Book Description
When Scotland Yard superintendent Duncan Kincaid takes Gemma, Kit, and Toby for a holiday visit to his family in Cheshire, Gemma is soon entranced with Nantwich's pretty buildings and the historic winding canal, and young Kit is instantly smitten with his cousin Lally.
But their visit is marred by family tensions exacerbated by the unraveling of Duncan's sister Juliet's marriage. And tensions are brought to the breaking point on Christmas Eve with Juliet's discovery of a mummified infant's body interred in the wall of an old dairy barn—a tragedy hauntingly echoed by the recent drowning of Peter Llewellyn, a schoolmate of Lally's.
Meanwhile, on her narrowboat, former social worker Annie Lebow is living a life of self-imposed isolation and preparing for a lonely Christmas, made more troubling by her meeting earlier in the day with the Wains, a traditional boating family whose case precipitated Annie's leaving her job.
As the police make their inquiries into the infant's death, Kincaid discovers that life in the lovely market town of his childhood is far from idyllic and that the dreaming reaches of the Shropshire Union Canal hold dark and deadly secrets . . . secrets that may threaten everything and everyone he holds most dear.
Customer Reviews:
Thank goodness for Deborah Crombie!!.......2007-08-13
I just discovered her wonderful series a couple of months ago. I read one of them and went back to the library to get everything else of hers they had or could get on inter-library loan. I think I've now read eight and loved every one of them. (I thought that was all of them, but I read here --O joy--that there are eleven in the series. Now to try to remember the titles of the ones I've read and find the other three.)
I say, "Thank goodness for Deborah Crombie" because I'd almost decided the classic English mystery--literate,well-plotted,wonderfully atmospheric,not too graphically gory or depressingly misanthropic or gratuitously salted with the author's politics--is a vanishing genre. (Caroline Graham being a notable exception, but her books are agonizingly far between.)
I can't imagine anyone will be disappointed with any book in this series. Crombie is consistently interesting and inventive. I chose this one to review only because it was the first one on the list.
Her characters are believable and likable and their personal lives never dominate or distract from the story. She is obviously a loving student of British history, architecture and geography, and maybe the most memorable feature of her novels is the care she takes--sometimes with exquisitely drawn inside-cover maps--to acquaint readers with the various locales the stories are set in.
She was a real find for me. I hope she has many more books in her.
A Wonder in the Winterland of Rural England.......2007-08-13
Crombie has taken her two erstwhile London coppers (Kincaid and James) and sent them out to the Cheshire (near the Welsh Border) where Duncan grew up. They have gone out to Duncan's parents farm for a real 'English Country' Christmas. It will also give Gemma and Kit (Duncan's newfound son) a chance to meet the 'family'. We are introduced to Duncan's parents (Hugh and Rosemary) his sister, husband and children (Juliet, Caspar, Lally and Sam) and assorted old friends (such as Chief Inspector Ronnie Babcock).
Of course there has to be a murder(s) or there wouldn't be any reason for the book. But blending into the standard Police Procedural is a fine discussion of the 'narrowboats' and the people who have made a living on them for more than the last hundred years. In the nineteenth century they plied the canal system, delivering goods like long haul truckers; except that they lived on the boats. They were only seven feet wide so that they could pass each other on the canals. Few of the boats are used this way anymore and a way of life is dying off. Crombie writes a great peaen to these people.
Though out of their jurisdiction, Kincaid and James are able to get involved peripherally with the conivence of DCI Babcock. More than seeing the investigation unfold, we see a newfound respect for each others professionalism between Kincaid and James. The strengthening of their bond as they both still deal with the loss of Gemma's baby (in the last book) is both thoughtful and realistic. Crombie also does a marvellous job of pursuing that age old antagonism that builds between and mother and daughter, as the child comes into womanhood. A fine novel.
Murder on the canal.......2007-07-07
Superintendent Duncan Kincaid takes his partnet, Gemma and their respective two children, Kit and Toby, on a Xmas visit to his parent's home in Cheshire where Gemma is entranced by the pretty buildings and the proximity to the canal and to the canal boats. Duncan's sister, Juliet, who lives nearby, is beginning renovations to an old, local barn when she breaks through some mortar to find the mummified body of an infant, lovingly wrapped and sealed in the wall. The local police, headed by an old friend of Duncan's, are called in and the usual proceedings begin, even though it's obviously an old crime and it happens to be a freezingly cold Xmas Eve. Duncan's newly restored son, Kit, is fascinated by his cousin Lally, the strange and tormented daughter of Juliet, suspected of drinking and drug taking and, altogether, a surly, uncooperative teenager with a huge chip on her shoulder. When the body of former social worker, Annie Lebow, who lives on one of the canal boats is found on the tow path with her head bashed in, suspicion falls on another canal boat owner with whom she had been publicly arguing on the previous day. It's a very good murder mystery with very interesting characters, set in a completely different location..that of the canal boats and their inhabitants.
Twisting Paths Forge New Relationships.......2007-06-11
Home for the holidays is never a relaxing vacation when combing members of a collective family. Gemma James dreads visiting Duncan Kincaid's traditional parents. She has no trite answers as to why they have decided not to assume a formal union. All of her personal worries become insignaficant when Duncan's sister Julie discovers the mummified body of an infant child and a retired social worker is murder.
The boat people of the canals of Cheshire, bring their stoicism and suffering to the heart of a story where families unite and disintegrate. The complex relationship of Duncan with his son and his pride in Kit's growing maturity is contrasted by the rebellion of his niece and the agony of his sister. Deborah Crombie uses the landscape to tell an nontraditional Christmas holiday in "Water Like a Stone." Yet, in the end there is a moment of peace, or a slice of life that isn't sugar-coated. A must read for anyone who loves a complex mystery written with razor-sharp style.
Together Gemma and Duncan find their way to a surprising solution to a complex case where they are bystanders in the investigation.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."
Enjoyable Mystery.......2007-05-27
I always enjoy Crombie because, though she's writing about murder, she doesn't depend on graphic violence. I found this to be a satisfactory blend of mood and descriptive settings. The pub scenes put me right there, as did the scenes along the canals. A good read that was over too soon.
Book Description
Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.
You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?
Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms like "photosynthesis," and know fun facts like how many latex balloons per day can be made from a rubber tree. Each section has a great science fair project, complete with all the details you need to wow your teachers and friends.
You won't want to wait for a rainy day or your school's science fair to test these cool experiments for yourself!
Customer Reviews:
GREAT!!!!!.......2007-08-16
2 things - 1) you have to do the dissolving egg experiment... it's fabulous!! 2) pay attention to the age range - my nephew (the intended recipient) loves science (okay, exploding things...) just turned seven and he is definitely too young for the detailed explanations. He didn't like the delayed gratification but he did get a kick out of the results the following week... for the younger kids you might want to do the experiments yourself and then once you have results let them get excited about it... the bouncing egg... after accepting that it didn't happen just then!! ... was a huge hit the next week. This really is just an AWESOME book...
Great intro to Science for kids.......2007-05-14
My 7 year old daughter and I have been going through some of the experiments in the book. The experiments are easy to follow and the explanations are basic enough for a 7 year old to understand.
Fantastic!.......2007-05-08
The experiments are simple enough to implement yet the results are very REACTIVE! Which is GOOD!
Also the kits are not difficult to find. Just stuff you'll have in your kitchen,really.
good choice to start some new things with a youngster.......2007-01-12
I am happy with the choice and so was the family who received it as a gift for their young daughter who is ready to start something new to do with her father in the cold winter months of Maine.
Fun, fun, fun!!!.......2006-08-28
I have a just turned 5 year old that LOVES science and experiments. Although this book I believe was recommended for older children, there are plenty of experiments that I can do with him at his age and get immediate results. Since there are experiments that are targeted for older children, this is one of the rare books that we'll be able to use for several years down the road. I love it so much it's going to be one of my staples in gift giving - it's easy & fun enough for those even not interested in 'science'.
Average customer rating:
- The Water Hole
- great book on so many levels
- Not appropriate for school-age kids
- favorite children gift
- Environmentally Correct
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The Water Hole
Graeme Base
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
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Binding: Hardcover
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Animalia
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The Eleventh Hour : A Curious Mystery
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ASIN: 0810945681 |
Amazon.com
Who can resist the allure of the hidden wilderness water hole? Certainly not one rhino. Not two tigers. Nor three toucans. Pretty soon the delicious pool is drawing moose, catfish, pandas, tortoises... and more than 100 other critters from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. But is it our imagination or is that rhino-sized water hole dwindling to a mere shadow of its former self, a puddle not fit for eight ladybugs, let alone 10 kangaroos? As the seasons change across the world, and the animals get thirstier, the water supply diminishes. Eventually, even the flowery-shirted frog that has stoically lingered through the drought packs his suitcase and takes off. The only hope now is a drop of rain on the parched earth...
With his usual elaborate detail, Graeme Base, mad genius behind Animalia, The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery, and other wild and wonderful titles, presents a one-of-a-kind counting book. Naturally, Base would never be content to stick with a simple 1 through 10 format. Readers of all ages will linger over each spread, first counting the highlighted animals and giggling at the translation of their grunts and growls (the moose's "Moo, moo, mooooooiii!" means "Hey, get your hoof out of my ear!"). Then it's time to check out the diminishing size of the die-cut hole in the pond. And finally, readers will want to find each of the 10 additional animals cleverly hidden in every illustration, based on the silhouetted creatures in the border. A safari on paper--with an environmental and mathematical education thrown in for good measure. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
The long-awaited companion to the best-selling Animalia!
Graeme Base is back-with an exciting and fun new counting book! Children will love counting from one to 10 as animals of the world gather around a water hole. As one rhino gives way to two tigers, then three toucans, on up to 10 kangaroos, die-cut pages reveal the water hole in 10 different worldwide habitats, from African plains to Himalayan mountains to the Australian outback. But the water hole keeps shrinking, and with it the number of frolicking frogs. Can anything bring back the water that the animals all need to survive? Careful readers will find additional animals, many of them endangered, silhouetted in the borders of every spread and hiding within every landscape.
A stunning fusion of counting book, puzzle book, storybook, and art book, The Water Hole features the layers of interest that make Graeme Base's books among the world's best-loved picture books.
Customer Reviews:
The Water Hole.......2007-10-04
Another beautiful and entertaining book by Graeme Base! I enjoyed every page and bought more to share with my favorite young readers.
great book on so many levels.......2007-07-02
enjoyed by children learning to count and by kids that love to find the hidden animals. What I like is how my 3 and 7 year olds both love it and I can make story time long or short depending on if I just read it or if we search out all the animals. also has a great message.
Not appropriate for school-age kids.......2007-05-10
Don't get me wrong, this is a really great book. This book was just not what I expected. Illustrations were great and words in this book were minimal - very appropriate for preschool kids. I had intended this for my school-age kids and it was too simplistic for them. Also, this book make it sound like the earth will restore itself on its own (raining solving drought problem) when in fact, the earth needs our help to restore it by not wrecking havoc Mother Nature.
favorite children gift.......2007-02-07
I give this book to children all the time and the joy is given ten fold back
Environmentally Correct.......2007-01-15
The person who received this book used it to promote water savings tips to her elementary school students who greatly enjoyed finding the hidden surprises in the beautiful illustrations.
Average customer rating:
- Hilarious, moving & instructive
- Talking Whale?
- Definitely worth the time to read
- WHALE TALK IS A VERY , VERY GREAT BOOK
- A whale of a good book!
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Whale Talk
Chris Crutcher
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0440229383
Release Date: 2002-12-10 |
Amazon.com
T. J. Jones is black, Japanese, and white; his given name is The Tao (honest!), and he's the son of a woman who abandoned him when she got heavily into crack and crank. As a child he was full of rage, but now as a senior in high school he's pretty much overcome all that. With the help of a good therapist and his decent, loving, ex-hippie adoptive parents, he's not only fairly even-keeled, he has turned out to be smart and funny.
Injustice, however, still fills him with fury. So when big-deal football star Mike Barbour bullies brain-damaged Chris Coughlin for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket, T.J. hatches a scheme for revenge. He assembles a swim team (in a school with no pool) made up of the most outrageous outsiders and misfits he can find and extracts a conditional promise of those sacred letter jackets from the coach. After weeks of dedicated practice at the All Night Fitness pool, the seven mermen get good enough not to embarrass themselves in competition. The really important thing, though, turns out to be the long bus rides to meets, a safe place to share the hurts that have made them who they are. Meanwhile, T.J.'s father, who has taken in a battered little girl to ease his lifelong guilt over his role in the accidental death of a baby, tangles with another bully--her stepfather--and his growing murderous rage.
Chris Crutcher, therapist and author of seven prize-winning young adult books, here gives his many fans another wise and compassionate story full of the intensity of athletic competition and hair-raising incidents of child abuse. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell
Book Description
There’s bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don’t have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway. A group of misfits brought together by T. J. Jones (the J is redundant), the Cutter All Night Mermen struggle to find their places in a school that has no place for them. T.J. is convinced that a varsity letter jacket–exclusive, revered, the symbol (as far as T.J. is concerned) of all that is screwed up at Cutter High–will also be an effective tool. He’s right. He’s also wrong. Still, it’s always the quest that counts. And the bus on which the Mermen travel to swim meets soon becomes the space where they gradually allow themselves to talk, to fit, to grow. Together they’ll fight for dignity in a world where tragedy and comedy dance side by side, where a moment’s inattention can bring lifelong heartache, and where true acceptance is the only prescription for what ails us.
Customer Reviews:
Hilarious, moving & instructive.......2007-07-13
This book might win a Newberry Award if it were for younger kids and didn't use naughty language. That's the sort of thing I'd compare it to.
I've never written a review before, but this book, which I listened to in my car with my 12-year-old daughter, was wonderful. We both laughed out loud a number of times; it's extremely witty (and the audio narrator does an excellent job). It's heart-breaking at times (child abuse, loss). And it's very instructive for young people trying to make sense of the world, especially complex issues involving race, psychology, child abuse, and such.
It's arguably a bit much for a 12-year-old -- lots of questionable language (authentic, but "naughty"), and a few references to people having sex (nothing graphic, though). I'd prefer it for years 15 and up, but my daughter seemed to get a lot out of it, and the parts that worried me ... well, I hope they sort of went over her head. But I was delighted to have her hear about life from the perspective of a multi-racial kid, especially one who accepts himself but still has to put up with grief from morons in his high school.
Talking Whale?.......2007-06-13
Whale Talk
Do you have a big heart full of the kind of love that you would give a friend or even a complete stranger? That's how the Tao (pronounced The Dow) is in the book Whale Talk by Christopher Crutcher. The book takes place in Spokane, Washington. T.J Jones (The Tao) and his teacher, Mr. Simet, get together a swim team for Cutter High School. Mr. Simet has one reason for the swim team, and T.J. has another for the team, but it's the complete opposite of Mr. Simet. T.J. wants to help Chris Coughlin out of his bulling problem (Chris is handicapped). T.J. ends up going to the State championship and winning two events. But after the Championship, a tragedy strikes, one that will haunt T.J. until the day he dies.
My favorite part of the book is when Chris Coughlin gives T.J. some love back. Through out this book, T.J. shows Chris the love a friend would give a friend. This makes it special because T.J. loved Chris as a friend, that Chris gave him love, in the form of something, in return, even when it wasn't expected.
The theme of the book is love. This book shows that if the world doesn't have love, it has hate and if you don't have love, you have hate. With out love in the world, there would be no peace. It also shows us that even if you are a different color you still have the right to be loved.
This book was one of the best books I've read. I would recommend it to anyone who has a big heart with enough love for everyone in the world. I liked this book so much, because it caused me to stop and think, to check and see if I had enough lover in my heart for everyone in the world, just as the characters had.
Definitely worth the time to read.......2007-03-08
Whale talk was an incredible book. Not only was it written in a way that kept your attention every second of it, but it covered several important themes. Almost anybody in highschool or even older would enjoy this book because of its relevance to school life. The subject of racism in this book makes the reade think. The main character is one of the only non-white residents of their town, and even their area of the state. His struggles with racism are mainly in an attempt to make life better for another little girl in his town, not to stand up for himself. The main character is all about fairness, and he will do whatever it takes to stand up to people making life worse for someone else. He is responsible for starting a swim team at his school that makes it easy to get a varsity letter. The biggest reason why he did that was so that the brother of a now-deceased school hero can get his coveted varsity letter. Because their school is such a jock school, the team of misfits is not very widely accepted. The team is made of social outcasts and unlikely athletes, but they all end up very close to eachother. This book was inspiring athletically and thought-provoking socially. I'd reccomend it to anyone.
WHALE TALK IS A VERY , VERY GREAT BOOK.......2007-02-10
WHALE TALK WAS VERY, VERY GOOD. I LIKED IT A LOT. IT HAD A LOT OF SWEAR WORDS IN IT, WHICH MADE ME WHAT TO READ IT MORE. THE PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK SWEAR A LOT LIKE I DO. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT SWIMMING AND SPORTS IF YOU LIKE SPORTS AND LIFE AND LITERATURE, THAN YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A TEAHER I HAD EVER ASSIGNED ME A BOOK WITH THIS AMOUNT OF SWEAR WOODS WHICH WAS ODD. THIS BOOK WAS A LITLLE HARD FOR ME TO READ BY MYSELF. THIS BOOK WAS A 220 PAGE BOOK, I LIKE LONG BOOKS WITH THAT MANY PAGES. YOU SHOULD ALSO TRY TO READ THESE OTHER CHRIS CRUTCHER BOOKS LIKE IRONMAN, STOTAN,AND CHINESE HANDCUFFS. CHRIS CRUTCHER SOUNDS LIKE A VERY GOOD AUTHOR.
ERIC, 16 YEARS OLD MISS WATER IS MY TEAHER
A whale of a good book!.......2007-01-18
This is perhaps the best book Crutcher has penned. It is a good technical novel with plenty of literary merit, but more importantly it will put your brain on spin cycle if you ever thought you had your mind made up about just about any social issue. It will literally turn your soul and make you think about the power of what comes out of your mouth as you brush up against the human condition each day. You might think they are mere words, but Crutcher shows us that what flows out of our mouth has the power to curse, or to bless--no matter what you believe about God. If you have any reluctant readers in your world hand them a copy of this book. I have used it in the classroom for my more rebellious students, and I have yet to have a kid hand it back to me without finishing it and then asking for another Crutcher book.
Book Description
From spring's first thaw to autumn's chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Though seemingly quiet, ponds are teeming with life and full of surprises. Their denizensfrom peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetleslead secret and fascinating lives. A unique blend of whimsy, science, poetry, and hand-colored woodcuts, this collection invites us to take a closer look at our hidden ponds and wetlands. Here is a celebration of their beauty and their mystery.
Customer Reviews:
This is a beautiful book in word and illustration.......2007-10-06
I waited for this to arrive and now it has. It is one of the most totally beautiful books I've bought. The illustrations are wood cut and water color. I love them. The poems just pull you into the pictures. The subject matter is new to me and now I realize what I have been missing.
Can't wait to read this a million times to my grandchildren.
My baby loves to hear these poems.......2006-12-04
Since I had a baby this past summer, I have been looking for great books to read to her that are educational and just plain fun to read. She is now 5 months and I read her "The Song of the Water Boatman," and her eyes light up and she laughs and smiles. This is not only a whimsical little collection of poems about pond life, it is beautifully illustrated and informational on a pond's wild inhabitants.
Superlative book should stave off "nature-deficit disorder". . ........2006-03-20
This book is an absolute delight, and the 'pairing' of poet and artist is inspired. Beckie Prange's woodcuts are reminiscent of the genius of work by Gustave Baumann (1881-1971: Chicago, Brown County INDIANA, & New Mexico).
"Song of the Water Boatman" is given its wider readership just as psychologists are announcing concerns about "nature-deprived" children." Blessed be all educators who use this book to plan units & field trips that open eyes and hearts to the natural world so greatly in need of future protectors.
Joyce Sidman packs as much information per square inch as there are microorganisms in the drop of water showing off the "water bear," or "tardigrada." There are favorite segments on every page. In southern Indiana we already are being 'lullabied' by Spring Peepers, grateful for our woods and pond setting. Children are responding with glee to the repetitious "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" - - a musical chant in a four-page spread with 'lessons' about survival and the food chain. Not as beautiful as the dragon fly, the remarkable metamorphosis of the caddis fly, described as a "fashion story" of transformation, will nonetheless fascinate all. Other revelations include the water boatman, and its not-quite-mirror-image, the back swimmer which always swims on its back; both carrying their own bubbles of air with them.
This reviewer will never venture out-of-doors again without more finely tuning my senses to these wonders. We will definitely be exploring our creek with increased enthusiasm. Reviewer mcHAIKU urges that we not allow "nature-deficit" to creep into our souls, and allow our minds to limit periods of hibernation! LET'S THRIVE ON LIVING & LEARNING !
Listen for me on a spring night...and I'll sing you to sleep.......2006-03-07
Take it from one who grew up -- and still lives -- across the street from a pond, Joyce Sidman knows pond life! With the beautiful, strong first poem "Listen to Me" about the peeper frogs waking in the spring, SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN introduces readers to all aspects of pond life, from cattails to painted turtles to the food chain. In addition to poems written a variety of styles, Sidman also includes a paragraph of interesting facts about the subject. And it's all capped off with the Caldecott-honor-worthy woodcuts created by Beckie Prange. All in all, a wonderful read-aloud for kids grade 1-4 studying ponds, ecosystems, or poetry...or just for fun. "Listen to Me" joins my personal list of all-time favorite poems. 2006 Caldecott Honor Book.
Bug bug bugsy.......2006-02-02
Poetry's not my bag, baby, so when I find myself reviewing a children's book of poetry my confidence just ooooozes away. Oozily. I know enough about poetry to know that I can't judge meter or metaphor or any of that jazz. I can tell if a line scans or not, and that officially marks the limits of my poetry-criticism qualifications. It's so much easier when a book garners universal praise. That way I know it's good and I can follow suit. Now as of this review "Song of the Water Boatman" has appeared on School Library Journals Best Books of 2005, the Boston-Globe Winners of 2005, the Bulletin of the Center For Children's Books Blue Ribbon Awards of 2005, and the New York Public Library's 100 Titles For Reading and Sharing circa 2005. Oh. And a little something called the Caldecott Honor, but who's counting? From all these high muckety-mucks in their own little separate worlds, I can only reach the obvious conclusion that there's something pretty cool going on with "Water Boatman" here. A quick peek inside, a swift skimming of a poem or two, and then an in-depth read of every word and image did indeed convince me that it's a lovely work. Would I go about handing it shiny silver medals? Probably not. But as poetry goes it's gorgeous and, almost more importantly, there's a little non-fiction stirred into the mix for spice!
Eleven poems about ponds and their animals, that's what we've got here. North American ponds, to be exact. On her bookflap, author Joyce Sidman clarifies the impetus that drew her to this project. "I noticed a pool that was obviously drying up and wondered about its inhabitants: Where would they go? I imagined them as creatures in a drama, with personalities of their own". That is where Sidman excels, actually. No matter how big or small or downright bizarre a critter is, they appear on these pages as full-bodied three-dimensional characters. The poem, "Diving Beetle's Food-Sharing Rules" gives you a pretty good sense of this. "if it moves, it is mine / If it's anywhere near me, it is mine / If I'm hungry (and I'm always hungry), / it is mine, mine mine". The last line? "do not forget what is mine / For if I return / and you have taken it / YOU / are mine". As with every other creature in this book, there is factual information placed on the page opposite the poems giving in-depth details and little known facts about the pond denizen speaking. From all this we learn about the food chain, what the real nature of duck weed is, the cleverness of the caddis worm, and the definition of "emergents". Couple everything with artist and first-time children's book illustrator Beckie Prange's superb woodcuts ala watercolors and you've a book that simultaneously fulfills intellectual curiosity as well as poetic leanings.
I could be forgiven for not necessarily knowing who Joyce Sidman was before looking through this book. A resident of beautiful Wayzata, Minnesota (I once had to commute there on a daily basis from St. Paul, and it truly is a lovely little area) Sidman is obviously drawing on Minnesotan wildlife for this book. To my mind, the saving grace of the book (not that it isn't nice BUT) is that it has humor. Humor is so undervalued these days that whenever I read through a children's book and find even a scrap of it lurking in the corners I am filled with a kind of manic glee. This manic glee response came to me more than once while reading Sidman's words. Only she would think to make the titular song of the waterboatman (with a refrain by a cheery backswimmer) sound more like a tune fit for a pirate than a bug. She even works in an accumulative poem (ala "The House That Jack Built") with her food-chainish, "In the Depths of the Summer Pond". Lest I steer you wrong, let me just say that Prange's illustrations are realistic and not cartoonish in the least. If you're looking for a visual humor to back up the written, look elsewhere. I was disappointed, by the way, to find that though Prange lists her webpage in the back of the book, the site says that it will be up and running in the "winter". I am writing this in February of 2006. Can't get much more wintery than that, now can you?
Why is it important that this book be written? I will tell you, faithful readers. Picture this: A high-faluting children's room in New York City just across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. A uniquely talented and, if I might be so bold, cute-as-a-bug children's librarian is approached by an addled teacher. The teacher says that she wants an interesting book on ponds. "Not a problem", says the perky librarian, looking up the keyword "pond" in her database because while she's excellent on the Library of Congress decimal system, Dewey has never been her strength. "Oh", says the teacher as an afterthought, "And it needs to be for young kids. First graders". "Erm... okay", says the now less-than-confident but still game librarian. Her searches only seem to be yielding the names of titles of books published in 1943 anyway. "And can the book be kind of fictional but with lots of facts in it as well?". If this librarian is aware of the existence of "Song of the Water Boatman", she will be able to deal with this request with aplomb. If she is not aware of it, she will suffer the indignity of trying to refer the patron to other library branches. This, ladies and gentlemen, happens in one form or another EVERY DAY. Thousands of children's librarians are peppered with ridiculously intense requests for very specific types of books. And while you may not believe me, I actually got this kind of a "pond" request about a year ago. "Song of the Water Boatman" had not yet reached my shelves. Hence, my gratitude for its existence now.
The book reminded me of many many other titles out there already. The songs coming from insects and the variety of different poetical styles brought to mind Paul Fleischman's Newbery Award winning, "Joyful Noise: Poems For Two Voices". It would be an excellent companion to this title. Also, the idea of pairing animal and insect poems alongside remarkably beautiful and strangely (for the author) subdued illustrations is found in, "If Not For the Cat" by Jack Prelutsky. Of course, in that particular case we're dealing with watercolors and not woodcuts, but Beckie Prange is just as adept with the watercolor brush as Ted Rand so the two pair up quite nicely. I don't want to imply that this book will only be interesting to those people into pond poems and pond facts. There's a lot of superb information in here that rural and urban kids will equally enjoy. Just the same, no matter where you're living I suggest you take a trip to a pond straightaway with "Song of the Water Boatman" at your side. Show your children how an ecosystem really works and how some of these bugs really act. This book is great in and of itself, but nailing it home with a little one-on-one experience will truly make it memorable.
Average customer rating:
- Beautiful pictures!
- Godparents, take note
- Water Come Down
- Water, Come Down! The day you were baptized
- A Must Have!
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Water, Come Down!: The Day You Were Baptized
Walter Wangerin
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
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Binding: Hardcover
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Today I Was Baptized
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The Godparent Book
ASIN: 0806637110 |
Book Description
The perfect gift to make a child feel special---like part of the most wonderful family in the world. Beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Gerardo Suzan, this is a wonderfully imagined story of God's power and love joined in the baptism event---a story that will grow richer in meaning each time the book is read.
Plus, following the story are pages of illustrated thoughts and ideas to trigger family discussions about the significance of baptism, its links to God's biblical story, and to the lives of the readers.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful pictures!.......2007-03-08
I purchased this book for the baby of a close friend and recently for my own grandson for his Baptism. It is beautifully illustrated and it brought my daughter to tears with its description of the special day. I would highly reccomend this book.
Godparents, take note.......2006-09-02
This is a great book for Godparents to give Godchildren. It is always a challenge to find something meaningful to remind the Godchild of the special event in which they participated. I'm giving this book to my Godchild years later to reinforce her connection with God.
Water Come Down.......2006-01-31
As a Sunday School director, I ordered this book as a suppliment to our curriculum. It is a book that is simple and elegant at the same time. The illustrations are beautiful. It is a lovely book.
Water, Come Down! The day you were baptized.......2005-10-26
What fabulous book. This is the best and one of the only books I have seen on infant baptism! The illustrations are lovely and colorful and is a wonderful book to start reading to your child at any age. It is easily adaptable to an infant/toddler and as your child gets older, they will have fun reading it and remembering the book when they see other children being baptized. Wonderful book.
A Must Have!.......2005-10-24
This book by Lutheran Pastor Walt Wangerin is a must have for any baptized child of God! I am a Lutheran pastor and I have made it my practice to give this to each and every child at their baptism so their parents can read it to them as they grow up and remember their baptism. I suppose I have purchased more copies of this book than your average Joe! But I keep on buying it and they keep on loving it!
Book Description
Originally written by M. Night Shyamalan as a bedtime story for his own children, the story of the Lady in the Water is an imaginative reading experience that inspires readers to observe the world around them and consider their purpose on earth. Like all of Shyamalans work, this story offers a dark mystery with surprising twists, a touch of magic, and a powerful message at the end.
Customer Reviews:
SSSOkay.......2007-10-10
Since I'm not a child and our own child is in mid-30's, I'll have to stay middle on this rating. It is OK, I think, but if/when a parent attempts to read this story to a child, there is a need for "fill"... so the parent will need to be adequate story teller and not just a reader, depending upon the book to do the parental work. In that setting, I rate it 5 stars, but in the real world, where parents desire more help, it's a 3.
Original & Wonderful.......2007-04-22
A truly original and wonderful children's story. It's the first one in a long time I've read that I didn't guess the entire plot and how it develops within the first couple of pages.
Enchanting .......2007-04-10
This book is a beautiful story and the illistrations are visual masterpieces. A must for everyone to read. I enjoyed the movie as well, a great companion set for every age.
------"Just keep an eye out for signs of things in your yard."-----.......2007-03-26
Lady In The Water is an intriguing story about a creature called a narf. Her home is under your swimming pool! She has a purpose! "She is swimming in the pool to be seen by someone in your house." She is a sea nymph and a good creature. Of course, to give some balance to the story, there is also another creature. Something that is called a scrunt and he is not so nice. He lives in the grass and would like to catch the gentle narf.
I find this to be a wonderful and very imaginative story; however, I think this is too scary for young children. I believe it's best for the parents to read it first before purchasing it for their child. Every child is different and parents are best at determining if the subject matter is appropriate for their own children.
I understand the film does not exactly follow the little book, but I'm really looking forward to seeing it. I'm a fan of M. Night Shyamalan's and loved The Village.
Judith Miller
Review for Lady in the Water: Book.......2007-03-09
This book is really amazing. But I think I would have liked it more if I would have read it first compared to watching the movie first. It also could have elaborated on the story more. But I also don't regret buying it.
Average customer rating:
- Mama I wanna read Mr Carp!
- Favorit kid's book ever.
- So Cool!
- A Fish Out of Water
- A classic
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A Fish Out of Water
Helen Palmer , and
P. D. Eastman
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
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Sam and the Firefly
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ASIN: 0394800230
Release Date: 1961-08-12 |
Book Description
Illus. in color. "Comic pictures show how the fish rapidly outgrows its bowl, a vase, a cook pot, a bathtub."--The New York Times.
Customer Reviews:
Mama I wanna read Mr Carp!.......2007-07-20
Almost every nite we read "Mr. Carp" as my son calls it. Such a sweet story. I don't even mind reading it 700 times. I take it on vacation too. You'll love it.
Favorit kid's book ever........2007-07-01
This was one of my favorite books as a child and it was my daughter's absolute favorite book as a child.
Every new child in our family gets a copy of this book and it has become a favorite for all of them.
So Cool!.......2007-05-16
This book is so cool. You just got to read this book. You'll laugh your pants off. You just got to read this book.
A Fish Out of Water.......2007-02-19
When my son was a little boy, this was his favorite book. He wanted to take it out of the library so many times that I finally bought a copy and gave it to him for Christmas.
My little grandson is two years old and he has 3 goldfish. I thought the book would be appropriate for him -- and he loves it.
A classic.......2007-02-11
My daughter loves hearing this story over and over, and it's one I don't mind reading repeatedly.
Average customer rating:
- Great Historical/ Environmental Read
- This book is fantastic for third graders!
- This is one of the greatest books ever written.
- Scenic AND educational!
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A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History
Lynne Cherry
Manufacturer: Voyager Books
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ASIN: 0152163727 |
Book Description
From the author of the beloved classic The Great Kapok Tree, A River Ran Wild tells a story of restoration and renewal. Learn how the modern-day descendants of the Nashua Indians and European settlers were able to combat pollution and restore the beauty of the Nashua River in Massachusetts.
Customer Reviews:
Great Historical/ Environmental Read.......2007-03-21
Ages 10+
Follows the life of a river from Native American time through present and details the story of human destruction of a river and the human renewal of the resource. Definitely a read for grades 5+ due to the "urgency" of environmental destruction*we don't want to scare the kids to help them appreciate the resource*
This book is fantastic for third graders!.......1998-08-23
I used this book with my third grade class when they were studying the effects of water pollution on a large body of water. They had already studied Native Americans in second grade and this book just blended the two subjects together. The step by step portrayal of man's harm to the Nashua River helped my children learn about how they were harming the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Lynne Cherry is a fantastic author and presents two great subjects that are highly interesting to children. Any teacher that teaches either Native Americans or water pollution should include this book in their lessons!
This is one of the greatest books ever written........1997-12-24
This book was given to me at age 12. I am now 17 and it is still my favorite. I will never outgrow the beautiful pictures, or the very important lesson it teaches. Every page is expertly laid out, with exquisite paintings depicting the river and the era being discussed. The message of environmental conservation and protection is inspiring. Lynne Cherry makes this vital part of our existence understandable to young children, and even adults, often the harder group to reach. I highly reccommend this book for anyone who wants their children to appreciate the world around them and learn that they can, and should, do their best to save it.
Scenic AND educational!.......1997-03-16
This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are breathtaking and it follows an almost "illuminated" type of text structure, similar to that found in "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. Each page is bordered by illustrations of items pertaining to the period in history that the page is depicting - the implements used by Native peoples, animals that live by the river, inventions of the Industrial Revolution, etc. There is much more to talk about on each page than just the environmental theme of the book. This book would fit well in units about Native people, progress/inventions, ecology, water habitats, etc.
A must-have for classrooms, homes, and teachers
Amazon.com
The curious, protean nature of water has fascinated people for ages, and Walter Wick--the photographer of Scholastic's highly acclaimed I Spy series--is no exception. Wick is a great admirer and collector of 100-year-old science books where, according to his afterword, "Even the simplest experiments appeared as if improbable or impossible things were happening. Intrigued, I recreated some of the experiments and photographed them with my camera. The results seemed magical, but not because of any photographic trick; it was only the forces of nature at work. It was from these explorations that the idea for this book emerged."
As you're admiring the "crown" created by a water drop splashing into a pool, or how many water droplets can fit on the head of a pin (the smallest droplet on the pin contains more than three trillion water molecules), you'll learn about evaporation, condensation, snowflakes, how clouds form, and more amazing water tricks. Wick's other artfully composed photographs include a "wild wave" caused by a brown egg dropped in a water glass, soap bubbles with a "shimmering liquid skin," a snowflake at 60 times its actual size, and dew on a spider web. Like many old-fashioned science books, A Drop of Water ends with a list of simple experiments may lure the young reader into the world of scientific investigation. Unlike many old science books, this one also stands on its own as a beautiful, notable collection of photographs.
Customer Reviews:
A perfect science picture book.......2006-03-27
Beautiful pictures and a wide variety of science related to water is illustrated. A thoughtful teacher grades 3-8 could easily construct a full science unit from this well constructed picture book.
Photographic wonder.......2004-12-19
This book is a must have for any school library or homeschool science collection. Wick is perhaps best known for his "I Spy" books but here he is demonstrating his incredible talent with a science subject. He captures the essence of a water drop, the nature of steam, the momentary existence of a soap bubble and a snowflake in exquisite beauty. He shows us what our own eyes cannot fathom. Use this book to teach and learn about the water cycle, states of matter or art appreciation. The book pairs wonderfully with "Snowflake Bentley" by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.
Really Descriptive.......2003-11-30
This helped me alot while performing my science project. It's cool to everyone I know no matter what their age was...
Excellent read-along for Classical Homeschoolers.......2002-08-25
I am doing 3rd grade chemistry based on the Well-Trained Mind. This read-along was excellent for our chemistry experiments on molecules, and I look forward to using it several times with the other topics it presents. The photos are absolutely stunning. Even though the reading level is higher than 3rd grade, the focus is on the photos - and they do a wonderful job of rounding out the student's grasp of the concepts. My husband and I both learned something new, and even the 6 and 3-year-olds are pointing out condensation and water vapor along with their third-grade brother.
Included in the back are suggested experiments for those who do nature study along the lines of Charlotte Mason's theories. Definitely a keeper.
A Drop of Water.......2000-06-12
The pictures in this book are excellent, but the reading level is not 4-8 as listed. The level is about 6th grade and above.
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