Book Description

Beginning with George Washington's inauguration and continuing into the nineteenth century, The New Nation tells the story of the remarkable challenges that the freshly formed United States faced. Thomas Jefferson's purchase of the Louisiana Territories (bought from France at a mere four cents an acre!), Lewis and Clark's daring expedition through this wilderness, the War of 1812 a.k.a. "Revolutionary War, Part II," Tecumseh's effort to form an Indian confederacy, the growth of Southern plantations, the beginning of the abolitionist movement, and the disgraceful Trail of Tears are just a few of the setbacks, sidetracks, and formidable tasks put in the new nation's path. Master storyteller Joy Hakim weaves these dramatic events and more into a seamless tale that's so exciting, how could it be true? But it is--it's A History of US. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The American experiment goes from theory to practice
The reason Joy Hakim's "A History of US" series is so perfect for home schooling is that she actively engages her young readers in each volume. Usually in a history textbook like this the author is primarily concerned with presenting a lot of information in a captivating manner. There is some attention paid to the importance of people and events, but it is often left to the teacher in the classroom to make the connections and bring history alive for their students. However, Hakim takes a much more actively role in her textbooks. She is constantly asking her young readers to put themselves in the position of the people she is writing about and does an excellent job of anticipating questions that students would ask while reading about this particular events.

Volume 4 in this series deals with "The New Nation 1789-1850," which is the longest period of time covered in a single volume after the first two, which covered epochs from the first arrival of humans in North America to the entrenchment of the British in America. Hakim begins with the nation getting started with the inauguration of George Washington as the first President and ends with the Compromise of 1850, the watershed event that forestalled the coming of Civil War for another decade. However, the next volume in the series, "Liberty For All? 1820-1860" clearly overlaps with this one big time. This volume deals with the War of 1812 and the Seminole Wars while "Liberty For All?" covers the Mexican American War. The best way to describe the basic distinction between the two volumes is that this one looks at the country as a political experiment while the other deals with the expansion of the nation.

"The New Nation" is basically divided into four sections. The first (Chapters 1-9) deals with the Federalist administrations of George Washington and John Adams, including a look at the key principle of judicial review. The second (Chapters 10-20) deals with the nation from the presidency of Thomas Jefferson to that of Andrew Jackson, which involves both the Indian question and the War of 1812 (a.k.a. the Revolutionary War Part II). The third section (Chapters 21-26) contrasts American ingenuity with the treatment of the Indians. The final section (Chapters 27-36) addresses the slavery issue and the rise of the Abolitionists, ending with the great debate in which Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster gave their final great speeches (I have a background in rhetoric so this is one of my favorite parts of American history).

Hakim's focus is on how the principles of the revolution embodied in Constitution had to be enacted in practice. She underscores that at this point in American history the idea of "people," (as in "we the People") does not mean what it means today. If you are not an adult, white, free, male, property owners, then you are not really a citizen (and it is not until the Gettysburg Address that Lincoln makes the idea that "all men are created equal" part of the national consciousness). Anyhow, I agree with the impulse to have some overlap between the two volumes bridging the Revolution and the Civil War and to provide a clearer focus on the political and social elements by dealing with them this way. ... Read more

Book Description

Pioneer for a New Century

Meet Rose Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter, and the last of the Little House girls.

Rose and her parents, Laura and Almanzo, say good-bye to Ma and Pa Ingalls and Laura's sisters. In a covered wagon containing all their possessions, they make their way across the drought-stricken Midwest to the lush green valleys of southern Missouri. The journey is long and not always easy, but at the end is the promise of a new home and a new life for the Wilders.

Little House on Rocky Ridge is the first book in The Rose Years, an ongoing series about another spirited girl from America's most beloved pioneer family.

100 Favorite Paperbacks 1994 (IRA/CBC) ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Answers the question: what happened after Little House
Only Laura Ingalls Wilder will ever write the way Laura did, and Little House fans who understand this will love this book and the rest of this new series. This book could stand alone as a portrait of a farm family driven off their land by greedy speculators in South Dakota and searching for a new home where the rain is plentiful. But it also works as a fascinating answer to the question many Little House fans have had: what happened to Laura, Almanzo and Rose after Laura's books ended? Mr. MacBride does an admirable job of following Laura's style as the family treks by covered wagon to Missouri where they must start life anew, with their old friends, the Cooleys. For those who don't know, this is a true story told in novel fashion. Rose is seven, and the book sees the world through her eyes. But the payoff comes from reading the whole series, through Bachelor Girl, when Rose is a grown woman making hard decisions to go out on her own when women were expected to marry or stay at home and become old maids. Aside from the portrait of Laura and Almanzo as mother and father, and Rose's point of view, these books tell the story of America at a time of tremendous technological change, just as today. Only instead of the Internet, it is the telegraph, telephone, and the like. Rose is a believable character, strong-willed like her mother, independent, and smart. Taken together, this series of eight books make a powerful impression on adults as well as children.

enjoyable, but not quite there
I first read "Little House in the Big Woods" 15 years ago as a 10-year old in the Philippines, and acquired my complete collection of the Little House books two years later when I moved to America; the collection was given to me as a gift by my older sister. Twelve years later in the Philippines, I opened another gift from the same sister, and my eyes nearly popped out when I held "Little House on Rocky Ridge" in my hands! I had never known that a whole new series of Little House books were being produced, as the books are not available in the Philippines! I was so pleased with this book, even before reading it, because now I could finally get all the answers to my unanswered questions about Laura, Almanzo, and Rose; I also had a new series to collect and dog-ear with endless readings. To my joy, I made a few more discoveries about the Ingalls family -- Pa had become Justice of the Peace, Mary was now living at home, and they now lived in a bigger house. I also realized that the story does not just focus on Rose, and the reader who knows Laura's style very well, can probably sense this easily, because Rose does not tell her own story. However, much in the tradition of the original Little House books, MacBride gives us a glimpse of a young girl's happy childhood: making, breaking, and mending friendships; helping Papa and Mama make a home; teaching herself how to grow up and adjust to change; witnessing the generosity of friends and neighbors; and embracing the love and perseverance her parents lived and taught Rose so well.

Little House on Rocky Ridge
In my opinion the book Little House on Rocky Ridge by Roger Lea MacBride is a great book.Based on the life of Rose Wilder and her family this book is as good as the ones abouther mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Rose and her parents are moving from South Dakota to find a better life. They had to move becausethe drought wouldn't let anithing grow. So in a covered wagon they headed to to Kansas in hope of a better life.On the way to Kansas Rose has fun looking at all the new things she hadn't seen before. During the trip Rose's mother shows her the money that will help buy the new farm, it's one hundred dollars.Rose promises that she won't tell anyone about it. But at the end of the trip when they are ready to buy the farm the money can not be found. The whole family gets very woried and dosn't know what to do.Rose and her family learn to be strong on hard times and go on with life.

A spunky girl named Rose Wilder
Rose Wilder and her parents, the now-legendary Laura Ingals and Almanzo Wilder are going to Missouri. The journey is very harsh. The American west is almost literally burning up, and dust storms are a constant threat. Rose remains constant friends with her fellow travellers, Paul and George Cooley, and their parents. They are travelling together. The ROSE books have the same warmth and feel as the original Little House books and are an amazing period piece. These are more historical FICTION than the originals because there were fewer sources and weren't written by Rose herself. However, they are a true picture of pre-1900 and the dawn of that century. Some people may find a slightly less pleasing charater in Rose because she is more impatient, frustrated with being poor, and more romantic-minded than the simple, dear Laura. But many girls will associate with Rose, and this is a wonderful series.

Little House On Rocky Ridge
If you like history books then this is a good book for you. The book that I read is Little House On Rocky Ridge. If you read all the other Laura Ingalls series then you'll know what I'm talking about.You see Laura Ingalls is older with a husband and a daughter who is curius, and her name is Rose. So the 3 of them and their friends moved to Wisconsin but there is a problem not a big one but a minor one. They had a 100 dollar bill from when Laura's working at the sewing place but they lost it. Will they ever find the 100 dollar bill? But there's more problems! Read the book and you will find out all the problems. This is a real good history book you will love so read this good history book! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Fascinating Heartfelt Intriguing Answers
This is by far the best book I have ever come across about the night of April 15, 1912 when the Titanic sank.
This book is filled with 882 ½ facts (because the ship was 882 ½ ft. long) about the people, the ship, crew, heartwarming stories of how mothers pleaded for their sons to be allowed into life boats, how lovers said goodbye to each other, how people were refused into life boats, and how others never made it out of the ship.
There are detailed names, dates, info about the aftermath, a "whatever happened to..." page with facts about survivors, as well as great info about the discovery of the ship, exploration of the wreckage, facts about the movie directed by James Cameron, and a great glossary at the back of the book to learn about different words associated with the ship.

What I love most about this book is the heartfelt facts about the people who were on the ship, and what happened to them. If you have ever wanted to learn about The Titanic, this is THE book to buy. An Outstanding tribute to the souls loved and lost. Deserves 10 Stars.

Marvelous!
Brilliant reference book. If you ever had wondering questions about the Titanic, this is your book. Summary: This book has answers to almost all of your questions about the ship and the sinking, etc. Wonderful facts. Reaction: Though this book is thin, it has plenty of little bits that can keep you interested 100 years later. Every Titanic fanatic will find a new fact on the ship and the people involved with it. Wonderful. A MUST BUY!!!

Cool!
I love to read about the Titanic, and this book satisfied my hunger for more books about it. This book provides 882 and a half questions and answers about the Titanic. It was easy to read, well written, and had many photos. This book's questions and answers were very interesting, and I learned a lot from reading this book. This is an awesome book!

Amazing!
This book is the most interasting book I've ever read about Titanic, and trust me I've read lots of them. There is 882 1/2 interasting answers on your questions about Titanic. If you want to know why there is 882 1/2 questions and answers in this book ? Open the first page of this book and you will see why there is 882 1/2 questions and answers in this book about the past of Titanic.

Things I Did Not Know
Bought this book through book club at daughters school. It is VERY informative. I thought I was up on a lot about Titanic, but this really taught me a lot more. Very good for any student or historian. ... Read more

Book Description

The kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till is famous as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old Black teenager from Chicago, was visiting family in a small town in Mississippi during the summer of 1955. Likely showing off to friends, Emmett allegedly whistled at a white woman. Three days later his brutally beaten body was found floating in the Tallahatchie River. The extreme violence of the crime put a national spotlight on the Jim Crow ways of the South, and many Americans-Black and white-were further outraged at the speedy trial of the white murderers.Although the two white men were tried and acquitted by an all-white jury, they later bragged publicly about the crime. It was a galvanizing moment for Black leaders and ordinary citizens, including such activists as Rosa Parks.In clear, vivid detail Chris Crowe investigates the before-and-aftermath of the crime, as well as the dramatic court trial, and places it into the context of the nascent Civil Rights Movement.

With lively narrative and abundantly illustrated with forty fascinating contemporaneous photographs, this impressive work of nonfiction brings fresh insight to the case in a manner that will be accessible and eye-opening for teenagers and adults alike. ... Read more

Book Description

Our original Big Book of U.S. Presidents has sold more than 200,000 copies! It was also a Scholastic Book Club Selection, and continues to be a perennial favorite in the $9.98 Courage Children's line. This updated edition features a revised profile of George W. Bush, plus a look ahead to our next president. In fact, it will be published less than 3 months after the 2004 election, close to inauguration, and will be one of the first books to feature a profile of the newest president. This fascinating introduction to U.S. government includes famous quotes, achievements, and a detailed timeline for quick reference to historical eras and events, plus more than 50 illustrations.

Full-color illustrations ... Read more

Book Description

Join the Ingalls family as they celebrate little Laura’s fifth birthday in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. There are special presents from everyone, and that night Laura falls asleep to the merry music of Pa’s fiddle. Renée Graef’s enchanting full-color illustrations, inspired by Garth Williams’s classic artwork, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life in our tenth My First Little House Book, adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved storybooks. It’s a Little House birthday to remember!

... Read more

Reviews (1)

My Daughter Loved It
I gave this book to my 3 yr old for her birthday and she really liked it. She has virtually all the First books. She loves the drawings and I like the no playing on Sunday part, my daughter and I have a discussion everytime we read. I highly recommend this and other First Little House Books for little ones. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The creators of George Washington's Teeth unhinge the jaws of history to examine the mouth of America's first president, tracking the poor man's dental woes as he gallops to war, crosses the Delaware, and, with only two teeth left, takes his place as leader of the country. Washington was plagued by black, rotting teeth from the time he was 22, losing about one a year until he was nearly "toofless" and had to have his first dentures made from a hippotamus tusk (that's right, not wood!). Poets Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora begin their quirky historical tale at a lively clip: "The Revolutionary War/ George hoped would soon be won,/ But another battle with his teeth/ Had only just begun..." Indeed. Evidently he was losing teeth even as he crossed the Delaware: "George crossed the icy Delaware/ With nine teeth in his mouth./ In that cold and pitchy dark,/ Two more teeth came out!" (Cleverly, illustrator Brock Cole mimics Emanuel Leutze's famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware," making Washington seem more uncomfortably tight-lipped than dignified.) The story ends happily ever after with the crafting of a nice new pair of ivory false teeth that allow George to dance around the ballroom through the night. Truth be told, however, he would be deeply troubled by his teeth until the day he died. A four-page, illustrated historic timeline of Washington's life (and mouth) completes this carefully researched, very funny, charmingly illustrated picture book that works to humanize a larger-than-life historical figure and in turn, history itself. Brilliant! (Ages 7 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (4)

New Perspective
An intersting new perspective on George Washington. It makes him seem more human to children. Young children are intrigued to have the myth of wooden teeth squelched. Ther book provides a historical timeline in the back. This is a great book for children of ALL ages. Even I, an older child and teacher, learned some things. I had no idea our first president was so obsessed with his teeth and that he had such an active role in the solutions to his dental problems. Highly recommended.

Everything young kids will want to know about George's teeth
There are lots of ways of chronicling the change in the national temperament, and one of them is that when I was a kid it was the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree that was what stood out. However, the inquiring minds of the nation's youth today are now going to be more intrigued by the legend the first President had wooden teeth, which is precisely how Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora, aided and abetted by Brock Cole's pictures, manages to teach young readers a nice little lesson in the finer points of historiography.

Told in four line verse, "George Washington's Teeth" relates an imaginative set of encounters between General Washington and his dentist as the number of teeth in the mouth of the Father of Our Country decreases one by one over the years leading to Independence and the Presidency. Well, that is not entirely true since the authors have Washington losing two teeth the night be crossed the Delaware, but that left him with seven at that point in American history, which is a lucky number that fits the victory at Trenton. Eventually Washington is elected President, which is good, but has no teeth left, which is bad (especially when having your portrait painted). Fortunately, he comes up with a solution.

The first part of "George Washington's Teeth" is pretty whimsical, but then the last part of the book contains a time line of important events in George Washington's life from his own letters, diaries, and accounts. However, instead of dealing primarily with the highpoints of Washington's personal and political life, we learn about what historians have uncovered about his teeth: from having already lost two teeth by the time he was twenty two and the rest were all black and rotted, to eating pickled tripe because it does not hurt his teeth, and a letter requesting plaster of Paris to make some false teeth. These are the sort of bizarre historical details that can trick young readers into thinking history is fun.

There are even photographs of Washington's last sent of dentures. For the record, they were not wooden, but carved from hippopotamus ivory, the palate swaged from a sheet of gold, and springs made of coiled gold wire. Hopefully there are some other small nuggets of historical gold that Chandra and Comora, or like minded individuals, can turn to for books in the same spirit as this one.

WELL RESEARCHED AND WITTY
Here's the real truth on our first President's tooth! No, he didn't really have a set of wooden teeth. But, poor man, the Revolution wasn't the only battle he fought. We learn in this delightfully illustrated book that from the age of 24 he lost a tooth a year. Hence, by the time he reached the presidency there were only two teeth left. (Their whereabouts in his mouth seem to be unknown).

Based on historical records as well as Washington's letters and diaries this is a sprightly, fascinating account of the root of his problem (pun intended).

Youngsters will learn a bit of history as well as enjoy a rollicking good read. For instance, they'll learn about Washington crossing the Delaware, and that he then had only nine remaining teeth. He didn't have too many teeth to chatter during the frozen winter at Valley Forge as there were only seven left.

According to a letter Washington wrote he did at one time wear false teeth secured by wires hitched around his remaining teeth. His last set of dentures were made by a Dr. Greenwood, and carved from hippopotamus ivory.

This is a well researched book complete with excerpts from Washington's letters and diaries. Witty pastel illustrations enhance the text. For all ages.

- Gail Cooke

Fantastic fun, and history too!
Comora and Chandra have made a book to delight wordsmiths and history buffs alike. A verse narrative, each stanza informs by amusing. The great craft of the poem is never visible, but always in evidence -- none of the inane repetition that often informs such efforts is found here.
The whimsical illustrations are more than fine, and laid out to support and complement, rather than compete with the words.
A true delight for President's Day, and many others besides.
Bravi! ... Read more

Book Description

Pieces of Magic

Remember when you were a child—when all the world was new, and the smallest object a thing of wonder? Arleta Richardson remembers: the funny wearable wire contraption hidden in the dusty attic, the century-old schoolchild's slate that belonged to Grandma, an ancient trunk filled with quilt pieces—each with its own special story—and the button basket, a miracle of mysteries. And best of all was the remarkable grandmother who made magic of all she touched, bringing the past alive as only a born storyteller could.

Here are those marvelous tales—faithfully recalled for the delight of young and old alike, a touchstone to another day when life was simpler, perhaps richer; when the treasures of family life and love were passed from generation to generation by a child's questions...and the legends that followed enlarged our faith.

Gifted storyteller Arleta Richardson grew up an only child in Chicago, living in a hotel on the shroes of Lake Michigan. Under the care of her maternal grandmother, she listened for hours as her grandmother told stories from her own childhood. With unusual recall, Arleta began to write these stories for an audience that now numbers over 2 million. "My grandmother would be amazed to know her stories hav gone around the world," Arleta says.

Reviews (3)

Fun for the Whole Family!
"In Grandma's Attic" is one of the best character-building books I have come across. These humorous short stories convey history, family life, and lessons learned in such a delightful way. Reminds me of the "Little House" books, but with a greater spiritual emphasis. So glad we were introduced to this series through "Five in a Row" by Jane Claire Lambert, who recommends it be read in conjunction with "The Rag Coat" by Lauren Mills.

Out with the Fluff!
If you are tired of all those books full of "fluff" with no real moral, look no further than the book-In Grandma's Attic! Little stories fill the pages of this delightful book that not only teach character, but have you on the floor laughing. I join Mable and her friend Sarah Jane as they find themselves in one scrape after another! In the end though there is always a repentive spirit and a desire to do better next time temptation pops up. Every story starts out with a little girl asking her grandma about something she saw or discovered that day, while visiting at her grandmother's house. The question triggers a story from grandma that relates to what she was asked about and so starts another humorous tale of the good old days! The whole series of these books is well worth reading. I didn't read them all at once, but over a period of time. Because as Mable grows so does her vocaulary and the stories get harder for young children to relate to. Wonderful read aloud books!

This is a great series!
I read the "Grandma's Attic " books when I was younger and loved them. I recently went back and read them again, and they were just as enjoyable the second time around! The stories are realistic, humorous, and just fun to read. They make the adventures of Sarah Jane and Mabel seem real, and you get to know the characters and their personalities. Each story teaches a lesson or moral, and most have quotes from the Bible. I really enjoyed these books, and I think that most young girls will, too! ... Read more

Book Description

WHY DID WE fight the Revolutionary War? What is the Declaration of Independence? What was it like to live in the 13 colonies? Find out the answers to these questions and more in Magic Tree House Research Guide: American Revolution, Jack and Annie’s guide to one of the most important events in our nation’s history. This is the nonfiction companion to Revolutionary War on Wednesday (Magic Tree House #22).

"A great place to begin research for a report."—School Library Journal ... Read more

Book Description

Nowadays it's no big deal or a girl to travel seventy-five miles. But when Charlotte May Pierstorff wanted to cross seventy-five miles of Idaho mountains to see her grandma in 1914, it was a very big deal indeed. There was no highway except the railroad, and a train ticket would have cost her parents a full day's pay.

Here is the true story of how May got to visit her grandma, thanks to her won spunk, her father's ingenuity, and the U.S. mail.

00-01 CA Young Reader Medal Masterlist and 01 Colorado Children's Book Award (Pic. Bk Cat.)

Reviews (3)

Mailing May - clever, creative, great pictures.
I love Ted Rand's pictures. I'm trying to make a collection of books with his art works, but there are many. Mailing May is one I hadn't read and was delighted. I saw Ted Rand at work during one of the workshops for Children's Writers of the Northwest. He's pleasant as well as talented. I would recommend this book to those who love little children's stories with substance as well as art work.

Nice story, perfect drawings, great book
I chose this book to read to a group of children, ages 2 to 11. They all sat, listening, interested, and loved it! The story is so nice and the drawings are perfect. I think a child doesn't have to "believe it" to believe in the passion behind it. They get it. It was great.

A good story...
This is a touching story of a little girl who can't afford to visit her grandparents. It's set in the early 1900's. Children will learn a little history. They'll enjoy the family's solution to their problem. This is a lovely story. I'm afraid, however, that I enjoyed it a bit more than my children. From their 1990's perspective, the story was a little hard to believe. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Delaware might be a little state, but it is the First State
I was thinking that when the first of the new state quarters were produced in 1999 that a lot of Americans would be surprised to learn that Delaware was the First State.Indeed, in "Big Names for a Small State," the first chapter in Jean F. Blashfield's look at "Delaware" for the America the Beautiful series, those Delaware quarters featuring Caesar Rodney, an American patriot that most Americans have probably never heard about unless they have seen "1776."As me, I learned that there never really was a Delaware colony prior to that point in American history.Originally called New Sweden and then New Amstel when the Dutch took over, the counties that make up Delaware were three little counties along Delaware Bay given to Pennsylvania so it could have some seacoast.

The history of Delaware is detailed in the next three chapters of the book.Chapter Two explores the strange notion of "Colonial Delaware" up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Rodney's famous ride.Chapter Three, "Building the First State," covers how Delaware became the first state, through the Civil War, and the end of the 19th-century."Twentieth-Century Delaware" is the subject of Chapter Four, which tells of the impact of the influential du Pont family.The geographical characteristics of the state and the pollution threats to Delaware Bay are found in Chapter Five, " A Great Bit of Coast." For such a little state, it is amazing the geographical diversity that Blashfield covers in this chapter.

Chapter Six, "The Little State with a Big Story," explains how Delaware has no large cities but still lots of points of interest. The politics of the state are covered in Chapter Seven, "Government Old and New," where we find out about the Whipping Post (an officially recognized form of punishment up to 1952), and the state bird (Blue hen, of course). Chapter Eight, "Chemistry, Corporations, and Chickens" explains the state's unique economy, while "Delaware's People" are the subject of Chapter Nine.Chapter Ten is all about "Leisure Time in Delaware," starts with writers and ends on the beaches.

In the back of the book you will find a Timeline that parallels U.S. and Delaware state history, several pages of Fast Facts, and a whole bunch of places To Find Out More about Delaware.The book is filled with full-color photographs and original maps that detail topography, natural resources and the like.But one of the key parts of these books are the informative sidebars that work in all sorts of great details that do not fit into the main text.Here is where young readers will find out about the Battle that Never Was, favorite son Bull Halsey, the strange Horseshoe Crab, and this time around the recipe we come to expect in every volume of this series is for Delaware Chicken Divan (which I intend to try).These are informative volumes for young readers who will find them extremely helpful when they have to do a report on the state, whether they live in it or not. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Wow,what a book!!
When was the last time you read a book that keeps you in suspense? Well, let me recomend the book Weasel by Cynthia Defelice. This book keeps you in total suspence as the characters encounter different situations.

Cynthia Defelice's powerful look on surviving in the wilderness with a killer on the run is very exciting. The character Nathan never would have expected that this could happen to him, but it does. The dreams that haunt him of a killer named Weasel were true, until a man named Ezra came along. His silence leads to discovering, who weasel was, and why he never spoke a word. If you like exciting books that keep you on the edge of your chair, you will enjoy this book.

A Tongue Takiing Adventure
One night Molly and Nathan hear a knock on the door. Nathan opens it and sees a tall man with a locket in his hand. The man gives the locket to Nathan. He examines it and knows that it is Pa's. Pa left 6 days ago to go hunting. He always kept the locket on no matter what happened. It always reminded pa of the kids and their mother who had died. They follow the man thinking that pa is hurt. On the way they see Weasel. He is a coldhearted man who will kill anyone. The man that they are with is Ezra. He can't talk because Weasel cut his tongue out of his mouth. When they get to Ezra's house they find their father. He is hurt, because he got caught in a man-eating trap. Nathan travels back to their home to feed the animals, but everything doesn't go as planned. **This book is non-stop action, and adventure. After every chapter it leaves you wanting to read more. You can not stop. So, what will happen next, read and find out!!!!

WEASEL
This was a vary good book. It is rather a short book but it is compact. It is an easy read and tells about how life was in the mid 1800s in the rural areas. It takes place in Ohio and is written from the point of view of an 11-year-old boy. Nathan and his sister Molly are home alone on the farm after their mother died, and there Pa had gown missing. They are visited by a strange looking man, Ezra, who leads them deep into the woods to find there Pa who has been badly hurt by weasel. Weasel is a man who went around killing and steeling whenever he could.
The kids and Pa stay with Ezra for a few days until Nathan goes back to the farm to feed the animals. He finds the farm trashed and most of the animals either dead or missing. Nathan knows this was done by weasel and when he is on his journey back to Ezra's he is captured by weasel. He manages to escape and weasel shoots himself in the foot. Pa gets better and they all leave Ezra and return home. Weasel had told Nathan horrible stories about cutting out Ezra's tongue and killing his wife. Now Nathan wants revenge.

Weasel - a 4 STAR BOOK
Weasel was an interesting book for me a 10-year-old boy. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes disgusting things. The book's moral was boring and obvious. Some parts of the book were extremely BORING BORING BORING !!! The story was mostly scary, BUT OVERALL, THE BOOK IS SORT OF INTERESTING.

For 10 year Olds, Great Novel... But...
Highschool english teachers take Note: I'm in Highschool, and am forced to read this against my Will, and The story may be fine, but doesnt help the students strive for "higher order thinking" like you want us to. This book is a fine adventure, but for making someone opening their eyes to a real-world dilemna through fiction, there is nothing to be shown. It is just the typical Good versus Evil that is overly stereotypical. I would reccomend this for a reader in about the 4th - 6th grade, and even in 6th grade it's pushing it. Make them read 1984, or Animal Farm, Brave New World, or A Clockwork Orange, even The Giver has it's merits. Don't make the Youth a bunch of boors. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Journal Of Self Discovery
The book is beautifully done. However, I was sort of disappointed because of the lack of information. There are a lot of things for me to fill out but not enough stuff for me to read. However, it IS a journal but I wish it was more detailed about what it wanted me to write and such. There are some things in here you can fill in once and if you want to fill it in again, you have to erase which is sometimes a pain.

I think this book is for younger girls. If you want a mature book with a lot of good information, I would suggest The Care and Keeping of You.

Although I'm disappointed, I definitely don't regret buying it but you should have the companion book (The Care of and Keeping of You: The Body Book For Girls) first before getting the journal.

Have fun!

VERY HELPFUL!!
This book was really great! It gave important imformation about "girl" things, and I really learned a lot about growing up, changes, and just my body. It explains how to stay healthy and clean. I enjoyed reading this book a lot! It's a good idea to look in it with your mother because you can understnad it more. This book probally should be for kids ages 11 and up!!!!!
If kids under 11 years old see it, well, you need to have plenty of matureness!! I am 12 and for all you 12 year old girls out theRe, BUY THIS BOOK! ! ! ... Read more

Book Description

**Chosen as an American Booksellers Association autumn 2004 Book SenseChildren’s Pick!** A Musical Journey is a new children's book thattakes young readers on a musical tour that celebrates the diversityof China’s land and its people. This beautifully illustrated book isboth educational and entertaining. The CD of folk songs that comeswith the book includes 12 musical themes that correspond to the factfilled text. A Musical Journey is a trip the reader/listener willenjoy taking many times over. The musical selections are fun for all;the text is suggested for children age 6 and over. -- Nanci Carlson,President FCC-AZ Chapter & Newsletter Co-editor ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Excellent
The Encyclopedia of Presidents and their times is a wonderful reference book. Our 7 year old son is fasinated by the information availalbe in this book. We enjoy reading this book as a family. I reccommend this to everyone of all ages.

GREAT FOD EDUIATION
IT IS GOOD EDUIATION THOUTH IT IS WREATTEN 1994 NO FAMILY LIVE WITHOUT THIS BOOK ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a good glance at Molly's world in 1944...
I found this book to be a great read about the 1940's, as did my grandparents, who were teenagers back then. However, I felt that it muted things a little...such as the war, the nazis, and what was really going on. The actual Molly books do a better job of bluntly protraying Molly's world by pointing out the hardships faced during the war. Out of all the books I read about the second world war, this one only skims the surface. But it is perfect for the person who is just learning about the war. And it did bring back many a memory to my grandparents, who remember many of the things described in the book.

An icon-filled bridge to a time that was.
Culled from the diaries, letters, advertisements, newsreels & newspapers of those years, you will read what it was like growing up in the 1940s in a world at war & what the family & the nation did to ensure there was enough to eat & enough to fight with.

I was a little girl "over there" during these years, so I picked up this bright history book with a certain degree of remembrances of things past.

This is an interesting way of looking at history - from a girl's point of view of how a world war affected her childhood. While Molly is a fictional character, there are enough women still alive who can attest to the veracity of Molly's experiences because the places & the times of her story are real.

One glaring omission is any reference to the daughters of Japanese-American families incarcerated in camps in the wilds of the American West for the duration.

Molly's World of 1944 is filled with nostalgic icons & while it contains magazine-like sidebars, photos & articles on everything from clothes to factory work to dogs to changing from war time to peace, it is couched in bland, politically correct language.

Notwithstanding the squeaky-cleanliness & disturbingly superficial information, this is a worthy bridge to a time that was. A way to connect today's girls with their grandmothers' girlhood.

Welcome to Molly's World - 1944
This book is simply a marvel.It talks about how life was in 1944 using first hand sources, like real snapshots, posters, helmets. It's the must have book for any girl studying WW2 and, of course, for any Molly's fan. I would recommend it for girls age 10 and above, but even a younger child might appreciate it with the help of a parent, or, better, of a grandmother that can add information on how her life was in those days. ... Read more

Reviews (89)

A Well Fought Struggle
When The Legends Die is the kind of story that will grab and hold your enthusiasm. This story starts off with a young boy named Tom Black Bear being left in the wilderness alone, after his parents both die of sickness and injury. Tom is the member of the Ute tribe, and in an effort to revive his traditions, he moves into town. Tom gets tricked into going to school, but he later escapes to become a bronco rider. Tom meets many characters on his quest to find inner peace, and most of these people take advantage of him. When Tom's friends die, he takes his life to the mountain that he was raised on. Tom lives with his grief until he lets go of all the pain he has suffered. The story ends with Tom reaching complete happiness in his home on top of Granite Mountain.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book because the author, Hal Borland paints a very precise image in your mind. He mixes Tom's delicate emotions with the enormous strength that Tom possesses very well. This story can relate to almost anyone he has ever fought for something, because that is what the core of this story is about. Tom struggles to survive the hardships of life, and the decision to live or die is his alone. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exciting book that makes you feel like you have accomplished something when you finish reading it.

AJ's thoughts on this book....
Well the book was very easy to read and even easier to follow. When you first start to read it you realize that the author is very into Native American Culture. The plot of the story is about a young boy's life, how he grows from a child to a man. The first chapter is him growing up with his mother and her man, about the strugggles they have living in the old ways. The book then follows the boy through school and on to the rodeo, where he makes a name for himself, and then back to the woods and the old ways. The author pays great attention to the details of the how the indians live during this time. It was hard not to stay up all night to read the book it was captivating and intertaining. The reading was easy, much like a Junior High School level of reading. Other than this fact I thought that it was a wonderful book that most people should readby the time they get into high school.

Intriguing and Profound!
Many words can describe this book, but I personally would choose two: intriguing and profound. I believe Hal Borland has written a classic, in When the Legends Die. Though it may lack the action and suspense characterized by many fiction works about the American Indian, this novel's message holds a much stronger feeling that not many other forms of entertainment can arouse. This story takes you through an emotional rollercoaster from start to end. One can only imagine the pain and suffering that the protagonist, Thomas Black Bull, had to endure. It makes you ponder the question of how far you would go to perpetuate your culture.
When the Legends Die is the story of a Ute Indian, by the name of Thomas Black Bull, whose life is constantly under a 'tug 'of 'war' between the new, the western way, and the old, the Ute way. When he is still very young his father murders a fellow Ute, and they are forced to move into the wild to live on their own. Within a few months of settling in their new home, both his father and mother die, and Thomas is left to fend for himself in the wilderness. As he grows older he becomes very in tune with nature, and lives in harmony on his own. It is then that he is forced into school to become more 'westernized.' He struggles to hold onto his culture, but eventually it is lost. He gives in to the constant attempts by the white men to assimilate the young Ute boy into the Western culture. Years pass and the boy becomes a man. His culture is in the past and has long been forgotten. As a professional bronco rider, he becomes a famous, yet bitter man. All of his pain and anger towards life is taken out on each bronco he rides. This is until one day, when his riding career was ended by a tragic, nearly fatal accident. It took him to be nearly killed, recover, and return to his hometown for him to finally realize the truth- in spite of how hard he tried to forget his past and his culture, it was always a part of him, and it would never change. When he finally returned to his place of birth, he reconciled with his past, ancestry, and culture. It was a major turning point in his life that brought the cycle to an end. As his mother spoke of in the beginning of this story, life is a circle- and now his circle had finally completed. He was back to where he had started. A simple man, living off the land and the lifestyle he knew best. He had overcome the struggle. He had overcome the odds.
It is this compelling story that portrays a message of cultural value and belonging. In today's society, many of us struggle with our past and our future. The truth is that we can live in harmony with both. Without our past we would never have a future. I would recommend this book to anyone who values their culture and heritage. Borland's writing compels the reader to imagine one's self in the position of the protagonist. How would you react to his problems? How far would you have gone to perpetuate your culture? Its message is truly profound, and once you are done you will be left with a yearning for more.

Legends do die
I was forced to read this book for a highschool English class during the 90's, but it wasn't bad. I recently cleaned out a bookcase and discovered the book again. I read it once more and it was lots better than I had remembered. It was a great book about finding yourself, hardship and loss. This is not my typical genre of book and yet I still enjoyed it. I would recommend this book as a adequate read, but not something that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Search For Identity , 3.5 stars
When the Legends Die follows the story of Thomas Black Bull, a Native American from the Ute society, and his struggle to keep his roots within another's society.

After his parents' untimely deaths, adapts to sufficing for himself in the wilderness. He becomes one with Nature, meeting a family of bears in the area, and renames himself "Bear's Brother" because he feels a closeness to one of the bears in the family. Eventually he is taken to the white man's world and put through a school, but finds school tiresome and boring. After trying to return to his place, he is once again found and brought back. Consequently, he begins to live in a world that he does not want to adopt, and forms a bitterness that carries into his adulthood.

At the very core of this novel is the effort to return to one's origin. Tom Black Bull takes on several names (Bear's Brother, Devil Tom Black), and this signifies his lack of identity. He ultimately finds his identity only through the trials of controlling people and an abusive world. He takes his anger out when he becomes a bronco rider, attempting to abolish his memories with rebellious riding and attitude toward people.

This book has a simple narrative, but the message is certainly deeper than it looks. The euphoric revelation for the individual is finding out who he is and what is significant in life's journey. This is what Tom must discover through the many setbacks. Although the book can be a bit tedious and repetitive, it has a beneficial message to those who read it. ... Read more