A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Books for Children

Can Sophie Change the World?

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Can Sophie Change the World?) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.

Mitzvahs are really powerful! But …. can Sophie Change the world?   A mitzvah is a word from Judaism meaning a good deed done from religious duty. Would it be possible to perform enough mitzvah that you change the world?   That’s the question asked in this picture book from Nancy E. Wallace.   I love the family connection and the neighbourly feel of this sweet book. 

Can Sophie Change the world?

Learning about Can Sophie Change the World?

Sophie is a young girl and her grandpa is about to have a birthday.  What can she give him?  Grandpa says “Sophie, change the world.  Give me a mitzvah!”.   And so Sophie worried.  What could she do?  And so the story unfolds over 32 pages, children 3-5 will follow Sophie efforts to please her Grandpa.   

I am reviewing this lovely read on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

I love how easy it would be to stop as you are reading this story and ask listeners how they might change the world.  What Mitzvah could they perform? What kindness could they do that might change the world for the better in some way?  Wouldn’t that make a great discussion? 

You will love the illustrations created by Aura Lewis that bring author Nancy Elizabeth Wallace’s words to life.   She liberally uses yellows, greens and pinks throughout, with the odd darker shaded page. 

None of the pages feels crowded, with a good use of white space provided.  A steady progression in a young lady learning to use kindness to change the world. 

I love how often family connections found their ways into the mitzvahs that Sophie did.  Helping her parents, aiding her grandpa, and those people close to her. All these connections provide conversation starters with young listeners, helping them to see how they can change the world. 

Add it to your shelves?

Yes, it’s a sweet book that teaches a good lesson.

Regardless of how big or small you are, small acts of kindness matter.  They all help to change the world that we live in.  Beautifying neighbourhoods, touching hearts, lending a hand, caring for wildlife and helping a baby.  All these things make the world a better place.   In Can Sophie Change the world, Sophie learned that all the little things she does matter… and can affect more than she thinks. 

Publisher Chronicle Books put together a lovely hardcover book that will delight the eyes and hopefully inspire the hearts of the youngsters in your life. 🙂 

what can you do with a rock?

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (what can you do with a rock) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so

When my son was young he was fascinated by rocks. We had so many rock collections it was amazing.  Small rocks, shiny rocks, big rocks (for painting on) and everything in-between.  We still have a variety of rock collections. I’m sure in time I will either find a use for or I will return them to free roam in the wild from whence they came.  🙂 But if you have NO IDEA what to do with a rock “What Can you do with a rock?” will surely come in handy.   I’d love to tell you all about it!

what can you do with a rock

The Basics

Author Pat Zietlow Miller has produced a lovely story senstively illustrated by Katie Kath in what can you do with a rock?   40 pages of bright colours and a child having fun and the reader learning what you can do with the stones around your feet.   A Sourcebooks publication that is geared for young children.  I am reviewing this advanced reader’s copy picture book on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

What Did I find?

A story of connection.  I expected to find a book that talked about rocks and things you can build or do, but I found more than that! I found connection, and considering the lives of others.    There is a gradual procession from learning what to do with a rock to considering the more.

Consider this… if you can think about the story of a rock and where it comes from, can you take the time to think about the story of people in your life? 

But first the rocks!   I love the opening cover!  🙂  Don’t you just love the huge variety of rocks?  I’ve collected some of these with my lad.   What a fun look back in memory!

Of course, one must consider that many people miss out on the joy of a good rock! 

And then, for the enlightened, one must consider the many things you can do with a rock. From skipping stones, to making arts and crafts, to finding a rock to kick down a road, seeing where it will take you. 

You must then learn the story of your rock.  Be willing to share that rock’s story with others.  As you go through the pages you’ll discover some wonderful illustration work by Katie Kath which provide fun talking points with your young readers.   What stories might those fish tell as they see a rock skipping past their heads? 

What can you do with a rock

Which of course will lead you into discovering the stories of the people in your lives.  See… isn’t there so much to learn to from a rock?  So many discoveries you can make…not only of the rocks themselves, but of the people surrounding you!  So fascinating indeed!

So, should what can you do with a rock, be on your shelf?

Of course it should be!   What can you do with a rock is a delightful, full colour book that is beautifully illustrated.  Not only do you learn some facts about rocks, but you see what you can do with them.  I find the author clever in how she turns learning the story of a rock into learning the stories of the people around you. 

How can you use this lovely tome?

As an introduction of any age group into rock collecting, or into seeing something with a different perspective.  Who knows what imagination will fire once you help children to see something common, differently.  You might inspire the next rock painting artist!  Or help a child develop an interest in rock collecting and understanding the formation/geological make up on the eart better.   Northwest Treasures makes some excellent geological studies. 

Newberry Medal Award

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So the prompt is Newberry Medal Award.  Honestly I have NO idea what this is so will be doing some research. 

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.  (source)

The giving of the Newberry Award started in 1921, the goal, to pick the most distinguished children’s book by an American author.  In 1922 The American Library Association Executive Board delegated responsibility to the Children’s Librarians’ Section but is currently administered by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of ALA.  Every year they pick the best book of the year along with several “runner ups” known as Honor Books.   To learn more please visit the Newberry Medal Site. 

Newberry Medal Award

What Books Do I recognize?

2003 Medal Winner: Crispin: The Cross of Lead
2001 Honor Book: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)
1986 Medal Winner: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (Harper)
1984 Medal Winner: Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (Morrow)
1982 Honor Books: Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary (Morrow)
1978 Medal Winner: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Crowell)
1978 Honor Books: Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary (Morrow)
1973 Medal Winner: Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (Harper)

Continuing on from the 60’s with the Newberry Medal Award

1963 Medal Winner: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (Farrar)
1962 Medal Winner: The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (Houghton)
1961 Medal Winner: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell (Houghton)
1960 Honor Books: My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (Dutton)
1959 Honor Books: The Family Under The Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson (Harper)
1957 Honor Books: Old Yeller by Fred Gipson (Harper)
1953 Honor Books: Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (Harper)
1946 Honor Books: Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry (Rand McNally)
1941 Medal Winner: Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry (Macmillan)
1941 Honor Books: The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Harper)
1939 Honor Books: Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater (Little, Brown)
1938 Honor Books: On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Harper)
1936 Medal Winner: Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (Macmillan)

I’ll let you go through the rest of the list on your own.  🙂  It’s kind fun to see what books I know that might have been deemed a winner!

Of course as I was considering this list of Newberry Medal Winners, it got me wondering. What about Canada?  Do we have any book awards? 

What Canadian book awards are out there? 

I learned about the Governor General’s Literary Award.  I was pleased to learn that I own last year’s winner and I’ve been planning on having my lad read it this year.  Five Little Indians.  It tells the story of the Indian Residential Schools through the eyes of five children.   I’ve just recently started reading it.   My affiliate link follows. 

I also learned about the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award which is exclusively for books written for children up to age 12 by Canadians and published in Canada.  I looked through the previous years winners and didn’t recognize any of the names.   OH!  I shouldn’t say that… I do recognize Alligator Pie!  🙂  It’s the winner from 1975! Let me think… I would have been 10 years old and helping in the nursery at church, or with the kindergarten kids at school. 

Canada Books lists all the awards available to Canadian authors. 

So do I plan to read any of these books this month?   I plan to finish five little indians, and I’ll have to see just how much time I have for any more reading.

What about you?  What newberry medal award winners stick in your mind?   Have you read any of the Canadian award winners?  If so, which ones?

Visit the others eh?

Be sure to visit the other participating in the online book club –

Hopkins Homeschool
At Home: Where Life Happens
A Net In Time
Every Bed of Roses
Homeschool Coffee Break 

The Book of Tiny Creatures

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (The Book of Tiny Creatures) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂 

When I saw this book in my pile of book to review from Raincoast I was so delighted.  My lad would have loved The Book of Tiny Creatures as a child.  I hope that I can find just the right child to gift this to as I know it will bring delight to any child fascinated by the tiny creatures around us.   

There are SO many tiny creatures around us, worms, beetles, snails, flying, crawling, slithering, everywhere living teeny tiny critters invading our world.  Let’s welcome them shall we?  🙂   Seriously!

The book of tiny creatures

Learning about Tiny Creatures

The Book of Tiny Creatures was produced by Princeton Architectural Press.  Instructively written by Nathalie Tordjman and realistically illustrated by Julien Norwood and Emmanuelle Tchoukriel.  72 pages encased in a hardcover binding, written for youth 5-9 years old. Reviewed for Raincoast Books. 

Digging Deeper

You will find five overall sections, each with five subsections.

  • Who are the Tiny Creatures? 
  • Life in the sky 
  • Close to the Ground 
  • In the Water
  • Incredible Creatures

You’ll find oodles of pictures that are so intricately drawn it’s delightful to see.  Good descriptions of select creatures as well.  Plus information pages to round out ideas and get children thinking. 

Quiz pages in each section.   Not all the answers are given (at least not that I saw quickly), which allows you to do some research, and find more questions to ask (and answer) about these amazing critters of the world.  Finding books that encourage excellent questions are always a boon to me.  Feeding curiousity in others makes my heart smile, does it do the same to yours? 

Plus things to do!  Build a terrarium, explore at the seashore, or create shelters in your backyard.  STEM activities at their best!  Learn, create, and grow!   Don’t you just love STEM activities?  Such an excellent way to put all the knowledge you are gathering to good purpose. 

I LOVe how the information is laid out and the variety of creature life featured.  I would have spent more than one night pouring over the pages with my lad and so many questions would be raised.

Should The Book of Tiny Creatures be yours?

FOR SURE!   If you have any interest in these little creatures of the world, get this book. If you have a child like mine who is fascinated by them and comes up with good questions, get this book so they can come up with MORE good questions.  Feed interests!  Help them learn and to love doing so! 

The book of tiny creatures with it’s excellent illustrations and good information is a winner!  Add it to your bookshelves as soon as you can!  🙂  It will be a good start to a study on insects, ocean creatures, Pollinators, pesky bugs, and more. 

Shy Willow

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Shy Willow) through Raincoast Books.  Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so.  🙂 

Imagine if you would, for just a moment that the world is a big scary place.  You have a place to call home where all is good in the world.  You are safe from the scary world.   

Now imagine that if have the occasion to help someone, but you’ll have to do something very scary, but you want so badly to help.  What will you do?   Shy Willow faces such a decision.  Will she follow her heart’s desire?  

Shy Willow

Shy Willow, the details

Cat Min writes a sweet story of a shy cautious rabbit learning to do big brave things.  Cat Min not only wrote this sweet story, but she also provides the illustrations to make her words come to life. Published by Levine Querido, a 48 page hardcover geared for Preschool through grade 2.  A rabbit, dealing with hard emotions, making decisions to help others, and through that managing to survive new experiences.  

Cat Min is an illustrator, animator, and writer. She grew up in Hong Kong, a shy child who filled her time drawing and making comic books with her best friend.   New York University is where she studied animation and filmas well she completed the Illustration & Visual Storytelling Summer Residency Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York. 

I am reviewing Shy Willow for Raincoast Books. 

Sharing the Sweetness

You will adore the conversational tone and the simplicity of the story.  The font is a good size for reading with a group of children, or with a child snuggled up beside.   Those ears sticking out of the mailbox captured my interest already.  Wouldn’t this image provoke a good conversation with a child? 

Little Willow has to problem-solve throughout. How was she going to meet her objective?  What would she do if her decisions ended in failure?  Would she give up?  Isn’t it great when a book includes not only positive results of experiences, but also the negative?  

Now, was it all believable?  No. BUT does it matter?   I guess that’s the question you have to answer.  Even if some of Willow’s solutions, in real life might not work, the story is, is that she did not give up.  Willow persisted in meeting her heart’s objective. 

Should Shy Willow be on Your Bookshelf?

Of course it should be.  🙂   Shy Willow is such a sweet story about a bunny who wondered if something would be possible and despite intense fear did what was needed.  Isn’t this what we all need to do?  See a possibility, know that if we are brave enough, we might be the solution needed!  Shy Willow shows her readers the way. 

An excellent book for helping children deal with new situations, gather up determination to do hard things, and to just read for fun.  🙂 

I was just checking the price on Amazon… it’s a great price today… go pick it up!

Chickenology

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Chickenology) through Raincoast Books.

Did you know that I love chickens?  I think chickens are such neat birds and they come in so many colours, sizes, feather styles, and temperaments.  You’ll get egg layers, meat birds, and dual purpose.  Chickens that lay eggs of many colours, and chickens known for their parenting abilities.  Chickenology introduces us to those birds and so much more.  Come!  Let’s delve into the ultimate encyclopedia of chickens!

Chickenology

What do you get and who produced Chickenology?

Chickenology: The ultimate encyclopedia was produced by Princeton Architectural Press.   It has a completely different look and style than the other Chicken book I’ve reviewed called Backyard Chickens.  The aim of Chickenology is to touch on a number of different areas with chickens from all around the world, that live for a variety of purposes.  Wild and domestic chickens are featured.   Written with children 5-9 years old in mind.

Five sections

  • Discovering the World of Chickens (11 subsections)
  • What’s a Chicken made of (11 subsections)
  • The Egg Up Close (5 subsections)
  • Chickens and Humans (8 subsections)
  • A world of Chicken Breeds (5 subsections)

73 pages that are well coloured with a good sized font for reading.   This book one in the farm animals series.  A wonderful hardcover that is oversized but comfortable to hold.   Chickenology is written by Barabara Sandri and Francesco Giubbilini and cheerfully illustrated by Camilla Pintonato.   My review copy comes from Raincoast Books. 

Getting More Specific

Check out the colours and the variety in these chickens!  Small chickens, large chickens, all kinds of chickens!

As you browse through the pages you’ll see the development of a chick into an adult, see how big (or small) chickens are, explore their feathers, discover different comb shapes, poultry diseases, and the many ways to cook eggs up!  

Chickenology provides lots of room on their pages for illustrations, lines, and text.  Nothing feels crowded and lots of colour will draw your attention.  I love the details provided on most pages about different features, such as this one about a chicken feather. 

What do I think of Chickenology?

Would I call Chickenology the ultimate encyclopedia of Chickens?   Not really, I didn’t find all the information accurate.  BUT it is a fun read, an interesting read, and I learned a few things new about chickens!   AND it is a very good start! 

If you are doing a project about chickens, this lovely tome by Sandri, Giubbilini and Pintonato will come in handy.  Or if you just want to have fun and learn some interesting facts about chickens, you’ll enjoy it. 

Did you know that chickens have played an important role throughout history being featured in stories, being used as symbols, and feeding large portions of the world’s population.   I’d be curious to know more, aren’t you? 

Something’s Wrong!

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Something’s Wrong) through Raincoast Books

 I love the full name of this book: Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a hare and some underwear.  Doesn’t that just intrigue you right off the start?  I can well imagine that youngsters would be curious indeed.  A fun read, friendship reigns supreme in this cute picture book. 

Affiliate links will be used in this review. No cost to you, helps support my blog. 

Something's Wrong

The details for Something’s Wrong!

Jory John brings us a highly relatable book for 3-6-year-olds in Something’s Wrong! A Bear, A Hare, and Some Underwear.  Erin Kroon does a wonderful job of providing forest-themed colours to tell the story of Bear and Hare, and of course…that underwear!  The publisher of this 40-page book is Farrar Straus Giroux this is a Junior Library Selection.  This hardcover picture is easy to hold and share with a group of children. 

I am reviewing on behalf of Raincoast Books. 

A nice sized text fills the pages of this fun picture book.  What is a bear to do when he’s certain he’s forgetting something but just can’t remember what!??!?!  He’s such a friendly bear even is his problem is weighing on his mind.

I can just see children chortling with delight as bear goes through his day trying to figure out what is wrong.  And all his friends were too polite to tell him!  Then his best friend Hare comes to the rescue! Isn’t that what friends are supposed to do?   Not only telling the truth to his friend Bear, but also helping him out of a touchy situation.

Do you think Bear might start a new fashion trend? 

I would love to read this with a group children and then stop along the way asking questions.  So why do you think his friends didn’t say anything?  Do you think his friend Hare will be able to help?  How could Bear forget such a thing?  What would you have done? 

Should you get Something’s Wrong?

If I were a teacher I’d add it to my stash of books to read with my children every year.  I wouldn’t hesitate to add it my library or go borrow from the library.  I found nothing objectionable, unless…you are a person who believes undergarments should not be spoken of.   

The Tale of friendship and the colours used to tell the story fit the scenes so well, and I loved it.   As a bonus, it’s a fun read.  The ending of Something’s Wrong made me laugh!   You’ll find it a good book to add to a unit study on being a good friend and learning empathy.

Well done Jory and Erin.