Rebecca Reads

Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature

  • About
  • Blog
    • Non-Reviews
    • Reviews
      • Child/Young Adult
        • Board Books
        • Chapter Books
        • Early Chapter Books
        • Middle Grade
        • Picture Books
        • Young Adult
      • Fiction
        • Drama
        • Short Stories
        • Poetry
      • Nonfiction
  • Reading Lists
  • Contact
  • Line upon Line Learning

Good Morning Yoga by Miriam Gates

June 8, 2016 by Rebecca Reid

Good Morning Yoga by Miriam Gates is a basic picture book to introduce young readers to yoga. Each page has a simple rhyme about a yoga pose mixed into an imaginary situation, thus making the stretch friendly to the young reader. Further, bright illustrations show children doing the yoga pose. A text box explains how to do the given stretch.

I am not very familiar with yoga at all, so I don’t know what the proper terms for each of the poses are. But that didn’t matter. With Good Morning Yoga, I knew how to do the yoga stretches. With the calming rhymes on each page and the fun illustrations, my kids were eager to join in. My daughter’s favorite page is that in which she is an explorer: one hand makes a “spyglass” at her eye while the opposite leg stretches out behind her!

Although it has been a few weeks since we read it, my daughter still likes to remember her favorite pages. This is a nice gentle way to wake up in the morning, and I am delighted to see that there is also a Good Night Yoga book by the same author/illustrator team!

Note: I received a digital copy of this book for review consideration. I also referred to a physical copy at the library because I like it so much!

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

June 6, 2016 by Rebecca Reid

Beatrice Nash is an educated, talented, and pleasant woman. But life in 1914 England does not give much credence to those qualities when she has been left orphaned and impoverished at the old maid age of 22 without any marriage prospects. To make matters worse, she must rely on her unfriendly relatives for assistance in finding a job. Her position as Latin teacher to the small school in Kent is tenuous, and she can only hope that somehow she can find the means to get ahead of her fate.

Meanwhile, Hugh Grange visits his aunt in Kent this summer, along with his cousin Daniel, and the two friends find themselves in a new situation as the country turns in the tides of war.

Yes, The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson does have a romance in it, and the tea parlor conversations in it make it a delightful woman’s novel. But in the tradition of Downton Abbey, we also face the dichotomy of the classes during an intriguing changing era when the world is soon to be turned upside down by war. Add in a very timely discussion of refugees from Belgium, and I found The Summer Before the War to be a delightful British novel for capturing my Downton Abbey-starved mind.Continue Reading

OCDaniel by Wesley King

May 23, 2016 by Rebecca Reid

OCDaniel by Wesley King is a much needed added addition to Young Adult collections, as it puts a frequently taboo subject (mental illness) at the center of the story. OCDaniel is about a middle school boy suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but he does not quite know what it is. He feels progressively frustrated with his strange obsessions and his inability to let go of things he knows are not reasonable. Enter a strange girl from his school who has her own mental disorders that make daily life miserable. She needs help, and since she recognizes Daniel’s issue, she believes he is one that is able to help him. Together, Daniel learns a little bit what a true friend looks like, and he is able to come to a recognition of the fact that he needs help in overcoming his unique condition.Continue Reading

Chloe in India by Kate Darnton

April 11, 2016 by Rebecca Reid

Chloe in India by Kate Darnton is about an American preteen trying to find her place while living in a foreign country. Chloe is a preteen American girl who has moved to India, but she dislikes living there because she is the outsider. She has blonde hair, she doesn’t know Hindi, and she doesn’t quite understand the social circles in her small private school. As most fifth graders may feel, she wants to be popular.

Chloe’s story is one of growing into yourself and being okay with who you are. Although she really wants to fit in with the most popular girl in school, she recognizes that this girl is not nice and is actually not really any fun. The school system in India is such that the private schools are required to provide spaces for children who are unable to afford it. This is to give everybody the opportunity of a good education. One such poor girl, Lakshmi, joins Chloe’s class, and the two girls finds they have a special bond with each other. They enjoy playing after school hours at the playground together, and they both feel out of place in their new school.

When the school has a dance contest Chloe and Lakshmi decide to practice a winning dance together. They are determined to win! However, when it comes down to it, at school, Chloe is still torn because she wants to be a part of the popular girl’s circle well.

Chloe in India is a nice look at a culture that I was not familiar with. I like that we can see this glimpse into Delhi and that in the end, Chloe became comfortable with who she is. It was predictable, but I am glad she found the ability to stand up for her new friend.

I think it’s important to note that Chloe in India is full of subtle cultural and social commentary (Chloe’s mother was a sensational journalist) so obviously this book also became that. That’s not a bad thing: I think it is important for children to understand different cultures and the commentary gave such a glimpse. The book was not only commentary: it certainly was a fun story as well.

Note: I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration.

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Rebecca Reads Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature

Reflections on great books from an avid reader, now a homeschooling mom

Search for a Book Review

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Archives

open all | close all

Authors, Publishers, and Publicists

Please refer to my review policy before sending me a request to read your book for review.

Disclosure

Occasionally, I accept copies of books for review consideration. All such books will be tagged "Review Copy". Accepting a book for review does not affect my opinion of the book.

I am also an Amazon affiliate. Items purchased via Amazon through a link on any of these pages may result in a commission to me. Thank you for your support.
All content © Rebecca Reads 2008-2015 All Rights Reserved.
Protected by Copyscape Plagiarism Detector

About This Blog
Privacy and Disclosure Policy (on Line upon Line Learning blog)
Book Review Policy
Contact Rebecca Reid

Advertisement



Browse My Educational Products Shop!

Copyright © 2021 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in