D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet

Encourage children to explore foreign countries and learn about different cultures with the Discover the World series.

Wargin, Kathy-jo.
D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet.
September 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

From the Arctic Circle to the zigzag roads, children will learn about the Nordic countries as they explore the landscapes, traditions, geographies, and history of Northern Europe and the North Atlantic.

As is typical of the books in the Discover the World series, D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet provides a very simple text related to each letter of the alphabet, as well as a more detailed non-fictional piece for more advanced readers or those who are looking for more in-depth information about the Nordic countries. The book is incredibly educational and would make a welcome addition to any upper-elementary classroom!

Reading/Learning Activities:

• Sleeping Bear Press has provided educators with a Teacher's Guide to accompany the book that offers a variety of activities for children and classrooms.
• Discover the World Books also has a website that provides children (and educators) with supplementary activities to use in collaboration with the book. Activities include cultural links, recipes, information about currencies, weather, holidays and a page of things to do "if you go." A great resource for educators!
  

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If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Scare a Bear

How would you scare a bear?

Wargin, Kathy-Jo.
Scare a Bear.
June 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

A bear has shown up at camp and nothing this family does really scares that bear away! Banging pots and pans, rattling cans - nope, doesn't work! Yell, ring a bell? Still doesn't work. There are some very creative methods to scare away the bear, but this bear just isn't scared! After being given dinner and even put to bed, the family decides something else must be done to scare the bear and call in the ranger. However, the ranger's only suggestion to get the bear away from camp is to scare him!

This book is wonderfully hilarious! Children will absolutely love the silliness and challenge being faced! Of course, when they find out the real trick to scaring the bear away, they'll likely roll around on the floor laughing - it's just too simple! This is a great summertime read, especially for a rainy day, when coupled with the activity suggested below!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Play "Scare the Bear." Deem one person the "bear." Everyone else has the job of scaring the bear away. Of course, it's up to the bear to really decide how he's going to be scared away! But the fun lies in seeing what ways your children can come up with to attempt to scare the bear! Whoever is lucky enough to scare the bear away gets next dibs at being the bear!
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Non-Fiction Monday: Alfred Nobel

Earlier this month, President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009! Earlier this year (in February), Sleeping Bear Press released a wonderful book that introduces children to the man behind the prize!

Wargin, Kathy-Jo.
Alfred Nobel: The Man Behind the Peace Prize.
February 2009.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Source: Review copy provided courtesy of publisher

Summary from Inside Jacket Cover:

Almost everyone has heard of the Nobel Prize, a collection of prizes awarded for accomplishments in science, medicine, literature and peace. But very few people know about the man who established the award and for whom it is named, Alfred Nobel.

Alfred Nobel was born in Sweden in 1833. A quick and curious mind, combined with a love of science and chemistry, drove him to invent numerous technological devices throughout his long life. But he is perhaps most well known for his invention of dynamite.

Intending it to help safely advance road and bridge construction, Nobel saw his most famous invention used in the development of military weaponry. After reading a newspaper headline mistakenly announcing his death, Nobel was inspired to leave a legacy of another sort.

The Man Behind the Peace Prize tells the story of the enduring legacy of Alfred Nobel.

How much do you really know about Alfred Nobel? I didn't even know his first name was Alfred before reading this book!

Did you know there is a "series" of Nobel Prizes? I honestly can say prior to reading this book, I was only familiar with the Nobel Peace Prize (President Obama has been awarded this prize in 2009 "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" - The Nobel Peace Prize 2009).

As you can see, there's tons to be learned from this book! I think this book would be a welcome addition to any home or classroom, as I believe children will be very interested in learning more about the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to President Obama earlier this month. However, in order to fully appreciate all that the award means, children should also have an understanding of how the Nobel Prizes came to be!

The publisher, Sleeping Bear Press is has been very generous in offering 3 copies of this to be given away to my blog readers!!! To enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this post. You must be a U.S. resident in order to win. Please be sure to include an e-mail where you can be contacted, should you be a winner!. You have until Saturday, October 24 at 11:59pm to enter!

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.