Monday, April 29, 2019

Nonfiction Monday


The Renaissance Thinkers with History Projects for Kids, by Diane C. Taylor is part of the Renaissance For Kids Series from Nomad Press. In this volume, Taylor structures her work around chapter biographies of Filippo Brunelleschi, Niccolo Machiavelli, Thomas More, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Francis Bacon as a means of introducing readers to some of the most influential thinkers of that time.


An introduction examines the Renaissance in terms of economic change, religious conflict, technological advances, and the effects of humanism. Each chapter utilizes primary sources and a timeline to trace important life stages from early years through the influences that shaped each thinker, to their greatest areas of impact and on to their legacy. And finally, readers are confronted with interesting topics to consider and/or debate. How have the innovations utilized by Brunelleschi in designing the Florence Cathedral influenced architecture? Do “The ends justify the means” as Machiavelli contended? How has Thomas More’s concept of Utopia been interpreted by writers in the present day? Why did it take so long for the discovery, by astronomer Copernicus, that the earth revolved around the sun to be accepted as fact[J1] ? In what way does the scientific method described by Francis Bacon shape modern research?
Readers are challenged to ask questions and use critical thinking skills in response to a series of hands-on projects that are offered at the end of each chapter. Photographs highlight the subjects and provide historical context. Multiple text boxes offer additional facts, quotes, and insights to broaden the scope of each concept. Calls to action are strategically placed throughout: Wonder Why? poses additional questions for consideration.  Connect contains QR codes for audio and video files. Words of Wonder directs readers to a multi-page glossary at the end of the book. Resources provides a list of books, videos, and museums for further exploration.
The book is fascinating, informative, and a pleasure to read. The text and illustrations are richly detailed. The book is identified as being for ages 10-15. The conversational tone and age-appropriate vocabulary is appealing. However, conversations about the philosophical, political, and cultural atmospheres, particularly those related to Machiavelli and More, will benefit from adult guidance. The scientific material is clearer and provides easier discussion points.
Recommended for home and school libraries.

 [J1]

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

JUST LIKE GULLIVER earns award


I'm delighted to announce that JUST LIKE GULLIVER has been chosen to receive the Mom’s Choice Awards® Honoring Excellence Gold Seal and has been named as among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.



The adventure of a young groundhog who is frightened of his shadow until a fun-filled journey through the woods and farms surrounding his burrow allows him to discover his courage on Groundhog Day.

An author's note provides factual information about Groundhogs.

Cross curriculum connections for: Folklore, Shadows, Groundhog Day, and Groundhogs.

For more information visit my website: http://www.janetsquiresbooks.com/home.html
























Monday, April 22, 2019

Nonfiction Monday


The Renaissance Artists with History Projects for Kids, by Diane C. Taylor is part of the Renaissance For Kids Series from Nomad Press. In this volume, Taylor structures her work around chapter biographies of Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Titian as a means of introducing readers, ages 10-15, to both the works of these renown artists and the culture of their time.


An introduction establishes a foundation for the chapters that follow by defining the Renaissance, discussing humanism, and contrasting medieval art with that of the Renaissance. Attention is paid to the celebration of the human body as expressed though the nudes portrayed, the growth in the demand for portraiture, and the celebrity of artists. Each chapter utilizes primary sources and a timeline paired with a collection of paintings to illustrate important stages in the life of each artist: their childhood, training, patrons, the impact of Greek and Roman art, cultural influences, techniques, and legacy.
Readers are challenged to ask questions and use critical thinking skills in response to a series of hands-on projects that are offered at the end of each chapter. Photographs highlight the art work and multiple text boxes offer additional facts, quotes, and insights to broaden the scope of each concept. Calls to action are strategically placed throughout: Wonder Why? poses additional questions for consideration.  Connect contains QR codes for audio and video files. Words of Wonder directs readers to a multi-page glossary at the end of the book. Resources provides a list of books, videos, and museums for further exploration.
The book is enticing on so many levels and a pleasure to read. The conversational tone and age-appropriate vocabulary is appealing. The reproduced art work is vivid and varied. The text and illustrations are richly detailed. Recommended for home and school libraries.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Picture Book Friday


Just Read! by Lori Degman with illustrations by Victoria Tentler-Krylov is a charming celebration of the joy to be found in reading and an enthusiastic reminder of the amazing ways in which readers are able to explore a world outside their own.

“I read things that scare me or cause me to grin.
I read about places where I’ve never been.”



An energetic rhyming text enumerates the many times, places, and ways in which  diverse characters find opportunities to read.

“I read with my fingers across bumpy lines.
I read with my voice or my hands, using signs.”

Vibrant colors and an abundance of detail make the watercolor illustrations “pop” and invite readers to look closer as words conjure images for each young book-lover. I girl holds a book on code-breaking in one hand while she uses her other fingers to draw Morse code on a steamy window. A boy with a guitar searches through sheet music and song books.

Recommended as a fun addition to home and school libraries.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Nonfiction Monday


Baby Bear’s Adoption by Jennifer Keats Curtis with illustrations by Veronica V. Jones is a narrative nonfiction story based on the work of scientists at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources who save orphaned cubs.



Braden and Finley join their father, a wildlife biologist, as he locates a bear den and attaches a radio collar to the mother bear during her winter hibernation. Later, when an orphan is found, the reader follows the steps employed to locate and then persuade the bear to accept and raise an orphan with her own cubs.

The text provides excellent detail about the rescue process from beginning to end through young Braden’s point of view. The language is straight forward and the conversational tone is appealing. The youthful narrator’s voice invites readers to immerse themselves in the shared experience.

Like other Arbordale titles, there is a special four-part section at the end of the book titled FOR CREATIVE MINDS. Black Bear Life Cycle challenges readers to place six statements in their correct chronological order to discover a missing word. Stages of Bear Hibernation guides readers through the process and discusses ongoing studies of bear hibernation.  Q & A with Bear Biologist Mark Boersen offers additional detailed information about orphan rescue. Furry Fun Facts compares and contrasts the three types of North American Bears: Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, and Polar Bear.

The richly-detailed illustrations provide a lovely visual context and perfectly compliment the story.

Recommended for STEM for nature studies, biology, and wildlife content.
Ideal for home and school libraries.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Book Trailer