Nancy I. Sanders

Do you have a 7-9 year old? Then here is an adventure they will enjoy. Captured on the High Seas is an Imagination Station story about cousins Patrick and Beth. Mr. Whittaker, owner of Whit's End and inventor of the Imagination Station, sent the children to Massachusetts to meet Paul Revere. But on their way back to Whit's End, a musket ball damaged the time machine and they were accidentally sent to a ship. It looked as if they were still in the Revolutionary War era.

Patrick and Beth met show more James on the ship. He showed them around and then put them to work. Patrick became a powder monkey like James while Beth assisted the cook in the galley. Just as they were adjusting to their new duties, their ship was attacked and captured by a British war ship. The young people experienced many hardships and adventures before the Imagination Station picked them up again.

This book is perfect for high interest, young reading level readers. It is a chapter book that is at about second or third grade reading level. Chapters average three to four pages each, and sentence structure has an average of 6-8 words. Younger children would love being read to, since the action is virtually non-stop.

History comes alive in this book and series; some readers may be interested to learn that the James Forten Patrick and Beth meet was a real person. Some of the events he lived through mentioned in this book really happened to him, even his imprisonment on a modified ship docked in the harbor.

All throughout the book, good character qualities are demonstrated and lived out, not preached about. For example, when James is given an opportunity to escape by hiding in the officer's trunk, he sacrificed his chance by urging a young child suffering from scurvy to take his place. I highly recommend this book for children who love reading about adventures, especially ones that really happened.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. through their Blog Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” show less

An alphabet of terms relating to African-American history. There are two kinds of alphabet books -- "let's learn the alphabet" and "you already know the alphabet, so let's build on that to learn something else", and this is decidedly the second variety. Each letter features both a short couplet in large print and a more extensive and text-heavy sidebar going into further detail. The poetry could scan a bit awkwardly and the rhymes for a couple of pages were a real stretch (a pet peeve of show more mine...if you're going to rhyme, go whole hog and get it to work!). However, I did like the way the book made itself appropriate for a broad age range by presenting two levels of depth. Part of collection of alphabets exploring various cultures and themes. show less

When my kids were school-aged, I tried my best to keep them engaged in learning during their summer break. Camps, field trips, hands-on experiences, and, of course, reading, were mixed in with fun in the sun and lazy days. Though my reading plans were often met with resistance, all three of my kids love reading now, though they differ in their interests. And that’s where my review of The Bible Explorer’s Guide comes in. This book is a great resource to provide your kids with hours of show more engaging and world-expanding reading fun. The subtitle of this book for kids in the 3rd-6th grades is 1000 Amazing Facts And Photos — something to spark the interest in any kid, no matter their interests. They may even find a new passion to explore! While providing interesting information, maps, illustrations and archeological facts, it also provides a springboard for exploring God’s Word too. There are 35+ articles that follow scriptural chronology, both Old and New Testaments, as well as a Biblical timeline and Who’s Who in the Bible. From history and the natural world to the mystery of God’s plan, The Bible Explorer’s Guide is the perfect accompaniment for fun, this summer and throughout the year.

Recommended.

Audience: children in grades 3-6.

(Thanks to Zonderkidz for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

The first thing I noticed about this book is the way it draws in the reader. Picking it up and skimming the pages got me interested immediately. I instantly liked the way the author separated the information and facts by using the colored symbols. I also love the use of actual photographs throughout the book. This book would be excellent used in a classroom/ home school setting as well as being read for fun by elementary school ages. I really enjoy a book like this for children because it show more opens the door to a wonderful learning tool for parents to use while they nurture an interest in history as well as biblical heroes. The story of David is so incredible that children will be intrigued by the boy that fought Goliath and won. David lived an exceptionally interesting life as a shepherd, a soldier, and even a fugitive before he became King. Young readers will learn and understand why David is one of the most interesting people in the Bible and certainly one of the greatest.
There are also 4 color maps included along with Scripture references throughout the book. That could further encourage young readers as they read this colorful story about King David. I believe this book to be a winner and look forward to reading more from this series show less