Reviews (3)

It's Historical, But...
There are two good things about Blood on the River.First, it is a very quick read, and second, it is historically accurate.However, it never seems to really "take off" as far as suspense or action.I enjoyed the book to the extent that it didn't take me long to read it, but the story of Sam Collier wasn't quite the "I can't put it down" book I was expecting.I did think that the quotes at the beginning of each chapter were extremely interesting and informative.The story of Jamestown was a tough one, and I guess survival isn't always of the Hollywood variety.

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today.
An author that writes about Indian raids circa the early 1600s is setting themselves up for a monumental challenge. One, quite frankly, that I don't envy a bit. I mean, it's a bit easier if you're taking the side or point of view of the Native Americans. There's a bit of fear that your story is going to be monumentally depressing, but authors like Joseph Bruchac and Michael Dorris have found ways around that. And then some writers for kids decide to go about it in an entirely different way. Let's take the P.O.V. of the settlers. Better still, the James Town settlers. Best of all, the boy assigned to be the servant of that remarkable personal publicity machine and self-promoter, Captain John Smith himself. For what she has set out to do, author Elisa Carbone has done an admirable job. I may not agree with whether or not this was a job that needed to be done, but I can appreciate the work she's put into "Blood On the River".
Now I understandJamestown
The importance and fun of historical fiction is the ability to "live" in another time and place and understand something about that point in history. As a librarian, I've purchased fiction and nonfiction books about Jamestown and I've provided educational videos on the topic. I have studied the settlement along with the kids through elementary, junior high and high school, blah-blah-blah.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775    7. Fiction    8. Historical - United States - Colonial    9. History    10. Indians of North America    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Juvenile Historical Fiction    13. People & Places - United States - Native American    14. Powhatan Indians    15. Virginia    16. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / Colonial & Revolutionary Periods   

Reviews (12)

A home run for a Chinese native and a cat lover!
This is a fantastic story. It sparks children and adults (I'm 53!) the imagination and creativity that will help make the world a more beautiful place. I hence started to write my own children's stories. Amy Tan is my inspiration, and I hope she becomes yours.

Sagwa
I am the mother of 2 boys and have little knowledge of "girl"books.I bought this book for 2 little girls ages 4 and 5. The parents of each girl said their daughters were thrilled with the book and asked that it be read to them twice the day the book arrived.I bought the book because I love Amy Tan's novels and assumed that a child's book would be just as engaging.Amy Tan's story and the beautiful illustrations did not let me down.

Siamese cat lovers....
The most exquisitely illustrated book I've ever owned! A fun, fictitious way to describe how white siamese kittens get their colors. Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Cats    2. Cats    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. China    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - United States - Asian American    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats   

Reviews (4)

My FAVORITE Halloween Book!
Oh, I so disagree with the Editoral on this book!The writing has a wonderful rhythm, and I love reading it aloud!The situation is absurd, which makes for a hilarious book, plus the illustrations are first-rate.The facial expressions are so human-like, they make us laugh.There is nothing frightening about this book.In fact, the scariest scene is the front cover with the lamb posing as a vampire.Sheep Trick or Treat is a short book and can be read in less than 2-minutes, but it usually takes us longer because we love the illustrations so.I think it's a WINNER, and one I highly recommend over other not-so-good holiday works!

I love the sheep
Sheep trick or treat was my second sheep book! Great for Halloween reading or just any time! The rhymes are catchy and the story is so cute. A must have for anyone who likes the sheep books, or anyone who has never read them!

Sheep Trick or Treat
A fun book that has many words that rhyme. If is fairly challenging and exciting for a beginning reader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Farm Animals    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Children: Preschool    5. Domestic animals    6. Fiction    7. Halloween    8. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Sheep    12. Stories in rhyme    13. Culture & customs    14. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Halloween    15. Picture books    16. Ages 4-8   

Editorial Review

What would life be like for a teen living under a dictatorship? Afraidto go to school or to talk freely? Knowing that, at the least suspicion, thesecret police could invade your house, even search and destroy your privatetreasures? Or worse, that your father or uncles or brothers could be suddenlytaken away to be jailed or tortured or killed? Such experiences have been alltoo common in the many Latin American dictatorships of the last 50 years. AuthorJulia Alvarez (Read more

Reviews (17)

Such a beautiful book!
Julia Alvarez is a wonderful writer! Before We Were Free is a great book about a brave girl named Anita who must escape Dominican Republic dictatorship. Her father and her uncle risk their lives trying to murder the dictator. This book is so suspenseful and beautifully written! Great work, Alvarez!
Before we were Free
I recommend the book Before we were Free to girls of all ages. I connected to the main character,Anita, because we are about the same age. I enjoyed the style of writing because just about everything was in present tense, like it was happening right then.

This book has touched me deeply.
This is one of the books I have liked the most. This book has many similarities with "Anne Franke's diary" both girls living in a cruel situation. Julia Alvarez did a terrific job creating an environment with a lot of tension. It was sad for me reading about a regimen I did not have known before and the lives that were gone in a country's attempt to obtain peace and freedom.
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Subjects:  1. 1891-1961    2. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Dominican Republic    5. Family - General    6. Family life    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    10. Revolutions    11. Social Issues - General    12. Trujillo Molina, Rafael Leâonidas,    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (4)

Perfect
I am getting ready to adopt from China in the next year and wanted to createa library for my child.I am a single woman and this book is perfect.It tells a beautiful story and is about a single woman adopting from China.I love it and so do all of my friends.

International Families and Adoptions
This story begins with a red baby blanket in a store inspiring a single woman to consider the adoption of a child. Through the story the blanket brings comfort to the young girl as she begins her life outside of the adoption center in China. As the bond between the mother and child develop over the span of years, the red blanket continues to convey the initial, unconditional love shared by her adoptive mother. The colors used in the oil paintings convey warmth and emotion throughout the story with crisp detail. As cross-country adoptions become more common and family dynamics change, this story maintains a current day appeal. Within the constraints of a picture book, this story conveys the struggles and frustrations experienced transitioning a baby from an orphanage to a new family. While particularly appropriate for the topic of adoption, children of all backgrounds can appreciate the young girl's attachment to her blanket. This book would be a wonderful addition to a study on families.
The Red Blanket
A lovely picture book with slightly longer text about a chinese adoption. A book to read to a child under 7.The text is too long for a child under that age to read themselves. A nice book for single adopters as it features a single American mother who is adopting on her own.Good pictures of an orphinage setting and the joy of receiving authorisation to adopt.Also a good follow through with the child becoming a young adolecent and knowing what the red blanket stood for - ie the time she and her mother became a family. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Family - Adoption    5. Fiction    6. Intercountry adoption    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - United States - Asian American    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Single-parent families    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Adoption   

Reviews (15)

My Kids Love This Book!
After hearing James Earl Jones read this book on Reading Rainbow, I knew I had to buy it.My two very young sons (ages 1 and 2) sat entranced the whole time.Of course that may have been because it was the voice of Darth Vader, but hey, it's a great book all on its own.My husband now reads this book to them at bedtime every night.

darth vader
i saw this on reading rainbow when james earl jones narrated it. its my favorite story from the series because it shows how everything is connected, coming together to perform one action. it also inspired me to do cartoon based on how the protagonist made it rain.

Incredible Response!
I bought this book after having it recommended while taking a graduate level children's literature class. I was not disappointed! I grabbed this book to read aloud if I had extra time while substitute teaching for a kindergarten class. I thought the children would be more attracted to the rhyme and pattern of the words so imagine my surprise when the book sparked a lengthy discussion between 5 year olds about drought, Africa, animals, and culture! It prompted questions that I didn't even know they were capable of asking and had them making connections to weather in our own backyard and stories they heard on the news. This book is a reading, social studies, and science lesson in one! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Droughts    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - African    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. People & Places - Africa    8. Stories in rhyme    9. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (7)

Day of tears
This book is called Day of tears by Julius Lester. This book is VERY suspenseful. It is about the largest slave auction in ever held in America. It takes place in Savannah, Georgia. It is a non-fiction book and at some parts it can be really sad.Some of the main characters are Mattie, Will, and Emma. They are a family of slaves that work for a guy named Mr. Butler. Emma, is the daughter of Mattie and Will. She takes care of Mr. Butlers daughters, Sarah and Frances. Their mother, Mrs. Butler, died a few years back, and Mattie's job is to clean the house and greet guests. Will works with other men in the fields and in the stables.
Let it rain
I have a big ole head.A big, swelled, I-know-more-children's-books-than-Leonard-S-Marcus type head.I think I'm pretty hot stuff when it comes to kiddie lit and I defy anyone to tell me different.Problem is, I'm not that hot.More lukewarm really.And I remember this fact when I read books like "Day of Tears".For all my boasts and brags, I had never read a Julius Lester novel until now.Oh I'd read plenty of his picture books and his folktales as well.And he's certainly written enough novellas in his time.There was "When Dad Killed Mom" and "To Be a Slave" and something called "The Autobiography of God".After hearing a variety of different people squawking over the brilliance of his "Day of Tears", however, I finally got around to reading him.With the same clear concise voice used to such advantage in tales like "The Old African", Lester turns his sights on a little remarked historical moment in time and the repercussions that have reverberated ever since.
Sold!
Ripped away from her family, friends and home, twelve year old Emma is sold in one of the biggest salve auctions in American history.
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Fiction    7. Historical - United States - 19th Century    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile Historical Fiction    10. People & Places - United States - African-American    11. Slavery    12. Social Issues - General    13. Social Situations - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Movie Tie - In    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Editorial Review

It's hot and humid in 1933 Mississippi, when an elderly black man and a white store owner test their friendship against a backdrop of racism and peer pressure. An explosive confrontation takes place when the black man, Tom Bee, greets the clerk, John Wallace, by his first name--an intimacy unheard of at the time. A group of witnesses heckles Wallace for what they perceive as his permissiveness, and in spite of his private promise to Bee to allow him to greet him this way, Wallace betrays Bee, shooting him in the leg. This brief but poignant story won the 1988 Coretta Scott King Award. It provides strong characterization as well as food for discussion on racism and human relations. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The Friendship
I thought that this was a pretty good book . In the story these boys went to this market to get there aunt Callies head medicine. When they got there they saw a family friend that was going there to get his sardines and some candy canes. The boy that was there would not give him what he wanted so he asked for the owner and he came out to see what the problem was and he gave him what he asked for. When he went back in there to get some tabacco the guy who owns the market shot him in the leg.

Tom-Bee
I thought that this was a pretty good book. I would defanately recamen this to other readers. The book ended in a wierd spot but it was good.

The best Mildred D Taylor book I have ever read
This is a great book to read if you ask me. Mississippi Bridge is not his good. This tells a great story on what black and white people had in common back then. I read Mississipi Bridge, The gold cadillac, Road to Memphis, The well, Roll of thunder, Song of trees, Let the circle be unbroken, The land and this my favorite The friendship. This is perhaps not only the best Mildred D' Taylor book ever perhaps the greatest book of all time. I like it. I think the worst Mildred D' Taylor book is Let the circle be unbroken. My second favorite is The gold Cadillac. Read this. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Fiction    5. People & Places - United States - African-American    6. Prejudices    7. Race relations    8. Social Issues - Friendship    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Prejudice & Racism   

Reviews (8)

Great Resource!
Beautiful pictures, and easy-to-follow tunes.A must-have for anyone who has children whom they are introducing to Spanish, and very useful for us adults as well!

Nice songs
My family enjoys this CD a lot.Mr. Orozco has a wonderful voice to listen to and the lyrics are fun and interesting.One song "Paz y Libertad" is emotionally touching.It is easy to learn Spanish listening to these elegant songs.I bought the other CD, Diez Deditos as a gift for a friend's family and they like that CD too.

Don't forget the CD!
This is an excellent book full of poems and songs.All are beatifully illustrated.Our 2 1/2 year old spends a lot of time just looking at the pictures and humming the tunes.Songs are easy to learn, fun to sing, and many have hand signs.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    2. Children's songs    3. Folk-songs, Spanish    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Latin America    6. Music    7. Music - Songbooks    8. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    9. Fiction dealing with multiculturalism    10. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino    11. Multiculturalism   

Reviews (1)

Just okay
I bought this book because my family lives near the beach. I thought our 17 mth son could relate to the theme.We were disappointed with this book:watercolors too light and hard to see and too few pages even for young child. The book did not keep son's interest and he loves to flip thru books and have you read to him. My recommendation: Find another book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Baby - Fiction - General    3. Children's Baby - Sociology    4. Children: Preschool    5. Ethnic - General    6. Fiction    7. People & Places - General    8. Seashore   

Reviews (17)

Double Dutch
I am a middle school Language Arts teacher who teaches high-level eighth grade students (in other words, VERY smart, motivated, and voracious readers). I suspect that when Sharon Draper was a teacher, she taught some lower-level students because this book seems to be clearly geared towards those students.
not my fave
this book was ok but it was missing something. the thing that got me the most was the way the kids talked. i'm in 8th grade and i don't talk like that. i mean who says peace out anymore? overall i thought it was a good book, but i have other books i'd rather read.

An excellent book!
The book I have read was Double Dutch by Sharron M.Daper. I chose this book because it looked interesting. The main characters are; Delia, Randy, Yolanda, Toliver Twins, Cherline, and Narrator. Girls will most likely like this book because of the drama, and double dutching (ages:12-15).The main events are, Delia has a secret she can't read, and the finials of the Double Dutch competion.The theme of this book is friends are there for you no mater what.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Contests    5. Dyslexia    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - United States - African-American    9. Rope skipping    10. School & Education    11. Social Issues - Adolescence    12. Social Issues - Friendship    13. Sports & Recreation - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (24)

cendrillon
the book is excellent and the pictures are very pretty.the delivery was fastest than I expected.

cendrillon
cendrillon by Robert D. San Souci is a good book.I expecially like Vitaline's character.She is so evil.
Cendrillon is great
This book is O.K but it copys a diffrent story but I still like it a little. This book is about a washer women who has a godmother who turns the washer women into a prinsess.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fairy Tales & Folklore - Country/Ethnic-General    4. Fairy Tales & Folklore - General    5. Fairy tales    6. Folklore    7. France    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States - Other    10. Juvenile Fiction / Fairy Tales & Folklore / Single Title   

Editorial Review

It is Yoko's first day at school, so of course her mother wants to sendher off with healthy comfort food for lunch--a delectable package of homemade sushi. "Have a wonderful day at school, my Little Cherry Blossom,"her mother says as Yoko climbs into the bus. And it would have been, had it not been for lunchtime. Timothy brings a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Tulip has Swiss cheese on rye. The Franks brothers have beans and franks. Butwhen Yoko opens her cooler of rice rolls with "the crispiest cucumber, the pinkest shrimp, the greenest seaweed, and the tastiest tuna," one of the Franks brothers announces, "Ick. It's green. It's seaweed." Tulip and Fritzchime in, "Yuck-o-rama."Read more

Reviews (9)

You are what you eat...
I teach in a 1st grade in an area with predominately Spanish/Mexican students with Filipino and Samoan children, and poor children...kids caught up in new lives in America and old cultures going back and forth into and out of places and designations...in the melting pot. So I like to use books, literature, to bring forums for child discussion of the differences and uniqueness that we blend in our room and that might exist beyond our walls and down the highway in an area where affluence is securing real estate and isolation and America's different kinds of mixes.... Plus this last year we were trained to understand our teacher role is "to unwind the dominate culture, or registers of language of the dominate cultures teaching explicitly the registers of"language of the disciplines" so that the class experiences are understood by all"...well you can read Ruby Paine on poverty for what we were trained to do...mostly get info to kids who might be isolated from mainstream or "educated" constructs or contexts is my take on it..... Anyway I like to try new things and experiences with kids I teach. I am a doing kind of teacher so I do things with students... ,1st graders they are thinking, filtering , processing every expereince and adding it to their little selves. So of course having raised three of the pickiest eaters on the planet one of my joys is food in the classroom.
Cute Read
This is the charming story of a sushi-eating cat, Yoko, who struggles to find acceptance from her classmates after eating her favorite food for lunch.Yoko's teacher arrives at a clever solution for encouraging acceptance of her students' culinary diversity, and Yoko finds a friend.The book is well-illustrated and a cute read for a three-year-old.

We love Yoko
My daughter is 3 and this is her current favorite book. The story is simple and sweet with some unexpected twists and the illustrations are beautiful. I think it's a good lesson in being open-minded and trying new things, which is perfect for a preschooler. It even has her excited about trying sushi. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Cats    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Fiction    7. Food    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. People & Places - United States - Asian American    10. School & Education    11. Schools    12. Sushi    13. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Asian American   

Reviews (6)

Our book came today - we've read it four times!
My children love this book - The pictures are wonderful, and I like how one side reads upside-down - you meet in the middle. My four year old said, "Just like my Spanish workbook!" (We use Flip Flop Spanish curriculum)
Este libro es genial!
Abuelo y los tres osos es un cuentito que le cuenta Abuelo a su nieto para pasar el tiempo. Abuelo en su cuento exagera un poco los acontecimientos del cuento famoso de Trencitas de Oro y los Tres Osos. Hay partes que hacen gracia y es un libro genial para los ni�os. Es biling�e - en espa�ol de un lado y en ingl�s del otro.

MUST HAVE! GREAT FUNNY STORY....
This is a Must have. They story is a Latin twist to "The Three Little Bears". A grandfather telling the story to his grandson. They illistrations are great too. Instead of porridge the Little Bears eat Frijoles (Beans). You read the book in English on one side and flip the book and read it in Spanish. Its a great story and the Spanish is everyday Spanish. At this price buy one for every little one you know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bears    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Fiction    4. Grandfathers    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    7. Short Stories    8. Spanish: Grades 1-2    9. Storytelling   

Reviews (4)

Delightful book for toddlers
I love this book, but not as much as Please Baby Please and it may be because we are not dog owners.Nevertheless, my [...] loves this book.Like me, he favors Please Baby more.He may like this book because he recognizes the similarities between the two.That said, we delight in the puppy's antics and read this book often.

Please, read it, please!
As a youth services librarian, I am responsible for the toddler storytime and I'm constantly searching for books that work well with large groups.This book is perfect.Even young ones who are scared of dogs can appreciate the joy of a wet, curious puppy.
Please, more Please
This was the first book that I bought from the series by Spike Lee and his wife.I fell in love just with the front cover and although you can't judge a book by that, I did and it payed off.
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Animals - Dogs    3. Animals - Pets    4. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Children: Preschool    7. Dogs    8. Fiction    9. Humorous Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. People & Places - United States - African-American    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - General    3. Animals - Wolves    4. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Movie Tie - In    9. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    10. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Christmas    5. Fiction    6. Gifts    7. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    8. Holidays & Festivals - Christmas    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Movie Tie - In    11. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    12. Santa Claus    13. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Reviews (5)

Book Review - Pucky Quijano
I gave the story 4 out of 5 stars because the beginning, middle and end were very good.I loved the end the most because Jake did something that he believed would help the coach get better after being shot.
The Warriors
This book wasn't the best book I've ever read,and it wasn't the worst either. This book was mostly about a kid named Jake who tells you about his lacrosse games.

OK Book
I found this book to be a little on the "mystical" side of Native culture. As a Indigenous woman on this continent I found the first few chapters a little stereotypcial and disheartening. I know this author is suppose to be of the Abenaki people but I just can not tell. I feel it is written for the intention of a Non-Native audience so that they can understand it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boarding schools    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. Iroquois Indians    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Lacrosse    9. People & Places - United States - Native American    10. School & Education    11. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    12. Sports & Recreation - Miscellaneous   

Reviews (1)

La telarana de Carlota
Yo le recomiendo este libro a todos que quieren regresar a su infancia. Yo estoy muy encantada con este libro. La historia de Carlota es mejor. También intentar Los Reinos Y Los Elfos De Las Quimeras.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Classics    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    7. People & Places - United States - Hispanic/Latino    8. Spanish: Grades 3-4    9. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / Hispanic & Latino