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s_n_arly's reviews
730 reviews
Biology: Life as We Know It! [With Poster] by Simon Basher, Dan Green
5.0
Our son received this as a gift on his fourth birthday. It quickly became a favorite. It is essentially an introductory biology text book, broken down for much younger readers. It's divided into sections such as building blocks (covering red blood cells, white blood cells, mitochondria, DNA, RNA, etc), life (bacteria, virus, fungus, protists, etc) and body parts (eye, ear, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc). Each item gets a page's worth of simple yet accurate information on how it works and where you find it. It gave my son a better grasp of how his body works than I had prior to fifth grade.
While recommended for grades 3-8, the explanations and fun comic-style pictures make this accessible to a much younger audience. There may be things my son doesn't quite understand, but this has given him things to ponder and the vocabulary to ask the questions he needs to. It is still a bit beyond the two and a half year old, but she likes some of the simpler bits.
While recommended for grades 3-8, the explanations and fun comic-style pictures make this accessible to a much younger audience. There may be things my son doesn't quite understand, but this has given him things to ponder and the vocabulary to ask the questions he needs to. It is still a bit beyond the two and a half year old, but she likes some of the simpler bits.
Basher Science: Physics: Why Matter Matters! by Simon Basher, Dan Green
4.0
A little more complicated than it's companion Biology:Life as We Know It, it is a good follow up and introductory textbook on physics for the younger croud. We held off on this one until our son was five. Some of the concepts are well beyond him (such as the different types of radiation), but it's a good place to start. We have also decided that all children should be introduced to quantum physics at this age. The concept of Schroedinger's Cat makes perfect sense to him!
Like the other books in this series, it is broken up into chapters or sections of similar concepts. Each concept or item gets its own two-page spread (for the most part). One page is a cartoon representation of the item or concept and the other is a simplified explanation for it.
Like the other books in this series, it is broken up into chapters or sections of similar concepts. Each concept or item gets its own two-page spread (for the most part). One page is a cartoon representation of the item or concept and the other is a simplified explanation for it.
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
5.0
We gave this to our son on his fifth birthday. It was perfect. He loves libraries and he had just gotten out of a cast, which made him extra sensitive to Miss Merriweather's injury.
The pictures are beautiful and the writing flows nicely. It's on the longer side for a picture book, which is also suitable at this age. In addition to being a really endearing (almost tear inspiring) tale of friendship it also covers the topics of jealousy and the fact that it is sometimes appropriate to break the rules.
I've recently heard that we may do a disservice to our children having all these stories about cuddly anthropomorphic animals. So yes. We've told our son that a real lion would eat him, but this is a story lion. Stories are magic and anything goes.
The pictures are beautiful and the writing flows nicely. It's on the longer side for a picture book, which is also suitable at this age. In addition to being a really endearing (almost tear inspiring) tale of friendship it also covers the topics of jealousy and the fact that it is sometimes appropriate to break the rules.
I've recently heard that we may do a disservice to our children having all these stories about cuddly anthropomorphic animals. So yes. We've told our son that a real lion would eat him, but this is a story lion. Stories are magic and anything goes.
Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn
2.0
This is merely an okay book, which is a shame because the story itself had such potential and the author can do much better. Instead of Vaughn's usual more polished work, this feels like a first draft, one that didn't go through a rewrite. It's a short book and I read it in an evening. I would recommend against buying it in hardcover, though for die hard Vaughn fans, it may be worth checking out of the library.
The book ties together the threads of four stories: The Storeroom's history, Evie the heir to the Storeroom, Alex/Sinon's search for a cure to the curse Apollo laid upon him, and Evie's comic book storyline. The book would have been stronger without the comic book bits, which merely took up word count and didn't significantly add to the overall story arc.
The book's primary strength is that it is character driven and I wanted to know what happened to the characters (particularly to Sinon the Achaean). There were also some fun bits involving glass slippers, Merlin and that darn sword in the stone. It also has a realistic portrayal of sexuality in the time of the Trojan war.
Weaknesses include a primary world that I just couldn't believe existed, a weak plot, and a final climax scene that is so sloppy you'll have to read it a few times to have a clue what just happened. It's slow to start and includes a lot of ancillary stuff that isn't useful or important. The ending is only partially satisfying. We lose track of a lot of characters without any explanation.
The book ties together the threads of four stories: The Storeroom's history, Evie the heir to the Storeroom, Alex/Sinon's search for a cure to the curse Apollo laid upon him, and Evie's comic book storyline. The book would have been stronger without the comic book bits, which merely took up word count and didn't significantly add to the overall story arc.
The book's primary strength is that it is character driven and I wanted to know what happened to the characters (particularly to Sinon the Achaean). There were also some fun bits involving glass slippers, Merlin and that darn sword in the stone. It also has a realistic portrayal of sexuality in the time of the Trojan war.
Weaknesses include a primary world that I just couldn't believe existed, a weak plot, and a final climax scene that is so sloppy you'll have to read it a few times to have a clue what just happened. It's slow to start and includes a lot of ancillary stuff that isn't useful or important. The ending is only partially satisfying. We lose track of a lot of characters without any explanation.
Superior Saturday by Garth Nix
3.0
This is the sixth book in The Keys to the Kingdom series. If you haven't read the others, you shouldn't start with this one because it won't make sense. This is probably the weakest book in the series. Still worth reading, but not as strong as some that have come before.
It's a relief to see Arthur accepting what has become his destiny. No longer eschewing magic in an effort to remain human and embracing what needs to be done to save his world and the people he cares for makes him a more sympathetic reluctant hero, rather than a whiner. It also allows him to act more decisively, very helpful when trying to rescue your loved ones.
The rich world details that typically make up Nix's work were lacking in this installment. The things that don't make sense (Arthur's battle with his internal Denizen, how a country could justify nuking a hospital at the center of a plague) are never explained in a satisfactory way (if at all). We also have what feels like a very artificial cliffhanger at the end. I confess I'm concerned with the number of loose ends Nix has to tidy up for the final book to be truly satisfying. Having read his Old Kingdom series, I know he can do it, but not if he writes it the way he wrote this one.
It's a relief to see Arthur accepting what has become his destiny. No longer eschewing magic in an effort to remain human and embracing what needs to be done to save his world and the people he cares for makes him a more sympathetic reluctant hero, rather than a whiner. It also allows him to act more decisively, very helpful when trying to rescue your loved ones.
The rich world details that typically make up Nix's work were lacking in this installment. The things that don't make sense (Arthur's battle with his internal Denizen, how a country could justify nuking a hospital at the center of a plague) are never explained in a satisfactory way (if at all). We also have what feels like a very artificial cliffhanger at the end. I confess I'm concerned with the number of loose ends Nix has to tidy up for the final book to be truly satisfying. Having read his Old Kingdom series, I know he can do it, but not if he writes it the way he wrote this one.
Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth
5.0
This is a delightful book telling three traditional Zen stories within the framework of a modern story. In each case, there is a contemporary application or message for the traditional story.
Jon Muth's water colors are beautiful and help keep younger kids engaged even when they don't grasp the concepts of the stories. We started reading this to our son when he was an infant, and he has continued to enjoy and request it five years later.
Jon Muth's water colors are beautiful and help keep younger kids engaged even when they don't grasp the concepts of the stories. We started reading this to our son when he was an infant, and he has continued to enjoy and request it five years later.
Lucia and the Light by Mary GrandPré, Phyllis Root
4.0
This is a wonderful picture book with a strong female protagonist. The illustrations are one of the best features, colorful and rich while also soothing to look at.
Placed in an unnamed northern land in the days past, Lucia lives with her mother, baby brother, cow and milk-white cat. One winter the sun goes away and doesn't return as expected. Lucia and the cat brave the darkness to rescue the sun which has been taken captive by trolls.
Some of the language doesn't flow as smoothly as it could, but it's far better than many children's books out there.
Placed in an unnamed northern land in the days past, Lucia lives with her mother, baby brother, cow and milk-white cat. One winter the sun goes away and doesn't return as expected. Lucia and the cat brave the darkness to rescue the sun which has been taken captive by trolls.
Some of the language doesn't flow as smoothly as it could, but it's far better than many children's books out there.
I'd Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio
5.0
This was one of those spontaneous purchases that really pays off. I'd never heard of this book when my son picked it out at the book store. It's clever, it's silly and it even gives some useful information (if you don't eat your breakfast, you'll feel weird and if you don't eat well, you won't be big enough to achieve your dreams). The language flows well, making it a pleasure to read aloud, and is definitely not dumbed-down for kids, which is the best way to add to their vocabulary.
The story follows one day in the life of Achilles the crocodile. Instead of his usual diet of bananas, he decides today he'd really like to eat a child. His parents try to convince him to eat other fine things (a sausage as long as a truck and a yummy chocolate cake), but he will not be swayed. When Achilles finally gets his chance to eat a child, things don't go quite as planned. Splunk, Achilles returns home with a new goal. To grow big enough to eat a child (strangely that message hasn't upset my children at all).
The story follows one day in the life of Achilles the crocodile. Instead of his usual diet of bananas, he decides today he'd really like to eat a child. His parents try to convince him to eat other fine things (a sausage as long as a truck and a yummy chocolate cake), but he will not be swayed. When Achilles finally gets his chance to eat a child, things don't go quite as planned. Splunk, Achilles returns home with a new goal. To grow big enough to eat a child (strangely that message hasn't upset my children at all).
Moondogs by Daniel Kirk
5.0
Picked this up at a local SF/F bookstore. Factual science, it isn't, but fun science fiction it is.
Some rhyming patterns in children's books are clunky and uneven at best. While this narration is told in rhyme, it flows very nicely, making it a very nice read aloud book. The pictures are creative and fun (can you find the Scruffy dog hiding on some of the different pages?). The moondogs themselves are weird and monstrous, but sweet and cuddly at the same time.
The story follows Will (destined to be an astronaut or astronomer) in his quest for the perfect pet. After traveling all the way to the moon, he realizes that his ideal dog was always near by.
Warning for the prudish - this does contain some partial moon man nudity. Consider yourself warned.
Some rhyming patterns in children's books are clunky and uneven at best. While this narration is told in rhyme, it flows very nicely, making it a very nice read aloud book. The pictures are creative and fun (can you find the Scruffy dog hiding on some of the different pages?). The moondogs themselves are weird and monstrous, but sweet and cuddly at the same time.
The story follows Will (destined to be an astronaut or astronomer) in his quest for the perfect pet. After traveling all the way to the moon, he realizes that his ideal dog was always near by.
Warning for the prudish - this does contain some partial moon man nudity. Consider yourself warned.
How to See Yourself As You Really Are by Jeffrey Hopkins, Dalai Lama XIV
3.0
This was a tough read. It reminded me of being in a 400 level philosophy class. It was worth the slog, though like many readers before me, I did get so confused at one point I considered shelving this one. In the end, perserverance won out and the content finally made sense. I have a new insight not so much into how to see myself, but how to see others.
I'm guessing there are more concise and clear ways to give the same information, but perhaps the process of getting the information is just as useful as the information itself. This is not a good intro to Buddhism, nor is it a good choice for a reluctant reader.
I'm guessing there are more concise and clear ways to give the same information, but perhaps the process of getting the information is just as useful as the information itself. This is not a good intro to Buddhism, nor is it a good choice for a reluctant reader.