Running Free America’s Wild Horses by Frank Staub

ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-2670-4
Grades 1-4, Page Count: 48

Description: Author and photographer Frank Staub takes readers out into the wild to view and learn about wild horses as they roam in their natural habitat. The question-and-answer format provides information on everything from where wild horses live to how they care for their young, how wild horses came to be in America, and how they are being protected today. Beautiful color photographs throughout enhance the engaging text.

Review: Running Free America’s Wild Horses is a very informative book about the American Wild Horse. Each page is filled with answers to a question that is posed about the American Wild Horse.    Photographs from gifted Frank Staub accompany each page and add to the experience of the book.   Each question leads the reader to learn about the details of American Wild Horses. 

The history of the American Horse is filled with evolutionary philosophy.   This would be an excellence resource book for a middle grade student doing research on American Horses for a school project. The pictures will lure even the reluctant reader to turn its pages and delve into its detail. (reviewed by C. Delorge)

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by  Enslow Publishers, Inc. to facilitate our honest review. No compensation was received for this review.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Champion of Civil Rights by Edith Hope Fine

ISBN-13: 978-0-7660-2466-3
Grades 3-4, Page Count: 32

The Heroes of American History series includes the story of  Martin Luther King, Jr. Champion of Civil Rights by Edith Hope Fine. This series will encourage the young student to delve into the study of biographies of famous people. Ms. Edith Hope Fine's book about Martin Luther King, Jr. is an inspiring book detailing the life and events surrounding Mr. King's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.  The author presents well the details of the peaceful approach to change that was near and dear to Dr. King. 

The large type makes this an easy read for young readers and middle readers alike.  Pictures of the actual events accompany the text to make the information real for the reader.  Each chapter is a concise explanation of an important event in the life of Dr. King as well as in the history of the Civil Rights movement in American history.

This will be an appropriate book for young student's reports and period studies. This is a good book to add to the ACS Library biography section. (reviewed by Claudette Delorge)

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Champion of Civil Rights was provided to us by Enslow Publishers, Inc. to facilitate our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

"Henry Hudson Explorer of the Hudson River" by Arlene Bourgeois Molzahn

ISBN-13: 9780766020702

Review:

Henry Hudson Explorer of the Hudson River by Arlene Bourgeois Molzahn is an enjoyable book to read.  The author has filled the pages with clear information about the historical period, the Age of Exploration.   There was a clear portrayal of a Hudson’s desire to find a northern water route to the Indies and the surprising discoveries he made instead. 

Molzahn clearly writes of the interactions between Hudson and those for whom he was working.  I especially enjoyed reading the depiction of what life was like  when traveling on the sea during that time period.  I think often we have idealized views of explores and almost romanticize what it would be like to be an explorer.  Molzahn clearly presents the trials and struggles that went along with the life of an explorer during this time period.   

I also enjoyed the mixture of new photographs and old style pictures that went along with the text of each page.  This book would be a good resource for middle graders as well as junior high students interested in the life of early explorers. (reviewed by Claudette Delorge)

DISCLOSURE:  A complimentary copy of Henry Hudson Explorer of the Hudson River was provided by Enslow Publishers, Incorporated, for the purpose of review. No compensation was received for this review.

"The Green Bath" by Margaret Mahy & Illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Review: This is a wonderfully fanciful story about a boy, a bath, and pirates.   Delightful illustrations accompany fun text that lends itself to a good read aloud for young children.   Sammy is challenged to stay clean for his grandmother’s arrival. 

When his neighbors get a new fancy boat and he gets a new green tub and his adventure begins.  Poor Sammy finds out that his adventure can be equally as fun as theirs.   This story lets each one use their imagination in an amazing and fun way. (reviewed by Claudette Delorge)

The teaming of Margaret Mahy's  famous award garnering text and story line with famed Steven Kellogg's fantastic skill as an illustrator creates a book sure to please the kids and presents an adventure that they will surely emulate in their own bath tub.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Scholastic Press in exchange for our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer.

"Ivan Becomes a Hero" by by Linda Rossetti Brocato, Illustrated by Donna Brooks

This book is a wonderful story of acceptance.  Throughout the story the main character “Ivan” wants to learn about the world outside his own backyard.  He learns that we are all different and sometime others are not kind and friendly or accepting of differences.  

He does learn that God created us for His purpose and we need to praise Him for how he did make us.  Brooks’ illustrations are fabulous as they depict the emotions that are experienced by Ivan. 

This would be a good story to read aloud to younger children when teaching that each one of us is different and we need to celebrate our differences and use them as a positive instead of a negative.  This story is heartwarming and Ivan is a character that many children can relate to the feelings he experiences. (reviewed by C.Delorge)

DISCLOSURE: Ivan Becomes a Hero was a gift to ACS Library. Published by Brocato Publishing.

"The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent" by Erwin W. Lutzer

Review:  The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent by Erwin W. Lutzer is a very encouraging and balanced viewpoint of how Christians can engage instead of fear Muslims. Most Muslims in the U.S. and around the world are not radicals, but the fundamentalist Muslims (Islamists) are pushing an agenda to Islamize America.

Lutzer gives lessons for today's churches and ends each chapter with a salvation testimony from a Muslim. The book is very positive in assessing that Christ and the church will triumph in the end. However, the church needs to busily engage Muslims with the gospel by showing our love, compassion, and boldness in the Scriptures. Jesus Christ is the Messiah and has not been superseded by Muhammed. Allah and God of the Bible are very different.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is concerned about our churches and tolerance of Islam in our schools' textbooks and guidelines. Lutzer gives examples from European history how accepting and conforming to those who are intolerant of other religions only promotes intolerance and persecution.

My only constructive criticism is for Lutzer to include the historical section of Islam's conquest of the 7th century to an earlier chapter. He doesn't include much history until the seventh chapter. Chapter ten was very enlightening; Lutzer gave many positive and practical suggestions detailing how Christians can grow in their awareness of the spiritual conflict and what they can do to stem the tide of Islamic inroads into our nation. (reviewed by M.Reynolds)

About the author: Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago since 1980, is an award-winning author of more than 30 books including Life-Changing Bible Verses You Should Know. A celebrated international conference speaker and the featured speaker on three radio programs heard worldwide, he and his wife, Rebecca, have been married nearly 45 years. They have three married children and eight grandchildren.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of The Cross and the Crescent was provided by Harvest House Publishers for the purpose of review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

Lincoln by Harold Holzer

How did President Abraham Lincoln come to believe that slavery was "morally wrong," and that Congress needed to pass a law to abolish it once and for all? What did he do in January 1865—three months before he was assassinated—to ensure passage of the Thirteenth Amendment?

This fast-paced, riveting book answers these questions and more as it tells the story of Lincoln's life and times from his upbringing in Kentucky and Illinois, through his work as a lawyer and congressman, to his candidacies and victory in two Presidential elections. It also describes Lincoln's duties in the Civil War as Commander-in-Chief, his actions as President, and his relationships with his family, his political allies and rivals, and the public who voted for and against him. Harold Holzer makes an important era in American history come alive for readers of all ages.

An official companion to Steven Spielberg's Oscar® award-winning film Lincoln, the book also includes thirty historical photographs, a chronology, a cast of characters, texts of selected Lincoln writings and speeches, a bibliography, and a foreword by the author about his experience working as a consultant on the movie. (amazon.com description)

Review:  An absolutely great book!!!  Easily a companion to any history class studying the life of Abraham Lincoln.  While most Americans know who Abraham Lincoln was, they can only tell you that he was President during the Civil War and he freed the slaves.  There is so much more to Lincoln’s life.  Based on facts in the book, apparently Lincoln was the first presidential candidate to suggest a presidential debate.

Do you know why Lincoln grew a beard or that he and his wife Mary went through every parent’s nightmare of losing more than one child? 

This book would serve as a great resource for any student having to do a term paper on Lincoln.  It is easy to read and is full of information.  In fact, its one drawback may be that the author was trying to put too much information in the book.  Regardless, I highly recommend this book for anyone remotely interested in the life of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln. (Rev. P.Howard)

DISCLOSURE: A copy was won on Goodreads.com.