Little House in the Big Woods
Laura Ingalls Wilder
HarperFestival (October 18, 2005)
ISBN: 978-0060797508
$6.99
Reviewed by: Emily Decobert
Rating: four stars
CONS: Children might find the wording stiff and formal and the writing doesn't focus on dialogue, which many children find easier to read.
BOOK DESCRIPTION This is the first book in the well known 'Little House' series that inspired the TV show of the same name. This book follows a young Laura though life in the barely settled woods of Wisconsin. The issues of daily life such as procuring food and finding supplies are addressed as well as holidays like Christmas. PLOT The plot follows the Ingalls' through the year, highlighting the events of every month. The chronological order is easy for children to follow and the story flows excellently. CHARACTERS Little Laura's personality shines through as the third person narrator, but the reader has to learn about the others by hints and clues from their remarks and dialogue. This sometimes poses a difficultly for a novice reader. DIALOGUE As meantioned before, dialogue is scanty and can be off-putting. NARRATIVE Here the book excels! Clearly written and easy to understand, kids can learn effortlessly. The details paint a vivid picture with enough description to answer those endless questions before they come up. BOOK EXCERPT "0nce upon a time, sixty years ago, a little girl lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little gray house made of logs. The great, dark trees of the Big Woods stood all around the house, and beyond them were other trees and beyond them were more trees. As far as a man could go to the north in a day, or a week, or a whole month, there was nothing but woods. There were no houses." Author Laura Ingalls Wilder lived an remarkable life, traveling in both covered wagon and airplane. She only began writing in her senior years and produced nine books still loved years later.
The Tales of Beetle the Bard J.K. Rowling Scholastic Books, 557 Broadway NY, 10012 ISBN: 978-0-545-12828-5 $12.99 Reviewed by Emily Decobert rating: four stars Harry Potter and his friends learn the secret of the deathly hallows from a book Professor Dumbledore wills Hermione Granger. While readers learned of the book and some of the contents, they never had to chance to read the actual book-----until now. Rowling wrote the book of five tales, centering each story around the lessons of harmony between muggles and wizards and the power of love. These are two major issues Harry and his friends will have to know and use to defeat Voldemort and his death eaters. The tales are interesting but flat feeling; the reader has trouble connecting to the characters. The most fascinating part of the book is the commentary by Albus Dumbledore. It gives insight into the mysterious old man who loved Harry and worked to prepare him for the final fight. As one reads through the book, it is obvious that these notes were written only just before his death for Harry and it neatly ties this book to Deathly Hallows and the whole Harry Potter series. Any fan of the first seven books should read this book that so effortlessly added Dumbledore back into the very last of the series, even though he was already gone. 100 Bible Stories, 100 Bible Songs Stephen Elkins Thomas Nelson, Nashville ISBN: 978-1-59145-239-3 $19.99 Reviewed by: Emily Decobert
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). When raising children to follow God, teachers and parents are willing to try all sorts of things to get the message across. As a teacher, I understand how hard it is to reach children and I have learned that music and stories work great. Now, Sunday school teachers have a book with stories, pictures, and songs to help them, 100 Bible Stories, 100 Bible Songs. In this book are the major stories of the Bible, told in simple language and very short story format. The illustrations are colorful and beautiful, eye catching enough to prompt the most daydreamy kid to focus in to the book. Connected to each story is a song, located on CD’s provided with the book. I reviewed this learning kit and was carried away by it. The stories are told in words that connect with children, easy enough to understand and entertain. While adults might think the tales too short, my own research tells me small kids tend to get bored if the story gets much longer. Another wonderful part of the book is the fact that the main idea is clearly stated on the corresponding page, easy for the teacher to review. While kids are enjoying the story they might not be concentrating on the message, after all, they’re kids. The main idea prompt is a great way to give them a one sentence reminder. Also, there is a first person statement the kids can listen to or read themselves. The statements would also work great as prayer guides for leading the kids’ group or individual prayer. The songs are adorable. Sung by a children’s choir, the 100 songs that accompany the text are the ones learned in church for years. There are all the old classics and some great new ones as well. The whole song is not sung, only a few verses to enforce the tale but not lose the child’s interest. I review lots of books, but this one I took a step further. I actually gave it to my mom to use in her Sunday School class. She has a interesting group of kids who always need new stuff to keep them entertained. I think this book and CD set will do the trick.
Guinevere: On the Eve of a Legend Cheryl Carpinello Outskirts Press, Denver Colorado ISBN: 978-1-4327-3704-7 $10.95 Reviewed by: Emily Decobert The stories of King Arthur and the knights of the round table are ones that we all know. However, we seldom think about the childhood of these famous characters. While we know all about Arthur and Merlin, what about Guinevere? She was his queen and his Achilles heel, it was her affaire with Lancelot that would destroy Camelot. She is vital to Arthur’s destiny, but only recently have authors begun to write about what her childhood was like. In Guinevere: On the Eve of a Legend, Cheryl Carpinello writes an enchanting story about an ordinary girl learning to be worthy of becoming the Queen of England. The author is not simply a Camelot fan who decided to put pen to paper. Carpinello is an high school English teacher who has been teaching about King Arthur and his knights for almost twenty years. This a children’s book written not only to tell Guinevere’s story but to encourage reluctant readers to work on reading. The story is about Guinevere’s thirteen Birth Day and even more important, her first meeting with King Arthur, the young man who would be King of all England. Guinevere is just an ordinary girl at heart. All she wants to do is run wild and free, hunting with her best friend, Cedwyn. Of course, her days of freedom are coming to an end. At the age of thirteen, a girl was expected to cast aside her childishness and learn the duties she must fulfill when she is a woman. More was expected of young Guinevere than the average girl. Her mother is dead and once she is thirteen she must take her place as lady of the house. As mistress of her father’s castle, she must know about all the housekeeping tasks so she can instruct the servants in their duties. Also, her father and Merlyn, Arthur’s former tutor, have plans that will take her from her home to Camelot. Guinevere has her own plans and they often lead to misadventure and mayhem. Not a naughty child, she is determined to choose her own path, even if it disappoints her father, Merlyn, even the great King Arthur. Despite her stubbornness, she shows the bravery and courage she will need to become Arthur‘s queen. Something must happen or the destiny of Camelot will crumble. With Merlyn’s help and the girl’s own intelligence, she begins to understand there is more to life than having her own way. This book serves as almost a fable, a story with a direct lesson at the heart. On the surface, it is a story about a stubborn girl fighting her destiny but it a lesson for children as well. It is a tale of accepting what life gives and finding joy in it. That is a truth many of our pampered kids haven't had to learn yet and one they will have to learn and accept to survive.
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