Great Heights Week: Goliath....and David

While thinking of tall things for this week’s theme, “Great Heights,” the idea of doing a Goliath post came to me. I checked this David and Goliath out from the library because I just love the cover illustration! And on the inside too the illustrations are as big as life....really good. But when Shannon and I read it last night I didn’t enjoy the writing so much.  I mean “old rams skipped and danced in their grave fashion”? It was also annoying how lines were repeated and disturbing how the author included details of David cutting off Goliath’s head at the end. Yuck. Is there a plus side? Well, it is gratifying that the book reeks with the feel and look of life back then. And the fact that there was a conflict at the time of King Saul between the Israelites and the Philistines is certainly substantiated. But best of all, underscored is the lesson that you can conquer any problem if you think smart. 


Ages 6-9
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Activity: Here’s a David and Goliath coloring page.

Feeling a little guilty about not having a better David and Goliath offering, I looked around for some online sources and I may have struck gold for the older kids. During the 7th century a Byzantine artist created a series of plates telling the story of David. Today, most of those plates are on display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the Online Books Page I found a link to a free learning-activity offered by the museum that encourages young people to look more closely at the Museum’s spectacular set of Byzantine silver objects, known as the David Plates. It provides an in-depth exploration of the plates, including their subject—the biblical story of David and Goliath—and essential background information about the culture in which they were made. Also included are maps, teaching strategies, and activities for students. Wouldn’t it be neat to do this activity before a visit to the museum?

FIRST LADY WEEK - Abigail Adams

From Martha to Michelle, America has had more than forty fabulous first ladies, as evidenced in Our Country's First Ladies. This National Geographic book is full of interesting details from the lives of Martha Washington on down to Laura Bush (it was published in 2007). The book dedicates a spread to each First Lady in chronological order that includes a full page portrait and a perfect amount of well written copy. Learn about the influence these women had on their husbands, about the different causes they took on as well as lots of other interesting tidbits. For instance, did you know that Lou Hoover was the first woman to get a geology degree from Stanford University or that Elizabeth Monroe played a pivotal role in saving the wife of Marquis de Lafayette from the guillotine? You’ll also discover that Julia Grant once hosted a White House dinner featuring 29 courses of food and that 21 year old Frances Cleveland was the youngest First Lady. This book is a pleasurable read and an appropriate choice for this week’s theme....First Ladies!

Ages 9-12
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I notice that for the same aged reader, DK published a book in 2008 that includes our newest First Lady, Michelle Obama. It has been my experience that you can always count on these Eye Witness books to be fabulous. This one is titled First Ladies and it includes a clip art CD.

Many of you have gotten to know Abigail Adams through the amazing HBO miniseries, John Adams. Following is an introduction to Abigail for the younger set....

TITLE: Abigail Adams

AUTHOR: Alexander Wallner

WHAT WAS HER BACKGROUND? The daughter of a reverend, Abigail was born in 1744 in Weymouth, Massachusetts near Boston. She was bright and wanted to attend school, but school was for boys in her mother’s opinion. So she spent a great deal of time in her father’s library reading and listening in on adult talk of current events.

HOW DID SHE AND THE FUTURE PRESIDENT MEET? When she was seventeen, she met the 26 year old lawyer, John Adams, who was a friend to her sister’s fiance. He was very impressed with her knowledge. They married a couple of years later.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: She gave birth to six children. Of those, four reached adulthood and of those, one became the sixth president of the United States. She was often responsible for managing the family’s farm and finances while her husband traveled. She was directly effected by the brewing storm between the colonials and Britain. She boycotted goods that carried British taxes by making them herself, sheltered Boston residents who were fleeing the city after the Boston Tea Party and tried to influence her husband’s opinion regarding rights for slaves and women in the new laws he was helping to create. Unfortuanetly one reply he gave was “I cannot but laugh.” Believing strongly in education she sent her daughter to school and taught a black servant, who was not allowed to attend school, how to read and write.

Illustrated in a folk art style, this book is an excellent way to acquaint your child with a strong and bright woman who was present during our country's founding.

Ages: 4-8

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Activity: Color Abigail and John Adams

SNOW WEEK - Crossing the Delaware

TITLE: When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots

AUTHOR: Lynne Cheney

WHO WAS WHERE IN THE SNOW? George Washington and his dilapidated army crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to attack the Hussians (German fighters hired by the British) in Trenton, New Jersey on December 25, 1776.

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT THIS EVENT: The downtrodden, ill-equipped, rag-tag Americans took by surprise the best trained army in the world. They were rallied by the words of Thomas Paine, “these are the times that try mens souls,” as they prepared for the crossing. 2,400 men and eighteen cannons moved over the ice-laden Delaware that night then marched the nine miles to Trenton where they captured nearly 900 unsuspecting Hessians. They regrouped and took on thousands of British and Hessian troops near Princeton, miraculously gaining the upper hand there as well. Among the American soldiers were Alexander Hamilton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and James Monroe, who was injured in the fight and later became our nation’s fifth president.

What a well written, designed and illustrated way to introduce children to this pivotal moment in American history. The book is punctuated with many quotes including this one:

I remember reading in my youth a small book – The Life of Washington—and of all his struggles none fixed itself on my mind so indelibly as the crossing of the Delaware preceding the battle of Trenton...I am exceedingly anxious that the object they fought for —liberty, and the Union and Constitution they formed—shall be perpetual.

—Abraham Lincoln, February 21, 1861

Ages 9 to 12
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Activity: The Mount Vernon web site offers a nice coloring page of Washington crossing the Delaware. You'll find it through this link.

Pilgrim Cat

Cat lovers will relish Pilgrim Cat. It offers a look at sailing to and settling in a new land from a cat's perspective. It starts when a stray mouser boards the Mayflower and befriends fellow passenger Faith Barret. She names the feline Pounce. Together they experience a new world that includes howling wolves, a tribe of Wampanoags and rows of corn. Then one day Pounce disappears. Faith is distraught, but a happy ending is in store when Pounce is discovered -by Squanto no less- and surprise! He is a she with a litter of kittens. The kittens grow and are present at the first Thanksgiving. Very engaging story and pictures. A sure child pleaser with lots of well researched Pilgrim information.

Ages 4-9
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Activity: Color the Mayflower.

Spot On

On This Spot: An Expedition Back Through Time is oh SO clever. The author, Susan E. Goodman, starts at a busy spot in New York City where skyscrapers now loom. “But on this spot…” you read and then turn the page “175 years ago…New York was a different city.” Suddenly taxis and business people and asphalt give way to carriages and chickens and cobblestones.

With each spread, the spot in New York City recedes further back into time—becoming home to Native Americans and cougars, then woolly mammoths, then glaciers a mile thick, then going back 190 million years to dinosaurs, then way before then to the highest mountain range ever, then a tropical sea and lastly nothing but rock

Your children will be intrigued by this concept and they will be captivated by the illustrations. Well done!

Ages 5-7
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Activity: What used to be where your house is now? Use this template to make your own little book about the spot where you live. Oh, and here is the author's teacher guide.

Genghis Khan

Demi's books are a special treat and this one is no exception. It is oozing with gold leaf, prancing Mongolian ponies and insight into how Genghis Khan became the ruler of the largest empire ever created in one lifetime. He lead an adventurous life, even in childhood. He was riding before he could walk, herding camels at age five, hunting by six and the head of his clan by age nine. He was fourteen when he was captured by rivals, and then made a nail-biting escape. My daughter found it disturbing that he put an arrow through his own brother's heart after he discovered him stealing from their own food provisions (and I thought my kids were rough on each other). But the text emphasizes over and over again the trait he admired and expected most: loyalty. Genghis Khan is a beautiful book and a great way to begin to learn about one man that had an enormous impact on history.

Ages 8-12

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Activity: Add your own details to this Steppes picture. A felt yurt is ready to be colored, but can you add horses, goats, camels, Mongol warriors or even Genghis Khan?

The Mongolian Empire

Birds of a Feather

I found two TRUE stories involving two kinds of birds during two different wars. Both will give children insight into how civilians are affected by war.

In The 18 Penny Goose, a pet is left behind when a family flees from approaching British troops during the American Revolutionary War. Out of desperation young Letty leaves a note for the soldiers pleading with them to spare her beloved gander, Solomon. Even though this book is an "I Can Read Book 3", it's sparse words effectively convey the anxiety of leaving your home not knowing what you will find when you return. My daughter was aghast at the notion that soldiers would enter a private residence and take stuff. In the end Solomon is saved, but the rest of the gaggle is not so fortunate. Letty finds a reply to her note as well as payment for the geese consumed. A well told story of an actual event. The nice illustrations include interesting details.

Ages 4-8

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Pigeon Hero! is about an atypical World War II hero. In this account a messenger pigeon named G. I. Joe saves an Italian village from an American bombing raid. Unbeknownst to the Yanks the Germans have already fled the area and the only thing they would be bombing are innocent civilians. In this "Ready-to-Read Level 2" story G. I. Joe overcomes tough odds to deliver the message in the nick of time. The raid is called off, the village is saved and G. I. Joe receives a medal of honor. It is fascinating to learn how pigeons were used during the war. For instance, they were kept on battleships and even submarines to be released with notes in the event of danger. Children will be enthralled with this story.

Ages 4-8

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Activity: Help G. I. Joe deliver a message. Can you find the way through the maze?

I'M FEELING GENEROUS! Leave a comment for a chance to win both of these books! I will pick a winner on Monday, August 17th.

The Buffalo Jump

We put on leather shoes, slip into fleece jackets and chow down on hamburgers with no drama. But for thousands of years the Plains Indians coaxed their moccasins, robes and burgers to be into a thundering stampede that they then lead to the edge of a cliff. The Buffalo Jump is a beautifully illustrated book that tells of this ancient hunting method through Little Blaze, a young member of the Blackfeet tribe. He is upset that his older brother is chosen to lead the stampede, even though he is the faster runner. Little Blaze's true motivation is his longing for an adult name, which is earned after an act of bravery. I think your children will find this to be a satisfying story. And they might even read the author's historical notes about buffalo and buffalo jumps.

Ages 9-12
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If your child can't get enough of buffalo jumps, you'll have to plan a trip to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre. This is the home of one of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jumps known to exist. In fact it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. If you are in the vicinity of Glacier National Park the centre is a few hours north, in Alberta, Canada.

Activity: Learn many ways in which buffalo were used with this Buffalo coloring page.

The Wright Brothers and the Wright Sister

This book has the three main ingredients for a scrumptious read: a unique perspective, a great voice and pleasing illustrations. My Brothers' Flying Machine provides insight into the Wright family through the eyes of Orville and Wilbur's devoted sister Katharine. A really charming way of showing how the Wright Brothers evolved from boys into the inventors of flight, and the part Katharine played in that process. We loved it.

Ages 6-9
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Activity: Use your crayons to commemorate the first flight with this Wright Brothers coloring page.

The Dalai Lama

I was going to group all of Demi's many biographical books together in one post, but I decided to slow down and enjoy them one at a time. What she creates is nothing short of book candy...gorgeously illustrated and popping with juicy colors.

In this story Demi, who is a practicing Buddhist, tells about the life of the present day and fourteenth Dalai Lama. And lo and behold, the forward is actually written by His Holiness the Dalai Lama! Through this book your child will learn how the Dalai Lama is discovered, what he was like as a boy, how he grew up in the Potala Palace, how China affected Tibetan life, and how the Dalai Lama and thousands of other Tibetan people made a mass exodus to India in the 1950's. It is well told and will shed some light on those "Free Tibet" bumper stickers.

Ages 7-9
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And this looks interesting. The Tibetan Prayer Flag Pack contains two sets of flags: one with traditional ancient Tibetan blessings, the other to be personalized using the enclosed indelible fabric markers. For centuries Tibetans have been spreading prayers and blessings with the use of these flags and a book describing the history and spirituality behind these beautiful squares of prayer is also included in the pack. Would love to hear what prayers your children come up with.


Activity: Here is a map challenge. Do you know the countries that bordered Tibet? And take a look at this animated map of China from 1948-1950.

The Old Ball Game

Here are a couple of good book ideas for any baseball fan.

First I’ll discuss a book that is about the sport of baseball and men with the God-given talent to play it well, while dealing with the human-made obstacle of segregation. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball is a beautiful book brimming with luscious paintings by Kadir Nelson. Most of the paintings are static portraits of Negro League greats like John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, Oscar Charleston, Wilber “Bullet” Rogan and Josh Gibson. What I especially love are the scenes Nelson captured with his brush: The Monarch’s dug out, The Chicago American Giants disembarking from the train, Jackie Robinson stealing home plate, some of the Newark Eagles singing five part harmony on the team bus, a double page spread of Josh Gibson watching Satchel Paige pitching to Buck Leonard.

The forward is written by none other than Hank Aaron. The text is written by the artist himself in the anonymous voice of a Negro League player and covers the history of the league from the 1920’s to 1947 in 10 chapters (labeled as nine innings with one extra inning). You get a feeling for the personality and special talents of the players and managers. It is somewhat rambling at times, but what really struck me (I haven’t followed baseball since the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” days in the 70’s) was the ominous presence of segregation. It seems so weird that a team bus would sometimes drive through town after town without finding a restaurant that would serve blacks. “No shirt, no shoes, no service” makes sense but to not serve someone who has money a pork tenderloin sandwich with fries because of their skin color seems as culturally odd to me as Chinese women binding their feet or polygamy or scalp collecting, or I don’t know, cannibalism or something. Just odd.

For the sake of history I’ll share a family tale as it relates to segregation. My mother was born in 1928 in a small southern Indiana town. She told me about the segregated schools. Her home on North Broadway was near the black only Broadway School but she went to school a couple of blocks in the other direction on South Broadway. Her family employed a black cook named Lucy. Sometimes Lucy would take my Mom to a picture show (most probably a Shirley Temple movie). In the segregated theatre they would have to sit in the balcony which my Mom thought was pretty neat, but I wonder how that felt to dear, sweet Lucy? By the way, many years later, when Mom and Dad would go out on a Saturday night, Lucy would watch us (and cook what seemed like a feast after my cooking-challenged mother’s meals). We LOVED Lucy. She had a deep, pleasant laugh. We played old maid and a multitude of other games. We serenaded her with her favorite songs. She read us The Golden Book of 365 Stories. I vividly remember one New Year’s Eve when she filled the family room with colorful balloons and we stomped on them at midnight. Once she took us to see Biscuit Eater at the same theatre she had taken my mother years before. And we all sat together on the main floor. That movie was a tearjerker.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball winds down, as did the Negro League, with Jackie Robinson’s historic move to the majors. This book opened my eyes to the burden placed on Robinson. For anyone with an interest in baseball or segregation, this is an exceptional book.

Ages 9-12
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Activity: Click here for a coloring page of Jackie Robinson and here is a Negro League Baseball word search puzzle.



The other book, Moe Berg: The Spy Behind Home Plate was also interesting. I enjoyed getting to know Moe, someone I am ashamed to say, I had never heard of. He was the child of emigrant Ukrainian Jews who grew up pitching for his Newark, New Jersey school team while excelling in his classes. He was one of only a handful of Jews to attend Princeton at that time where his special talents were baseball and languages, his major. Upon graduation he signed on with the Brooklyn Robins (later called the Brooklyn Dodgers). He eventually attained a law degree and practiced law while playing ball in the Major Leagues in the spring and summer. How impressive is that!? When World War II was just heating up, Moe’s skill with languages (he could speak eight fluently) and his fame as a ballplayer made it handy for him to travel through baseball loving countries like Japan and those in Latin America and collect useful information for the U.S.A. Before all was said and done he was living a bit of a James Bond lifestyle, tracking down German scientists in a race to the atom bomb. This is definitely a life story worth reading!

Ages 9-12
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