A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Children

Review: Amelia’s Maze Adventure

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 Amelia’s Maze Adventure
Jane Gledhill
Lonely Planet Kids.
approximately 9 x 11
ages: 8-12 years
pages: 128

Amelia’s Maze Adventure is all about Amelia taking a trip around the world tracking down Lady Vivian Winthrop missing jewels.  Will Amelia ever find them?   She’s on a whirl wind tour!

 Don’t you just love a book where you can learn interesting facts about the world (and the places in it) while having fun solving a puzzle, in this particular case MAZES.

The mazes vary in difficulty from level one to five. Most of the mazes are clearly marked.

I love the sheer variety of mazes found in this book, from the simple block ones that most of us are used to, to the shapes of coral like this one.

Interesting facts are learned from how camels can spit to how facts about Toyko. 

The facts are never long or overwhelming, just enough to give you a taste, which of course, can lead to future exploration.    

 I love the innovative mazes : turtles, snakes, tunnels, Mount Rushmore, vines, alligators, zebras and more.

My thoughts:

This is a rather cool book to use. Well done mazes that help you develop your spatial reasoning, fine motor skills, problem solving abilities and more.  It’s great to be able to complete a well done maze, and this book is full of them.   Go on.. go get it!   It’ll keep the youth of your family amused as you travel about this summer, and they will be learning as they go.   It would also be a wonderful addition to a whirl-wind tour of the world as the mazes are discovered all over the world as Amelia hunts for the missing jewels.

Amelia’s Maze adventure
Jane Gledhill
Lonely planet kids
approximately 9 x 11. 
Ages: 8-12
Pages: 160 

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

 Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca:  Amelia’s Maze Adventure

Amazon.com: Amelia’s Maze Adventure (Lonely Planet Kids)

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: The Beginner’s Bible for Little Ones

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 The  Beginner’s Bible for Little Ones is a board book put together for our little ones.  It’s a sturdy board book. With lots of colourful pictures to delight the eye as they learn the basic facts about eight stories from the bible, selected from both the Old and New Testament.

The stories contained are:

  • The Beginning
  • Noah’s Ark
  • The Mean Giant
  • Daniel and the Lions
  • An Angel Visits Mary
  • Baby Jesus is Born
  • Jesus Feeds Thousands
  • Jesus is Alive

Each story is four pages long with a short amount of text on each page under a picture.  I appreciated that the pictures weren’t obviously Anglo-Saxon but made me think of a more middle eastern look.  Though I’m not sure the blond hair is really Middle Eastern.  🙂

I liked that the biblical reference was provided, making it easy to start with the story in the book, and then use the bible to expand on the details.   

 My Thoughts:
 It’s a nice little book for what it is… a way to introduce familiar bible stories to little children.  It does that.  It doesn’t mention sin, though it mentions people doing bad things, among which is forgetting who God is.  God’s protection of his people is made clear which is an important thing for littles to know.  God watches over us full well!

The Beginner’s Bible for Little Ones
Zondervan
32 pages
ages 2-4 years
Style: Board book
Bible stories for children

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers.

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: The Beginner’s Bible for Little Ones

Amazon.com: The Beginner’s Bible for Little Ones

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This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Following the Great Wall

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Guess what I have for you today?   Another Unfolding Journeys book, this one on the Great Wall!  You may remember me talking about Rocky Mountains Explorer in the past.  This book does not disappoint as it dips us into the Following the Great Wall in China.

Following the Great Wall is an unfolding book, where the one side of the fold out is illustrated images about the great wall, with the opposite side giving factual details. 

This is one of the facts that I particularly find helpful when talking about a subject with a group of students.  Being able to easily show them an image while I read the information from the backside of the image.

But the information is so readily linked that even if you are sitting just looking at the book you can easily flip from one side to the other to learn more.  The numbering system is just so helpful. With the illustration providing just enough information to peak one’s interest.

My Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoy the unfolding journey books and this one is no exception.   To be able to see the whole picture and take in all the details, and then to gain more information in whatever images hits my fancy.. it’s great!

Following the Great Wall
Steward Ross
Victo Ngai
Lonely Planet Kids
Series: Unfolding Journeys
Pages: 16
Age Range: 8-12 years
Type: heavy cardstock, foldout book

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Others in the series:

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: Lonely Planet Unfolding Journeys – Following the Great Wall 1st Ed.

Amazon.com: Unfolding Journeys – Following the Great Wall (Lonely Planet Kids)

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This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Grand Canyon

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Ever wondered about the Grand Canyon, thinking about the animals that lived there or even how it came into being?   Jason Chin takes us on a picturesque journey through the many layers of the Grand Canyon, introducing us to the plants, animals and rocks that we’ll find along the way.

Jason Chin has put together a beautifully illustrated book that speaks to us of the history of The Grand Canyon.   He carefully takes us through the different layers, showing us the rocks, animals and plants that live along the way.

 This meaty picture book exceeded my expectations as it talked about the rock formation, and why it happened.   He dwelt heavily upon evolutionary principles but as he did so he showed the beauty of the Grand Canyon, and the huge variety of habitats and animals found throughout.  From the heat of the inner beauty to the hidden oasis found within.   I wanted to go see the Grand Canyon for myself by the time I was done, while realizing I could never see all that he showed me without hiking it myself.

He took the time to teach about concepts such as weathering, rock layers, ripple marks from mud flats, and much more.  Making this a highly useful book for anyone wanting to learn about the Grand Canyon.

He talks to us about fossils and takes imaginary trips back in time to show us what life might have been like back then in the Grand Canyon.

There is also a huge fold out that shows the beauty of the Grand Canyon.  I could not get the whole thing in my camera frame.  🙂

The last section of the book is devoted to facts to help you understand the geology of the Grand Canyon all the more.  By looking at the rocks found in the present, we can imagine what might have been in the past.   Layer by layer learning to appreciate the Grand Canyon.

 Mr. Chin explains some of this thinking as he created this book:

My Thoughts:
I never expected that a picture book, with illustrations as opposed to images, could convey to me the depth and breadth of the Grand Canyon.   This book helped me to see the immensity of it as well as the beauty of wonder.  Jason Chin did an excellent job.   A well crafted book that will benefit the classroom as well as individual enjoyment.

 Grand Canyon
By: Jason Chin
Roaring Brook Press
Pages: 56
Ages: 7 – 12 years
Type: Hardcover with fly
Approximately 10 x 12 inches

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: Grand Canyon

Amazon.com: Grand Canyon

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This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Kids NIV Visual Study Bible

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I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get tired of the variety of kids bible out there.  Brick bibles, fairy bibles, Storybook bibles and more…. Sometimes I wonder why they can’t make a bible that is just a helpful aid to a child, truly geared toward them without compromising the integrity of the scriptures.  

Zonderkidz has come out with a Visual study bible geared toward youth age 8-12, and I think it’s rather well done.   

So what do you get?
The full bible, in the NIV translation,  which admittedly is not my favourite translation, but one can find something to not like in many translations.  🙂  It is is a translation and not a paraphrase!   🙂

Since it is a study bible it has the features you would expect in a study bible.

Each chapter starts off with a book synopsis.
Stating such things as who wrote the book, what the major themes are, why it was written and more.

Written in easily understood language without overwhelming the youth with all the details found in adult study bibles.   There is just enough information to help youth learn to appreciate how a study bible can help them learn more about the grace and grandeur of God.

The way the bible is designed is the biblical text is printed on white paper with the sidebars in a yellowish-beige colour.   In the sidebar you will find images, notes and questions to ponder. 

You might from a picture of Jezebel, or a censor, or a grape vine.

 You might also find a break out for a Character study.

Or a highlight of important lessons to consider.

Lots of visual ways to increase interest in what a person is reading. Over 700 images, with full colour maps throughout, numerous infographics and more.  I especially liked when I would find questions in the sidebar relating to a particular verse on the page. All these little features to draw young readers into the text.

 
My Thoughts:
I have to admit, I LIKE this bible.   If I didn’t make use of an online version I’d be tempted to make this my bible.  🙂   Ergo I think it will be a good bible for my lad to use.  🙂

NIV Kids Visual Study Bible
Zonderkidz
Hardcover
Glossary sections on cover.
Version: NIV

Reviewed for: BookLookBloggers

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca: NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible, Hardcover, Full Color Interior: Explore the Story of the Bible—People, Places, and History

Amazon.com: NIV Kids’ Visual Study Bible, Hardcover, Full Color Interior: Explore the Story of the Bible—People, Places, and History

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Art Book: My Name is Georgia

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YAY!!!   One of my favourite people is doing a guest post for me today.   Lori is going to tell you about a neat book and interesting person.
One of my favorite artists is Georgia O’Keefe. Partly because she
is New Mexican, partly because her artwork is just stunning, partly
because she is just an interesting person. Whatever way you look at it,
Georgia O’Keefe is worth learning a bit about. That is why, when I was
able to visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM, I picked up a
children’s biography about her to share with the girls.

My Name Is Georgia a portrait by Jeanette Winter
This
is a lovely children’s book that takes us from Georgia’s childhood
through to her old age. She moved from her Wisconsin childhood home to
Chicago, New York, Texas, and New Mexico. She was always searching for
inspiration and she found it in nature.

This
is not a difficult book to read but it is an inspiring one. Reach for
your desires – this is the inspiration from Georgia O’Keefe. And if it
encourages you to read more about her and all that she did for the art
movement and community, well, that’s all the better.
This book is published by Voyager Books and was purchased at the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM.

If you were inspired to learn more about Georgia O’Keefe perhaps this video might help.

You can find Lori blogging at At Home where life happens.  You need to visit her seriously, she writes well and has a good heart. 🙂

Where can you find this delightful book?

Amazon.ca – My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter

Amazon.com – My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Canada Book: C is for Canada

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Allow me to introduce to you a sweet board book all about Canada, perfect for your littlest ones to learn some of the fun things about Canada.  It was my pleasure to review C is for Canada: A Canuck Primer.   In case you didn’t know, Canuck is one way of saying Canadian. 

The colours are bold and bright, with simple details to draw the eye.    20 pages of colour and ideas.  Some pages like this one double up on the letters, while others.

like this one of Ogopogo devote a whole page to one letter.

 It’s a very sturdy board book, just right for the hands of your littles.  I like that it introduced a whole variety of subjects from birds, to animals, places and tourist attractions.  

 My Recommendation:
A wide array of subject matter.  A book that teaches young ones simple concepts about Canada.  Easy to read font.  Sturdy board book.

All this makes it a great book to your youngsters.

 C is for Canada: A Canuck ABC Primer

Author: Trish Madson

Illustrator:y David W Miles 
Pages: 20
Publisher: Familius LLC

Approximately 8 x 8
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

Looking to find it?  Check out these Amazon Affiliate links.  They don’t affect your bottom line and it makes me delighted to know you found a good book while helping me out.  🙂

From Amazon.ca: C is for Canada: A Canuck ABC Primer

From Amazon.com: C Is for Canada: A Canuck ABC Primer

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/