I don’t like The Magic Treehouse series. There. I said it. I’m assuming that there are millions – literally, millions – of parents out there who feel differently. There must be. How else could Mary Pope Osborne have published approximately 2,469,698 titles? How else could they sell so well? How else could they occupy entire… Continue reading “The Imagination Station” – a Series Review
I was a pretty good student as a child and took some of the higher math classes offered at my high school. I say “higher math classes” because, honestly, I don’t really remember what the highest level was (which is telling). I know I took geometry and pre-calculus. After that…not really sure. Which has often… Continue reading Basic Math Facts: Important and…Miserable?
“It began with the day when it was almost the Fifth of November, and a doubt arose in some breast – Robert’s, I fancy – as to the quality of the fireworks laid in for the Guy Fawkes celebration.” So begins The Phoenix and the Carpet by Edith Nesbit. Never heard of her? Neither had… Continue reading “The Phoenix and the Carpet” Review
“My Dad always told me, “Never surprise somebody swinging a hammer; something is liable to get smashed.” So begins The Unicorn in the Barn by Jacqueline K. Ogburn. Not sure where I first came across this as a “recommended book,” but it seemed likely to appeal to Ivy and I suggested it as a gift… Continue reading “The Unicorn in the Barn” Review
King Richard the First, Richard Coeur de Lion, came to the throne in 1189 – and very soon left his throne empty when he set off on the Crusade to free Jerusalem from the Saracens. So begins The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green. This is a book I recently taught in my fifth grade literature class. It… Continue reading “The Adventures of Robin Hood” Review
NOTE: Several weeks ago I did a specific review on the first in this series, Gate of Ivrel. Now that I’ve finished the additional three books, I wanted to write up a few thoughts concerning the series as a whole. There are books – even enjoyable books – that you read and put in your Half Price… Continue reading “The Complete Morgaine” Review
This is another sly opportunity to get my kids to a) practice their writing and b) help add to my blog all while talking about something they love: reading! This guest post is from my son, 7 year old Simon. He did great! “Why does it have to rain?” Josh asked as he and his… Continue reading “A to Z Mysteries: April Fools’ Fiasco” Guest Review
I’m always curious about the backgrounds to songs and stories, so I thought it might be interesting to some people to learn the background to “Lines” and thought I’d write up a quick explanation. Considering the “What?!” reactions that several people gave after reading “Lines” through to the end, maybe this will also calm some… Continue reading “Lines,” an Explanation
This is the second half of a short story I recently finished. You can find the first half here. I hope you enjoy it! They passed the tumbledown barracks, startling a few late sleepers out into the sun and then, off to their left, was a low door and long, low windows set into the… Continue reading Lines, Part Two
Here’s a short story I just finished. I think I’ll post half of it this week, then the other half next week, and then – for those inclined to know the background of such things – a little bit on what inspired the idea. (I always find it interesting to learn what sparked a certain… Continue reading Lines
