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Jelly Mom,™ a light-hearted monthly column, is written by Lisa Barker, author of "Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane ... Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!
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*** John Smith Escapes Again! Reading level: Ages 9-12 Hardcover: 64 pages Review by Lisa Barker, http://www.jellymom.com |
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This is a very interesting book. Based closely on John Smith's own writings it's very easy to get pulled into the narrative. He lived a most exciting life and Rosalyn Schanzer does that life justice.
What impressed me most, besides the detailed maps, illustrations and 'time facts' is the way Schanzer illuminates the time period that John Smith lived in. While we see the hero (often at large) we also see some of the selfish villains of that day like Edward Wingfield and John Ratcliffe and many others.
The danger and adventure and the evil that selfishness breeds make the heroic qualities of John Smith and his passion for America and all the possibilities really come alive. Schanzer also sets the story straight about Captain John Smith and the Native American princess girl Pocahontas. When will this book be made into a movie?
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*** The Adventurous Life of Myles Standish Reading level: Ages 9-12 Hardcover: 144 pages Publisher:
National Geographic Children's Books Review by Lisa Barker, http://www.jellymom.com |
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I LOVED this book and wish they'd let us read history like this when I was in school. Cheryl Harness gives you the scoop on what life was like in England and all of Europe before any ships sailed to the New World. She takes difficult history (like the passionate divisions in the Church) and imparts it with candidness and clarity. She also slips in interesting facts about 'minor characters' that you might miss in an ordinary history book (such as the fact that a boy almost accidentally blew up the Mayflower), which makes the historical figures seem more like characters in a novel.
So it's easy to imagine and even 'experience' the history she shares from that point on - we see what motivated the pilgrims and kept them going. She really does describe an adventure and this 'history' reads more like an adventure novel (with Cheryl's easy narrative) than the dry dates and names you might expect in a history book. Best of all, there is a timeline along the bottom of each page that lets the reader know what else was happening in history during that period so the reader can better relate and get a full worldwide perspective.
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** The Mayflower Compact Reading level: Ages 9-12 Review by Lisa Barker, http://www.jellymom.com |
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An introduction to the birth of our country through the history of the Pilgrims at Plymouth and the creation of the Mayflower Compact. Illustrations and 'little mini facts' woven throughout the book bring history to life and make it interesting for children by giving them an almost personable account of what life was like for the people who set sail from England to the New World.
Better than a dry tale of dates and names, The Mayflower Compact tells a story about the times the Pilgrims lived in, which makes their harrowing quest all the more exciting and engaging for the young reader.
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** Celebrate Ramadan & Eid Al-Fitr Reading level: Ages 4-8 Review by Lisa Barker, http://www.jellymom.com |
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Ramadan is a sacred time of fasting and prayer for Muslims throughout the world. The three day celebration that follows, Eid Al-Fitr, is a celebration of faith, family and community.
Celebrate Ramadan is a great book to help you introduce your child to another culture and broaden his world. Deborah Heiligman combines history, religious customs and culture with stunning photographs of both the somber and sacred month of Ramadan and the exciting celebration that follows. The dress, the foods, the families gathered - all make the holiday come alive to the reader. Young readers will relate to their peers in the photographs and see how other children in the world live.
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** Celebrate Diwali Reading level: Ages 4-8 Review by Lisa Barker, http://www.jellymom.com |
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This is the third book I have reviewed in the Holidays Around The World series by Deborah Heiligman, published by National Geographic Children's Books. I'm impressed.
These books are such an easy way to show your child the different cultures and celebrations throughout the world. Heiligman does a great job of bringing otherwise complex subjects to life for children. Did you know that Diwali is the Hindu celebration of good triumphing over evil, of light over darkness? Neither did I, but this little book brought a whole other world to life for me and my children and there is even a recipe and a game to try.
I cannot imagine a home library (especially for homeschooling) that doesn't include this series.
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It's time to duck the flying mashed potatoes and get real about parenting and the modern domestic life with "Jelly Mom." http://www.jellymom.com Laugh, cry, laugh some more. It's all about preserving sanity!
Jelly Mom™ is written by Lisa Barker, mother of five and author of "Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane...Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!" and is syndicated through Martin-Ola Press/Parent To Parent. To publish Jelly Mom, buy the book or leave comments, please visit http://www.jellymom.com. Sign up for the free Jelly Mom™ weekly newsletter and receive a BONUS GIFT!
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