A comprehensive overview of C.S. Lewis's life and how he created the Narnia world
I love how the book is long & narrow-like a door! The "More About Jack" & "Other Interesting Facts" are especially fascinating.
I do not care for the illustrations.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Rosenstock reveals to the reader how Bill Monroe, the founder of bluegrass music, embraced music from an early age and pursued his passions to create a new genre of music. His story reveals how vital it is to learn from others and also to hone one's skills.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
Mrs. Ferguson relates the story of how her family purchases land in the country, builds a home on it, and establishes rural routines. This book celebrates country living, family, and simple delights.
-Borrowed from the library.
When Gwen is thrusted onto her Great-Uncle Matthew for two weeks, she is thrilled. Her divorced parents only interact with her for their own benefit. Great-Uncle Matthew, however, is kind, caring, and fun. He pours more love into her those two weeks than she has ever experienced in her lifetime. This new reality also brings something fantastical. At the local library, Gwen witnesses winged creatures swooping among the children. Normally children over six cannot see them. Why can Gwen see them? She soon discovers a family history that has its roots in Scotland. These winged creatures have depended on the MacKinnon family for centuries. Is Gwen truly heroic enough to fulfill the role expected of her?
I love Jeanne Birdsall's Penderwicks series (It's my favorite chidren's series). I have been waiting years for this book to be published! Although this book is wholesome, is fun to read, and contains lovable characters, I did not enjoy it as much as the Penderwicks series.
I highly recommend it for 2nd-5th graders.
-Borrowed from the library.
Growing up in the 1940s & 1950s in Washington, D.C., Elgin Baylor developed his own elegant basketball playing style despite being limited to run-down courts and inferior equipment. When Elgin played, "people stopped what they were doing and watched." Wanting to attend college, Elgin could only go west, where Blacks were allowed. Coaches were amazed by his moves, all self-taught; he always replied to their wonderment, "It's spontaneous." Despite his talent, he remained humble and refused to brag. Despite segregation, he played and then refused to play when he was not welcomed in towns' eating establishments.
I loved how Ms. Bryant integrated Civil Rights Movement moments into the story, which were occurring simultanteously. Yes, this story features an amazing, humble basketball player, but it also immerses the reader into the tensions of this time period.
The illustrations are rich and expressive.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Ms. Alznauer focuses on Ramanujan's childhood and his development of his number theories, not his time in Cambridge with G.H. Hardy. His theories have influenced and shaped ideas in mathematics, computers, black holes, and string theory.
A fascinating read for young mathematicians.
Consideration: He prays to a god about leaving India to study in England.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I only read a few excerpts aloud to my son while studying the Underground Railroad. This archive of primary documents is fascinating and will cause the reader to have even more respect for those who risked their lives to escape slavery and for those who helped slaves to escape. Someone writing a research/term paper on the Underground Railroad would find this book to be a valuable resource.
I am not highly recommending it because I did not read it in its entirety (otherwise, I probably would be highly recommending it!)
-Borrowed from the library.
-Newbery Honor Book
Through poems, Ms. Weatherford relates the life of Henry Brown and his grand escape in small box! I liked how she included other historical events that impacted slavery. A great book to utilize when studying the Underground Railroad and rumblings of the Civil War.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Wilder Good, twelve years old, eagerly awaits the "old man", Gale Loving, to pick him up for an elk hunt in public land near their hometown, Cottonwood, Colorado. He begged to take off from school for this hunt and even bragged to his "secret girlfriend" about missing school. Will he bag an elk?
This book is perfect for reluctant male readers who rather be hunting and enjoying the outdoors than reading. The chapters are short and exciting.
Warnings/discussions: The Bible/church are mentioned briefly. They are not the center of the book's purpose. Wilder swears (the word is not mentioned-just "He swore."). Gale frowns about it. It also mentions Gale swearing silently in his thoughts. Wilder has a crush on Sunny, whom he has "adored" since kindergarten. He loves watching her blonde hair swirl about and how she laughs. He wants to marry her someday! Violence-hunting, killing and butchering the elk-very descriptive-I felt like I was right next to them and smelling it!!
I read about a later book in this series via a World magazine review and was curious. More books like this are needed for reluctant, outdoorsy, junior high boys!
-Borrowed via ILL.
Wangari, aka Mama Miti, started the Greenbelt Movement in Kenya in 1976 to fight vs deforestation. This picture book displays how the women of Africa respected and approached her for advice and help. Her answer? Always a tree to remedy the situation The writing is lyrical and poetic. The author's note is interesting-especially how much education Wangari earned despite the odds.
A great book to read to children on Arbor Day.
The illustrations are stunning-vivid with oil paints and printed fabric on gessoed board.
-Borrowed from the library
I read aloud this autobiography to my youngest son this summer. It truly is "an unforgettable story". Joni relates her spiritual and mental state before, during, and after her diving accident plus her physical struggles. Her struggles are relatable. I especially appreciate how she does not excuse or explain away her spiritual immaturity. The reader feels like he is right there with her and growing with her.
Warning/discuss: Joni engages in physical activities with boyfriends-no details and not sex, she also struggles with lustful thoughts
**Highly, highly recommend.
-I own this book.
I love Mr. Hunt's books about the medieval time period! His paintings are based on thorough research and are also vivid and expressive. In this book he incorporates runes and smaller illustration boxes that enhance the storyline.
Sigrid loves spending time with her Poppa, listening to his tales. In this story he shares how Leif discovers the lush land beyond Greenland and how he is never able to return to the land.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
Sigurd sometimes wonders why he must train hard each day, all day. His father, Olaf the Strong, designs challenging activities for Sigurd. Eventually, Sigurd utilizes the training when he sails to view the mysterious Wineland. When he and the ship's owner begin to argue on a routine basis, Sigurd realizes he must escape. Fleeing the ship actually saves his life, giving him the opportunity to return home, to share his story, and to learn to read & write so he can record his adventures for future generations.
Very exciting story that kids in first through fourth grade will find enthralling. This book would be great for reluctant readers and also for children building stamina in reading chapter books.
I found the illustrations not very crisp nor appealing.
Considerations: violence, some cruel characters
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book (republished recently by Purple House Press).
King Alfred, the only English king called "Great", loved stories and longed for his people to be able hear & read stories in English. As a result, in his spare time, he learned Latin so he could translate stories into English. This book focuses on this desire and his tenacity plus a story he heard from a trader, Wulfstan.
The illustrations fill the page or two page spreads and will immerse the reader into this time period. A couple of the illustrations may be a bit scary for sensitive readers (depictions of a personified sea & three old magicians). I like how the Mr. Riddell separates the two stories-King Alfred & his court and the story Wulfstan relates by color hues (King Alfred = brown; Wulfstan= blue).
I did not like how the author has Wulstan use improper grammar -using "me" as a subjective prononun! Three times he included this- "Me and my crew" & "Me and my salt-friends"-2x. Maybe it is ok to speak & write this way in Great Britain?
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Professional storyteller, Lorna MacDonald Czarnota, shares short versions of tales from the Middle Ages. After each story she offers tips for telling it well and the story's history/true aspects. Tales about the following people are featured: William Tell, Robert Bruce, Robin Hood, Joan of Arc, King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table, Duke Lech, Beowulf, Charlemagne, Saladin, Alexander the Great, Eleanor of Aquitane, & Boudicca.
-Borrowed from the library.
Hawk, an apprentice, and Sabina, Lady Morgan's mentee, encounter each other at Lady Morgan's house and become fast friends. Realzing that Lady Morgan wants to incite war between King Arthur's kingdom and the dragons to wipe out dragons in all realms, the two friends join Merlin and kind-hearted dragons to prevent this devastation.
An exciting, adventurous book
I thought that the friendships formed and the conversations to Christ occurred too quickly to be realistic.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library. ( I asked my director to purchase this title, & she did!)
Considerations for younger readers: magic, death, fighting vs. evil
This book was loaded with sticky notes, indicating which recipes I wanted to try! With my schedule and life events right now, I, however, only had time to make two recipes- Blueberry Almond Cake & Sugar Cookie Bars (made two times, the 2nd time I doubled it). My family enjoyed the outcomes-devoured within two days! The recipes are easy to follow using basic ingredients.
Recipes I want to try (I will have to borrow it again or just buy it!): Double Chocolate Banana Bread, Cosmic Cookies, Oatmeal Cream Cookies, Coffe Cake Cookies, Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins, White Chocolate Brownies, Blueberry Pie Cookies, Vanilla Bean-Blackberry Scones, Funfetti Crumb Cake, Orange Pull-Apart Bread, Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies, Spiced Pumpkin Snickerdoodles, Maple-Glazed Apple Blondies, Cranberry Pie Bars
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I borrowed this book from the library to read about Oliver Herford for an upcoming Poetry Treat theme. I only read the chapter about him (Other the subjects were: Franklin Pierce Adams, Richard Willard Armour, Margaret Fishback, Arthur Guiterman, Samuel Goodman Hoffenstein, Donald Robert Perry Marquis, Phyllis McGinley, Christopher Darlington Morley, Ogden Nash, Dorothy Parker, James Whitcomb Riley, & Bert Leston Taylor). Published in 1968 for a younger audience, it does not have the stilted, simplistic style & tone a lot of biographies for teens have today. As I read the chapter on Oliver Herford, I felt like I got to know him and could appreciate his personality.
I will reborrow this book when I feature him at our Poetry Treat.
This book compares two medieval weddings-noble & peasant. Mr. Lasker utilized paintings or pictures drawn by artists during this time period to inspire and guide his own illustrations. A wonderfully unique book!
Considerations: peasant woman nurses her baby-the reader can see the top portion of her breast-very minimal; the merry making involves drunkenness, fighting, & wildness-readers see people passed out!
*Highly recommend-readers will learn a lot about this time period & customs through this engaging book but see the considerations.
-I own this book. I bought it used (via order online). Unfortunately the spine is brittle. I am afraid with a few more readings it will fall apart.
Through illuminations and the alphabet, Mr. Hunt exposes readers to important words that describe the Middle Ages. Some words are basic (dragon, falconry, knight, Merlin) but other words are not as well-known (at least to me!!) (oriflamme, quintain, xylography). All ages will enjoy this richly illustrated and written picture book.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed via ILL.
I read a review of this book in World magazine and was intrigued.
What an amazing woman Nan Songer was!! She raised spiders to harvest silk for crosshairs for gunsights during WW II. This book details how she learned their habits, fed them, and harvested their silk. Her perseverance with her "hobby" is inspiring!
Nan Songer's family granted the author permission to read through her unpublished journals to enrich this story.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Purple House Press was having a sale off its new titles it was republishing. I took advantage of the sale, purchasing several titles. This book was one of them.
A true story from the author's childhood
This Christmas Bess's family can only afford a turkey. No presents would be given. Through this difficulty, Bess learns the importance of obedience and the unsurpassing gift of love. It was interesting to read how Christmases were observed and celebrated years ago.
*Highly recommend.
I own this book. (only 46 pages)
A Visual Guide to Punctuation & Symbols
My friend had this title on her recommended book list. I thought it looked intriguing.
It is fascinating! The author orients the reader to each punctuation's history/origins and how to use it properly. The graphics are stunning. Unfortunately, because I read this right before falling asleep, I did not retain any of the information. This book would be fun to incorporate into late elementary through high school grammar lessons.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
