Author: marga (Page 15 of 158)

Yet again, I am “reviewing” a book series that I haven’t read. But Mika (9 yo) is through the second book of the series and she LOVES it. I think she even loves it more than the Theodossia books (though not quite as much as Harry Potter).
The Gilda Joyce series is about a 13-year old girl who solves supernatural mysteries. Mika says the books can be scary at time, but good scary. The series has 5 books (the last one to be published in June) and it’s recommended for girls in 5th-9th grades, though Mika is in 3rd grade and has not had any problems with it. Then again, this is a girl who reads A LOT.
If you are looking for more book recommendations for girls (and I always am), there is a great list here.

The Cow of No Color: Riddle Stories and Justice Tales from Around the World is another wonderful kids’ book I got from Paperback Swap. It includes 23 very short stories from around the world. These are basically parables presented in the form of riddles. For example the titled story features a wise woman who is made to prove her wisdom by finding a cow that is neither white or brown or black, or spotted or striped, a cow that has no color. What does the woman do? The answer is not a practical one, not one that we would necessarily (at least from our cultural context) arrive to, so it is both surprising and delightful.
These stories are made to make you think and initiate a discussion with your children, but I would recommend that you read them to yourself first as some suggest moral teachings that might be different from your own. For example (and here is a spoiler about one of the stories) in the story Ximen Bao and the River Spirit a local priestess and elders force villagers to throw their daughters into the river to appease the “river spirit” who would otherwise cause floods. The “what to do” riddle is solved by throwing the witch and the elders into the river. In the book this is presented to illustrate poetic justice, but ultimately this “eye for an eye” philosophy, while amusing, goes against modern day (and daresay Christian) ethical thinking.
Still, the book as a whole is highly recommended.

I have to confess that I have a pretty bad history of reading outloud to my children. I cannot stand reading a book I don’t personally like, or reading a book over and over and over (something which Camila still enjoys). Mike doesn’t mind it as much, so he’s been in charge of reading to our kids (and putting them to bed) for a number of years now. I do, however, like the closeness that comes with sharing a book with my daughters so I’ve been trying to find books that I can actually enjoy reading to them. This is much easier with Mika, who is almost 9 years old and has pretty catholic literary tastes. Camila still likes picture books.
I got Classics to Read Aloud to Your Children by William F. Russell on Paperback Swap and so far I am very happy with it. I have read 3 1/2 stories and so far, so good.
This book includes selections from classic novels and poems specifically chosen for parents to read to their children. Stories are divided into 3 levels (for kids 5, 8 and 11 and up) based on the complexity of the language and the emotional maturity required to understand the story. The stories are as originally written – these are not children’s versions -, which means that they include old fashioned vocabulary, syntax and motifs. The author believes that children’s oral understanding is much greater than their written one, so that while kids would probably not be able to read the stories themselves they will grasp them when/if read by their parents. I think the stories are pretty challenging, and I really like that about it.
So far the book is working well for Mika but not for Camila. Camila loudly objects to the fact that the book has no pictures at all (not even the occasional black and white drawing). She rebels against the book and is very disinclined to give it a chance. A few days ago somehow we cajoled her into listening to The Ugly Duckling (in a translation different from the one I linked to) and, at the end, she said she enjoyed this story more than the other versions we’d told her, apparently because it’s more complex. She didn’t seem to mind/notice the part about the ducks being shot, but it’s there, so you are warned. But she refused to hear a story from the book today.
Mike read to Mika and I the selection from Tom Sawyers about the painting of the fence. I enjoyed the chapter thoroughly. I remembered it so fondly from my childhood and this was actually the first time I experienced it in English. Twain’s use of language is masterful. Alas, it was a little bit too difficult for Mika – but she enjoyed it in retrospect and I think she’ll be willing to have me read her the chapter again.
Today, I read her The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry. This is a story about two would-be-kidnappers who abduct a child that terrorizes them. It’s very funny and good natured, and while the language was a bit complex for Mika, she enjoyed it, as did I.
Then I started reading the selection from Black Beauty, which is actually in the section for kids 5 years and older, and while Camila was quickly bored (no pictures) Mika was fascinated by this story told from the point of view of a horse. We didn’t finish the chapter, but she wants me to get her the book 🙂
The book also contains selections from Shakespeare, Jack London, Stephen Crane, Hawthorn and the Greeks. There is a lot of poetry as well as holiday readings (including a selection from the Bible). I am looking forward to continue reading it.