Mary Small (1)

I bought this book for the library because I was looking for a way to introduce the idea of citizenship. I taught a few lessons about digital citizenship with my classes and wanted to start with the basic concept of citizenship, especially with my younger grades, and found I had nothing suitable. This book helps fill that void. The text is short and the illustrations are bright. Each page shows a different idea of what it means to be a good citizen. Suggestions include voting (of course), show more volunteering, shoveling your neighbors snow, being a caring friend, and being smart online. It addresses the ideas broadly and shallowly, which makes it an excellent book to introduce the topic with my younger friends. show less

In my opinion, this is an excellent book to read with children that will teach them ways to be respectful. I enjoyed this book for many reasons. First, I enjoyed the illustrations. I feel that children will be able to relate to what is happening in the pictures. The pages include scenarios that children often experience. Next, I enjoyed that even though it was in the nonfiction section it was still very engaging and fun to read. It was very personal. The situations discussed were things like show more standing to sing the national anthem at a baseball game, shaking the opposing teams hands after a game, opening the door for others, etc. There were many things, as I stated above, that children have done or would be able to do. Sometimes, people assume that nonfiction books are going to be boring and just overload you with information, but on the contrary this book was really engaging and it taught the information in a fun way! In addition, I enjoyed that each page wasn't filled with a lot of text. That makes it a great book for young or beginning readers to read on their own. However, I also think it would be a text that you could read with all elementary ages to teach ways to be respectful. The final thing that I enjoyed about this book was that at the very end it lists all the books in the "Way to be!" series. There are books on being caring, trustworthy, responsible, fair, and a good citizen. I think they are all great books to add to a classroom library! The main idea of this story is to teach children ways to be respectful. show less

Evan is going to be thirteen in a few months, when he will become Marked. This will allow him the freedom to get an after school job, shop and do anything he’d like without requiring someone else to do it for him. He is fearful, however, since his sister, Lily, never came back from being Marked; she was a rare failure. Evan is sure he is being spied on, and has for some time, but it’s not until he meets Erin, a new girl in from Beacon, that he finds out he has been spied on and that show more it’s by a group of Unmarked teens. The race is on to expose these teens before his time comes to be Marked—or should he?
I barely gave this 3 stars, as I hovered between caring and not caring what happened. The writing is okay, neither bad nor stellar, but given that this is Angler’s first book, I chose to give it the benefit of the doubt. The test will come when I give it to my son to see if he likes it, although he’s already dubious because he’s nearly a year older than the protagonist at the start of the book. There is nothing highly original about the concept of the barren North America, and given that it is supposed to be a Christian series (not seen any glimpses yet other than one passing remark about how some people simply disappeared without a trace during a time of multiple deaths), but the mark idea comes from there as well as the push to one government as per Revelation. I’m going to try the second book to see if it’s any better, but if not, won’t continue. show less

This book shows us how to be a good citizen at home at in the community, by choosing to do good even it may be a little hard like putting the dog poop in the garbage or returning your books to the library. Good book to share!