A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Elementary

Our World Is Relative

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Some ideas are difficult to truly understand, the Theory of Relativity is one of them. Julia Sook takes this theory and breaks it down into an easily understood scientific Fact. Our World is Relative is an excellent picture book helping readers understand Einstein’s theory easily.

Our World is Relative

What I Am Reviewing

Our World Is Relative.
Julia Sooy
Molly Walsh (illustrator)
Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan
Received: ARC copy, trade paperback
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
32 pages, 4-8 years,
Picture book, Math, Science,
Theory of Relativity, Albert Einstein

Size, speed, weight, direction, distance
We think of space and time as fixed and measurable.
But these measurements – our experience of space and time – they are relative.
Our world is relative.
With simple, engaging text and vibrant art imbued with light and movement, Our World Is Relative offers a child’s-eye view of time, space, and the vast role that relativity plays in comprehending our world. It’s an introduction to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, perfect for any curious young scientist.

Our World is Relative

The Details

Molly Walsh does a wonderful job of illustrating how easily one’s perspective influences how one sees the world. She helps young children see, along side the simple language written by Julia Sook, how relativity matters.

An inch can be small, or an inch can be large. A ruler is 12 inches, but in space can be shorter. We move through time going forward, but it can appear to be going backwards. Depending ENTIRELY on our perspective.

Everything we see around us is relative. A difficult concept perhaps for young children to understand. Through excellent illustrations and careful word usage Ms. Sook brings the Theory of Relativity to life.

Our World is Relative

My Recommendation

To be honest I find this a hard one.. Often when I look at picture books I try to think of them as bedtime or cuddle time books. I don’t see this book in that light.

However, picture books are so much more than that. I remember attending a conference where one of the speakers recommended that regardless of the age level you are teaching, go to picture books first.

Authors of picture books are forced to explain concepts in simple terms. That very requirement makes picture books an excellent resource for understanding difficult material. This picture book does it well with the Theory of Relativity. Not your normal fodder for kindergarten, but definitely worth looking at for various age levels.

On that level, this book is worth looking at. For helping students break down the concept of relativity in a way easily grasped.

Our World is Relative
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I Love You, Funny Bunny

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Are you looking for an adorable picture book to share with your littles? I love you, Funny Bunny is a sweet picture book of a parent talking with their little one about how much they are loved. This book would be so lovely to share with your youngsters, or give a parent to share with their loved ones. Let me tell you why.

I love you funny bunny

What I am Reviewing

I Love You, Funny Bunny.
Barbara Herndon
Sean Julian (illustrator)
Zonderkidz
24 pages, Jacketed Hardcover
Reviewed for BooklookBloggers.
Picture book, age 3-5,
Beginner reader, Parent, child, preschool,

I Love You, Funny Bunny tugs at the heartstrings as it celebrates the special bond between a parent and child.

Illustrated by Sean Julian, I Love You, Funny Bunny is a perfect picture book to cuddle up and share with the Funny Bunny in your life at naptime, at bedtime, or at any other time of day you and your little one need some extra snuggles. Boys and girls will have fun turning the pages to discover all the ways this parent bunny loves little Funny Bunny.

“I love you, Funny Bunny, from your whiskers to your toes.
I love the way you hop around and wiggle your cute nose.”

I love you Funny Bunny

The Details

Full colour images are enclosed within a jacketed hardcover book. The pictures are large with lots of details. Sean Julian did an excellent job at illustrating the fun that a parent bunny can have with their child.

From cuddling with a book, to making art, walks and talks hand in hand and just plain enjoying each other. It is a fantastic book to share with each other. The stunning images will give you lots to talk about as you read the rhyming lyrics.

You not only get to see bunnies going about their daily activities but also see flowers, butterflies, paint, frogs and ponds and so many other things. I loved reading books with my lad and finding all the things that captured his interest. This book has lots of illustrations and objects to do that with.

I love you Funny Bunny

Recommendation

I read this book and I think birthday parties, baby showers, grandchildren (not for me personally yet), and gifts for nieces and nephews. A lot of fun for the littles (and their parents) that surround us in our lives. Share I Love You, Funny Bunny with them won’t you?

I love you Funny Bunny
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The Family Adventure Journal

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The Family Adventure Journal is a hard-cover book to take with you on your adventures not matter how big they be! Take a trip to the park, the zoo, or to visit a friend. It is a pleasure to bring this review to you. With loads of space to record your adventures and pockets in the back for storage, it’s the perfect take-along.

The Family Adventure Journal

From the Cover:

This charming and practical keepsake journal makes it easy to turn family outings into memorable adventures. Brimming with inspiring illustrations, family-friendly activities, and more than 50 fill-in prompts-plus handy pockets for storing maps, leaves, and other found treasures-this interactive journal is the ideal way for families to explore nature, connect with one another, and create lasting memories.

The Family Adventure Journal

About the Book

Record your life over 128 fill-in-the date pages, prompts not only encourage different types of adventures, but on things you can look for. Have a scavenger hunt, find a bug, or look for a tree. Maybe your adventure needs a logo or a map to a treasured spot? Trace a memory instead of hurting nature, maybe you can play the scientist and come up with a name for some of your discoveries!

I love the ideas on the pages, it’s a fun book to use. It’s geared to be used by families, I’m thinking more families with children 5-11. My 13 year thinks it would have appealed to him until he was about 11. He mentioned the pockets in the back aren’t made for the types of things he would collect. 🙂 “It’s a good idea for some thing though.”

The Family Adventure Journal

“Mom, did you know they have games in the back? That’s a good idea don’t you think?” This section is a grouping of games, crafts and activities that you can do outside or make with objects found in nature. The nature activity book has similiar ideas in it, these two books would complement each other nicely.

The Family Adventure Journal

It’s a nicely made book that should be a boon to you and your family as you head outdoors. A lovely addition to a camping trip, a vacation on the lake, or any place with a park or trail to walk. Enjoy nature, take full advantage, and make memories worth keeping.

The Family Adventure Journal: Turn Everyday Outings into Memorable Explorations.
Chronicle Books.
128 pages, hardcover, Elastic Close
Keepsake Pockets
Journal, Adventure, Family, Memory Keeper
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

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Tomorrow Most Likely

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Imagination is a huge part of childhood, Tomorrow Most Likely taps into that.  Wondering through several tomorrows with the thoughts of  how Tomorrow Most likely something will happen.  Making it a lovely bedtime story, helping children to look forward to the morning.

Tomorrow Most Likely

From the Cover

Rather than focusing on going to bed-and what kid wants to think about going to bed?- This book explores all of the dreamy, wonderful, strange things the next day might bring. Whimsical, witty, and hopeful, this revolutionary rewriting of a classic goodnight book from bestselling author Dave Eggers and award-winning illustrator Lane Smith is a bedtime story for tomorrow ever after.

Tomorrow Most Likely

What You Get:

Full Colour images cover almost every page as a little boy wonders about what might happen tomorrow.  

He might meet a squirrel or a bug, or maybe a cousin.

Tomorrow Most Likely

There maybe blue skies or grey, good meals, and places to explore.   There will be music and people and things to be said. 

Who knows where a child’s imagination will take them, for tomorrows are endless and full of surprise. 

Most alternating lines rhyme, but not always.  Reading it out loud I found myself stumbling as I kept expecting a rhyme meter that just wasn’t there.  I found the rhyme came later than my expectation. 

My Thoughts

Initially I didn’t like this book.  I really couldn’t see the point of it.  As I continue to review it and look over it, I grasped this important concept.  Sometimes, the thought of going to sleep and missing out on something keeps children awake.  The bedtime story book is there to help them see the possibilities of tomorrow. Reading and wondering, gives them something to look forward to when they wake up the next day. 

Who knows.. they might meet a squirrel named Stu or perhaps a lonely bug will wander into their path. They might hear a fun song or meet an interesting character.   Who knows what might happen but maybe just maybe…you’ll find something interesting.  The sooner you fall asleep, the sooner you’ll discover it. 

Tomorrow Most Likely

Tomorrow Most Likely
Dave Eggers
Lane Smith (illustrator)
Chronicle Books
40 pages, 4-8 years, picture book
Imagination, Bedtime Story, Future
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

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P is for Pterodactyl

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You know how sometimes you run across a book that just makes you smile?  Well today’s alphabet book is one of them.  Seriously, I really like this book and I don’t have anyone in my life that I need to teach the alphabet too!  🙂   P is for Pterdactyl *The worst alphabet book ever!

From the Cover

Let’s get real – the English language is bizarre. A might be for apple, but it’s also for aisle and aeons. Why does the word “gnat” start with a G but the word “knot” doesn’t start with an N? It doesn’t always make sense, but don’t let these rule-breaking silent letters defeat you!
This whimsical, funky book from Raj Haldar turns the traditional idea of an alphabet book on its head, poking fun at the most mischievous words in the English language and demonstrating how to pronounce them. Fun and informative for word nerds of all ages!

P is for Pterodactyl

What you get:

LOADS of illustrations light up the pages of hardcover book on the alphabet.  This is not your ordinary alphabet book, but rather introduces the reader to bunch of unexpected words where the letter may not even been pronounced!

P is for Pterodactyl

Not just one word, but many words will the pages of each letter.  Take for instance N gives us not, naughty, nice.  O gives us ouija, oui, Oaxaca, E for ewe, euphoric, eaten, even and eulogy.   It is a fun ride through the vagaries that is the English language. 

P is for Pterodactyl

At the close of the book we are introduced to how we are to pronounce these odd words, some even surprised me!   Phonemes are just so much fun aren’t they?  (perhaps not).  🙂

My Thoughts

Ms. Beddia does an excellent job of illustrating this fun read.   So many words that you just don’t expect to find in an alphabet book.  This is simply a fun book, not only read but also to enjoy for the illustrations. 

Now.. As I pointed out earlier O is for Ouija.. which you might not want for your kids.  But they do exist in the world and it’s a great way (if you are a believer) to talk about how there are things that God doesn’t like and forbids us from using in the world.  It doesn’t have to be a big deal. 

Most of the words have several words listed with them, the odd one does not.  It does introduce the reader to the different sounds the letters of the alphabet make.  This is how some people suggest we teach the alphabet, not just the long noise a letter makes but for the short and irregular sounds as well. 

P is for Pterodactyl
P is for Pterodactyl: The worst alphabet book ever.
Raj Haldar & Chris Carpenter
Maria Tina Beddia (illustrator)
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Hardcover, 40 pages, 3-7 years
Picture book, alphabet, learn to read, Vocabulary, Spelling
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
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101 Small Ways to Change the World

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Kids today want to be involved in the world around them, they want to know that they can make a difference. Often times though, they don’t know just what they can do.   It’s hard to come up with ideas when you don’t know where to start.  Enter in 101 Small Ways to Change the World.    Just the help a child, teenager or adult needs, to stoke the fires of imagination to change the world. 

From the Cover:

It’s hard to believe that you could change the world, but it’s true! We’ll show you loads of awesome ways to help out family, friends, yourself and the planet – and show how you’re never too young to make a big difference. Includes random acts of kindness, craft projects, energy-saving ideas, and much more.

101 Small Ways to Change the World is a practical, fun and creative book to inspire you at home, school and in your local community and beyond! Remember, all big ideas start with just one person who decides to do things differently. You could be that person.

What You Get

The hardcover tome starts with the encouragement to think big, but to do the small.   For if you want to plant a forest, you need to start with one tree.  One small act combined with another small act changes the world.

This is followed by three sections:

  • 1. Caring for Others
  • 2. Caring for the Planet
  • 3. Caring for Yourself

Section one on Caring for others covers topics such as spreading kindness at school, cheering up a friend, doing your chores, helping wildlife thrive, donating things to charity, being a volunteer and starting a neighbourhood library.

The next section is Caring for the Planet which included ideas such as turning off the lights, walk instead of drive, picking up litter, recreating out of old, make a game, using less plastic, buying local, planting a tree, taking a short shower, and planting a garden. 

Caring for yourself encourages the reader to stand up for yourself, be positive, eat healthy, find a hobby, be involved with your family, challenge yourself, and to share your abilities.

My Thoughts

There is so much in this book that I like.  Practical ideas for kids, teens and adults to engage with, to make small changes in the world and their communities.  A great book for that, and the learning how to care for yourself too!  Excellent stuff.

I did struggle with the “don’t eat meat” mantra.  It wasn’t balanced with the good that animals do, only the negatives were addressed.  This section could easily have addressed “try alternative proteins like crickets etc”. 

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The Secrets of Tutankhamun

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King Tut, boy king of Ancient Egypt.  Who was he?   Where was he buried?  Why did it take so long to discover his tomb?  What secrets did it hide and what did we learn from it?   These questions and more, answered in The Secrets of Tutankhamun by Patricia Cleveland-Peck. 

From the Cover

When a series of family deaths led to the nine-year-old Tutankhamun’s unlikely ascension to the throne of Egypt, the young Pharoah inherited a land in the midst of conflict and change.   His rule was short and tumultuous, and at around age nineteen, Tut died.    Three thousand years later, Howard Carter, a British archaeologist …. made a discovery that shocked the world. …. Featuring the story of Tut’s life, the archaeological advances made through the discovery of his tomb, and guides to hieroglyphics and the mummification process. …..

What you Get

The life of Tutankhamun is brought to us in this oversized paperback tome.  A meaty book filled with his life and the life of the men searching for answers, and then discovering them!   

Divided into three parts, this 64 page book talks about how Tut lived and died, the discovery by Howard Carter and how the mysteries were solved around the discoveries made at his burial site. 

Now, what I received was the advanced readers’ copy, so most of the book I received was done in grayscale images.   There were numerous images scattered throughout the entire book that really brought the well-written text to life.

A few pages were included so we could see what the final book will look like. All seven pages of colour were filled with shades of blacks, blues, yellows and whites.  

Highly informative history spills out of the pages.  There is so much to be learned as well as life lessons.  For instance, the persistence of Howard Carter in his quest to find the tomb.  Questions to be asked at the time of discovery that weren’t answered until much later.  The excitement the discovery brought.  The uniqueness of his tomb, and all the questions it raised, along with the discovery of two infant tombs.  Just a treasure trove of information.

My Thoughts:

People have long been fascinated with Tutankhamun and this book delves deep into the mystery of who he was and how he lived.  There is much speculation of course, based on archaeological finds.  Overall though, it’s a great look into the lives of two men….one young, living with health problems and dying young.  The other older, determined to solve a mystery, persisting even when it seemed he’d never do it.

I found it a well-written book that gave a great amount of information, I learned so much.  Meaty picture books are just the best, you know?

I thoroughly enjoyed all the add-ons… learning the hieroglyphic alphabet, how they read the paintings in the tomb, the mummification process and more.  It would be a great addition to studies on Ancient Egypt. 

Links to other books on Egypt to help round out your studies.

Egyptomania. 

Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt. 

 

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