Reviews

Studying the world wars this year has opened our eyes to many different ways that the wars affected everyday people.  From the loss of life, absences of loved ones, changing demographics in the work force, and more.  War in the Ring introduced us to how two men ended up with the weight of a country (each their own) as they entered the ring.  This is our review.

From the Cover

Both Joe Louis and Max Schmeling were born into poverty and used boxing as a way up the economic ladder, becoming icons in their home countries in the process. In America, Joe was a symbol of hope, especially to blacks yearning to participate in the American dream.  In Germany, Max was a symbol of the supposed superiority of the Aryan race. The two men climbed through the ropes with the weight of their countries on their shoulders – and only one would leave victorious. 

The battles between Joe and Max still resonate today.  War in the Ring is the story of these two out-sized heroes, their lives, their careers, and the global conflict surrounding them.

What you Get:

10 chapters, non-fiction, bound up as a trade paperback, geared for upper elementary through middle school. 

Focuses around the lives of two men, Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, two men from opposite sides of a global conflict.  They need to deal with the realities of where they live… for Joe that means dealing with racism, for Max dealing with poverty.  

Did you know they met twice in conflict?   The first round went to Schmeling, the second, well….You’d have to read the book for yourself! 🙂

This is an easy book to read aloud with pictures clear enough to show a lad across a table. I received an ARC copy so not all the images were available to me, nothing I did receive was objectionable. Just images of the men and the times they lived in. 

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore when author’s include source notes.  Breaking down where they found information and where, if needed, they changed to the story for readability or to follow one historical source over another.  I always find it fascinating reading. My son is less convinced about this. 🙂

Anyways, we learned a lot about both men.  The book was not merely about the battle, but about everything leading up to and beyond the battle.  We learned so much about how the hopes and dreams of both nations weighed on the men and affected their decisions.

War in the Ring: Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, and the Fight between America and Hitler. 
John Florio & Ouisie Shaprio
Roaring Brook Press
trade paperback, 208 pages
10-14 years
Boxing, WW2, Joe Louis,
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

When I first opened this review book my heart almost skipped a beat, I immediately adored Doodle Gardener. What can I say? Winter is slowly giving way, I’ve laundry hanging outside on the line, and my heart is turning toward my garden. Doodle Gardener might be just what I need to think outside the box a bit this year. 🙂

About the Book

Turn the Louvre pyramid into a greenhouse! Design your own folly or maze! Green up a parking lot or experiment with topiary! Whether you have a garden or not, you can let your horticultural imagination run wild. Sam Piyasena’s charming illustrations and Kendra Wilson’s witty activity suggestions provide the inspiration. This fun book will delight lovers of gardens and green spaces of all ages.

About the Author

Kendra Wilson is a writer with an interest in the natural world. Her previous publications include The Book of the Dog (2015, with Angus Hyland) and My Garden is a Car Park (2017). She also writes for the American style blog Gardenista.

What You Get:

Line drawings fill the pages, sometimes done, sometimes with plenty of white space for your own doodles and lines. I do feel a bit intimidated because I am NOT as good an artist as Sam Piyasena the illustrator.

But my skills aren’t the point are they? Sam’s drawings are only there to inspire me in my gardener’s eye for possibilities. What could I plant in a container? What could I envision for a water garden? Dreaming of a hanging garden… what could I see adding beauty?

I particularly enjoyed the square garden… it reminded me of the four square gardens built by the pioneers (at least that’s what come to mind). It was fun to imagine a floating water garden. I’ve been inspired by the floating ones they make in The Netherlands? I think it’s a rather neat idea.

It would be so easy to use the Doodle Gardener in a homeschool setting as many of the images are inspired from gardens around the world. For architects and designers the sheer amount of inspiration you receive in this tome are delightful.

You’ll find quotes scattered throughout, these are written in green in the top left corner of each two page spread. This section also includes bites of history from artists, designers, and gardeners throughout the ages.

I can’t say that I liked every illustration, that would be rare I think. The page of negative space comes to mind. But I loved how it included many of the elements that make up a garden: pools, chairs, shade, hedges and flowers. There are many different elements that make up a successful garden don’t you know.

My suggestion is that if you like gardening and doodling… get this book. You might find your heart smiling as well. 🙂

Doodle Gardener: Imagine, Design, & Draw the Ideal Garden.
Kendra Wilson
Sam Piyasena (illustrator)
Laurence King Publishing
$28.99
Trade paperback, oversize (8 x 11), 144 pages
All ages
Garden, Design, Colour, 
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.