Rebecca Hill

Get to know the ghostly haunts and spirits with the town of Austin!
Starting with the flood in 1900, this book will walk you through different historic buildings, notable people, and those who might still be able to be seen - long after they have passed.

Cute little book, easy to read, and some enjoyable stories! I loved reading some new ghost stories, finding some new places I want to go visit at some point!

Ghost stories have long been one of the favorite pastimes of many. The Ghostly Tales of Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands brings several tales to readers, taking them through many of the local haunts and introducing them to things that go bump in the night.
Virginia has had a long and varied history, and there is no shortage of ghost stories here!
I enjoyed reading through these tales, and learning some new ghost haunts to add to my want to visit list!!

Dr. Bob Brier brings Egypt back to life through the lives of these great Egyptian pharaohs. The entire course is engaging, easy to follow, and for those who are not familiar with Egypt - a great starting point to jump into different areas of study. From Narmer to Cleopatra, these ten pharaohs made great strides in history, leaving their mark - even if they were erased for a period of time by other pharaohs.
While we are getting highlights, there are so many different areas to jump into for research, and Dr. Brier truly knows his history. Loved this series!

I was so excited to read this book, and dive a bit deeper into the popular culture that has arisen around mummies, vampires and zombies. There has been no shortage of books or films about the subjects, which opens so many more doors to other possibilities.

While I enjoyed the book overall, the first part seemed to really fly by - engaging, interesting, and full of some fabulous information. I did find that the book felt really slow and tedious on the last half - which in no way detracts from the beginning, but just made it harder to sit and finish out the final portion.

Overall, decently done and well rounded. A fun look into how this morphed into popular culture and what we have today!

Thank you to Pen and Sword and Edelweiss who granted me an e-copy for an unbiased review.

Milwaukee seems to be home to some mischievous ghosts, and some that are just wanting to be known. While some may be residual haunts, these stories will have you looking at Milwaukee in an entirely new light!!

I enjoyed these little stories, and can't wait to start buying some of these books for my boys to read! They would love the variations, as well as pinpointing new locations they may want to visit later on!

Thank you to Edelweiss and Arcadia Children's Books for a copy for my unbiased review

I discovered that this was part of a series - although that really didn't deter from the book at all. There are a couple of references in the book to previous ones, but again - no biggie.

Decent read, but there were areas where the book felt flat and forced. It was an interesting “sit back and relax, didn't have to think too hard” read for me.

Oh my goodness! I absolutely ADORED this book!!

The images that Edward Curtis took are a haunting and mesmerizing collection of photographs of the Native Americans.

I think that everyone needs to take a bit to look at this book, and the images are perfect for using as illustrations within the classroom. Everyone needs to have a copy of this book in their library.

This little known story from the Revolutionary War is an amazing masterpiece! The illustrations and the layout are perfect!!

Prudence Wright put her foot down, saying NO to the British - refusing stay silent, and organizing the women of her town to stand against the British - some only having farm implements, such as pitch forks, to use as a weapon. These women stood firm in MA, and Prudence Wright cemented a small corner in the annals of history. Sadly, these are stories that we do not hear often, and these should be shared! I will definitely be talking to her in my American history course this spring!

Grab this book, your children will love it!

I received an advanced e-copy for my unbiased review from NetGalley and Astra Publishing House

Ever wonder what happens to sea life at Low Tide? Now you can read all about it in this fabulous book! Discover more about the different species, and what they do to ride out the low tides, and more about the environments that they thrive in.

Absolutely loved this one! I would love to get a copy of this one for my bookcase at home! Perfect for kids of all ages!

I love anything Ancient Egypt - and enjoyed reading through the pre-pharaonic times in Egypt. This archaeological evidence is amazing, and the author did a fabulous job in researching and putting together this information. There are so many different peoples who have lived in Egypt over its varied history, and the author really highlights and discusses the important aspects of each.

Egypt has a rich history, and the information that was shared was super interesting. In my opinion, I think there is a little uplift that needs to be done - it got a little draggy, and for those that are not really “in-the-know” it can drag down and I think cause many to not want to finish reading through the material.

Overall, one of my favorites from the year so far! For history lovers, I highly recommend this book!

If you love bread - any kind of bread, you are going to want to check out this book!
Oh the yumminess!! I tried several of the recipes that were in this book, and we did not find one that disappointed at all! The smell of fresh baked bread in the house was just an added bonus to this book.

Whether you are an experienced baker, or a novice - these easy to follow recipes are sure to delight you and your family all year long!

I rated this one lower, but there are a few reasons for that. I will share, so that I can be clear with the reasons, and why the rating is the way it is.

First, I did enjoy the stories. I love reading more about different cultures, and learning their mythologies, and delving more into the essence of each one. It also gives me something to draw on and share with students as we are moving through different areas of study. I like being able to have different resources for them to draw on - from books, documentaries, websites and much more.

Now for the lower rating. The four corners region is alive with the Native American cultures. As you attend different functions, you can sit and listen to stories, watch the dances, try the foods and see the amazing pieces that they turn out. Listening to the native storytellers is magical. Their voices almost draw you into a trance, and you lose track of time they sing song through the different stories.
The stories in the book, while interesting, just lack the magic. It was a bit flat on the page, and while there are some good stories, and perfect for those who have not heard the native storytellers, it just didn't resonate with me.

I will still be recommending this book to students - as they can draw on the materials.

Get the story of the First Thanksgiving, and the events that preceded it in a cute little story! This is told from a Native American perspective, and the plants that nourished the native tribes, as well as those who came to settle the land.

I absolutely loved this book! It was adorable, and one that should be read to all kids!

There are some great stories in this book, and the photos just add to the luster of the book!

The author takes you on a journey through the Southwest, sharing some stories and other information.

The photos were my favorite part of the book. It honestly brought it to life.

Take a walk through Acadia, the National Park in Maine. Here, you will find fascinating trails, breathtaking views, and several deaths that dot the history of the park. From accidents, daredevils, murder, and more - you will find some great stories through this book and learn more about deaths that happen in this national park.

One thing that never disappoints is a book that is well-researched. Pen and Sword has a proud history of producing books that are enjoyable to read!

Pirates - every kid wanted to be one, and we all wish that there were days that we could hoist that black flag while sailing off in the sunset. Over the past few years, there has been a resurgence of the “pirate craze” where there are several books all centered around pirates, their daring deeds, and for some of them - historical notoriety through time.

Graham Thomas takes this history and gives us a fabulous look at the effort to end piracy. The Royal Navy waged a grand campaign against those that they were determined to eradicate and put a stop to the age of Piracy.

Set sail with this amazing book, and get lost in history.

Mimi wants to prepare the most beautiful garden for the fairies, and she works tirelessly to ensure that it is perfect. Free from anything that might hurt or make the fairies feel threatened or welcome. In her strive for perfection, she learns a valuable lesson on the health of a garden, and what the fairies truly want in a garden home.

Cute little story, and one that is easy to read and understand for kids.

Captivating History always releases great books, and Aztec History for Kids is no different! As I read through this book, I found a fun way to get kids interested in history!
Learn about the Aztec's daily way of life, warfare, food, religion, and so much more! Each chapter breaks down the information with an easy to read format, yet even adults are going to find this book fun to read through! The illustrations are well done, and you can test your knowledge of what you learned in the book with a fun quiz at the end!
But this book takes a different look at the Aztecs as well. Some of their art is still very important in Mexico today. Their influence and importance has not waned - even after their collapse.
Read through this book from their beginnings to the Spanish Conquest, and get to know the Aztec Civilization like never before.
Keep history fun and interesting for kids - this book is a great way to jump in!

Most of what we know of Ancient Jerusalem comes from the Crusades, and the male rulers - those who were navigating through the tumultuous times.
However, there were queens that ruled, those who held power that was not seen in many other corners different kingdoms.
Katherine Pangonis has shared meticulous research, and bringing the stories of these women out of the shadows. The book begins with Melisande, touches on Empress Matilda (the Cousins War), and ends with Sibylla, a woman who managed to defend and hold Jerusalem against Saladin and the Saracen army.
I truly enjoyed reading through this book! As I stated, the research was well done, and these women are given their rightful place in history. While women are mostly relegated to the shadows, and the margins of books, the stories of these women are starting to be shared and told.

For history lovers, this is a book you need to read! Highly engaging, and there are some surprises hiding in the pages – but I am not going to spill those here!

“That'll be the day..” - John Wayne

Some of my best memories from growing up center around John Wayne. My grandfather loved his movies, and he passed that down to my father, and me. I grew up on his movies, and I am now passing that on to my children. You know you have a parenting win when you hear your kids using some of his quotes from movies, and you just know you are doing something right,
In “John Wayne Speaks” we get the iconic quotes, a bit of background, and fleshing out the man himself. As I was reading this book, I laughed, I remembered scenes from the movies, laughed some more - then finally had to turn the movie on to watch. So between bouncing through the book and the movies, it took me a bit to finish this one - because I didn't want it to end!

Mark Orwoll did a fabulous job - and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it and share my thoughts on the book. For John Wayne fans, you are going to love this one. For those who are not sure who John Wayne is (blasphemy), this is a great starter into the larger-than-life actor.

Cute little story of an Axolotl, who is the only one of the eggs laid to hatch. He makes friends with some of the sea creatures around him, but as they grow and leave, he becomes lonely.

I enjoyed the imagination that went into this book (especially watching the movies on the cell phones underwater), and his eventual finding of a friend after a wave washes him into a new body of water.

Great book!

Abraham Lincoln was a fabulous orator, and some of his speeches have become some of the most read - and studied. The Gettysburg Address is one of the most read of his speeches, and highly important in American history. While all his speeches have a purpose, the three delved into through this book are ones that really highlight important issues of the day.
Diana Schaub takes an in-depth look at three of the speeches, giving an analysis and view that delights those who are interested in both politics and history. For those that love Lincoln - these three speeches give a better viewpoint into his skills as a orator and his dedication.
This book was a great read, and one that I highly recommend!

The author of this book takes us on a journey, one told through letters, of his family from WWII.

This book was one of resilience, determination, and the strength of a family that was doing their best to survive during the war, and the reign of terror during the war.

This was an interesting read, and while it was a hard read in parts, it was well done a great overall book. I struggled through parts of it, but persevered and finished it out.

The life of an iceberg is more than just a piece of floating ice. It gives wildlife a haven and allows for rest.

This was awesome! Learn about the different types of wildlife that flock around icebergs, what causes icebergs, and much more!

There is a handy glossary in the back which gives descriptions of the wildlife and other terms used throughout the book. Highly recommend!

One has to have a love/hate relationship with Custer.

On one hand, you have someone who made a name for himself - making a mark during the Civil War, and his eventual death on the battlefield at Little Bighorn.

On the other - you have someone who epitomizes laziness - literally doing the least that he could to make it where he felt he should be, was not one to follow orders (hence the Little Bighorn fiasco), and a real contempt for some.

Good book, great for those who are wanting to understand Gen. Custer, with a well-rounded look at his life, and death.