about the witty and clever composer Joseph Haydn.  When Prince Nicolas does not permit his musicians to bring their families to his summer home, they despair.  It is has been months since they have seen their wives and children.  Joseph Haydn, his musical director, comes up with a creative, clever plan to convince the Prince to return home.
It was a delight to read this story aloud to my sons.  The book includes a musical CD of the symphony Haydn composes in this story (The Farewell Symphony- No. 45 F-sharp minor ) plus Symphony No. 31 Hornsignal in D major).
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Oldest Student by Rita Lorraine Hubbard illustrated by Oge Mora

How Mary Walker Learned to Read
What an amazing story!!  Mary Walker was born into slavery.  She vows that once she is free she will learn to read.  She does learn to read  . . .at age 116!! She is well-know for saying, "You're never too old to learn!".

Revolutionary Friends by Selene Castrovilla illustrated by Drazen Kozjan

This unique, sweet story shares how the noble Frenchman, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette is so moved by the colonists' determination to be free from the British rule that he sneaks out of France to join the American Revolution and to meet his hero, George Washington.  Americans know him as "Lafayette".  Lafayette proves to be an asset and soon becomes Washington's friend.  In fact, Washington calls him his "adopted son". 
I felt that this story ends very abruptly.  The author, however, continues this story of unique friendship on several pages in the back in an somewhat afterword.  Separate time lines for Lafayette and Washington are included in the back too. 
-Borrowed from the library.

A Voice of Her Own by Kathryn Lasky illustrated by Paul Lee

Ms. Lasky shares how Phillis Wheatley arrives in Colonial America and then how she becomes a poet.  Intertwined in her biography is the story of the Colonists rebelling against their enslavement under Britain. 
Two-page-spread rich illustrations.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost illustrations by Vivian Mineker

Ms. Mineker's interpretation of Frost's poem is modernized and sweet.  She depicts a boy trying to discern which path to take in the yellow wood and then slowly reveals how this choice affects the rest of his life even into the next generation.
-Borrowed from the library.

Crown and Covenant #1 Duncan's War by Douglas Bond*

I read this book aloud to my two sons, ages ten and thirteen, over the past few months. 
This book brings to life the struggle the Covenanters experienced during the 1600s.  Duncan and his family pledge alliegance to only King Jesus.  Will they remain true to the faith when the English dragoons sweep their village and land?
Very exciting! Great character development.
Sometimes the Scottish dialetic included was a wee bit annoying.  The boys asked me to skip some of the words.
-I own this book and series(#2 King's Arrow, #3 Rebel's Keep. The family saga continues in another series called Faith and Freedom when the family relocates to the American Colonies).
*Highly recommend.

Robert Louis Stevenson text set

My thirteen-year-old recently read Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  He also read excerpts from the following books to further his understanding of the author.

1. Across America on an Emigrant Train by Jim Murphy
(focuses mainly on the building of the transcontinental railroad)


2. B is for Bagpipes A Scotland Alphabet by Eve Begley Kiehm illustrated by Alexa Rutherford
(not a lot of information about Stevenson, but great information about Scotland!)


3.  Lives of the Writers by Kathleen Krull illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt


4. Treasure Island


5. A Child's Garden of Verses


6. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde and the Body Snatcher  A Graphic Novel illustrated by Robert Smith
(Disturbing images-use caution with sensitive individuals.)

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

This book captivated me from the start!  I stayed up late to read it and woke up early to finish it because I just had to know who was the mastermind behind the kidnappings and murders.  Unfortunately, the book ends on a cliff hanger.  To place the pieces together, I would have to read the entire trilogy since book number two also ends on a cliff hanger!!
Stevie Bell applies to the famous Ellingham Academy where students can pursue their passions and talents all for free!  Stevie's passion?  Mysteries, especially murder mysteries.    Her biggest obsession is a kidnapping and murder which involved the founder Albert Ellingham of Ellingham Academy- his wife and three-year-old daughter Alice.  To her surprise, Stevie is accepted and begins to investigate the 1936 cold case.  As she interacts with other students, she realizes that there may be more mysteries to solve in this modern era. 

I loved the boarding school setting in Vermont, Stevie's interest in murder mysteries, the 1936 mysterious cold case, the suspense, and the clever development of both story-lines (1936 and modern day).

I did not appreciate how the author portrayed Stevie's parents and a state senator negatively because of their more conservative political views.  The Republican Party is never mentioned in the book, but because of their view about global warming and other views, the reader can easily infer she means "Republican".  It is very clear she despises that political party and people who believe similarly. 

Although this is labeled "YA", readers should be aware of: underage drinking, a seventeen year old who is drunk a couple of times, a drinking game, using pot is mentioned, Stevie's close friend, Janelle, is a lesbian and finds a girlfriend at Ellingham Academy, a make out scene and urges to do that again,  references to sex.
-Borrowed from the library.

The World of Composers-Handel by Greta Cencetti

Divided into short chapters, this book reads like a story and shares the life of Georg Friederich Handel, composer of Water Music and the Messiah.
I read this aloud to my sons during our composer study.
-Borrowed from the library.

Getting to Know The World's Greatest Composers-Johann Sebastian Bach by Mike Venezia*

Humorous illustrations coupled with a narrative-style biography will engage readers as they learn about Johann Sebastian Bach. 
I read this aloud to my sons during our composer study.
*Highly recommend this series, which includes, composers, artists and presidents.
-Borrowed from the library.

Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

My ten-year-old read this book to support our study of Colonial America.  I read my own copy so we could discuss it.
Amos, a mouse, staggers into Benjamin Franklin's home one cold winter night in 1745.  Amos soon befriends Ben and participates in all of his inventions and adventures.
This amusing story allows readers to experience what life may have been like with Ben Franklin.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Pair with Poor Richard's Almanack  by Benjamin Franklin.

What's So Special About Shakespeare? by Michael Rosen

This chapter book covers a lot of different aspects about Shakespeare and the time period in which he lived. 
Interesting, sometimes humorous, facts abound.
A very comprehensive time line of his life and the world.
-Borrowed from the library.

Mornings Like This -Found Poems by Annie Dillard

On two different podcasts individuals referenced Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.  I decided to check out her poetry.
To create these poems, she has taken sentences from published works and has arranged them into poems.
Very interesting!  Some made me laugh.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley*

A Flavia de Luce Mystery
While pretending to be dead in the Bishop Lacey's cemetery, eleven-year-old Flavia encounters Ruppert Porson, a famous puppeteer, and his assistant, Nialla.  Since their van has broken down, the team stays in Bishop Lacey and performs two impromptu puppet shows for the village.  Unfortunately,   Ruppert is electrocuted while performing the last show.   His death appears not to be accidental , but one carefully planned.
As Flavia investigates, she discovers a myriad of reasons why people would want the "beloved" puppeteer dead.
Humorous, clever and suspenseful, this series is a delight to read.  The unique, quirky characters living in the village and surrounding areas also add appeal.
Although the story is told from an eleven-year-old, this book/series has been written for adults.  See below.
Subjects/topics to consider before sharing with younger readers: rumors of affairs, the murder occurs because of an actual affair (the actions of the affair are not described in detail-just that the couple was together), swearing -d-n (Flavia even swears at least one time.), farmer grows marijuana and secretly sells it the individuals suffering from polio symptoms (Some people, however, are addicted beyond the medicinal use.), gruesome account of a six-year-old found dead by hanging and then the sad tale of how he actually died.  Evolutionary views integrated.