A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Elementary

Carlos Santana

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I did not know who Carlos Santana was before I opened the pages of this joyfully illustrated picture book. Gary Golio brings us the sound of the heart, and the song of the world as it is found in Carlos Santana. 

Carlos Santana

Let me have you give a listen to his music as you read my review.  🙂

What I am Reviewing

Carlos Santana: Sound of the Heart, Song of the World.
Gary Golio
Rudy Guiterrez (illustrator)
Christy Ottiviano Books
Music, blues, Mexico, Electric Guitar, Biography, Picture Book
40 pages, ages 5-9
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Carlos Santana grew up surrounded by music. His father, a beloved mariachi performer, teaches his son how to play the violin when he is only six years old. But when Carlos discovers American blues, he is captivated by the raw honesty of the music. Unable to think of anything else, he loses all interest in the violin. When Carlos finally receives his first guitar, his whole life begins to change.

From his early exposure to mariachi to his successful fusing of rock, blues, jazz, and Latin influences, here is the childhood story of a legendary musician.

The details

The first thing that hits me in this picture book are the brilliant colours.  Just check them out eh?

Carlos Santana

All the Blues, reds, yellows that flood the pages, curving, flowing lines…. it all screamed music and rhythm to me.  So well suited to a biography about Carlos Santana whose life was filled with music. 

Carlos Santana

The story itself is well written, walking us through Carlos’ life from early childhood through to young adulthood.  Excitement over music, it’s sound and how it meant to shared with others.  This love was with him from early on, nurtured by his father who taught him the violin.   It’s hard with this book to not tell you the whole story!   

Carlos Santana

Should you get it?

I can see this book being an important addition to the study of music and/or character.  Watching a boy,  watching his dad.  Seeing his dad work hard, and listening as his dad teaches EVEN IF he’s learning something he’d rather not. Observing his determination and love of the new was intriguing.  I wanted to see how his dad would react, perhaps you might too!   Learning new rhythms, discovering a combined world.  It is well worth the read.   Add Carlos Santana to your music studies!

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The Truth about Hawks

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The Truth about HawksYou may remember I wrote about The Truth of Crocodiles last week?  Today I have The Truth about Hawks to share with you.  Maxwell Eaton has again created a fascinating, humour-filled book. 

the truth about hawks

What I am Reviewing

The Truth About Hawks.
Maxwell Eaton III (author and illustrator)
Roaring Brook Press.
40 pages, ages 4-8, grades 1-2.
Picture book, hawks, birds, humour, children,
Series: The Truth about Your Favourite Animals.
Book Six.
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Maxwell Eaton III’s The Truth About Hawks is part of his illustrated nonfiction series continuing to enlighten and delight readers. Filled with useful facts about hawks that will make you laugh so hard you won’t even realize you’re learning something!
Did you know that hawks can see four to eight times better than a human?
How about that some hawks even eat other types of birds?
Did you know that hawks use ultra-violet light to find their prey?
Discover these facts and more in this new addition to the popular series that combines raucous amounts of humor with a surprising amount of information on beloved animal friends.

the truth about hawks

The Details

Bright colourful images fill the pages of this picture book.   The natural colours of these magnificent birds are brought into sharp relief. 

the truth about hawks

Scattered throughout the pages is humour.  When we are told that golden eagles knock Dall sheep off mountain tops, and then we see Dall sheep taking parachutes off the cliff with looks and expressions of glee.   It’s funny!  (at least I know it would be for kids right?)  🙂

the truth about hawks

We are introduced to a variety of raptors some of which are golden eagle, vultures, snail kites, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.  We learn about mating habits, child rearing, food requirements, migration and threats to their existence.   Mr. Eaton lightly touches on all these areas and more. 

My Thoughts

As much as I like this book I am bothered by eagles, owls etc being called hawks.  They are birds of prey, and given the birds discussed in the book a better title would be “The Truth about Raptors”.   Even with littles, being more accurate is better than being less accurate. 

That said… would I want people to read this book?  YES!  Learning about these magnificent birds is important.  Helping to conserve them means learning about who they are, where they live, what threats they face and everything we can.   Maxwell Eaton does a marvellous job of doing that with a sense of style and well-played humour. 

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The Truth About Crocodiles

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The Truth about Crocodiles is a whirl-wind tour of all things crocodilian. Learn about their cousins, their lifestyle and how to stay safe.  With humour and excellent illustrations, Maxwell Eaton helps children learn about this amazing class of animals. 

The truth about Crocodiles

What I am Reviewing

The Truth About Crocodiles: Seriously Funny Facts about your Favorite Animals.
Maxwell Eaton III (author and illustrator)
Roaring Brook Press
4-8 years
Softcover picture book
Non-fiction, animals, nature study, crocodiles,

From writer/illustrator Maxwell Eaton III, The Truth About Crocodiles is the fifth installment in his hilarous series offering another lighthearted look filled with useful facts about crocodiles that will make you laugh so hard, you won’t even realize you’re learning something!
Did you know that crocs often keep rocks in their stomachs in order to stay underwater longer?
Did you know that baby crocs make sounds similar to kittens when they hatch?
Did you know that crocs have a lot of teeth, but don’t actually chew their food?
Discover these facts and more in this addition to the popular series that combines raucous amounts of humor with a surprising amount of information on beloved animal friends.

The truth about Crocodiles

The Details

As you can see, the fun starts from the time you open the book.   Bold illustrations bring excellent into play as you learn about a large, armoured predator, zipping through life with large teeth.

The truth about Crocodiles

We learn about the types of crocodilians, the food they eat, nesting habits, where they live and what threatens them.  We also learn how to stay safe when around them. 

The truth about Crocodiles

I love the brilliance in the illustrations, the humour… even though this book is geared to younger kids, made me laugh.   Like really… a coon with kitchen utensils coming to feast on crocodile eggs being threatened by mama.. turns away muttering “who put these in my hands?”   I snorted.

Should you Get it?

The truth about Crocodiles is a fun little book.  Full of quips and interesting facts about crocodilians.  If you are doing a study on crocodiles and want to meet their cousins this book will surely help.  The bright images and the humour contained within, while providing good facts… makes this book a winner.

Crocodilians live in a wide variety of locations, you might find this unit study to be a perfect go-along.

If you want to know more about Crocodiles and their cousins.  SchoolhouseTeachers.com has a course called the world of animals and one of their units focuses on this remarkable part of the animal kingdom. 

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Tiny T. Rex

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Oh.. I LOVED this picture book called Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug.   Jonathan Stsutzman did an excellent job of bringing the struggles of one little T-Rex to life. 

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible hug

What I am Reviewing

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug.
Jonathan Stutzman
Jay Fleck (illustrator)
Chronicle Kids
Picture book, Hugs, Dinosaurs, Emotions, Friendship
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
48 pages, ages 3-5.

Tiny T. Rex has a HUGE problem. His friend Pointy needs cheering up and only a hug will do. But with his short stature and teeny T. Rex arms, is a hug impossible? Not if Tiny has anything to say about it! Join this plucky little dinosaur in his very first adventure-a warm and funny tale that proves the best hugs come from the biggest hearts.

The Finer Details

Tiny T. Rex starts his story off with a problem.  His best friend is ever so sad and Tiny T. Rex wants to help.  This leads him to another problem. 

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug
sample from Tiny T. Rex

Like everyone with a problem Tiny T. Rex seeks advice from those with more experience.  Some advise he gets is simply no good, but then he receives the best advice. And he follows it with his whole heart.

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug

And before you know, one tiny T. Rex has managed to solve two problems.

My Thoughts

Other than some time line issues… I thought this book was well made and cleverly done.  Interjected humour (in just the right places) and simple drawings brought this story to life.  An excellent story for any age reminding us of the importance of being (and acting like) a friend despite challenges that might come our way.   How to ask for help and the need to be determined to follow through.  A wonderful book I highly recommend. 

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The Crayon Man

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Edwin Binney, a new to me inventor, created something I have used often, even as an adult. Edwin Binney was known as The Crayon Man. This is the story of how the crayon came into being. Come along for this colourful ride!

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons

What I am Reviewing

The Crayon Man: the True story of the invention of Crayola Crayons.
Natascha Biebow
Steven Salerno (illustrator)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
48 pages, ages 6-9, jacketed Hardcover
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Picture book, Elementary, Biography
Crayola, Crayons, colouring, Art, Inventors

What child doesn’t love to hold a crayon in their hands? But children didn’t always have such magical boxes of crayons. Before Edwin Binney set out to change things, children couldn’t really even draw in color.

Here’s the true story of an inventor who so loved nature’s vibrant colors that he found a way to bring the outside world to children – in a bright green box for only a nickel! With experimentation, and a special knack for listening, Edwin Binney and his dynamic team at Crayola created one of the world’s most enduring, best-loved childhood toys – empowering children to dream in COLOR!

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons

The Details

The Crayon Man is well illustrated by Steven Salerno, where he shows the brightness of the crayons that Edwin Binney created. I have to admit, that I’ve never thought a whole lot about the founder of the crayon. Therefore I found it very interesting to think about the colours made. I noted the difficulty he had making them safe for children. Not an easy job for him.

From the eyes of a man who worked a rather dreary job came colour! This man loved colour and wanted children to be able to easily use it came the crayon that we love today. It wasn’t the first thing he invented (you’ll have to read the book to discover what else) but it is the one we remember the most.

I just loved the colours that dotted the pages, my pictures of the book don’t show the brightness of the hues.

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons

My Recommendation

If you are at all curious about how crayons came to be, The Crayon Man is just the book you need. Answer the questions of your children, stimulate them to think about the origins of something they use everyday, and encourage them to think of something THEY could create. I

The Crayon Man is a lovely meaty picture book that speaks to the determination of a man to make a useful product for children. We see the help he needed from others along the way, and how the encouragement of his wife was a boon to him.

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons
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Go For the Moon

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Imagine, you live in 1969, you have a rocket kit and astronauts are headed to the moon. What would you do? In Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing Chris Gall shows us a boy travelling to the moon, just as the astronauts. Play turned real life in imagination.

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing

What I am Reviewing

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing.
Chris Gall
Roaring Brook Press
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Received: ARC copy, trade paperback
48 pages, 5-10 years, picture book
Outer space, rockets, Aeronautics, exploration

The Apollo 11 astronauts have prepared carefully for their attempt to be the first men to land on the moon. The young narrator of this book has prepared carefully, too: he explains the design of the spacecraft, the flight from the earth to the moon, and the drama of touching down – while shadowing the astronaut’s voyage with one of his own.

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing

The Details

Absolutely wonderful full colour images fill the 48 pages of this picture book. Geared to the younger elementary student, the reader is walked through all the stages of this monumental trip to the moon.

Narrated by a young boy, we are walked through his excitement and wonder of travelling to the moon. The young man explains the details of this journey as he works through his toy spaceship kit.

We learn how the spaceship is made and how it works, this is a nicely meaty picture book that is carefully illustrated to show the details well.

Many of the pages show a cut out so we knew what the narrator needs to do with his own toy spaceship.

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing

My Recommendation

Should you get Go for the moon? YES! Run out, buy it, use it for your studies of the first moon landing. Buy it so you can see how toy kits can simulate real life and make the learning run deeper. Buy it so you can learn how the Apollo 11 was able to complete its’ mission. By it so that you can do the experiments the narrator did yourself.

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, a Boy, and the First Moon Landing
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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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