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From the author of the award-winning legend of peace, Old Turtle, comes a soulful new tale about the wise old turtle who advocates listening to the "language of breezes...learning lessons from stones and animals and trees and stars." In this story, a truth falls from the stars, breaking in half when it lands. Crow, Fox, Coyote, and Raccoon, each pick up this piece of truth but discard it because of its rough edges and broken nature. But when a human being finds it, noting the words "You Are Loved" written on it, he and his people cherish it as their most important possession. Time passes, and jealousy, fear, and anger rise up in the people who hold this Great Truth, as well as in those who do not have it. The world begins to suffer. Finally, it's up to a little girl to seek understanding and a solution to the woes of the world.

Old Turtle and the Broken Truth's new age allegory is exquisitely wrought, in word and in picture. Douglas Wood's prose is the timeless language of fables, meshing perfectly with Jon Muth 's radiant watercolors for an experience anyone seven to one hundred and seven can appreciate. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Compelling Story + Elegant Watercolors:=Ageless Picture Book
I picked this book because I love turtles and I was intrigued about what on Earth (or anywhere, for that matter!) the Broken Truth might be....

Through Douglas Wood's narrative, I was taken to a land where every stone was a teacher and every breeze a language, where every lake was a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.....

And then in a brief moment, the sight of the Broken Truth falling to the ground in an especially poignant watercolor by illustrator Jon Muth.

I found the unfolding story to be told gently and with great care. As one other reader noted, it echoes so clearly many of the challenges which are inherent in humankind today.

And then, on the other hand, I am very familiar with this place where every stone is a teacher, every breeze a language, every lake a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.... Very worthy read... and very worthy of sharing with children and grown children everywhere.

Old Turtle returns with another bit of wisdom for the people
In this sequel to the beloved "Old Turtle," the people of the Earth are living in peace until they discover a powerful truth that gives them strength and happiness. The result is that the Earth is soon full of suffering and war until one little girl seeks out Old Turtle, who tells her that what the people do not realize is that the great "truth" is broken and incomplete. It is then up to the little girl to travel back to the world and pass on the precious piece of wisdom that will provide the people with the whole truth.

While I certainly like the idea of a "broken truth" as a metaphor for explaining why so much goes so terribly wrong in the world in which we live, I had to admit that I was rather disappointed by the revelation of what were the two halves of the broken truth. The completed message is certainly worthwhile, and an important one for everyone to appreciate and understand, but I am not sure why half of that truth (the first half in this case), would create a world of war and suffering. However, young readers will not be sidetracked by such practical concerns and should find the message of "Old Turtle and the Broken Truth" to be something that meets their expectations. Douglas Wood's story is complimented by watercolors by Jon J. Muth.

Beautiful Story
Having never heard of or read "Old Turtle", I am not sure WHY I was compelled to look at this book while at the book store today. Perhaps it was the awesome watercolor on the cover..? At any rate, I sat and read the entire book. I remember looking up twice to see if anyone noticed how choked up I was getting - NOT the reaction I was expecting out of myself, but then again, I wasn't expecting to sit down and read one of the most eloquent, beautiful stories I've ever read. I immediately purchased it for an environmentalist/animal rights activist friend of mine, a brilliant girl with so much passion and ability to change the world, who of course I was reminded of by the little girl in the story. This book so amazingly sums up so many of the problems in our world and collective conscience, and so brilliantly pulls them all together into one fundamental flaw in our thinking, whether it's our ignorant views towards animals, nature, or the middle-east, etc. And it offers hope. I can't wait to give it to my friend!

Insightful!
This simple story is actually quiet complex and compelling, revealing the consequences of self-righteousness and intolerance. Within the first few pages, the author quickly sets the stage for conflicts that Old Turtle can explain with his insight and understanding. This is a timely story, as we are often confronted today with accepting others' viewpoints and cultures.

Most children's books aren't just for children...
This story of a broken truth and the secret to peace and happiness is a remarkable tale for children and adults. Children may not grasp the full meaning of the story, but they may appreciate that it is a child who helps the world. Adults will find that the simple truth gives them chills. The watercolor illustrations are as beautiful as the tale.
I bought this book for my friend's birthday. Once you read it, you, too, will want to share it with those around you. ... Read more

Book Description

What really happened
on Monday, October 27, at 6:00 a.m.?

The facts: Alex Crusan, an HIV-positive student, was attacked by an assailant who shattered the windows of his car with a baseball bat. Alex is in the hospital with multiple injuries.

The suspect: Clinton Cole was seen riding his bike in the vicinity that morning. And sure, he has problems with Alex. He might even have harassed him at school. But he'd never do something like this. Would he?

The witness: Daria Bickell never lies. So if she told the police she saw Clinton do it, she must have. But did she really?

The victim: After the windshield shattered, Alex ducked under the steering wheel. But he knows what he saw. Now he must decide what he wants to tell.

Three people, three perspectives -- one truth. Who will tell it?

Reviews (5)

Richie's Picks: FADE TO BLACK
One evening later this week Brook Haven Middle School will host its annual Open House. I spent a day in Shari's classroom late last week working hard to clean up the disaster zone in preparation for the occasion.

Shari is the school's drama teacher as well as one of the eighth-grade English teachers. Her drama students are notorious for leaving their thrift store purchased costuming and props in the classroom long after the performances are all complete. I filled four huge cartons to overflowing with those items that we're not likely to need for future productions. They went to the lost and found. A couple of cartons of the "good stuff" went into the prop room.

You would think that an English classroom should have a collection of some decent books in it, but Shari and I sort of go to extremes. Fortunately, I had brought a bunch of paper bags with me. I filled nine of them with old ARCs (advance reader copies) that I no longer cared about owning. A coordinator at juvenile hall will collect them in a couple of days and they'll get a whole new life.

As I collected and neatly stacked the classroom sets of books (SPEAK, THE LAND, THE MISFITS, WITNESS, THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE, LEFT FOR DEAD, 19 VARIETIES OF GAZELLE, BRONX MASQUERADE, etc.), and filled those shopping bags for juvenile hall, and filled a shelf in the office with the latest paperback purchases and 2005 ARCs, I also accumulated a very small pile of books to take back home. ("Like coals to Newcastle!" someone knowledgeable of our home might exclaim.) A few were ARCs of books that had gone on to win major awards. A couple were Richie's Picks titles that I wanted to have an extra copy of for booktalks. And I grabbed my copy of MORE THAN WORDS: THE SPEECHES OF MARIO CUOMO, which I used to delve into occasionally for inspiring "patriotic observances."

Two ARCs on that stack for home were literally falling apart. One was Brenda Woods' EMAKO BLUE, which we just bought a new copy of for the classroom. It's been passed nonstop from kid to kid for a year now. The other, which from overuse is now a collection of loose pages nested in a cover, is Alex Flinn's FADE TO BLACK. Finally getting my own chance to read it last night, I had to grip it with two hands so that it wouldn't fall all over the room.

"Night is when I think about dying. That's what I'm doing now, after midnight in the quiet hospital."

It didn't take long to see why Shari's students have been enthusiastically turning each other on to FADE TO BLACK since its arrival in the classroom in January. Central to the story is a hate crime involving a baseball bat and the shattered windows of an occupied automobile. There is a victim, Alex Crusan, a HIV-positive high school student whose family recently moved from Miami to the small town of Pinedale. There is a witness, Daria, a fellow high school student with Down Syndrome. Then there is a football player, also from Pinedale High, Clinton Cole. We learn quickly from Clinton himself that he'd thrown a rock through a window of the Crusan house the night before. Did Clinton also, as Daria tells police, attack Alex's car when Alex was stopped at a red light early on the morning of October 27th?

What Alex Flinn does so well here is to create three realistic and complex teen characters, all of whom have some secrets. She also writes so articulately about the elephant in the room: the continued fear and ignorance in America surrounding HIV and AIDS.

" 'They told us before he came here that you couldn't get sick, just being near him. But I don't believe it for a minute. I mean, what if he cuts himself? He doesn't have those purple, blotchy things you always see on people with AIDS on TV. But still, there's all these molecules and particles and things, junk in the air. And what about dust mites?' I remember once, they told us in science class that dust is all people's skin and junk. Excuse me, but I don't want that guy's skin particles on me."

In an exceptional article, "How a Young Adult Novelist Researches," published in VOYA and accessible online at http://pdfs.voya.com/VO/YA2/VOYA200412AuthorTalk.pdf , Alex discusses a 2003 Minnesota AIDS Project study "in which researchers found that 43 percent of those surveyed did not know or were uncertain about whether HIV could be transmitted through a cough or a sneeze, and 38 percent did not know or were uncertain whether it could be transmitted from a toilet seat." Having done her homework, the author creates a consistent tone throughout the book that is revealing of the myths and the reality and how students are affected by them.

"All the days
after,
he said hi
just hi
and I
liked him."

Alex Flinn has been steadily gaining a reputation among adolescents for creating high interest, realistic YA fiction that incorporates issues that matter to them. FADE TO BLACK will continue the spread of that reputation. I've got a dismantled ARC as testimony of that.

Loved it!
I'm a huge fan of alex flinn's books, and this one def. does not disappoint.It's a little different from her other books because its in 3 viewpoints about the same thing.I really liked how Daria's sections were told in poetry showing how she thinks.If you read the review below, I'd be really curious how carefully this person read the book because he/she says she was waiting for 2 characters to get together and talk and they didn't, but I can't imagine which characters this person means.The whole book, I was waiting for Alex and Clinton to talk and when they did it was really great.There was also a really good ending with Alex and Jennifer.In the whole it was a really good and satisfying book.Definitely recommend!

Okay, I Guess
This book was pretty okay, and I love to read books about people with AIDS and the things that they go through. I even got my parents to take me to a local show of Angels in America. I just thought that the characters were not very well developped, especially the girl who is mentally retarded. I also kept waiting for two important characters to meet and have a conversation and they never did. I think this book was kind of rushed.

Absolute Masterpiece!!!!!
This book is an absolute masterpiece. It shuold be required reading for all middle school or high school students, as well as teachers for those age groups. Does an excellent job dealing will hate crimes, prejudice, and hatred. Anyone reading this should be able to realize no matter how different we feel we or others are; we are far more alike than we would ever imagine.

Question your first impressions
Here's the story. It's really easy to follow. Alex Crusan, the new kid in town, is HIV-positive. Everyone at school avoids him, especially semi-popular jock Clinton Cole. One morning on his way to get donuts, Alex is attacked. Someone in a blue letterman's jacket bashes in the windshield of Alex's car with a baseball bat, injuring Alex in the attack. Daria Bickell, special ed student, sees Clinton at the scene. The answer is obvious: Clinton attacked Alex.

At least, the answer seems obvious.

As Alex, Clinton and Daria tell the story of the attack from their own points of view, we learn more about the events leading up to the attack and how their lives change after it. Alex makes the acquaintance of Jennifer, who turns out to be his friend for all the wrong reasons. He also decides to come clean about two major cover-ups in his life. Clinton faces trouble at home as well as at school. Daria, caught between what she knows and wanting to please her mother, reveals her side slowly, always concerned with doing the right thing.

As the saying goes, "There are two sides to every story, and somewhere in between, there is the truth." In this case, there are three sides to the story, and they're all handled very well. Clinton, though known for his bullying, is not an evil character without chance of redemption. Alex, tired of his family playing him for the innocent victim, grows up a lot in the ten days between the day of the accident and the day he returns to school.

Alex Flinn is the queen of writing troubled yet multidimensional teens, and she doesn't disappoint with FADE TO BLACK. Read it, and question all your first impressions.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber
... Read more

Book Description

With brilliantly-colored marker illustrations demonstrates the timeless lesson of acceptance of others. This heartwarming book explains that each person is unique and adds immensely to the lives of others. Hallinan's verses encourage children to respect the disabled to help those in trouble and to reach out to the people around them ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Superb Book About Acceptance/Tolerance
This book by PK Hallinan is a wonderful teaching tool for all children. Although it is not a literary masterpiece, that doesn't matter. The adorable pictures and text portray the true meaning of acceptance and friendship. This is a great book for a child to own!

Excellent Teaching Tool
A Rainbow Of Friends by PK Hallinan is a wonderful book to teach acceptance to children. It may not be a literary masterpiece, but that doesn't matter. The words and illustrations are powerful for children of all ages! It's a great book to own.

Excellent book to share with children
This book is an excellent approach to teaching children that we are all equal no matter what are nationality, race or handicap is.

This is a wonderful book on universal acceptance.
A Rainbow of Friends is wonderfully written. A children's book that adults will enjoy reading with their children. It is unique in its demonstrating universal acceptance among all cultures, races, and handicaps among people. ... Read more

Book Description

The skin I'm in is just a covering.It cannot tell my story.The skin I'm in is just a covering.If you want to know who i amYou have got to come insideAnd open your heart way wide. Celebrating all that makes us unique and different, Skin Again offers new ways to talk about race and identity. Race matters, but only so much-what's most important is who we are on the inside. Looking beyond skin, going straight to the heart, we find in each other the treasures stored down deep. Learning to cherish those treasures, to be all we imagine ourselves to be, makes us free. Skin Again celebrates this freedom. ... Read more

Book Description

Celebrate the colors of children and the colors of love--not black or white or yellow or red, but roaring brown, whispering gold, tinkling pink, and more.

"How better to celebrate ethnic diversity than to look to children, the hope of the future? This glorious picture book does just that."--Booklist

"A poetic picture book and an exemplary work of art. The simple text describes children's skin tones and hair in terms of natural phenomena...and then describes love for these children with rich colors and flavors....[A] celebration of diversity."--School Library Journal. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

All the Colors Is Right!
I loved this book. Between the beautiful illistrations and the great message, it is a 5 star book. Kids will have fun looking at the pictures and seeing all the kids of different colors. I love a book with a good message.

My favorite children's book EVER (and that's no small task)
I was told about this masterpiece by a dear friend of mine - it is one of her young son's very favorite stories and hers as well. I purchased this book from amazon about 18 months ago (right before my daughter was born) and have kept it on my nightstand ever since. I cannot bear to put this book anywhere else as I love to flip through the pages when the mood suits me - I absolutely adore the illustrations (which are based upon breath-taking canvas oil paintings) and the lyircal verse is abolutely perfect.

My favorite verses: "The tinkling pinks of tiny seashells by the rumbling sea" and "Love is amber and ivory and ginger ans sweet". My favorite illustrations: "roaring bear" & "soaring eagle" and "amber, ivory, ginger" (it looks exactly like my family!).

While this book is perfect for multicultural families (many images of "mixed " families) like my own, it most definitely is a book for EVERYONE!

Everything about this book is wonderful: the message, the verse, the illustrations - the stunning simplicity of it all : "children come in all the colors of love, in endless shades of you and me".

All the colors of the earth
I had the priviledge to read this exceptional book in December 2000. Well, I should say I had a second grader who read it to me. I am a volunteer at our elementary for a reading program that has children read to me out loud twice a week for 20 to 30 minutes. This child has read this particular book to me on 3 different occassions. It has great use in language, it is flowing and it has great use in its pictures with the children and colors. I'm 48 yrs old and everytime I hear or read this book it puts a tear in my eye and makes my heart swell. The simplistic meaning has a tremendous effect on me. And I'm purchasing atleast 5 copies for my extended family. How anyone sould have a negative thought about the book never got the message in the first place. Thank you Shelia Hamanaka for helping to open my eyes again!

Great for affirming the beauty of all children
I am a first grade teacher and I use this book in my clasroom every year. It celebrates the beauty of all skin colors, hair colors and eye colors. This book teaches children that they are beautiful and that the people around them (even those who look very different from them) are beautiful as well! The small amount of text makes it short and easy to read, so the focus of a child's attention can be on the message of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Since its remarkable premiere, Smallville, the WB's hottest new show, has received rave reviews and is watched by over 6.5 million viewers every week. In the Smallville book series, fans join young Clark Kent, Lana Lang, and Lex Luthor on original adventures, complete with all the strange happenings that Smallville fans love! In this riveting new Smallville adventure, Clark Kent tries to solve a slew of racially motivated attacks and confront the culprit in "frozen time." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A really good book
So far in the smallville series I thought this one was one of the better ones. I like the storyline. They did a really good job on the characters. One think I didn't like was it was hard to figure out which season the story took. I think it was in the second season right after Whitney left.

Definitely Funny but 4 Stars
This book is basically about a boy who is a big time racist and he receives an hourglass from his racist dad for his birthday. When ever he flips the glass, he can pierce the fabric of time (he can move at super fast speed like Clark Kent). This new found power allows him to commit hate crimes without ever getting caught. And with a multicultural celebration coming up in Smallville, it is up to Clark to prevent the bad boy from ruining it for everyone.

an ok book
the town of smallville has decided to host a multicultural event
where people of diffrent races can get together and display diffrent parts of their culture. but before the big day can arrive, someone is hellbent on stopping it. homes and property are vandalized and the local sheriff seems as stomped as anyone
as to who is behind it. the book is better than most smallville books but i think the author needs to put my action in these books and make it more like the tv show and less like an 8 year
old's book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

How fun to read!
What a lovely book! Both my children have adored this book and grew to understand the message of tolerance, creativity and fun. Critical to the success of childrens' books is the meld between the illustrations (which are wonderful) and the words which are fun to read out loud and fun to read on your own. Funny there should be a negative review posted here (which prompted me to write this one). While there are social implications in this book, I think there is no political agenda at play. But then, many things we are taught as kids are sadly lost as we grow older.

Dangerous and Irresponsible!
An Army general rules his neighborhood, enforcing order and quiet. When a family moves in that doesn't conform, he calls in the Army, which sends in hundreds of men and bombs and helicopters and which ultimately, tears out a house and a family is never heard from again. Awful, stupid and ignorant nonsense, particularly during a time when our armed services are defending the rights of all individuals. The book is simplistic, full of guile, disingenous with pretty illustrations and seemingly good messages. One of the worst books ever marketed to children -- what were the publishers thinking?

Start off the year right!
What a great book to start off the school year! I'd even recommend it for up through eighth grade.

Liberty Street is a quiet street where the residents live in fear of upsetting the General. Everything is the same, same, same. Each house is the same, everyone follows similar schedules... ho-hum boredom!

Until... the Araboolies move in. See what they do to change an everyday ho-hum street into a street that is worth living on.

This book not only examines the differences in people and life (which make the world a not-so-boring place!) and actually celebrates them! A great way to start off the school year.

Araboolies of Liberty Street
Hooray! This book is back in print!!!

Such a delightful book! I first learned of this book when our minister read the book to the children one Sunday. When I learned that the book was out of print, I began to search for used copies, but had no luck. Then one day I discovered that the book was being re-printed and I signed up immediately to have it delivered to me.

The story of the Araboolies changing colors each day and sleeping on the front lawn always brings a smile to me and to my children. This book teaches tolerance in a way that is easy to understand. I plan on giving a copy of this book to all of my closest friends with children.

Teaching Tolerance
I hope this book goes back in print because it is a good book to teach tolerance of cultural differences. The Araboolies are a colorful people who like to have fun. Yes they do shake up the neighborhood and push limits of conservative decorum, but they represent the change in our communities to more multicultural neighbors. Fun illustrations and a good story! ... Read more

Book Description

What happens when all of the odd numbers go on strike at the Food Mart?Watch as chaos ensues when customers try to purchase 7 eggs, scales and cash registers only show even numbers, and more!Learn the difference between odd and even numbers or just laugh out loud as you read this fun and wacky pop-up book.Brilliant paper enginnering and vibrant art pairs with a silly, original math story that is sure to delight kids of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great way to teach math!
This is a really great book to teach math and numbers to your kids (and they won't even know it!)It's a pop-up book with tabs they can pull, so it is fun for the kids to play with, but they can also learn simple addition and subtraction from the story.Each of the numbers has its own unique character and the chaos in the food market is well-represented by the dynamic illustrations.Read this book with any child who has trouble with evens, odds, and simple math.It can also help teach about sharing and getting along! ... Read more

Book Description

Jamie is like most girls in the 1950s—she loves Hollywood movie stars andpracticing her yoyo moves. But unlike those other girls, she has something to hide, a secret that ishurting her family. Jamie’s father is a member of the Communist Party, and in 1953, that’s theworst thing you can be. Senator Joseph McCarthy and his committee are throwing Americans injail if they refuse to reveal the names of other Communists, and Jamie’s dad won’t. He’s not a rat. When the truth comes out, and her dad loses his job, Jamie is ashamed to show her face in school.She’s thrown off the school paper with no explanation, and all of a sudden Jamie knows how herfather feels. Is there anything she can do to help her father? And what about herself? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Catch A Tiger By The Toe
Jamie is a well-developed protagonist reflecting her age so well in the way she loves and deplores her family.Levine has created an accurate portrayal of the McCarthy Era giving it an immediacy history books often miss.Readers will know about the tension and tragedy of that period in a personal way.The last chapter gave me goose-bumps and made me teary eyed. ... Read more

Book Description

Readers will be charmed by the message of this heartwarming Scottish fable: that what is loved will reveal its loveliness. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

About the hidden potential within people's hearts
The Giant King is a colorful picturebook by Kathleen T. Pelley about the hidden potential within people's hearts. When a giant besieges a town, an inspired woodcarver reasons that if the giant is treated like a king, he may come to act like one... and with gifts, he sparks a transformation. The giant becomes a king in spirit, to the extent that he would protect his people with his life - as a true king must always do. Charmingly illustrated by Maurie J. Manning, The Giant King is a heartwarming and thoughtful story.

Fun, colorful, with an important lesson
An enchanting children's story, "The Giant King" teaches two very important life lessons. The first is that you have to look beyond the outward appearances of a person to see their true value as a person. The second lesson is that people often act the way we expect them to act. If we change the way we treat them they generally change the way they treat us. The story itself is set in Scotland where the young boy Rabbie has a special skill carving wood. As he travels he finds a village with a problem giant that terrorizes the village and steals their food. Rabbie teaches the villagers to see beyond the outward appearances of the giant and find the good giant inside. The book opens up a wealth of opportunities to discuss how our actions affect others, looking beyond the obvious, and cultural differences. The illustrations are colorful and hold a child's attention well. "The Giant King" is a highly recommended read for all children. ... Read more

Book Description

At a nature center in a not-very-big city, several kinds of insects spend all day- every day- keeping to themselves.Then along comes a spider named Foursome- a golfing spider who has been transplanted from the 18th green of a nearby golf course- and the other insects soon learn what humans have known for a long time: the game of golf is about courtesy to others, and it's a wonderful way to go places and make new and different friends.Join the ants, fireflies, dragonflies, and grasshopper "the caddie" for a ground-eye-view of a round of golf with an 8-legged golfer."Foursome the Spider" makes a great gift for kids whose parents and grandparents love to play golf. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Learning friendship and acceptance
This book had my two children (ages 6 and 8) bouncing up and down and giggling as I read it to them. They loved the story of Foursome's golfing adventures and crowded to see the colorful artwork, especially the spider's whimsical argyle pattern! After the book was over, we had a good discussion on getting along with people, making new friends, and trying new things.

A GREAT BOOK FOR KIDS & A GOOD REMINDER FOR ADULTS TOO!
Foursome the Spider shows Children & Adults in Colorful & Creative Simplicity that "We all benefit by getting along together" (a knowledgeable trait we adults like to teach our children but not always follow).
Also highlighted in this book is a non-violent sport that is challenging as well as rewarding.
For no matter how bad your game or day is, the game of golf is played in a relaxing, picturesque & tranquil environment.
Hopefully one day my children will generate interest in the game of golf from this book and who knows, maybe become the next Tiger Woods? TJN ... Read more

Book Description

A series of books for mid-teens, dealing with the challenges, problems, and exicitement ofbecoming young women of faith. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Visitors to the mosque at Cordoba are plagued by the tricks of three naughty boys: Muslim Rashid, Jewish Samuel, and Christian Miguel. As punishment, the boys are forced to work in the mosque gardens, where they develop a deep sense of the building's beauty and significance. Years later, when the Christian king threatens to demolish the Islamic mosque and build a church in its place, the three friends reunite to hatch a plan to save the great mosque. Ann Jungman's moving story and Shelley Fowles's captivating images show how cooperation and respect for others can lead to great things. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

so "kids won't like this"? my nieces (8 & 5) LOVE it!
The first editorial review wants me to believe that kids won't like and can't understand this tape. Fortunately, I read that review AFTER buying it for my nieces (age 5 and 8). They LOVE the tape, they play it almost daily, and they (and I) have learned A LOT from it! They particularly enjoyed and absorbed Steve's explanation of how brains work - to which the first reviewer strongly objected - as well as his material on observation versus inference (an important topic which, as far as I know, *no* other children's book or tape covers in a way that children can understand). ... Read more

Book Description

Welcome to Scribbleville, where everything is made entirely of wiggles,squiggles, and scribbles. Straight lines are nowhere to be found, and the people of Scribblevillelike it that way! Until the day an odd-looking stranger arrives . . . He is as straight as a stick. Hebuilds a square house with a pointed roof.Wherever he goes, people stare and think: Someoneshould tell him he doesn’t belong! And perhaps he doesn’t. Until one child looks beyond theedges and sees what others cannot.

Peter Holwitz’s simple fable and childlike illustrations speak equally to children and adults aboutthe beauty inherent in differences. Share it with that special scribbler in your life. ... Read more

Book Description

Companion to Firegold, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Rose Chandler, a fifteen-year-old bondgirl who lives on Greengarden Orchard, fears everything: the dark, the moon, other people, and the Dalriadas from the Red Mountains who are at war with the Valley folk. But Rose especially fears the Thing locked in the attic of the Bighouse, home of Mr. Brae, the Master of Greengarden. Rose loves Greengarden and dreams of saving it from Mr. Brae’s neglect. That love gives her the courage to confront her fears one by one, until at last she comes face-to-face with the Thing in the attic. There, when Rose lights a candle in the dark, a nightmare beyond her worst imagining comes true, and she learns Mr. Brae has betrayed her. Then the Thing – and the intensifying war – present Rose
with a terrible dilemma. Will she have to give up the land she loves in order to save it?

Dia Calhoun's mesmerizing new novel is the sometimes mystical story of Rose’s journey from girl to young woman.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Book!
I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it. I probably read 40-50 books a year and this is in my favorites list along with Jane Eyre, Poisonwood Bible, Crispin, Inkheart and books by such authors as Dean Koontz and Anne Perry.

I fell in love with the main character, Rose. Her personality is well-developed and she is very likeable. There are questions which develop in your mind as you read and, one by one, they are addressed. You find yourself cheering for Rose and heartbroken right along with her. She has some tough decisions to make and you are not always so sure she's doing the right thing.

I hope you will read this book. I think you'll be glad you did. ... Read more