Nicola Barber (2)

“First Day of School” by Nicola Barber is a great informational book out of “The Big Day!” series. The first thing that I really enjoyed about this book was that it was written in second person. The author includes questions such as, “Have you talked to your brother or sister about school?”, “What will you wear at your new school?”, and “How will you get to school?” By asking questions directly to the reader, the author pulls the reader in to be a part of the book and show more keeps them engaged. Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed was the format of the book. The pictures in the book are included in circles placed in different positions on each page, there are wavy borders, and the occasional thought bubble, or different sized font. This keeps the mood of the book very light and fun, which goes along with the main idea of the book, which is to ease a child’s anxiousness for their first day of school. I think this book would definitely give children a good idea of what school will be like, and lighten some of the fears and concerns that inevitably come along with the first day. show less

This was a good beginning for me as I try to absorb some history of Islamic Empires. The book is visually appealing with color plates throughout, as well as brief. Using art (architecture, textiles, painting, illustrations) as a hook to transmit facts is a good starting point, since I find chronological history rather dry.. (The book is part of a History in Art series published by Reed Elsevier, Inc.)

I had to work a bit to figure out chronology (yes, there is a timeline in the back), but show more that is OK with me since history is never clear cut (the Umayyad Empire fell here, no wait, there is still a piece of it over here!) Now my only problem is figuring out which time period or type of art I want to follow in more depth. show less

Kids not feeling well? Are they too scared to go to the doctor? Well it is time to rip the band aid off and get them to the doctor. “Going to the Hospital” is a perfect book to get kids more comfortable with the idea that the doctor is really a good place for you. Whether it may be about just a visit or even getting surgery, this book covers all the facts that will make kids realize that doctors want to help and want you feeling better. The pictures by Lockey shows what the real show more experience will be like for children starting with not feeling well and even play time at the hospital. The real life pictures make this book a hit and easy to understand. No more scraped knees over going to the hospital.
-Becca Porter show less

This book explains many aspects of music through the centuries and throughout the world. It is an excellent textbook for non-music students to learn about music history and the mechanics of common instruments. I highly recommend this book as a source for homeschool families.