Journey with Alamance Christian School readers through the pages of books to lands far away as words describe people, places, and ideas worthy of exploration.
This retelling of Victor Hugo’s classic, Les Miserables, is a must hear CD series!
This beautiful story follows the main character Jean Valjean and his life’s journey of injustice, forgiveness, compassion, and love. This listener was captivated with the beauty of the story and found myself transported in time to the period surrounding the French Revolt, and the life circumstances surrounding Hugo’s character, Jean Valjean.
The production is of the highest quality and rivals any medium in the telling of this story. I give my highest recommendation for the hearing of this beautiful classic produced by Focus on the Family. (rev. J. La Tour)
About the audio recording: The story that has thrilled millions comes
to life in a brand new way in Focus on the Family Radio Theatre's Les
Miserables. This audio drama beautifully portrays the redeeming power of
forgiveness through the story of Jean Valjean, an embittered convict
whose life is changed by a single act of kindness. Recorded in London
with some of England's finest actors, it will mesmerize adults and
families alike.
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre audio recording of "Les Misérables" was provided in order that we might provide an honest review. Opinions expressed are those of the reviewer and there was no obligation to render a positive review.
Tabby McTat, The Musical Cat Already the title suggests what even toddlers love - rhyming books! The purr-fect story of Tabby McTat is told in rhythm and rhyme with colorfully illustrated pages. The setting is a large city, large enough to have "buskers" on several corners. A "busker" is a musician who plays for donations. This is best explained before the story is read, especially to small children. The author, Julia Donaldson, was a busker herself traveling around Europe with her husband. The illustrator, Axel Scheffler. is known worldwide; and after reading this book to several groups of children from age four to eight, I know why. The expressions on the people and cats are simple, but strong, leaving no doubt of the emotions felt. The only caution is that every child wants to see every wonderful picture! But back to the story line.... Tabby McTat spent his days singing with his owner, Fred, accompanied by Fred's guitar. One morning, McTat took a stroll, stopping to admire a beautiful black cat, gorgeously groomed, and ready for a chat. Meanwhile, Fred was robbed of his donations and injured in the chase that ensued! He ended up in a hospital faraway from their familiar street corner. When McTat returned, Fred was nowhere to be found! Tabby remained on the streets until, by good fortune, he again encountered the black cat, Sock. She insisted that her people, Prunella and Pat, would gladly find room for a fine tabby cat! Tabby fits right in to the household, but still returns often to the street corner to search for his old friend, Fred. Meanwhile, life goes on, kittens are born at Prunell and Pat's and all given away except one with a VERY LOUD VOICE! When Fred, the busker, returns to the street he sings a sad song yearning for his old friend, Tabby McTat, who shows up one day. Now Tabby has to choose between his life of ease, with his wife and son and Fred who dearly loves him. The solution? You must read it to find out! (But it is one that leaves everyone happy, of course!) (rev. by Carly Karns, Elementary Music Teacher)
About the Authors or Illustrators
Julia Donaldson is the bestselling author of The Fish
Who Cried Wolf, The Room on the Broom, the Gruffalo, and more.
Axel Scheffler has illustrated award-winning books include Room on
the Broom, The Snail and the Whale, and The Gruffalo. His illustrations
have been published in more than thirty countries.
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Tabby McTat, The Musical Cat was provided by Scholastic Press for the purpose of our rendering an honest review without obligation for positive remarks.
There is just something about a tale of pirates that
intrigues children and excites them to the adventure.They love pirate-speak such as “Shiver me
timbers,” “Aye Captain….a big blow,” “Aye, me hearties.”
In Captain No Beard young readers encounter purpose and a
lesson in how hard work and perseverance or determination can help them.
Captain No Beard is a hearty “lad” capable of being a
captain though he finds that it is definitely hard work.Valuable lessons in hard work, friendship,
and determination are taught via this colorful story.
Colorfully illustrated, this “imaginary tale of a pirate’s
life” will surely capture the interest of the young child and young reader just
as surely as though they had been captured by Captain No Beard, the pirate. (rev. VHG)
Author Carole Roman “charms with an imaginative, whimsical
picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates.""Named to Kirkus Reviews'
Best of 2012"
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Captain No
Beard was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
About "Falling to Pieces": In this first book of a three-book series, author Vannetta Chapman brings
a fresh twist to the popular Amish fiction genre. She blends the
familiar components consumers love in Amish books—faith, community,
simplicity, family—with an innovative who-done-it plot that keeps
readers guessing right up to the last stitch in the quilt.
When two women—one Amish, one English—each with different motives,
join forces to organize a successful on-line quilt auction, neither
expects nor wants a friendship. As different as night and day, Deborah
and Callie are uneasy partners who simply want to make the best of a
temporary situation. But a murder, a surprising prime suspect, a
stubborn detective, and the town's reaction throw the two women
together, and they form an unlikely alliance to solve a mystery and
catch a killer.
About "A Perfect Square": There’s more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than
handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and
close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond,
murder is also afoot. And Reuben, brother of Deborah’s best friend’s
fiancé, is in jail as the suspect! Reuben refuses to divulge any
information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he
didn’t commit. So, with her English friend, Callie—fellow sleuth and
owner of Daisy’s Quilt Shop—Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. But
the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie’s help in finding
his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday
Tornadoes. An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose
his future. Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to
piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events—one that can bring
unexpected touches of God’s grace and resolve the tragedy that has
shaken this quiet Amish community.
Review: “Falling to Pieces” and “A Perfect Square” are part of a 3
book series set in Amish country.This
series mixes mystery, friendship and the customs of the Amish for a fun
“who-done-it” it twist.Follow Deborah
and Callie, two unlikely friends, on their amateur sleuthing adventures.While you look for clues you may learn a
little about quilts, the Amish and small town life.A good read for a leisurely afternoon. (rev. M.Free)
Author bio: Vannetta Chapman has published over one hundred articles in Christian
family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers
of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while
researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. She
published a novel with Abingdon Press called A Simple Amish Christmas in October of 2010. Her first Quilt Shop Murder Mystery, Falling to Pieces (Zondervan), released in September 2011. Falling to Pieces is the first book in Vannetta's Amish mystery three-book series. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.
DISCLOSURE: These books were a donation and the review is a complimentary option we are exercising.
Great Book! Found
myself wanting to read “just one more chapter”.
The story of Kelsey Tate, her great grandmother Adele, and the tragic
sinking of the Titanic was most enjoyable.
I also enjoyed the reconciliation within the story of Kelsy and Cole, but more importantly,
Kelsey’s reconciliation with God and her understanding that her life was
nothing without God.
The authors have
woven a wonderful story of modern day mystery and rich history of the
Titanic. I highly recommend “Echoes of
Titanic.” (rev. P.Howard)
Mindy Starns Clark is the author of many books, which include the popular Smart Chick Mysteries, Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, and Under the Cajun Moon. In addition, Mindy’s plays and musicals have been featured in schools and churches across the United States.
John Campbell Clark is an attorney and CPA who works in the
Christian nonprofit field. Married to Mindy Starns Clark, he has served
as her brainstorming partner, research facilitator, and first reader for
many years. A lifelong Titanic buff, he is pleased to be
coauthoring with her now. John and Mindy live with their two daughters
near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
DISCLOSURE: A donated copy was provided the school and reviewed herewith with no obligation to author or publisher for a review.
Renaissance is a word with hope infused in every letter.
Since
she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence,
Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a
picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes
away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead,
Meg’s long-anticipated travel plans seem permanently on hold.
When
her dad finally tells Meg to book the trip, she prays that the
experience will heal the fissures left on her life by her parents’
divorce. But when Meg arrives in Florence, her father is nowhere to be
found, leaving aspiring memoir-writer Sophia Borelli to introduce Meg to
the rich beauty of the ancient city. Sofia claims to be one of the last
surviving members of the Medici family and that a long-ago Medici
princess, Nora Orsini, communicates with her from within the great
masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.
When Sophia, Meg, and Nora’s stories intersect, their lives will be indelibly changed as they each answer the question: What if renaissance isn’t just a word? What if that’s what happens when you dare to believe that what is isn’t what has to be?(from Goodreads.com)
My thoughts: A good book.Very descriptive
in “painting pictures” of Florence
and the many wonderful works of art that have come from this area of our
world.I enjoyed the story line and how
sometimes we have to just be brave and step out on our own – follow our dreams.
Jumping between times in history was hard to
follow at times, but in the end it came together.I enjoyed the characters of Meg, Sophia &
Nora and how their lives entwined.(rev. P.Howard)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary review copy was provided by Blogging for Books on behalf of the publisher, WalterBrook Press and the author to facilitate our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer.
Night Buddies and
the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare by Sands Hetherington
A very interesting book.I like the concept of the book – a story of nighttime buddies and what
adventures you can have when you “don’t want to go to sleep at night.”It is a very imaginative book – a young boy
named John, a red crocodile, and a gang of iguanas.The way the book is written is interesting in
that the author has created a dialect/language for the characters in the book
and this can be difficult at times to follow.I don’t believe 2nd or 3rd graders could easily
read this book.It would probably be
better suited for older elementary ages.In addition, “Iguana Gang” uses language that I believe is not
appropriate for younger grades.In the book, they do
quite a bit of name calling, which as a parent, I did not enjoy.I would encourage any parent possibly
interested in getting this book for their children to be sure and first read it
themselves. (rev. PH)
ISBN: 978-0-9847417-2-4
Publication: February 1, 2013
Night Buddies –
Impostors and One Far-Out Flying Machine by Sands Hetherington
The second book in the “Night Buddies” series does have a
“ton of mischief” going on.I really
appreciated the author’s inclusion at the front of the book the note from
Crosley explaining why the characters “talk” the way they do and that the words
in the book are misspelled on purpose and that children shouldn’t “spell it
that way at school or use it on a spellin’ test!.”I also thought the list of “uncommon words”
was very helpful as you read through the book.
The imagination of the book is great and can encourage
children in their writing to be as creative as possible.There are not limits to creativity.Once again, however, I believe this book is
more appropriate for older elementary aged children.I encourage parents to read this book before
they give it to their children and then also consider reading it along with
their children so that they can discuss it.It can open the door for great conversations on how we should and should
not talk.(rev. PH)
Two of our staff members began reading and didn't desire to complete the books or either finished the book. Both had basically unfavorable impressions and opinions of the books.
DISCLOSURE: We were given the opportunity to participate in the virtual blog tour
for the second book in the Night Buddies series through the author's
publicist on behalf of author Sands Hetherington and the Publisher, Dune Buggy Press. There was no required expectation for a favorable review. All opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. Visit Night Buddies on Facebook.
