“She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.”–Proverbs 31:25
Suggested Grade Levels:
Grades 9-12
Review and Thoughts
My mother raised me to be a strong woman. She always told us we could be anything we wanted to be and taught us to fight for our right to do certain things. My mother ALSO taught us that we were still women. She taught us that God had created us with special gifts and beauties that men do not possess and because of that, we have a lot to offer the world because of our sex. My feminism is strong, but I acknowledge my weaknesses and am appreciative of the strengths of the men I am surrounded by. Our different strengths and weaknesses complement each other and we are better for having both sexes. Perhaps this is why I had such a difficult time reading Poisoned Apples by Christine Hepperman. Continue reading Guard your Mind: A Review of ‘Poisoned Apples’ →
“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back, relax, all you need is a book.” Dr. Seuss
Reading Level:
Grades K-1 [according to common core]
Grade 2.5 [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]
Interest Level:
Grades K-2
Review and Comments:
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a treasury of poetry, familiar fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters and corresponding illustrations that compliment every detail of the text. It all begins with a little poem that invites the reader to play a game of “I Spy.” Then the fun begins. Young readers, even non readers, will love to listen carefully to the short rhyme on each page so they can identify familiar characters and then search for those characters in the illustrations. The text is simple and repetitive and the very detailed and colorful pictures make the search lots of fun. This book is the perfect opportunity to introduce a few fairy tales and nursery rhymes to children or retell old favorites. Continue reading I Spy a Fun Read!:A Review of ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’ →
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Dr. Martin Luther King
Reading Level:
Grade 2-3 [level according to common core list]
Grade 4.5 [level according to Scholastic which reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]
Interest Level:
Grades 3-5
Review and Comments:
The story of Jedediah Johnson is told through the eyes of Sarah Jean, his great-niece. Jedediah, her granddaddy’s brother and favorite uncle, is a very significant person in her life who teaches her important lessons. Continue reading A Steadfast Dream: A Review of ‘Uncle Jed’s Barbershop’ →
“Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God.” –George Washington Carver
Reading Level:
Grades 2-3
Review and Comments:
“Some people come in and out of your life, as quick as a hummingbird darting at a trumpet vine. And some of them, when gone, leave something behind that sticks in your heart or mind. It sticks to you like a little burr on your sock. It wraps around like the tendrils of a vine.”
These are the thoughts expressed by a little girl named Sally after meeting Dr. George Washington Carver. She first sees Dr. Carver with an old wagon he calls his “movable school.” She recognizes him from his reputation as the plant scientist from Tuskegee. Dr. Carver has done much research with plants and now he is sharing that knowledge with others. He teaches people how to improve their lives by making poor soil rich again and simple foods into other products. Continue reading Like the Tendrils on a Vine: A Review of ‘In the Garden with Dr. Carver’ →
Literature reviews from the Catholic side
