Book Description

Climb aboard for an exciting and educational journey around the world with this information-packed atlas!Journey from continent to continent with the help of state-of-the art maps that depict in extraordinary detail each country's topography, cities, borders, and other features.Locator maps for each continent and country provide a clear global perspective.Succinct text, hundreds of photographs and illustrations, and easy-to-read charts of facts and figures help curious young geographers understand what life is like in these faraway places, and explore everything from customs and cultures to economic systems and climates. Includes country flags and a section on mapmaking and usage. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent world Atlas.
As with most atlases, this book divides the world into various regions, some as small as countries (e.g. Western Africa, Oceania, France, etc.) The book has many colorful topographical maps as well as pictures of important locations, animals, activities and/or native dress. Interestingly, each one contains a picture of a native dish. At the end of the book is a chart of facts and figures, organized by continent, which includes the following information: country, area, population, capital, official language, currency, and major products.

I bought this atlas for my children sight unseen, and do not regret it in the least. My small children (6 and 8) like it, and the depth of information it contains is sure to make the book useful for years to come. I recommend it absolutely. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Classic
Many children's books come and go but this one is a keeper. It is a mainstay in my classroom. Tanya learns from her grandmother that a quilt can tell a life story. The making of the quilt brings her whole family closer. I have my students make construction paper quilts after reading this story--this is something parents can do with their children at home. Good companion book: Luka's Quilt. Luka's Quilt is also about a grandmother and grandchild and the making of a quilt.

Covers it all book! - Multicultural/Family/Art/Death
I have read this book many times and as an educator I can not say enough good things about the book. "The Patchwork Quilt" has great illustrations, touches on multiculturalism b/c of the people included in the story, does not exclude other cultures b/c the book is also about family, confronts dealing with death in a healthy manner, and is easily a lead-in to an art lesson. This book can lead to discussions on family, death, and classroom community (each student makes a patch representing themself and bind them together to make a classroom quilt)! :) Have fun and educate with this book!

A very enjoyable multicultural children's book.
Valerie Flournoy, Author. Jerry Pinkney, Illustrator. THE PATCHWORK QUILT 29 pp. Dial Books for Young Readers 1985

Tanya's grandmother had begun to make a patchwork quilt using scraps from old shirts, Halloween costumes, and any other materials that had meaning to them. Tanya was so interested in how her grandmother so carefully cut pieces of material and sewed them together so she spent much of her time watching and helping her grandmother produce this "masterpiece." On Christmas morning, Grandma becomes sick and is no longer able to work on finishing the quilt. With the help of her mother, Tanya takes it upon herself to help finish the quilt for her grandmother. Finally, when Grandma is able to begin working on the quilt again, she finishes it by stitching on the last square, which reads, "For Tanya From your Mama and Grandma."

This story is not necessarily about any one culture in particular. This story line could take place in any culture. However, all of the characters in the book are African-American. There are no specific references in the book to African-Americans, however this is a situation in where the illustrations play a major role in the story. The story probably would be read the same; regardless of the race of the characters; however, the multicultural characters help the readers get a grasp on the many different cultures that surround them.

Heart warming, loving, a family tale
The story starts out with Tanya recovering from a bad cold, setting restlessly on the chair by the kitchen window, and anxious to go outside. Since her mom won't let her go out yet, she decides to go talk to her grandma. Grandma was setting in her favorite chair with a pile of worn scraps of material that appeared to be dirty old rags to Tanya. Tanya soon finds out that these dirty old scraps could become a thing of great beauty and an expression of great love. She and her grandma set out on a growing adventure building this wonderful patchwork quilt, but only after Grandma explains the difference in a store bought quilt and a patchwork quilt. The project grows and before long is a family project that continuos through the Christmas holiday with Mama sewing and Grandma cutting. Only once did Mama put it aside and that was to make a special gold Christmas dress. Tanya knew where those special scraps would go as well. Then Grandma got sick. The quilt was about half finished. Tanya feared it would never be finished. Grandma's masterpiece lay neatly folded and waiting. This saddened the family and before you know it, they were all working on it. Jim even picked up the blue material from his own clothing and started cutting scraps. The family worked and remembered. It took a whole year for the quilt to be completed. At last the last square was attached. Grandma, Tanya and the whole family was very proud and excited as they thought back. It was decided that this quilt would make a very special gift for someone very special. The right hand corner of the last row holds the secret of who. You'll have to read the book for all the fun and the secret of who gets the quilt. I loved it! It is a very special book and one of my favorites. I think it is an asset to my library and will be to anyone else's. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a great hands-on cultural geography book
This is a great book for teaching units on India to gradeschool age kids. The format is simple and interesting. It applies itself well to kids and offers hand-on projects to make the country more real to children. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Yankee Doodle Boy
This is a great book! It's written in an easy-to-read style. It's almost like reading a letter written by a Continental soldier. Joseph Plumb Martin experienced many major moments of the Revolutionary War - he spent time at Valley Forge, met George Washington, was at many battles, etc - and he describes them all here.

Liberty Coming of Age
This book is not for the serious history buff nor for those who are seeking a macro view of historical events. But what this book does provide is the insite into an individual solder's life during our darkest hour. Other books on the Revolutionary War delve deep into the problems faced by Washington when the initial 6-month enlistments were to expire. Those Continental Troops who did not re-up are now viewed with scorn. However, Joseph was one of those troops who left after his enlistment was up and returned home without regret. The viewpoint from this individual solder provides balance from those Officers who were sustained in relative comfort. However, one has to begin to question some of the stories such as seeing Molly Pitcher in battle and his personal meeting with General Washinton near Yorktown. Regardless of the accuracy of his saga, Yankee Doodle Boy is easy reading and adds a sense of what it was really like to battle fatigue as much as the redcoats.

I think I may have been there!
After reading this book, I know that the best way to learn about something is to get the viewpoint from someone who experienced it. Joseph Plumb Martin was a great writer, and told me what it was like to be an average soldier in Washington's army. He writes in a style that's easy to understand, even for a 7th grader like me, and he has a very good sense of humor. By the time I finished "Yankee Doodle Boy," I could have sworn I was there with Joseph. You can't say that you've read about the American Revolution until you read this book!

First Hand Account of an Original American Patriot
History doesn't get much better than hearing it first-hand from someone who lived it. Joseph Plumb Martin has paid us an invaluable service by recounting his seven years of enlistment in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This is a great book which should be read by all Americans. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

What was it like to be a pilgrim child in 17th-century Massachusetts? This charming picture book takes young readers back in time to see. For one thing, pilgrim children didn’t go to school. Instead, they helped their parents with chores and played games such as marbles. There were no convenient grocery stores. Pilgrims had to hunt and gather food, then cook their meals on an open fire or in an outdoor oven. Dramatic photos of historical reenactments combine with lively text to give today’s children a vivid sense of daily life in Plymouth colony. Here is a great book for fostering an early interest in history!

Reviews (1)

Good place to start
I use this book in my second grade class to introduce Thanksgiving and our study of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. The book is published by National Geographic and has stunning photographs taken at the Plimouth Living History Museum. It has simple text (great for 1-3) and gives a nice overview of pilgrim life. My students find this book fascinating... they're intrigued by the pictures and descriptions of a life so different from theirs. One caveat: if you're looking for a book about the "First Thanksgiving" this is not it. Its primary focus is on everyday pilgrim life. Try 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving, instead. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Count Your Way Through Korea
Count Your Way Through Korea is a fun learning book for preschoolers and young school aged children. The book presents the numbers one through ten in Korean, complete with the phonetic English pronounciations. Each number is linked to a cultural aspect of life in Korea. Fun! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A review by Chun Wen Huang from P.S.-42
Do you know anything about the atom bomb? This book has facts about the atom bomb and what happened during that day the United States dropped a bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. Sachi, the main character of this story lost her sister and father. She was really sad about it. That means that the atom bomb is really powerful and affected other people's lives.

I really like this book after I was done with it. By the look of this cover, it looks really boring. When you actually open the book, you can't stop reading it. There are some interesting facts in this book such as how much the atom bomb weighs and how many people died when the bomb dropped.

Riko, Sachi's sister died from the bomb. Does it hurt to die? Why did the book not explain how it felt to die? Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who also died from this bomb folded 934 paper cranes because if she folded 1000 of them, the gods would make her healthy again. I think this is an interesting idea but there is no such things as magic so it wouldn't work. If you want to learn more about Sadako's life, you should read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr.

Recently, I heard that Suddam Hussein, expresident of Iraq was hiding or coming up with ideas for another atom bomb. What if he drops it in the United States? Is it as powerful as the first one that dropped in Hiroshima?

I recommend this book to anyone that reads or likes historical fiction and facts about the atom bomb because this book really has great facts. You should also read other books by Laurence Yep such as The Star Fisher, Child of The Owl, Dragon's Gate and American Dragons. Laurence Yep's drawings are very unique from other illustrators because his drawing look Chinese, like me! Do you want to know more about Sachi's life, well what are you waiting for? Pick it up!

HIROSHIMA
Brandon Brown

HIROSHIMA
by Laurence Yep

From the author of Dragonwings (1975) a new book is here called Hiroshima, taking place in 1945 during World War 2. Laurence Yep takes you through Hiroshima and the life of a girl named Sachi who lives there. Suddenly someone from the town yells "B-29 B-29." After that day will 12 year old Sachi ever see her family again in the smoke and radiation filled air.
The war genre takes your mind deep into the war setting. The explosions ring in your head. Closing the book is not an option.
"When the bomb's uranium breaks up, bits of atoms zip away. They go right through peoples skin and hurt the bodies inside." illustrates the horror experienced throughout that time.
Twelve year old Sachi and her friends from school tear down houses to contribute to the war effort. Suddenly a blinding light like the sun and a boom like a base drum. The bomber called the "Enola Gay" dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima.
To find out if Sachi ever sees her family again and if her father comes home from the war. You will have to read Hiroshima!
The major theme of Yelp's epic masterpiece is "When things get tough bounce back and rebuild!"You have to find out if they do.
Laurence Yep (the wonderful author of Hiroshima) was born and raised in San Francisco, California. In addition to his novels Laurence Yep has also written plays. Now he lives in Grove, California with his wife, fellow author Joanne Rider.His parents are Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep.

Hiroshima...from those that experienced it!
Ground Zero is a phrase that was coined long before that ill-fated day in September. The thousands that perished or survived that hell of August 6, 1945 in the city of Hiroshima are testaments to the horrors of war.

Yep's brief story is the perfect catalyst to spark discussion about war and how lives and countries are forever altered. It is indeed worthy of inclusion in every American classroom, especially in light of the turbulent times of today.

Hiroshima by Laurence Yep
This is an excellent companion to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. The details of the day's events during the attack on Hiroshima and the years after bring the reader closer to understanding the surprise of the attack, and the devastation that followed for years. My sixth graders read this book in conjunction with their Social Studies class and the study of World Cultures. They love it. This is truely a book to be added to any classroom library!

Touching Perspective
My 8 year old son is completely enamored by all things war -- typical boy behavior at this age. When the teacher assigned a "multi-cultural" book for this month, I purchased "Hiroshima" in an attempt to show my son two sides of war -- heroism and horror. The writing in the book is lovely and touching and you can't help but become involved in the life of the little girl injured by the bomb blast, her loss and her ultimate recovery. This is a wonderful little book and one you will be glad to have your child read. ... Read more

Book Description

Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, live in Korea with their parents. Because Korea is under Japanese occupation, the children study Japanese and speak it at school. Their own language, their flag, the folktales Uncle tells them—even their names—are all part of the Korean culture that is now forbidden. When World War II comes to Korea, Sun-hee is surprised that the Japanese expect their Korean subjects to fight on their side. But the greatest shock of all comes when Tae-yul enlists in the Japanese army in an attempt to protect Uncle, who is suspected of aiding the Korean resistance. Sun-hee stays behind, entrusted with the life-and-death secrets of a family at war. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Another terrific Park novel!
In "When My Name Was Keoko" Linda Sue Park introduces her readers to a painful part Korean history. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the book deals with the struggles of the Korean people to maintain their identity and cultural heritage while the Japanese were fighting to erase all that was uniquely Korean. The story centers on the relationship between sister and brother pair- Sun-hee and Tae-yul- and their contrasting approaches to dealing with the incredible hardships of the occupation. It includes many themes worth mentioning- strength, cultural pride, sacrifice, perseverance, family ties, respect, etc.

As a library media specialist (in training), I highly recommend this book for upper elementary grade to young adult readers. It has a thought-provoking way of presenting values and lessons without coming across as preachy. The book also exposes young readers to an often undermined historical event and to a cultural group with which very few Americans are familiar.

A Brilliantly Written Book
Linda Sue Park does a marvelous job of bringing to life her two distinct narrators, Sun-hee and Tae-yul, sister and brother, who live during the Japanese occupation of Korea, when the Japanese tried to obliterate the Korean culture. People are no longer permitted to speak Korean in public, children are taught to read and write Japanese so that only the older generation still remembers how to read Korean, even their names are changed to Japanese names.

Sun-hee (now Keoko) keeps a diary--which is destroyed in an act of wanton meanness by soldiers looking for "treasonous writings" after the children's uncle, a member of the resistance, goes into hiding. Sun-hee asks,

"How could an alphabet--letters that didn't even mean anything by themselves--be important?
But it *was* important. Our stories, our names, our alphabet. Even Uncle's newspaper.
It was all about words.
If words weren't important, they wouldn't try so hard to take them away."

Tae-yul (to be publicly called Nobuo) takes a more direct approach--he wants to fight back:

"I remember something else, too. How I'd felt hearing about Abuji, the way he'd done nothing to help. Back then I couldn't understand it. Why hadn't he done something?
Those soldiers tonight, tearing apart our house. And me? I'd stood there, frozen. I hadn't done anything--I hadn't even *said* anything. And I'm three years older than Abuji was then.
I know now. What could he have done? What could any of us do?"

This is a moving story about the power of words, and of holding onto what you believe.

Educational and full of morals
Lately for a group project I read a very educational book, with my literature group that I enjoyed very much. The story of the book is based on the war in Korea during the year 1940-1945. The story is about a young Korean boy by the name of Keoko and his family. During this time Keoko and his family face many difficulties and situations where at any moment one could take any of their lives. Because Korea was under control of Japan, the Japanese people were trying to eliminate the Korean religion and replace it with the Japanese religion. So Keoko and his family had to change their Korean names to Japanese and learn the Japanese language. Their flag, folktales, and mainly their whole religion was turned unknown. The only way that Keoko, Sun-Hee, and Tae-yul could remember any of their religion was by their Uncle's stories and pictures, otherwise the Korean religion was lost to them.
This book is When my Name was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park, is very educational and full of important morals such as strength and pride. This book helps people realize how to be proud of their religion and race, not to neglect it or hide it. Keoko and his family face many things that are against their religion. Together they help hide their pride but enjoy it at home. When the Japanese change around their religion they try to stand up for it but like other Koreans don't succeed. Also it shows how one can be strong and get through the hard times that come their way. The book is a good example for young children because of the morals and the reality. The events show how cruel the world can be when there is hate and war among it and how it was during those years that we were not in the world yet. In the book the Koreans were treated like they were nobody, just servants to the Japanese. The events in this book are not just and we children have a right to know of these on-going events so we can actually think about what is happening on the other side of the world. What is happening in other countries is very important and we should know about it so we are aware of how lucky we actually are. Most people think that the events in their household are the worst that could happen, but the reason they feel like their reality is worse is because they have never felt the pain of an on-going war just outside your door, with your family and friends dying by your side one by one. That is why I believe this is a very good educational book for 7th graders to read.

Great Educational and Fun Read
The book When My Name Was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park, was a good book. I read it for a 7th grade English class, and enjoyed reading it. This book is about a painful chapter in Korean history. This book takes place in Korea, in 1940, and is about a Korean family, named Kim, who have to survive in despite of Japanese discrimination during World War II. The young girl in the family, Sun-hee is ignorant and doesn't really understand everything the Japanese do, while her brother, Tae-yul, almost does. Tae-yul joins the Japanese army, and becomes a kamikaze pilot in order to show the strength of the Korean people. The rest of the family has to stay home, and fight for their equality.
I liked this book because it taught many lessons, but wasn't too much of a "school book." Most books we read about World War II talk about the war's affect on the US, but this book shows the war from a whole other perspective. The story kept me reading, but I have read better books. The most enjoyable part of this book was the fact that, every chapter, it switched from Sun-hee's point of view too Tae-yul's point of view. This made the book more interesting because you would read about things from both people's point of view. Reading a book like this allowed me to have a deeper understanding of some themes, problems, and lessons, such as fighting against discrimination. I liked the way Linda Sue Park was extremely descriptive, because it allowed me to see the characters, and feel the hardships of the Kim family. For example, even on the first page, one of the main character's personalities is shown. "I wasn't supposed to listen to men's business, but I couldn't help it...the longer I stayed in the room, the more I heard." This shows the character Sun-hee, and the ways she wanted to know information. I highly recommend this book to young adult readers because it is truthful, teaches lessons, and is a good read.

When My Name Was Keoko
The book When My Name Was Keoko, by Linda Sue Park is a very fun way to learn about Korean history. The book was very interesting and had me reading it every chance I got. The story switched between two people, Sun-hee and Tae-yul, as they told the reader about the Japans occupation of Korea. Tea-yul goes to Japan to become a Kamikaze pilot and tells the story of the military. Sun-hee stays home and tells what is going on in Korea. It is very interesting to see the story from two different points of view. From Sun-hee's view, the Japanese aren't all that bad. They are just a group of people taking over Korea. She enjoys the Japanese culture and accepts what they tell her to do. Tae-yul on the other had has his uncle, a Korean resistance force leader, as his role model and hates the Japanese. He joins the army so that his uncle would not be found and even when he is in the army, he makes a plan so that he could sink the Japanese plane he is flying and not hurt the Americans who were going to save Korea.

I enjoyed this story because it kept me interested the whole time. It never gave away what was going to happen in the end and taught me very much about Korean history. I had never thought that Korean history was very interesting but after I read this book, I wanted to read more. Before this book, I had always wanted to know why people would want to be a Kamikaze pilot or how it would fell to be occupied by another country and after reading this book, it tells in detail how both of those things happened.

When My Name Was Keoko was a very good book about the Japanese occupation. I recommend that everybody read it. ... Read more

Book Description

Rosalba is going on an imaginary journey to the Caribbean island where her grandmother grew up. Through her abuela's eyes, Rosalba visits with relatives who still live on la isla and sees the beautiful terrain of the island— from the lush, tropical rain forest to the bustling old city. Along the way Rosalba and her grandmother visit a busy fruit market, then cool off with a swim in the turquoise sea filled with colorful fish. Their magical trip is brought to life by Elisa Kleven's shimmering collage artwork."Dorros's language is rich and magical— readers fly to la isla, too. Kleven's art is whimsical and quiltlike, crowded with sweet things and surprises."— School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for a Multicultural Lesson
This book is wonderful. As I read this book to my second graders. They feel like they are flying and actually doing what the characters are doing. They really get into the book

Fun mixture of English and Spanish that reads very lyrically
I read this book and the author's other children's book (Abuela) with my daughters (ages 2 and 4) who both enjoyed them immensely. Dorros does a great job of mixing the Spanish phrases in and repeating words in both English and Spanish that the story flows nicely and children can pick up some Spanish very naturally along the way. The pictures are very fun as well. I highly recommend it, in fact I came here to look for more books by the same author but unfortunately, didn't find any. I hope he has more in the works, we love them! ... Read more

Book Description

‘This story of the death and reincarnation of a Tibetan woodcutter is a beautifully gentle look at one human being dealing with life’s choices and possibilities.’ —SLJ. ‘The impact of its peaceful message will reverberate long after the last page is read.’ —H.

Outstanding Children's Books of 1987 (NYT)
Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1987 (NYT)
Notable 1987 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
1988 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)
1987 Choices: The Year's Best Books (Publishers Weekly)
1987 Children's Books (NY Public Library) ... Read more

Reviews (10)

After death comes Diversity of choices
The cycle of a young child's life, then death, and after-life is explained in a beautifullysimple way. When death comes to a family, there isno easy way to explain it to a very young child (up to 7). This book softly describes the journey through a seriesof choices and can be interpreted many ways (reincarnation, heaven, etc). I have lent it to my friends over the yearsto help during hard times and the children (as well as the parents) have really appreciated it -- I believe it is a must-have for the library. It is a great pleasure toread aloud to my son and we have many times over the years.

Gentle Gem
This book is one of the best children's books I have ever read. It is also a wonderful, thoughtful book for adults to read. It has many messages - not the least of which is that the woodcutter thought he wanted to go different places while he was alive, but when given the choice he choose to live his life over again, but as a girl. His life had been happy. This message is important in today's world of always wanting more than you have. Although this book deals with the concept of re-incarnation it really does not exclude what a Christian child has been taught. I read this to my 6 year old last night and she had a lot of questions. I was able to explain to her that no one knows exactly what happens after you die, but these are some possibilities. He could have gone to heaven (Christian) or could come back to live another life (Buddist). This is a wonderful way to introduce Buddism to children. As another reader pointed out, the concept of having your loved ones around you in a different form is very comforting. The illustrations are also wonderful.

Very touching
I was very glad to find a book that explores death and reincartation for children. My daughter is too young (2) to understand it ey, but the illustrations are fantastic, and I hope to use it in the future as a learning tool for her. I want her to know there are infinite possibilities after our time on this earth has passed.

Worth looking into
If you have lost someone and you are more Buddist in beliefs, this is a wonderful comforting book. For those who believe in " Go directly to Heaven, do not do a do-over." need not apply.

I bought mine to help my children with the deaths of their two uncles ( my brothers who were critically ill from a hereditary disease) over a span of two years. While my children were a little young ( 4 and 2) to grasp the theme of the book, over time, and various readings of it, they start conversations about it and ask simple questions.

It can give great comfort and a sense of peace.

Book for a thoughtful child in grief
I heard this book from my child's psychologist. This book helps my daughter trememdously in the time in dealing with her father's tragic death. My daughter found it extremely comforting to know that not only her daddy was not in any pain, but also he got to make all those wonderful choices. She likes the endling that the main character comes back as a girl and still got to keep some sort of memory from previous life (love to fly a kite). Now she talks about her daddy could come back to earth as a seed to become a maple tree or a catepillar, then change into a most beautiful butterfly. She vows to be kind to all living things for they might be her daddy or some one she knows from the sky. In short, this book opens a great way to bring compassion and kindness into a child'd world. It transformed a tragic incident to a defining moment for my family. This book also comforts me dealing with my loss. ... Read more

Book Description

The New York Public Library
AMAZING U.S. Geography

Follow a chinook over the Rocky Mountains. Trace the course of the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Discover where gold is mined and fish are farmed in the United States. Explore our fascinating nation from Alabama to Wyoming, and find answers to all your questions about U.S. geography...

Where is the highest waterfall in the United States?See page 33.
What is a sand sea?See page 40.
Why does California have so many earthquakes?See page 41.
Why are people from new England called Yankees?See page 69.
How many U.S. presidents were born in Ohio? See page 89.
Where did the Santa Fe Trail begin?See page 96.
How large is mammoth Cave in Kentucky?See page 108.
How hot are the Hot Springs in Arkansas?See page 116.

Also in The New York Public Library Answer Books series:

Incredible Earth
Amazing Space
Amazing African American History
Amazing Hispanic American History
Amazing Women in American History
Amazing Mythology
Amazing Explorers
Amazing Scientists
... Read more

Book Description

In this original trickster tale, Senor Calavera arrives unexpectedly at Grandma Beetle's door. He requests that she leave with him right away. "Just a minute," Grandma Beetle tells him. She still has one house to sweep, two pots of tea to boil, three pounds of corn to make into tortillas - and that's just the start! Using both Spanish and English words to tally the party preparations, Grandma Beetle cleverly delays her trip and spends her birthday with a table full of grandchildren and her surprise guest. This spirited tribute to the rich traditions of Mexican culture is the perfect introduction to counting in both English and Spanish. The vivacious illustrations and universal depiction of a family celebration are sure to be adored by young readers everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wait a minute, wait a minute
Yuyi Morales is having a great year. After creating a series of deft and meaningful illustrations for Kathleen Krull's heartfelt Cesar Chavez picture book, "Harvesting Hope", she wrote and illustrated a second 2003 Pura Belpre winner. "Just a Minute" is both a trickster tale and a basic counting story. Taking the dark conceit of outwitting death through meticulous partying, the story is a delightful dance with the macabre.

It is Grandma Beetle's birthday, and a most unexpected guest is at the door. Standing as nice as you please is Senor Galavera. The handsome skeleton informs the older woman that it is just about time for her to go away with him. Grandma Beetle delays him, asking to have time to sweep her ONE house. Then she has TWO pots of tea to boil. Next, it's THREE pounds of corn to make into tortillas. As more and more time goes by the previously patient Senor Galavera becomes more and more impatient. Finally, it's party time and the finicky skeleton finds that he's had so much fun that he'll be sure to come back for Grandma Beetle's birthday at the same time next year.

Who can resist the idea of outwitting Death himself through a simple counting game? Better still, for every English number pronounced there's a Spanish one for easy translation. But as fine an author as Ms. Morales is, she's an even better illustrator. First of all, Senor Galavera is a fabulous site. Anyone familiar with a skeleton from the Day of the Dead will appreciate his appearance. Sporting a jaunty fedora and a delicately detailed body, he's really quite attractive. His mouth is a series of blue and orange alternating stripes. His eyes are the stars of the anise seed. Better yet, along his vertebrate, forearms, forehead, and kneecaps are tiny intricate details. Grandma Beetle is more than a match for this supposedly dire apparition. She's even able to coerce him into donning an apron (falling loosely on his bony hips) and mixing some pots of delicious food. Kids reading through this book several times will enjoy locating the sly kitten that follows our two heroes about from page to page. To my mind, the best part of these pictures is their luminosity. They pulsate with the deep blues, greens, reds, and other shades that line the pages. "Just a Minute" has rapidly become my number one favorite illustrated picture book of the year 2003 (outside of my beloved "Diary of a Wombat" that is). A book that intrigues, teaches, and is filled with a deep emotional warmth such as this book has is a rare find. Be sure to read it and then share it with everyone you know. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Balto: not just for kids
We purchased this book after seeing the real Balto (courtesy of the art of taxidermy) at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Our quest in Northeast Ohio, where Balto enjoyed his senior years, was prompted by my seven year-old daughter's love-affair with the animated film about this dog, who navigated a lost sled team carrying life-saving medicine through Alaska in 1925. I hereby confess publicly that, after myself reading the book, which is aimed at the 9 year-old set, I cried, much as I had done 35 years before after reading "Lassie Come Home." This account, however, is much more compelling than "Lassie" or "Old Yeller," because it entirely factual (possibly excepting the subjective thoughts imputed to the protagonist).

The author did her homework researching this story about a sled dog who was just one of the pack facing poor odds against daunting weather and unrequiting expanses of blinding snow and ice. When the alpha dog loses the trail, and another refuses to lead, the team turns to Balto to bring them and their cargo safely to rest in Nome.

Perhaps Balto deserves an authentic, grown-up biography, but this one will serve in the meantime. It appears to be the definitive account.

A teacher in PA
This is an excellent book if you are interested in the Iditarod race in Alaska.The book helps young children understand the importance of perserverence and is a great introduction to history for the very young (6-8).A true story that inspires people to understand the bond between animals and people. ... Read more

Book Description

The relatives' station wagon: it smelled like a real car, looked like a rainbow, and was roomy enough for a crowd.

Lucky! Because a big crowd in all shapes and sizes piled into that old wagon at four o'clock one summer morning and piled out of it the next day at their relatives' place on the north side of the mountains. All in good moods.

The visitors settled in everywhere throughout the house, laughing and making music and hugging everyone from the kitchen to the front room. And they stayed for weeks.

Cynthia Rylant's words and Stephen Gammell's pictures take warm delight in the time the relatives came -- when two sides of a family made one roomy middle. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Hug after hug after hug!
This children's book is a joyous and hilarious visit by a very large family to relatives in another State. Although everything gets very hectic, when the relatives finally leave, everyone seems to miss the visitors right away and already are looking forward to the next visit. I think that every family can relate to this story. The book was illustrated by Stephen Gammell and it was a 1986 Caldecott Honor book (that is, a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

Wonderful Memory of a Family Reunion
This is a delightful and sweet story of a family traveling to visit relatives. The illustrations really bring the book to life. This is a great summer story for any child, but is especially fun and perfect for my 5 year old son who does better with new situations if he is able to have a sort of preview of what it is going to be like. We originally checked this book out from the library but have purchased a copy to keep. He loves to read the book and look at our photos from our family reunion trip.

Reminds me.....
I and my family are from Virginia. This is just the way we are when we visit family in other states...we sleep on the floor, eat lots of food, everything! I am going to purchase this book to send to my niece. I hope that she remembers when her family comes from Virginia to do all the things in the book. When she misses us, she can read the story and think about us.

the relatives came
This is a great book for kids ages 3-9. It is a good book for young people because I think it teaches kids no matter what all ways love your family and they will love you back. I read this for English class and if I have a choice to read it again I would. It is about a family that comes from another state to visit their relatives, they get there hug for hours on end and eat dinner then go to bed. There's not enough beds for everyone so each person has a arm or leg on them but, they don't mind at all because there with family. I loved the book personally and I think kids would too. After the age 10 or so they might think the book is childish, any age 9 and under I think would love it.

Challenged Book
This book was selected to be included on a banned book list. While taking Children's Literature at West Virginia State College I was given the opportunity from Mr. Samples to explore the possible reasons why this book was challenged. After unlimited amount of time researching this book I never found a concrete answer why. Also, I did not find who had selected the book to be on the list. I did however have my own opinion of the possible reason. One of the illustrations in the book showed two cousins sleeping together, each were of the opposite sex. This would be the only "flaw" this book would have, overall this is a great book. I would highly recommend using this book with your students in a classroom. This book celebrates the meaning of family with hugs and more hugs. Please enjoy reading and re-reading The Relatives Came. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Reading Rainbow
I first saw this book on Reading Rainbow, one of my favorite PBS shows as a kid. The story fascinated me, and I'm glad I was able to get my hands on a copy. It's about a whale who can't seem to stay with his family (which all kids can identify with at one time or another), and how the community helps him find them again.

The best whale "true story."
The kind of book you think of when you're looking for a good whale story. Lots of personality and drama, and a super read-aloud for kids even as young as 4. Another fun whale story is The Whale Comedian, which is more humorous and whimsical, but, like Humphrey, shows what kids like most: how we can be friends with these exciting sea creatures.

Awesome Book!!!
The kids I used to babysit used to demand that I read this one incessantly. Very well-written, well-illustrated and cute. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With the dawn of the new millennium, the earth is changing more rapidlythan ever--politically, environmentally, socially, and physically. DorlingKindersley rises to the occasion with a beautiful revised and updated children'satlas, filled to bursting with more than 50 innovative three-dimensionalcomputer-generated maps, informative text, and over 1,000 stellar photographs,illustrations, and diagrams. The maps are organized by continent. Each sectionopens with a large, double-page spread introducing readers to the physicalgeography of the continent. Then the continent is divided by country or group ofcountries, with a focus on human geography. Finally a glossary and index provideadditional information about place names and facts about each country.Entertaining features reveal fascinating tidbits about various regions andpeoples: Did you know that Lake Baikal in Russia contains 20 percent of theworld's fresh water? Or that sheep in New Zealand have the right of way andoutnumber people 20 to 1? Vivid, large-scale maps reveal the world moreaccurately and clearly than ever before. This is a resource to keep close athand for school projects, travel dreaming, or just the curious mind. (Ages 9 andolder) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more