Book Reviews

WHAT IF NIGHT?

Astronomy, Book Reviews, Dark Sky Preservation, Science, Stargazing /

WHAT IF NIGHT? Is a wonderful way to introduce small children to the value of the dark night sky.

Paul Bogard’s book is a very gentle and soothing exploration of the importance of the night for nocturnal animals and for human health.

Children will learn many things and be delighted by the nighttime adventures of Bogard’s main characters, a little girl and her faithful canine companion.

Children will also learn simple things they can do to help preserve nighttime darkness. Highly recommended.

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THE WANTING MONSTER

Book Reviews, Emotional Intelligence /

The Wanting Monster by Martine Murray, illustrated by Anna Read, is a modern fable illustrating the disastrous consequences of unchecked wanting.

The Wanting Monster is furious that he is initially ignored by everyone in the village he has approached. He devises a clever plan to plant ideas of wanting more and more in the minds of the adults in the village.

His plan succeeds, resulting in a devastation of the village by unchecked appropriation of resources by the villagers. The villagers must now leave their uninhabitable home.

As they are leaving, the Wanting Monster is laughing and exulting in his success. Everyone can hear him, but only Billie Ray, the youngest child in the village, can see him.

“It’s a wanting monster”, she announces. Then Billy Ray proceeds to brilliantly expose what has been needed all along to heal the Wanting Monster and the village, love and kindness.

A highly recommended journey toward greater emotional intelligence.

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STEP RIGHT UP

Animal Stories, Book Reviews, Book Reviews, History /

STEP RIGHT UP: HOW DOC AND JIM KEY TAUGHT THE WORLD ABOUT KINDNESS is a deeply inspiring book about a brilliant horse and his kind trainer. Together they taught the American people that animals have feelings, a sense of humor, and the ability to reason just as humans do.

The astonishing abilities of Beautiful Jim Key to spell, do mathematical calculations, answer random questions from his audiences, and thoroughly charm the millions of people who came to his performances were nothing short of astonishing.

Doc Key emphasized over and over that all of Beautiful Jim Key’s training had been done with kindness. Doc and Jim became part of the growing movement in the early 1900s to treat animals humanely. Over two million children “stepped right up” to sign the official Jim Key Pledge: “I promise always to be kind to animals.”

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The Widow’s Broom

Book Reviews, Book Reviews /

The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg is a story of kindness, courage and choosing love over fear and suspicion.
A lonely widow, Mina Shaw, through her kindness to an injured witch, comes into possession of a magical broom. Minna’s neighbors regard the broom as evil and destroy it, or they think they have.
When the ghost of the broom appears, ghostly white and flourishing and axe, the neighbors flee.
Minna stays on her farm, dwelling happily with her magical broom which she had painted white to make it appear to be a ghost.

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FORTS

Book Reviews, General /

FORTS by Katie Venit is a lyrical exploration of finding a fort – a safe and comfortable place. The illustrations by Kenard Pak create inviting and magical scenes as a little girl explores the possibility of forts that are wild and forts that can be found in her own house and yard.
FORTS is comforting while inspiring imagination and the possibility of finding ones own fort.

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The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins and Her New Deal for America

Book Reviews, History /

This book is inspiring story documenting what one dedicated person can do for the public good. Beautifully written and illustrated, it tells the inspiring story of Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as a United States cabinet secretary. Frances was chosen to be Secretary of Labor by Franklin Delano Roosevelt after he was elected president in 1932.
As Labor Secretary, Frances worked tirelessly to implement programs that would benefit the American people — workplace safety regulations, minimum wage, maximum working hours per week, unemployment insurance, and her crowning achievement, the Social Security act of 1935. Every working person in the United States, every person who receives unemployment benefits or Social Security, is endebted to Frances Perkins.

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Review of The Girl Who Named PLUTO: The Story of Venetia Burney

Astronomy, Book Reviews, History, Science /

In 1930 the Lowell Observatory in the United States discovered a ninth planet, Planet X. A search began for a name for the planet.

In Oxford, England, eleven year old, Venetia Burney learned of the existence of the new planet when her grandfather, Falconer Madan, read a newspaper article announcing the discovery of Planet X.

Venetia was interested in astronomy and also Greek and Roman mythology. She suggested to her grandfather that the planet could be named PLUTO. Her grandfather immediately wrote to a friend at the British Royal Astronomical Society who sent Venetia’s suggestion to astronomers at Lowell Observatory. The astronomers unanimously voted in favor of Venetia’s suggested name. Venetia became the only child to ever name a planet.

This is warm hearted and historically accurate story showing what one individual, a young girl, can do by following her imagination and enthusiasm.

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Review of Thank You, Dr. Sauk! by Dean Robbins

Book Reviews, Health /

Thank You, Dr. Salk! written by Dean Robbins and illustrated by Mike Dutton is an engaging and inspiring story of Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first successful polio vaccine in 1954 after years of painstaking research.

Robbin’s simple and sensitive text coupled with pitch perfect illustrations by Mike Dutton create an interesting and educational picture book for young readers.

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Everyone Will Be Free: Thomas Clarkson and the End of Slavery in the British Empire

Book Reviews, Uncategorized /

In 1787, Thomas Clarkson, a twenty-five year old graduate of Cambridge University, brought together twelve men to form the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
The Committee organized a movement within England that resulted in the abolition of both the slave trade and slavery in the British Empire in 1833. Thomas Clarkson was the driving force throughout the campaign.

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Review of TONY by Ed Galing, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Animal Stories, Book Reviews, Book Reviews /

Using the text of the beautiful poem, Tony, by Ed Galing, Caldecott medal recipient, Erin E. Stead, has illustrated a beautiful and inspiring picture book, TONY.

Tony is a steady, loving cart horse who helps his driver, young Tom Jones, deliver milk, butter and eggs in the early morning hours.

The poem beautifully embellished by Stead”s illustrations, creates a sense of peace and shared love in this simple but profoundly moving story.

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