Laaren BrownReviews

As a biblical scholar and Jewish teacher, this is an excellent Tanakh for children. As the introduction states, even though Christians include the "new testament" in what they call the bible, Jews read only what scholars call the Hebrew Bible, and that is all this book contains. There is no reading later Christian ideas back into our sacred text, and there are no stories about a first century Jew whose followers started a sect which eventually broke with Judaism. Reviewers who complain that this bible only contains the "old testament" should read the description more closely. A Jewish bible shouldn't contain the sacred texts of another religion in addition to our own.

Although it is not a complete Tanakh, this Hebrew Bible contains information that would be new to many adult Jews who have no background in biblical studies. In addition to illustrations of scenes from the stories, the book also contains explanations and images in the margins. For example, treasures recovered from the ancient city of Ur (Avram's original home), a cedar in Lebanon, maps of the geographical areas being described, and a throne recovered from Egypt. These pieces of archaeological data enhance one's understanding of the biblical texts and introduce Jewish children to the importance of scholarship in our tradition. There is also an index of people and places at the end of the book.

The book is the author's own retelling of the biblical texts. If you want something that follows the Hebrew text more closely, consider the JPS Children's Bible. The storytelling here is superb, and the writing is appropriate to young audiences. There are some 'big words' in the narrative, but my first grade students can sound them out. While children do need things to be simplified for their growing minds, they don't need things to be dumbed down; this book does the former but not the latter. Educational research also shows that discussing texts with children helps them to improve their reading skills; teach children to ask when they don't know the meaning of a word.

My only complaint regarding the Children's Illustrated Jewish Bible is its length; I would have preferred it to be longer and contain more of the Tanakh. Just under 200 pages may seem long for a children's book, but I had thicker books of Disney stories as a child. Furthermore, there is no expectation that one read through the entire Tanakh at once, so a longer text would pose no problems. A longer text would have also allowed for the inclusion of characteristic selections from the book of Leviticus, which is entirely absent, and from Numbers and Deuteronomy, which have two stories total. The Torah is so central to Jewish life that 3/5 of it should not have been largely ignored. Especially since it is common for children not to begin reading the Tanakh until they are familiar with the entire Torah.

The table of contents is organized by topics rather than by biblical book. The topics are Tabernacles and Temples (i.e. prehistory), Patriarchs (Genesis), Life in Egypt (Exodus), Life in Canaan (mostly Samuel and Kings), and Conquering Nations (prophets and writings). Each topic is introduced with a 2 page overview. At the top of each story, there is a biblical citation. The breakdown by book is as follows.

Pages 17-29, and 32-65 are stories from Genesis; 68-85 are Exodus; 86 & 87 are Numbers; 90 & 91 are Numbers/Deuteronomy; 92-95 are Joshua; 96-103 are Judges; 104-107 is Ruth; 108-133 are 1st and 2nd Samuel; 134-149 and 155-157 are 1st and 2nd Kings; 152 & 153 is Jonah; 154 is Ezekiel; 158-161 is Jeremiah; 162-167 is Daniel; 168-171 is Esther; 172-173 is Nehemiah/Zechariah; 174-175 is Ezra/Nehemiah; 176-178 is Psalms/Ecclesiastes/Proverbs/Song of Songs.

Overall, these stories are a good summary of the history of biblical Israel, but they do not accurately reflect the relative importance of each book of Tanakh in Jewish life and study.

This book is exactly as the series says, Animal Bites. There are so many facts in this book that something is going to draw in any reader. This book describes many aspects of Wild animals. It talks about habitats, adaptations, family life and more. The photos in this book are amazing. They are so close you feel like you can touch the animals. The special sections on the side that include cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of the Earth and the habitats as well as the "just like me" bits are sure to invite discussion and further investigation. The back of the book that includes facts on conservation, activities, further resources and an extensive Glossary. I love that a portion of the proceeds will benefit Animal Planet's R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.) project which partners with leading animal organization to make the world a better place for domestic and wild animals.

This book would be a great addition to a school or class library, especially those learning about habitats, adaptations and conservation.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is exactly as the series says, Animal Bites. There are so many facts in this book that something is going to draw in any reader. This book describes many aspects of life in both the Arctic and Antarctic. It talks about habitats, adaptations, family life, humans and their impact and more. The photos in this book are amazing. They are so close you feel like you can touch the animals. The special sections on the side that include cool animal facts, simple infographics, and illustrated maps of Earth's polar environments as well as how far polar animals roam are sure to invite discussion and further investigation. The back of the book that includes polar activities, further resources and an extensive Glossary is a great addition to a lesson on animals that make their homes in either pole. I love that a portion of the proceeds will benefit Animal Planet's R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.) project which partners with leading animal organization to make the world a better place for domestic and wild animals.

This book would be a great addition to a school or class library, especially those learning about habitats, adaptations and conservation.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

BRILLIANT BATS by Laaren Brown is part of Scholastic’s “Icky Sticky Readers” series of young (Level 2) readers.

This short, informational chapter book provides basic information about bats, along with their habitats, characteristics, eating habits, and life cycle. The book also discussed ten particularly interesting bats. A glossary and index are also included.

The author’s use of interesting typography, up-close photos, and other illustrative elements add to the appeal.

Librarians know that anything with “icky sticky” in the title is likely to be popular. The level of ickiness is just right for first and second grade readers. Librarians need to be aware that this title includes stickers at the end of the book.

Other selections in this series include Deadly Dinosaurs, Super Sharks, and Scary Snakes.

Published by Scholastic on June 28, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Wild Animals takes a look at creatures that survive out in nature, from oceans and forests to deserts and jungles. The double page spreads are full of information that will delight readers of all ages. (I had to wrestle these away from my husband so I could review them. He only let go after I promised to give them back.)

Did you know that a record-setting tiger swam 18 miles in one day? Or that monarch butterflies fly as far as 3,000 miles when it is time for them to migrate to their winter homes? How about the fact that giraffes only have seven neck bones, just like people - only theirs are way bigger!

This book has more than just interesting trivia and adorable pictures, because after you get a taste, you will definitely want more. And so it has suggestions for activities, places to visit, websites, and suggested books for further reading. The book also has a glossary and index at the back.

Recommended for ages 4 and over.

Note: Not only is this book fun and beautiful, but a portion of your purchase will benefit the Principal Partners of R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond), Animal Planet’s project to help make the world a better place for animals. You can learn more about ROAR here, and you can download free "fact cards" here.

In celebration of Earth Day today, I wanted to share with you some great books from Animal Planet about some of the animals that inhabit our earth. Animal Planet immerses viewers into the lives of animals, through TV and online platforms. They are the go-to resource for kids to learn about their favorite animals.

I loved these kinds of books as a kid. I still love walking through zoos and learning about animals. There are so many fascinating characteristics to learn about each animal and Animal Planet does a great job of teaching these to children without overwhelming them.

In POLAR ANIMALS, I am immediately drawn to the penguins. I have always enjoyed watching them both at zoos and on TV. There are so many different species of penguins, including one I hadn't heard of before. Did you know there was a Macaroni Penguin? In this book, I expected to read about polar bears, moose, penguins, seals, and walruses. But I hadn't realized all the specific types of birds, squirrels, and hares that also live in the freezing cold areas of our world.

The photographs pop on each page and the facts next to the pictures are brief, keeping kids interested in learning more. Nothing is boring and the tidbits of information are unique and fun. I love learning why animals have certain features to help them live in their environment, like the arctic fox that has short legs to hold in body heat and furry paws to keep them from slipping on the ice. There are certainly many amazing creatures that live on our earth and it is our job to make sure they can continue to thrive in their environment.

I can't say enough about how great these books are. I will be pulling these out in the classroom and when I am babysitting our friend's kids. These books will keep kids interested over and over again!

If you don't purchase nonfiction in paperback, read no further. However, I am a bit of an oddball (apparently) in that I do, frequently, purchase nonfiction paperbacks. I do not do this randomly - I have a somewhat complex internal set of metrics for deciding whether or not to purchase titles in paperback or budget-destroying library binding. One of those rules is that I never purchase animal books in paperback. In fact, I've spent the last few months carefully withdrawing all the nonfiction paperbacks I've found hiding in the 590s.

So why did I immediately add all of the, undeniably paperback, Animal Bites series to my order cart?

This is a new series from Animal Planet and I received two titles for review. Ocean Animals and Polar Animals. Each book begins with a guide to use - the book is arranged by colored tabs, jumping back and forth between the different sections. One spread may explore an animal's habitat, like creatures that live in volcanic vents and is marked with the "where they live" tab while another focuses on a specific animal, such as the Siberian husky. There are colorful spreads comparing different types of penguins, and stunning photos of animals in their habitats in the "vista" section. Most spreads include a few sentences in large, bold type with additional facts, information, and fun extras in smaller type. Each book also contains some simple activities, resources (including places to visit, websites, and other Animal Planet books), glossary, index, and photo credits.

The books cost roughly $8 with my library jobber discount and have a sewn paperback binding and thick, glossy pages.

So, why break my rules for these books? First, because unlike many paperbacks they have a thicker spine, so they won't get lost on the shelf. The spine is wide enough to hold the title and is in an eye-catching green. Secondly, because I have realized that my animal section (well, ALL my nonfiction to be brutally honest) is sadly outdated and I simply don't have the funds to replace it all. I'm going to have to compromise a little to get those empty shelves filled and those tattered and dirty books from the 80s withdrawn. Thirdly, because these are exactly the type of books kids love to pore over, especially in the summer. They're full of photos and facts, easy to read, perfect for browsing. In short, these are gateway books to further reading and exploring the world!

Verdict: Break the rules and give these books a chance. Even if they only last one summer, it will be money well-spent. In addition to the two titles here, Wild Animals and Farm Animals are coming out this June.

Polar Animals
ISBN: 9781618931610

Ocean Animals
ISBN: 9781618931627

Published 2016 by Animal Planet; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Summary: This book was about the inauguration ceremony held when Barack Obama was elected president (the first time). It also shared some history and interesting facts about presidential inaugurations. The author discussed how the Obama's went to the White House on the morning of the inauguration to meet George and Laura Bush and see their new home. She also mentioned how George Washington's inauguration was held in the spring but now they are always held on January 20th. There was also information about the other important people, such as former presidents, who were also present that day. The book talks about how Joe Biden and Barack Obama took the oath of office and how excited people were to have a new president. At the end the author mentions the parades and parties that will take place later that day in order to continue the celebration.

Review: I think that this book would be an excellent way to introduce presidential inaugurations to young children. The book is simple to read but it is packed with interesting information that would keep students engaged. I like how the author also included historical facts and information along with the information about Obama's inauguration. For six and seven year old's many of them have probably heard about inauguration day but are unsure of what really happens. This book sticks to the interesting facts that will help children to understand such a complicated process. I think that the photographs ass a lot to the story especially because they are probably images that children have seen before.

This book has a lot of information about volcanoes. The information includes the history of the volcanoes, how volcanoes erupt, and what toll they take on the people around them. It starts with the science of a volcano and what cause it to erupt. It talks about the science vocabulary including magma, platelets, and lava. It then goes on to talk about the big erupting volcanoes throughout history. It also talks about how an island of Hawaii came to be because of an erupting volcano. After it talks about history it proceeds to tell about all the lives that have been lost because of erupting volcanoes. I am not very interested in volcanoes. However, I did enjoy learning more about them from this book. It does a great a job of informing the reader about volcanoes in a way that is not overwhelming. A classroom extension could be to have students draw a picture of a volcano erupting. Another extension could be to have students create a volcano altogether as a class that will erupt.

I get much informacion about Nelson Mandela who fought as a delegate of a black. I could know only Mandela, but also African Lawyer,Fighter Violence, Freedom so on...

this man is very popurar in africa because he is the first man who became president of south africa as a black.
i like this man in individual taste.½