Welcome!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Monsterologist - A review.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Teen Read Week 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The National Book Award Finalists for Young People's Literature
Deborah Heiligman, Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith (Henry Holt)
Phillip Hoose, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (Farrar Straus and Giroux)
David Small, Stitches (W. W. Norton & Co.)
Laini Taylor, Lips Touch: Three Times (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic)Rita Williams-Garcia, Jumped (HarperTeen/HarperCollins)
The winner will be announced at the 60th National Book Awards Benefit Dinner and Ceremony in New York City on Wednesday, November 18th.
You can find out more about the awards and the National Book Foundation on the NBF website.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Man behind the Nobel Peace Prize
Just last week my daughter and I were making breakfast when we heard, on the radio, that President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. My daughter wanted to know what the prize is. Luckily I had just reviewed a splendid book about Alfred Nobel and I pulled it off my shelf for her to read. If you too have a child who wants to know about these prizes then take a look at the review I wrote about the book.
Alfred Nobel: The Man behind the peace prize
Kathy-Jo Wargin
Illustrated by Zachary Pullen
Non-Fiction Picture Book
Ages 6 to 10
Sleeping Bear Press, 2009, 1585362816
Years ago, when people wanted to build bridges or roads, they had to blast a path for their work using gunpowder - which wasn’t a safe material to work with. One day Alfred Nobel realized that a substance called nitroglycerin might be safer to use than gunpowder.
With the help of his brother and father, Alfred experimented with nitroglycerin until he came up with a solution that he was sure would work. Though his new invention did work well, it still wasn’t as safe as Alfred had hoped it would be. His brother Emil was killed went something went wrong in the lab. Surely there was something else that Alfred could do to make his invention safer still.
Eventually Alfred created something that was safe. It came to be called dynamite and Alfred became a rich and famous man because of his invention. Alfred had hoped that his invention would foster peace, and he was very distressed when he saw that it was being used to harm people. It saddened him to know that many people “saw him as the man who earned his wealth by inventing ways to injure and kill.” Thankfully, Alfred found a way to leave a legacy that would celebrate peace and reward those who gave the world new innovations in science, and who created memorable written works.
This thought provoking and memorable book celebrates the life and achievements of a truly great man.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Return to the hundred Acre Wood - Pooh is back
Monday, October 5, 2009
Winter's Tail - An inspirational story - Prize Pack Giveaway!
- Dolphin Plush
- Dolphin Key Chain
- Winter’s Tail game for Nintendo DS
- Copy of Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again Book
Friday, October 2, 2009
Don't forget Jumpstart's Read for the Record.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Waiting for winter - A Review
Waiting for Winter
Sebastian Meschenmoser
Picture Book
Ages 5 to 7
Kane Miller, 2009, 1935279041
Winter is on its way and Deer tells Squirrel that it will soon snow. Squirrel, who usually sleeps through winter, has no idea what snow is. This year he is determined that he will get to see snow. There is a problem though, the snow does not arrive straight away, and squirrel waits and waits. What if he falls asleep and misses the snow?
Squirrel decides that he should run around to get some fresh air and exercise. That should keep him awake. All the noise he makes running to and fro wakes up Hedgehog. Hedgehog decides that he too will stay awake to see the snow. To keep awake, Hedgehog and Squirrel sing sea shanties. There is nothing like a good song to keep one awake. Unfortunately, Bear is trying to have a nap nearby and he cannot possibly sleep when Squirrel and Hedgehog are singing. Bear decides that he might as well stay awake to see the snow too.
This hilarious picture book will have readers of all ages laughing out loud. The wonderful pencil illustrations are vibrant and beautifully expressive, and the mistakes the animals make as they try to find snow are deliciously silly and funny. This is a book that cannot fail to entertain and delight.
Be warned, this book will really make you laugh!!