December 2 2017:
Rare Treasure – Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries
The story of the woman who became the first commercial fossil collector. Mary Anning left school at age eleven, but she spent a lifetime teaching herself about fossils and combing the rocky beach at Lyme Regis.
We really enjoyed this one!!
Flamingo Sunset
Vibrantly illustrated book about magnificent and graceful flamingos. We learned how they live, mate, take care of the eggs, when they take flight, how they migrate, and natural enemies.
We also learned that due to the loss of their natural habitat in the United States, they no longer nest anywhere here. The flamingos featured in the book are the “greater flamingos” of Bonaire, an island in the Caribbean.
The Amazing Discoveries of Ibn Sina
Beautifully illustrated story of Ibn Sina, a genius of the Islamic Golden Age (c.622-c.1258). We learned he was a polymath, distinguished by his historically crucial contributions in the medical field.
His famous work, The Canon of Medicine, has made his name live through the centuries. He wrote hundreds of books on subjects including architecture, mathematics, philosophy, music, chemistry, education, medicine and meteorology.
GREAT book and it was wonderful discovering Ibn Sina!
November 18 2017:
The Amazing Discoveries of Ibn Sina
Beautifully illustrated story of Ibn Sina, a genius of the Islamic Golden Age (c.622-c.1258). We learned he was a polymath, distinguished by his historically crucial contributions in the medical field.
His famous work, The Canon of Medicine, has made his name live through the centuries. He wrote hundreds of books on subjects including architecture, mathematics, philosophy, music, chemistry, education, medicine and meteorology.
GREAT book and it was wonderful discovering Ibn Sina!
Who Stole the Mona Lisa?
A really fun book about how the Mona Lisa came to be and how she was stolen … and eventually returned to her home at the museum. Fun illustrations to match too!
Eleanor
Wonderfully captivating book detailing Eleanor Roosevelt’s young life. Heartbreaking to read about her childhood.
Incredibly inspiring to learn about how life shifted for her in boarding school … because of the love and encouragement of one woman. We loved it!!
Peace is the Way
“There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” -Mahatma Gandhi
I am reading this book aloud with Thomas and Lillian. There’s so much it contains that I’d like to share, it would nearly be the entire book! It’s an incredibly powerful book. It may have been published in 2005; yet, it seems especially relevant in the present.
“Violence may be innate in human nature, but so is its opposite: love. The next stage of humanity, the leap which we are poised to take, will be guided by the force of that love.”
“You aren’t asked to be a saint, or to give up any belief. You are only asked to stop reacting out of fear, to change your allegiance from violence to peace.”
Cezanne and the Apple Boy
The story of Paul Cezanne who revolutionized painting by struggling along the steep path into Modern Art. The Cezanne family were ostracized in the town. They laughed at Cezanne and mocked him about his funny, strange and weird paintings.
He invented a new method of simplifying shapes into cones, cylinders, and spheres. His work was pioneered in Paris by art dealer, Vollard, and he became a rich man. He remained reclusive, built a small studio just outside of town where he worked quietly for the rest of his days.
His great grandson helped with the details of this book. Yes! We enjoyed this one too!!
Buddha
Exquisitely illustrated story of Siddhartha … from his birth through becoming an Enlightened One, a Buddha, and throughout his forty-five years of teaching Truth and the path to inner peace.
I think it’s clear by now that we LOVE books written and illustrated by DEMI.
September 30 2017:
Helen Keller’s Best Friend Belle
Wonderfully illustrated book about Helen Keller’s love of dogs and how much they meant to her.
Yes, we liked!
