Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Moffats and other completed books 12/22/10

We recently finished The Moffats (261 pages), Eleanor Estes.  The children originally became interested in this book after an excerpt was used from the book in their writing curriculum.  We decided to listen to the book on CD while we followed along.  The CD was FANTASTIC!  All of the characters had different voices and there were times when we all laughed out loud. 

Summary from Amazon:
Who else but a member of the Moffat family could, during kindergarten recess, accidentally hitch a ride out of town on a boxcar? Or wind up trapped in the breadbox outside the delicatessen store? Or kindly offer to escort the Salvation Army man to his destination--only to accidentally bump him out of his own horse-drawn wagon? The Moffats is a paradigm of old-fashioned family fun. 

Marcus has really enjoyed The Ten Commandment Mysteries series by Elspeth Campbell Murphy.  He has read:

Second Map (39 pages)
Silent Idol (45 pages)
Double Trouble (48 pages)
Vanishing Present (46 pages)
Tattletale Parrot (45 pages)

He also finished Gulliver's Travels (GIC - 240 pages), Jonathan Swift.

Gabriella very much enjoyed Uncle Wiggily's Story Book (247 pages), Howard R. Garis.  There are 36 chapters in this book and each chapter is a unique story detailing the adventures of Uncle Wiggily, the bunny rabbit gentleman, who understands people talk, and dedicates his life to helping other animals and children.

Another series that Lella is enjoying is The Animal Rescue Squad series by Ellen Weiss and Mel Friedman.  There are only a few books in this series, but she just finished Kitten Alert (117 pages) and is halfway through the next book.

Other books Lella finished recently:
Why do Volcanoes Erupt, Chris Maynard
Safari Journal, The Adventures in Africa of Carey Monroe, Hudson Talbott
Timothy's Tales from Hilltop School (64 pages), Rosemary Wells
Fairy Tale Lunches (29 pages), Jane Yolen
Fairy Tale Desserts (31 pages), Jane Yolen

Both:
Micro Monsters, Life Under the Microscope (48 pages), Chris Maynard
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, Kerley and Selznick

History Reading (both):
Chanticleer and the Fox, Barbara Cooney
The Making of a Knight, Patrick O'Brien

Monday, December 6, 2010

Book Completed 12/6/10 and some favorable mentions...

At night, I have been reading poems from Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses.  The illustrations are by Brian Wildsmith and are beautiful watercolors which complement each poem.

Some of Lella's favorites are:
Travel, My Shadow, The Land of Nod, The Dumb Soldier, Nest Eggs, My Bed is a Boat, Looking-Glass River, The Cow ,Little Land
Time to Rise, and North-West Passage, Escape at Bedtime, Foreign Children, and The Moon.

Other books completed by Marcus and Lella:
On Beyond a Million, An Amazing Math Journey, David M. Schwartz
You are the First Kid on Mars, Patrick O'Brien
Megatooth, Patrick O'Brien

Marcus:
The Year at Maple Hill Farm, Alice and Martin Provensen
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Jumping Frogs (69 pages), Donald J. Sobol
Go Figure, A totally cool book about numbers, Johnny Ball
***Marcus LOVED this book.  He learned some really neat math tricks.

Lella:
Why do seasons change?, Christopher Maynard
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Treasure Hunt (91 pages), Donald J. Sobol
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Mysterious Handprints (90 pages), Donald J. Sobol
Jenny goes to Sea (128 pages), Esther Averill
The Best Book of Dinosaurs, Christopher Maynard
Amelia Earhart, The Legend of the Lost Aviator, Shelly Tanaka
Fairy Tale Cookbooks, Fairy Tale Dinners, Jane Yolen
The Children on Troublemaker Street (99 pages), Astrid Lindgren
***Warning:  Astrid Lindgren is one of Lella's favorite authors (Pippi Longstocking, The Children of Noisy Village, etc...) and she enjoyed this book, however she came to me when she was finished and said that she thought she learned a bad word.  I couldn't imagine what the word was, but sure enough, one of the children says, "Damn it!"  This is the second book in this genre of literature from the early 60's that I have found unfavorable phrases in.  So, just be aware that it is in there.

Completed History Reading (both):
The children loved Eric A. Kimme's Sword of the Samurai, Adventure Stories from Japan.  The book is 120 pages and full of short samurai stories.
Food and Feasts in the Middle Ages, Imogen Dawson
The Girl Who Loved the Wind, Jane Yoland
Little Mouse and Elephant, A Tale from Turkey, Jane Yoland

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Completed Books 11/20/10

History:
Bard of Avon:  The Story of William Shakespeare, Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
Mary, Brian Wildsmith
A Medieval Feast, Aliki
Knights, Philip Steele
Food and Feasts in the Middle Ages, Imogen Dawson
Castle Diary (64 pages), Richard Platt

Lella:
Tumtum and Nutmeg:  The Great Escape (157 pages), Emily Bearn
Tumtum and Nutmeg:  The Pirate's Treasure (162 pages), Emily Bearn
Escape South (73 pages), Kim Siegelson
The Year at Maple Hill Farm, Alice and Martin Provensen
Jenny's Birthday Book, Esther Averill
I Love to Draw Dogs!, Jennifer Lipsey
Draw 50 Baby Animals, Lee J. Ames
If You Decide to Go to the Moon, Faith McNulty
The Big Book of Questions and Answers, A Consumer Guide Children's Book
Leonardo, Beautiful Dreamer, Robert Byrd

Marcus:
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (GIC-Great Illustrated Classic, 239 pages), Robert Louis Stevenson
***Marcus loved the ending.  He ran out and said, "So Mama, Dr. Jekyll IS Mr. Hyde!"  It was cute.

Both:
Bink and Gollie, Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Monster Math Picnic, Grace Maccarone
Fairy Tale Classics, Ziefert
The Fire Cat (63 pages), Esther Averill
A Day in the Life of Murphy, Alice Provensen
If you Made a Million, David Schwartz
Millions to Measure, David Schwartz

Friday, November 19, 2010

Great Math Pracitce Problems

My dear fried Jamy posted this site, so I thought I would share it.  All levels are represented (K-8) and the practice problems are based on the State Standards. 

How to use a semicolon...

From Susan Wise Bauer's blog....

"Best explanation of semicolons ever..."

How to use a semicolon - The most feared punctuation on earth

Warning:  Only look at this link.  The rest of the comics on the site are inappropriate for young eyes.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Books Completed 11/9/10

Gabriella has been reading some of the dearest books lately.  Here are a few that she recently completed:
1.  Tumtum and Nutmeg (181 pages), Emily Bearn
2.  The Milly Molly Mandy Storybook (224 pages), Joyce Lankaster Brisley
3.  Homer Price (149 pages), Robert McCloskey

All highly recommended.

Other books she has completed:
Equal Shmequal (32 pages), Virginia Kroll
The Usborne Book of Creepy Poems (32 pages), various poets

Marcus and Lella have both completed:
The Greedy Triangle, Marilyn Burns
Somewhere in the World Right Now, Stacey Schuett
Oh Theodore! Guinea Pig Poems (43 pages), Susan Katz
*They laughed out loud reading this book together and have revisited it often.
What Makes a Magnet? (32 pages), Franklyn Branley
Wiggling Worms at Work (33 pages), Wendy Pfeffer
Floating in Space (32 pages), Franklyn Branley
How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World (32 pages), Faith McNulty
*Marcus was so fascinated by this book.  He read it multiple times.
Small Potatoes Club (40 pages), Lon Levin
How Much is a Million, David Schwartz
*Both Marcus and Lella loved this book and requested the other two similar to this one.
Volcanoes (30 pages), Franklyn Branley
The Usborne Book of Fairy Tales, Cartwright and Amery
Jenny's Moonlight Adventure (32 pages), Esther Averill
*Both Marcus and Lella enjoyed this sweet book about a cat named Jenny.  Short, but written more like a chapter book with little pictures.

Marcus recently finished Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies (73 pages), Donald Sobol.

Completed History Reading (Both):
The North Wind and the Sun, Brian Wildsmith
The Miller Boy and the Donkey, Brian Wildsmith
The Master Swordsman and the Magic Doorway, Alice Provensen
East O' the Sun and West O' the Moon, P.J. Lynch
Puss In Boots, Marcia Brown
Saint George and the Dragon (32 pages), Margaret Hodges

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Lella's book about dogs...

Gabriella is fascinated with dogs.  She recently checked out a book with dog facts and explanations of how to draw dogs.  The other day she had some free time and asked to do art.  I said, "Of course," and she worked for about an hour.  She handed me the book when she was finished. 








Sunday, October 24, 2010

Great Typing Resource

The kids really enjoy this site! 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Lovely "Little" Books 10/25/2010

It's been way too long since my last post, so please bear with me as I talk about all of the wonderful literature the children have been reading.

To begin, the children and I finally finished Little Women (526 pages), Louisa May Alcott.  It was also my first time reading this classic novel.  I was able to instruct the children on so many godly principles throughout reading this book.  Marcus and Lella asked many questions throughout.  Some moments that stand out as I reminisce... Marcus and Lella were truly disappointed when Jo did not accept Laurie's proposal.  We all got teary eyed when Beth died.  I was able to share with them how I too had ignored Daddy when they were little (like Meg),  how it wasn't pleasing to the Lord, and how I changed.  We talked about how morals and principles are far more important than money (when Jo was writing racy articles to earn a living).  I could go on...  Needless to say, I highly recommend this book as a read aloud.  

Steve and the children recently finished Little Pilgrim's Progress (256 pages), Helen L. Taylor (adapted from John Bunyan's book Pilgrim's Progress).  Taylor keeps the original story line intact in her adaptation and simplifies some of the concepts and vocabulary.  Our Pastor recently asked a question about Christian from Pilgrim's Progress during evening instruction.  He asked what Christian's was carrying on his back, and the children answered, "A burden."  He then asked what the burden was, and they answered, "Sin."  The children LOVED this book and requested Daddy read to them every night.

Gabriella recently finished More Milly Molly Mandy (224 pages), Joyce Lankester Brisley.  This was such a darling book.  Each chapter is its own story, which makes for a great book to read at bed time, or to read aloud.  The protagonist in each story is Millicent Margaret Amanda (Milly-Molly-Mandy for short...if you consider that short).  More Milly Molly Mandy is a collection of old-fashioned stories about MMM and her adventures in her small English town.  Gabriella is now reading Milly Molly Mandy and enjoying it just as much. 

Marcus recently finished The Great Wide Sea (283 pages), M.H. Herlong.  I am especially proud of him for finishing this book.  There were quite a few sailing and nautical terms that were somewhat technical (Marcus has never sailed), and I think he may have been a bit young to full grasp the relationship dynamic of the two brothers and their father, but he persevered and in the end, said he enjoyed the book.  He especially liked the ending.

Another book I highly the kids and I are still working on is Art Fraud Detective (48 pages), Anna Nilsen.  Grab your pencil, paper, and magnifying glass!  A security guard at the Museum of Art (which houses a fine collection of 34 European masterpieces), asks young readers to play detective.  Readers are asked to determine which paintings are fraudulent by comparing them to the originals.  Each reproduction of the original painting is excellent, and the paragraphs of information about the paintings are well-written and entertaining.

Completed History Reading (both):
Easy Origami, Dokuohtei Nakano
The Enchanted Storks (32 pages), Aaron Shepard
The Duke and the Peasant:  Life in the Middle Ages (30 pages), Prestel
The Reluctant Dragon (40 pages), Robert D. San Souci
Mr. Pak Buys a Story, Carol Farley
The Rich Man and the Shoe-maker, Brian Wildsmith
Adventures with the Vikings (47 pages), Linda Bailey

Lella:
Encyclopedia Brown (87 pages), Donald Sobol

Marcus:
A to Z Mysteries:  The Talking T. Rex (85 pages), Ron Roy

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Books Completed 10/5/10

History Reading (both):
The Wisdom of the Crows and Other Buddhist Tales (79 pages), Sherab Chodzin and Alexandra Kohn
The Boy Who Drew Cats, David Johnson
In the Moonlight Mist, A Korean Tale, Daniel San Souci
Exodus, Brian Wildsmith
Joseph, Brian Wildsmith
Maui and the Sun, A Maori Tale, Gavin Bishop
A Carp for Kimiko, Virginia Kroll
The Crane Wife, Odds Bodkin
The Pumpkin Runner, Marsha Arnold
Little Oh, Laura Krauss Melmed (Gabriella loved this book.)
Saint Francis, Brian Wildsmith

Gabriella:
Captains Courageous (GIC, 239 pages), Rudyard Kipling
Wild Horses (44 pages), George Stanley
Pioneer Cat (63 pages), William Hooks (Gabriella loved this book too!)

Marcus:
Encyclopedia Brown (87 pages), Donald Sobol

Both:
The Adventures of Ratman (62 pages), Ellen Weiss and Mel Friedman

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The Red Pyramid and Completed Books 9/21/10

The kids and I just finished The Red Pyramid (528 pages), Rick Riordan.  Riordan's knowledge of Ancient Egyptian culture is superb, however I got quite bored with the story.  The kids seemed to like it though!  Basically, the two main characters are descended from the line of Pharaohs and must save the world.  In doing so, they encounter monster after monster, and must morph into different things to escape or defeat the monster... sigh.  Finally, "Oh god!" was used on and off when the children were in trouble.  Granted the whole story is about false Egyptian gods, but I still don't like the expression.  I will say that Marcus and Lella have a better understanding of Egyptians gods, who they are, and what Ancient Egyptians believed. 

History Reading (both):
Favorite Celtic Fairy Tales (84 pages), Joseph Jacobs - A collection of stories from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall.  Gabriella almost cried at the end of "Beth Gellert".  We loved reading this book.
Favorite Medieval Tales (72 pages), Mary Pope Osborne - We read these stories last year and loved all of them.  This year, we focused on "Beowulf".  Gabriella's favorite is "The Werewolf".
Cat and Rat:  The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac, Ed Young
Religions of the World - I am Muslim, Jessica Chalfonte - A simple book about the beliefs of Muslims.
Forty Fortunes:  A Tale of Iran, Aaron Shepard
The Three Golden Oranges, Alma Flor Ada
The Hundredth Name, Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

Marcus:
Mercy Watson to the Rescue (71 pages), Kate DiCamillo
Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (72 pages), Kate DiCamillo
Tales from the Odyssey, Book One:  The One Eyed Giant (101 pages), Mary Pope Osborne - Marcus read this series last year and loved it.  He wanted to read this story again.

Marcus and Gabriella are obsessed with reading their dictionary (Scholastic Children's Dictionary).  They have also been reading The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls.  It's amazing the things they find and learn about in these three books!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Embossed Letters

This history project was super easy and fun.  The kids are studying illuminated manuscripts with Steve and since I am the art director of this family, I decided to help them make some embossed letters.  We printed out letters, cut them out of cardboard and then rubbed aluminum foil over them.  The whole process took no more than 30 minutes. Hmmmmm... I wonder whose is whose......


Monday, September 6, 2010

Books Completed 9/5/10

History Reading (both):
Across a Dark and Wild Sea, Don Brown
The Warlord's Beads, Virginia Pilegard
Marguerite Makes a Book, Bruce Robertson
The Holy Twins, Benedict and Scholastica, Kathleen Norris and Tomie de Paola
The Clay Ladies, Michael Bedard
Long is a Dragon, Chinese Writing for Children, Peggy Goldstein
Ali, Child of the Desert, Jonathan London
The Last Snake in Ireland, Sheila MacGill-Callahan
The Very Hungry Lion, Gita Wolf
The Story of Saint Patrick, James Janda
The Warlord's Fish, Virginia Pilegard
Saint Nicholas, Ann Tompert

Marcus:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (GIC - 239 pages), Mark Twain
A to Z Mysteries, The Canary Caper (87 pages), Ron Roy
A to Z Mysteries, The Bald Bandit (71 pages), Ron Roy
Calendar Mysteries, April Adventure (69 pages), Ron Roy
Word After Word After Word (125 pages), Patricia MacLachlan

Lella:
Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep (220 pages), Liz Kessler
Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist (204 pages), Liz Kessler
Alice in Wonderland (Stepping Stones - 104 pages), Lewis Carroll
The Secrets of Droon, The Genie King (168 pages), Tony Abbott
The Goblin Baby (Stepping Stones - 120 pages), Berlie Doherty
Mercy Watson to the Rescue (71 pages), Kate DiCamillo
Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (72 pages), Kate DiCamillo
Smasher (72 pages), Dick King-Smith

Both:
Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record (115 pages), Sophie Blackall
Ivy and Bean Take Care of the Babysitter (123 pages), Sophie Blackall
*I didn't like the tone of this book at all.  I forgot to return this to the library and the children read it without me realizing it.
The Monster Who Ate Darkness, Joyce Dunbar
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole, Wong Herbert Yee
Mouse and Mole, Fine Feathered Friends, Wong Herbert Yee
A Brand-New Day with Mouse and Mole, Wong Herbert Yee

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Multiplication troubles?

Gabriella understands the concept of multiplication very well, however to recall multiplication facts quickly is not her forte.  We are working on it!

I found this wonderful site for her (it's free) and wanted to share it.  Just click on "Games" and scroll down.  There are quite a few!  Some incorporate art into the games as well (like Minko's Milkshake Shop).  You can pick the level and/or the specific fact you want your child to work on.  Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Curriculum 2010/2011

Math:  Horizons
History:  Story of the World (Bauer)
Language Arts:  1st Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind (Bauer)
Writing:  Writing With Ease (Bauer)
Italian:  Rosetta Stone
Bible:  ESV Bible (historical books starting with Joshua)
Literature:  Recommended reading from SOW and other selections
Reading Comprehension:  Teacher Created Resources
Spelling:  Spelling Power
Piano:  Faber and Faber, along with jazz and classical
Science:  Finish Botany and do Physics (Real Science 4 Kids)
Geography:  Google Earth and various online sites, State and World Capitals

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Summer is coming to an end...

Completed books 8/21:

Lella:
Toy Story 3, Woody's Wild Adventure (79 pages), Kitty Richards, Too Many Fairies, A Celtic Tale, Margaret MacDonald, Mermaid Tales from Around the World (77 pages), Mary Pope Osborne.  Lella really enjoyed Osborne's Mermaid Tales!


Marcus:
A to Z Mysteries:  The Absent Author (87 pages), Ron Roy, Smasher (72 pages), Dick King-Smith, Zelda and Ivy and Zelda and Ivy One Christmas, Laura McGee Kvasnosky, Louise, When I Grow Up..., Peter Horn.

Both:
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (137 pages, Hear It Read It), Benedict Flynn, Adam Sharp, Code Word Kangaroo (44 pages), George Edward Stanley, The Adventures of a Chicken, Kate DiCamillo, Can You See What I See?  Cool Collections (I Spy, 32 pages), Walter Wick, Can You See What I See?  Dream Machine (I Spy, 32 pages), Walter Wick, Zelda and Ivy, Laura Mc Gee Kvasnosky, African Critters (91 pages), Robert Haas:

Amazing photographs, written by Haas about his own adventures in Africa, all true.  You can feel Hass' excitement as he captures each animal on film.  Highly recommended!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

So many good books...8/5/10

The children and I have read some wonderful books this summer.  The Tail of Emily Windsnap (224 pages), Liz Kessler was one of our favorites!  We thought it was "swishy!".  Emily is a human girl who discovers that she can change into a mermaid in the sea.  She's on a quest to find her father and show King Neptune that love is what really matters, not what you look like.


Although the children and I have read this series before, we are reading and listening to it again.  The series is called "Hear It, Read It" and consist of abridged stories from classic literature.  We recently read The Secret Garden (138 pages), Frances Hodgson Burnett, Peter Pan (130 pages), J.M. Barrie, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (133 pages), Mark Twain.

 Other completed books:

Marcus: 
Andrew Lost In Uncle Al (84 pages), J. C. Greenburg, Captains Courageous (GIC - 239 pages), Rudyard Kipling, Three Tales of My Father's Dragon (242 pages), Ruth Gannett.

Lella:
Gabriella really enjoyed The Runaway Dolls (323 pages), Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin.  She loved telling me about the doll's adventures.

Brutus the Wonder Poodle (61 pages), Linda Gondosch - Gabriella said that EVERYONE should read this book :-).

Zelda and Ivy and Zelda and Ivy One Christmas, Laura McGee Kvasnosky.

Can You See What I See?  The Night Before Christmas, Walter Wick.

Ivy and Bean (120 pages), Annie Barrows - Lella also really enjoyed this book, but after I asked her about it, she said one character was practicing to be a witch.  I'll have to investigate this further.

When I Grow Up..., Peter Horn.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Graphic Novels and Books Completed 7/26

Summertime reading is here!  

Marcus and Lella seem to really enjoy graphic novels.  They recently read Into the Volcano (173 pages), Don Wood, and loved it.  They actually read this book a few times before I insisted they read other things.  (Caution:  There are a couple of scenes where one of the females is wearing a bikini top and shorts.)


They also really enjoyed Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (96 pages), Jarrett J. Krosoczka.  This wasn't a graphic novel, but the layout was similar to one.  They laughed out loud during parts of this book.


Other books recently completed:
Marcus:  Jake Drake:  Bully Buster (101 pages), Andrew Clements, Superstar Watch (98 pages), Gertrude Warner, The Dog-Gone Mystery (120 pages), Gertrude Warner, Abe Lincoln:  The boy who loved books, Kay Winters and Nancy Carpenter, Ten Holiday Jewish Children's Stories (45 pages), Barbara Goldin.

Lella:  Five Fables of La Fontaine (64 pages), Roberta Sewal, My Father's Dragon (77 pages), Ruth Gannett, Elmer and the Dragon (78 pages), Ruth Gannett, The Dragon of Blueland (79 pages), Ruth Gannett, Breakfast in the Rainforest, Richard Sobol, Sun-Day, Moon-Day:  How the week was made (80 pages), Cherry Gilchrist and Amanda Hall. 

***Gabriella LOVED Gannett's dragon books.  She actually re-read My Father's Dragon and then read the other two.  She also loved Sun-Day, Moon-Day and read it multiple times.

Both:  Here Comes the Garbage Barge, Jonah Winter, Prayer for a Child, Rachel Field, Pet Stories You Don't Have to Walk (64 pages), Reading Rainbow.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Harriet the Spy and Completed Books 7/10

The children and I began reading Harriet the Spy (320 pages), Louise Fitzhugh.  I have seen this book on many reading lists and after reading a review that said, "Happily, it has neither dated nor become obsolete and remains one of the best children's novels ever written," I thought we would give it a try.

Unfortunately, at Chapter 5 of the book, we had to stop.  The icing was this sentence: "I'll be damned if I am going to dance class!" 

Harriet, the protagonist, is a very observant little girl who writes observations down in a notebook.  I felt like some of her observations were unkind.  The word "fat" was used a lot and she tended to see the negative in everything she wrote.  With so many wonderful children's books available, skip this one.  It's just not worth it.

Books Completed Marcus: 
The Time Machine (GIC - 238 pages), H.G. Wells, The Camp Knock Knock Mystery (47 pages), Betsy Duffey, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Rudyard Kipling.

Books Completed Lella:
Frankenstein (GIC - 238 pages), Mary Shelley, A Little Princess (129 pages), Frances Burnett, Lunch Lady, Jarrett Krosoczka, Roxaboxen, Barbara Cooney, A House Is a House for Me, Mary Ann Hoberman.

Both:
The Fantastic Undersea Lif of Jackques Cousteau, Dan Yaccarino, The Velveteen Rabbit (again), Margery Williams, The Seven Silly Eaters, Mary Ann Hoberman.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Books Completed 6/28

Lella:  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (155 pages), Roald Dahl, The Great Genghis Khan (73 pages), Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, Just Enough is Plenty, Barbara Goldin.

Marcus:  The True Gift (81 pages), Patricia MacLachlan, The Silver Thread (76 pages), Kathleen Duey

Both:  Trapped By A Teacher (45 pages), Mary Ann Duke, The Big Monkey Mix-up (65 pages), Pamela Jane.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Angelo and Completed Books 6/15

Angelo (48 pages), David Macualay, is the first book to every cause one of my children to weep.  I was reading on the couch and Marcus came out of his room with a sad look on his face and tears welling up in his eyes.  "What's wrong buddy?" I asked.  "He dies Mama, and it's so sad."  Although the ending was sad, Marcus loved Angelo and said it was one of his favorite stories.  Lella and I also read Angelo and I thought it was beautifully written with inspiring illustrations.

Amazon:
Angelo is an old Italian craftsman who restores facades of Roman buildings. Sweeping away feathers and twigs left "by generations of thoughtless pigeons" one day, Angelo comes face to beak with his nemesis. This pigeon isn't looking so good, though, and in spite of himself, Angelo takes her home and brings her back to health, grumpily commenting, "Mamma mia! I restore walls, not pigeons." It's not long before this lonely old man grows attached to the bird, though, and makes a touching, lasting gesture to her in the final hours before his death.

Books Completed Marcus:
Other than reading various anatomy books, he completed The Three Musketeers (GIC, 237 pages), Alexandre Dumas, Alien for Rent (71 pages), Betsy Duffy, Bicycle to Treachery (48 pages), Robert Quackenbush, Evil Under the Sea, Robert Quackenbush, The Great Genghis Khan (73 pages), Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.

Books Completed Lella:   
The True Gift (81 pages), Patricia MacLachlan, The Last of the Mohicans (GIC, 239 pages), James Fenimore Cooper, Captain Fact Dinosaur Adventure (102 pages), Jadven Knife, The Man Who Lived Alone (35 pages), Donald Hall, Three Names (31 pages), Patricia MacLachlan, All the Places to Love, Patricia MacLachlan.

Both:
Alien and Possum - Friends No Matter What (48 pages), Tony Johnston, The Roman Twins, Roy Gerrard.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Ragweed, The Wanderings of Odysseus, and Completed Books 6/10/10

The Wanderings of Odysseus:  The Story of THE ODYSSEY (114 pages), Rosemary Sutcliff, was by far one of the highlights of our history reading this year.  We read Mrs. Sutcliff's first book, Black Ships Before Troy:  The Story of THE ILIAD, several months ago and also loved her rendering of this epic poem.  Alan Lee's illustrations are splendid.  I HIGHLY recommend reading these two books aloud.  They are full of suspense and tastefully written.  Thank you Mrs. Sutcliff.

The next book we recently finished was Ragweed (178 pages), Avi.  Gabriella had Marcus and I laughing out loud yesterday in the car when she said to Marcus, "Cool dude!  Like, thanks!"  She was imitating how the city mice spoke to each other in the book.  Marcus and Lella enjoyed Ragweed and at the end of each chapter would say, "Just one more chapter Mama!"

Books Completed Lella:  Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (159 pages), Roald Dahl, Alien for Rent (71 pages), Betsy Duffey, The Roman Twins, Roy Gerrard, Pompeii...Buried Alive! (48 pages), Edith Kunhardt (Lella loved this book and read it three times!), The Book of Beasts, E. Nesbit, Miriam's Cup, A Passover Story, Fran Manushkin.

Books Completed Marcus:  The Rockhound Science Mysteries #2 (46 pages), Mark H. Newhouse, The Rockhound Science Mysteries #3 (46 pages), Mark H. Newhouse, Karate Kick (118 pages), Matt Christopher.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The Gingerbread Rabbit and Completed Books 6/3

Marcus:  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (155 pages), Roald Dahl, Lebron James:  King of the Court (48 pages), L.R. Jacobs.

Lella:  Andrew Lost with the Bats (82 pages), J.C. Greenburg, Andrew Lost in the Whale (84 pages), J.C. Greenburg, The Rockhound Science Mysteries #3 (46 pages), Mark H. Newhouse, Princess Madison and the Paisley Puppy, Karen Linamen, Second-Grade Ape, Daniel Pinkwater, Dogsled to Dread (48 pages), Robert Qackenbush, Luv Amelia, Luv, Nadia, Marissa Moss, Lorenzo the Naughty Parrot, Tony Johnston.

Both:  The Rockhound Science Mysteries #1 (46 pages), Mark H. Newhouse, Once I Ate a Pie, Katy Schneider, Laura Numeroff's 10-Step Guide to Living with Your Monster, L. Numeroff, I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, Rose Lewis, and finally,


The Gingerbread Rabbit (55 pages), Randall Jarrell.

Marcus and Gabriella both enjoyed reading this story; a mix (sort of) between the Gingerbread Man and the Velveteen Rabbit. They both laughed out loud at parts and Gabriella said it was one of her favorite books.

Amazon:  This gentle story of a mother's fervent love for her only daughter, and the comical, suspenseful adventures of her rabbit cookie is carefully spun in Jarrell's flawless, slightly tongue-in-cheek prose.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Anniversary, Human Anatomy, Maj Lindman, and Completed Books 5/25

Today Steve and I have been married for nine years! My, how time has flown. Eight years ago Marcus was born and from the earliest age loved books. Before he could walk or talk, I could lay out his five favorite books and tell him, "Marcus, go get Touch the Bunny," and he would crawl over, pick it up, and bring it to me. Gabriella, now seven, loves books too and reads all the time.

The kids and I just finished part 1 of Little Women. We will finish it by and by and be happy to have done so.

This past week, instead of reading at night, Marcus has been doing 4-D puzzles of the human body. He has four different puzzles: the human body, the heart, they eye, and the brain. I have to admit that I tried to put together the eye and was unable to do it! The directions are vague and confusing. Still, Marcus was able to put each puzzle together. He also times himself and his fastest time so far is 4 minutes. Below are the pieces and then final product of the human body puzzle.


Gabriella has been enjoying Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and Snipp, Snapp, Snurr books by Maj Lindman. She requested, "all they have at the library Mama."


Books Completed Lella: Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Big Red Hen, Maj Lindman, Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake, Maj Lindman, Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the Reindeer, Maj Lindman, Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and The Gingerbread, Maj Lindman, Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and The Yellow Sled, Maj Lindman, Tintin in Tibet, Herge, Land of Black Gold, Herge, The Crab with the Golden Claws, Herge, The Calculus Affair, Herge, The Wrong Kind of Bark, Julia Donaldson.

Books Completed Marcus: Mirette and Bellini Cross Niagara Falls, Emily McCully, Esther's Story, Diane Wolkstein.

Books Completed Both: The Red Sea Sharks, Herge, Words In Our Hands, Ada Litchfield, Andiamo, Weasel!, Rose Grant, The Great Graph Contest, Loreen Leedy, Marie in Fourth Position, The Story of Degas' "The Little Dancer", Amy Littlesugar.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Virtual Surgery

Marianne sent me this site for "Dr. Marcus". We did virtual knee replacement surgery yesterday and he LOVED it. We also did the game about simple machines which was very cool. We will explore the site more over the next couple of weeks, however I think this may be his new favorite!

Monday, May 17, 2010

The Cobble Street Cousins, The Adventures of Tintin, and Completed Books 5/17

A friend of mine recommended The Cobble Street Cousins series by Cynthia Rylant for Lella.  She LOVED them.  She read:

A Little Shopping (55 pages)
Special Gifts (55 pages)
Summer Party (54 pages)
Some Good News (55 pages)
In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen (54 pages)

Other books completed by Lella:  Here is the Wetland, Madeleine Dunphy, Five Fables of La Fontaine (64 pages), Roberta Sewal, Anatole Over Paris (32 pages), Eve Titus, Esther's Story, Diane Wolkstein.

Completed Books Marcus:  The Secrets of Droon, Crown of Wizards (168 pages), Tony Abbott, Andrew Lost in the Desert (88 pages), J. C. Greenburg, Andrew Lost in the Jungle (88 pages), J. C. Greenburg, Fabulous Monsters, Marcia Williams, Sinbad the Sailor, Marcia Williams.

Marcus and Gabriella requested more of The Adventures of Tintin...in English of course :-).

From Amazon:  Join traveling reporter Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy, along with well-known friends such as Captain Haddock, as they embark on extraordinary adventures spanning historical and political events, fantasy and science-fiction adventures and thrilling mysteries. These full-color graphic novels broke new ground when they were first released and became the inspiration for countless modern-day comic artists.

The Adventures of Tintin, Cigars of the Pharoah (62 pages), Jadven Herge.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Lives of the Presidents

A while back Marcus memorized all of the United States Presidents.  Well, I came across this book at the library and he very much enjoyed it.  He is now quoting some of the presidents...oh brother!  Anyway, he did learn quite a bit about them and enjoyed reading this book.

Lives of the Presidents (96 pages), Kathryn Hewitt.

Completed Books 5/6

Well, since my last post, the kids have been reading a lot of Calvin and Hobbes.  It's fun hearing them laugh out loud and share their enjoyment of reading with each other.  Most recently, they both finished The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson. 

We also recently completed several books that were part of history reading for school.  Next year, I think I will try to come up with a better system for posting books we read.  We read:  The Empty Pot, Demi, The Lost Horse, Ed Young, The Dragon Prince, Laurence Yep, Lord of the Cranes, Kerstin Chen, and Ten Suns, Eric Kimmel.  We also read Julius Caesar from Tales From Shakespeare, Marcia Williams.  

Marcus:  The Count of Monte Cristo (GIC, 240 pages), Alexandre Dumas, Sleepy Little Owl, Howard Goldsmith, Charlie Brown:  Not Your Average Blockhead, Schulz, Epossumondas, Coleen Salley.

Lella:  Mama Provi and the Pot of Rice, Sylvia Rosa-Casanova, A Gift of Gracias, Julia Alvarez, My Little Artist, Donna Green.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Andrew Lost, and Completed Books 4/23/10

I loved Shel Silverstein's poems and drawings when I was a little girl.  Marcus and Lella recently discovered Where the Sidewalk Ends and devoured it.  Their favorite poem was Lazy Jane.

When Marcus was finished, he handed the book to me and said earnestly, "Mama, I really liked these poems, but I couldn't finish The Unicorn."
"Why buddy?"
"It violated my conscience Mama."

The poem is about Noah's arc and how instead of entering the arc, the unicorns played games; hence, no unicorns. 

Completed books Marcus: 
Frankenstein (GIC, 238 pages), Mary Shelley, Ancient China (43 pages), Mel Friedman, Shy Little Turtle, Howard Goldsmith, Superhero School, Aaron Reynolds, The Secrets of Droon, In the City of Dreams (120 pages), Tony Abbott, The Secrets of Droon, Flight of the Blue Serpent (119 pages), Tony Abbott, , The Secrets of Droon, Moon Magic (165 pages), Tony Abbott.

Lella recently finished Andrew Lost in the Garden (81 pages), J. C. Greenburg.  This is book four of the Andrew Lost series.  She really enjoyed it and asked for more.  I highly recommend this series for children.  They are sweetly written and educational to boot.  It is not necessary to read them in order.

Other books completed by Lella: 
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (GIC, 236 pages), Jules Verne, Don Quixote, Marcia Williams, Tales From Shakespeare, Marcia Williams, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Marcia Williams, Sinbad the Sailor, Marcia Williams, Jamaica's Find (32 pages), Juanita Havill, Jamaica's Blue Marker, Juanita Havill, Jamaica Tag-Along, Juanita Havill, Jamaica and the Substitute Teacher, Juanita Havill.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Holes

About a week ago the kids and I finished Holes (240 pages), Louis Sachar.  I honestly have no idea how this book won the Newberry Award.  The story is far too contrived to be believable, and I would certainly not consider this book "intelligent" reading.  I realize that this book is loved by many, but I do not recommend it. 

Monday, April 19, 2010

Greek Myths and Completed Books 4/19

Marcus and Lella LOVED Greek Myths For Young Children by Marcia Williams.  The children enjoyed her comic strip format to classic Greek myths.  Eight myths are retold by Williams and some are very funny.  Enjoy!

Completed Books
Lella:  Romeo and Juliet Together (and Alive!) At Last (page 122), Avi, Brown Angels (poems), Myers, Brianna, Jamaica, and the Dance of Spring, Juanita Havill, A Packet of Seeds, Deborah Hopkinson, The Boy Who Invented TV, The Story of Philo Farnsworth, Kathleen Krull, Carmann's Summer, Stian Hole, Esther's Story, Diane Wolkstein, Epossumondas Saves the Day, Coleen Salley, Epossumondas, Coleen Salley.

Marcus:  The Secret of Droon:  Flight of the Blue Serpent (119 pages), Tony Abbott, The Secret of Droon:  Crown of WizardsThe Secret of Droon:  Moon Magic (168 pages), Tony Abbott, Ali and the Magic Stew, Oppenheim, How to Make Friends with a Giant, Amy Walrod.

Both:  The Secret of Droon:  Queen of Shadowthorn (120 pages), Tony Abbott, The Secret of Droon:  The Treasure of the Orkins (120 pages), Tony Abbott, Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail, Coleen Salley, There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat, Lucille Colandro.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Who Stole the Wizard of Oz? and Completed Books 4/13

Marcus really enjoyed Who Stole the Wizard of Oz (116 pages), Avi.  He said he liked it because it was a good mystery.  Other books Marcus recently finished:  The Secrets of Droon:  Escape from Jabar-Loo (122 pages), Tony Abbott, The Secrets of Droon:  Crown of Wizards (168 pages), Tony Abbott.

Gabriella has enjoyed reading various picture books, some with larger amounts of text, some on the shorter side.  She really liked Eppossumondas Plays Possum, Colleen Salley.  She requested the other ones in the series.  She also enjoyed reading Ancient Greece, Sandra Newman, Ancient China, Mel Friedman, and Mesopotamia, Sunita Apte.  These books are from a series called "A True Book" and are simple reads with great facts and colorful pictures.
Other books Lella recently read:  My Little Artist, Donna Green, Turtle Bay, Saviour Pirotta, The Day-Glo Brothers (a true story btw about how day-glo came about), Chris Barton, How to Make Friends with a Giant, Gennifer Choldenko, Sleepy Little Owl, Howard Goldsmith, Shy Little Turtle, Howard Goldsmith, Superhero School, Aaron Reynolds, Cupid and Psyche, M. Charlotte Craft, Ali and the Magic Stew, Shulamith Oppenheim, The Secrets of Droon:  Escape from Jabar-Loo (122 pages), Tony Abbott.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Hobbit and Completed Books 4/6/10

Steve and the children recently finished The Hobbit (483 pages), J.R.R Tolkien.  I highly recommend this book as a family read aloud.  Marcus and Gabriella LOVED reading this book with Steve.  Before they read, Steve reviewed what they had read so far.  Also, during the reading, if they had any questions, they would raise their hand, Steve would pause and answer their question.  Both say this is their favorite book now.  I don't doubt it is, but there sure is something special about reading a book with Daddy!

Marcus:   Dracula (GIC, 239 pages), Bram Stoker.
Lella:  The War of the Worlds (GIC, 239 pages), H.G. Wells, Hairy Hezekiah (89 pages), Nick Bruel.
Both:  The Secret of Droon:  Pirates of the Purple Dawn (124 pages), Tony Abbott, Gladiator (80 pages), Richard Watkins.

Memories

Recently, I pulled out my three favorite picture books from childhood:  Never Tease a Weasel, Jean Conder Soule and Denman Hampson, Yurtle the Turtle and Other Stories, Dr. Seuss, and Star Flower, Jim Kelly .  Gabriella loves reading them and at night I often find them on her bedroom floor.  The one she enjoys the most is Star Flower by Jim Kelly.  It's a sweet story about seasons, friendship, and love.  Gabriella is also drawn to the illustrations, just as I was as a child.  The first three images below are the covers from each of these books and the images that follow are from Star Flower.