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Advanced Chess
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www.fogg.cc, Frank Fogg, April 2003 First French Flashcards
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Gatitos
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Story of Music
Eileen O'Brien (Usborne Publishing, 1997) devotes two-page chapters to such topics as medieval music, baroque music, opera, blues and music in the Middle East. Detailed diagrams enhance the text. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Learning Magazine, Spring 2003 Trains IL Ride the rails with this Internet-linked book about trains, from the early steam giants to the modern speed machines. At the accompanying Quicklinks Web site, students can play a game, browse a photo gallery, listen to steam locomotives, take a virtual tour of a luxury train, and more. All aboard! ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Riding the Multilingual Wave by Norma D. Kellam First Thousand Words in Spanish Sticker Book Your kids are growing up in a multilingual environment. In Florida, knowing Spanish is a great asset. As youngsters search the Web, other languages will also come in handy. Language consultants assisted in the preparation of two books which introduce children to foreign languages. First Thousand Words in Spanish Sticker Book by Heather Amery, for ages 3 to about 8, contain six pages of picture stickers, which children apply around the borders of large scenes and on pages with small pictures representing specific topics. Kids match the Spanish words to determine where each sticker belongs. Stephen Cartwright's colorful, cartoon drawings give concrete meaning to the words. The items pictured in the borders and on the appropriate stickers are also in the scenes, thus encouraging youngsters to name them using appropriate Spanish words. Among the interesting situations children will find in the scenes is a hospitalized girl bandaging her panda bear. The introduction explains how to use this paperback book and points out distinctive characteristics of the Spanish language. A picture of a schoolroom shows an alphabet chart with three extra letters. The glossary lists the Spanish words along with a phonetic rendering of the pronunciation and the English translation.. The introduction to the glossary includes important points regarding pronunciation. First Thousand Words in German Sticker Book by Heather Amery, for ages 3 to about 8, is the German version of the above Spanish book. Explanations in the introduction include the three grammatical genders, indicated by different words for "the." Three vowels with an umlaut (two dots) over them and a letter that is different from any in the English alphabet follow the regular letters in the alphabet chart. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Easy Spanish Rated a Must Read! Easy German Rated a Must Read! Easy French Rated a Must Read! ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.fogg.cc, Frank Fogg, March 2003 Playing Chess
The Usborne Guide to Playing Chess is a
beginner's guide to learning the game of chess. This is a full
color paperback book of 64 pages. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Contemporary Pediatrics, February 2003 Books for the Child Afraid of Doctors, Hospitals and Medical Procedures by Laura A. Jana, MD Going to the Hospital After a boy named Ben goes to see his doctor for recurrent ear infections, he is admitted to the hospital for ear tube surgery. Aside from the use of the British term "auroscope" to describe what is more commonly referred to as an otoscope, this book, first published by Usborne in Great Britain, proceeds to present universal aspects of visiting a doctor, being evaluated by nurses and doctors, the unique features of hospital rooms, and what happens when you undergo surgery. In paying attention to details that are important to a child but that may be overlooked by adults and health professionals, the book even mentions hospital attire (e.g., gowns) and the long hallway to the operating room. Incidentally - Ben's surgeon is female. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Brooklyn Parent Magazine, January 2003 Complete Book of Drawing Animals, people, cartoons, perspective and all the basics of drawing are covered here. Kids interested in drawing will be inspired to move on to new levels of skill with the clear illustrations and easy to follow instructions. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Make This Viking Settlement An excellent, detailed cut-out model by Iain Ashman. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Washington Parent, January 2003 Spy's Guidebook A CD-ROM and a paperback book of cartoon characters teach how to create disguises, make and break secret codes and play spy games that probably won't fool any parent but are good for a few laughs. Usborne also publishes pocket-sized books on spying and codes. Their Spycraft Kid Kit includes a plastic mustache. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Learning Magazine, January 2003 Animal World IL Key concepts in animal biology are explained with lovely text and close-up photographs. Students on the prowl for more information will delight in the experiments, activities, and Web sites. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Castles IL Rated Exceptional! Complete Book of Riding & Pony Care IL Rated Exceptional! Complete Book of the Microscope IL Rated Exceptional! ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Children's Bookwatch, January 2003 First Thousand Words in German Sticker Book With over 500 stickers illustrating simple German words, First Thousand Words in German Sticker Book is a superbly organized and presented activity book for young people. An easy-to-understand basic pronunciation guide enhances the charming full-color illustrations and the great many "peel-and-stick" stickers that help enhance memory and comprehension. First Thousand Words in German Sticker Book is an excellent and thoroughly "kid friendly" title for budding bilingual children. Also very highly recommended from Usborne is Heather Amery and Stephen Cartwright's First Thousand Words in Spanish Sticker Book. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Puget Sound Council for the Review of Childrens' Media, January 2003 Sharks IL Rated: R - Recommended/Buy This is the book for those young shark lovers we all have. Lots of good information interspersed with terrific photos. Excellent for browsing and report writing. Question and phrase caption headings would make this a good teaching tool also. Every other page or so has an Internet site link for the topic. Index and glossary. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Puget Sound Council for the Review of Childrens' Media, January 2003 Encyclopedia of Planet Earth Rated: Ad+ - Additional; up to library standards; buy if there is a need This is a browsing encyclopedia full of beautiful illustrations and a minimal amount of descriptive text. Some pages have rather dark backgrounds making them hard to read. The contents include Planet Earth, Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Climate, Weather, Plants and Animals, Shaping the Land,, Rivers and Oceans, and Useful Information. In the Useful Information section there is a glossary, some fact pages, Internet addresses and an index.all this in 159 pages. This would be a great coffee table book. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Puget Sound Council for the Review of Childrens' Media, January 2003 An Introduction to Spreadsheets Rated: Ad+ - Additional; up to library standards; buy if there is a need Learn how to use the spreadsheet program Excel to accomplish many projects from a simple address list to a timetable, to lists that include calculations. This book explains them all in easy-to-understand illustrated stops. Functions, formatting, and shortcuts are also described. The book includes contents, index and glossary. If your school uses Windows OS and has this program, this would be a good purchase. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
For Kids Only, December 2002/January 2003 Ghosts and Hauntings The Usborne Book of Ghosts and Hauntings by Anna Claybourne is a good book to read if you are looking for scary hauntings ghosts and when they haunted people. For example, the Poltergeist tells it is there by giving a person a cold feeling in the air. It isn't just factual either. The book has a lot of stories that will give you shivers down your spine! So, if you are looking for an exciting, but advanced book pick up the Usborne Book of Ghosts and Hauntings. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Picture Dictionary Rated a Must Read! First Dictionary Rated a Must Read! Farmyard Tales Christmas Flap Book Rated Exceptional!
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Things to Make and Do for Christmas You frown at your tattered Christmas ornaments and head to the store for new ones. Consider a different source of decorations: your kids. Adorning the house and tree with their own creations makes Christmas more meaningful for children. A new book will provide abundant ideas and directions for making decorations, cards, and gift tags, as well as for embellishing wrapping paper. Things to Make and Do for Christmas by
Fiona Watt and Ray Gibson, for ages 4 to about 8, gu7ides kids
through numbered, step-by-step directions, accompanied by colorful
illustrations. Larger pictures depict finished projects, usually
showing several possibilities. The final instruction for making
a snowflake out of a folded paper is, "Cut out small triangles
from around the edges. Then, open it out." Among the decorations are stars, Christmas trees, stockings, beads, and an angel. Two paper chains of differently attired snowmen stretch across a double page. An unusual card idea consists of an angel made from blue and yellow handprints. Stars hanging down and outward, attached by a strip of paper, make unique decorations for cards or gift tags for package. A coiled pipe cleaner forms a spring, providing another way to attach a tag. Seven packages demonstrate wrapping paper adorned with star and Christmas tree potato prints. Glitter adds a finishing touch to various projects. The center double page provides 70 stickers, such as Christmas trees, reindeer, stars and packages, which youngsters can use on their projects or elsewhere. An advent calendar, made from colored paper and small drawings or stickers, will help your child keep track of the time left until the magic, awaited day. This paperback book belongs to the Holiday Titles series. Reviewed by Norma D. Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________
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Nashville Parent, December 2002 Farmyard Tales Christmas Sam and Poppy are getting ready for Christmas by helping their dad feed the farm animals, wrap gifts and write letters to Santa. This lift-the-flap book also has a hidden kitten and rubber ducky to find on every two pages. When you finish the story, pop in the tape and listen to more Farmyard Tales and Christmas carols. Reviewer - Ashley Driggs ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Children's Bookwatch, November 2002 The Night Sky Collaboratively Nigel Henbest and Stuart Atkinson, The Night Sky is a brief yet very nicely illustrated, full-color beginner's guide to stars and other fascinating things that can be viewed by children in the night sky, including comets, planets, and meteors. One of the titles in the outstanding "Usborne Spotter's Guides" series, The Night Sky is strongly recommended as a highly enjoyable and easy-to-understand primer for any beginning stargazer. Reviewer - James Cox ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Complete Book of Riding and Pony Care Your daughter has been begging for a pony. Does she have any idea how much work that kind of pet requires? Complete Book of Riding and Pony Care by Rosie Dickens and Gill Harvey, for ages 8 to about 12, gives thorough explanations about riding and caring for ponies and horses. The glossary of this paperback book defines "horse" as "a general word for a horse or a pony." The beginning pages provide basic information on this species. Two of the eight sections present the major riding styles. English riding is the classical type. The Western style, which is more relaxed, developed in America. Readers will learn signals that tell horses what to do, as well as encountering many new words, including names for thirty parts of a horse. Western-style riders use different terms for a couple gaits; for example, "jog" replaces "trot." Bob Langrish's color photographs of horses and riders enhance the text. In a full-page illustration introducing the section on trail riding, two smiling kids ride through a creek. Sequential photographs demonstrate mounting and dismounting. Mikki Rain's drawings include illustrated, numbered steps explaining application of a saddle and a bridle. Horses require a lot of care, especially if they live in a stable. Important duties consist of feeding, grooming, daily health checks, removing extraneous substances from hooves, applying a blanket for warmth, cleaning and polishing the saddle and bridle, and cleaning the stall. The last two sections cover advanced training, such as learning to change gaits smoothly, and various kinds of competition, including tests for skill and fun games. Page numbers in parentheses refer readers to further discussions of specific topics. The index also assists in locating desired facts. Reviewer - Norma Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Nashville Parent, November 2002 Panda is playing hide-and-seek in this "look-through" book. He spots giraffe through a hole in the bushes. Giraffe then spots Tiger through a hole in a tree stump. The tale goes on until everyone's been found and then they start all over again! Also, in the "look-through" series are Bunny on the Beach and Mouse on the Moon. Cute stories that will captivate your toddler even if only for a moment. Reviewer - Ashley Driggs ___________________________________________________________________________ |
ENC, October 2002 ** ENC Resource
Pick of the Month ** This user-friendly book, designed for grade 5 and higher, guides students through 30 step-by-step projects that utilize spreadsheets. Projects use Microsoft Excel 2000 and include the insertion of formulas to add, subtract, multiply, or divide columns of numbers; the insertion of a function to average and round numbers; and the use of the Chart Wizard. Lessons are organized in order of increasing difficulty so the authors recommend that students start their work at the beginning of the book. Photographs and screen shots, in black and white and in color, support the text along with tip boxes that offer shortcuts and hints. There are also a glossary of key terms, a troubleshooting section, and instructions for engaging the Excel Help system. Nonthreatening and well-organized, this book is the perfect resource for students to learn spreadsheets at their own pace. Reviewer - Jennifer Gonya ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, October 2002
How to Draw Animals is a book that
shows you how to draw animals. This is a paperback book of 23
pages. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, October 2002 First Thousand Words in German Book and Sticker Book
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KidsLikeOurs.com, October 2002
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KidsLikeOurs.com, October 2002
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Today's Parent, October 2002 "What country's flag is that?" your son asks. You aren't up on vast array of national flags, but a new book can help. Flags Sticker Book by Lisa Miles, for ages 7 to about 12, contains 200 brightly colored flag stickers, including one for every country. Children search for the corresponding black and white flag and place the sticker over it. Most of the flags are national flags, but eight are not, such as flags for the Red Cross, the United Nations, and the Olympic Games. Each section of this paperback book contains black and white national flags for countries located on a specific continent and a map labeling each country with a number corresponding to the number beneath it's flag. Basic facts about the continent include the largest and smallest county, the population, and the longest river. The two smallest countries listed are Nauru, an eight-square mile island in Australasia and Vatican City, within the borders of Italy, which is 0.17 square miles. Items of interest regarding nine flags enhance the presentation, for example: "In the middle of the Mexican flag is a symbol that represents the ancient Aztec Empire..." An 18-year-old, young woman designed Papua New Guinea's flag. A space for entering date and place appears under each flag enabling kids to record when and where they see that flag. Footnotes present important data, such as two countries with current flags too new for inclusion in the book. Readers who can't determine where to put some of the stickers should check the index which lists the page numbers for all the flags. This book belongs to the "Sticker Books" series. Reviewer - Norma Kellam __________________________________________________________________________ |
Bloomsbury Review, September/October 2002 The Children's World Cookbook includes favorite recipes from many countries around the world. For the United States it is cheesecake and brownies! The most fascinating aspect of the book, though, may be the pages devoted to explaining one food type as it appears in different countries. For instance, the page on breads around the world shows pictures of brioche, pretzels, nan, pita, focaccia, and more. If your child has any sense of adventure when it comes to food, this book will surely be of interest. It is not a young child's book, however, but meant for someone old enough to know his or her way around a kitchen - maybe even you. Reviewer - Cindy L.A. Jones, Ph.D. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, September 2002 Illustrated Dictionary of Science
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www.Fogg.cc, September 2002
Fractions and Decimals is a book
about how to use fractions and decimals. It is a paperback book
for children of 32 pages. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, September 2002
Knitting From Start to Finish is
a book about how to knit for children. It is a paperback book
of 48 pages. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, September 2002
How to Draw People is a book about
learning how to draw for children. It is a paperback book of
32 pages. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, September 2002
Brain Puzzles is a book of puzzles
and teasers for children. This book is a paperback book of 32
pages. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, September 2002
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Children's Bookwatch, August 2002 Accessibly written by Angela Wilkes, Growing Things is a simple picture book for young readers, and offers basic information on how to grow plants illustrated with refreshing, colorful, cartoon-style art by John Shackell. From how to plant bulbs to raising herbs, tomatoes, or houseplants, Growing Things teaches young people the joy of raising something by themselves. Highly recommended for family, school, and community library gardening and children's activities collections, a glossary of plant-related words on the inside back cover rounds out this excellent book. Reviewer - James Cox ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Mothering, July/August 2002 Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World Religions With photographic splendor, the Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World Religions summarizes the beliefs, rituals, and societal influence of diverse religions, from Christianity and Islam to Sikhism and Shinto. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Books, July 2002 Very Good!! Paperback. Illustrated. Usborne Children's New Testament: A Collection of Bible Stories. Hardcover. Illustrated. Bible/Nativity: Sermon on the Mount - Parables - Last Supper - Crucifixion, Holy Spirit. Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ Today's Books, July 2002 An Introduction to Web Site Design Exceptional!! Paperback. Illustrated. An Introduction to Web Site Design using Microsoft Frontpage. Internet/Home Page: Publishing Web sites - HTML - Animation. Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Books, July 2002 Must read!! Children Nonfiction: Internet Linked Children's World Cookbook. Paperback. Illustrated. Cooking/International cuisine: web site research - 40 recipes - traditional foods, simple dishes, foreign ingredients. Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Cryptologia, July 2002 A small, 4 1/2" x 7", colorful book designed for ages 7 and up. Includes codes and ciphers, Morse messages, cipher machines, letter grille, invisible ink, puzzles in print, quick codes, hiding secret messages, body language, tips for code breakers, secret code quiz and much more. Answers are in the back of the book. A terrific fun and learning book and an excellent value. Buy an extra copy for your child to share with a friend and exchange secret messages. Reviewer - Louis Kruh ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Parent, June/July 2002 "Not macaroni and cheese again!" You're sick of hearing your kids' complaints about dinner, but you don't have time to prepare fancy meals. Why don't you let your youngsters help with the cooking? A new book provides unique recipes with instructions geared to children. Children's World Cookbook by Angela Wilkes and Fiona Watt, for ages 9 to about 12, presents recipes from around the world. An introduction gives safety tips and basic information on cooking, including directions for kneading dough. Brief information on each country or area precedes one or more recipes. Each recipe is representative of a country or a specific geographical area. Cauliflower in cheese sauce represents Holland, beef stroganoff is a typical Russian dish, and a traditional African recipe is for peanut bread. Readers will also learn tidbits about national food customs. For example, "The Japanese eat a lot of fish, seafood, vegetables, noodles and rice." Occasional double pages, scattered through the book, acquaint kids with a specific category of food, such as fruit or cheeses, from many locations. The cakes and pastries presentation includes jalebi, a type of candy from India. Color photographs of numerous foods, including a pizza with various mouthwatering toppings, stimulate the reader's appetite. A half-page photograph shows floating markets in Thailand. Nadine Wickenden's small sequential pictures clarify the step-by-step preparation and cooking directions. Two drawings show how to use chopsticks. Small pictures of most of the foods enhance the table of contents. Internet links direct children to websites, which provide additional data on foods of specific countries or regions, other food-related topics, such as the history of bread, and general facts about nations. An index enables readers to look up foods and countries. Reviewer - Norma Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Star-Telegram Newspaper, Fort Worth, Texas, June11 For families who want to expand their culinary horizons beyond our national borders, there's The Usborne Internet-Linked Children's World Cookbook. First published in the United Kingdom in 2000, this one's for the inquisitive child who wants to learn about foods eaten by kids around the globe. With each of 40 recipes are recommended Web sites to take the cook deeper into each cooking topic, but use of a computer is not necessary for enjoying the book. On each page are related stories that explain a few of the traditional foods eaten in various countries, so kids can get culture and geography lessons along with their culinary explorations. World Cookbook travels through 29 countries and regions, including the United States, Latin America, Canada, the Mediterranean, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Greece, India, Japan and Australia. International roundups are provided for cakes and pastries, breads, cheeses, fish, fruits and vegetables. For every step of a cooking method, there's an instructional drawing. Cooking safety is emphasized, and there are notations for vegetarian recipes and for recipes that contain nuts. Recipes include a New York cheesecake; Caribbean mango fool, a slushy fruit-and-cream dessert; French apple tart; and Chinese fried rice with vegetables, which teaches stir-fry and chopping techniques. Reviewer - June Naylor ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Children's Bookwatch, June 2002 The Usborne Internet-Linked Children's World Cookbook is a unique approach that incorporates Usborne-recommended, culinary oriented websites suitable for children, with forty simple, delicious recipes drawn from ethnic and regional cuisines from around the world, ranging from the floating markets in Thailand to Italian delicatessens. It should be stressed that access to a computer is not necessary to enjoy and utilize The Usborne Internet-Linked Children's World Cookbook as a wonderfully illustrated compendium of food facts and recipes. From Peanut Bread (Africa); Cauliflower in Cheese Sauce (Holland); Salade Nicoise (France); and Guacamole (Latin American); to Basmati Rice (India); Shish Kebabs (Turkey); Scones (England); and Fried Rice with Vegetables (China); The Usborne Internet-Linked Children's World Cookbook will take any young kitchen cook on a wonderful culinary adventure! Of special interest are the sections for "Hints and Tips"; "Fruit Around the World"; "Breads from Around the World"; "Cakes and Pastries" and, of course, the free, downloadable recipes available through "Internet Links". The Usborne Internet-Linked Children's World Cookbook is very highly recommended! Reviewer- James Cox ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Metrowest Daily News, May 2002 An Introduction to Web Site Design Using Microsoft FrontPage If your family is considering a website, let your kids design it with An Introduction to Website Design Using Microsoft FrontPage by Mairi Mackinnon (Usborne $10.95). It is a great introduction to website design, clearly laid out with lots of tips and tricks for making the site exciting. Use this book, and you will have an actual site quickly and easily. A listing of cool websites will give your kids ideas. Reviewer - Alyson Button Stone ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Parenting, May 2002 Trick Photography reveals the secrets of using optical illusions, fakes, tints and sparkles to make seemingly impossible photos. A 35-mm flash camera with 27 color exposures is included so kids can start immediately. Ages 8 and up. Reviewer - Ruth Roufberg ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Parent, May 2002 Goose
on the Loose and Frog on a Log Is your child starting to read? How can you find books to enhance this new, developing skill? Two new paperback books, which belong to the Easy Words to Read series, each present a fascinating story through a superb interaction between Stephen Cartwright's colorful cartoon drawings and the text. A language expert provided consultation. An introduction for parents explains the concept of phonics and its use in the books. The last page in each book lists the words used, which have more than one letter for a sound and words which do not completely follow phonic rules. In Goose on the Loose by Phil Roxbee Cox, for ages 3 to about 6, Goose scares and almost bumps into numerous animals with her speedy scooter. The following example shows the simple text and phonetically related words: "Goose goes scooting down the road. She almost scoots right into Toad." The illustration of cows and pigeons scattering from Goose's scooter will attract children's attention. The animals try to find a way to stop Goose. The surprise ending will delight young readers. Three fold-out pages enable kids to discover additional illustrations and text. In Frog on a Log by Phil Roxbee Cox, for ages 3 to about 6, Pup and Pig bump Frog's log, knocking him off. Frog figures out a way to keep from falling off again, but he makes a huge mistake. An example of the simple text with repeated sounds is, "Out of the fog runs Pup the dog." Kids will enjoy the pictures of Frog wearing suspenders attached to his log. Two fold-out pages give little hands something to do. Only four words vary from the phonic rules. Reviewer - Norma Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Washington Parent, April 2002 Other Earth Day activities might include staring at a starry sky or pressing flowers. Angela Wilke's Book of Seasons (Usborne, 2001, ages 3 and up, $16.95) offers fun things to do in spring, summer, fall and winter. Planting bulbs, searching for spider webs and looking at bark will enhance the whole family's awareness of the natural world. Reviewer - Mary Quattlebaum ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Parent, April 2002 Encyclopedia of World Religions and Children's New Testament Religion takes many forms. Even though you hope your children will continue following your religion, learning about beliefs and religious practices of other people will help them function in our multicultural society. Encyclopedia of World Religions by Susan Meredith and Clare Hickman, for ages 10 to about 13, devotes 20 pages to Christianity and from ten to twelve pages to each of the following other major religions: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Sikhism, while Shinto, Taoism, Confucianism, Jainism, the Baha'i faith, Zoroastrianism, and Rastafarianism receive briefer explanations. Other topics include religions which small groups of people in specific areas follow, past religions, and the interaction between society and religion. Internet links direct children to additional information on most of the religions. This hardcover book uses the abbreviations BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era), instead of BC and AD, since all religions find the former terms acceptable. The introduction describes characteristics that are common to many religions. A number of the beautiful, colorful illustrations include children. A double-page world map indicates the main religions in specific locations. Prior to the index, a double-page time chart shows when different religions began and, in some cases, ended. For members of the Christian faith, as well as those who want to learn more about Christianity. Children's New Testament, retold by Heather Amery, for ages 4 to 9, presents stories about Jesus from the Christian Bible, written at a child's level of understanding. Linda Edward's colorful drawings help children visualize how things may have looked in those days. This hardcover book, which comes with a dust-jacket, belongs to the Children's Bibles series. The material in this book is also in Children's Bible. Reviewer - Norma Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Washington Parent, March 2002 To start the season hopping, try sharing Easter Activities (Usborne, 2001, ages 3 and up, $6.95) with budding artists. Fiona Watt and Ray Gibson's easy-to-follow instructions and Howard Allman's full-color photographs guide kids in making flowerpots, egg cards and chick puppets that can add a festive touch to family celebrations. Reviewer - Mary Quattlebaum ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Libraries Unlimited, March 2002 First Encyclopedia of Seas and Oceans This volume is part of a series of encyclopedias from Usborne that focuses on the Earth's seas and oceans and the living organisms in them. Other volumes cover the world, animals, and space. Internet links are provided throughout the book so that users can access additional related information. Users have to go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com to connect to the sites; URLs are not given. The site is easy to use and navigate and no subscription is needed to use it. Besides the Internet benefit of this work, it can also be used as a standalone encyclopedia. The colorful illustrations and brief, easy-to-read entries seem to be geared for elementary-aged students. Subjects such as coral reefs, dolphins, tides, shipwrecks, and the future of the oceans are covered. While the encyclopedia itself is only brief enough to satisfy mild curiosity, the Internet links will open a world of discovery for young learners. As with any Internet-related work, readers should keep in mind that some sites will move or disappear over time. Reviewer - Cari Ringelheim ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Libraries Unlimited, March 2002 Library of Science World of Plants The three volumes in The Usborne Internet-Linked Library of Science set cover animals, earth and space, and plants. As can be derived from the title, multiple Internet links are provided for various topics throughout the volumes. But, URLs are not listed. Readers have to go to www.usborne-quicklinks.com to connect to the sites. No subscription is required to use the site and navigation is simple and straightforward. A disclaimer is issued on both the site and in the volumes about the likelihood of individual sites moving or closing down. Information about Internet safety is also provided. Other than the obvious advantage of the Internet links, these volumes also contain easy-to-read text, multiple color photographs and illustrations, glossaries, and indexes. They are highly recommended for elementary school libraries and juvenile reference collections in public libraries. Reviewer - Cari Ringelheim ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Libraries Unlimited, March 2002 The new Usborne Internet-linked books are designed to catch the interests' of middle and high school students by giving them a new high tech way of researching common topics. This volume focuses on the history and different types of music, while other book in the series focus on such topics as science and world history. The book addresses each topic on a two-page spread. This arrangement may sometimes be confusing to the user as two very different topics can land side by side. The book begins by giving readers tips on what to listen for when studying different types of music. It then goes into how to download music from the Internet and how MP3 files are used for this purpose. It gives several different sites and search engines so users can find the type of music they are looking for. The authors also warn extensively against violating music copyright laws and emphasize sites where free music can be downloaded. Following these research tips, the book gives information on a variety of topics related to music, such as the different types of music (e.g., rock, jazz) and gives resources for finding out more information. It also covers historical aspects of music, such as music in ancient times, Medieval music, Renaissance music, Baroque music, and nationalistic music. Entries on different performance venues (e.g., ballet, opera, movie soundtracks) and instruments and reading music finish out the volume. Students will like the format of reference source because of its frequent use of sidebars, photographs, and its focus on the Internet. Reviewer - Shannon Graff Hysell ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Libraries Unlimited, March 2002 This elementary school reference uses more than 200 websites to enrich the brief printed instruction. The world's history is divided into four segments: prehistory (up to the first farmers), ancient times (ending with the fall of Rome), the medieval period, and the last 500 years. The authors concentrate on daily life, major historical figures, and key dates. Each section begins with a listing of Internet sites pertinent to that epoch. Furthermore, each entry within that category has additional URLs. In discussing the Mycenaeans, the text features an illustration of the Lion's Gate, the city entrance, as it looked in 1200 B.C. The Web reference shows the same location today. This interesting juxtaposition of the past with the present brings alive the bare facts. The online content varies from the academic to lighter interactive sites. Examples range from hearing Mozart's music to listening to eyewitness accounts of World War I, virtually touring British castles and Egyptian tombs, reenacting the Battle of Hastings, seeing Russian icons from the Hermitage, and seeing the first lunar landing and worldwide celebrations of the new millennium. As additional enhancement, all of the sites can be quickly accessed through http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com without typing in long Internet addresses. The volume is amply illustrated. Many of the book's drawings, maps, and photographs can be downloaded at no charge for use in student reports. Appendixes include a glossary, an index, and a chronology showing events occurring on the same date across all continents, from prehistory to the present. Reviewer - Adrienne Antink Bien ___________________________________________________________________________ |
The Children's Bookwatch, March 2002 Usborne Spotter's Guides Sticker Books Stickers and sticker books are perennial favorites among preschool through first grade youngsters. The "Usborne Spotter's Guide" series capitalizes on this to present a colorful and fun learning experience in a number of areas. Included in this outstanding educational series are the Dinosaur Sticker Book, Seashore Sticker Book, Rocks and Minerals Sticker Book, Flowers Sticker Book and Flags Sticker Book. Each book features more than one hundred thematic stickers that when matched with the black and white illustrations will help children to learn specific facts about the particular book's subject matter. Ideal for home schooling as well as "rainy day" projects and road trip past times, these "Usborne Spotter's Guides" are as entertaining as they are informative! Reviewer - James A. Cox ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Publishers Weekly, February 2002 Mary Had a Little Lamb, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, This Little Piggy and Sing a Song of Sixpence Usborne's Carry-Me Books series presents four nursery classics - Mary Had a Little Lamb; One, Two, Buckle My Shoe; This Little Piggy and Sing a Song of Sixpence - in a tote-able format with sturdy curved handles on the paper-over-board covers. Laminated pages ensure durability, and Linda Edward's cheerful illustrations and Eileen O'Brien's musical notes will strike a chord with preschoolers and parents. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Parent, February 2002 First Encyclopedia of Seas and Oceans Children love the strange worlds of fantasy stories. Do they know a real-life fantastic world exists right here on earth, in the vast oceans? First Encyclopedia of Seas and Oceans by Ben Denne, for ages 4 to about 9, presents an overview of topics relating to the earth's bodies of salt water. Following an introduction, the first half of this paperback book describes a fantastic variety of underwater wildlife, explained in a clear manner to facilitate children's understanding. Topics include predators, natural camouflage, coral reefs, symbiosis, poisonous animals, oceanic mammals, and creatures of the deep sea. Numerous unusual facts stimulate interest; for example, "Antarctic icefish have special liquid in their blood, to stop it from freezing." Other topics include waves, currents, coasts, ships, and how humans adversely affect the ocean. Kids will be surprised to learn that Tsunami waves are only dangerous when they approach the shore and that a small submarine for deep ocean exploration holds no more than one occupant. David Hancock's beautiful, colorful illustrations add abundant information beyond what words can explain. Children will enjoy the picture of several salmon jumping up a waterfall, as well as the depiction of a coral shrimp cleaning a moray eel's teeth. Small illustrations with captions, some of which are sequential, provide significant details. Two schematic pictures represent an oil rig removing oil from under the seabed. Two small world maps show routes; one indicates humpback whales' migrations, and the other denotes the main ocean currents. This book, which belongs to the First Encyclopedias series, is Internet-linked, meaning it provides information on accessing numerous websites that supplement material in the book. The table of contents and an index provide quick access to specific topics. Reviewer - Norma Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Union County Family, January 1 - February 15, 2002 Reveals the secrets of using optical illusions, fakes, tints, and sparkles to make seemingly impossible photos. A 35mm flash camera with 27 color exposures is included so kids can start immediately. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, January 2002 First 100 Words French Sticker Book
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Publishers Weekly, January 2002 Naughty Sheep and Pig Gets Stuck Usborne's Mini Farmyard Tales with Key Ring sets include Naughty Sheep and Pig Gets Stuck. Each features a tiny book - with simpler text on top and more advanced text on the bottom so adult and child can read together - and a tiny plush toy on an easy-to-open key ring. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Publishers Weekly, January 2002 Two titles by Phil Roxbee Cox, illus. by Stephen Cartwright, join Usborne's Farmyard Tales Touchy-Feely series. In Woolly's Walk, for instance, a sheep is "looking for some lunch." But Woolly is met by warnings each step of the way (e.g., "Don't eat those flowers, Woolly...the bees might sting your nose." A sample of the woolly coat and the prickly thistles on the thick board book pages let youngsters join the action. Curly's Friends features a porcine star. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Publishers Weekly, January 2002 Usborne's Touchy-Feely board book series also features a variety of textures. In Kittens and Puppies by Fiona Watt, illus. by Rachel Wells, a pack of pets enjoys the same activities, but in every scene there's an out-of-step oddball. In the end, youngsters learn there's something that all kittens or puppies like to do. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Publishers Weekly, January 2002 In a slightly smaller format, That's Not My Lion joins a series of Touchy-Feely titles, also by Watt and Wells, which displays tempting textured patches as each book defines the attributes of various animals. After a process of elimination ("That's not my lion. Its ears are too soft"), a white mouse eventually finds the right one. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Parent, January 2002 "I'm bored. What can I do?" How many times have your kids said this? In Book of the Seasons, Angela Wilkes describes activities which child ages six to nine can do during each of the four seasons. Star charts for each season show the main constellations kids can see form each half of the world. Illustrated, step-by-step directions enable youngsters to prepare appetizing dishes, grow plants, paint or draw scenes, do craft projects, make a sundial, ad press flowers. Other activities include observing plants and wildlife, weather watching, and beachcombing. Kids will learn an abundance of intriguing and useful facts about nature. An example of Wilkes' stress on respect for living things is, "If you pick up a shell with an animal in it, put it back where you found it." The directions for some activities advise requesting assistance or permission from an adult. When appropriate, instructions include safety warnings. Beautiful photographs and informative supplemental drawings, all in color, make this hardcover book a delight to read. Clear, close-up photographs show details of plants and their seeds, as well as a wide variety of animal species. Captions add interest and enhance learning. Children will be surprised when they see the photo of a section of tree trunk showing a solid cover of butterflies. Realistic illustrations inside the front and back covers give the impression of being real flowers and leaves pressed in the book. Many pages have decorative borders relating to their respective topics. Three introductory sections present concepts about seasons and sky watching. The final section titled "Useful Information" gives general instructions for doing activities and includes a few relevant websites. The table of contents and the index guide children to specific topics. Reviewer - Norma D. Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Books, January 2002 Exceptional!! Photography, nonfiction for children: Kid Kits: Trick Photography. Paperback illustrated. Packaged with disposable camera, pen. Create optical illusions, special effects, make filters, hand-tint, frame. Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Books, January 2002 Exceptional!! Art nonfiction for children: Kid Kits: How to Draw Horses Paperback illustrated and packaged with pencils, sharpener, eraser, papers. How to draw instructions with materials to practice cartooning and realistic art. Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Books, January 2002 Very Good!! Nature nonfiction for children: Usborne Discover - Internet-Linked Snakes. Paperback illustrated. Rachel Firth and Jonathan Sheikh-Miller provide guide to world of 2,500 snakes and link more info via website: usborne-quicklinks.com Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Books, January 2002 Very Good!! Geography Nonfiction Adult: The Usborne Book of Peoples of the World: Internet Linked. Gillian Doherty and Anna Claybourne offer continent by continent description of human cultures. Reviewer - Lex Ticonderoga ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Publishers Weekly, January 2002 Goose on the Loose, Hen's Pens and Frog on a Log A trio of titles debuts in Usborne's Easy Words to Read series by Phil Roxbee Cox, illus. by Stephen Cartwright. In each, Cox weaves words with the same phonetic pattern into an engaging story. For instance, in Goose on the Loose, "Goose is on a scooter/She can't stay and play/She's a goose on the loose/'Get out of my way!'" Language consultant Marlynne Grant opens with an explanation about phonics. Other titles include: Frog on a Log and Hen's Pens. Four other titles in the publisher's Easy Words to Read series are available as lift-the flap board books: Ted in a Red Bed; Fat Cat on a Mat; Sam Sheep Can't Sleep; and Toad Makes a Road. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Publishers Weekly, January 2002 My Bedtime, My Food, My Bathtime, My Toys, My Clothes and My Animals The Usborne Rattle Books series - My Bedtime, My Food, My Bathtime, My Toys, My Clothes and My Animals - really shakes things up. The board books' full-color spreads match words to Howard Allman's photographs of Jo Litchfield's colorful clay models; the round format and rattle embedded in the back cover add kid-appeal. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Calliope, January 2002 Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World History includes detailed articles on a variety of subjects, and links to and information about web sites from around the world. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Family, December 2001 Trick Photography reveals the secrets of using optical illusions, fakes, tints, and sparkles to make seemingly impossible photos. A 35mm flash camera with 27 color exposures is included so kids can start immediately. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Dane County Kids, December 2001 Here's a great gift for kids and for their parents who've heard the refrain, "I'm bored. There's nothing to do. "With a variety of recipes, activities, and science project ideas, this book creatively answers its title question, "What shall I do now?" Kids can learn to cook yummy treats like "coconut mice" and "owl cakes. "Playing dress-up is made easy and fun with lots of costume ideas using items from around the house. My favorite is a puppy costume that uses a pair of brown socks for floppy ears. And curious minds will love the section of activities similar to science projects. The ideas range from growing your own Chia pet, or "green-haired creatures," to growing roots and shoots in a jar. If you're looking to feed a kid's hungry imagination, this book will be a feast. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Today's Parent, December 2001 Christmas Treasury and Christmas Puzzles "How many more days is it until Christmas?" You think you've heard that question a thousand times. Keep your kids busy, and the time will speed along. Two new books will provide them with numerous captivating Christmas activities. Christmas Treasury, with stories retold by Heather Amery, includes both religious and secular aspects of Christmas, for ages 4 to about 8, in the form of traditional stories, crafts, carols, and explanations about Christmas topics. A CD comes with this hardcover book, enabling the child to listen to the stories and hear the songs while reading the words. Several illustrators contributed to the colorful pictures, which include a child shepherd and Santa's reindeer, Rudolph, with his bright red nose. The first story is a retelling of the Christmas story from the New Testament. Numbered directions, each with a drawing, guide the child to completion of the crafts. Songs include "Away in a Manger" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas." A page explains origins of Christmas songs. In the Christmas Puzzles edited by Michelle Bates, for ages 5 to about 8, Brenda Haw's illustrations of eleven scenes, relating to the secular aspects of Christmas, serve as puzzles. After a short introduction to each scene, questions clarify what children need to do. An example is, "Can you find a safe way up the paths to the Christmas party tent?" Children will get a laugh out of a lady who is trying to mail an elephant wrapped up as a package. The middle pages contain 41 colorful stickers to put on solved puzzles and over colorless items in the pictures. The final page of this paperback book gives answers using miniature replicas of the scenes. Reviewer - Norma D. Kellam ___________________________________________________________________________ |
South Florida Parenting, December 2001 For curious kids and budding magicians, this kit reveals the secrets of using optical illusions, fakes, tints and sparkles to make seemingly impossible photos. A 35mm flash camera with 27 color exposures is included so kids can start immediately. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Calliope, December 2001 The Usborne Book of World Religions by Susan Meredith (Usborne Books, 1995) presents short sections to describe each of the major world religions. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Washington Parent, December 2001 Offers enjoyable reading and listening possibilities for the entire year. Each double-page spread focuses on the music of a specific time period (ancient times, Renaissance), geographical region (Middle East, Far East), and type (opera, jazz). Eileen O'Brien's short descriptions and interesting facts and David Cuzik's colorful illustrations make this a very child-friendly guide. What fun a family might have learning, listening, and moving to the music! You may even wish to set aside a special time every other week to explore a whole new sound. Create your own instruments and play along! Reviewer - Mary Quattlebaum ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Booklist, October 2001 Éste
no es Mi Osito
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KidsLikeOurs.com, October 2001 Wallop & Whizz and the Bottle of Fizz
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Connect, September/October 2001 - Issue's Focus: Bird Studies Listed in this issue in the "Resource Reviews". ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Children's Literature, September 2001, Volume 9, Number 9 This sixty-three page book is very impressive. Usborne has done a fine job in giving the reader a compendium of facts about our feathered friends, the birds of the world. The information presented is so extensive it is mind-boggling. Color photos and illustrations give the book a special appeal. Whether you read the book straight through or read a few pages and then try an Internet link, you will learn some new piece of information about the birds. One web link allows you the hear various bird songs, other links allow you to visit with people around the world about bird migration. The combination of print format and web links is nicely accomplished and brings a wide variety of birds and their habits to the reader's attention. A must read for the birder in your house. -Reviewer: Barbara Youngblood ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Cleveland/Akron Family, "Batteries not included: books about technology", September 2001 Harness the power of the Internet with this hefty volume from a new generation of reference books whose entries are enhanced with numerous website links (in this case, literally a thousand). Learners can easily delve more deeply into a variety of scientific subjects including physical science, chemistry, botany and anatomy. The 448-page book is divided into nine chapters to help readers hone in on exactly what they're looking for. Each chapter is further broken down into two-page spreads that succinctly summarize the important facts on a particular topic with descriptions of two to five websites providing even more information. Students have direct access to all the links in the book through the publisher's website. A boon for report writers: many of the book's full-color illustrations can be downloaded at no cost to jazz up the most ho-hum of term papers. [Hint: Check our the last chapter for helpful lists and charts.] ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Calliope, September 2001 Make This Model Egyptian Mummy Make This Model Egyptian Mummy was one of the books featured under resources in the article "The Pyramids and Egypt's Old Kingdom." ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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KidsLikeOurs.com, August 2001 Beads, Bangles and Bracelets Kid Kit
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CBA Marketplace, July 2001 New Internet-linked books link children to the Usborne web site to go on a continent-by-continent journey exploring cultures, beliefs, homes, jobs, and traditions. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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www.fogg.cc, July 2001
Essential Spanish is a phrasebook targeted to middle school students of the Spanish language. This book is a color paperback of 64 pages. The content of this guide focuses on the words, phrases and slang of Spanish as it is spoken in Spain (not Latin America). The book is organized in sections based on themes. Some of these themes include obtaining accommodations, dining, traveling, shopping, and emergency situations. Each section includes a cartoon strip that demonstrates sample conversations in Spanish. A box is placed with essential words relating to the section theme along with their Spanish translation. Scattered throughout the book are smaller "Fact file" text boxes with cultural information about Spain and its people. A page at the beginning lists essential vocabulary needed to communicate in Spanish, while a complete listing of words and phrases appears in an index at the end of the book. Another section uses several pages to cover the most important elements of the Spanish grammar including the uses of ser and estar, how verbs are used, nouns, plurals, and adjectives. The cartoon format of this guide is likely to appeal to the teenaged audience for which it is targeted. A large variety of topics, words and phrases are covered, providing a handy reference for studying Spanish as it is used in everyday situations. The book also includes two pages of slang expressions that are useful and relevant, yet appropriate for children of all ages. The content is organized with translations alphabetically organized in English, making translation from Spanish to English a little difficult, and its size is a little too large to conveniently carry in a shirt or jacket pocket, but the strength of this guide is the scope of its content. Essential Spanish provides an opportunity for young students of Spanish to improve their vocabulary and conversational skills in situations they are likely to encounter when traveling. The colorful cartoon format will appeal to children and keep their interest. The content covers the most important elements of the Spanish language and gives the reader an improved vocabulary of useful words and phrases. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.fogg.cc, July 2001
El Castillo Misterioso (Mystery Castle) is a bi-lingual puzzle story for children written in Spanish and English. The book contains 25 pages and is colorfully illustrated. The storyline is set inside of a large medieval castle. The young reader searches each page for objects that are listed at the beginning of the story. These objects, including run-fast shoes, an anti-monster shield, and a super flashlight are used to solve the mystery at the end of the story. Also hidden on each page are additional items such as a ghost and juggler balls for the reader to search for. The storyline is presented in Spanish. A list of all of the Spanish words on each page along with the English translation is provided in a key box near the top of the page to help the beginner to understand the material. The reader must follow directions given in Spanish by both humans and animals to solve the puzzle for that particular page. Additional instructions are provided in English so that the child can complete each page. An index of all of the words and phrases is included on the final two pages for a quick reference. This index also includes a pronunciation key to sound out unfamiliar words. Kids love this book. They enjoy looking over the colorful pages and searching for the objects they need to find. They will look at it time and time again, it never seems to bore them, and they can hardly wait to take their turn when another child is using the book. El Castillo Misterioso is a fun vehicle for young children to improve their Spanish skills. It is colorfully illustrated and children enjoy working with the puzzles. It covers a variety of basic Spanish vocabulary and is formatted so that children can readily understand new words and phrases. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Children's Bookwatch, July 2001 EDC Publishing offers three outstanding Usborne 'picture puzzle' titles beautifully illustrated by Ian Jackson for children with an interest in nature and wildlife that are as fun as they are informative. In The Great Animal Search (0746017391, $9.95) there are some 100 animals to spot and identify on every double-page of this oversized book. Each scenario showcases a different part of the world and the wildlife that lives there. In addition to countless hours of puzzle solving fun, there is a wealth of fascinating animal facts presented in succinct, easy-to-read captions. The Big Bug Search (0746027036, $8.95) follows the same format, only this time for insects ranging from hairy spiders and black slugs to dragonflies and leafcutter ants. With The Great Undersea Search (0746023413, $8.95) the focus in on live underwater in the various puzzle pictures ranging from coral reef to ocean depths to sunken pirate ship, and more. With all three books, should young readers (or their parents!) get stuck trying to find all the hidden things, there are answers in the back. This wonderfully presented, magnificently illustrated series is especially recommended for home schooling curriculums, rainy day pastimes, or long road trip diversions. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Washington Parent, July 2001, Great Summer Reads by Mary Quattlebaum Shells and Shells Sticker Book Picking up shells is certainly one beach experience. All those colors, shapes and textures! Those who don't know an oyster from a conch shell, though, may wish to bring along a guide. Usborne Books publishes two good ones written by Graham Saunders, illustrated with color photos by Mike Freeman and suitable for ages 8 and up. Shells (1992, $4.95) is pocked-sized and includes a fascinating section on the biology and life cycle of a mollusk. Spotter's Sticker Shells (2000, $7.95) boasts eight pages of stickers to be affixed to the appropriate place in the text. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
For Kids Only, June-July 2001 The disguises were pretty neat. There were maps and coded messages for you to work on. It was fun. - Danny Beers, 12, Hazlet, NJ I liked the disguises, my brothers and I tried to figure out the maps. - Christopher Beers, 7, Hazlet, NJ It was fun playing this with my brothers and figuring out spy things. - Cody Beers, 7, Hazlet, NJ ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, June 2001
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Metrowest Daily News, June 2001 Books for children to read this summer, by Alyson Button Stone I must start this week with a paean of praise for Usborne Books, that truly amazing publisher and recipient of numerous awards and accolades from teachers and parents alike. As we head into vacation time, travel time, and 'Mom, I'm bored' time, Usborne comes to the rescue with over 60 new products, and a full catalog of wonderful resources in the following subject areas: arts/crafts; board books; geography; kid kits; math; music; nature; puzzles; science; and more. All the genres have entries for a range of age groups. These materials are just indispensable for rainy days, traveling (save a puzzle or sticker book for that impending car trip and enjoy a peaceful journey), beginning a skill like fractions or a new language, or just enjoying a parent/child activity. I had a middle-schooler home with a cold last week and we spent a very pleasant afternoon solving an Usborne Puzzle Adventure Kit. The puzzle wasn't too hard or too easy - just challenging enough to permit us to solve the mystery and save the world in a few hours. With Usborne, every facet of the books shows loving care and quality. You simply can't go wrong. I particularly liked a fantasy adventure titled Star Quest. There's lots of stuff to solve, lots of hidden pictures to find, lots of imaginative, unique characters. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Practical Homeschooling, May/June 2001 If you love Usborne books then you'll love Make Reading Fun, an interactive CD-ROM-based program that will reinforce your child's reading skills. Make Reading Fun is separated into four progressive modules. Each module features three full-sized Usborne books. Usborne books can stand alone, but in this case the CD-ROMs add to the books. Each CD-ROM includes video helps, an interactive storybook, and various activities, including some which are printable. The interactive storybooks match the Usborne books exactly. Just click a button and the story is read to you. As each word is read it changes colors so you can follow along. This is the equivalent of a finger pointing under the word. I have to say that 'interactive' is a bit of a stretch. On some pages you can click on a picture and it will tell you its name; other pages however do not have this option. The learning exercises consist of various phonics activities. There are at least two types of activities per book and they are varied and interesting. The exercises for each book vary but work on such skills as vowel sounds, sequencing, word endings, puzzles, blends, letter sounds, word recognition, and vocabulary building. One problem with the learning exercises is that if you click on the wrong answer nothing happens. You just keep clicking on items until you find the right answer. This may be confusing to some children who don't know they have the wrong answer. The printable activities are ideal for the homeschool family because they reinforce what is learned in the games and book. If you need to reinforce a particular skill just print up one of the workbook activities. Here are the books included with each module. Module 1 Ages 2-4
Module 2 Ages 3-5
Module 3 Ages 4-6
Module 4 Ages 5-8
If you would like a supplemental reading program that contains actual learning activities and not just pointless games then Make Reading Fun is for you! ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, May 2001
Whether you are a player, coach, or soccer fan, the Usborne Complete Soccer School offers a total reference for improving your enjoyment of the game. Complete Soccer School combines eight Usborne soccer book titles into a handy and powerful reference guide about soccer. The book is printed in color and contains about 250 pages. This guide is divided into eight chapters that parallel the titles of the individual books. The topics that are covered include ball control, shooting, attacking, defending, goalkeeping, tactics and training. Each chapter introduces techniques that are demonstrated with both photographs and drawings. The layout of the chapters is similar, teaching fundamental skills, then putting those skills together into more advanced tactical concepts. Each skill discussed also includes a page of suggested practice drills and short multi-player games to further assist in developing mastery. This book provides extensive information about important basic skills. Kicking and heading the ball are demonstrated along with a variety of techniques to retain control and getting the ball into position to score. Marking and tackling are introduced and tips are given on how to adapt these techniques to an individual style of play. A number of methods are shown to dribble and pass the ball, and also how to move the ball to the area of the field that is best for a particular situation. Most of the technique sections include photographs of internationally known soccer stars using that skill in actual play. Each player position is examined and tips for both tactics and strategy are given. An entire section is devoted strictly to goalkeeping, and midfielders will appreciate both the attacking and defending chapters. Man-to-man and zone defense is introduced, and the situations that require these tactics are discussed. Another important issue that is addressed is transition play - the point at which play shifts from defense to offense, or the ball moves from the defending third to the midfield and attacking third of the field. Various offensive and defensive systems are reviewed with tips on how to implement and use each for your team. The section on training also gives valuable insights for improving your game. It covers warming-up, strength training, stretching, nutrition, and mental preparation for a game, This chapter also explains how to handle various injuries and how to stay fit and healthy. Similar to the other sections of the book, various practice drills are suggested to improve player skills. The end of every chapter includes an interesting trivia test about playing the game and the history of soccer. The feature that makes this book exceptional is that it introduces and refines such a variety of basic skills. Emphasis is placed on kicking, passing, blocking, marking, and turning. Entire pages cover issues such as handling high balls, the variety of kicking methods, shielding the ball, and faking. Each skill is demonstrated using text, photographs and drawings that are both clear and easy to understand. Another important strength of this book is the reading level - children of late primary school age can easily handle the vocabulary, yet everything is clearly and completely explained. Anybody wishing to improve their ability to play, coach or watch soccer will appreciate this clear and colorfully illustrated presentation of skills, tactics and strategies. It is a one-stop reference guide for players and coaches of any ability level and provides an abundance of information for developing basic, intermediate and advanced soccer skills. It is easy to read, yet completely covers every major aspect of the game. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, May 2001
This book is about learning to fish and how to catch fish. It shows the best ways to fish for big fish. My hobby is fishing and I like to fish. I learned how to cast and all about the equipment that you need to go fishing from this book. I liked the section about flies, lures and baits, and how you use them to fish for very big fish. This book shows you about fishing equipment and tackle, and how you can make everything yourself. The pictures in the book were nice. Every drawing has a line drawn to its parts and words telling you what it is or what it does. I also liked the section that shows you all of the types of fish because the pictures were very nice, and I learned about many new types of fish. There were a few hard words in this book for me because I am in first grade, but most of it was easy to read. The part of the book I liked the most was the part that shows you how to make your own fishing poles. This book teaches you how to fish and I thought it was a very cool book. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, May 2001 Usborne Spy's Guide (La Guia Del Espia)
Available in both Spanish and English, the Usborne Spy's Guide (La Guia Del Espia) opens the door of imagination for children to enter the world of international intrigue and spying. Both versions are short paperback format books designed for children of late primary school age. One would expect a book of this type to cover secret codes and invisible writing and this guide covers both extensively. It goes far beyond the basics of both with pages of examples and illustrations of various methods to encode and conceal documents. It also includes sections on disguises, how and where to hide, secret communications using non-written methods, and other deceptions to keep the opponent from discovering what is happening. Placed at strategic points in the book are spy puzzles for the young reader to solve. These include finding the spies with bad disguises at a dinner party, determining which spy is a double agent, and decoding practice. The answers for each puzzle are shown at the back of the guide. The sections on disguises are also interesting, with suggestions on the types of clothing to collect and use, how to make yourself look older or younger, special effects such as wounds, and quick emergency disguises. These pages give instructions on what to borrow from mom and dad to make some of the items, how to prepare for a "mission", and step-by-step instructions for dressing and make-up. The guide is extensively and colorfully illustrated. Pictures that demonstrate each technique are included, and there are special boxes that include information such as animal and human footprint types and various secret codes and ciphers. The characters used to demonstrate spying techniques are drawn in a comic book style format that is attractive to children. Several games are suggested for youngsters to practice and perfect spying skills alone and in groups. These include hiding and seeking style games, coding and decoding, and taking turns spying on each other in disguise. For any child that ever dreamed of being a spy, this guide is just the ticket to get going. A number of clever deceptions are clearly explained, along with secret codes and writing, and the activities that are suggested provide hours of fun play at the spying game. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
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Book Selling this Week, Kids Pick of the Lists, April 2001 The subtitle, "Things to Do All Year Round," accurately describes the contents. It is a mixture of science, arts, and crafts for each season. For example, spring includes constellations visible at night, weather, animal tracks, and egg decorating. Each season has a mixture of natural science and activities designed to teach about the seasons. This book is a very nice family activity book for year-round interest. The art is excellent and the descriptions interesting. It will provide many hours of enjoyment. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Book Selling this Week, Kids Pick of the Lists, April 2001 A Visitor's Guide to Ancient Egypt This was another of my favorite books. It is designed to resemble an actual travel guide - covering religion, education, government, family, fashion, where to stay, how to get around, etc. Everything you need to know as a tourist in ancient Egypt is contained here. The illustrations are mixed in with actual photographs. There are also plenty of tips for the traveler - including watching out for crocodiles while swimming in the Nile. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Book Selling this Week, Kids Pick of the Lists, April 2001 A great compilation of useful information for dinosaur fans. It is logically arranged and easy to understand. Very well done, and an excellent value for the $5.95 price tag. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Book Selling this Week, Kids Pick of the Lists, April 2001 If summer is your favorite season to celebrate with children, this is a resource book you shouldn't be without during the long, hot summer. Scrumptious picnic cheese tarts, cheesy snakes and caterpillars, and sunshine toast, will be tasty and fun to make. Bright illustrations detail step-by-step directions for successful activities for all. Art and craft projects abound - painting, shaping, paper-folding, printing, pop-ups, even sunny postcards are among the summer fun. Stickers add to the summer treasure. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Book Selling this Week, Kids Pick of the Lists, April 2001 Everyday Words in French Sticker Book The companion sticker book to Everyday Words in French will equally help children develop French vocabulary and reading skills. Matching words with objects encourages active learning, and stickers are always intriguing. This is a great book for parents and children alike who can use fun activities as an aid to learning French words and phrases. Colorful and fun. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
Book Selling this Week, Kids Pick of the Lists, April 2001 My toddler friends and I had a great time with this book. It was a fun way to identify everything from a toaster to a present. We made a game out of it and walked throughout the house to find as many items as we could and place its sticker on the right page. This can also be a good way to keep busy in the car on road trips. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.Fogg.cc, April 2001
Usborne First Skills: Starting Chess is a chess primer aimed at developing game skills for primary school readers. This 32 page book is included in an Usborne Kids Kits package along with a small magnetic chess set. The book begins with a short history of chess, how to set the pieces to start the game, and moves on to short descriptions of each piece and how it can move. Extensive illustrations are included throughout, with the chessmen being drawn as humans in armor. A short section also describes simple game strategy and special moves such as castling. A large number of basic concepts are presented in simple language. The book relies heavily on simple primary school language to convey to the reader how chess is played. The vocabulary does not contain technical chess terms that a youngster would not understand, but uses simple words and short sentences that are familiar to readers in this age group. The illustrations of the pieces as people creates a unique personal feel for learning this difficult game, and the drawings more fully express the complicated moves than would be possible with words alone. This book has three features that are perfect for children wanting to learn the game of chess. The first is that the words and sentences are simple and short. The second is that the scope of coverage is strictly limited to the basics of the game without including more complicated terms and concepts. The third is the use of colorful illustrations to introduce each piece and how it moves. A small magnetic chess set is included with this Kid Kit. When folded for transportation, the set is about the size of a pocket calculator, ideal for school bags and lunch boxes. Unfolded it measures about 7 inches by 7 inches with the pieces up to one inch tall. The pieces are standard design in miniature and are traditional white and black. This Usborne Kid Kit is a great vehicle for teaching younger children the basics of chess. The simple words and colorful pictures clearly explain and illustrate all of the important basics of the game. Children of primary school age will find this kit fun and entertaining. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, April 2001
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KidsLikeOurs.com, April 2001
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KidsLikeOurs.com, April 2001
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The Daily News, April 2001 Kudos to Usborne for their continual high quality. I don't know a child who doesn't love these products. I recommend "The Usborne Complete Book of Drawing" and "The Usborne Book of Art Ideas". Both are jam packed with inspiration. The art ideas book has practical advice on how to use almost any media you can name - with over 200 projects detailed. The drawing book shows the basics of drawing so that even the most amateur artist can create something to be proud of. Fun projects abound to fill up the spring and summer. Reviewer- Alyson Button Stone ___________________________________________________________________________ |
www.fogg.cc, March 2001 by Frank Fogg
El Mundo Antiguo is a hardcover book about early civilizations throughout the world. The contents include a number of pictures and illustrations, and the text is entirely in the Spanish language. This work is closely focused on the period of time from about 10,000 B.C. through 400 A.D. and examines the beginnings of civilization on each of the major continents. Each chapter answers the basic questions of when, where and how these peoples lived. Every page has colorful drawings, pictures and maps to help one visualize everyday life. These pictures include typical village and city scenes showing everyday activities, drawings that show typical clothing styles, and cutaway views of buildings to show home life and customs. The text contains a wealth of cultural information. Some of the topics covered for each early civilization include religion and worship, art forms, political orientation, wars and military organization, and burial rites. Extensive coverage is given to early Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian, South American and Chinese civilizations. Early peoples in Africa and the Americas are also described. Several features of this book are unique and increase reading comprehension. The top of every page includes a title detailing the civilization and period of time for that particular page. At the bottom of the page is a timeline with a segment highlighted corresponding to the time period being discussed. Maps are presented in two sections with a continent sized view and a close-up view that both have the referenced location highlighted or outlined. Small boxes sprinkled throughout the text emphasize key dates and events for each period of history. A chronological table at the rear of the book illustrates the progression of civilization on each continent in a side-by-side presentation for easy comparisons. This book is written for children with Spanish as a primary language, but provides an ideal opportunity for students studying Spanish to get hands on reading practice. The book is so extensively illustrated that the meaning of unfamiliar words can be easily guessed. The level of detail in the drawings and pictures provides many fascinating insights into how these peoples actually lived. This book is an excellent intermediate level reader for students learning Spanish. Maps, pictures and drawings help the reader understand what is discussed without having to constantly refer to a dictionary or pocket translator. ___________________________________________________________________________ |
KidsLikeOurs.com, March 2001
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