Jan14

The Lost Hero

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Carrie

I really like the new characters: Jason and Piper and Leo. (Especially Leo!) I loved the mechanical dragon Festus. Personally, I’d rather ride a mechanical dragon than a hippogrif, I mean, if anybody ever gives me the choice.

This one opens with Jason, Piper and Leo on a bus on a field trip. Jason has amnesia and doesn’t even know who Leo and Piper are. Monsters attack (of course!) and hey, don’t you know, these three are demi-gods and their teacher is their satyr/guardian. If you don’t have the book yet look inside at the first few chapters and then take a look at what other kids have to say about it. (Although beware spoilers!) Author: Rick Riordan

Amazon Look Inside: The Lost Hero
The Heroes of Olympus Official Website
Rick Riordan’s Blog Myth & Mystery
Read what other kids have to say.
The Lost Hero on CD, en Español, Downloadable eBook or eAudio

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Jan14

El Heroe Perdido

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Carrie

El Heroe Perdido

El Peroe Perdido

Me gustan mucho los nuevos personajes: Jason y Piper y Leo. (EspecialmenteMirar Dentro Leo!) Me encantó el dragón mecánico Festus. Personalmente, prefiero cabalgar un dragón mecánico que un hippogrif, quiero decir, si alguien alguna vez me da la opción.

Éste se abre con Jason, Piper y Leo en un autobús en un viaje de campo. Jason tiene amnesia y ni siquiera sabe quienes son Leo y Piper. Los monstrous los ataquen (¡por supuesto!) Y bueno, ¿no lo sabes, estos tres son semi-dioses y su profesor es su sátiro / tutor. Si tú no tienes ya el libro, miralo interior y a lo los primeros capítulos y luego echa un vistazo a lo que otros niños tienen que decir al respecto. (¡Aunque cuidado con los spoilers!)

Amazon Mirar Dentro: El Héroe Perdido
The Lost Hero en Español

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Jan10

Warriors #1: Into the Wild

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Carrie

Warriors #1: Into the Wild

For generations, four clans of wild cats have shared the forest. When their warrior code is threatened by mysterious deaths, a house cat named Rusty may turn out to be the bravest warrior of all.

Jaheim says:

Its about cats that talk, become leaders, fight, love, and other cool things. If you read just one you’ll be amazed by the emotion put into every character THANKS!!!!!!!

Amazon Look Inside: Into the Wild
GoodReads: Into the Wild
Official Website: Warriors

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Jan5

Snow Forts, Snowballs & Snowflakes

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Carrie

Snow Forts, Snowballs & Snowflakes

Provides tips and techniques for building snow forts, slides, and games

Instructibles: How to Build a Snow Fort
Spoonful: This Cold House
Boy’s Life Magazine: How to Build an Igloo

Offers instructions for fifteen unusual projects including a rocket-propelled toy car, an automatic dog feeder, storm-predicting bells, and a mechanical snowball thrower.

Online Game 100 Snowballs
Carnegie Science Center: Stockpiling Snowballs
WikiHow: How to Make a Perfect Snowball

Wilson Bentley, a real guy also known as “The Snowflake Man”, was fascinated with snow even as a young man. He started photographing individual snowflakes…and since no two are alike, you know that’s a lot of flakes! He collected snowflake crystals and worked on perfecting the technique to photograph them his entire life. Click on the link below to see some of his pictures. I really didn’t know that the snowflakes you cut out of paper…really do look like the real crystals. The flakes are really beautiful. Author: Jacqueline Martin Illustrator: Mary Azarian

Wilson A. Bentley Official Website
Make-a-Flake
Is it true that no two snowflakes are alike? Answer
Make Ice Spikes

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Jan1

Black History: Cowboys, Pioneers & the West

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Carrie

Black History: Cowboys, Pioneers & the West

Featured Old West Marshall: Bass Reeves Bass Reeves grew up as a slave in Texas. Even as a young boy he was good with a gun. His master used to take him to shooting contests to show him off. One night though, when Bass was a young man, he and his master got in a fight and Bass punched his owner. Hitting a white man was punishable by death – so Bass ran, and he ran as a fast and as far as he could – all the way to Indian Territory in the West.

The frontier wasn’t called the Wild West for nothing. It was rough country with outlaws roaming around. The West was a great place for bad guys to hide. In 1875 the government hired 200 deputy marshals to help bring order to the frontier and Bass Reeves was one of them. He was also the best one. He could fight and he could shoot when he had too, but mostly, he was smart. He was also known for his honesty and integrity. One time, he had to arrest his own son! Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

The Legend of Bass Reeves

Another great book about Bass is The Legend of Bass Reeves. Gary Paulsen, the author of this book, calls it “the true and fictional account of the most valiant marshal in the West.” Mr. Paulsen adds a little here and there to fill in the places where history left gaps…but for the most part, this is the story of Bass the real guy – the first African-American U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi – and this was in the 1870s! Bass became a legend, even in his own time. Some outlaws turned themselves in once they heard it was Bass that would be looking for them! Bass Reeves – an American original!