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Bronze Anthology Holiday Tips Why Books Make FANTASTIC Mother’s Day Gifts Tired of giving the same ol’ gift to your dear sweet mum? We can’t blame you; it’s easy to make the mistake of being a lame gift giver. We’ve all been there! But you …
Bronze Anthology Book Review Varina by Charles Frazier (Historical Fiction 2018) ISBN: 9780062405982 Overview From the author of “Cold Mountain,” comes a historical fiction novel about Jefferson Davis’ wife, Varina. This book is similarly set during the Civil War, as Varina is the wife of …
ISBN: 9780316556347
Overview
For anyone that read “The Odyssey” in high school, this story is like taking a trip down memory lane. Unlike “The Odyssey,” it is a novel, but along Circe’s journey, many of the same characters appear. Interestingly the story focuses on Circe, rather than other, better known Greek gods or goddesses. Which is to say that while some parts of the story will ring-a-bell for anyone that has read Greek Mythology in the past, many parts of the story will be new and captivating.
In Three Words
Greek Mythology… let’s pretend that’s one word
Love
Consequences
Overall Thoughts
The story and main character are difficult to connect with at first, but after several chapters, it or rather she begins to become more interesting. Since the book spans her lifetime, it is an easy, fast-paced read, which only slows down for the most important events in her life.
This books discusses many legends and folklore, such as Circe turning men into pigs, but this book goes beyond the well known and dives into the minutiae. It goes into all of the events that shaped her life, many of which are relatable with an added dose of problems only an immortal Greek Goddess would face. If you are only interested in the book for the pigs, you will be disappointed to know that it is a fairly small piece of the story.
Our Bronze Star Rating
This book is a good read for anyone that enjoys Greek Mythology and all of the intriguing narratives that go along with it. It is not a good read for anyone that already has a strong background in Greek Mythology or Circe, since the story can only be retold not reinvented. Overall, it is a four bronze star read; minus a star because the first few chapters fell short and felt disconnected from the character, especially in comparison to the rest of the story.
Bronze Anthology Book Review Tangerine by Christine Mangan (Suspense 2018) ISBN: 9780062686664 Overview The quote on the cover by Joyce Carol Oates, regarding Donna Tartt and Gillian Flynn, could not be more accurate – it is ‘The Secret History’ meets ‘Gone Girl.’ It is frustrating …
Bronze Anthology Book Review Laura and Emma by Kate Greathead (2018) ISBN: 9781501156601 Overview Mothers and daughters have relationships that change with age and time, which can oscillate between loving and fighting. ‘Laura and Emma’ covers the span of a relationship between a mother and …
**Our newest book reviewer, Koufax Tennyson, tackles the world of children’s literature. In staying true to her namesake, the books are given a 1 to 4 baseball score: single, double, triple, or a homerun!**
Words to describe this group of books: Adventure, Playful, Magical, Imagination
Not every bunny book is about Easter, a few examples of this include: Pat The Bunny (Dorothy Kunhardt), The Velveteen Rabbit (Margery Williams), The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter). At the same time, not all Easter books are about bunnies, such as the Little Critter, Llama Llama, and Berenstain Bears Easter books.
Our focus for this book review was to read books that were either 1. purely about Easter (e.g. The Country Bunny) or 2. in a book series that we have not read before (e.g. Pete the Cat). We hope you’ll enjoy these books as much as we did!
Koufax’s Score: 4 Baseballs (Homerun) **TOP PICK**
Certainly the oldest Easter book on our list in terms of publication, this story is focused on a female Cottontail who wishes nothing more than to be one of the five Easter bunnies. There is an underlying theme of feminism that is alluded to as the main character faces male bunnies that aim to detour the female Cottontail’s fulfillment of her dream. With a little help from her 21 children, Grandfather Bunny, and a pair of gold shoes, the Little Cottontail Mother tackles the task of being the fifth Easter Bunny. This imaginative tale has substance and staying power, as it has been in-print since 1939. This book is one of our top picks for an Easter story!
Koufax’s Score: 4 Baseballs (Homerun)
You will find this book has a soft narrative structure, form, and writing style, which is important because it attempts to reach a vast audience of children, all of whom want to know more about the Easter Bunny. This heavily illustrated book pays particular attention to background imagery with playful characters. The interesting part is that it tells how the Easter Bunny learned his tricks of the trade, such as where he lives and what he does (e.g. weaving straw Easter baskets, painting eggs, making chocolate eggs). This a nice introductory book for kids wanting to believe in the magic of Easter since it covers the traditions of the holiday. A few more details would push this book over the edge, nevertheless, we rate it as a home run because the story captures the spirit of Easter along with wonderful illustrations.
Koufax’s Score: 4 Baseballs (Homerun)
“Pete the Cat” is a series of books, over 40 by now, drawn by illustrator James Dean. Pete’s demeanor, based on his lack of smile and piercing eyes, is a reserved and sullen cat, though he has enough spunk and spirit to at least go along with any plan. He’s exactly what you would think most animals are like when their owners decide to play dress up, they’re not amused. But with a small request, Pete the Cat sets out to help the Easter Bunny, even if it means he must wear some bunny ears and a nose. Our favorite part about this book, besides Pete at least, is that it has a lesson to be learned, which is best said by Pete, “Helping others out is what Easter is all about.”
Koufax’s Score: 3 Baseballs (Triple)
Looking for a board book with a playful story that takes an indirect approach to Easter? Then this is a fun selection! Duck and Goose are hatching a plan to see the Easter Bunny and they have some interesting ideas on where to hide. This is a short read for young children (up to 5 years old), as either a bed time story to follow along or as a read aloud. The back and forth conversation between Duck and Goose helps to draw in the reader, particularly if your child is reading the book for themselves. While we were hoping for more mention of the Easter bunny, this cute story is still worthy of a triple score for us.
Koufax’s Score: 2 Baseballs (Double)
The Easter Bunny meets the modern age in this rendition of an Easter book. While not a story or a tale, E.B. describes all of the ways people try to catch him in his efforts to make Easter deliveries. On one hand, this book is profusely illustrated with crisp and colorful art work that covers the full page. One the other hand, this is a quirky read, which has the feel of a hip-hop song and has some awkward syllables and rhymes. If you’re looking for a bedtime story, this is probably not for you. However, if you’re looking for a silly book to get a giggle or two from your child, this might be up your alley.
Collecting Franklin Library – The 100 Greatest Books of All Time Series Praised for their decorative fine leather-bound books, Franklin Library offered several stunning series for book collectors built specifically for the home library. The most basic of these series is known simply as, “The …
Standing Tall – Caring for Book Spines Books need support too. We often turn to our old favorites or new discoveries for lessons or relief in our lives, but those pages need our help. When the pages are bound together, they form a textblock and …
**Our newest book reviewer, Koufax Tennyson, tackles the world of children’s literature. In staying true to her namesake, the books are given a 1 to 4 baseball score: single, double, triple, or a homerun!**
Words to describe this group of books: Family, Love, Best Friends, Treats, Experiment, Playtime
What is Valentine’s Day truly about? Are there some traits that you wish your child would learn about beyond doting on a crush? We’ve outlined just a few of the traits that we think best exemplify February 14th, specifically Family, Pure Love, Friendship, Sharing, and of course the love of Candy!
Besides participating in the Valentine’s exchange, children can learn about different attributes of the popular February holiday by reading the following books:
Koufax’s Score: 4 Baseballs (Homerun) **TOP PICK**
From a vast series of books, Mercer Mayer presents a childhood adventure through the eyes of a little critter. We have to admit that we are a little biased towards this book series, as it was one of our favorites growing up. One of the best parts of this book is the background illustrations, such as finding the frog (My Mom) and the grasshopper (My Dad) with each page turn. The stories told are true to life as they give a real portrayal of activities, actions, thoughts, and responses that a child faces. While the adventures of these two respective books do not have an immediate connection with Valentine’s Day, they present the opportunity to show that family ties and the love you have for your parents (and similarly your children) can be greater than any disagreement or situation that arises. For that reason, this book earns our top pick to teach, as well as reminisce for those parents out there, about the importance of family.
Koufax’s Score: 4 Baseballs (Homerun)
While controversial for those of the “glass half empty” perspective, “The Giving Tree” at its face value is a book of selfless and pure love. Although most books occur are set in a brief moment in time, this story occurs over the course of a person’s lifetime. The interesting part about this book is how quickly it reads, with the pairing of illustration with short sentences. This makes it almost feel like you’re reading a sort of animation for the first half of the book, which makes it easy for a child of any age to stay engaged. When the story takes a turn to a more serious tone, the reading becomes longer, requiring patience and thought to the true meaning of the book… selfless love.
Koufax’s Score: 3 Baseballs (Triple)
The first book in a series of easy to read short stories for children, “Frog and Toad are Friends” uses a light and playful approach to introduce new beginnings, fun, and adventure. We have to admit that “The Story” chapter is a little silly as it is fairly drawn out and a bit frustrating to follow as the story goes nowhere. However, the next chapter “A Lost Button” livens up the pace of the book once more. The important thing to remember is that the repetitiveness of each short story embraces the “I Can Read” theme and enables young readers to expand their reading ability with word familiarity. It is the usefulness of the book combined with the playfulness of each short story that makes this a great choice for young readers.
Koufax’s Score: 3 Baseballs (Triple)
Another series of books, features a young goose named Gossie, who learns the art of sharing her bright red boots. This easy to follow story with basic text focuses on Gossie’s favorite attire and uses unique and whimsical illustrations to convince young readers that it is perfectly okay to trust others with your prized possession. The biggest critique is that there isn’t a reason of WHY anyone should share, but at the very least, the theme that you should share is more than sufficient.
Koufax’s Score: 3 Baseballs (Triple)
Kids love candy and with any holiday comes the opportunity to consume as much as possible. Candy Experiments takes a different approach and gives children a chance to tap into their inner Wonka. Instead of simply reading about fanciful treats, you’ll have the opportunity to play and learn alongside your little one with these fun experiments. If anything, you’ll spend more time playing with candy than eating or reading about it. Give it a try!
How to Handle Books There are several things that many so called book “lovers” do that can be quite irritating: such as writing or highlighting, dog-earring pages, attaching ex-libris stickers, or otherwise damaging a book. But there is nothing as frustrating as seeing other book …