Newtons Book News

Childrens Book Reviews

This Week’s Column

Enriched Books for the Graduate

It’s time to get those special presents for loved ones and what better type of present than BOOKS!  For the next several weeks leading up to Christmas I will have some of the best gift-giving books that have been recently published. This week’s review centers on non-fiction books which can apply perfectly to families of all ages.
The Impossible Rescue: The True Story of an Amazing Arctic Adventure, by Martin W. Sandler, tells of the heroic events that led three amazing men to the upper regions of Alaska to rescue 6 whaling ships and 300 sailors that were locked in ice.  This account, with additions of journal entries from one of the rescuers and actual photographs, takes place in the early winter of 1897.  It tells about the remoteness of 1,500 miles of distance from civilization whereby the rescuers had to also secure two reindeer herds along the way to feed the starving and dying men. This is one history book that brings this event to life on every page!
The Book of Blood (From Legends and Leeches to Vampires and Veins), by H. P. Newquist, is a highly interesting book about this necessary component of life.  The book is formatted and geared for kids ages nine and above and they will likely find it very interesting. The chapters begin with the components of blood, how the body makes it, the organs blood enters into and what blood does for the body. It also discusses ancient civilizations and how they perceived blood. There’s also a chapter dealing with animals that drink blood (mosquitos, leaches etc.). The final chapter explains blood transfusions. This is a fascinating book filled with interesting photos that help support and explain the subject.
Ocean Sunlight (How Tiny Plants Feed The Seas), by Molly Bang & Penny Chishom, showcases how important all living elements are on this earth. Bang uses her trademark vibrant color contrasts to demonstrate deep sea life, from swirls of tiny plankton to giant whales. How life cycles are affected by the food chain deep in the ocean, as well as on land, is demonstrated in this picture book with the simplicity that even a child of four will grasp.  Ms. Chisholm, a leading ocean scientist, helped create a book to enlighten and inform while also reading for enjoyment.
Disney Press has a series of new books the are part of the “Wonderful World” series. Sharks, Animals, Nature, Earth, Space and Dinosaurs are all separate books on these subjects. These books are filled with breath-taking photos that capture the subject with intensity. There is limited text, which makes each book kid-friendly.  But there is still plenty of information to glean from each of these outstanding books!
Tales of Famous Animals, by Peter and Connie Roop, and wonderfully illustrated by Zachary Pullen, introduces 17 amazing animals that have lived through the ages beginning with a beautiful black horse that Alexander would ride as he conquered the world. There are stories about President Adams’ pet alligator, Balto the sled dog and Koko the gorilla. The full-page illustrations bring these animals to life!
The “I Wonder Why” series invites readers to explore interesting topics that produce answers and perhaps even more questions to further investigate more subjects. Zippers have Teeth and Other Questions About Inventions, Countries Fly Flags and other Questions About People and Places, Pirates Wore Earrings and Other Questions About Piracy, Romans Wore Togas and Other Questions About Rome, and The Sahara Is Cold At Night and Other Questions about Deserts are all filled with colorful illustrations and limited text that answers questions posed on every page.
The Giant and How He Humbugged America is written by one of my favorite award winning non-fiction authors: Jim Murphy.  This book is a true account of how the 10 foot high “Cardiff Giant” was unearthed in a farmyard in upstate New York back in 1869 and how it caused a national uproar.  People came from far and near to see this amazing spectacle for several months until the hoax was discovered.  Murphy fills the pages with highly interesting information, photos and images that will captivate all that pick up this book!
The Fairy Ring or Else and Francis Fools the World, by Mary Losure, is another hoax perpetrated by two young British girls back in the 1920’s when one of the girls claimed she saw fairies. Their story begins innocently enough when nine-year-old Frances told her family that she saw fairies. The grown-ups didn’t believe her so cousin Elsie painted paper fairies and took pictures of them dancing around Francis. Now they did look real. Their images suddenly sky-rocketed off to national attention when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wanted to see one of these fairies. Pictures of the original photos of the drawn fairies are included in this book.

Are you looking for some great books to inspire and enrich your graduate? I’ve assembled some outstanding books for the next two weeks that will motivate and enliven graduates of all levels to become better and one who will make an impact on others. This week there will be biographical books of famous people and tactical tools that made them great.

Annie and Helen, by Deborah Hopkinson, and beautifully painted with watercolor by Raul Colon, is a fresh and insightful look into the relationship of Helen Keller and her amazingly patient and determined teacher, Annie Sullivan.  Annie, who eventually lost her sight due to a disease, came to teach Helen who was both deaf and blind. This picture book beautifully demonstrates Annie’s strong perseverance and belief that there was intelligence deep within young Helen. “Helen was like a small, wild bird, throwing herself against the bars of a dark and silent cage.” Annie realized what Helen needed was consistent discipline and to not give in to her tantrums. When Helen finally understood words, the incident of splashing water from the outside water-pump and writing the word “water” on Helen’s hand, finally brought a connection to Helen’s mind. It’s moments like this that makes this book an inspiration. There are amazing photos on the end pages of both women as well as an actual raised braille alphabet found on the back. “I Am Helen Keller” by Grace Norwich, is a chapter book that goes into more detail about the amazing accomplishments of Ms. Keller.

Gandhi: A March to the Sea, by Alice B. McGinty, and painted with gorgeous hues of watercolor, pastels, color pencils and ink by Thomas Gonzalez, is a book demonstrating through full-page color, and powerful words, that Mohanda Gandhi could lead his people through the vast countryside and all the way to the sea.  He made this march, picking up people of all faiths, to show his country and the British rulers that India could be unified without violence. This powerful picture book teaches a lesson that countries at war could learn.

21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit, by Richard G. Scott, is a wonderful guide to help you discern heavenly messages as you navigate through life. “Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances” advises Elder Scott. One of these principals instructs how to communicate with our Heavenly Father. Another principal showcases the importance of being aware of others who are set in our path to help us and guide us. Elder Scott takes you through each of these principals one chapter at a time so that by the book’s end, you will become edified and understand the divine truths so needed to live by the Spirit!

The Mark of a Giant: 7 People Who Changed the World, by Ted Stewart, follows the concept that these 7 amazing people featured in this inspiring book will motivate the reader to make their own mark on the world in a positive and influential way.  The traits that flow from one great person to the next seem motivated to improve conditions of life at the time. There’s Pericles who wanted to give the Athenians fairness and democracy. Madame Marie Curie wanted to discover ways to help the human body become less sickly and not spread disease. The last chapter leaves the reader questioning if they might be a giant waiting to become aware of their own capabilities. I love that the book ends with each of us pondering what unique qualities and talents we have waiting to be discovered!

Girls Who Rocked the World: Heroines From Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa, by Michelle Roehm McCann and Amelie Welden and Boys Who Rocked the World: Heroes From King Tut to Bruce Lee, by Michelle Roehm McCann, are both chapter books that feature young women and men that made an impact on the world before they turned twenty. The chapters are short, kid-friendly, interesting, and have highlights featuring devises and activities that helped each reach their goals at their young ages. The outstanding young women include the ballerina Anna Pavlova, Mary Anning who was a famous fossil hunter and Laura Bassi, the physicist. The amazing young men featured include Jesse Owens – a Native American Olympian, President, politician and abolitionist John Quincy Adams and Thomas Alva Edison – inventor.

Desmond and the Very Mean Word, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, and illustrated with vibrant oil by A. G. Ford, is based on an experience when Archbishop Tutu was young.  He was the only one with a bicycle in the entire township. But when he rides it through town with much pride, he hears boys yelling a very unkind word. He raced away but could not get that awful word out of his head. It hurt his soul but it also made him mad. He learns a very important lesson in life: to forgive is more important than to get even! This lesson is well exhibited in this beautiful picture book.

May 15, 2013

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