Contests Books

Doctor Russell is without equal ..Unmatched ...in his Brilliant Book ...he answers so many questions that I had been pondering for years ,especially the Saudi \China Ballistic missile connection ...anyone looking to make a career in the Goverment or Criminal Justice \Homeland security has to read this ..I could not put it down ...

This book probably will be as readable as his Kennan book. Russell writes clearly and edits relentlessly.

It is only when the books begin to come out that we really understand what was happening in the world. This book is on weapons of mass destruction (WMD's) in the Middle East and in selected parts of the far east.

Perhaps the most intriguing part is the discussion of Iraq and Saddam Hussein and the part that WMDs played in the decision by President Bush to go to war. While his reporting isn't likely to change the opionions of the Democrats who are convinved that Bush lied, he reports on the discussions between Saddam and representatives from Russia and France and the belief of intelligence agencies that were happening at the time.

Other parts of the book cover the plans and activities of countries like Saudi Arabia (who has lots of money) and Pakistan (who has nuclear technology), Iran and of course North Korea.

With the current state of the world and the changes from a bi-polar world where the U.S. and the Soviet Union held things in a kind of stasis, we now live in a multi polar world complete with terrorists organizations that seek WMDs. This well written, exhaustively researched book clearly reflects a lot of thinking and analysis that provides a welcome bit of understanding in a confusing area of current internaional relations.

In dedication to all mothers, Michael Watson has masterfully compiled the largest collection of poems and essays from kids everywhere. Just when you think your child doesn't care, just read what 2,300 kids said in honor of their mothers!

"...a wonderful incentive for students to begin thinking how wonderful and important our moms are to us. This is a fine gesture to take these thoughts and feelings and tie them to skills that we are teaching in our schools."

Over 2,000 students pour out their hearts for mom in this sixth aniversary essay contest sponsored by Gallery of Diamonds Jewelers. President Michael Watson personally read and chose these kids to recieve a gemstone to give to their moms for Mother's Day. I spent hours reading how these kids honored their mothers with words. Since the proceeds of this book go to the Orange County Public Library in California, I purchased three copies for friends.

Mary K. Tallant-Runnels and Ann C. Candler-Lotven's ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS FOR GIFTED STUDENTS: A RESOURCE BOOK FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS is a key resource perfect for any who would understand academic competitions for grades K-12. From their impact and potential problems to selecting events to match student strengths, ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS appears in a second, updated edition to make a case for matching academic contests to the needs of special students.

A better title for the book would be "Fun Competitions for Youth". This is NOT a book only for "Gifted Students"! While some of the competitions described are certainly for students who have a strong interest in a specific area most do not require that a student be "gifted" with a high IQ.

This book would be an excellent addition to any school library for use by teachers in all subject areas and should be borrowed from the local library by home school parents who want to add fun to their curriculum or parents of public school students who would like to offer their child an exciting opportunity. Most entries have a web address that the reader can go to for more information and applications.

Of the 170 "competitions" listed in the book 78 can be entered by a single student, or a group as small as three (about four competitions). The 78 competitions I identified did not include those that were only open to students of a specific race (four or five), those based on the knowledge of a foreign language (four or five) nor ones that most students would be prevented from participating in because of cost.

The opening chapter has a number of great ideas about how to empower youth to participate in these "competitions" without feeling that not "winning" is somehow "loosing".

I was pleased to find that a number of the competitions actually "awarded" a certificate or something like it to all students who entered. I would love it if every competition would send each participant a thank you letter telling them how great it is that they submitted an entry. Nothing is quite as exciting as knowing someone thinks you are great simply because you participate!

The "Katie Kazoo" series is about an elementary age girl who received a granting of her wish to be someone else. In each book in this series she experiences (temporarily) a change into someone else, and during the period of change she usually creates a conflict that she has to work to resolve after she turns into Katie again. My daughters (similar in age to Katie) love these books and usually consume them in a single day (or a single sitting). The conflict is low-grade and typically funny or light-hearted.

"Any Way You Slice It" is about Katie turning into a chef at a pizza restaurant. This is a problem because the real chef's skills are needed to help the place get through a tough time - but Katie's experimentation in the kitchen leads to a culinary discovery. There's your plot. One of our favorites in the series.

I owned most of the Katie Carew (Katie Kazoo) books. It's so much fun to read for me and for my daughter.

ARML is sort of an all-star math contest; the best math students from each region are put onto teams, then go to the national competition. Some of the questions are solved individually; some are worked on cooperatively by the team; some are short-answer; some require detailed proofs. The quality of the question writing is superb. This book is an attractive presentation of several years worth of questions. It's ideal for a local math team or teacher to mine for practice problems or for anyone to read for insight! (bias: I'm a coach for an ARML team)

What's the best way to prepare for a contest? Obviously, to study previous years of the test.
Amercian Regions Math League (ARML) is one of the biggest and best high school competitions in the country, second only to the American Mathematics Competitions. (I've never competed in the NYSML but it is a similarly run competition.)
Even if you're not an ARML/NYSML competitor, these problems present an excellent challenge good enough for even the best mathematicians.
This book is definitely recommened to anyone looking for challenging problems, but particularly to potential ARML/NYSML competitors.

This is an exquisite book that is more than just a storybook. It is about "a shy little girl who loved to draw" but who suffers because her classmates think her renditions are "weird," only to find....

Well, I can't give away the end, can I?

Any child--especially any little girl--will love this book. It comes with a tiny palette charm, a place to draw her own self-portrait, and pages designed for other creative efforts.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "This is the Place"

The magic charm books are so wonderful! The Artist's pallet was just as great as the other 10! A story of a little girl who knows what she loves to do! It's just great!

Educators and library media specialists Sybilla Cook, Frances Corcoran, and Beverly Fonnesbeck effectively collaborate in Battle Of The Books And More: Reading Activities For Middle School Students to create a comprehensive guide to planning and implementing successful reading competitions for the purpose of motivating children in grades 5 to 8 to read a variety of books, both popular and classic. Also included are compilations of useful websites offering supplementary information about the books and authors; techniques for increasing participation in the competitions; suggestions on how to correlate the contests with music and art; advice on student recognition; cooperative programming between school and public libraries; publicizing the contests; and the effective use of volunteers and parents. Battle Of The Books And More is also a very highly recommended reference and guide for parochial school and home-teaching support groups.

As a reading specialist and veteran junior high teacher I highly recommend Sybilla Cook's book to both teachers in conventional classrooms and those as simple as the teacher on one end of a log and the student on the other. One of the most difficult problems in teaching reading, especially for home schoolers, is finding appropriate material that will interest students of this age level. Ms. Cook has made that easy. But she has gone way beyond that by including questions and activities to teach critical, analytical, and interpretative reading and thinking, not to mention the most basic of reading skills, comprehension. This book belongs in every teacher's professional library.

The Best Beak in Boonaroo Bay is a great book which would appeal to a wide range of kids (and adults!). It's Australian without being strange to those from other nations, and contains the brilliant outcome that so many kids would appreciate - a contest with EVERYONE as the winner. The illustrations are bold and gorgeous - coloured lino prints. The birds' characterisations are so human and relatable! A lovely book all round.

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This book was shortlisted for the 1994 "Picture Book of the Year Award". If your child is a budding birder here's a book that will both entertain, as well as inform.

Boonaroo Bay is normally a peaceful place but one day the spoonbill, the darter, the cormorant, the curlew and the oystercatcher had a big dispute over who had the best beak in the Bay. But luckily Pelican who is the wisest of the birds was watching this noisy argument and decided to hold a contest to settle the question.

The contest was very cleverly devised since there were five events: - collect shrimp from the mud....spearing fish......extract a pipi (clam) from its shell....find a worm in the sand....and finally catch a slithery eel.

Each bird won the event for which its beak was best suited. This is a very good lesson in life.

Narelle Oliver is both author and illustrator. Her linocut illustrations although very bold contain lots of subtle detail with accurate representations of the characteristics of each of the bird species.

This book would appeal to all children who are developing a love of birding.

This is one of the best children's books I've come across! The subject of skeletons can be scary to a child; but here, it's presented with such delightful pictures and silly text, my 4 year-old niece "forgot" to be afraid. It's a perfect length to hold a child's interest through to the end. You can't help but cheer on Boogie Bones, as he "trips the light fantastic" at the dance. And when his true identity is revealed, it's a child who shows the townspeople there's nothing to fear. Your own children can relate to this, and maybe even conquer some of their own fears. All in all, a great book for kids of any age!

Boogie Bones LOVED to dance -- and WE loved his story! It is so well-executed that all along the way, accompanied by exquisite illustration, we could actually feel Boogie's hope, excitement, fear, and exhilaration. Our family (3,6,9,11, plus grown-ups) was thoroughly charmed by Boogie Bones and his happy, heartfelt joy in "living".

Mr. Lepp can tell a tall tale like no other person. The stories are detailed making all of them nearly truthful. His incorporation of local West "by God" Virginia landmarks and history add to the stories. A must have for anyone who loves tall tales or is from southern West Virginia.

Bill can spin a story and there is no doubt he could sell ice in Alaska. Have heard him at a story telling and this is just a sample of the tales he can tell. Whether he is fishing with the Monster Stick or training a gun-shy dog,(Buck) Bill is pure entertainment. ROFLMAO...