A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Reviews

Art Book: Meet Cindy Sherman

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Cindy Sherman, an chameleon of a person who is also an artist and a photographer… likes to do things in her own way, allowing people to interpret her art in their own way.   In this book children are invited to see her art and say what they think of it.    Today I invite you to bring YOUR students along to interpret her art in their own way as well.  Meet Cindy Sherman: Artist, Photographer, Chameleon.

I half expect Cindy and I might get along as I also like to let individuals do art in their own way.  Giving parameters and lessons and letting them live out their vision of how they think it can be worked out.   It’s what makes art fun.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading the comments from different children about her work, some of them making up stories to go behind what they see, others describing colours and attitudes, and still others describing their emotion at the image.   That mix in attitudes and emotion intrigue me when it comes to introducing children to art. 

We are introduced to Cindy Sherman in all her many forms, and her life as she explored art.   Starting a child playing dress up to an adult experienced in her craft. A child could easily read this book as the language is written at a good level for upper elementary and middle school students.  We read of the work she did and HOW she went about achieving her ends.. from scouring thrift stores, to covering the walls of her room with images from the past, getting friends to help her take pictures in different locations.   She explores what makes a person…can a person wearing a wig and beard dressed in men’s clothes really be the same as the lady wearing a lovely dress and done up all nice?

Now, all this said, I can’t say I really appreciate all of her work, but I do appreciate the sentiment behind her work and therefore, should I ever see her work it gives me a glimpse into her mindset and therefore helps me appreciate what her aim is.   People being people without worrying about the window-dressing.  🙂

Cindy is a persistent lady with a vision of what she wants to accomplish in her art.  This book is well worth giving any prospective art student as an encouragement to them to continue in their endeavors. 

  
Meet Cindy Sherman: Artist, Photographer, Chameleon
Jan Greenburg & Sandra Jordan
Roaring Book Press
64 pages, ages 7-12
art, softcover, opinion, artist, middle school

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Review: Ellie, Engineer

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Ellie, Engineer.  What can I tell you about a young girl who likes to build and create?  This lovely little easy read chapter book contains: One Ellie, one toolbelt, one skirt, one sketchpad and one very active mind along with one friend with a birthday coming up.  Then a mishap happens….

… and then another…. and then… well you know what.. I can’t tell you the WHOLE story. 🙂

Friendship and engineering fill the pages.   Truthfulness and dishonesty place close seconds.  Will Ellie and Kits’ friendship handle the tests put to it?   Will new friendships become needful? Will Ellie lose it all in the end or will more be gained than could be even dreamed of?

An easy read chapter book with decently developed characters.  It was a fun read with a handy “these are an engineers tools” section at the close of the book.   Ellie’s sketches filled several pages throughout the book.

My Thoughts:

I laughed more than once.  🙂  I think it’s geared more 8-10 years. It was a good story filled with all sorts of engineering tasks and explanations about how a youth could engage in engineering tasks.   I love the list of tools at the close of the book. A fun read with short chapters and sketches that add well to the story. 

Ellie, Engineer
Jackson Pearce
Bloomsbury Kids
Softcover, trade paperback, fiction
ages 8-12
Engineering, girls, creativity, 

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where to purchase: Amazon Link.

Review: The Spinner Prince (Pride Wars)

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Oh my Lanta… I’ve heard that expression occasionally and I really don’t know what it’s origins are…but I know it’s meant to display surprise and appreciation mixed together.  🙂   I DON’T think it’s supposed to be a polite way to use God’s name in vain (so don’t want to do that!) so if it is let me know!   Anyways, Oh My Lanta… I enjoyed this book “The Spinner Prince”.   Leo is a very real character, fighting to fit into society and his role in life…and meeting some difficulties along the way.  I want to know how this story will ultimately turn out!

This is a “coming of age” book with Leo at the centre of the story.  He engages with some intriguing characters along the way, showing his heart and hinting at his passions as he does so. The fierceness of his people strikes me as real, but there is an unbalance in their lifestyle, an unbalance I suspect that Leo is born to face. The question is… will Leo be up for the task?

We get hints in this first book that he will be up for the task, even if he is the Spinner Prince.  He’s gathering some stalwart (and perhaps not so stalwart) people around him.  He’ll battle prejudice.  He’ll have to fight for what is right. He will have to stand against the crowd.  He will need to find unconventional ways to prove himself.   The only question is.. WILL HE?  Will he redeem himself well?  Honour and Duty, Ferocity and Faith…these things will be tested.  How will Leo and his people stand up to this?   Read the book and find out!  🙂

The Spinner Prince
Matt Laney
HMHKids, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Age 10-12
352 pages
Fiction, Faith, Character, Middle School
Series: Pride Wars

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Where to Find it: Amazon Link.

Review: NKJV Study Bible For Kids

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Theme bibles are all the rage you know?   We have bibles for kids, women, men, boys, girls, outdoor bibles, readers bibles… bibles of all shapes and sizes, translations and focus groups.   That’s not necessarily a bad thing you know?  Because helping people read God’s word is one of many steps that can help reach lost souls for the Lord.    We have so many, you might ask, why do we need more?  For this simple fact: We don’t know if THIS translation or THIS style will reach even one more person for the Lord.   So today I bring you a really colourful bible called “NKJV Study Bible for Kids”.

Tommy Nelson has come out with a colourful bible to intrigue your children.  The bright colours on the cover attract, and those colours are repeated throughout the bible with the various topical helps they have inserted. Printed on slightly heavier than normal bible quality paper, it is easy to carry for youth. 

Each of the topics is presented in a “let’s make it relevant to the children” manner, from defining more difficult words, to helping the reader to connect with important biblical people.  The NKJV Study Bible for Kids is “The Premier NKJV Study Bible for kids”.

The features/articles include:

Timelines
On Location: Maps
Spotlight: Stories of the Bible – e.g. God’s Gift to Joseph, Living Wisely
Starring Rolls: Profiles on major people of the Bible – e.g. Deborah, Eunice, Stephen, Samuel
Action!: Articles on day-to-day articles that are relevant to kids – e.g. Learning, community, obedience
In Focus: Definitions
Epic Ideas: Info on must-know topics – e.g. God keeps promises, God loves honesty, The Scarlet Cord

What I liked:

What I like in the NKJV Study Bible for Kids, is the myriad of helps contained within the pages.  850 different topic boxes under such headings as “Behind the Scenes”, “Spotlight”, “Action”, “Epic Ideas”, “Starring Roles”, “In Focus”, “On Location” and “Time Lines”.   You will also find a dictionary/concordance, an index for all the topics, and a quick reference section.  The scripture reference is on the edge of each page which is rather helpful.

I liked how each topical area is clearly delineated as to the focus and separating it from the text of the bible. 

I liked the fresh look of the cover, seriously.. all those colours intermingling on the cover.. just seemed bright and cheerful to my eyes.  🙂

Things I wasn’t as keen on:

Each page is outlined in colour. Just wasn’t my thing, I prefer clean edges in my bibles for ease of note taking. It is quite pretty and eye-catching so it might be a draw for some… and it does fit with the theme of the cover so THAT’s a good thing.  🙂

NKJV Study Bible for Kids - 
     The Premier NKJV Study Bible For Kids
Tommy Nelson
Study Bible, 
Trade Paperback, 

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers. 

Where you can find it: Amazon Link.

 

Review: This Book is a Planetarium

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Who doesn’t like a hands-on book, a book that let’s you experience it as you read and learn?  This book is a Planetarium is one such book.   Kelli Anderson brings us a book filled with pop up’s like you have never seen before!

You get these pop-ups: A speaker, a planetarium,a spiralgraph, a decoder ring, a perpetual calendar and a music instrument fill the pages of this book.   Heavy paper supports them, which considering their quality is an integral part of each construct.

When you first open this pop-up book you will find tissue paper protecting each of the constructs. This attention to detail helps to reinforce the obvious care and concern put into making it.  Defying every expectation of what a book can be, this pop-up extravaganza transforms into six fully functional tools: a real working planetarium projecting the constellations, a musical instrument complete with strings for strumming, a geometric drawing generator , an infinite calendar , a message decoder , and even a speaker that amplifies sound. 

Now will this book last forever?  🙂  Of course not, it’s made of heavy paper, but it is well made and if parents and their offspring use it carefully it will last for a good long while, at least as long as many of the disposable toys made now-a-days.  🙂   Uses?  Oh…. varied eh?   A good book to explore the senses, for studying the engineering of paper, to attempt replication, to get an introduction to making codes or to just have fun!   It’s a rather neat book!

Why do I like it so much?   This book is meant to be a hands-on, tactile science book.  A book with explanations and then “do it”.   The object is to be involved in the world, doing, listening, experimenting.   Then, as you’ve experimented with the book, to see how the book is brought to life in the physical world.  It’s geared to help the reader/doer.. ask questions and want to know more.  The fact that the font is smaller and in dark print helps you to focus on the learning and discovery FIRST, and then to go back after for answers.  Well designed.

My thoughts:

I LOVE, just LOVE books that help people ask questions.  That don’t necessarily provide ALL the answers, but enough to get the student going in the right direction.  This book encourages those questions, giving the student a good place to start, and then leaving them to it.  A good thing that!

 

This Book is a Planetarium and other extraordinary
    Pop-up contraptions
Kelli Anderson
Chronicle Books, hardcover, 5 pages
Pop-up, activity, science, engineering, Papercraft
Age range: 6 and up 

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where can you find it?    Amazon Link.

Art Book: Star Wars Build-A-Scene

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This Star Wars build-a-scene kit is perfect for the Star Wars fan in your life.   My lad is an avid paper crafter and was quite delighted when this kit made it’s way into our home. 

Three builds are included in this kit:

  • Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  • Episode IV A New Hope
  • Episode VII The Force Awakens

Each build in the book is predicated by a write up of what the build is about and how it was filmed.  Pictures from the movie are included, as well as concept scenes making this a well-rounded kit.  Not just a build but an informational kit.   Once this informational write up (about 5 pages) is completed you are given a list of supplies.  Common items like glue, paint brush, etc are listed, as well as instruction on how to do the build.  Mountain and valley folds, gluing and letting dry, and so forth.  The creators want you to be successful in doing the build, so take your time and read through all the instructions before starting. 

You will find that the sheets are perforated well on a thicker paper, but not board paper thick.  Just a nice quality paper for doing papercraft builds.  The individual pieces are well numbered.

Take your time, carefully build, read and re-read the instructions as needed, and you can complete these three scenes.   I’d say this kit is better for the older teen to adult builder as it is fiddly and you need the patience to take your time doing the build.My Thoughts:

Honestly.. we tried.. well.. my son tried!  I started, ran into problems, he tried hard to fix my oops, and well… he lost heart.  This is not a build for the inexperienced.  My son is an avid paper crafter and knows how to work with glue and paper really well .. but my mess up just brought him to a stall.  Unwilling he was to try another build, partially because he didn’t want to make me feel bad, but trying to fix my oops just disheartened him.   Adult builders.. take heart though.  if you are a good paper crafter and have the requisite patience, this kit will work really well for you.  It’s a great kit, and being able to build what you’ve seen on the big screen is wonderful. 

Star Wars Build-a-Scene.
Benjamin Harper
Claudio Dias
Three builds in one kit.Disney/Lucasfilms
48 page booklet, kit, 
Hands-on, papercraft, Star Wars, model

Reviewed for: Quarto Group

Where to find: Amazon.com

Review: Egyptomania

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Ah… who doesn’t love the study of ancient Egypt?  The study of the government, the tombs, their love of cats, mummies, and the ancient gods.   Egyptomania is wonderfully illustrated by Emma Giuliani (graphic designer and illustrator living in Paris) and written by Carole Saturno (French children’s author who also writes history and travel guides).   Lift the flaps and open wide pages to delve deep into the life of Ancient Egypt.

Learn what Ancient Egyptians wore, what’s inside a pyramid, how a mummy is made and so much more by lifting the flaps and discovering the secrets hiding underneath!  You need to check out the details in this well crafted book.

Text is well balanced with images. Written on a level to by understood by upper elementary and middle school students

Timelines included:

 Lift the flaps to experience and learn more about Egypt and her many layers.

Don’t you just love the details in the illustrations?   This is a well-done book that will delight any student of Ancient Egypt.  I learned so much.  It could easily be the start of any study of Egypt, and then use points of interest to explain your research into this culture and time.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, I like this book so much I am leaving it in it’s protective sleeve.  🙂  I just don’t want to risk it being damaged at all.  🙂  Silliness I know.. what’s the use of a good book if you keep it wrapped up?  I just love all the fold outs, lift that flaps, and other treasures to be found within the pages. 🙂   It has been used!  And I’ll bring it out again, but until then.. protective sleeves are good eh?

 
Egyptomania
Emma Giuliani (illustrator)
Carole Saturno
Laurence King
16 pages, ages 6+
Hardcover, lift the flap, history, 

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Where can you find it?
    Amazon Link.