Reviews (2)

Fun and informative for grade schoolers
You can tell the difference between someone who has studied history and writes a children's book and someone who hasn't a clue how to find information. Unfortunately, Macdonald doesn't provide a bibliography at all or address where she got her information so I had to take off one star.However, her information seems quite solid and I love the way the book is laid-out with the life journey of one woman into slavery and her experiences there. There are obviously several of the less pleasant things left out of this book such as sexual slavery, but it did contain more reality than I had expected for a book at this level.The sidenotes are great and they actually give you the advice the cover of the book promises.There are also hints for the younger audience that things are not simple, even something they've been taught is an evil, is actually quite varied and complicated by gender, race, age, skill, and personality.

Any woman in history
This is an informational story about you, as a mother, living near the Black Sea in the 5th century B.C. in a Scythian Tribe. You are captured by the Greeks, separated from your family, and sold in Athens. The story gives a detailed description of the typical life of a slave woman in Greece. Some tips for you to remember: "Forget about your family because you will probably never see them again. Work hard if you want your owner to treat you well. Be nice to your owner's eldest son - one day he'll become your master. Improve your cooking, or your owner won't feed you at all. Don't get caught trying to escape - you will be punished or sold." The book has great pictures and a lot of interesting information presented through a story. This book makes it fun to learn about the life of a female slave because it doesn't feel like you're studying! This is a good book to read aloud to primary students and have in the classroom library for students up to the intermediate level. ... Read more

Book Description

This thrilling adventure back in time to the pioneering days of wagon trains uses real objects from the past in close-up to bring the period fully alive. Discover how a typical family from Indiana traveling to Oregon in a covered wagon really lived: how they dressed; what they ate; what they saw; how they survived the hazardous journey. Chronicles a day in the life of the Larkin family, from breakfast cooked over a campfire, until the first watch takes up duties for the night. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Family Travel
Follow the Larkin family on their journey from Indiana to Oregon in 1853 in search of a more prosperous life. This book uses actual pictures of objects from the past, many drawings,and diary writings. Their journey took almost 5 months, the family had to travel over 2,000 miles.Some of the 24 chapters include The Wagon, Indian Country, Children's Activities, Crossing A River, Stopping At A fort, Sickness and Death. A greatly detailed book with an abundance of color pictures on every page. Fantastic!! ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Great Historical Fiction Novel
Daniel's Story, a book about a young boy going through the holocaust is one of the best books I have read in my life. I picked up this book because of my love for historical fiction. Daniel's story brought me smiles, tears, and sympathy.
Carol Matas is a great author and great descriptiveness towards her writing. She writes as the character. As if Daniel were my age, talking like my age. This creates more of a connection with the main character for the reader.
This book describes the average life as a jewish child during the holocaust. What they had to go through, and the triumphs they had to overcome. I would highly suggest this book to anyone and everyone. Even if you are not interested in historical fiction.
Great for school teachers as well for their students to read because of its historical information. Basically Daniel is taken from his home to live in a ghetto. Here, his family either dies or gets trasnsported somewhere else. Him and his father manage to stay together, and stay alive. Their is also a little love route in this book for all of you girls. haha
Again, great book, good to read. Highly suggest if you want to learn about the Holocaust and the way it really was. Daniel is a great, strong character. And the way the author portrays him through out the book relates to many of the young readers out their.
Here is my personal rating:
Description: 4/5
Want a book that can give you vivid pictures in your mind? You will find it here. Great descriptions of not only settings, but character detail. Although the author can be abrupt at some times.
Plot: 5/5
Great plot, although it is very similar to Elie Weisel's "Night". But great story of a young boy and father trying to survive during the lead of the Third Reich.
Characters: 4/5
You will find many character through out this book. Many though are young boys, just about Daniel's age. They all though have very unique characterisitcs. Although sometimes the author could use more description in them to make them "Round Characters".

So, my raiting would be a 13/15. Again, great book!

Very Well Written and Compelling Short Novel!
WOW! This story is surely one of my favourites! Before reading Daniel's Story, I had no background information at all about what the Holocaust and World War II was like. It was a shocking and very compelling novel, to say the least. I first read this story about 2 years ago, and I've read it 5 times since. It keeps drawing me back, with its strong plot and setting development. The characters really got through to me as well! GREAT JOB, Carol Matas! I would HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to learn about the Holocaust and what the Jews had to go through back then.

Googoo gaga
Daniel is young and smart kid. Daniel and his family is Jewish and people don't like them. When Daiel goes to school the teacher is mean to him. Daniel wants to tell his parents, but he noes that there is nothing they can do about it. Daniel has a favorite uncle named Uncle Peter that got sent to the concentration camp. Daniel has a sister named Erica who is very good at the violin. The whole family went to the concentration camp in Poland.

I think that this book is very good because it shoes how Daniel faces life. The challenges he might have to face might be gig but he is still is strong in physical and mental ways each day. I think Uncle Peter tries to make them forget what the nazis do and try new things each day so they are not in fear every day.

I thik if you like books about how people face challenges each day in wars or in the cocentration camps this book is right for you.b It tells lots of true facts about Daniel and the family and how life is effected each day for them.

Daniel's Story
Daniel's Story is a wonderful book. The story is about a 12 year old boy who is sent to a concentration camp with his family which consists of Erika (his sister), Mama, and Papa. The setting is in 1933 when Hitler hated the Jewish people.

Daniel and and his family are taken on a terrifying trip.They were treated horribly. Since Hitler hated the Jewish people they did not get to take a shower and had to work all day and were only fed one meal a day.

I liked reading this story because it has a personality in it, like you are not reading the story, but someone else is telling you the story in real life. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Moving and Educational
What makes this book so good is that it you are moved by the story of Daniel's life and come away thoroughly enriched by the process on a moral level. Yet, what you may not realize is that, afterwards, you have an excellent foundation of what the Holocaust is. I read this back as a child and really enjoyed it. As I grew older, I became an intern and volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Museum (the institution which was behind the production of the book and has a children's exhibit of the same name). When I underwent the training, I realized that I already knew much about the Holocaust from Daniel's Story. Not only will you know that the Holocaust was a tragic event but you (or your children) will know the specific processes that victims went through such as being deported, going to ghettos, and eventually to the concentration camps. An all-around wonderful book for children! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Most comprehensive telling of the Hunley yet to date!
Civil War buffs, 21st Century scientists, teachers, archaeologists, and readers looking for a good "yarn" alike will be absolutely riveted by this book.In the most comprehensive telling of the H.L. Hunley story yet to date, Walker's extensive research includes a variety of primary sources such as letters, African American testimony from Naval Court inquiries, and family photos to highlight the Civil War era - the "first" part of the story.Next, through a subtle color in pages of the text, Walker continues the story in modern times, detailing the 2000 raising of the sunken submarine.Color photographs showing every step of the recovery and excavation (including new scientific technologies), and thorough explanations by the actual recovery divers make this a unique "you-are-there" kind of book.A poignant end to the story is the facial reconstruction of Hunley's crew, and photographs of the funeral caisson taking the crew members to their final resting place in Charleston's Magnolia Cemetary.

Fascinating, readable, colorful account
This is a great story, and each part separately is great, but, together, they make an amazing whole.
The H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to sink another ship, early in 1864, in Charleston Harbor.Built to help the beleagured Confederacy, she was long, narrow and brilliantly designed.Not brilliantly enough, however.Her successful mission was also her last, and she sank into the deep, facing an even longer wait that the Titanic for rediscovery.
Great photographs, compelling reading. ... Read more

Book Description

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Remember.
Over a quarter of a century has passed since the U.S. involvement in Vietnam came to an end, yet the effects of that conflict are still etched throughout the fabric of our modern day society. But another generation has been born in the time since the fighting ended. Many have never heard of Vietnam let alone the fighting that went on there. How does one introduce a child to a subject that is still as electrified as the Vietnam War? Perhaps by reading THE WALL with them.

THE WALL is simply a story about a young man who takes his son to the Vietnam War Memorial to find the name of his dad. The young boy's grandfather died in the conflict and at the end of the book the reader knows the boy's head is full of questions. The story doesn't answer these questions, but allows children to verbalize these questions themselves: Why are there flags all around here? Why did that teacher say the Wall belongs to all of us? Why does that soldier not have any legs? The story can also be used as in introduction for not only the Vietnam War, but to also talking about war in general. The illustrations and the story are molded together perfectly into one beautiful harmony. Sometimes kids will be anxious during a story, but when reading this story most kids will remain completely still, taking in the simple, yet profound story. This is a great book to read to children not just during Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, or Independence Day, but at any time during the year.

A boy and his dad visit "The Wall" to find grandpa's name
For over a quarter of a century the key imperative in American Foreign Policy has been to avoid another Vietnam. Now we have a new generation of children, born to the sons and daughters of those who fought in Vietnam but never came home. How do we tell them the story of Vietnam so they understand how much it scarred the national psyche and how their is such a national resolve never to let it happen again in some way more substantial than showing them "Forrest Gump?" Eve Bunting comes up with one way in "The Wall," ably assisted by the watercolor illustrations of Ronald Himler. "The Wall" is the simply story of a little boy and his father who have come from far away to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. to find the name of the boy's grandfather.

What makes "The Wall" so moving is that instead of answering questions it will get children to ask them. Like the little boy in the story, children reading this book will see man in combat fatigue in a wheelchair because he does not have any legs; an older couple hugging and crying; flags, teddy bears and letters laid against the wall. The little boy does not ask any questions about what he sees, but I have to believe that students reading this book certainly have questions that they want answered. Whether it is used for Memorial Day or Veterans Day, or any discussion in which children are thinking about war and its consequences, "The Wall" is a very thoughtful book that should be very helpful to teachers and students alike.

All teachers should use this book in their classroom!
As a college student studying to be an elementary school teacher, I recommend that every teacher use this book in their classroom around Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This book has a great message and the fact that it is written from the boy's perspective makes it easy for students to realate to the characters.

"The Wall" is a Patriotic Book
"The Wall" is a patriotic book. It was easy to read; that made me understand how the Vietnam War turned out in the end.

The boy and his father try to find the grandfather's name on the Vietnam Wall memorial when they pass many other names. When the father reads the names on the wall, the boy imagines each name as a real person, standing next to him and talking to him.

If you are interested in the Vietnam War and how people sacrificed their lives fore us, then "The Wall" would be a good book for you to read.

I gave this four stars out of five because I found the book to be very moving. If you like books about wars, then you'll like "The Wall."

I am a teacher
I am a sixth grade social studies teacher. Yes, this book is below the average sixth grade reading level. However, I read this along with other books, orally, to my classes at the beginning of the school year. It gives the students a sneak preview as to what their studies are going to be all about. It also encourages the idea that history is not so bad after all. It should encourage them to read about history and may even introduce the genre to some students. The book also provides realism to the plight of the Vietnam War. It is a good book experience for all who read and/or listen to it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

We loved this book!
In this wonderful book (published by Moody Press), author Helen L. Taylor takes the Christian classic Pilgrim's Progress and reworks it for younger readers. She simplified the words and concepts, but stayed remarkably close to the original story. The chapters are nice and short, which makes this an excellent bedtime read, which is how I read it to my nine-year-old son and eleven-year-old daughter.

This is really two stories in one book, the first story tells of Christian, a small boy living in the City of Destruction, who hears Evangelist talking about the Celestial City where the great King lives. Christian becomes a pilgrim, and sets off for the Celestial City. Along the way he has many encounters and learns many lessons. The second story is about Christiana, a friend of Christian, who sets out with others to walk the same path, and they encounter many trials, often different than the ones faced by Christian.

This is an excellent book. It is jam-packed with Christian concepts, which you can then stop, at a convenient chapter break, and explain. Indeed, if I have one complaint, it's that I wish that this book had a study guide to accompany it! My children were a little disquieted by the martyrdom of one character, but as this is also a part of the Christian experience, I am glad that this book addressed it.

So, I must say that my children and I all loved this book. As a matter of fact, I think that I will make reading it a yearly tradition (for a while, anyway). We highly recommend this book!

Excellent book for both children and adults
This is a great adaptation of Bunyan's classic Christian work. It makes for great reading at bedtime, and though, being only twenty I have no children, I have found I enjoyed this book a great deal. It details the account of Christian, and later his (in the original book) wife's journey to Heaven (the Bright City). It has been a few years since I've read this, but I've read it four or five times, enjoying it immensely.

The central problem (and this complaint is against Bunyan, not Helen E. Taylor) is, although I have read or heard it used to be a common thing back in that time era (1500 - 1700) to name the characters after whatever virtue or allegorical element the author wishes to state. Bunyan takes his allegory, and like Lewis in THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE stop telling the story and beat you with the allegory. (Narnia is one of my favorites, and although I like LWW, it has earned the position of my least favorite Narnia because several things don't jibe with me, or, instead of allowing readers to learn or draw conclusions, Lewis specifically dominates and draws an entirely too explicit comparison to Christianity. It is more personal taste than anything - though I like allegory, if one gets to explicit (like Aslan dying, or, in this book, when Christian sees a picture of King David) the story loses its spell over me.

However, this is still a great book. Highly recommended, and if you won't want to wade through the much harder original, adults should go with this.

Riveting!
During my childhood nearly 40 years ago) I was utterly fascinated by this book. It stood out as one of the most interesting books of my childhood days, and it made an indelible impression on me. (Other favorites were C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, Little Princess, & Secret Garden). But back to Little Pilgrim's Progress: I'm not sure why this book was so intriguing to myself and my siblings, perhaps because the little pilgrem faced real dangers and even death??
Well, recently this book came up in conversation -- I hadn't thought of it for years -- and I dug out a copy, and started to read it. Moments later my nearly 6-year-old daughter came up and asked me if I would read it to her. My nearly 4-year-old son also wanted to listen. (I read freqently to my children, and they often are able to enjoy stories beyond their age level, but still I thought this would be too advanced to hold their attention.) But still, I decided to try. Of course, when I read I simplified or explained the language from time to time (some of the wording is old-fashioned). But to my astonishment, my children were absolutely riveted. The chapters in this book are short, and the children kept begging me to read more!! I was especially amazed that my 4-year-old remained totally engaged in the story (there are occasional illustrations, but it isn't a picture book; they were just listening). We finished the Christian part of the book in a few reading sessions over 3 days. (We later read the Christiana story, but the children didn't find it as interesting).
Conclusion: I'm not saying that this book would usually be of interest to such young children, but only wanted to comment that it can be a very exciting book and can provide much opportunity for thoughtful discussion with a parent.
Oh, I will add one more thing -- shortly after reading the book, one day my son asked if he could change his name to "Help" (like in the story). And later, he asked if he could be called "Greatheart". So now we jokingly have added those names to his middle name. Also, after reading the story concepts came up a lot in conversations over the following days and weeks.

Excellent example of faith in action
I read this book when I was a child and remember being quite intrigued by it. It confronts some of the deepest fears and anxieties that go hand in hand with trying to be a God-fearing, moral human being. Although I didn't realize it at the time, this book provided (and continues to provide) excellent examples of the hardships and sacrifices that result from chosing the moral path in life, and as a result it introduces a view of Christianity that stresses not only redemption, but also the self-discipline and courage that is required to confront the evil around us every day. Persons of all ages can learn from this book.

A great book for kids
My mom read this book to me and my brother and sisters. It was a good book. At times it was hard to understand and with so many people in the book, it's not hard to see why. After some time, I got the hang of it. It is an exciting book at the end. Not the best book my mom has read, but still good! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The world of Kit Kittredge
Kit's stories center around America during the Great Depression. Kit Kittredge is a nine-year-old with a nose for news, but she has a hard time finding interesting stories--everything in the papers during her time is about the hard times of the Depression.
Kit starts out as a proud, somewhat selfish character who doesn't realize what she has until it's gone. But the changes begin in the first book, when Kit has to stand up to the fact that her father has lost his job and that the Kittredges now face an uncertain future.
The subsequent books, Kit Learns A Lesson, Kit's Surprise, Happy Birthday, Kit!, Kit Saves the Day and Changes for Kit show Kit as she slowly grows up and deals with the Depression. In Kit's stories readers will see the effects of the Great Depression on a nine-year-old girl who refuses to lose hope, even when the bank threatens to take her family's home.
Kit's stories also feature "Peek into the Past" selections detailing different aspects of the Great Depression. The sections also explain what caused the great Depression.

Kit's stories are great. I higly recommend the boxed set. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A comprehensive reference to exploration
College-level library collections seeking a comprehensive reference to exploration would do well to consider the Encyclopedia Of Exploration: a 2-volume set developed and co-authored by the team of Carl Waldman, Alan Wexler, and Jon Cunningham, devoted to the world history of exploration from biographies of major and lesser-known explorers to histories, chronologies, and national interests. Volume 1, The Explorers, packs in biographical references - almost a thousand entries - with indexes organized chronologically and by relevant occupation, country of nationality, and more. Each explorer receives about six paragraphs of detail ranging from early life to exploration achievement and motivation. Volume 2, Places, Technologies And Cultural Trends, surveys the technical, social, culture and geographic aspects of world exploration, providing A-Z entries emphasizing factors determining mission success or failure, and including maps, charts, discussions of exploration companies and societies, geographical barriers and more. Cross-references connect the two volumes and help readers connect explorers with places.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

This is a very good book!
My sons and I enjoyed this book. It is about Charlemagne, but written from the perspective of his eldest son, so it keeps their interest. This booked sparked us looking into Charlemagne in more detail, from the history books, so it was great.

A great book!
This book tells you a lot about Charlemagne, but it is great for children because it is from a young boy's point of view. The young boy happens to be Charlemagne's son. It is well written and it gets the facts of history well in your mind without having to study! Its very interesting and I recommend everyone to read it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Great Blizzard
Do you think non-fiction books can't be good? Well your wrong. Blizzard is a really good non-fiction book. It is about the blizzard of 1888. The storm caught most people by surprise because it was unusually warm on March 10, 1888. There was a storm system coming from the North and one coming from the South. The one in the North went along the Canadian border then started to swooped down. The one coming from the South went along the Gulf of Mexico,and then went South some then started to go North. People were in panic. They lost alot of people March 11, 1888. For example, people looking for the subway would get lost and not be able to be found. If they were found they had already died of freezing, being burried, or starving. Two little boys heading out to find their grandmas house got lost then were found not long after burried but still alive. And another example is two tugboats crashed into each other. Most of the people in that accident lived but some died. This is a good book for all age levels.

An insightful, lively account of another "perfect" storm.
Acclaimed historian Murphy shows how a devastating 1888 blizzard not only shut down our northeastern states for days, but radically altered the way Americans live; its repercussions are being felt even today. He illustrates how political corruption, ineptitude, and contemporary social attitudes exacerbated the storm's fallout. Using carefully chosen excerpts from survivors' personal accounts, he also gives us a vivid feel for what life was like then for immigrants, women moving into the workplace, and others who had to struggle to survive everyday. He employs an interesting mix of graphics to further illustrate his story. Junior high school students who believe history is boring may think differently after reading this; it should also appeal to readers interested in natural disasters, and in social histories. Here's another winner from the author whose "The Great Fire" brought Chicago's infamous conflagration so brilliantly to life. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1894, Laura Ingalls Wilder, her husband, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, packed their belongings into their covered wagon and set out on a journey from De Smet, South Dakota, to Mansfield, Missouri. They heard that the soil there was rich and the crops were bountiful -- it was even called "the Land of the Big Red Apple." With hopes of beginning a new life, the Wilders made their way to the Ozarks of Missouri.

During their journey, Laura kept a detailed diary of events: the cities they passed through, the travelers they encountered on the way, the changing countryside and the trials of an often difficult voyage. Laura's words, preserved in this book, reveal her inner thoughts as she traveled with her family in search of a new home in Mansfield, where Rose would spend her childhood, where Laura would write her Little House books, and where she and Almanzo would remain all the rest of their happy days together.

Reviews (11)

The Wilder family moves
'On the Way Home' is Laura's diary as they traveled from DeSmet to their new home in Mansfield, Missouri. There are pictures included in this book that take you back to Laura's time and can make you feel even more like you know Laura.

This book is very interesting and is a quick read. The book starts with Rose Wilder Lane telling us about the events leading up to the Wilder's move to Missouri in 1894.

The majority of the book is Laura's actual diary. It begins on the day they set out (July 17, 1894) and continues through to the day they arrived in Mansfield (August 30, 1894). Laura includes in her entries things such as the temperature, what time they started in the morning, how many emigrant wagons they saw, what towns they drove through and what rivers and creeks they crossed. Laura also wrote down things that occurred along the way. For example, a lame horse, a lost dog, conversations with strangers and wading in creeks.

Also included in the book is a map of their journey. I found this interesting and referred to it often as Laura named the towns they drove through and stopped at. It was nice to see the route they took. At the end of the book, Rose wrote some more. She wrote about the search for a home, an important thing being lost and then found again, a description of Mansfield, moving into the new home and so on.

This book is not an 'edge of your seat' type, but it is interesting for those who are fans of Laura Ingalls and the Little House books and for those who like to learn about days gone by.

On The Way Home
For the children who loved Little House on the Prairie series;this is for you. On the Way Home is about an eight year old girl traveling with family toward her new home. There were many adventures that the Wilder family encountered "on the way home." there are parts in this book that would keep you on edge. This book would appeal to children under the age of ten. Laura Ingalls Wilder has published many interesting books for children including this one. On The Way Home is a book that would teach a child about the hardships of life in the eighteen hundreds. On the Way Home is a book that would interest children to read more books like this one. HAPPY READING!

A wonderful mother-daughter collaboration
"On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894," by Laura Ingalls Wilder, really brings to life this era in American history. The book is actually a collaboration between Laura and her daughter, writer Rose Wilder Lane; Rose's introduction and concluding chapter "sandwich" Laura's journal entries.

As the author of the "Little House" book series and as the subject of a long-running television series based on those books, Laura Ingalls Wilder is a truly beloved figure in American popular culture. "On the Way Home" offers an excellent opportunity to "hear" her speak directly from a real-life adventure. Her trek with her husband, Almanzo, and daughter Rose is a classic pioneer tale.

The book is well complemented by a wealth of black-and-white photographs of the family, as well as of the architecture, artifacts, landscapes, and animals that were part of their world. There is also a map of their route.

Laura's prose is very engaging. She writes of the natural landscape, plants, and animals they encountered along the way. She also gives a sense of the ethnic and religious diversity of that time and region. Her journal entries capture the excitement of the growing cities and towns.

This is a short book (120 pages), but it is full and fascinating. When Laura writes of such pleasures as wading in a warm river or picking wild blackberries, you can imagine yourself standing beside her. Recommended as a companion text: "O Pioneers!", by Willa Cather.

A little dry, but interesting reading
I personally wouldn't recommend this book for the younger Little House readers, unless they are really keen. As it is a transcription of a diary that Laura kept during her long journey to the "Land of the Big Red Apple," it is more interesting than gripping. Laura would have been trying to save paper by being fairly tacit in her records, so while there's a number of interesting happenings they aren't fleshed out in great detail or with the rich descriptions that she's known for. I certainly did enjoy it, however.

(Additionally, she probably intended this diary for her own use, so she goes into a lot of things like the state of the crops and price of land in different places.)

A Happy Ending
I always wondered what happened after The First Four Years and this book lets us in on what happened to the Wilders. Because of high debts and failing crops, the Wilders lost everything. After a friend visited the Ozarks and told of the fertile land and milder climate, Almanzo and Laura decided to start over. Laura kept a diary of their journey for memories sake. Because so many readers were curious of what happened to Laura and Almanzo, Rose Wilder Lane wrote a wonderful setting leading up to the diary and after they arrived in the Ozarks. The diary was written as a diary for it was never intended to be a book but only as a memory of their travel. It was comforting to know that they were finally starting to move forward with their lives instead of backwards like what happened in South Dakota. The diary was found after Laura's death and Rose had it published to let us know that Almanzo and Laura had a hard but happy life. I didn't expect Laura's writings to be more detailed because it was still seventeen years before Laura started writing for the farm magazines. She only wrote what she found necessary to make sure she had enough paper for the whole journey. The pictures in the book are excellent for then you can see the real Almanzo, Laura and Rose. I consider this book the true ending of the Little House series. ... Read more

Book Description

A landmark in children's literature, winner of the 1970 Newbery Medal, and the basis of an acclaimed film, Sounder traces the keen sorrow and the abiding faith of a poor African-American boy in the 19th-century South. The boy's father is a sharecropper, struggling to feed his family in hard times. Night after night, he and his great coon dog, Sounder, return to the cabin empty-handed. Then, one morning, almost like a miracle, a sweet-smelling ham is cooking in the family's kitchen. At last the family will have a good meal. But that night, an angry sheriff and his deputies come, and the boy's life will never be the same.

A landmark in children's literature, winner of the 1970 Newbery Medal and the basis of an acclaimed film, Sounder traces the keen sorrow and the abiding faith of a poor African-American boy in the 19th-century South.

Winner, 1970 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)
1970 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)
"Best of the Best" Children's Books 1966–1978 (SLJ)
Outstanding Children's Books of 1969 (NYT)
Best for Young Readers (NYTBR)
1970 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
Children's Books of 1969 (Library of Congress)
Children's Books of the Year (CSA)
Some Select Children's Books of 1969 (Publishers Weekly)
Notable Books for the Portrayal of the Black in Children's Literature (Top of the News)
Mark Twain Award (Missouri)
1973 Nene Award (Hawaii)
1975 Sue Hefley Children's Book Award (Louisiana) ... Read more

Reviews (163)

Sounder
I think the book, Sounder, by William H. Armstrong, was very good. The story is about a boy who has a dog named Sounder. The family is poor so the father must steal to feed his family. His father is taken to jail and Sounder tries to protect him but gets hurt. What I thought was interesting about this book is the story is based upon William Armstrong's teacher's life experience of this. I enjoyed the way it made me think about the story in different ways. I enjoyed the characters because they had distinct personalities. For instance, the boy was very determined to find his father, and the other characters thoughts and emotions were very well described. All of the story elements together helped me picture the story as if I had witnessed it. The setting was described in great detail just like the plot and the characters were also. It was amazing that everything about the book could seem so real. The thing I enjoyed most in the story was the way the dog's bark was described. It was described with beautifully written similes and metaphors to portray how it sounded. The dog, Sounder, was named for it's bark because people could hear the bark louder and richer than any other dog's bark. For all of these reasons I will highly recommend this book with five out of five stars. There were only two things in this story I did not like very much. One is the abruptness of the time periods. In one paragraph it went from seasons to years. Another is that not very much detail about the boy when he was searching for his father was given. Overall though, I felt this book was one that should be read more than once.

Sounder
This childrens book by William Howard Armstrong digs into the life of a young black boy, his father and their dog, Sounder. It is set in the old south and details the struggles of an African American family of this time. The usual struggles for this family are getting food and staying warm until one terriable night that changes the family forever. The father is taken to jail and Sounder is wounded in the struggle. From that night on the boys life is faced with even more struggles to survive, as he is hoisted to the head of the house. He worries about his fathers well being, which sends him onn many adventures looking for him. Through all of the bad the boy does manage to find the good in all occasions.
This would be a great read for fourth to eighth grade students. It is a truthful and detailed insight into the history of the African-American race.

Sounder
I think Sounder is a fairly boring book, and i should know i'm a book worm. i read about half the book then i started skimming, becaus it was so boring. i mean almost no one but the dog had a name. i believe you have to have a name not just a description to make an interesting person. also i belive that it is based on a true story, and i find most of those to be boring. i recommend this for adults, but not for kids. they'd probally get tired of it in the first two chapters.

Like a roller coaster - some parts are good - some parts suc
I had to read Sounder for a novel class. Judging by the cover I knew it will be a boring story and I was right. Some chapters didnt even make sense and it was confusing cuz the characters didnt have names except the dog Sounder. It was pretty boring. Only the end was good.

Sounder's Voice Is Heard
This book tells the story of a sharecropper's family and their dog, Sounder. The story happens in the 19th century American South.

More importantly, I feel this story tells about courage and determination during hard times.

The focus is on Sounder because he is a hunting dog and a major contributor to the families' food supply. however, I think Sounder is the only character named in this story for deeper reasons.

When the father is taken to jail on some trumped-up charge, Sounder is seriously wounded trying to protect him. Despite his crippling injury, Sounder returns home. Sounder's recovery and persistance is a symbol of what the family members want to do. When the father returns, also crippled, the old dog, previously silent, lets out one last resounding, triumphant bark.

This is a compassionate and compelling book, one I couldn't put down. Even though it was sad, it was full of love. ... Read more

Book Description

New Look! Relaunched with new jackets and 8 pages of new text!

A detailed look at life in Egypt - from the pharaoh and his courtiers, through the mystical rites of the priests, to the world of the workers in the fields.Featuring stunning items from the tomb of Tutankhamun and jewelry from the royal palaces, Eyewitness Ancient Egypt shows how Egyptian palaces, Eyewitness Ancient Egypt shows how Egyptian nobles lived.Find out how they prepared for the afterlife and what food, clothes, weapons, and even toys ordinary people enjoyed.See the mummies of priests and kings, fruit that is more than 3,000 years old, the treasures of the pharaohs and the weapons of an Egyptian soldier. Learn why even cats and dogs were mummified, why the pharaohs were buried with boats and statues, why brave Egyptian soldiers had medals in the shape of flies and how the doctors of Egypt healed the sick. Discover what was inside the Great Pyramid at Giza, how Tutankhamun's tomb was found, what games Egyptian children played, what went on in the temples of Ancient Egypt and how hieroglyphics were deciphered. And much, much more! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excelent
It's a great book.
And besides I love to study about ancient Egypt, it's just so interasting.

Love it!
I'm a dabbler in Ancient Egyptian history and this is a great buy. At under $15 I think it's a great deal considering it's hardcover and has a TON of full color pictures. It covers a wide array of topics from Geography to Pharoahs. The book is handsome enough to display on a coffee table, detailed enough to get a taste of ancient egypt, and still simple enough that it would make a terrific gift for a child of any age (I'm 23 and I think this book is fantastic).

Other topics include: daily life of the Egyptian (not just nobility!), tools, jewelry, mummification, writing system, agriculture, textiles, food, religion.

Eyewitness:Ancient Egypt
I think that Eyewitness:Ancient Egypt is an amazing book. I liked how they wrote about how the Egyptians built their pyramids. If you are thinking about reading this book you should,because you will learn alot. Belive me, it's a very interesting book.

ancient egypt
this is a great book on ancient egypt. this book has 60 pages that are filled with lots of info. this book has a great overveiw on ancient egypt and is filled with lots of great colored pictures on every page. if you are into ancient egypt you will want to buy this book that is great for all ages.

SEE ancient Egypt
DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful museum-quality photos of all things related to Egypt, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Learn about Egypt, mummies, egyptian gods, and everyday life in Egypt. SEE the objects common to everyday life in Egypt. If you know someone (young or old) who is fascinated by Egypt and archaeology, then you must introduce them to this book! ... Read more

Reviews (58)

So Good!!!!
Remember Patience Whipple is a 12 year-old girl who is sailing on the Mayflower with her family, headed for the New World. Even a young girl has her trials to deal with; one of the least is staying out of the way of snooty Mary Chilton, and coping with a younger sister. But as I said, those are the least of her troubles.
And they only escalate once they reach land. Winter is approaching, and they only have a crude cabin to serve as a house. Terrible sickness has set in, and Remember is afraid that one of her family (or even her!) will become ill also.
But Remember survives her first season at Plymouth Harbor, and learns a lot along the way.

This has got to be one of my favorite books. Everything was so realistic, for a long time I actually thought that it was a real diary, until I read the little thing at the end of the book-'Remember Patience Whipple is a fictional character and her diary is fictional.' What a disappointment! But as long as you're aware of this when you start reading, you shouldn't have any problem with it like I did.
This book is a must for any Dear America fans. READ IT!

Remember Remember Patience Whipple!
A Journey to a New World makes you feel as though you are on a difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean yourself! In the diary of Remember Patience Whipple, you will find sadness, excitment, and joy as they take a long trip across the sea. In this story, Remember experiences sickness in her family, a new baby brother, and a few horrible deaths when she lands in America. She encounters Indians and is surprised on their little clothing! She befriends them and likes them so much! This book is really good, but I only rated it a four because there are already so many books about pilgrams and the journey on the Mayflower out there already, so it wasn't all that original. But as it was the very first book in the Dear America Series, I think it was a good start for this now blooming series.

Wowie Kazowie!
This book is really great. Read it!

Great for those with an imagination!!!!!!
Kathryn Lasky has a great way of expressing the treacherous journey on the Mayflower to the destined settlement of Plymouth. In A Journey to the New World, a diary of Remember Patience Whipple, it describes that an escape from religious persecution would not be easy. It was quite the contrary, the Mayflower, which was a cargo ship used to carry barrels of wine and cloth transported all the Puritans wishing to come to the New World. In the years before 1620, puritans and others wishing for freedom from political persecution, faced the strong power of King James I. If someone disobeyed him, they would face persecution in many ways. Once these pilgrims reached Plymouth, they lived some what happy lives away from persecution and prejudice. The Whipple family felt that the church is in your heart and not in a building. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages who have imagination and an understanding of life and its sacrifices. This book showed me that what we have in life should not be taken for granted but it should be well treasured and respected.

A Journey to the New World
If you enjoy reading Dear America books then this book is for you. It shows you how it was like for children to make the long journey to America in 1620. Not only did her family need to make it to America alive, but winter was approaching. With barely enough time to build a home, the threat of an Indian attack arose. With many struggles will the pilgrims of the Plymouth colony make it? Read A Journey to the New World to find out. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The Usbourne Book of World History (Guided Discovery Program
I purchased this book on the recommendation of Jesse Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, authors of "The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home." I am using it as the basic history text for my 1st and 2nd grader covering the beginnings of civilization all the way to the beginning of the 1900's.

The book is well organized into 1-2 page spreads that cover a brief time period or subject relating to a time period, which makes nice divisions for daily or weekly history lessons. For larger subject areas such as the Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, there are several 2-page spreads covering more detailed areas of life and culture. The book begins with a 2-page spread called "Digging up History" then continues with early settlers, earliest cities, then major civilizations and empires. The page layouts are "Usbourne style," meaning there are many illustrations per page with captions about a paragraph long accompanying them. The illustrations are well done in that they give a good idea of what life was probably like during each time of history.

Each spread usually has a caption entitled "How We Know," which tells specific archeological evidences for the specific cultures. There are also small time charts on several spreads giving key dates for that specific culture. There are two large time charts in the book, the first covers First Civilizations to the Fall of Rome, the second continues on from there to 1914. Each chart covers 9 major geographical areas and gives a basic overview of what was happening in each.

This book is an excellent general overview. It is a good starting point, but for a more in-depth study needs to be supplemented with additional books that go into more detail.

A Sesame-Street approach to history
I usually love Usborne books and our family owns many of them. But The Usborne Book of World History has left me disappointed.

The title page reads, "This book is an introduction to world history from the first civilisations to the early 20th century... This book does not attempt to be a comprehensive account... A vast amount of detail has been omitted..."

This is true. What remains is a very sparse overview of world history, presented in tiny two-or-three sentence snippets, interspersed among a plethora of colorful and often confusing images covering each and every page.

To me, as a homeschool teacher, this is disconcerting. This type of presentation would seem to stifle the student's need to develop concentration and focus as they study history. Any child able to read this book (which is written at (at least) a 3rd-grade level) should NOT be learning history in "tidbits" like this. He or she should be making connections-- between the invention of the printing press and the spread of Protestantism or the sudden surge in exploration of far-away lands, for example. This book simply doesn't provide those connections.

For that reason, I call it a "Sesame-Street approach". Too many small, attention-grabbing images and too little "meat". It seems more like entertainment than education to me. I would have preferred that the authors spend less time on the graphic images and more time developing a coherent continuum of history that a young child could follow.

Good Introduction to History
I use this book to homeschool my daughter, and I've found it to be a good introduction to history for young children. It's not the only resource you will need, but it provides a good framework.

It does jump around a bit, because of the commitment to chronological presentation of *world* history. It's difficult to get the right mix on this, because one wants to see the continuous development of a particular region, but one also wants to see events in the greater context of World history. If the mix given in the book doesn't suit, though, it's possible to simply skip over parts and come back to them later. We use the book to provide a frame of reference, and a jumping off place for further study. In that respect, I think this book is better organized than The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia. The latter has far more text, but, in my opinion, it's too dense for young children.

Some reviewers have mentioned the nudity in the pictures. I'm not sure what to make of that. Presumably they don't allow their children to view works of art that contain nudity either, since the Usborne nudity is far less graphic than a classical or renaissance statue. I don't know what harm a child could suffer from viewing Michelangelo's David, or Botticelli's Birth of Venus, though. The pictures in the Usborne book are harmless.

Other reviewers have claimed that there are inaccuracies in the Usborne book, particularly in how the catholic church is portrayed. I've looked at the examples that they've provided, and don't find them convincing. For example, one mentions the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and the Emperor, Henry IV. The claim that the pope made Henry stand in the snow for three days is one that I've seen in adult history texts. To call it "voluntary" penance is stretching things a bit, since Henry had been excommunicated, was in danger of losing his crown, and later reverted to his original opinion.

It's also claimed that the text doesn't present both sides of the Protestant/Catholic wars equally. Yet, on p.135 it says, "priests on both sides were tortured and even hanged. Both Protestants and Catholics believed they were saving their opponents from hell by doing this."

Another objection concerned the book's statement that "people decided [Joan of Arc] was a saint." There's nothing false about that statement. Of course, a saint must be cannonized by the church, but the pope doesn't make someone a saint out of the blue. Her sainthood was acclaimed by the people first, and then confirmed by the pope. It seems trivial to take issue with this.

I could go on about the other alleged inaccuracies, but I will just urge people to take these claims with a grain of salt. Read through all of the reviews of this book, and make your own decision.

The book is sketchy on detail, but that's to be expected. It's aimed at elementary school age children, it is heavily illustrated and it is wide-ranging. It skims the surface of history, and the parent/teacher is expected to provide greater detail through other sources. The book contains a list of additional resources on the inside of the back cover. If you use the book in that manner, it's a valuable resource. There are few texts that fill the niche of teaching history to children in the 6-10 age group, and none that I know of do it as well as Usborne.

The Usborne Book of World History
This book is written in a comic book format. My children have not liked any of the books by this company. I homeschool my children and you are better off without this evolutionary guide to history.

Not as great as it could be
In general I appreciate Usborne books. This one has too much nudity for my taste and too much emphasis on ancient religions. I much prefer Usborne's Ancient World. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How Fiona makes you love History if you want to or not.
Fiona Macdonald is famous for writing beutiful books about the past. She explains in a very friendly, clear and fascinating way how our ancestors lived. Children who dislike history and who think that the past is boring change their mind when they see the magnificintly illustrated books Fiona makes. This book pulls you into the Middle ages and gets you as close to the past as possible without a time-machine. On the first page you see a picture of a medieval town, people are working, there ia a market and there is more than enough to see. On several place throughout the city you find small questions like 'Would you be afraid of these soldiers?'. You see three scary looking soldiers playing a game on a tower. If you would like to know what game they are playing you can go to another page. It works almost as a internetsite with several links. The book is almost ineractive. The Chapters are clear and very beuatifyllt illustrated. The author tells us how life would be for people in the middle ages. You can follow 'a-day-in-the-life-of, you can see battles, castles, cities and farmers. It is a book that you will pick up again and again. Children will love it, it is very handy for making school projects. As always Fiona Macdonald has succeeded in making another brilliant book about the past. Bringing the past closer and educating the young. The Illustrators have done a perfect job, every single picture is a pleasure to look at. ... Read more

Book Description

The little settlement that weathered the long, hard winter of 1880-81 is now a growing town. Laura is growing up, and she goes to her first evening social. Mary is at last able to go to a college for the blind. Best of all, Almanzo Wilder asks permission to walk home from church with Laura. And Laura, now fifteen years old, receives her certificate to teach school.

Reviews (14)

The Best Little House Book
Little Town on the Prairie is my favourite book out of all the "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I enjoyed this book more than the other books because it was happier, for there were not so many depressing times the Ingalls family had to endure.
The title is self-explanatory, a little town on the prairie, which is in Dakota, USA. The story is set during the 1880's. The Ingalls family, consisting of six people, was always moving from place to place. When they came to Dakota, they were very happy with it. Their little "shanty" that they stayed in during the summer was built into a new, improved house. Mary, the oldest sister, is accepted into the college of the blind, and Laura continues school and has a summer job. Things are going very well at the Ingalls household. There is enough food for everyone, and there wasn't another hard winter, like everyone expected. Most problems have solutions like when there were gophers eating their corn, they got a cat to kill them. The only problem is school, because of the new teacher, Eliza Jane Wilder. She is Almanzo Wilder's sister. She turns out to be horribly mean to Laura and her younger sister, Carrie, because Nellie Oleson (Laura's enemy mentioned before in "The Banks of Plum Creek") told the teacher negative remarks about Laura. Soon, a new teacher replaces her. All of the problems work themselves out somehow, which is what I like about this book.
In my opinion, Laura Ingalls Wilder does an exquisite job captivating all her readers with her refined choice of words, meticulous detail, and up-beat plot. This is absolutely the best piece she's written. She does an admirable job of describing the setting so it makes you feel like you're right there, witnessing the whole scene. The book also has a good balance of good times and bad times, because if it was all bad times the book would seem depressing, and if it was all good times, the book would seem hard to believe. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy realistic fiction or historical fiction. I think a possible theme for this story would be hold on, things will get better. This theme is displayed throughout all the "Little House" series. This is my all time favourite book, and I hope you enjoy it, too.

Definitely my favorite Little House book...
Since I've first read this book when I was a little younger than Laura, so I was really excited to read what life was like 'back then' for kids my age.

The hard winter is finally over, and the Ingalls family finally moves out to their claim, where Laura enjoys the outside work and the sunshine. But then she is offered a job as a seamstress in town, and takes it even though she misses the outdoors. The work is hard, and the environment is unpleasant, but Laura sticks it out.

Ma=ry finally has a chance to go to the blind college in Iowa, and while Ma and Pa take her there, Laura, Carrie and Grace clean the house.

School finally begins again, and an unpleasant surprise comes along on the first day - Nellie Oleson from Plum Creek, who schemes and causes trouble. The high point of this situation is the troble between Laura and Ms. Wilder, the teacher, who only hears unpleasant things about Laura from Nellie, and Laura's short temper, especially where Carrie is concerned, does not help the situation... But Ida, the new girl, is nice enough to make up for Nellie's unpleasantness.

Laura is grown up enough to want fashionable cloths and all other fashionable things other girls her age in school have, such as name cards. She is invited to parties and attends her first evening sociable.

We start seeing the relationship between Laura and Almanzo Wilder start developing (even though I think her relationship with his sister, her unpleasant ex - school teacher, might give things an interesting twist).

I was wrong - THIS book is the best Little House book!
(...) But this next book, Little Town on the Prairie, is outstanding. The Ingalls have a short winter this year and everything seems to go right. But like we all know, even though we are warm and fed, problems just seem to come along. Now that Laura is 14 and 15 years old, she learns to care about and appreciate other people besides just her immediate family. She likes Ida, Cap, Mary Power and Minnie. She goes to a fancy birthday party for a boy named Frank. We see that she is becoming a beautiful young lady and she starts describing clothes and hairstyles in detail.
She even buys the latest thing - name cards. And when she sees Almonzo,she says "I was just picking up my name cards". MY name cards. Like she was so totally in fashion forever. She is very smart and can do long division in her head. There are many fun social occasions in this book and some exciting power struggles with the teacher, Eliza Jane(Almonzo's sister), Nellie Oleson, etc. This is absolutely the most enjoyable book in the series. But I said that last time. Next will be "These Happy Golden Years". It can't be better than this one, but I've just got to see what happens! I can't close without again mentioning how much you learn in this book. This book teaches social history. You learn how to operate a corsett, hoop skirt, and what a lunatic fringe is, and how to curl your hair without a curling iron. You find out what to do when plagued by blackbirds and gophers, what to do when you're "home alone", and how to behave at your first paying job. This book is the beginning of the end of the little Ingalls family. Mary goes away to college, and soon Laura will become a teacher. We all have to face it sooner or later, our children will grow up. See how an ideal family handles it, with grace and love.

Loved it!
I have to admit that I never really cared to much about this series. I read all of them though (except for the last two) for lack of things better, and, out of all of them,this is the only one I really liked. I have no idea why! I just loved it! Totally reccomended!

school days
Laura's teenage years, her feelings and thoughts and actions, are memorably recorded in this book. Laura's feud with her unfair teacher (and future sister-in-law!) is hilarious! And her equally strong feud with an old childhood rival, who somehow managed to end up traveling from Minnesota to South Dakota at roughly the same time as Laura, is also amusing. Nellie wants to ride behind Almanzo Wilder's beautiful horses, but Laura ends up *marrying* the guy! (Not in this book, but you can pretty much see where it's going.) And the baby kitten, and Mary's desire to go to college and Laura's desire to sacrifice for that goal....Well, this is just a good, good book. ...