Valarie Budayr's Blog, page 70
July 28, 2015
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
Wow! It’s week NINE of the Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series! NINE…..where did time go this summer?
As you many already know, this series is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of the books I am jumping into feature protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well.
I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Bookjumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
This week I am jumping into another delightful book from another female author. Eleanor Coerr was a Canadian-born American writer of children’s books, including Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and many picture books. She was born in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, and raised in Saskatoon. Sadly, Eleanor passed away in 2010 but her legacy lives on in the wonder books she has written including Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.
The story goes that Eleanor revisited Hiroshima i 1963 and saw the statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Impressed by the stories she heard about Sadako’s talent for running, courage when faced with cancer, and determination to fold one thousand paper cranes, Eleanor was inspired to find a copy of Kokeshi, Sadako’s autobiography. The book inspired her to create a biography of Sadako Sasaki, on that American children could read and enjoy.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes has been translated into many languages and has moved both children and adults to write plays, perform ballets, compose songs, and collect money for peace statues-all celebrating Sadako and her wish for peace. Eleanor has visited schools all around the world encouraging her audiences to work for a nonviolent world. Folded cranes are everywhere, and always underneath the statue of Sadako in Hiroshima’s Peace Park. SOURCE.
Book Review from Hannah Rials
There are many beautiful stories created in this world—stories of love or peace. The story of Sadako Sasaki is a story of love, peace, and hope. Sadako is the best runner in her class, and her greatest wish is to be the best runner in her entire school and to make the junior high team. She is a very superstitious girl who believes strongly in the power of lucky signs—a spider crawling across the floor, a cloudless sky, and paper cranes.
Sadako lives in post-World War II Hiroshima, Japan, every day experiencing the effects of the atomic bomb dropped on the city. People are mutilated, and many are now suffering through the “atom bomb disease,” also known as Leukemia. Everyone thinks, especially the children, it won’t happen to me. I’m healthy. I’m strong.
Sadako is practicing her most favorite activity in the whole world when the dizziness starts, and never gets better, until one day it is all too much to handle. Sadako is admitted to the Red Cross hospital where she is poked and prodded until it becomes routine. Her friends and family visit her every day.
One day, her best friend Chizuko brings her a beautiful treasure—a golden paper crane. She tells Sadako that if she can fold 1,000 paper cranes, she will get better and live to be an old, old woman. So Sadako sets out, and her older brother hangs the hundreds of cranes from the ceiling of her quiet hospital room, always holding onto the hope that she will recover.
Sadako’s story does not have what everyone would call a happy ending. But everyone who reads her story grasp the hope and love that this dear child felt in a bleak post-war time. Her story is simple and beautiful. I was very much moved by Coerr’s writing. I felt the love and the pain, the strength and the hope. There are always two sides to a story. There is always a consequence to every action. We live in trying times, and history is not a vision of peace and tranquility. But if we hope for peace, and show our love, we can make a difference. Sadako and the testament that she has left in Hiroshima demonstrate that.
Something to Do
1. In the back of Eleanor Coerr’s book, she gives easy to follow, step by step instructions on how to make paper cranes like Sadako.
2. Every year during Japan’s memorial peace day, every one comes out and places floating lanterns in the river. Go HERE to learn how to make your own floating lanterns.
3. Sadako loved her good luck signs. Here are some more to keep your eye out for:
Rainbows
Crickets
If a ladybug lands on you
Finding a four-leaf clover
A head’s up penny
What are your good luck signs?
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The post Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 26, 2015
Weekend Links: A Summer of Fun, Travel and Reading
It’s time for Weekend Links! This is my chance to share the best-of-the-best in regards to bookish fun and resources that I have encountered over the course of the week.
Oh my! Can you believe it is almost August already? Summer is slipping by but it’s my hope that all families continue to get outside, experience the world and keep up on their summer reading until that first school bells rings. Speaking of summer adventures and reading, I spotted this on facebook. What a fabulous idea! I gathered a few more for you to enjoy as well. Happy reading!
THE RETURN OF THE FLOATING LIBRARYThe Floating Library is back for its third season this summer, with the 2015 Floating…
Posted by Publishers Weekly on Thursday, July 23, 2015
This last week I was in the lovely state of California and had the chance to enjoy the mighty redwoods. We are so inspired by these incredible trees. They are the oldest, tallest trees on the planet. Some of them are 1000 years old. It’s been a huge challenge to save these glorious trees from the blade of the lumber companies. Muir woods it a save haven for the redwoods. It’s our hope that our booklist will inspire you as well to make a trip to visit these ancient giants and become active in saving them for future generations.
Dance can take so many shapes is a universal language across the globe. My friend Mia at PragmaticMom has a wonderful blog post and booklist on Diversity Dance Picture Books.
The Logonauts has More Great Picture Books about Ramadan and Muslim
I know this is on the minds of MANY parents–Our Favorite Children’s Books for Back to School
World Travel from you Couch? Yes, please! Books that Take Kids Around the World
Global STEM Books for Elementary Students – via All Donkey Monkey
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Discover the joys of delving into this timeless children’s literature classic and see the Secret Garden through new eyes and a modern twist!
Kids and nature go hand-and-hand and enjoying the bounty that the great outdoors brings is not just a “summer thing.” The newest book from children’s book authors Valarie Budayr and Marilyn Scott-Waters teaches families everywhere to enjoy not only the great outdoors with month-by-month activities, but to jump deeper into the classic children’s tale, The Secret Garden! A Year in the Secret Garden is a delightful children’s book with over 120 pages, with 150 original color illustrations and 48 activities for your family and friends to enjoy, learn, discover and play with together. Grab your copy ASAP and “meet me in the garden!” More details HERE!
The post Weekend Links: A Summer of Fun, Travel and Reading appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 23, 2015
Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series-The Great Redwood Tree Booklist
Welcome to Week 8 of The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series!
This series is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of the books I am jumping into feature protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well. I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Bookjumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
This week we’re in the Redwood Forest and enjoying Northern California! We are so inspired by these incredible trees. They are the oldest, tallest trees on the planet. Some of them are 1000 years old. It’s been a huge challenge to save these glorious trees from the blade of the lumber companies. Muir woods it a save haven for the redwoods. It’s our hope that our booklist will inspire you as well to make a trip to visit these ancient giants and become active in saving them for future generations.
Enjoy!
RedWoods by Jason Chin
An ordinary train ride becomes and extraordinary trip to the great ancient forests.A subway trip is transformed when a young boy happens upon a book about redwood forests. As he reads the information unfolds, and with each new bit of knowledge, he travels–all the way to California to climb into the Redwood canopy. Crammed with interesting and accurate information about these great natural wonders.
The Tallest Tree by Robert Lieber (a board book produced by the Golden Gate National Park)
The Tree in the Ancient Forest by Carol Reed Jones
Science teachers and ecologically minded parents: this book is a delightful introduction to the habitat in and around old trees. As AAAS Science Books & Films says, “The science is accurate and the book painlessly teaches important ecological lessons.” From lowly fungi to majestic owls, the book connects the web of nature. Repetitive, cumulative verse–a poetic technique that children universally enjoy–aptly portrays the amazing ways in which the inhabitants of the forest depend upon one another for survival. Stunning illustrations by the renowned illustrator, Christopher Canyon, manage to be both magical and true to life. It includes a guide to the forest creatures and their interrelationships, and a concise explanation of an ancient forest.
Who Pooped in the Redwoods by Gary Robson
This edition of Who Pooped in the Park? follows Michael and Emily on a trip to Redwoods National and State Parks in California. Michael tries to deal with his fear of bears as Mom and Dad teach him and his sister about the wildlife in the area–without ever getting close enough to be scared. In their “close encounters of the poopy kind,” the family learns about a variety of animals, and readers will become familiar with their tracks and the droppings they leave behind (scats).
Operation Redwood By S. Terrell French
“Sibley Carter is a moron and a world-class jerk,” reads Julian Carter-Li in an angry e-mail message meant for his greedy, high-powered uncle. The fateful message sets him on the course to stop an environmental crime! His uncle’s company plans to cut down some of the oldest California redwood trees, and it’s up to Julian and a ragtag group of friends to figure out a way to stop them. This thrilling, thoughtful debut novel shows the power of determined individuals, no matter what their age, to stand up to wrongdoing.
A Voice for the Redwoods by Loretta Halter
The Sacred Redwood Forest by Dror Shah Levi
It is a very beautifully illustrated children’s book describing the love, peace and contentment that can be experienced in an ancient old-growth forest. With faeries, nymphs, a Forest Goddess, an Ancient Magician, and other colorful characters, we learn through the eyes of a young girl, why these last remaining forests should be saved, and about the senseless destruction already wrought upon them.
The Ancient One by T.A. Barron
The Wild Trees by Richard Prestin
Redwood Trees by John Prevost
Provides basic information about the redwood, including its structure, economic uses, and the pests and diseases that affect it.
The Ever Living Tree: The Life and Times of a Coast Redwood byLinda Vieira
The Redwood Forest by Lisa Bullard
Have you ever seen a tree as wide as a house? What about one taller than a skyscraper? Get ready to explore the gigantic trees in the Redwood Forests! These amazing forests are located along the West Coast of the United States, from California to Oregon. Just how tall can a redwood tree grow? Read this book to find out!
What amazing redwood forest books have you read?
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Looking for better guide for successful homeschooling? The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook is a simple step-by-step guide to creating and understanding a Waldorf inspired homeschool plan. Within the pages of this comprehensive homeschooling guide, parents will find information, lesson plans, curriculum, helpful hints, behind the scenes reasons why, rhythm, rituals, helping you fit homeschooling into your life. Discover how to educate your children in a nurturing and creative environment.
Grab your copy HERE: The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook: The Simple Step-by-Step guide to creating a Waldorf-inspired homeschool. http://amzn.to/1OhTfoT
The post Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series-The Great Redwood Tree Booklist appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 21, 2015
Operation Redwood Revisited {Great Fiction Book for Kids!}
Today I make my way to revisit an old friend, the redwood trees of Northern California. In celebration of this very fun trip, I’m re-sharing an old Jump into a Book favorite about a great read called Operation Redwood.
This is one of our favorite books and every time we read it we feel that we want to go immediately to visit the redwood trees. Today we’ll be in the Muir Forest doing just that.
Enjoy!
Maybe it was the vivid memory of being a 7 year-old and being in a car that my father drove through the middle of a huge tree. Every time I hear the word “redwood” this memory comes immediately to mind. That’s exactly what happened in the bookstore as I saw Operation Redwood by S Terrell French,a new release on the counter at the bookstore.
I immediately purchased it, took it home, and started turning pages. This is a story that doesn’t disappoint. Twelve year-old Julian Carter-Li accidentally reads an email he shouldn’t be reading only to find himself in a fight to save an old growth stand of the oldest trees in the world; the Redwoods. The story unfolds with a great sense of discovery. The children discover themselves, their values, and their shared love of an old grove of trees which has become a part of their lives.
There are many twists and turns but ultimately it was the vision and spirit of team work that led this group of young people to a brilliant success. The message is loud and clear, anyone can make a difference.
One of the reasons the children felt so connected to this grove of trees was discovery and the sharing of their discoveries. Julian didn’t know that the redwoods were in trouble. He didn’t even know it was an issue. Robin, her sister,best friend had all shared countless memories in the old grove, as well as , two big brothers who had shared a secret treehouse. Only when their sisters reached a certain age would they be told the secret of how to get up the very tall tree and into the treehouse. Julian, together with his best friend Danny, discover how to stand up for what is truly important.
With that said, it is time for us to take a journey into the woods or forest and see what we can share.
Something To Do
Let’s play ‘Into the Forest”. Here’s how we play:
Go as a family, or a group of friends.
Bring along any or all of these items;a camera,journal,sketchbook,pencils, and crayons
Once in the forest, set boundaries so that no one gets lost. Use the buddy system. No one is left alone.
Now we are ready for our Scavenger Hunt. Have a look at the lists below. See how many things you can find. Be sure to look, touch, smell,listen, and watch as much as you can. Please feel free to write down your discoveries,photograph them, or just sit in wonder of sharing such a grand experience.
Look
Dead tree Wild flowers pine cone Berries Vine Poison Ivy
Stream Creek grass clover leaf Moss Pine tree
Seeds pods soil eroding soil rock mud
sand fern y shaped twig Trash acorn nuts
pine needles tree blossoms hole in a tree tree stump pond dark leaves
light leaves small pebbles unusual leaves colored rocks different shades of color
dew tree fungus season changes caterpillars squirrels bird
ants butterfly snails beetles feather salamander
lizard ladybug spider spider web birds nest insects
deer tracks raccoon tracks frog leaf eat by insect proof of animals
proof of people
Listen to:
Leaves under your feet wind in the trees sound of a bee
birds singing crickets Water running
Noises in the forests Wet mud rotten wood
Wind blowing rocks hitting water rocks tumbling in water
Smell:
Pine tree flowers Mud grass water fresh air cedar tree
Watch and share:
Animals eating leaves falling to the ground spider web being built
insect in a spider web An ant moving something Wind blowing in the leaves
fish jumping moving clouds sunlight coming through the trees
sunrise sunset stars in the night sky
Lightning bugs reflections in water trail markers
animal homes shelters
After all of your discoveries today sit with your family or group and share all of the wonderful moments you felt, heard, touched and smelled. If you have some photos of your walk into the forest that you would like to share please do so here.
You can also download this list to take with or to create a checklist for your Into the Forest adventure.
For more information about the Redwood Forest and where you can see these trees of size of yourself have a look here:
Big Basin Redwood State Park
Muir Woods National Monument
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Redwood National and State Parks
***
Looking for a unique way to keep your kids busy this summer…and engaged with nature? The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eCurriculum is available for sale!
This 8-week eCurriculum is packed with ideas and inspiration to keep kids engaged and happy all summer long. It offers 8 kid-approved themes with outdoor activities, indoor projects, arts & crafts, recipes, field trip ideas, book & media suggestions, and more. The curriculum, now available for download, is a full-color PDF that can be read on a computer screen or tablet, or printed out. Designed for children ages 5-11, it is fun and easily adaptable for all ages!
The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eGuide is packed with ideas & inspiration to keep your kids engaged all summer long. This unique eCurriculum is packed with ideas & inspiration from a group of creative “camp counselors.” Sign up, or get more details, HERE
The post Operation Redwood Revisited {Great Fiction Book for Kids!} appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 19, 2015
Weekend Links: Awesome Booklists for Boys
It’s time for Weekend Links! This is my chance to share the best-of-the-best in regards to bookish fun and resources that I have encountered over the course of the week. This week I stumbled upon a bounty of booklists just for our boy readers. Some of these are excellent! Enjoy
9 Thrilling Book Series for Teen Boys That They Won’t Be Able To Put Down via @brainpowerboy
10 BEST Middle Grade Books for Boys – via Written Reality (@MitziCSmith)
50+ Amazing Adventure Chapter Books for Boys via @JennyEvolution
The Mighty Boy Reading List: Ages 9-12 at I Think we Could be Friends.
Wacky Books for Reluctant Readers – via @imaginationsoup
40 MORE Books for Boys at the Milk and Cookies Blog
The Ultimate Book List For Boys at The Modest Mom Blog
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Do your young readers love nature and all of nature’s critters? Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.
From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.
The post Weekend Links: Awesome Booklists for Boys appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 17, 2015
Bookjumper Summer Inkheart Trilogy Giveaway
Author Cornelia Funke is one of our favorites and this week we have been celebrating her Inkheart series and other books from her collection. Earlier this week we jumped into her book The Thief Lord and also a deeper look at her Inkheart series here.
I’m so happy to be giving away her Inkheart Trilogy to bring your summer days alive. These are 3 of our favorite books which have been read over and over again.
Inkheart
One cruel night, Meggie’s father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART– and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever.
This is INKHEART–a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud.
Inkspell
The sequel to Inkheart.
Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of INKHEART, the book whose characters became real. But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval world of his past. Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long, both are caught inside the book, too. But the story is threatening to evolve in ways neither of them could ever have imagined.
Inkdeath
The conclusion to the trilogy.
The Adderhead–his immortality bound in a book by Meggie’s father, Mo–has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants’ only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay–Mo’s fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrenders. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?
Giveaway Guidelines:
ONE winner will receive one copy of each book. Giveaway begins July 17th, 2015
Prizing & samples courtesy of Author of the above books
Giveaway open to US addresses only
ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each of the above books (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath)
Residents of USA only please.
Must be 18 years or older to enter
One entry per household.
Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on July 26th, 2015
The post Bookjumper Summer Inkheart Trilogy Giveaway appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 15, 2015
Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: The Thief Lord Book Review & Activities
Welcome to Week Seven of The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series!
This series is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of the books I am jumping into feature protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well. I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Bookjumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
This week we are celebrating the writing of Cornelia Funke in her Inkheart series. A little while ago we jumped into another one of her splendid novels called The Thief Lord. Her writing style is so inventive. No one book matches another and each one is unique unto itself. If you’ve enjoyed Inkheart, I know you’ll enjoy this one too. Happy Reading
We’ve just finished a very adventurous read by Cornelia Funke called The Thief Lord. Set in Venice, Italy, this magical tale took us on a whirlwind visit to a mysterious and unknown destination.
From Goodreads:
Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious character who calls himself the “Thief Lord.” Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo relish being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them, and readers, to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.
This coming of age story places the idea of Identity smack dab in the middle of this adventure. Who are we? How does one see themselves and how are we perceived? What masks do we wear? And what dreams do we hope to fulfill. Our journey took us deeper into the ideas around family and friendship, loyalty and trust, adoption, Venice, Italy, and the mystery of Carnevale/ Carnival .
I highly suggest adding this wonderful book to your Book-Jumper Summer Reading booklist!
Reminder: Don’t forget about our Wildwood Chronicles 3-Book Giveaway that will be ending this week!! Head over to that post ASAP and get entered! Good Luck. 
Somethings To Do :
Venetian Masks : Make Your Own Venetian Mask
Carnevale/Carnival:
Discover Carnevale 2012
From the Author:
Visit Cornelia Funke’s website
Cornelia’s ABC’s: Happy browsing through Cornelia’s very personal dictionary. Find out astounding and amusing facts about her life and work. Our ABC will gradually grow, so drop in here now and then.
Cornelia’s List of books and audiobooks: All her books that have been translated into English so far. Here they are. Hopefully something for every taste.
Discover Italy:
Fun Facts About Italy. Bet You Didn’t Know from Life in Italy
Italy facts from Kids World Travel Guide
Speak Italian:
Basic Italian Phrases from Fodors Travel
Eat Like a Venetian
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I was given a copy of this book for this for review. The opinions expressed are purely my own.
Looking for a unique way to keep your kids busy this summer…and engaged with nature? The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eCurriculum is available for sale!
This 8-week eCurriculum is packed with ideas and inspiration to keep kids engaged and happy all summer long. It offers 8 kid-approved themes with outdoor activities, indoor projects, arts & crafts, recipes, field trip ideas, book & media suggestions, and more. The curriculum, now available for download, is a full-color PDF that can be read on a computer screen or tablet, or printed out. Designed for children ages 5-11, it is fun and easily-adaptable for all ages!
The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eGuide is packed with ideas & inspiration to keep your kids engaged all summer long. This unique eCurriculum is packed with ideas & inspiration from a group of creative “camp counselors.” Sign up, or get more details, HERE
The post Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: The Thief Lord Book Review & Activities appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 13, 2015
Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: Inkheart Book Review & Activity
Welcome to Week Seven of The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series! This is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of the books I am jumping into feature protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well. I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Bookjumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
Today I am review and sharing the book Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.
The beauty of a book’s adventure is that you have to go no further than your couch to experience it. A good story can help you to escape, make you new friends, even give you a thrill or two. We love our books and the experiences they give us. But what if these stories become a reality? What if the villains that we love to read about come knocking on our door? How much do we love the adventure then?
Meggie and her father Mo Fulchart love books beyond what any one word can express. As a living, Mo is lovingly called a book doctor who cares for and fixes the discarded and dilapidated books, and he has passed along his love of books to his daughter. But there is more to Mo’s connection with books than meets the eye, even more than Meggie knows. Mo has the most magical voice that can pull characters out of their world and place them in ours. This “power” unfortunately leaves Meggie without a mother, Mo without a wife, and a few particularly nasty villains following Mo’s every step.
Another character from this world of villains comes knocking on Mo’s door one night, asking for a particular book and a particular favor that Meggie cannot decode. Warning of the danger of the mysterious “Capricorn,” Meggie, Mo, Dustfinger, and his pet marten Gwin take off to small village where Eleanor, Mo’s aunt-in-law lives. Eleanor’s vast library will be a good hiding place for Mo’s book and a nice cover for Meggie’s sudden absence in school.
This arrival sparks a domino effect of events that one cannot even imagine. Characters being read out of their worlds, Meggie being held hostage, Mo being threatened, escapes, new friends, self-involved authors, and a new ending to a story that was starting to look very dim.
This story illustrates the amazing power of the written word, since “Writing is a type of magic,” as Mo says. I have read many books in my time, and I started way before I read Inkheart in my sixth year of school. But Cornelia Funke’s powerful words made me want to create powerful words of my own. Her characters are so very real and her story so very vivid that for a week, I lived in the adventure of Inkheart right along with Meggie and Dustfinger and Mo. I got lost in the words, in a good way. This second reading, I stretched out my time with the story, thoroughly enjoying it again. And in ten more years, maybe I’ll pick it up again and rediscover its magic. Inkheart is a timeless tale that will never be forgotten.
*Be sure to finish the Inkheart tale with the rest of the trilogy: Inkspell and Inkdeath. You don’t want to miss out on the grand finale!
Somethings To Do
Lynne Farrell Stover has written a simply wonderful extension activity guide for Librarysparks.
Inside this guide you will find very imaginative and inventive games that will bring this book wonderfully to life.
Round Table Card Game (Parts of a Book)
Decoding Famous Quotations
Also included in an extension activity using cryptography with the quotes.
Fantastic Heroes and Vile Villains
Scholastic who actually owns the imprint which publishes author Cornelia Funke, has a great videos of Cornelia talking about what inspired her to write this series of books. You can view the whole video in its entirety or watch it in one of 8 sections. You choose which ones. These are really fantastic videos which give us a behind the scene look into the mind of the author.
Once you’re on the video page, if you look to the right hand side bar you’ll find the individual videos.
As in love with Cornelia Funke’s writing as we are we want you to discover other great reading adventures. Here’s a link to her full list of novels.
I was given a copy of this book for this for review. The opinions expressed are purely my own.
***
Looking for better guide for successful homeschooling? The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook is a simple step-by-step guide to creating and understanding a Waldorf inspired homeschool plan. Within the pages of this comprehensive homeschooling guide, parents will find information, lesson plans, curriculum, helpful hints, behind the scenes reasons why, rhythm, rituals, helping you fit homeschooling into your life. Discover how to educate your children in a nurturing and creative environment.
Grab your copy HERE: The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook: The Simple Step-by-Step guide to creating a Waldorf-inspired homeschool. http://amzn.to/1OhTfoT
The post Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: Inkheart Book Review & Activity appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 12, 2015
Weekend Links: A Bevvy of Wonderful Booklists for Kids
It’s time for Weekend Links! This is my chance to share the best-of-the-best in regards to bookish fun and resources that I have encountered over the course of the week. Enjoy!
OVER IN THE WETLANDS booklist from Read Alikes
Top Indian Picture Books for Children from Artsy Craftsy Mom
3 Amazing Wordless Diversity Picture Books from PragmaticMom
Children’s Books about the Cherokee – vai @alldonemonkey
16 Great Diversity Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens via PragmaticMom
A Little Extra News:
On behalf of Chronicle Books, I’m pleased to share the book trailer for Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans.
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By Phil Bildner
Illustrated by John Parra
9781452125787
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The inspiriting true story of the trash collector who rallied his neighborhood in the wake of one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history inspired a group of Texas 4th graders to create a video trailer, with the guidance of author Phil Bildner. As the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches on August 25, I hope you’ll share this video and book with your readers, students, friends and community.
**I was not compensated for this review and some of these links may be affiliate links.
Looking for a unique way to keep your kids busy this summer…and engaged with nature? The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eCurriculum is available for sale!
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The post Weekend Links: A Bevvy of Wonderful Booklists for Kids appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
July 11, 2015
Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: The Mysterious Benedict Society Mystery Activity
This week we’ve been adventuring in Wildwood, the wonderful book series by Colin Meloy and wonderfully illustrated by his wife Carson Ellis. Carson has also illustrated The Mysterious Benedict Society series as well as a couple Lemony Snickett books and many many more. She is such a great talent!!!
Don’t forget to check out our Wildwood Chronicles 3-Book Giveaway before it ends on July 19th!
I found this fun post in our archives and thought it might be the perfect book plus activity which can help you get through the Impassable woods or any such life test that might come your way.
Happy Reading and Enjoy !!!
‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’ written by Trenton Lee Stewart and Illustrated by Carson Ellis.
What would you do if you were specially chosen to take a series of tests? These aren’t ordinary, usual tests, but the sort which tries to see how clever you are. What if you passed these exams and ended up becoming a spy which uses secret codes and messages? Such is the case with the four main characters of the book “The Mysterious Benedict Society.”
Reynard “Reynie” Muldoon, George “Sticky” Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire pass a series of tests advertised in the newspaper and meet Mr. Benedict, a man trying to stop something known as “The Thing to Come.” Mr. Benedict sends them to The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (L.I.V.E.), where they meet Ledroptha Curtain, a man trying to take over the world using subliminal messages through “The Whisperer”, a machine of his own design.
The group finds out that they must obtain the high rank of messenger to get closer to Mr. Curtain. The children carefully spy on Mr. Curtain, finally getting close enough to destroy the machine, but Mr. Curtain escapes. The story ends…….
You didn’t think I was going to give that away, now did you? It’s a great and wonderful read.
Something To Do
The kids communicate from L.I.V.E to Mr. Benedict via Morse code, use a walkie talkie, or flashlight. Be sure to have paper and pen handy to write down your message. We had so much fun with this using our walkie talkies across the lake from each other. We have also used flashlights from an upstairs window to communicate with the treehouse. Have fun.
Looking for a unique way to keep your kids busy this summer…and engaged with nature? The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eCurriculum is available for sale!
The post Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series: The Mysterious Benedict Society Mystery Activity appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
