Large ABC and 123 Learning My First Big Tracing Workbook for Kids by Kidsup Publishing

 

Genre: Children's Workbook

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

One hundred and eleven pages of tracing fun for the young child. The very first page shows each letter and the numbered directions for writing each letter. Like your typical preschool/kindergarten letter tracing book they use cute animals for each letter. What I loved about this page was they used animals such as an alpaca, a narwhale, a sloth, a vulture and a yak. These are not the same ordinary animals we usually teach  them first. I know with my own grandchildren, if I showed them something they had never hear of before then it was a teaching moment for me.

Kids start off tracing single lines that are horizontal, vertical, slanted, the V-shaped before they ever start tracing letters.  In the beginning each letter takes up one full page.  Then you move onto the next section where you have one animal for the capital letter and one for the lower case letter.  The letters are followed by numbers then shapes that have positive statements attached to them. They even get into a rhombus, trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon and octagon.  As always, when your child finishes this book they get a certificate that you can print out and they can color.

Escape to the Everglades by Edwina Raffa and Annelle Rigsby

 

Genre:  Middle Grades, Upper Elementary, Historical Fiction

Source:  I own a copy.

I have owned this book for a long time. As we neared the end of the school year and I had packed away my books for the year, I found this book. It had been left on one of my bookcases.  I decided to take it home then give it to my grandson to read. I am so glad it was left behind. I loved this book.

Running Boy receives his adult name at the naming ceremony and hopes that will end the bullying by Tiger. He is also eager to join Osceola's group to fight against the injustice being done on the Seminoles and other Native Americans. Tiger doesn't consider him a true Seminole because his mother was Seminole and his father was white. That is why he was given his father's name, Will Cypress.  His uncle agrees he is a man now and can decide on his own to join Osceola. He reminds him to remember who he is. He isn't just a Seminole he is also white. His uncle tells him that things are not always as black and white as we think. 

Will understand these words when he meets a woman and her three sons who help him hide out and point him in the direction of Osceola's camp. The few days he stays with them he learn what it means to be both white and Native American. He learns what his uncle means when he says he belongs to both worlds and he learns to accept who he is as a man and what it means to "do the right thing."

The Watchman's Keep by Alfred M.Struthers

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Mystery

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Each book in this series gets better and better. The amount of research that goes into the details in the book are extensive. In this story we find Nathan once again in the thick of things. After the man who had tried to kill him is put in prison, Nathan goes back to his old job of sorting books.  His best friend and side-kick Gina is once again helping him solve a riddle.  Nathan's mentor in all things regarding the bookcase has flown to Europe. He is hot on the trail of Ginette, the sister of Edouard Dampierre who now sits in prison.  Tobe expected she is not there, but in the United States looking for Nathan. One call is all it took to keep Gina and Nathan confined to their house.  Jamieson is sure Ginette is after Nathan and to take over the business her brother was running in the states. Unfortunately for her things are not going to go as planned.

One thing I absolutely love about the books is the massive amount of research that goes into each one. The author has compiled information in the back of the book to help those less acquainted with fine art. I may not have known the artwork of many of them mentioned, but understood what sgrafitto and slump molds were. Both have been used by my husband and myself when we owned a ceramic business and my husband worked with glass.  The complexity of each book increases, which is why I said it is for young adults as well.  The danger level rises, more secrets are unpacked. I look forward to reading the next one in this series, "Tears of the Empress".  To learn more about this author and his wonderful books, check out his website.