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Phyllis B. (sundrop) - Reviews

1 to 17 of 17
Art Fraud Detective: Spot the Difference, Solve the Crime!
Art Fraud Detective: Spot the Difference, Solve the Crime!
Author: Anna Nilsen
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 5
Review Date: 7/11/2014


My kids loved it, You compare the real painting with a fake see if you can spot the difference. It gets kids studying great art on their own. The pictures are a little small.


Caravans
Caravans
Author: James A. Michener
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 7
Review Date: 7/11/2014


Loved it, most of it. I felt like the main character was really there. I read later that Michener was in Afghanistan shortly after the time period the book is set, after WWII. I learn a lot about my assumptions of life in Afghanistan. Michener showed the love and the brutality. I found it fascinating Michener's presentation of their view of the western world. Michener departs from his usually plot of following several families over time instead follows several characters over a short period of time. The main character was great. The missing girl character was not. I felt the end of the book was an unrealistic and unnecessary love story. Overall I enjoyed the book, it took me a place I have never been. It was worth the read.


Cherries and Cherry Pits
Cherries and Cherry Pits
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 12/1/2009
Helpful Score: 1


My children enjoyed it but it wasn't one the asked to be read over and over.


Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution
Author: Michael J. Behe
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 20
Review Date: 7/11/2014
Helpful Score: 3


I first thought this book supported evolution by it's title but it does not. He states early in the book that his purpose it to test evolution not to provide another theory right just that evolution in wrong - it is the "science of gaps". I think he does an excellent job of that. The book contains numerous scientific details that could be overwhelming. He marks them out so a reader has the option to skip part of the scientific explanation because it is so complex. That is his point the complexity of the simplest life form on earth does not support evolution because it is so complex. In addition evolution does not allow for the creation of temporarily useless parts until the whole functioning new parts can be created such as cilia, light sensing mechanism (not a human eye but the simplest "eye"). He also points weaknesses in creationist arguments. He concludes based on evidence that scientists are hanging onto a theory that doesn't work.


Giants Are Very Brave People.
Giants Are Very Brave People.
Author: Florence Parry Heide
Book Type: Hardcover
  ?
Review Date: 12/1/2009
Helpful Score: 1


Very cute. My youngest boy loves it. It is about a little boy who is afraid of everything. He meets a tiny women who thinks he is a brave giant.


I, Mona Lisa
I, Mona Lisa
Author: Jeanne Kalogridis
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 116
Review Date: 1/29/2014


I love reading about this era. Her historical inaccuracies bothered me. I am not sure I will finish the book. I know it is fiction but why add things that are obviously not true.


Painless Fractions (Barron's Painless Series)
Painless Fractions (Barron's Painless Series)
Author: Alyece Cummings
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 7/11/2014


Cute pictures - same information, less practice problems. If your student is inspired by monkeys and brain ticklers instead of labeling practice problems as practice problems then this for you. Or if Little corn muffin - helps you remember least common multiple or at least distracts you to enjoy math then go for it. But it didn't have any techniques that made fractions easier and the other stuff just annoyed me.


The Penny Pinchers Club
The Penny Pinchers Club
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Book Type: Audio CD
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 7/1/2016


Light, funny and enjoyable.


Puzzling Frame Games
Puzzling Frame Games
Author: Terry Stickels
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 2.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 12/1/2009
Helpful Score: 1


My kids love solving these puzzles. Here is an example without a picture (many puzzles use letters and pictures) :

Sir Lance, Lance, Lance, Lance, Lance

This means Sir Lance a lot or Sir Lancelot

Of course, some are great and other not as good -but that is to be expected. We have really enjoyed trying to solve them. If you are a puzzler, I think you'll enjoy them.


Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy: Two Novels by Horatio Alger
Ragged Dick and Mark, The Match Boy: Two Novels by Horatio Alger
Author: Horatio Alger
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 6
Review Date: 4/14/2012


Written after the civil war in 1868, this book although not a literary masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination had a strong influence on people of his day and therefore worth the read. It is supposed to be the boy's version of Little Women, however Little Women is much more eloquently written with complex characters. Complex characterization is lacking in this book. He does add literal allusion to the Bible, Shakespeare, Longfellow and others. I am not sure which book this is in, this book includes the first and third book in a series. The second is Fame and Fortune and can read online. It influenced people to improve themselves, to be industrious, to have faith that all will turn out good despite desperate circumstances if you are true and honest.


Runaway Ralph (Ralph S. Mouse)
Runaway Ralph (Ralph S. Mouse)
Author: Beverly Cleary
Book Type: Audio Cassette
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 12/1/2009


This book comes alive when read with sound effects. My kids adored it.


Sensational Kids : Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder
Review Date: 12/1/2009


It gets its point across. It helps parents feel better about their own child's difficulties because most of the children in this book are the extremes. It gives lots of ideas on how to help their child. I have loaned it out to a number of parents/friends. They found it helpful.


Thomas Edison for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities (For Kids series)
Review Date: 12/1/2009


Excellent. Used a library copy and would like my own.


Tucket's Travels : Francis Tucket's Adventures in the West, 1847 - 1849  (Francis Tucket Bks, 1 - 5)
Review Date: 12/1/2009


Excellent book - 5 books in 1. My boys loved it. It is about the west during the Oregon Trail time period. Paulsen draws you into the time period with adventures of every character you might fancy upon during your journey across the west.

One book does open with an attempted rape scene. You may want to skip part of that if you are reading aloud to young children. Also many people are killed, as one might expect during this time period. Of course, the main character lives.


Vocabulary Cartoons
Vocabulary Cartoons
Author: Sam Burchers, Max Burchers, Bryan Burchers
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 8
Review Date: 10/11/2009


Excellent way for children to memorize words. I copy oa page and post it on the frig. I sometime pay them a dime each time they use it during the week. I need to remember to use the word too. Sometimes they remember the cartoon instead but most of the time they remember both.


Westward Ho!: An Activity Guide to the Wild West
Westward Ho!: An Activity Guide to the Wild West
Author: Laurie Carlson
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 12/1/2009
Helpful Score: 1


It is difficult to find crafty activities for this era. Ms. Carlson does an excellent job. We made the possibility bag, oiled windows, cooked some recipes and played some games. She also has some basic information so you are not just making the craft without some knowledge.


Wicked (Wicked Years, Bk 1)
Wicked (Wicked Years, Bk 1)
Author: Gregory Maguire
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 740
Review Date: 4/14/2012
Helpful Score: 2


Perverted. A real stretch to fit into the story of the Wizard of Ox. The "wicked" witch loves animals but later sews wings onto monkeys to fit into the Oz story. An animal lover, as she is supposed to be, would not likely do that. I can't remember all the other points but I did not enjoy it.

I read this for a book club - we were all very surprised that most of us did not love it. The play is great but the book.... leaves a lot to be desired.


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