Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Brilliant, lovely children's book - a classic
This book, and the entire series of books by Miroslav Sasek, are just wonderful. The story introduces children (ideally from ages of about 3 - 7) to the magic of Paris. The book evokes a sense of wonder, while relaying facts about Paris that children will find very captivating. We see things like Notre Dame, a ticket to ride the Metro, and a gendarme. The illustrations are just lovely, done in a style that helps provide a leaping off point for imagining even more about the story. A marvel of brilliance masquerading as simplicity! The book has been in print for nearly 50 years, and deserves it place along with other children's classics of the city like "Make Way for Ducklings." ... Read more

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I find it helpful in our homeschooling
We do a thematic literature approach to homeschooling and I love it when I can find books that bring in science to our studies. We find this series especially helpful. It doesn't go into deep detail, only a general overview, but is a good starting point when studying Ancient Greece. I also like to include "Archimedes and the Door of Science," "Aristotle and Scientific Thought," and "Classical Kids" which includes a lot of Greek science projects. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover the turbulent past of this vast land -- from empire and communist superpower to today's federation.

Here is a visually stunning introduction to the fascinating and diverse land of Russia. Superb color photographs of costumes, crafts, jewels and palaces offer a unique "eyewitness" view of Russia and the lives of its inhabitants through the ages. See a Mongol warrior's imposing suit of armor, the stunning diamond-encrusted crown jewels, beautifully painted wooden crafts, and the spectacular architecture of Russia's most famous cities. Learn about the sinister secret police, how religious icons are restored to their former glory, about the opulent and extravagant life-styles of the tsars, why the peasant, Pugachev, was locked up in a cage, and about the revolutionary Bolsheviks. Discover the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church, the 13th-century paper made of birch bark, what happens inside a banya, the great tradition of tea drinking, and much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Russia Revealed
A few years ago, my father came home from a trip to Russia, he brought some matroyoshka nesting dolls and a gold toned porcelain hand painted serving dish. Now that one of my best friends is living in Russia, I was even more interested in seeing what her new world looks like.

As the largest country in the world, there is so much to see although I would not mind heading over there to see a Siberian tiger! You will love the pictures of the ice festival in which the winter is enlivened with sculptures carved out of ice. There is also some interesting history to the story.

This is a journey from Early Russia to the New Russia. While this book is written for children, adults will find it very interesting for the historical details alone.

Educational!

A beautiful account of the history of Russia - not just for
If you are afraid that you need to read War and Peace to learn about Russia, fear not. Russia (Eyewitness Books) succinctly and beautifully illustrates the life and people of Russia. The content is a bit deep for the audience of 9 to 12 year olds. But there is something here for lovers of things Russian of any age. ... Read more

Book Description

The universally celebrated fairy tales of Charles Perrault--Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Blue Beard, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, and Little Tom Thumb, among others--were first published in France in 1697.Everyone knows most if not all of these tales, but few realize that Perrault was the first to put these stories, which had been passed down through the oral tradition for generations, in written form.

Through the centuries, the stories have been adapted and changed.Now, this profusely illustrated volume presents Perrault's original texts--filled with beautiful princesses, evil ogres, talking cats, and fairy godmothers--and their concluding morals.Readers will find new enjoyment in these delightfully illustrated versions of Perrault's tales, some of the earliest and most entertaining accounts of our favorite stories.

CHARLES PERRAULT (1628 1703) published a collection of eight fairy tales in 1697 entitled Histoires ou contes du temps passe avec des moralites, (Histories or Tales of Long Ago with Morals). The work became the most important and popular collection of fairy tales until that of the Grimm Brothers in 1812. These fairy tales were not invented by Perrault; the stories had been passed down through many generations through the spoken word, but Perrault was the first person to write them down in the form which we know today as the fairy tale.

Corinne Chalmeau, Fabienne Fesseydre, Lionel de Neouanic are all European children;'s book artists. 168 pages of illustrations in full color, 8 x 10 1/2" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Stunning Book
I thoroughly enjoyed this well written volume about French history and culture. Not only is the text first rate, it is filled with stunning color photos of various places in France and makes the reader really want to go there. The whole thing is good, but I thought the chapter on the French arts was particularly educational. I think the book is aimed at young people, but adults will definitly find it worthwhile too.

Makes France Look Very Interesting and Inviting
This is a colorful, absorbing look at one of the world's most interesting and picturesque countries. The author is Don Nardo, who is known for his many fine books about ancient history, so this book goes a bit more heavily into France's history than into other aspects of the country. Still, it's a pretty much balanced presentation. The chapter on the history of French culture is especially well done and interesting. I would recommend the book highly to anyone planning a trip to France. ... Read more

Book Description

Could you leave all the things you love for the adventure of a lifetime?

As a junior in high schoool, Megan McNeill Libby left behind the familiar comforts of suburban New England to live abroad as an exchange student. Now, in this charming collection of thoughts and vignettes, she takes readers of every age on a delightful, memorable tour through her year in France. Poignant and endearing, innocent yet wise. Postcards from France captures her adventure in vivid detail: waging war with the French language and the magic moment when she finally understood everyone around her; her wonderfully hilarious attempt at making Thanksgiving dinner--with a deer; her feelings of lonliness on the first day at a foreign school, and so much more. The perfect letter from a friend, Postcards is a rare gem of a book that will delight anyone who has ever dreamed of traveling or living in a foreign country.

Reviews (10)

A teenager¿s postcards expanded into a book.
The author of Postcards from France, Megan Libby, was just 16 when she went to France in 1994 as your typical AFS student. But she wasn't typical: she had her eyes wide open and was able to record, in a series of letters and postcards sent back home, what a humbling experience it is to be a newcomer in another culture. By turns comedic, touching, insightful, and revealing, Postcards from France is always refreshing - and it's highly likely this talented young author will go on to write more books that will be a pleasure to read.

Inspiring!
I've been on two two week exchanges to France...both the best experiences thus far in my life. I related with this book so well. I laughed, I cried, and then I read it again. My parents read it, and have decided that after my two two week exchange experiences, and my one week family vacation experience (when I was nine) in France, that it's time for me to go spend a year there. I loved every page of this book. The author did a good job of conveying the feelings of an exchange student. She told of how it isn't always easy, but in the end you don't want to leave. Thank you Megan for an inspiring book that has helped to mold my future...I'll bring your book with me when I go to France...and I'll treasure it for the rest of my life

Achetez ce livre !
Yes, this book is very witty and very easy to read. I am en route to France for a year next year as an American exchange student, and I found this book to be very helpful for every aspect of the process--except I wish she added more information like "Why did she switch host families?" and about school. She barely mentioned anything about homework, the lycée, or anything like that. But I loved everything else about the book. It was intriguing and exciting. And also, it's a very nice quick read. If you are, going to be, or was an exchange student, this book is a must-have. Anther book I recommend is The Exchange Student Survival Kit. Au revoir!

C'est tres bon
I am planning on studying abroad to France in 2003 and this book has helped me out in many ways. It told me exactly what I need to know before I go, how the French people are, the school system, and it gave me encouragement. Just reading about how she doesn't regret going makes me want to go even more. I just wished she would have added more about how to handle so much school! Anyway, this book is great to read, even if you aren't planning on going to France. It has a lot of interesting facts that I could never imagine possible. Great book.

Tres bien
The moment I saw this book in the bookstore, I knew I had to get it because Megan did what I have always wanted to do: be an exchange student in another country. This book is just so charming, delightful, and cute. I finally was able to be an exchange student this summer in a Spanish speaking country, and while I was not gone a whole academic year but only for a couple of weeks, I always had this book by my side because so many things were the same. So if you have ever been an exchange student before/hosted one in America, or are going too I recomend this book right away, and if you are just looking for a good book to read you'll have a ball. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I love this book
This is a children's book, but as a French teacher and a lover of all things French, I love this book. It talks about and shows pictures of various things that originally came from France. For example, did you know that the first stethoscope, braille writing for the blind, photography, motion pictures, scuba gear, Teflon, and ambulances all originated in France? This is just of few of the items mentioned in this book. A recipe for Chocolate Mousse in included plus a key to a few basic French words. I found this book a refreshing joy to read through. Mmmm, I think I see a bulletin board idea coming.... ... Read more