Young Americans Books

My nephew and I both enjoy this book! We take turns selecting the bedtime story, my choice and the book that brings a smile to his face is, "Joy".

The little ones love this book. It's sturdy enough for them to handle it themselves. After reading it a million times they know the poem by heart. Because the book speaks of the love a parent has for their child (kids LOVE to hear about how much you love them!), my children are drawn to it and have been requesting it for over 2 years!

I bought this book for my two foster children (ages 2 and 3) for Christmas. They LOVE this book. We read it all the time and they follow right along. The two year old will sometimes just say out of the blue - You are my joy! and run to get the book. The book is beautifully lyrical, conveying a feeling of security and love. The artwork is incredible and the three year old tells me that he is the one in the picture!

Kara Walker's work has many suggestions,social; ones where you need some "code" to interpret what you see, how can you come to see eyes like yours; what you see; we come to comprehend the montrous system of slavery that supported the USA for on-going decades; her approach utilization of the ante-bellum South with silhouttes often surreal imagery,with odd icon as Marcus Garvey running with an ax,Return?, Return!?We need liberation in any form;Walker's narrative is intentionally distanced,like the subject itself;as if race can only seen, by not really being seen; white man's narrative discourse is the only one Walker seems to be saying;So no one can even tell their own story; Do we simply need more enlightenment? I don't think that will do it; hypocrisy will still reign supreme, the system needs it;here there are events you can't come to believe,a woman vomiting, a mother looking up the anus of her child or someone else's child abandoned; yet as you walk through this ir-reality are you in it,Are you awake now,the
plantations that American still visit,visit in horror, or what? or do you simply want the "Dream" to continue; When do we get back to profit-taking? Her work still has a narrative discourse, you come to read it,yet you still don't understand; it is within a post-modern subject; spatiality is utilized to scatter the subject, forwards and backwards in his/herstory, but a storyline with no beginning or end, much like current reality with odd assortments of slaveries occuring,smuggled immigrant workers, "maquil" workers, sex slave trade; its all with us,next door; people still need to be saved from imperial systems of globalizations,concrete walls and pre-emptive wars.Do we still look at "Ol' Hannah" through a lens of what, our own existence, contemplating the self-conceit of our own portfolios now stolen by Wall Street;
the issue of race,prejudice is still a very open question despite all the millions of dollars$$$ on holocaust museums and commissioned works of art, how much do we really comprehend of our "neighbor" Do we care?,or do we simply go on in our own hypocrisies,saying "we have ours, now let them get theirs" where's that "universalizing" trope humanity needs to survive and get their heads around the subject. Walker's work certainly triggers all these contemplations.

Kara Walker's Art currently exhibited at the UCLA Hammer Museum is so powerful I often think about the Art exhibit during my day it has become my companion,a stimulating and welcomed friend I recommed this book and urge all within a hundred miles of Los Angeles to visit the Hammer before June 8,2008

Kara Walker is the artist who has something to say in every medium. First I have viewed her sensational installations which include her trademark silouhettes which remind me of huge versions of cameos from time gone by. Second her messages are loud clear with a poetic flow . She translates her ideas about abused women,slavery,possession and if possible redemption into paper cut outs which can fill a room along with paintings drawings film and text. Her book ebodies the foundation of these images. I highly recommend it.

Book Review: La Mariposa--Briseida Ramos
La Mariposa by Francisco Jimenez, is about a small boy named Francisco who is headed to his first day of school. Francisco does not know English and in school that is the only way of communicating or he'll get in to trouble if he starts speaking in first first language which is Spanish. Francisco gets in trouble a few times because he doesn't pay attention to the teacher because he doesn't understand her, so he day dreams most of the time because his head hurts from trying to understand what she is trying to say. Many children in school do not accept him because everyone else speaks English except his friend, Arthur. Later on his friend, Arthur avoids Francisco because he doesn't want to get in trouble from speaking Spanish.
Francisco faces a lot of obstacles in trying to fit in school with everyone else. He gets into a fight with another boy because of a jacket that the principle had given him from the lost and found, finding out later on that it belongs to Curtis, the other boy. The teacher Miss. Scalapino gives them an assignment which Francisco doesn't understand, so she decides to le4t him draw whatever he wants. Because of this assignment Francisco starts fitting in with the other students. Francisco decides to sketch out a drawing of a butterfly and the teacher likes it a places it on the board. Francisco receives first place for his drawing and everyone rush to see the blue ribbon placed on the drawing. Everyone starts accepting Francisco and at the end they all look at a butterfly come out of its cocoon.
The story shows transformations in where bicultural and bilingual differences in a child can be accepted by others. There are many difficult circumstances that go through the life of someone that has a limit in communication and acceptance from others, but his story shows how it is accepted and can be accepted because differences make us unique. Those differences make us who we are in the form that we are not that different. Jimenez shows the importance of transformation and acceptance throughout a child's life and how there are many that can go through this. The book is a good book to have in any grade level because it shows the benefit that either kindergarten through any grade, but especially the elementary level students can learn from real life experiences. Elementary is a good level to start showing children the importance that we are all equal, in a unique way.
Illustrations, done by Simon Silva show the richness in colors of the culture. Brown, orange, and other colors are portrayed together and show a vivid picture of how the fields look like when a person awakes in the morning. The colors of the sun coming out and going in show the relation of reality.
Francisco Jimenez shows his life through writing his books, especially in The Circuit. Francisco Jiménez uses stories from his own life to portray what it's like to be a child who must hide from truant officers if farm work must be done, and who must hide from immigration officials in order to continue living in this country. Jimenez, "Born in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, in 1943, Francisco Jiménez grew up in a family of migrant workers in California. Jiménez spent much of his childhood moving around California with no permanent home or regular schooling, yet despite incredible odds he went on to have a distinguished academic career. A graduate of Santa Clara University, he also attended Harvard University and received both a Master's Degree and Ph.D. from Columbia University." In La Mariposa, Francisco shows the relationship of using both English and Spanish languages letting the reader discover the meaning through a glossary at the end of the story.
Some awards which Jimenez received throughout his life are:
* 2003 Elected an Honorary Associate of the Hispanic Society of America by the Board of Trustees of the Society
* 2003-present The Asociación Cultural Latino Americana of Central California established an annual "Francisco Jiménez scholarship for Hispanic youth attending college.
* 1998 - 1999 SCU Faculty Senate Professor in recognition of outstanding professional achievements and contributions to Santa Clara University
* 1998 - present Fay Boyle Endowed University Academic Chair
* 1996-1997 James Barnes Farmer Distinguished Guest Professor for 1996-1997, Miami University, Ohio.
* 1986 - 1998 Phil and Bobbie Sanfilippo Endowed University Academic Chair
* 1978 "President's Special Recognition Award for Faculty." (The award recognizes superior teaching, publication, and special service to the Santa Clara University community.)
Other recognitions, but to name a few are:
* Honored by the Asociación Cultural Latinoamericana by naming a scholarship after me, July 26, 2003.
* Commendation by the Governor of the State of Jalisco, Mexico, "for promoting Mexican culture in the U.S." Ceremony took place in Long Beach, California, June 21, 2003.
* Featured in Telemundo, "Al Rojo Vivo" (2003).
* Featured in Univisión, "Aquí y Ahora" (2003).
* Featured in Selecciones (Readers' Digest), section "Triunfadores" (May 2003).
* Commendations from U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and from the United States Congress for being selected United States Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement the Advancement Teaching (2002).
In La Mariposa:
* Parents' Choice Recommended Award
* Smithsonian Notable Book for Children
* Américas Commended List
Mr. Jimenez "has been the director of the Ethnic Studies Program since 2000. He has been on the faculty of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Santa Clara University since 1972." I think that it is important how Jimenez shows his life in La Mariposa and other books because he is able to show his life through the eyes of children, young adults, and adults.
In my opinion, I enjoyed La Mariposa and I think that this book is a good book to have for all ages. I can relate through a lot that Jimenez goes through growing up, since I also came from Mexico and was born in San Luis Potosi, I show a connection and relation to his experiences that are still in the process. This book can be understood through anyone coming from another place also. I think that this book deserves more than a thumbs up but something spectacular because it's a real life experience through the eyes of children and others. I gave it Five Stars, I loved the book!!

Having read "The Circuit" by the same author, I was eager to read "La Mariposa" to my younger students. Francisco Jimenez creates beautifully written semi-autobiographical stories about life as a child of a family of migrant farmers from Mexico. The the eyes of the main character, Francisco, we experience a child's first day in a new school, where he is the object of stares and, at the hands of a bully, ridicule. However, Francisco is a dreamer, and he conveys his dreams through beautiful pictures of... butterflies. The goodness of his teacher and classmates shine through in the end of this beautiful and sensitive story as they admire his artwork and share in his dream.

The book was written true-to-life and it uses appropriate spelling words for young students and wonderful Spanish words for everyone. Excellent color illustrations. I would recommend this book to an adult or older student so they could read it to a younger child, K through the 4th grade.

You really have to see this book to know how beautiful it is. Not only is it a fabulous cookbook, but it's also a biography of stories from the Wilder household. The pictures are beautifully done mostly in color. There are some different photos of Laura and her family though out the book.

I, too, checked this out of the library and tried the gingerbread recipe. Made it for the second time today for a family dinner and everyone raved about it. It is a lovely book full of comments about each recipe and wonderful illustrations. My 9 year old loved looking at it too. Can't wait to try more recipes...a good variety with old-fashioned sensibility.

I checked this book out of my local library and enjoyed it so much (Laura's gingerbread recipe is especially good) that I wanted to purchase a copy for my personal cookbook collection. I hope it is reprinted soon! Different from "The Little House Cookbook" in that these are not necessarily recipes from Laura's "Little House" books, but rather recipes from her personal cookbook she complied as an adult living in Mansfield, MO. This book is illustrated with beautiful color photos of Laura and Almanzo's home in Missouri (inside and out) and would be a great addition to my cookbook collection. The recipes themselves have a simple, country flair and appear to be easy to prepare (only tried a few but I do love to read cookbooks!)

Cast loose from spiritual moorings, a third-generation American and secular Jew, Colin Stonegrows up in the suburbs of New York, attends Hebrew school, is bar-mitzvahed, but never touched by his religion. Written in the first person and present tense, just helps to pull you into the story. Extremely well written and captivating.

This book was a blast, funny from the first page on through. Yet, it is also a thoughtful and moving story that helps one reflect on questions of assimilation. The writing is very graceful and elegant. I can't praise it enough. D. London.

THE LAWS OF RETURN is a beautifully crafted first novel that captures the reader from the first paragraph. Colin Stone, the novel's protagonist, tells the story of his life from infancy to what appears to be his early thirties and the result is a story that is as emotionally powerful as anything I have read in recent years. The author's "minimalist" style and use of the first person and present tense expertly draws the reader into Colin's world; a world filled with uncertainties, anxieties and doubts. I particularly enjoyed the deadpan irony sprinkled throughout and found myself laughing frequently. At the same time, there is an underlying pathos in many of the pages that adds substance to the book and makes it much more than simply a series of humorous vignettes. This lyrical book is intelligently written and I strongly recommend it to everyone

Let The River Run Silver Again!: How One School Helped Return The American Shad To The Potomac River--And How You Too Can Help Protect And Restore Our Living Waters by elementary school classroom teacher Sandy Burk is an informative and profusely illustrated exploration of the difference one school made to greatly impact the environment and nature of the Potomac River. Readers will learn that making a difference is not all that difficult as the pages inform them of the American Shad's history and what caused the species to leave in the first place. Let The River Run Silver Again! is highly recommended reading (especially to the biology or environmental science teacher as a curriculum supplemental resource) and a welcome addition to any personal, school, or community library Environmental Studies reference collection or supplemental reading list.

Let The River Run Silver Again!: How One School Helped Return The American Shad To The Potomac River--And How You Too Can Help Protect And Restore Our Living Waters by elementary school classroom teacher Sandy Burk is an informative and profusely illustrated exploration of the difference one school made to greatly impact the environment and nature of the Potomac River. Readers will learn that making a difference is not all that difficult as the pages inform them of the American Shad's history and what caused the species to leave in the first place. Let The River Run Silver Again! is highly recommended reading (especially to the biology or environmental science teacher as a curriculum supplemental resource) and a welcome addition to any personal, school, or community library Environmental Studies reference collection or supplemental reading list.

Let The River Run Silver Again!: How One School Helped Return The American Shad To The Potomac River--And How You Too Can Help Protect And Restore Our Living Waters by elementary school classroom teacher Sandy Burk is an informative and profusely illustrated exploration of the difference one school made to greatly impact the environment and nature of the Potomac River. Readers will learn that making a difference is not all that difficult as the pages inform them of the American Shad's history and what caused the species to leave in the first place. Let The River Run Silver Again! is highly recommended reading (especially to the biology or environmental science teacher as a curriculum supplemental resource) and a welcome addition to any personal, school, or community library Environmental Studies reference collection or supplemental reading list.

I thought this book was excellent. It was extremely helpful as far as taking a piece of work that I found difficult to read, and not only making it understandable and interesting, but also giving it meaning and purpose. I now comprehend the book's importance as a historical piece of literature much better than I could before. I found the biography of Casmus' life to be well-rounded and captivating, without needing to read an entire book about him! I highly recommend this book for any student of literature who wants to better understand Casmus and/or his writing of The Plague.

I thought this book was excellent. It was extremely helpful as far as taking a piece of work that I found difficult to read, and not only making it understandable and interesting, but also giving it meaning and purpose. I now comprehend the book's importance as a historical piece of literature much better than I could before. I found the biography of Casmus' life to be well-rounded and captivating, without needing to read an entire book about him! I highly recommend this book for any student of literature who wants to better understand Casmus and/or his writing of The Plague.

Jesse Cunningham catalogues a broad, well-researched collection of essays that address readers on a variety of levels. Camus biographers Germaine Bree and Gaetan Picon introduce the work with insightful, easily understood discussions on theme and allegory. The other contributing writers, (John Cruickshank, Derek Parker, David R. Ellison, Brian Masters, Rachel Bespaloff, Jennifer Waelti-Walters, Patrick McCarthy, Allen Thiher, David Sprintzen, Bernard C. Murchland, and Robert R. Brock), tackle a variety of subjects with pertinence and wit. I highly recommend this work as an insightful read and a stepping stone to further research.

"Murder in Bozeman" was one of those "I-can't-put-this-down-till-I-know-what-happens-next!" books. Each chapter left me on the edge of my seat, itching to know what would happen next. Oz and Erika, the main characters, are easy for teens to relate to and are fun people to travel back in time with. The adventures were thrilling, the history exciting and the characters intriguing. It is a great read and I can't wait to read the next one!

There is a museum of clocks (the Bily Clocks) in the small town of Spillville, Iowa, located in the same house where Antonin Dvorak once worked on his New World Symphony. No one knows for sure why two Czechoslovakian brothers dedicated their lives building and carving these enormous wooden clocks. Two teenagers, Erika and Oz manage to go back in time to meet the people who lived at the time of the brothers to find the answer to their obsession. Lost In Spillville is a kind of historical science fiction where the story is told from the point of view of each character and presents the reader with fun, a sense of adventure, and a bit of insight into life. The first in a series of Erika & Oz "Adventures in American History", Lost In Spillville is based on extensive historical research and eyewitness accounts in order to remain true to history. The author Sam Drexler leaves his readers eagerly looking forward to the next title in his exciting, informative, and entertaining series.

The book Lost in Spillville is the greatest book. It takes your mind off anything and everything on your mind. It relates to familiar and unfamiliar characters of history in a fun way that makes the story exciting. The characters of the story are fun to read about and share their adventure with. This magical adventure was fun to read and absorb, and I am so excited to hear there are more to come.

Give your smart little kiddos a jump-start on their American History. This is a terrific series to introduce them to historical topics that will be covered in the later grades.

This book has been a significant tool in adapting the seventh grade Social Studies curriculum (American History) for my two inclusion students with autism who read on a second to third grade reading level. The text is interesting and gets to the basic causes and results of the American Revolution. The illustrations help to provide some concrete visual aids. I also had these students read Revolution on Wednesday for their independent reading in English to further familiarize them with the story of the Revolution and the terminology involved. As a result, my students now have a rudimentary understanding of the American Revolution.

I look for more of these wonderful research guides. We will be using the Civil War books when we get to that part of the curriculum.

I'm a 12-year-old girl, and this Magic Tree House Research Guide rules! I love learning about the Revolutionary War and history, so Jack and Annie are the best kids ever! In this guide, you can answer questions like...

"What IS the Decloration of Independence?" "Who WAS George Washington and all those other American Heroes?" "What WAS the Boston Tea-Party?" "Who DID rule over the 13 Colonies in the mid/late 1700's?" "What DID the first flag look like?" "What WAS it like to live durning the Coloinal times?" "What WAS the Battle at Valley Forge?" "How DID we win the War?"

All these questions answered and MANY, MANY MORE to BE answered in this book: Magic Tree House Research Guide: American Revolution (a Non-Fiction Companion to "Revolutionary War on Wednesday")

***Remember to check out the OTHER Research Guides and the Magic Tree House missions, too! And the newest ones: The Merlin Missions, where Jack and Annie go to the time of Camelot and King Arthur! They're all SO(...) super! You keep writing, Mary Pope Osborne, and I'll keep READING!

I thought that this book was great! Infact I thought that as a Christian book it was the best that I have ever read! Kim is just like a normal teenager. She faces the same exact problems and everything! THis book was very emotional and was very well written! I think that this is one of THE BEST books I have ever read.

Kim Peterson is a Korean, adopted teenager dealing with hardships. She is a Christian and putting her faith in God to help her for each and every problem. Her friend Nat is always telling her to be careful because Kim is dating a non-Christian boy and Nat thinks this relationship will pull her away from God. Later on, Nat seems to have ignored her own "Be Careful" advice when she starts dating a Christian boy, Benjamin (Caitlin O' Conner's little brother). Not only that but Kim's mom (the one who adopted her) has stage four ovarian cancer which is terminal. Kim is praying very hard for her mother but so are a lot of other people who are close to her or not. Will Kim's mom hang in there? Will Nat get into something beyond her control?
I like how this book has action every turn of the way and it was interesting. I did happen to dislike how the ending turned out because it was not what I expected. I also disliked how Nat's situation turned out.
I really liked this book and I wanted to keep reading more and more. This is the second book of the series but I haven't read the first book yet. I can't wait until the other books come out. This book just introduces Christianity.
Girls involved in a related religion will probably enjoy it best because it talks about Christian faith inside of others but anyone could read it, religious or not.

Wow. I just finished reading this book, and it was so awesome. If you thought the first book, Just Ask, was good, then you've got to read this. Just when you thought Melody Carlson wrote fantasicly in the first Kim book, you'll think she outdid herself with "MeToant Be". It made me laugh, cry, and feel anxious. It feels like you're really there, experiancing every moment with Kim and her friends and family. I've never really read a book that made me this emotional, so that's really saying something. If you want a good read, then you're not wasting your time with this book!