Margaret
I believe I love just about every picture book I have experienced from Kadir Nelson. This is a neat story about Jackie Robinson of baseball fame by his daughter. It touches on a lesser told family story, and still gets across the information of the barriers that Jackie Robinson surpassed during the segregation in American baseball. We read this as an inter-library loan book.
It was in 2003 or shortly before when I first discovered both Christian Historical Fiction and more specifically the writing from the creative mind of Liz Curtis Higgs in her first Scottish Lowlands Series. I impatiently waited and snatched up each book that came next including the later generation novel on Dinah. It enthralled and entertained me as no other to find Biblical stories retold in Scotland.
I was then beyond ecstatic to learn of a new saga to come from 18th century Scottish Lowlands retelling the Biblical story of Naomi and Ruth. It was with some enjoyment that I read the first book in the saga Here Burns My Candle. Yet it was also a sad and hard book to read.
The time in between waiting for the next novel was torture and thus I turned to other authors to bide my time and hence my current obsession with so many authors and stories today. It seems that it has been a long time in waiting for a new novel from Liz and I was eager to grab this one up. In starting this story, a retelling in Scotland's Edinburgh of the Biblical story of Ruth and Naomi I had some preconceptions for what would happen and was shocked at how slow things seemed to transpire at first, but the story did pick up and sucked me in with it.
Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage it is her story and that of her mother-in-law Lady Marjory Kerr in which the pages are brought to life. Following along as they watch from the recessed side lines of battle between King George of England and Scotland's own Bonny Prince Charlie causes quite a stir of emotions. Learning with them through their own trials as some old ways are forgotten and God makes a difference in their lives is refreshing and eye opening showing his presence in the best of moments and well as the worst.
Knowing that this story was loosely of Ruth and knowing most of the Biblical story by heart, I ended at a point surprised having expected a different part. This just went to show me that I did not know all of the story, just the last part and causes me to have a newly increased thirst to go back and read the scriptures in full to delve into the first eighteen verses which it seems I hardly know at all.
Upon starting the second in Mine is the Night I was unsure what to expect. In the end what I found was my favorite story written by Liz thus far and I am completely impatient and whole heartedly eager for more!
Special thanks to Cindy Brovsky of Random House Inc. for sending me a review copy.
Originally posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2011/06/30/mine-is-the-night-by-liz-curtis-higgs/
We searched for fire, firemen, firefighters, fire truck, and so on on the Kindle Fire and stumbled across this one in the Kindle Freetime Unlimited section. It was a good, silly read to add to the current lesson. We are currently reviewing BJU Kindergarten Focus on Fives and this was a good add-on theme book.
I didn't really enjoy this one. Just because a story is an important thing to tell, doesn't mean any book on it is completed well. This is about a little, four-year-old girl, during the time of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery. There is a lot of history here and good topics to introduce and discuss. We read this as an inter-library loan book.
I didn't love the illustrations in this book, but I love the story, even as some of mine seem themselves in the pages. These days I am really enjoying bringing out more and more biographical picture books that paint a possible view of the future and what is possible. Temple Grandin is one more impressive uniquely creative person. We read this through inter-library-loan.
Tonight, while still studying China with Beautiful Feet Books Around the World with Picture Books Volume 1 we read [b:Ming Lo Moves the Mountain 1147154 Ming Lo Moves the Mountain Arnold Lobel https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349112374l/1147154.SX50.jpg 3350711] illustrated by Arnold Lobel. I know that this is a familiar one from my own childhood. It is interesting to be rediscovering memories but to not know really when or where I read (or was read to) the book. Several favorites are popping up with this Around the World with Picture Books study and I'm loving every minute of it. We read about Ming Lo and his wife and then revisited several pages in [b:Anno's China 50991513 Anno's China Mitsumasa Anno https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1582314518l/50991513.SX50.jpg 19194673] for discussion. Ming Lo's neighborhood wise man is an amusing character. I read this specifically to my Rascal (5) and Mermaid Warrior (3, next month), however, everyone from the Enginerd to AppleBlossom (10) and the Princess (8) were listening along. The older children were yelling out as I read aloud, surely not, do they really think that?! and so it. It was for hoots and entertainment. These images are familiar to me and I think this is one of my fond feelings for it. Yet, it is just silly enough to prompt discussion and connect to other Chinese fables. I own this book. I bought our copy second-hand from Thriftbooks (I have an affiliate link, if you need it!) on a recommendation from Beautiful Feet Books.
Weeks ago, we finished reading [b:Mr. Revere and I: Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse 198784 Mr. Revere and I Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse Robert Lawson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441824322l/198784.SX50.jpg 192296] and started out to read the Paul Revere chapter in Notgrass History's Our Star-Spangled Story and reread the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride illustrated poem. But then, allergies. This morning was the day! Originally, I bought this book, [b:The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere 782095 The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Henry Wadsworth Longfellow https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348462991l/782095.SX50.jpg 768111], when I actually intended to buy another book, [b:Paul Revere's Ride 548774 Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480119102l/548774.SX50.jpg 768111], from the recommendation of Memoria Press Second Grade Classical Core Curriculum. However, I'm delighted with the mistake and being able to compare the two containing the same Longfellow classic poem. The woodcuts and overlays are gorgeous and creative and this book is a treasure to look through.
We read this aloud the other day, that is we read aloud from our paperback copy of [b:Paul Revere's Ride 548774 Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480119102l/548774.SX50.jpg 768111] as recommended in several lists from Memoria Press including the Simply Classical American Studies supplemental readers and Memoria Press Second Grade Classical Core Curriculum. Weeks ago, we finished reading [b:Mr. Revere and I: Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse 198784 Mr. Revere and I Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse Robert Lawson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441824322l/198784.SX50.jpg 192296] and started out to read the Paul Revere chapter in Notgrass History's Our Star-Spangled Story and reread the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride illustrated poem. But then, allergies. This morning was the day! I'm so grateful for the Memoria Press Classical Core recommendation of Ted Rand's illustrated Paul Revere's Ride even if I did originally buy the wrong edition in Chronicle Books gorgeous Christopher Bing's edition, [b:The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere 782095 The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Henry Wadsworth Longfellow https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348462991l/782095.SX50.jpg 768111]. What an experience to be able to compare the two and take the conversation of wood cutting even further.I have to confess I get a little animated when reading such a poem. Quite my father's daughter at such a moment...Right now, during the quarantine, Memoria Press is offering 20% to their read-aloud sets. A better deal you will not find. Head over and check them out and use the code: cherryblossom to let them know I sent you. [bc:Paul Revere's Ride 548774 Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480119102l/548774.SX50.jpg 768111][bc:The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere 782095 The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Henry Wadsworth Longfellow https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348462991l/782095.SX50.jpg 768111] [bc:Mr. Revere and I: Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse 198784 Mr. Revere and I Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere, Esq. as Revealed by his Horse Robert Lawson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441824322l/198784.SX50.jpg 192296]
This morning while reading Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin, we finished reading the A-Leafing chapter where Benjamin paints with his Native friends. It was perfect timing to pull out these folklore Indians of North America books. Bittersweet to remember the recently deceased Tomie dePaola as we talked about the Indian Paintbrush and Texas Bluebonnet. We finished it up with a similar but newer tale of strawberries.[bc:The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush 571349 The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Tomie dePaola https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348026500l/571349.SX50.jpg 952389][bc:The Legend of the Bluebonnet 253000 The Legend of the Bluebonnet Tomie dePaola https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385102761l/253000.SX50.jpg 1390876][bc:The First Strawberries 937381 The First Strawberries Joseph Bruchac https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348110589l/937381.SX50.jpg 922359]
We were reading [b:The Legend of the Bluebonnet 253000 The Legend of the Bluebonnet Tomie dePaola https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385102761l/253000.SX50.jpg 1390876] and [b:The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush 571349 The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush Tomie dePaola https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348026500l/571349.SX50.jpg 952389] so I pulled out this one to read as well to continue the theme of folklore for another Indian of North America. This is a first man/woman creation story. It is beautiful but a bit odd in places. I enjoyed the story of it.
We finished a few books today. One of which that I read start to finish is this picture book Phoebe the Spy by Judith Berry Griffin, Illustrated by Margot Tomes. This little book is dedicated to Jean Fritz, which I found appropriate as it is about the same size and a similar format to Jean Fritz American History biographical picture books.
We chose to read this book earlier than scheduled due to the topic of the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918 as the Great War ended. The main character, the hero is ten-years-old. My oldest child is ten-years-old. With all the newness of the current pandemic CV-19, this was an important read. We own this as a read for our BookShark Level 4 and Sonlight E reads.
My Rascal (5) loves this book. My Princess (8) who read it aloud said it was alright. They all want to watch the movie now and hear more about Achilles. This reader is a good challenge for her at this level. Great with a vocabulary at the end to challenging Greek names and cultural works. We own a copy of this. It was probably a Veritas Press NTGR recommendation. The illustrations are okay.
