Book-value

I'll admit a bias right up front: Todd Parr is one of my favorite authors. Each of his books that I have introduced and read to my classes has been a big hit with the students---and this one is no exception.

Each page contains one sentence about families. For example, midway through the book we read, "Some families live near each other," which is humorously illustrated by two mouse holes with six sets of eyes peering out. The opposing page counters with, "Some families live far from each other." Here we see two colorful, alien space families on opposite planets.

In addition to living conditions, habits, and physical appearances, Parr also discusses different family structures. "Some families have a stepmom or stepdad and stepsisters or stepbrothers," while "some families have two moms or two dads."

While we learn that families can be quite different from one another, we also learn that families share some things in common. "All families," writes Parr, "are sad when they lose someone they love," and "all families can help each other be strong!"

There is a wonderful vitality to the book thanks to the bold drawings, bright, nearly neon colors, and handwritten text. Add to that an affirming story with an important message and you have here a definite winner. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff

Todd Parr is an absolute gem! He knows so well how to create fun and appealing books for children that promote self-acceptance and an appreciation of the diversity of modern society. In The Family Book, Todd shows us how families can be different from each other in some ways, but how all families are similar as well. "Some families are the same color/ Some families are different colors....All families like to HUG each other!" "Some families have two moms or two dads/ Some families have one parent instead of two....All families like to celebrate special days together!"

I highly recommend this book for all families, schools and communities that are trying to prepare children to understand, appreciate and embrace the differences that they will encounter in their lives. In particular, biracial, adoptive and alternative families will find this book a very special addition to their home libraries. Thank you, Todd Parr, for sending a message of love to the world in your books!

Fancy That is a charming picture book set in Pennsylvania in 1841 that tells the humorous but poignant tale of a young limner (an itinerant painter) who traveled from place to place painting portraits, just as his father did before him, to support his family. Unfortunately young Pip is far too honest in his portrayal of his subjects and bulbous noses and pear shaped figures did not endear him to his clients, nor did he collect his fees. The hope of a home for his three sisters and himself by Christmas, blew up the chimney with the smoke.The ingenious way the problem is solved makes for a heart-felt ending that leaves the reader warm and satisfied. Lloyd's egg tempera paintings enhance and enliven this tale of family values.
Reviewed by a school librarian in Pennsylvania.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of a painter who travels 'cross country painting portraits. He is a young man trying to make money to support his three younger sisters, currently in an orphanage.
There is a humorous aspect when Pip paints people as they are, not as they wish to be. Folks don't appreciate seeing their big nose or round bellies in their portraits.
As he travels with his dog Bisuit, he sends back paintings of the pet to his sisters, promising he will return at Christmas.

When Pip returns penniless, a surprise awaits him!

The author and illustrator notes at the end compliment the story. This is a great read for schools, libraries, and for the home.

This book tells you about every kind of lie there is! You can really relate to this book, you learn a lot about yourself in reading it and it helps to think honestly about what you have read, that is how you learn! I am a freshman in high school, and as many of you know, its not easy. Sometimes you don't kow who your friends are... This book helped with that because you know more about how and why they lie, more than they do! I have enjoyed this book very much. It has helped me to notice when my family and friends are lying to me. Its made me aware of how media and advertisers lie too. The world is full of lies! I think that anyone, any age, can relate to this book. Everyone is different, and every lie is different. I highly suggest this book!

This book was written primarily to help teenagers cope with the distortions, deceptions, fluff, and outright lies that confront us all, every day. Kincher doesn't preach truth, she illuminates it. Her book is thought provoking ... and fun ... no matter how old you are.

this book is a must for any teacher. i had the pleasure of hearing Jim Delisle speak and his thoughts are excellent. This book is filled with great ideas for a fun yet effective classroom.

This book is the best resource material for all classroom teacher

I got it for Christmas last year and it has helped me with stuff Every dogowner should know. I have a teacup poodle named Lollipop and a golden retriever named Roman, so i use it when i can.

I first found and read this book in the waiting area of my local vet whilst my dear poodle had daily treatment over several days. I have studied dog behaviour, breeding, genetics, etc at Sydney Technical College and work as a dog trainer, boarder and manage a volunteer pet visiting program. I have read many, and I MEAN many books on dogs and found this one to be most definately, one of the best. It explains in non scientific language why dogs are dogs and why they do the things they do. I found it entertaining at least and extrelely educational at best. I personally, thoroughly recommend this book to anyone wishing to know and understand dogs better. I am delighted that I have found this book at Amazon and can now have my very own copy. P.S. My beautiful poodle has fully recovered from her illness!

I've used this material with great success for the past year in our children's church program with children from ages 5-11. Its been great! It has a basic Bible story with excellent craft illustrations. It is highly adaptable for different groups of children. Its been easy to teach and prepare as well as inexpensive. The kids have really enjoyed it and we plan to do the entire series. The only requirement is access to a good copy machine.

I have been using the Instant Bible lessons for several weeks at home. I find that the activities are very simple and they don't require a lot of materials....the kids really enjoy them and they can read the stories with ease. These lessons go to the basics of the Bible so that children can have fun while they learn about God's Word!

NICK FRANCISCO PERIOD 2

"A Time to Kill" is John Grisham's first novel. His fluid, detailed storytelling is unlike the choppy first attempts of many modern authors.In a small town in the Deep South, two redneck hooligans rape and maim a ten-year-old black girl. Enraged, the girl's father, Carl Lee Hailey, takes justice into his own hands, killing the two rapists in a courthouse shooting. He seeks the help of defense lawyer Jake Brigance to save him from the gas chamber.

Brigance, a young but sharp lawyer, has to find a way to win an impossible case: a black man is on trial for killing two white men, and his case is being heard by an all-white jury. Adding to the mix are violence between the Ku Klux Klan and the black community, and the fact that, during the shooting, Carl Lee had injured a sheriff's deputy.

When I first read this novel, I was angered and irritated by the depth of hatred that exists within racism. I was angered that had Carl Lee been a white man bent on avenging his daughter's suffering, he would never have had to face trial. The rape of ten year old Tanya, Carl Lee's daughter, by Billy Ray and Pete, A Time to Kill is a disturbing novel, aside from the raping and killing that opens the tale. It is not possible to look at our justice system the same way, especially from the viewpoint of the black community in the South.

John Grisham is of course my favorite author, and this is the perfect collector's item of sorts because it gives you all of his best books...in audio! If you listen to all his books, it just makes them come more alive and real, and it's just terrific.

My five-year-old daughter loves this book, and so do I. Although it gently retells a familiar lesson -- that we are more like our enemies than we are different -- it does so in a completely original way. The art is luscious and the potentially frightening (giants at war!) characters are instead plain interesting to look at and reassuring, much like Maurice Sendak's sweet "monsters."

Happily, the story and illustrations don't condescend to kids (which may be why my daughter wants me to read the book again and again). Children will relate to the plight of the dwarf and the giant, each the wrong size, sometimes ignored by their "families," sometimes lonely, sometimes teased, but they will see that acceptance and fellowship prevail.

The book recalls a time when children's literature was written for an audience that was not considered fragile and slow, from Hans Christian Anderson's tales (scary but substantive) to Dr. Seuss's political parables enacted by bizarre creatures.

All in all, we found this book to be a charming departure from the bunny-and-puppy template of contemporary kids' books.

Having recently bought The Little Giant for my four year old daughter I am writing this review on my behalf as well as hers. We both love the great illustrations and the otherwordly colors of the lunar-like landscapes. The giants and the dwarfs are alike in every way except their size, down to the similar loin cloths they wear in lieu of regular clothes. Obviously the author has tried, successfully, to create a tale of love and friendship in spite of the many problems life presents us with.

Angelino is too small to feel a sense of belonging among his gigantic peers and Osvaldo has the same experience being too big to be a true dwarf. When they meet they instantly recognize in each other's eyes what they had been needing all along, to be loved and cared for by another human being, whatever life's circumstances may be. They befriend one another and spend some lovely days together until the day they have to return to their homeland since a war has erupted among the two different tribes. There they help the fighting giants and dwarfs realize the wrongness and pointlessness of being at war.

The Little Giant is a lovely book that deals with big issues without losing the sense of the importance of living in the moment.

Stanley Green never looked forward to Chanukah. He felt it was more trouble than it was worth. All his relatives came to his house with their sloppy hugs and kisses, his little cousins fought and yelled, got into his things, and made a big mess. There was too much cooking, and his arm ached from grating potatoes and chopping onions for the latkes. And there was too much cleaning before the celebration, and even more afterwards. Worst of all, on Chanukah, a supposedly happy holiday, his Grandpa Abe was always quiet and very sad. This year something new was added to the usual routine. Stanley was sent up to the attic to find an old wrapped package in the large trunk. He'd never seen it before and with his curiosity getting the better of him, carefully opened the brown paper to find a tarnished menorah. As he began to wipe off the dust, he wondered why anyone would want this old thing. Just as he finished examining it more closely, and polishing the shammash until it glowed, the floor began to shake, a big puff of smoke erupted, and a very old man appeared in front of him..... Jane Breskin Zalben has written a lovely and memorable Chanukah story, with a simple and gentle message, that won't be lost on young readers. Her engaging and entertaining text, complete with yiddish words and expressions, is complemented by Donna Diamond's old photograph-like artwork, and together they've authored a tender and poignant story of love, family, and the true meaning of happiness. There's even a glossary included at the end of the story, to help with the yiddish and enhance learning. Perfect as a reading book for youngsters 8 and older, The Magic Menorah makes an even better read-aloud story the entire family can share and enjoy together.

Donna Diamond illustrates The Magic Menorah, a wonderfully told and modern Chanukah story, which will appeal to ages 7-10. Stanley hates Chanukah: he has to deal with noisy relatives, clean the house, and finds little to celebrate. When he finds an antique menorah and a genie, he is taken on a time trip which demonstrates the value of Chanukah in his life.

This book is the unveiling of Michelangelo's unappreciated genius. The glory of the cleaned and restored Sisten Chapel bursts forth in the high quality pictures throughout the book. Because it was written by an artist, there are lovely little bits and pieces one does not normally find (such as a page of faces . . .). I was so smitten with this book that I read it cover to cover in one evening. It is well written, clear, concise, and understandable without being condescending. This collection of picutres of the restored Sistine Chapel is wonderful. It surpassed all my expectations.

This book was illustrated after the Sistine Chapel was cleaned and Michelangelo's vibrant colors were brought back for us to enjoy. The author gives a short history of Michelangelo's life, places him in the context of the rennaisance that he was such a major part of. She shows some of his other works, but this is all unimportant. What is the grabbing point of this book are the photographs of the Sistine Chapel after the cleanning. The colors that glow from the paintings Michelangelo did are so beautiful and unexpected from what we have seen of the Chapel before the cleaning. Michelangelo's genuis shows through at last and this book gives you the chance to enjoy every bit of it. The photography is excellent and for such a small price the whole beauty of the ceiling is yours to enjoy over and over. I highly recommend this jewel of a book.