Picture Books | love2learn.net

The Squire and the Scroll

Author(s):

Jennie Bishop

Subject(s):

Stories for Children

Grade / Age level:

Grades K-2

Resource Type:

Picture Books

2004

Review:

With colorful, dramatic illustrations and a story to inspire children, The Squire and the Scroll is sure to be a favorite. Written as a parable set in an imaginary kingodm, a wicked dragon has stolen the Lantern of Purest Light. This is not just any ordinary light, but a "Lantern that gave freedom to all the kingdom." Who will be brave enough to bring back this precious Lantern? Although many young men try, none return, until one day a poor squire who had been taught by his parents "how to guard his pure heart by the words from a simple scroll" accompanies another daring knight.

As in the journey of Ulysses, they encounter several trials along their quest, in their case, testing the purity of their senses. Will they survive the tests or succumb to the same fate as all the other knights? In the story, children will be challenged on many levels. Will they follow the example of the squire or the knight? Will they obey their parents and listen to the wisdom of God's word or will they succumb to the enticements of the world? Will they guard their purity or squander it? Will they receive as the squire hopes "the promise of a reward from God in return for faithfully guarding his heart?"

Publisher:

Warner Press

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Number of pages:

36 pages

Additional notes:

originally appeared in Heart and Mind Magazine, Summer 2005 - used with permission

Review Date:

1999

Reviewed by:

Elizabeth Yank

TitleSort:

Squire and the Scroll

The Story About Ping

Author(s):

Marjorie Flack

Kurt Wiese

Subject(s):

Stories for Children

Grade / Age level:

Grades K-2

Resource Type:

Picture Books

1933

Review:

This charming, classic children's story tells of Ping, a young duck who lives on a boat in the Yangtzee River in China. He runs away from the boat and his family in order to avoid a spanking for returning late to the boat. He has some interesting adventures and sees many aspects of life on the Yangtzee River, but discovers that it's much happier to face the consequences in order to be back at home with his family.

This is a well-loved book in our family - particularly in the preschool set. The illustrations are beautiful, the story simple and meaningful and the lessons timeless.

Publisher:

Puffin Books

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

32 pages

Review Date:

12-17-99

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Story About Ping

The Weight of a Mass

Author(s):

Josephine Nobisso

Subject(s):

Catholic Stories

Illustrator(s):

Katalin Szegedi

Resource Type:

Supplement

Picture Books

2002

Review:

The best and most memorable lessons are taught through stories, and this gorgeous picture book will teach an unforgettable one. The Weight of a Mass is written in a fairy-tale style and enhanced by rich watercolor illustrations. It will appeal equally well to both boys and girls through countless re-readings.

Said to be based on a true event, the story unfolds as a poor, elderly woman begs for a crust of bread in a bakery. The baker scoffs at her request and demands to know what she will pay. Penniless, the woman offers to hear Mass for the giver of the bread in exchange. To prove that her offer is worthless, the baker writes "One Mass" on a slip of paper and places it on one side of a balance. As more and more delicacies are added to try to balance the scale, the slip of paper demonstrates miraculously that there is nothing on earth of greater value than the Mass.

This book is the perfect gift for a First Communicant, an adult who needs a gentle reminder of the value of their Faith, or anyone who enjoys reading to a child. Our children each have a "treasure chest" of things that they will take with them when they are grown and begin their own homes and families. I am purchasing a copy of this book for each of my children to place in their treasure chests. It deserves all of the awards that it has earned!

Publisher:

Gingerbread House

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Perspective:

Catholic

Number of pages:

36 pages

Review Date:

2-23-05

Reviewed by:

Susan Kalis

TitleSort:

Weight of a Mass

There's a Frog in My Throat

440 Animal Sayings a Little Bird Told Me

Author(s):

Loreen Leedy

Pat Street

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

2003

Review:

This is a clever, very colorful picture book with a simple purpose. It illustrates, with funny little cartoon illustrations, hundreds (440 to be exact) of common expressions in the English language that involve animals, such as:

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
"Mad as a hornet."
"I have butterflies in my stomach."
"You're putting the cart before the horse."

A short definition of the phrase's meaning is also included.

This is a fun idea for exploring our language and it's amazing just how many expressions fit into this category? I like how there's a certain connectivity between different themes and they modernized some old-fashioned clip-art for some of the illustrations.

This will be enjoyed by preschoolers all the way through the elementary school years.

Publisher:

Holiday House

Number of pages:

48 pages

Review Date:

6-27-2009

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

There's a Frog in My Throat

Who Carved the Mountain? The Story of Mount Rushmore

Author(s):

Jean L. S Patrick

Subject(s):

History

Illustrator(s):

Renee Graef

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

2005

Review:

Our family was delighted to visit Mount Rushmore recently, along with several other Love2Learn families. Since we live in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore books have prominent and permanent diplays in our library system's many branches. Who Carved the Mountain saw the inside of our weekly library bag many times and became our favorite Mount Rushmore picture book. When I saw the warm, familiar cover at the Mount Rushmore gift shop's window, I could not resist it: I went inside resolutely and by the time I came out, our family was the proud owner of a copy of this beautifully illustrated volume!

Who Carved the Mountain features the many people associated with Mount Rushmore in attractive, friendly and educational double-spread pages. There are twelve of these, depicting Doane Robinson who first thought of the project, artist Borglum, the four presidents, the project's workers and more. Pictured in warm colors and rich in detail, they are also described in verse and on an interesting-tidbits-full sidebar. The text on each page is just enough, providing both brief enough descriptions and meaty enough content. The verses are told in a first person perspective:

The Pointer

I am the pointer
I make the marks on the mountain First, I work in Borglum’s studio
I measured the models of our presidents
And I multiplied each number by twelve.I loved the math, the complicated math.
The mouths would be eighteen feet wide!Next I climbed Mount Rushmore.
With a pointing machine and a paintbrush
I marked measurements on the rock.The workers knew exactly where to drill
Because I made the marks on the mountain.Who drilled the holes in the mountain?

Each set of verses lead up to next person to be described: the stone carver, the "power man", the presidents, Borglum and his son--they are all there. The sidebars offer a biographical sketch and curious and interesting facts about each one.

Illustrator Renee Graef, known to Catholic homeschoolers as the Laura Ingalls' picture books illustrator who captured so well the original Garth Williams pictures, and from Melissa Wiley's books' covers, did a fabulous job bringing the feeling of the Black Hills to her illustrations, as well as the historical and complex technical details of the carving. Her portraits of the four presidents sitting by their desks are also warm, rich and just lovely to enjoy.

Publisher:

Mount Rushmore History Association

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Number of pages:

32 pages

Review Date:

1-30-2008

Reviewed by:

Ana Braga-Henebry

TitleSort:

Who Carved the Mountain? The Story of Mount Rushmore

William Shakespeare's The Tempest

Author(s):

Marianna Mayer (adapted by)

Subject(s):

Literature

Illustrator(s):

Lynn Bywaters

Grade / Age level:

All ages

Resource Type:

Picture Books

2005

Review:

Unequalled, lavish artwork on two-page spreads include inset text boxes that incorporate the story into the art. The plot is written in prose, although the more difficult vocabulary is more appropriate for upper elementary and older students. Richly detailed illustrations capture the reader’s attention, telling the story without words. If you intend to introduce The Tempest, this version is not to be missed!

You can view some preview pages from this book at Google Books.

Review Date:

1-26-2009

Reviewed by:

Susan Kalis

TitleSort:

William Shakespeare's The Tempest

Little Black Ant on Park Street

Author(s):

Janet Halfmann

Subject(s):

Science

Illustrator(s):

Kathleen Rietz

Grade / Age level:

Elementary

ISBN:

2 147 483 647

Resource Type:

Picture Books

2009

Review:

The Smithsonian’s Backyard Collection series “is a world of wonder for children intrigued by the wildlife outside their windows.” The books have an over-sized format, and each page filled with colorful and detailed illustrations with large-print text. This newest book in the series tells the story of Little Black Ant searching for food. Though the book may be written for younger children, this is not a book that is more story than science. From regurgitating food in their social stomachs, to fending off an intruding carpenter ant, to a swarming nest, this book teaches a good deal about ants. On the back page, the top section summarizes the scientific information from the story followed by a glossary; the bottom section, Points of Interest in this Book, identifies other plants and animals illustrated in the story. This book and others in the series are a great introduction to nature in our own backyards.

Publisher:

Soundprints

Series:

Smithsonian's Backyard

Binding:

Paperback

Number of pages:

32 pages

Review Date:

2-21-2010

Reviewed by:

Kris Correira

TitleSort:

Little Black Ant on Park Street