Wow, has it really been over 3 months since I last posted? Yikes! Sorry :( A lot has happened since then. My "part time" job scheduled me for way more than part time hours, and there's been a couple new additions to the bookworm family (one canine, one human). :) Here's hoping I'll be able to post more regularly than every 3 months, although I won't guarantee every week.
Keep reading,
Bella
Title: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C. S. Lewis
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia
Approximate Reading Level: 7th grade
Summary: In The Magician's Nephew, readers see how Narnia began. Digory and Polly, two young children living in London, England, are sent on an incredible journey by Digory's uncle. They visit an in-between place, a world between worlds. From here, they visit a world much older than their own, and a world much younger than their own. A danger is brought into the new world of Narnia, but Aslan is forgiving, and allows Digory and Polly to bring back some magic into their own world.
Review: C. S. Lewis is a wonderful writer, and his fantasy worlds come alive. He often talks directly to the reader, bringing him into the story. Uncle Andrew uses the word "dem" several times, a variation of "damn" in C. S. Lewis' time. In another scene, one character objects to the "harsh language" used by another. However, the language used is no longer "harsh." Good morals, regarding stealing and lying, are well represented.
****Four stars
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison
Title: Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison
Author: Lois Lenski
Approximate independent reading level: 8th grade
Summary: Almost twenty years before the Revolutionary War, the Jemison family lived on the frontier of America. Mary, also called Molly, lives in a log cabin with her parents and five siblings. Although some of the neighbors have decided to return east because of worry about the Indians, Molly's father is sure his family is safe enough and plans on staying to plant his corn. But the Indians arrive the next morning and take most of the family captive, although the two older brothers are able to escape to tell the neighbors. Molly and a young neighbor boy are separated from the rest of their families and hurried away by one group of Indians. She is taken to live with a tribe of Seneca Indians to replace a tribe member who was killed. The story that follows describes her first year with the Senecas, as she attempts to escape, learns their rituals, and tries to discover how or even whether a white girl can live with the Indians.
Review: Molly Jemison actually lived, and the events in this story actually happened, although the author does take some liberties with timing. The author is authentic to Seneca culture and to Molly's experience. I think this could be an interesting as well as an informative read on the Seneca Indians and on what it might be like to be completely alone in a strange place with strange people, ripped from family.
**** Four stars
Author: Lois Lenski
Approximate independent reading level: 8th grade
Summary: Almost twenty years before the Revolutionary War, the Jemison family lived on the frontier of America. Mary, also called Molly, lives in a log cabin with her parents and five siblings. Although some of the neighbors have decided to return east because of worry about the Indians, Molly's father is sure his family is safe enough and plans on staying to plant his corn. But the Indians arrive the next morning and take most of the family captive, although the two older brothers are able to escape to tell the neighbors. Molly and a young neighbor boy are separated from the rest of their families and hurried away by one group of Indians. She is taken to live with a tribe of Seneca Indians to replace a tribe member who was killed. The story that follows describes her first year with the Senecas, as she attempts to escape, learns their rituals, and tries to discover how or even whether a white girl can live with the Indians.
Review: Molly Jemison actually lived, and the events in this story actually happened, although the author does take some liberties with timing. The author is authentic to Seneca culture and to Molly's experience. I think this could be an interesting as well as an informative read on the Seneca Indians and on what it might be like to be completely alone in a strange place with strange people, ripped from family.
**** Four stars
Monday, October 8, 2012
If You Give series
Titles: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie; If You Give a Moose a Muffin; If You Give a Pig a Pancake; If You Take a Mouse to School; If You Give a Pig a Party
Author: Laura Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Author: Laura Numeroff
Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Summary: There are five books in this cute little series. Each starts with a child engaging in the title activity, which seems to be simple and straightforward. But each begins a chain of events that is as funny as it is both exhausting and messy, and which eventually runs full circle.
Review: I don't remember which of these books I first found on the bookshelf of the daycare or home I was working at, but I do remember thoroughly enjoying it. So when I found a boxed set with more books than I was aware of on the shelf at a local secondhand children's shop for just a few dollars, I just couldn't resist buying it. The story lines are simple and easy to follow, while also providing an opportunity to engage young children. "What do you think will happen next?" can be asked often throughout these stories, as well as "What would you do if . . .?" This second question can be asked both in reference to the child in the story or in reference to the animal (If someone gave you a cookie, what would you want to go with it?)
The pictures are beautifully done, without unnecessary details, but still allowing for engaging reading. For example, in If You Give a Pig a Party, a hide-and-seek scene suggests a game of "Can you find Pig and her friends?"
Well-drawn pictures and a catchy, repetitive storyline work together to make these books great read-alongs for young children. I give them all four stars.
****
Bonus: Guess who two of the guests are at Pig's party. :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
11 Birthdays
Friends,
I apologize again for another late post, but this one comes with good reason--I started a new job last week. I will do my best to keep up with postings, but please understand that helping to support my family must come first.
Love,
Bella
Title: 11 Birthdays
Author: Wendy Mass
Target Audience: Upper Elementary
Approximate Independent Reading Level: 7th grade
Summary: Leo and Amanda were born on the same day, but they're not twins. In fact, they're not related at all. But sharing a birthday is the beginning of a story that leads to their becoming best friends--at least for awhile. But when a fight leads to magical problems, they must work together to solve a problem bigger than they could have ever imagined.
Review: This story is fantasy, with an element of magic. But the magic is not meant to be harmful. The story contains no Christian elements, but can still be used to teach Christian truths--such as the importance of forgiveness. Working together is another important element in the book. There are some elements of lying to adults as the children attempt to figure out how to solve their problems. In their defense, however, the truth is completely unbelievable and would have sounded like a lie, and they do their best to not lie to or disobey their parents.
**** 4 stars
I apologize again for another late post, but this one comes with good reason--I started a new job last week. I will do my best to keep up with postings, but please understand that helping to support my family must come first.
Love,
Bella
Title: 11 Birthdays
Author: Wendy Mass
Target Audience: Upper Elementary
Approximate Independent Reading Level: 7th grade
Summary: Leo and Amanda were born on the same day, but they're not twins. In fact, they're not related at all. But sharing a birthday is the beginning of a story that leads to their becoming best friends--at least for awhile. But when a fight leads to magical problems, they must work together to solve a problem bigger than they could have ever imagined.
Review: This story is fantasy, with an element of magic. But the magic is not meant to be harmful. The story contains no Christian elements, but can still be used to teach Christian truths--such as the importance of forgiveness. Working together is another important element in the book. There are some elements of lying to adults as the children attempt to figure out how to solve their problems. In their defense, however, the truth is completely unbelievable and would have sounded like a lie, and they do their best to not lie to or disobey their parents.
**** 4 stars
Sunday, September 2, 2012
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins
My last post from the "My Name is America" series (at least until I find some more :D )
Title: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier
Author : Walter Dean Myers
Setting: Normandy, France 1944
Target Audience: Junior high-High school
Approximate independent reading level: 9th grade
Summary: Scott Collins is not long out of high school when he joins the army. His journal records his experiences as he goes first to England, then fights through France. Scott meets local people as well as other soldiers. Not all of the men he fights alongside make it home. The journal covers only three months of the war, but they are an event-filled three months. Scott survives the war and returns home, although he never outlives its effects.
Review: Scott does describe some of the gruesome results of war involving destruction of the towns and some injuries sustained during attacks. The writing is good, and the historical information at the back of the book includes a map of Normandy. Obviously, the book cannot be used as a source of factual information, such as for a report, but I think it's a good fictional representation of what a young soldier may have gone through.
**** 4 stars
Title: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins: A World War II Soldier
Author : Walter Dean Myers
Setting: Normandy, France 1944
Target Audience: Junior high-High school
Approximate independent reading level: 9th grade
Summary: Scott Collins is not long out of high school when he joins the army. His journal records his experiences as he goes first to England, then fights through France. Scott meets local people as well as other soldiers. Not all of the men he fights alongside make it home. The journal covers only three months of the war, but they are an event-filled three months. Scott survives the war and returns home, although he never outlives its effects.
Review: Scott does describe some of the gruesome results of war involving destruction of the towns and some injuries sustained during attacks. The writing is good, and the historical information at the back of the book includes a map of Normandy. Obviously, the book cannot be used as a source of factual information, such as for a report, but I think it's a good fictional representation of what a young soldier may have gone through.
**** 4 stars
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Dear America: My Secret War
Hello again,
And life has gotten in the way again. I apologize for being late again with this post, but the last couple weeks have been pretty hectic. They included a couple of doctor's appointments, an unexpected trip out of town for a funeral, and many other little problems. But I hope you enjoy this book. I have one more "Dear America" book after this one (there are several more, but I don't have them).
Enjoy!
Bella
Title: My Secret War: The World War II Diary of Madeline Beck
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Setting: Long Island, New York, 1941
Target Audience: Junior high
Independent Reading Level: 8th
Summary: Madeline and her mother recently moved into a boarding house in Long Island. Her father is on an aircraft carrier somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The story begins in late September of 1941, as Madeline is having trouble in her new school. American warships are protecting merchant ships (since they are being attacked by German submarines), but America has not yet entered the war. The book continues as Pearl Harbor is attacked, and America enters the war. Madeline starts a club so that local kids can help with the war effort by doing things such as collecting scrap metal. Madeline has to deal with many problems, including worry about her father, the other residents in the house, and other girls at school who do not want to include her. As the book ends, Madeline must leave her new friends and begin life in a new city again.
Review: The book does cover a sensitive topic--war, but I think Osborne does so in a good manner. As with other Dear America books, historical information is included about the era. Madeline's worry about her father is often evident, but Osborne balances this with real life often distracting her from writing letters to her father. I think this is a good book to expose young adults to World War II.
**** 4 stars
And life has gotten in the way again. I apologize for being late again with this post, but the last couple weeks have been pretty hectic. They included a couple of doctor's appointments, an unexpected trip out of town for a funeral, and many other little problems. But I hope you enjoy this book. I have one more "Dear America" book after this one (there are several more, but I don't have them).
Enjoy!
Bella
Title: My Secret War: The World War II Diary of Madeline Beck
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Setting: Long Island, New York, 1941
Target Audience: Junior high
Independent Reading Level: 8th
Summary: Madeline and her mother recently moved into a boarding house in Long Island. Her father is on an aircraft carrier somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The story begins in late September of 1941, as Madeline is having trouble in her new school. American warships are protecting merchant ships (since they are being attacked by German submarines), but America has not yet entered the war. The book continues as Pearl Harbor is attacked, and America enters the war. Madeline starts a club so that local kids can help with the war effort by doing things such as collecting scrap metal. Madeline has to deal with many problems, including worry about her father, the other residents in the house, and other girls at school who do not want to include her. As the book ends, Madeline must leave her new friends and begin life in a new city again.
Review: The book does cover a sensitive topic--war, but I think Osborne does so in a good manner. As with other Dear America books, historical information is included about the era. Madeline's worry about her father is often evident, but Osborne balances this with real life often distracting her from writing letters to her father. I think this is a good book to expose young adults to World War II.
**** 4 stars
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A Time for Courage
Title: A Time for Courage
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Target Audience: Upper Elementary
Independent Reading Level: 5th grade
Setting: Washington, DC 1917, Women's Suffragette Movement and WWI
Summary: Kathleen Bowen is given a diary by her mother for Christmas. At first, she thinks her life is too boring to write about. But as women petition and picket to gain the right to vote and America enters the Great War, she soon finds quite a bit to write about in her life and that of her family.
Review: Kathleen is like most girls her age. As she writes, she worries about school, her mother's participation in the movement for women's right to vote, and the possibility of her father's going to war. Kathleen's character is dynamic--by the end of the book, she is more focused on others than at the beginning of the book. More focus is given to the women's suffrage movement than to the war, but some people Kathleen knows are involved in helping wounded soldiers and that part of the war is described. As with the other books in the Dear America series, a historical note and pictures are included at the end of the book describing actual events and people of the time. Also, the book is interesting as well as educational.
**** 4 stars
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Target Audience: Upper Elementary
Independent Reading Level: 5th grade
Setting: Washington, DC 1917, Women's Suffragette Movement and WWI
Summary: Kathleen Bowen is given a diary by her mother for Christmas. At first, she thinks her life is too boring to write about. But as women petition and picket to gain the right to vote and America enters the Great War, she soon finds quite a bit to write about in her life and that of her family.
Review: Kathleen is like most girls her age. As she writes, she worries about school, her mother's participation in the movement for women's right to vote, and the possibility of her father's going to war. Kathleen's character is dynamic--by the end of the book, she is more focused on others than at the beginning of the book. More focus is given to the women's suffrage movement than to the war, but some people Kathleen knows are involved in helping wounded soldiers and that part of the war is described. As with the other books in the Dear America series, a historical note and pictures are included at the end of the book describing actual events and people of the time. Also, the book is interesting as well as educational.
**** 4 stars
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