What a wonderful book about creating awareness regarding food allergies. This book, written by Christine Taylor-Butler teaches what food allergies are, how they affect the person with the allergies and how to avoid ingesting foods that can cause an allergic reaction if a person is allergic to certain ingredients.
People are becoming increasingly aware that food allergies can be severe and life threatening. Even smelling a food that a person is allergic to can cause serious health problems for some. This book, Food Allergies, teaches children to be sensitive towards those who suffer from food allergies.
I like the fact that the book show pictures of people who are affected by food allergens. I think sometimes, people think food allergies and they think mild reaction like itching or sneezing…but that isn’t always the case, sometimes food allergies can be life threatening.
The book goes into detail about how to communicate to others about any potential food allergies and how to avoid being contaminated by another person. It also show children that their actions can hurt another person just by touching something that someone else might be allergic to and going near them.
The book is wonderful in the fact that it teaches children that they can have some control over their environment by learning how to avoid hidden food ingredients, by reading food labels. Often times, the ingredients in some foods have more than one name and can still be harmful to the person with allergies. The book teaches that when cooking or baking a person can substitute certain food items in place of the ones that they are allergic to.
This book, Food Allergies, was published for Juvenile literature by Children’s Press an imprint of Scholastic. You can see their website here: www.scholastic.com/librarypublishing .
Discovering Wetlands is one of the books in the series of World Habitats. There are six books in this series including this one…the others are: Reefs, Mountains, Rain Forests, Arctic Tundra, Tropical Savanna. This book was written by Janey Levy.
The subject of wetlands is very important. Most of the time when we hear about wetlands it is in regards to legal fights between business or homeowners who are in a fight with agencies set up to protect the wetlands. It is important to find a balance between life choices and protecting the wetlands life cycles.
The wetlands are a part of our ecosystems that help to improve the quality of life for people, plants and animals. There are three main types of wetlands…each has it’s own function. There are marshes, swamps and peatlands. Each of those have several types of varieties. Take for example marshes…there are saltwater and freshwater. Each of them provides different functions for plant and animal life. Many plants are only found in wetlands; the same with animals. The wetlands provide breeding grounds as well as, a perfect environment for raising their young.
Humans have started to understand the impact of destroying wetlands. In the past, it was not unheard of to divert the water from the wetlands; trying to reclaim more ground for building and planting on. In doing that…many things were destroyed. Wetlands help to prevent flooding. Man was not meant to live in some of those areas, many in coastal regions…and infact, in recent years, flooding has taken a huge toil on city’s and populations that have built businesses and homes, in areas that were formerly wetlands and paid a very high price in doing so.
Since the 1900′s about half of the world’s wetlands have vanished. In the United States, we loose about 100,000 acres every year. Some species of animals and plants only live in wetlands…so when we lose the wetlands, often we lose those plants and animals as well. Wetlands also help to clean up water that we use for drinking…it filters it, naturally, for us.
This book was published in 2008 by the Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. You can go to this website to learn more: www.powerkidslinks.com/whab/wetland/ . The world around us is beautiful and useful. This book helps to explain some of what we see around us and why it is there. This book is for Juvenile readers. It is hardcover and full of fun and important information.
Fire in the Bood is a novel that has been translated from the French language by Sandra Smith. A little true-life, backstory to the novel itself…it seems that it appeared to be an unfinished novel because the writer, Irene Nemirovsky would have her typed up by her husband Michel from her manuscripts; the novel appeared to end at a certain point. It was often wondered if her husband quit typing the novel when his wife Irene had been arrested and taken to Auschwitz in 1942.
Some believe that Irene was still working on the book at the time of her arrest because when she was arrested…her two daughter escaped arrest and two pages of her novel were in their belongings; along with another novel that she had written called, Suite Francaise. At the same time, Irene had insured that 30 pages of Fire in the Blood were kept safe by giving them to her editor friend.
That she would work so hard to preserve her writings shows just how much they meant to her; she risked much to make sure that the novels could be read. Her novel Suite Francaise was published 60 years after her death in Auschwitz. The Nazi death camps stole much from our world with all of the murders of people who each had a life; and skills, that forever was ended once they were forced beyond the gates of the camps.
The story of Fire In The Blood is one of passion; recklessly spent in youth and atoned for later in life. It is set in a French village at a time before WWII. The main character is Silvio who is in his adult retirement stage of life. He is brought to a reckoning of his past by the actions of his friends and relatives, in their present circumstances. Secrets from that time are revealed that impact them all and he is resigned to relive those days. He sees all of the life choices he has made in review and tries not to judge others on the choices they make while they are under the influence of Fire In The Blood. It is a very good book…made even more special by having the knowledge of what the writer went through to allow us to read the words of her heart and mind.
This edition was published by Wheeler Publishing, an imprint of Thomson Gale and was copyrighted in 2007. You can see their website here: www.gale.com/wheelerpublishing or at www.thomson.com .
Just Beyond The Clouds, is a book about living with Down’s Syndrome. It briefly teaches on the health issues and emotional, social and economic realities of a person with disabilities.
The book was written by Karen Kingsbury, who is excellent at creating believable and relevant relationships. The book explores a family’s need to protect their loved one; while at the same time, giving as much freedom as possible to explore the world; as their loved one is able to have. Independence is a huge issue for families affected by disabilities…as well as young people; even those with special needs.
The book also touches on the mistakes that are made while trying to limit the danger or hurts that a special needs loved one might experience and the consequences of overstepping the boundaries between protection and control. The need to recognize a person’s growth is a basic human need, it is the way we each measure our abilities to function in the world. Special needs persons also need that recognition to improve their life skills; and, their ability to function in a variety of circumstances.
The book is inspiring in the fact that it shows the relationships that groups of special needs students form with one another and the support system that many people underestimate. It is a powerful thing to behold.
The main issue i like that Ms. Kingsbury illustrates is that the public must understand that it is not enough just to occupy a loved one’s waking hours with television and boredom. Teaching life skills is very important, acknowledging the interconnectedness of special needs students and understanding that they do form friendships, romantic relationships, and they can contribute much to our communities. I have special needs sons…and i know, too many people underestimate their abilities.
It is important to finance and support learning centers, and job coaching, and teachers who are committed and skilled at supporting special needs students and their families! This book hits the heart and the mind at the same time; all the while, opening doorways to understanding those who are born differently but with many skills and assets just the same. The power of feelings is the same in all human beings.
The book was copyrighted in 2007 and published in 2008 by Center Street a division of Hachette Book Group USA. It is a book of fiction.
Hidden Michigan is a wonderful book that opens the eye of the reader to many of the wonderful things to do and see in Michigan. The writers, Anne Margaret Lewis and Janis Campbell, have all of the answers to the subject that always comes up with children about mid-summer; I’m bored…isn’t there anything to do?
If the book was written for adults it would be a tourist guide written in small print with photographs and written descriptions of where to go, where to stay, and how much everything costs. However, this is written for children; so it tells about things that interest them.
There are sports, heros, dinosaur footprints, activity centers, famous food places, orchards, planetariums, bridges, lighthouses, animals, water parks, inventors, museums, festivals, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Bear caves, boats, trains, ferries and so very much more to explore.
No boring old pictures in this book…the whole book is illustrated and in a fun way…turn the book in different directions and you find something new to peak your interest. The book was illustrated by Wendy Popko. Kids will love this book. It is fun to discover new places and things to see in your own back yard.
Hidden Michigan was copyrighted in 2006; and was published by Mackinac Island Press, Inc. Here is there website: www.mackinacislandpress.com
Rebecca Olien has written a simple and educational book for young children that teaches them the relationship between animals and man and the role each plays in the life of the other. It teaches the importance of understanding that we must take care to nuture and not destroy the planet because each animal’s life may depend on how we care for them and the environment.
The book goes on to illustrate other animals that were on the endangered list and with a little intervention were able to start rebuilding in numbers. In terms that young children can understand…it encourages small steps toward green living that can make a big impact on the world; allowing us to enjoy the animals that play such an important part in the world. Except dinosaurs…for those frightened that they may return…the book explains that no one living has seen them in person…and that when something is extinct…it is gone forever.
There are wonderful pictures of animals, plants and fossils. This book was copyrighted in 2007 by Capstone Press. It is a First facts books and i would say it is for readers from 4-9 years of age. Check out their website: www.capstonepress.com
Firestorm is a thriller written by Iris Johansen. She is a always a good read. This particular book was written about a couple of people who are obsessed with finding a skilled arsonist. They are drawn together by their mutual need to capture the antagonist before he inflicts his “child” of fire on more people. When they become involved on a more personal and intimate level…the stakes are even higher.
The two lead characters, Kerry Murphy and Silver , have both lost loved ones to fire. They harness their irregular skills of using their ability to sense and navigate the human mind. They work with all of the appropriate organizations during the investigation; but, ultimately, they are on their own when traditional methods fail to provide them with the apprehension of the antagonist, Trask.
When Trask, is equally obsessed with both of them the story becomes a bit of cat and mouse. Scattered throughout the book are innocent bystanders who are affected during the attempt to search out and apprehend Trask…will their search be successful in time to save more people from destruction? You will have to read it to find out!
Firestorm was copyrighted in 2004 by Johansen Publishing. This edition was a first large print edition; www.randomlargeprint.com .
This book, written for the young reader is very entertaining. It taps into the young middle school aged girl’s life. The Wedding Planner’s Daughter was written by Coleen Murtagh Paratore with a real understanding of the constantly revolving emotional balance of a young girl who is on the move.
The story is of a young lady who has moved around all of her life because of her mother’s fear of attachment to any man in a love relationship. She lives by a very strict standard of rules of conduct at home, at school and in public. Willa is her name. She longs to have a father and a life that stays in one spot.
Finally, Willa seems on the verge of having her wishes come true…till one act of secret benevolence undoes all of the progress her mother has made in allowing someone special to capture her attention. Willa shows us how important it is to connect to others in our lives and how the power of love is what makes everything else in life bearable. Growing up is hard to do when you are on the outside looking in.
This book would make a wonderful birthday gift or a gift acknowledging the thought, “I know you are growing up” kind of gift to someone special in your life.
This book was published by Scholastic Inc; copyrighted in 2005 by arrangement with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Check out Scholastic here: http://www.scholastic.com