A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Reviews

Review: 365 Bible Answers

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You know how important it is to have daily devotions right?  As Christian parents we know how important it is to get our children off on the right foot when it comes to knowing God and understanding his best plan for us.  365 Bible Answers for Curious Kids is an excellent way to get your children started on having daily devotions.

my review of 365 bible answers for curious children. A way to use discernment as you teach your children about God.

Bible Answers is a book built around this premise: If I could ask God anything?  What might that answer be?  Children might ask such questions as Who is God?  When God looks at me what does he see?  Did Jesus know ahead of time he was going to die?  What are the 12 tests of Abraham?  Why does the word Selah appear in the margins of the Psalms?  What are some tips for praying with others?  All these questions are indexed in the back of the book so you can easily refer to them.

Index of 365 Bible Answers for Curious Kids

Each page follows a similar format.  Daily question in bold at the top, followed by a scripture reference.  I found most of these references to be spot on.  Followed by the devotional.  Each day closes with a very short prayer, along with a want to know more section with references other devotionals within the book. page layout for devotional from 365 bible answers for curious children

There is one devotional on each page.  This is what a two page spread would look like. As you can see, each page is done in various shades of blue/blue-green.   If you read the scripture reference in context, each devotional would take 5-10 minutes. two page spread sample of 365 bible answers for curious children

My thoughts:

If you want to get into having regular devotions with your children this book will help.  As with all devotionals there are devotions that will be better than others, and this book is no exception.  Some of the answers given where spot on. There were some questions I have a hard time imagining children asking.  I appreciated the bigger topics were spread out over of a few days (such as the Lord’s Prayer, growth of the christian church, is the devil real etc).  I do wish they had made the prayers a bit longer, but understand the space limitations of the book, it would be easy enough to use the prayer provided as a starting place to teaching children how to pray effectively.  All in all, if you are looking for a devotional to use to help your children, and your family, get into the regular practice of knowing God more, this book will be of aid to you. You may even, as a parent, find some of your own questions answered.  I know I did. 🙂

You do need to keep in mind when buying a generic devotional that it will cover different aspect of faith in God. Such as the various branches of the catholic and protestant faith. As such, some topics might not be in-line with the doctrines of your church. I saw this most clearly in some of the prayers taught, and how holidays were covered. As with ANY devotional you need to use your God-given discernment on each days reading, and if reading with young children, read the passage first to yourself, and then choose how you will cover that days reading. You could simply use the question as a jumping off point to talk about it with your family.

Be wise and use this devotional to help further your children’s understanding of God. If the daily devotional doesn’t work for you, bypass it, move on to the next, you have a handy bookmark to keep your place. Never be afraid to skip or change a message to avoid confusing your children. Help them to look to God’s word for the answers to them.

 Picture Cover of 365 Bible Answers for Curious Children 
365 Bible Answers for Curious Kids
Kathryn Slattery
Tommy Nelson
Hardcover, page marker, devotional, children

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers.

Where to find: Amazon Link.

Review: The Movie Making Book

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You know how sometimes you can run across a book and think….wow.. this is just a fun how-to book?   Well, The Movie Making Book is one such book.   In this book you will find skills and projects to help you make better movies.  Loads of helpful tips and suggestions for the budding movie director. 

Nine Sections make up this creative, colourful book that is just loaded with good ideas to help the budding movie maker learn the necessary skills to be great. Also has a getting started and equipment Guide. 

  • Getting started
  • Movie Shots
  • Movie Skills
  • Special FX Shots
  • Editing Your Movies
  • Super Sounds
  • Movie-making Projects
  • Making Programs
  • Movie-making Stories
  • Share Your Movies
  • Equipment Guide

This book is brought to us by Dan Farrell and Donna Bamford who have been leading film-making schools for young people for more than 10 years.  They have a wealth of experience in teaching young people the film industry. 

Each lesson is set out in an organized fashion, listing the equipment, along with letting us know why a lesson is important to learn, pro tips and how-to’s.  Though it’s not pictured in the image below, each lesson comes with plenty of images to help cement the learning.   The text is written to be clearly understood by youth without talking down to them.  Creativity is encouraged, along with the sense of “you can do this”.  Lots of helpful how-to’s are given along the way from adding music, to how to shoot an angle to give the impression you are not on land, how to make an introduction and more. 

The pro-tips that are included throughout the book were spot on and helpful. 

It would be so easy to use this book, and all it’s accompanying projects to do a movie-making credit with your students.  Teach them how to do a storyboard, costumes, sound effects and more.

My Thoughts:

This is a fascinating and helpful book, geared to helping younger people figure out the ins and outs of making a movie.  Filled with helpful tips, reasons why it’s important, and great images to help bring concepts to life. If you have a student eager to make movies, this well put together book will meet their needs quite nicely. 

 

  
The Movie Making Book: Skills and Projects
    To learn and share
Dan Farrell
Donna Bamford
Chicago Review Press
Page 144, middle school
Trade Paperback

Reviewed for Chicago Review Press.

Where to find it: Amazon Link.

 

Review: Seized by the Sun

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This is the second book I have read from the Women in Action series.  I have to admit, if they are all of this caliber, I want to read all of them!   Seized by the Sun is the story of Gertrude Tompkins, a female pilot from World War II. 

This biography is well-written telling us about Gertrude and her life as a young child until the moment of her disappearance.   It was never discovered as to what happened to her ergo the title of the book “Seized by the Sun”. 

The author, James W. Ure, does an excellent job of showing the struggles that Gertrude had over her life.   I read parts of this book to my lad while waiting to see the doctor.   The ladies sitting across from us were astounded by the thoughts people used to have about stuttering.  I know the remedies suggested surprised me.  Makes me feel so sorry for the children who stuttered back in the day.

The love of flying seized ahold of Gertrude and many other young women of the day.  We learn about the injustices they faced as a civilian part of the army.  Not fully recognized for the sacrifices they made, it was an uphill battle for them, but as women in action, they paved the way for women in the air force today. 

This was an inspiring read, and closes out with the family still wondering whatever happened to Gertrude. The use of photos from the day that were inserted, just brought to life the struggles these ladies had as they learned to be the best pilots they could.  Following military standards so closely some thought they were part of the military.

The determination these young ladies showed, to serve their country, to work against the odds, and to hold their heads up high despite the opposition they faced.  Humour amidst the hurt. It was an excellent addition to the series.

It would be a great book to give to any young lady with dreams bigger than her reality, give her that same determination to win through.  Would be a lovely thing indeed you know?

Seized by the Sun
     The life and disappearance of World War II pilot 
        Gertrude Tompkins
James W. Ure
Chicago Review Press
Hardcover, 195 pages
Series: Women Of Action
Biography, women, pilot, world war 2

Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press.

Where to find?   Amazon Link.

Other books on the wars that I’ve reviewed?

We will not be silent.  Prisoner of Dieppe.   Once was a time.  Torpedoed.

Review: Whoosh, Boom, Splat

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STEM is all the rage right now eh?   How can we encourage the learning of engineering, science, math and technology?   Whoosh, Boom, Splat takes the love of launchers of all different sorts, to encourage hands-on experimentation in your middle school and up youth.   11 different types of launchers, with variations for several of them.   It’s a rather neat book!

whoosh boom splat, an excellent hands-on STEM experiments book

Whoosh, Boom, Splat is a revised and expanded second edition.  In it you can learn to build jam jar jets, elastic Zip Cannons, clothespin Snap Shooters and more.   These aren’t your average experiments.  Things CAN go wrong and you might get hurt IF you don’t pay attention and follow the instructions.   Lots of pictures and text accompany the instructions so if you take your time and follow the directions well, you can make a good variety of launchers to amaze and delight each other.   This book is meant to be done with adult supervision (often as a safety measure) but also because some of the builds are harder to do.

Each of the 11 chapters has a good introductory section where they give you a real life application.. for instance with the jam jar jet we learn about the V1, a Nazi built cruise missile, that used a pulse jet.  These jets are still used in cruise missiles today.  With the mechanical toe we learn a bit about football and talk about Newton’s Second Law of Motion.   We get to learn about a famous engineer Gianibelli with the clothespin snap shooter. 

A complete tools and a separate materials list, plus step by step instructions walk you through each build.   Numerous pictures accompany each set of instructions helping to make each step easy to follow.

I have to admit how much I appreciate the attention to safety and the clear instructions.  It makes this book easy to use.  We were able to build this explosive device!  I also want to make the vortex launcher and clothespin snap shooter. 

 

The lad had a lot of fun helping me make this, and if we could have gone longer we would have but what with having a new cat in the house whose a tad bit skittish, we thought this length worked and proved the lesson works.  It also gave us a chance to talk about chain reactions and the atomic bomb. 

My thoughts: 

The strong emphasis on safety, along with the troubleshooting tips, and the historical origins of each machine made this a fascinating book.   The experiments range in experience needed, but all can be accomplished by any teenager and up as long as they take their time to read and understand the instruction.   The good images just add great instruction. This DIY projects will help teach STEM to your students. 

Whoosh, Boom, Splat
    Build Jam Jar Jets, Elastic Cannons, Clothespins
Snap Shooters, and more Legendary Launchers. 
Revised and Expanded Second Edition
William Gurstelle
Chicago Review Press, 154 pages, softcover
STEM, engineering, technology, science, math, 
Middle school, high school
Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press.

Where to buy: Amazon Link.

Review: Dawn’s Early Light

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If a book can hold your attention without making it seem like you are fighting falling asleep when lying in bed with the influenza virus coursing through your system, what would that tell you about the book?   If you said to me “I’d say must be an interesting book” I would agree with you.  🙂  Dawn’s Early Light the “first war of liberty” in the United States.    Humour and humanity fill the pages.   

This is book a reprint, it was initially published in 1943 and billed as a romantic fiction.  Today I would be more inclined to call it a piece of historical fiction with a romantic overtone.  Dawn’s Early Light is the first of seven in the Williamsburg Chronicles, following the families of the Days and the Spragues.  

I liked it!  🙂  The attention to detail in the writing, the dress, the customs, and all things historical, Ms. Thane did a great job of bringing Williamsburg of the 1770’s to life.    We meet many of the notables of this time period: Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, Patrick Henry and many more.  Their personality, dress and mannerisms becoming a great addition to the characters played out.  I would happily read the rest of the series, and if you are interested in this time period, grab it up.

I have to admit, I did need to adjust to the time period, the mood and flavour of the day.  It wasn’t too difficult as I’ve read other historical pieces from this time period.  I loved her attention to detail without going overboard for instance when she writes: “The fabrics were the color of old gold”. The gossip that bantered back and forth, it was like sitting at a family gathering that you were welcomed in on.  

This book made me feel as though I were at home watching friends talk, and welcoming new ones as I moved around town kibitzing with them.  🙂  I don’t know if a book should make you feel like that, but this one did.  AND as I write this I’m sick and headachy and wishing I had another book friend like this one, to while away the hours.  

Dawn's Early Light
(rediscovered classics)
Elswyth Thane
Forward: Leila Meacham
Chicago Review Press, 
trade paperback, 318 pages
Fiction, historical

Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press.

Where can I find it: Amazon Link.

Art Book: How to Draw Comics

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Want to learn how to draw comics, all the ins and outs and how to’s?   Ilya gives us the motion, adventure, suspense, action, pacing, character, mood and drama that is comics.   Presented in a comic book form, How to Draw Comics is bound to not only delight, but teach budding Cartoon Artists new skills in comic drawing. 

ILYA presents a very informative book written in a compelling style for comic artists.  This oversized trade paperback starts off by showing us how comics are art with attitude and humour.  🙂 

Each concept is brought to us in comic form. I loved the clear illustrations, as well as the explanation as to why some older comics were hard to read. Controlling the ink was a task for highly skilled individuals, so sometimes it got messy and hard to read the printing. 

Step by Step instructions, in comic book format, lead the reader through the skills needed to be a successful comic book artist. Learn how to develop your own style as you learn the principles and techniques of creating cartoons, graphic novels and manga. Learn the differences between these styles of cartooning.   Learn to create action, show mood and pacing, development of your characters and so much more. 

My Thoughts:

Fantastic book for those looking to develop their skills in writing comics. Doesn’t matter if you are 8 or 9, How to Draw Comics is a great guide to cultivating your skills and mastering the art of comic making. Ilya uses a wide variety of styles to convey technique and principle, often using humour to do so.  It’s a wonderful book for anyone to learn comic timing, creating cliffhangers, and movement. ​

How to Draw Comics
Ilya
Chicago Review Press
128 pages
Art, Art book, Comics, Cartoons
Trade Paperback, Full colour

Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press

Where to buy: Amazon.

Review: Torpedoed! A World War 2 Story

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Sometimes, in the course of a war, events happen that have repercussions unexpected.  Torpedoed! tells us of one such event, the sinking of the Athenia.  Cheryl Mullenbach, pulls out two children in this sad tale, to bring this story to life for middle school students.  This is a World War II story of a Sinking Passenger Ship and Two Children’s Survival at Sea. 

Until I read this book I was unfamiliar with this story, and this book spurred on my curiousity to know, sending me to youtube.  There weren’t a lot of videos about the Athenia, it is an easily forgotten bit of history, what with Germany invading Poland around the same time.

Ms. Mullenbach, doesn’t tell a story as she writes this book, it reads like a text. She didn’t make up a fictionalized story to compell you to read the story, but she grabs hold of two children to help personalize the text that she imparts.   Walking through the days with Florence (age 14) and Russell (age 11) does a great job of helping us to see how the war affected the lives of innocents.  We were able to see how the war caused unexpected disruption and hurt families. 

Images dot the pages from back in the day, bringing to the life the reality of what these individuals needed to deal with. 

I appreciate the time that Ms. Mullenbach took to organize this book in a logical manner.  Walking us through the planning, the travel and the thought processes. She closes off with a good bibliography complete with time line.  

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, this book was different than I expected, and that’s not a bad thing.  I fully expected a fictionalized account, a story, not a middle school textbook.  It was a good read that I suspect your students would enjoy reading.  This is a concisely written factual book that  shows the repercussions … in the immediate (the sinking of the ship, the loss of lives) and in the Long-term (Nuremberg trials).  Torpedoed is written at a middle school level without a lot of extra drama. It would be an excellent book to start off a study of World War II.  The graphics that fill the pages helped to round out the story and showed well what things were like during the War.  Good book.  

Torpedoed!  A World War II Story of a Sinking Passenger Ship
      and Two Children's Survival at Sea.
Cheryl Mullenbach
Chicago Review Press
Hardcover, 176 pages
World War 2, U-boats, Sinking Ship, Adventure, non-fiction

Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press.

Where to find it?  Amazon link.

Other books on the wars that I’ve reviewed?  We will not be silent.  Prisoner of Dieppe.   Once was a time.