Karen GoatKeeper's Blog - Posts Tagged "school"
"The Great Divide", "Manners in the Library" and D is for Democracy"
School is opening here in the Ozarks so books in that vein were on the menu this week.
The Great Divide
5 stars
Author: Suzanne Slade
Illustrator: Erin E. Hunter
Yes, this is a good introduction to simple division. What I read it for were all the names of animal groups: charm of hummingbirds; Bale of leatherback turtles; team of ducks; tribe of goats; and more.
The text is are simple rhymes asking a question requiring division. The illustrations not only show the animals involved, but show the answer.
All of the illustrations are realistically done, yet a bit whimsical. They are fun to see and useful in teaching division.
Manners in the Library
4 stars
Author: Carrie Finn
Illustrator: Chris Lensch
The library rules stress consideration for those using the library and the materials found there. They are easy reading and understanding - none of the don't do this stuff.
The illustrations are well done, colorful and show an ideal library.
D is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet
4 stars
Author: Elissa Grodin
Illustrator: Victor Juhasz
Letter by letter a young people's introduction to the U.S. government and it's background is presented. It stresses the usual Founding Fathers and branches of government.
The text is two fold. One is the simple letter with example. Sidebars elaborate about the example. It stresses how the government is supposed to work and the responsibilities of citizens to make it work.
The illustrations show many places in the capital and star an idealized Uncle Sam with representative young citizens.
The Great Divide
5 stars
Author: Suzanne Slade
Illustrator: Erin E. Hunter
Yes, this is a good introduction to simple division. What I read it for were all the names of animal groups: charm of hummingbirds; Bale of leatherback turtles; team of ducks; tribe of goats; and more.
The text is are simple rhymes asking a question requiring division. The illustrations not only show the animals involved, but show the answer.
All of the illustrations are realistically done, yet a bit whimsical. They are fun to see and useful in teaching division.
Manners in the Library
4 stars
Author: Carrie Finn
Illustrator: Chris Lensch
The library rules stress consideration for those using the library and the materials found there. They are easy reading and understanding - none of the don't do this stuff.
The illustrations are well done, colorful and show an ideal library.
D is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet
4 stars
Author: Elissa Grodin
Illustrator: Victor Juhasz
Letter by letter a young people's introduction to the U.S. government and it's background is presented. It stresses the usual Founding Fathers and branches of government.
The text is two fold. One is the simple letter with example. Sidebars elaborate about the example. It stresses how the government is supposed to work and the responsibilities of citizens to make it work.
The illustrations show many places in the capital and star an idealized Uncle Sam with representative young citizens.
"Dear Dragon", Maurice's Valises: Kansas and the Crow" and "Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse"
There are lots of ways to teach young readers in their picture books.
Dear Dragon
5 stars
Author: Josh Funk
Illustrator: Rodolfo Montalvo
George and Blaise don't really like to write, especially in rhyme. However, their new school assignment sounds like fun: Write your pen pal in rhyme.
Illustrations show the two pen pals, one on each page as they write about what they are doing and/or their lives. They also show what the receiver thinks of when they read the letter.
The end is fun. Teachers can be sneaky.
Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Patricia Coombs
Three young witches are sent to school. They expect to find their teacher there, but the teacher is no where to be seen.
A lesson is on the board, so, since the three are stuck in school, they start making the potion. It has unexpected results needing another potion with still more unexpected results.
The illustrations are fantastical matching the story. The three students and the cat are fun. This would be a fun Halloween story.
Maurice's Valises: Kansas and the Crow
4 stars
Author: J.S. Friedman
Illustrator: Chris Beatrice
These are a retelling of Aesop's Fables, but the star is a traveling mouse. There is a series set in different countries as settings for different fables. This one is based on the Grasshopper and the Ants.
Maurice rides the train and gets off in Kansas. He sets up a home near a corn field with a crow as a neighbor. Maurice stashes supplies for the winter. The crow doesn't and needs the mouse to rescue him after winter sets in.
The illustrations have a 3-D quality to them. They are beautiful and worth some extra time to enjoy them.
Dear Dragon
5 stars
Author: Josh Funk
Illustrator: Rodolfo Montalvo
George and Blaise don't really like to write, especially in rhyme. However, their new school assignment sounds like fun: Write your pen pal in rhyme.
Illustrations show the two pen pals, one on each page as they write about what they are doing and/or their lives. They also show what the receiver thinks of when they read the letter.
The end is fun. Teachers can be sneaky.
Dorrie and the Haunted Schoolhouse
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Patricia Coombs
Three young witches are sent to school. They expect to find their teacher there, but the teacher is no where to be seen.
A lesson is on the board, so, since the three are stuck in school, they start making the potion. It has unexpected results needing another potion with still more unexpected results.
The illustrations are fantastical matching the story. The three students and the cat are fun. This would be a fun Halloween story.
Maurice's Valises: Kansas and the Crow
4 stars
Author: J.S. Friedman
Illustrator: Chris Beatrice
These are a retelling of Aesop's Fables, but the star is a traveling mouse. There is a series set in different countries as settings for different fables. This one is based on the Grasshopper and the Ants.
Maurice rides the train and gets off in Kansas. He sets up a home near a corn field with a crow as a neighbor. Maurice stashes supplies for the winter. The crow doesn't and needs the mouse to rescue him after winter sets in.
The illustrations have a 3-D quality to them. They are beautiful and worth some extra time to enjoy them.
