Children’s
Books: Gift Recommendations
By
Marie Holmes
Faith’s
Journey.
By Christine Verney Issac. Advocate House: Sarasota, Florida (2001)
$17.95.
Young readers curious about different faiths will enjoy this introduction
to some of the world’s religions, in which a mysterious talking
cat, Sofus, leads Faith on a magical journey through the spiritual
world. As Faith is introduced to the beliefs and practices of
Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, she
discovers that learning leads to tolerance and understanding.
Full of important information for all ages, this 112-page chapter
book is tailored for readers ages 9-12, or for reading aloud to
younger children.
Q
is for Quark: A Science Alphabet Book. By David M. Schwartz.
Illustrated by Kim Doner. Tricycle Press: Berkeley (2001) $15.95.
How is a black hole formed? What exactly is a quark, anyway? Stimulate
young scientific minds with this informative alphabet book, which
explains a number of scientific concepts, from Atom to Y chromosome,
both in reader-friendly prose and cartoon illustrations. Designed
for readers ages 9-12, Q is for Quark can be enjoyed by
anyone who wants to learn more about these important scientific
concepts.
The
Grapes of Math: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles. By Greg Tang.
Illustrated by Harry Briggs. Scholastic: New York (2001) $16.95.
A hardcover picture book written in rhyme – and full of math?
This innovative text is author Greg Tang’s creative solution to
the challenge of helping young children enjoy learning math. Through
colorful illustrations and riddles, children are encouraged to
find different ways to solve counting problems. Rather than the
usual drill workbooks, which students complete in several sittings
and don’t return to, the word-problems in The Grapes of Math
can be solved again and again using different methods, helping
children ages 5-10 acquire the skills needed for higher math through
creative thinking rather than rote memorization.
Hide
and Seek Birthday Treat. By Linda Jennings. Illustrated by
Joanne Partis. Barron’s: Happauge, New York (2001) $12.95.
Whether you know a child with a winter birthday or not, this beautiful
picture book makes a nice gift for any preschooler. Brightly-colored,
full-page illustrations accompany the story of Leopard’s birthday.
As Leopard searches for his friends, children can find Zebra,
Lion and others hiding in the book’s pages. Leopard worries that
he may have to celebrate his birthday alone, but it seems that
his friends have a surprise in store for him. Perfect for reading
aloud to very young children; older children can also engage in
the “hide and seek” game without an adult’s help .
Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel:
(212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of
the publisher. © 2001.
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