Saturday 29 September 2018

Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose
Author: Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 978-1-250-03410-6



Hi Everyone

It is school holidays! 

Spring is here and it is time for a good couple of weeks just refresh and renew our little minds.  It is always beautiful at this time of the year as I drive around the countryside and see all the little lambs and spring flowers.  I have even had to watch the ducklings a couple of times as their mum's caution them along the road side.  Adorable!

But, that has nothing to do with our latest read aloud.  No matter how old my children get we still enjoy coming together for a read aloud.  This one was an interesting one.  Young Sasha is reading to become a Young Pioneer but things start to change.  His father is taken away, his class seems different, and then to top it all off he goes and knocks the nose of the school Stalin statue.  Not good!  This story shows the dynamics of the Stalin ruling and Communism in a way that is relateable for young people.  It is from the perspective of a school child who then starts to question what is going on around him.  It is done all in a quiet thoughtful way.  I liked the approach and it got us all talking as we came across different things in the pages.  

And as for the quality of the actual book... This isn't something that I normally talk about but I like the print of this book.  My copy has thick, fresh white pages.  It has brilliant black and white pictures scattered throughout and it's a different size to a normal novel.  It's a well printed copy that I have in my hand 😀

So, yes I recommend this book for all you young readers.  If you have a chance to sit with read aloud the book then take that chance and enjoy the book and your kids, I can't stress more the importance of reading aloud with your family.... no matter the ages.

Well, I'm off to enjoy the first day of Daylight Savings here.  Spring awaits me. 


Description:

Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six:
The Young Pioneer is devoted to Comrade Stalin, the Communist Party, and Communism.
A Young Pioneer is a reliable comrade and always acts according to conscience.
A Young Pioneer has a right to criticize shortcomings.


But now that it is finally time to join the Young Pioneers, the day Sasha has awaited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's glasses with a snowball. He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway. And worst of all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested just last night. 


Available from Book Depository


Happy reading

Thursday 20 September 2018

William Carey - Obliged to go

William Carey - Obliged to go
Authors: Janet and Geoff Benge
ISBN: 978-1-57658-147-6

William Carey: Obliged to Go


Hi Everyone

This book has been sitting on my bookcase for a while now and it should have been read long before now as it didn't deserve to sit this long 😀

I purchased it as part of the Sonlight curriculum we were following before exam years got in the way.  But, we have begun once again to read through what is left on my shelf.  This one is well worth the read.  I haven't read any of the Christian Heroes: Then & Now series but I will, just to see if they are written this well.

There were many wow moments in these pages.  It is a true history novel that far exceeds any text book.  This is an example of a real living book, one of which the kids can relate to.

I actually read it aloud to my kids.  Yes we still read aloud.... they never out grow it.  Keep reading to your teens you may just be amazed at how they enjoy it still.  There were many moments where we stopped to discuss the contents this book addressed.  There were things that we found ourselves digging deeper to find out just a little more.  Some of the events that took place back in the days of William Carey were just a little opening for not just my kids but for me.  We live in a different world with new issues, some of the old remain - yes, but some to read a book which opened up some of the past which is often forgotten and never mentioned today, was really interesting.

I have recommended this book to quite a few people since I opened its pages.  I think I can say this little piece of literature left me thinking and hungry to read more.


Happy reading

Saturday 8 September 2018

My latest find

Hi Everyone,

I have been taking a little break at the moment as my students start to make their way through the third term and into the exam period.  I have a few books to bring to you soon, but my students always come first, so I will touch base again over the holidays.

But....

Look what I have found!

It may have been around for a long time.

But...

I have just found it 👀

Blinkist


https://www.blinkist.com/



I'm not sponsered by Blinkist.  I just think what they offer is absolutely brilliant and want to share it with you all.

Little Blinks....

What's  a Blink?

Take thousands of non-fiction titles and condense them into the key notes from the book.  Then you have 1-10 minute Blinks.  You can listen to them, read them, save them, download them for on the run.  Then if you want to purchase the book just click the link and buy the whole book.  Brilliant resource for people on the run who don't have time to read all they want to.  Or, those who want to just read the key points.  

Anyway that's my latest find.  I will bring you more reviews soon, very soon

All the best and...


Happy reading