Sorting Through Life's Lessons

Sturbridge Village Announces Homeschool Days

2012-01-18T11:32:00.003-05:00

Sturbridge Village has announced their homeschool days for 2012. While there is limited information available on activities and costs, the current scheduled dates are:

Friday, March 2
Wednesday, May 2
Wednesday, September 12
Thursday, November 8

You can check out the current available information here and sign up for their newsletter to receive updates on the events.

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Eyes and Ears Seymour Simon

2012-01-17T10:19:00.000-05:00

Eyes and Ears is a great resource for parents and teachers looking for a resource to teach the parts and functions of the ear and eye.

Simon uses photographs, diagrams and clear prose to help readers learn more about what make eyes and ears work. For anyone who has ever read a text and gotten lost in the first paragraph, Simon provides an alternative learning approach for elementary readers. Even older readers can benefit from the photographs and clear diagrams.

I have been collecting Simon's books for a younger relative and this is the latest purchase in the collection.

Punctuation the Write Stuff

2012-01-10T05:30:00.018-05:00

I decided to pick up Basher Basics: Punctuation: The Write Stuff for a family member after purchasing Basher Science: Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction and enjoying the presentation and format of the material.

While this book is in the same series it had a different author, so I was interested to see if it would be as strong as the first book I picked up. While a different writer, the series continues to be one I am pleased with and I would like to find the additional English focused titles.

The book divides punctuation into categories and gives each of the marks a personality that will help children remember the identity and purpose of each type of punctuation. This is an interesting approach to teaching what can be a dry subject. The illustrations and humor is a creative approach to getting children engaged in learning and may actually lead to children remembering what they have learned.

I would suggest this as a great addition to a family or classroom library. It is a handy book to review those often forgotten punctuation rules.

Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

2012-01-03T05:30:00.004-05:00

Greg Harlin's illustrations do much to help Paul Krensky engage children in the tale of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride.

While told in picture book format, the author provides quite a bit of information about the event and does not fall into the trap of inaccuracies and mythology that some even longer tales present.

This is a great book for teachers, parents, or homeschoolers who want an accurate account of Revere's ride to share with children. The artwork is worth discussing with older readers. It would be great to read Wadsworth's poem and compare it to the historical details presented in this and other accurate children's books on the subject.

Christmas Vacation Week Activities in Massachusetts 2011

2011-12-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

We have family visiting and I am sure others are looking for activities to enjoy. I will continue to post activities as I find them.

Discovery Museums in Acton have special drop in days planned all week including Lego building days.

Freedom Trails Historic Holiday Stroll provides people with an opportunity to experience the Freedom trail with a holiday focus. Learn more about the traditions as they evolved in Boston.

Higgins Armory Musuem has a week of special events planned for the vacation week.

Boxing Day December 26 at The Old Manse in Concord Get a tour of the house and learn more about the British holiday tradition of Boxing Day.

Old Strubridge Village is having a variety of family friendly events and hands on crafts for children that change daily.

Still time to Ride the Train and See the Lights at Edaville Railroad

2011-12-19T08:46:00.000-05:00

While the time has passed this year to see the Sturbridge Village's Christmas Celebration, Edaville's Christmas program continues through January 1. We went the first weekend in December. It was a wonderful trip, I have not made since I was a child.

You can find all the information about dates, prices and the available discounts I located in an article on my blog about the event here.

The train ride is a fun and the house windows are great to explore. The train displays were wonderful to see and a good chance to warm up from the outdoor chill. The only thing we did not try out were the amusement park rides, although it seemed there were plenty of kids enjoying them.

They have kept some of my favorite displays from my childhood. I love the houses you can look in to see the old style moving dolls at work. Some are worse for wear, but they still have that Christmas enchantment at work.

We did feel welcome and we plan to come back next year to enjoy the tradition again.

Last Weekend to Visit Sturbridge Village's Christmas by Candlelight

2011-12-16T12:13:00.001-05:00

We went the first weekend and it was an event that will be on our calendar for next year. You can read my blog posting for the event information here.

We arrived before it opened and tried to visit as many of the holiday themed events as we could. Each house had different historical holiday themed activities for adults and children to explore. Music and food were displayed. I now know what it means when they sing about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I have even had the chance to taste them. I also finally learned what Marzipan looks like and how it is made.

The dinner at the Oliver Wright Tavern was very good and I thought reasonably priced considering what I have paid at other tourist destinations for "fast food." This was a very tasty complete meal and the prices were fair.

If you are going to make the visit, I would suggest dressing warmly for the weather and wearing comfortable shoes. The roads are dirt and lit by actual candle lit lanterns. There is a considerable amount of walking to do in order to see all the activities and venues that are offered.

I loved the nativity scene they created by combining multiple sets. I have never seen some of the sets they created there. Learning about Christmas traditions and listening to the music made for a great holiday event.

The Pilgrims of Plimoth

2011-12-14T05:30:00.016-05:00

The Pilgrims of Plimoth by Marcia Sewall is not a new addition to picture books available on the Pilgrims, but it is one to consider when studying the Pilgrims. The author uses paintings rather than drawings or photographs to illustrate the story. The story is written in the first person reflecting several points of view.

One of the important reasons to include this book in a study of the Pilgrims is that it includes information that many of the other books leave out. The book discusses the original destination of the Pilgrims, Virginia. It explains how they ended up in New England and ultimately how the colony came to be established in Plimoth. This story helps dispel the myth that the boat arrived and the Pilgrims all stepped off and established a colony. It describes how the Pilgrims lived on the ship and foraged for food. It takes the reader through the evolution of the colony as the Pilgrims tried to build some common structures before the bitter cold of winter hit and the loss of life during that first winter. The book explains to readers how the survivors emerged in the spring with the help of the Native Americans to begin planting crops and building structures.

I did not have a chance to acquire this book when I was purchasing Pilgrim books this year, but it will be on my list for next year.

Pilgrims of Plymouth

2011-12-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

I am continuing to look for quality children's history books. I came across Pilgrims of Plymouth while searching for a different book at the library. I decided to reserve it to preview prior to purchasing.

This is a book produced by the National Geographic Society. Samuel Eaton's Day and Sarah Morton's Day the pictures for this book are taken at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This is great for children who have visited and those who live to far away to make the trip.

This book is different in that it is designed for younger readers. It does not focus on individual stories, but it is a general explanation of life at Plimoth for young readers. The vocabulary is fairly simple and approachable for even young children. The pictures make this a good resource for students to develop a picture of what life would have been like for children and adults living at this time. This book will be on my purchase list.

Aztec Holiday Wishes Gift Drive

2011-11-29T09:04:00.000-05:00

Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School is holding their annual gift drive to help families in the Hudson and Marlborough Massachusetts area. While there are many holiday gift drives going on in the area, we participate in several, I like this one because it not only provides toys and clothing to children and families in need, it provides students in the business department with the opportunity to plan, organize, and execute their own charitable project.

Students are looking for people to adopt families or to drop off new toys at the front desk of the school that can fulfill wishes they hope to grant. The deadline for toys and clothing is December 7th, but cash donations must be at the school by December 2nd to allow the students time to purchase the items on wish lists left unfilled.

To get information on adopting a family or participating in the program, please contact Donna Groccia or April Kelly at (508) 485-9430 x1446.

Sturbridge Village Christmas by Candlelight

2011-11-28T05:00:00.001-05:00

I love Christmas and I am always looking for fun ways to get my family out to do Christmas events. I heard about Christmas by Candlelight at Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts and decided this was on our must see list for the holiday season.

I am afraid I have not discovered any discounts for the event yet, but I will update this post if I find any. The event uses the Sturbridge Village setting to provide guests with a historical holiday experience. There are many family friendly events listed on their website. With the warmer weather I am not sure we will get to experience the sleigh ride for our visit, if it snows for the later dates, they do offer sleigh rides as part of the package.

The dates and times for the events are listed below. Check with the website for any changes or updates.
Christmas by Candlelight
December 2 - December 4
December 9 - 11
December 16 - 18
Friday, Saturday & Sunday Evenings
4:00 PM-9:00 PM
The price does vary depending on the days you choose to visit.
Friday & Sunday* ~ $12 OSV Members, $14 Non-members
Saturday ~ $13 OSV Members, $15 Non-members

We also made a reservation at the Oliver Wright Tavern for dinner. You can find out more about that by visiting their website.

We are looking forward to our visit. I will post a review after we have a chance to explore the event.

Tapenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times

2011-11-22T10:44:00.000-05:00

Tapenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy In Pilgrim Times is the third book in Kate Water's series on Plimoth Plantation. This title focuses on Tapenum, a Wampanoag boy frustrated because he has not beeen selected to train to become a pniese, a warrior counselor for the tribe. As the author tells his story, readers are introduced to what life was like for the Wampanoag tribe through pictures taken at the Habbamock's Homesite at Plimoth Plantation, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

This book can be read as a picture book, but also provides valuable information for older readers because of the photographs and attention to detail about life in the Wampanoag tribe. While many complain about the inaccuracies of tepees in books about the Pilgrims, the staff at Plimoth Plantation in accordance with the Wapanoag tribe have insured that Habbamock's Homesite is an accurate reflection of Native American life for visitors to learn more about the tribe.

Plimoth Plantation has wonderful resources for anyone who wants to learn more about the time period. Check out their Thanksgiving Interactive site. Find out more about the Wampanoag Homesite featured in this book here.

Samuel Eaton's Day

2011-11-10T05:00:00.004-05:00

SamuelEaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy is the second of Kate Water's books I borrowed to review. While it is too late for this year's Thanksgiving purchases, I am always trying to find new books to put on the list. You never know what you might find at sales during the year before I place next year's order.

As with Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl the story uses the real life of a Pilgrim boy as interpreted at Plimoth Plantation to create a picture book for children.

Like Sarah, Samuel has also lost a parent, in his case his mother. He is approaching his first rye harvest with the hope that he can demonstrate his worthiness to be allowed more adult tasks and responsibilities. The two characters meet and greet each other in the book and the books share a similar format. Children are introduced to Samuel's clothing, his chores, and his family life. According to the author's notes, the child that portrayed Samuel in this book was not an interpreter at Plimoth Plantation, although his mother was at the time the book was written in the late 1980's.

I have to reserve the last two books in the series from the library to refresh my memory about them. However, the first two have convinced me to put them on my list of books to acquire.

Sarah Morton's Day A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl

2011-11-09T05:00:00.006-05:00

I first came across Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl while on a field trip to Plimouth Plantation. The book uses one of the interpreters and the location shots for the illustrations of the story.

While not a new story, the original book was published in 1989, this book retains the ability to introduce children to life in Plimoth Plantation. For students who will be visiting on a field trip or those too far away to ever go, this series of books is a wonderful way to visit through the real life stories being retold by children working as interpreters at the historic site. This story focuses on the real life of Sarah Morton who lives with her Mother and Stepfather. The pictures are taken at Plimoth Plantation using a historical interpreter who works at the site to tell her story.

While the book is often marketed to younger audiences because it is a picture book, the pictures actually do make it valuable for upper elementary students as well. While the story is not complicated it provides valuable information about living conditions, the way children lived, and visual information from the recreations at Plimouth Plantation not always used in other resources for children about this period. One basic issue this book addresses is the stereotypes about the clothing the Pilgrims wore. Plimoth Plantation has done a great deal of work to dispel the myths of the Thanksgiving Pilgrims found on all our decorations. The colored photographs in this book that show children and adults in multi-colored costumes without a buckled hat among them can go even further to help children understand the difference between the myths and facts about the Pilgrims.

The Battle of Bunker Hill an Interactive History

2011-11-08T05:00:00.024-05:00

There are not a number of books available on the Battle of Bunker Hill for children and The Battle of Bunker Hill: An Interactive History Adventure happens to be a good one. Students are not just presented with the dry, dull facts of the event. They are asked to participate in the event by taking on a role.

Like the previous books I have written about in the series, the book begins with an introduction to the events leading up to the Battle of Bunker Hill. Then readers are presented with three character options. They can be a colonial soldier, a British soldier, or a civilian watching events unfold. As the story unfolds, more choices are made and the reader can see how some choices have major consequences and how others still lead to similar outcomes based on events that individuals can't control.

Just a warning to parents, while death was addressed in the The Boston Massacre: An Interactive History Adventure title, this is the first book I have read where two of the characters that a reader can choose to follow actually face that outcome depending on the choices selected. As with any book, I suggest you preview it and decide if how you want to approach the topic with your child.

Edaville Railroad Christmas Festival

2011-11-04T05:00:00.005-04:00

Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA is opening this Christmas with two different programs for families. There is a twenty minute railroad ride with 12 amusement rides available to the public for $18 dollars for both kids and adults and $16 dollars for seniors.

AAA offers a $2 discount on the children and adult admission prices, but according to their website it is not available on Saturdays during the Christmas festival or on the Days Out With Thomas. There is nothing on the website regarding the Polar Express Train, but I suspect the same restrictions would also apply. Calling ahead would verify your discount options.

For military members there is a military discount available that provides free admission with a military ID to the ID holder and 50% discount to each family member. Carver residents are being offered a BOGO option. (Buy one get one free)

The dates for the Christmas Festival are:
Dec. 1-4, 7-11
Dec. 14-January 1
(Closed Christmas Day)
Weekdays 4pm-9pm
Weekends 2pm-9pm

More information can be found on their website.

Edaville is also offering parents and children a Polar Express adventure. The dates for this special train trip are:

November 18,19, 20, 28, 29 & 30
December 5, 6, 12, 13, 24 & 31

The train times are currently listed as 4:30pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm and 7:30pm

Prices are $30 for adults and children and it is suggested that you buy tickets early as they expect them to go quickly.

You can find out more about this option on their website here.

This was one of my favorite places to visit as a child and I am glad it is available for kids to see again. I am in the process of trying to get family interest generated to make a trip down this Christmas season.

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Three Young Pilgrims

2011-11-03T05:00:00.027-04:00

I have been previewing Pilgrim books to add to my Thanksgiving box and came across Three Young Pilgrims through our library network. While this book may not make this year's purchase list, it will be on next year's list.

This picture book focuses on telling the story of the Pilgrim's journey to the New World and their life here through one family's experience. Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary Allerton arrive in Plymouth and face many challenges.

The best parts of this book are the beautiful illustrations and the maps that provide extra information that the prose does not. The maps add details and added specific information that does not quite fit into the family's story.

While this is written as a picture book, this could be a good teaching tool for older elementary students if approached in the right way. A discussion about the additional information, the illustrations, and the characters can make this a much-needed addition to many dry textbooks that are on the market. However, it is also a perfect match for the target audience of primary readers that generally study the Pilgrims.

I will be putting this on my search list for next year's Thanksgiving mailing.

The Boston Massacre an Interactive History

2011-11-02T07:41:00.000-04:00

The Boston Massacre: An Interactive History Adventure is another book I borrowed from the library prior to purchasing for Christmas this year. Like the previous stories in this series, the reader is given a background of the events leading up to the event and three characters to choose from in following the story.

This story starts with the background information of the Stamp Act, the formation of the Sons of Liberty, the Stamp Act protests, and the arrival of British troops to keep the peace in Boston. Readers are provided with three character choices to follow the adventures through the book, a 13-year-old wig maker's apprentice, a British soldier, or the role of John Hancock's maid.

The story then walks the reader through the events of the Boston Massacre through each characters experience, giving the reader options to make choices and see how those choices alter the outcomes along the path. What I found interesting and an important lesson was in some cases you could not change the outcome. Despite your best intentions, bad things still happen. This is historically accurate, but also an important life lesson illustrated for kids in a practical setting. The British soldier's life provides another side to the story that is often missed in the retelling of the Boston Massacre. The author gives his character the temptation of deserting and the life the options that would come with that or staying loyal and all the choices that come for a soldier with that option.

The book ends with a summary of events that happened after the Boston Massacre.

I was pleased this topic was one the series decided to approach. The Boston Massacre is a great example of how choices have consequences. It also demonstrates that events sometimes do end up overtaking the ability of people to avoid them. Regardless of our own wishes and choices, sometimes other’s choices prevent us from changing our outcome.

I continue to be impressed with the possibilities for this series to engage and encourage children's interest in history.

Revised Halloween Trick or Treat Schedule Metro West Massachusetts

2011-11-01T17:16:00.000-04:00

This is by no means a complete schedule. Feel free to leave a note and I will make changes if people add any.

Thursday,November 3
Marlborough

Friday,November 4
Northborough
Sudbury
Westborough

Saturday, November 5
Southborough

Monday, November 7
Hopkinton

The Revolutionary War An Interactive History

2011-10-24T09:10:00.000-04:00

As I have mentioned in several previous blogs I have been trying to locate history books that present accurate, but interesting presentations of American history to children with the hope that they will actually engage in learning it.

The Revolutionary War: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History) provides an interesting format for learning about the time period of the American Revolution. I thought the introduction was rushed. However, I did like the format of allowing children to choose a path and follow it through the story making choices and following those outcomes.

Three original paths are provided to the reader, the daughter of a colonial militia captain, a young Connecticut Patriot who chooses to fight, and a loyalist who sides with Great Britain.

The girl is presented with original choices of following her father to war to care for him or staying with her mother to care for the family. That original choice provides the next choices available to the reader. The young Connecticut Patriot must choose between joining the Continental Army or going to sea and becoming a privateer. The loyalist lives near Charleston, South Carolina. He is presented with the options of staying on his father's plantation or joining his Uncle's business in Charleston. Once the reader chooses the character to follow, additional choices are presented and the reader follows the path that these choices create.

Years ago, we tried to create these types of scenarios manually for history units and it was a great deal of work. I think this book would work wonderfully as an independent book for parents who want their children to understand the different perspectives and choices people made during the Revolution. I think homeschooling parents would also find it an asset for their educational purposes. However, I also think this book has specific applications in the classroom or group setting. This book would be a great choice for a cross unit literature circle. It would make a great gateway to discussing cause and effect, choices and consequences of choices. Children could meet in-group with students that represented all three paths and meet with students from their own paths to discuss the various choices and consequences.

This is not a book that will teach children important dates and times. However, it does add a layer of perspective that is often lacking in the books that do teach those concepts. This helps kids to look at how people approached the event from an individual life experience, not a homogenous group. History books often group people without teaching children that even in groups of people those people are individuals, not identical clones.

After previewing the library copy, this book made it to my Christmas giving list for this year.

The Dreadful, Smelly, Colonies

2011-10-17T05:00:00.001-04:00

I came across the Fact Finders Disgusting History series and decided to preview The Dreadful, Smelly Colonies (Fact Finders: Disgusting History) prior to purchasing it. It sounded like it would be similar to the You Wouldn't Want series in providing an entertaining but informative look at American history for children. However, I have bought on impulse and been disappointed with the outcomes. This would have been a good impulse purchase.

Unlike the You Wouldn't Want series, this book uses more realistic drawings and photographs to illustrate the topic. While the title is designed to be shocking, the information is accurate and factual. The first section of the book discusses the shelters that were built when settlers arrived in the various areas of the country and why those shelters were chosen. The author discusses topics like disease, insects in your food, and the building of privies for bathrooms.

The book also addresses indentured servants and the fact that slaves originally could purchase their freedom until laws were changed that took away that possibility. This is an area not often discussed in history texts for children, which made it an interesting choice to add to my purchases for Christmas.

Challenges with diseases, travel, and the relationship with Native populations are not ignored in this book. For a short book that could pass as a picture book from the outside, it covers a good deal of historical information in an appealing format for children. While I passed on it when purchasing some other books, I will be adding this to my list of Colonial History books to pick up for Christmas.

The Inside Story

2011-10-13T05:00:00.004-04:00

The Sisters Grimm: Book Eight: The Inside Story moves the story beyond the Everafter War as we left off with the Master having fled into the Book of Everafter. The Sisters Grimm realize they do not have time to wait for Granny Relda and the rest of the family and dive in after him.

The premise of this story was an interesting one. I was looking forward to seeing the kids chase the Master through the pages of children's literature to rescue their baby brother. Unfortunately, this story was not as well executed as previous efforts. Buckley's strength has been his ability to blend multiple characters from children's literature with humor and an integrated plot to hold the reader's interest. In this latest novel, it almost seemed as if Buckley was trying to cram as many character and story references into the story with little interest in plot or humor that was a strength of his previous novels.

The main source of humor in this book is Puck constantly teasing Sabrina about their future marriage after Sabrina finally tells him about her trip to the future. While this is cute, it is not nearly as amusing as the stories provided in previous novels.

The last two books in this series have turned darker. The resolution to the Master's plan leaves the girls with gaining one relative while losing another. The next novel is rumored to be released in May of 2012. I hope Buckley finds a way to advance his plot and return to the humor of his previous stories.

You Wouldn't Want to be an American Colonist

2011-10-12T05:00:00.017-04:00

You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Colonist!: A Settlement You'd Rather Not Start is the first book in this series I've read that was not written by Peter Cook. This book focuses on the Virgian settlements of Roanoke and Jamestown. While Cook provides the reader with an identity, Ms. Morley does not continue this tradition. However, she does provide readers with the interesting tidbits and travel tips I enjoyed from Cook's books in the series.

I haven't found many resources for young readers on the Virginian colonies. This book is accessible for young readers and will appeal to intermediate readers with the humor and cartoons.

I have decided that I will be purchasing this book along with You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower!: A Trip That Took Entirely Too Long and You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink as gifts for a younger family member. I think these books will be great additions to the history library I have been building for the family.

The Everafter War

2011-10-11T05:00:00.029-04:00

The Sisters Grimm: Book Seven: The Everafter War takes a slightly different direction than the previous novels. Charming is determined to defeat the Red Hand's army and as the title states the book focuses on the war of the Everafters.

The previous novel ends with a cliffhanger. This novel picks up with the cliffhanger teasing readers with a revelation about the identity of the master only to hold off revealing the information until the very end.

While this book advances the plot of the series, the seriousness of the plot removes much of the humor found in the previous novels. The Everafters face losing one of their beloved characters close to the Grimms.

All is not easy for Sabrina and her parents. Her dream since the series began is to have her parents back. While her parents are back, they are not the parents she remembers and the children are not the children her parents left in New York. The conflicts only create more frustration for Sabrina with life in Ferryport landing.

I will admit to being surprised when the Master's identity was revealed. I had a different suspect in mind. It did create an interesting set up for The Sisters Grimm: Book Eight: The Inside Story. I am impressed that Buckley has managed to maintain the quality of the series over length of this series.

Canobie Lake Park Screemfest

2011-10-07T12:39:00.003-04:00

Canobie Lake Park is extending the park season with a haunted park that will run weekends Fridays-Sundays during October. You can check the schedule here for dates and hours as they vary.

General admission is $27.99. The website lists locations where one can find a $4 coupon. Check the details as there are restriction on using the coupon on Saturdays.

AAA's website is no longer listing a discount for Canobie Lake so I suspect that the discount was only good for the traditional season. I will look for it again next spring and post the details. They are however offering discounts for Six Flags Of New England's Fright Fest.

While most of the park is focused on older children and adults, the park has transformed Kiddie Land into Pumpkin Palace for the entertainment of the younger crowd. Guests are not allowed to wear costumes in the park. Those who wish can purchase a Monster 'b Gone Necklace to avoid hauntings from park personnel.

Tales from the Hood

2011-10-06T05:00:00.003-04:00

The Sisters Grimm: Book Six: Tales from the Hood made me laugh right from the start. Mr. Canis is on trial for his crimes and Granny must find a lawyer to defend him. Michael Buckley brings in another character from classic literature by introducing the Sherwood Group. Yes, Robin Hood has become a civil attorney dedicated to attacking corporations. After some urging, he agrees to take on the Sherriff of Nottingham and takes the case.

As the book continues, we learn more of the background of Mr. Canis, the wolf and a woodcutter. We also learn that there is a connection between Red Riding Hood and Mr. Canis that the fairy tale does not hint as the future of Mr. Canis hangs in the balance. We learn more about what Charming has been up to while undercover at the Red Hand.

The story has a cliffhanger as the identity of the master is about to be announced as the story concludes.

I already have requests from adults and children to put this series on my Christmas purchase list.

Marlborough Haunted House Food Drive

2011-10-05T10:05:00.002-04:00

If you are looking for a fun Halloween event for your family the Levy Family and the Marlborough Lions Club are hosting an outdoor Haunted House display every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October from 6-10PM. Visitors are asked to donate non-perishable food or personal care items as the price of admission. The Haunted House can be found at 61 O'Grady Road in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower

2011-10-04T05:00:00.006-04:00

You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower!: A Trip That Took Entirely Too Long is part of a history series published by Scholastic. I wrote about You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink in a previous blog. While the series has different authors, Peter Cook wrote both these.

This story also uses cartoons and humor to introduce children to the story of the Pilgrim's journey to the New World. As in the previous story, the reader is provided with an identity to help engage with the story. In this case, the readers are told they are a girl making the trip with her parents and brother.

I was impressed that the author attempted to provide historical accuracy. He used the word separatists as the name the Pilgrims were more commonly known as for their religious beliefs. The information on the voyage and life in the colonies is more detailed then some of the picture books available for children.

I have another book to preview before making my purchasing choices for Christmas. So far, I think these books will be on my Christmas list.

Marlborough Heritage Festival

2011-09-30T05:30:00.005-04:00

This Sunday, October 2 the City of Marlborough and the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 16th Annual Marlborough Heritage Festival from 10AM-3PM. You can preview the event at their website. While not a fan of chowder, the contest being one of the larger draws, there are lots of other things to see. There are children's activities, music, entertainment, vendors, and a food court for visitors. The City will be returning with the trucks for children to explore.

Those not attending should be aware that traffic will be diverted around the fair area so alternative plans should be made for Sunday. Main Street is closed to on the day of the Festival between Rt. 85 and Florence Street.

This event is not as large as some of the other town days in the area, but it is one of Marlborough's main events. I have read about this festival for years, even before its name change. We have always had a scheduling conflict. This year we our schedule is free and we have decided to check it out.

Six Flags New England Fright Fest

2011-09-29T10:57:00.002-04:00

I have several friends, family, and fellow bloggers looking for ways to have fun and save money. Here is another outing that that has ways to save.

Six Flags is offering New England a haunted amusement park experience every weekend in October including Columbus Day. Daytime activities are designed to be more family friendly with evening hours designed to provide a more scary Halloween adventure. The schedule is available here. You can check out their attractions here. The park does not allow costumes during fright fest for safety reasons.

Ticket Prices at the Park

General Admission $46.99
Child Under 48″ $36.99
2 & Under FREE
Parking $20
There are additional costs for many of the attractions.

AAA is offering discounts for the event. Member can buy advanced tickets from the AAA office or online. The tickets must be bought from AAA in advance to get the discount. Members will not get the discount at the gate. Tickets bought in advance are $28 for admission and $13 for parking.

AAA Club Deal Night is Friday October 14 from 6:30-11:30PM. Members can buy tickets at AAA. Tickets and parking are included for $35. This is offered through AAA's Club Deals.

Six Flags is running a contest to win free tickets. People must sign up for the newsletter to win. Newsletter subscribers are promised advanced information of offers and deals for this and future Six Flags events.

You Wouldn't Want to be at the Boston Tea Party

2011-09-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

I came across You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink while searching for some Pilgrim resources to send with a Thanksgiving package. This title popped up during my search and I put it on reserve at the library to review.

I am always on the lookout for history books that are accurate and entertaining for children. I have a young homeschooling relative that has developed an interest in the American Revolution, so I have been exploring resources that will provide accurate information in a way that is accessible and hopefully entertaining.

This series is unique in my experience in that it is not written by one author, but a series of author's using the same basic title, You wouldn't want. It reminds me a great deal of the Travelers Guides I reviewed earlier. It is entertaining, but provides children with quite a bit of information about the topic.

While the title of this book is the Boston Tea Party, the book focuses on the roots of the conflicts between the colonists and the British and the first event covered is the Boston Massacre, not the Boston Tea Party. The book continues through the Tea Party, the Intolerable Acts, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Revolution, and the resolution of the war.

The series uses cartoons and short chapters to present the information. Little tidbits are offered in side pictures and commentaries. The book invites children into the time period by inviting them to participate in the story as George Robert Twelves, a 31 year old shoemaker preparing himself to participate in the Boston Tea Party. Each chapter directly addresses the reader telling them what their actions as George Twelve were during the events discussed in that chapter. I wish they had Paul Revere's cartoon yelling the Regulars are out instead of the British are coming, but I did find there was more information on the Boston Massacre and the Bunker Hill for this age group than I have found in previous books.

I have two other American History books from this series on reserve at the library to review prior to purchasing. If they are of the same quality, I think a set of three will be making their way to family for Christmas this year.

Wright on Time Arizona

2011-09-26T05:30:00.004-04:00

I read about the Wright on Time, Book 1: Arizona on a homeschool blog and wanted to check it out for a family member that homeschools. The Kane Chronicles is the only other children's series I have come across recently that mentions homeschooled children and it is a more advanced series. This series is an early chapter book series that focuses on a family that travels across the country in an RV.

The first story finds the children in Arizona exploring caves. The author provides a vocabulary rich exploration of rocks and minerals while the children are visiting a vacation site their father intends to write an article on after their visit. The cave owner provides visitors with the opportunity to hunt in salted areas that will have items to discover and to do explorations in designated areas to see what they can locate. During one such exploration, the children discover something that the author promises will return as a thread in the second novel.

Do to the fact the books have not been picked up by Scholastic or one of the other large publishing houses, the book prices are not inexpensive for paperback early reader novels. I am going to see if I can find the second one at the library before purchasing the set to see if the thread continues in an interesting way. I find the characters interesting and the idea of homeschooling characters appealing for the audience I intend to purchase these books for as gifts. However, the plots will determine if the children will read the books, no matter how much they may want to read about other homeschoolers.

Peter and the Starcatchers

2011-09-20T05:30:00.003-04:00

I am always curious about prequels and sequels that written using classic characters. Peter and the Starcatchers is a prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan novel.

Peter and the Starcatchers is the first book in series that provides a new background for Peter's origins, how he arrived in Never Land and where he met his fairy companion. This book launches a series that discusses the history of Wendy's family and their relationship with Peter prior to the Barrie's Peter Pan story.

The first story in the series was creative. Since it is different from Barrie's original this is a great opportunity to teach kids about compare and contrast. I provided a link below that lists some of the changes. Instead of providing manufactured sheets to teach the concept, I love to see kids reading literature that presents situations that are ideal for these kinds of lessons.

I have Peter and the Shadow Thieves on reserve at the library. We will see if the quality of the series continues past the original novel.

Teaching Links:

AuthorInformation

Comparison Between Original Storyline and This Novel

Free Teaching Guide 1

Free Teaching Guide 2

Sudbury Colonial Faire

2011-09-19T10:25:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 24 from 10AM-4PM, the Sudbury Companies of Militia and the Minute and Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie are hosting the annual Colonial Faire and Muster of Fyfes and Drums at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA. Additional information can be found at Sudbury Minuteman and Sudbury Ancients websites. Admission is $1.00 for adults, with free admission for children under 12.

There are children's activities in the morning. There will be a contra dance demonstration at 10:30 with colonial militia drills at 11:00. Guests are told to expect a disruption of the drill from British regular troops that will create something of an issue between the two groups. After peace resumes a parade of fyfe and drum companies will begin at noon forming near the Grist Mill and marching to the Wayside Inn. Once arriving at the Inn the groups will play over the course of the afternoon.

Guests can see militia groups that represent both colonists and King's troops. Interpreters will be providing demonstrations in cooking, blacksmithing, woodworking, and medicine, as they would have occurred in colonial times. Children's games will also be available.

My husband and I have wanted to attend this event for several years. However, we have always had a conflict. We really enjoyed our exploration of local history this summer and decided we are going to make it this year. If you live locally this can be a wonderful way to experience living history and engage your family with a fun inexpensive day of history.

Magic and Other Misdemeanors

2011-09-16T05:30:00.002-04:00

Magic and Other Misdemeanors is the fifth book in Michael Buckley's Sisters Grimm series. This book is the first book I have read in a while that has made me want to run down to the library before my traditional Saturday outing to get the next book.

Buckley introduces a traditional science fiction and fantasy element the fifth book using time travel to create some interesting challenges for our characters. At the end of the previous novel, we learned that Prince Charming was missing. In this book, the children discover where Charming has been since the end of the previous book. They also discover the dark future that awaits Ferryport Landing if they do not solve the mystery that currently eludes them. Charming's experience in the future leads him to make some decisions about what needs to be done when he returns. He convinces the children not to tell anyone about where they have been or what they have learned. Sabrina is a bit unsure about her marital choice and Charming's willingness to expose it keeps her silent. Their inability to find a solution to Mr. Canis' future also keeps them quiet. They cannot face telling their friend about the horrors he faces.

Eventually the future meets the present and the girls realize that while they have changed the future, the future has not necessarily improved. As the Queen of Hearts and the Sheriff of Nottingham persecute the residents of Ferryport, the Grimms are the lone human holdouts left at the end of the novel. While Granny struggles to return an ancestor to the past to avoid being erased from the present, more evidence about the spread of the Scarlett Hand among the Ever After population is revealed. The cliffhanger regarding Charming left me wanting to make a trip to the library Wednesday. However, patience is a virtue. I will wait until Saturday to pick up the next two books and Monday to begin listening to them.

There are only eight books in print with the final book nine due out in the spring of 2012. Buckley is publishing The Sisters Grimm: A Very Grimm Guide a series summary in January of 2012. I am not as interested in the guide, but I will be waiting for that final book to come out to read the conclusion to the Grimm sisters' adventures.
This series is one I plan to introduce to younger family members this Christmas.

History Book List

2011-09-15T16:29:00.007-04:00

I was asked for a list of non-fiction and historical fiction books for Colonial and American history for elementary students. Instead of making a list an emailing it I decided to write it on my blog so I can update it and change it as I need to without having to search for the email. Sometimes a blog makes a great bulletin board.

Colonial America:

Colonial America (You Choose Books: An Interactive History Adventure)

If You Lived In Colonial Times

If You Lived In Williamsburg in Colonial Days

. . . If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620

If You Were At The First Thanksgiving

Magic Tree House Fact Tracker #13: Pilgrims: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl

Tapenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy In Pilgrim Times

The Dreadful, Smelly Colonies (Fact Finders: Disgusting History)

The First Thanksgiving (Picture Puffins)

The Pilgrims of Plimoth (Aladdin Picture Books)

The Thanksgiving Story

You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Colonist!: A Settlement You'd Rather Not Start

You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower!: A Trip That Took Entirely Too Long

Revolutionary War:

American Revolution (DK Eyewitness Books)

American Revolution Magic Tree House Fact Tracker #11

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? (Paperstar)

The Battle of Bunker Hill: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose Books) (You Choose Books: An Interactive History Adventure)

The Boston Massacre (You Choose Books: An Interactive History Adventure)

Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos

George the Drummer Boy (I Can Read Book 3)

If You Lived At The Time Of The American Revolution

. . . If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution

Mr. Revere and I: Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere,Esq. as Revealed by his Horse

The Revolutionary War: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History)

Sam the Minuteman (I Can Read Book 3)

Shh! We're Writing the Constitution

Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?

Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?

Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?

You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink

This is a good start. I can add more as time continues. These are popular titles. Look for them at used book sales, yard sales, and other places people sell children's books. You can often find them in near new condition. Good hunting.

Once Upon A Crime

2011-09-13T05:00:00.007-04:00

Once Upon a Crime is the fourth installment in the Sisters Grimm series. Buckley has not lost his talent in combining fairy tale and classic literature characters into an amusing mystery tale. My long held suspicions about the character of Oz have been fulfilled in Buckley's imaginative tale. The story moves outside of Ferryport Landing and arrives in New York City to bring Puck back to his family to get help in healing him. Along the journey, they encounter Sinbad the Sailor and a very interesting take on Scrooge and Tiny Tim. Not quite the character you remember from the Christmas Carol.

Thanks to the library reservation service I already have Magic and Other Misdemeanors ready to begin. This is a great series for teachers or parents who want to provide children with examples of using characters in different settings.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

2011-09-09T05:00:00.027-04:00

L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is often a surprise to those only familiar with the The Wizard of Oz Movie.

This book is one of those that teachers love to assign. It is very easy to discover which students have read the book and those who are depending on multiple viewings of the movie to get through the required readings. Those familiar with the movie and the book can quickly provide a list of background and plot information that differs. The ruby red slippers that most people associate with the Wizard of Oz are in actually from another Baum story. Dorothy's shoes were not ruby but silver in the original story.

The political relationships among the kingdoms in Oz are far more complicated than the movie ever hinted at during Dorothy's journey through Oz. Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion have political ambitions that never seem to be hinted at in the movie.

If you have not explored Baum's original work, it makes an interesting read aloud. It also is a great chance to explore the ideas of compare and contrast with children who are familiar with the original movie. If they have not seen the movie, try reading the book first and then watch the movie. It is a great chance to practice these skills in an informal way.

The Name of This Book is Secret

2011-09-05T05:30:00.006-04:00

The Name of this Book Is Secret is a fun series that combines humor, mystery, fantasy, and the current craze of inserting a narrator that promises not to tell, while revealing the information the readers want to know.

Children are encouraged to substitute their own hometown names and to make up names for the characters since he will not give them any of the real names. He eventually settles on names to make telling the story possible.

Cass and Max Earnest are two children who become engaged in a mystery that the narrator tries to convince you he cannot tell you about, but begins to tell the story to captivated readers.

Fans of the voices found in Alcatraz may enjoy Scholastic's Secret Series.

Marlborough's Labor Day Parade

2011-09-02T09:32:00.002-04:00

Marlborough, Massachusetts’ annual Labor Day Parade kicks off on Monday, September 5th at noon. You can visit their website if you have any questions about the event.

Growing up in this area, I am ashamed to admit I never knew Marlborough had a Labor Day parade until about eight years ago. Now we have come to enjoy it as an annual end of summer event.

It is one of the shortest parades in the area. Having walked it a few times, this has never been an issue for me.

If you are looking for something fun to do with your family in the Metrowest area of Massachusetts, the parade is always a fun free event.

The parade route follows from the intersection of Pleasant and Lincoln Streets, down Lincoln and Broad to West Main Street, through the downtown area, turns on to Route 85, finishing on John Street. We always arrive early to set up a good spot.

This year’s theme is "Our Children Our Future."

Keys to the Demon Prison

2011-08-30T05:30:00.028-04:00

Keys to the Demon Prison is the fifth and final installment in Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series.

The Sphinx has been gathering artifacts necessary to open the demon prison Zzyzx. Kendra and Seth, working with the Knights of the Dawn, are in a desperate race to keep him from opening the prison.

Alliances the Kendra and Seth have developed in previous novels upset the Sphinx's plans. Seth learns there is a price to be paid for trusting demons and Kendra's past with the fairies provides unexpected assistance.

Mull did a great job resolving the mysteries and questions raised during the series. The final book does cram quite a bit of action into one novel. New characters emerge, one very important to Kendra's future.

Fablehaven was a series that lived up to the promise of the first novel.

The Problem Child

2011-08-23T05:30:00.034-04:00

The Problem Child is the third book in the Sister's Grimm Series. The story continues with the girls believing that they have lost their Grandmother's dear friend Mr. Canis. The children are introduced to a new family member who has intimate knowledge of the challenges they face and helps Sabrina understand her own personal issues.

Puck's entertaining character disappears early in this book and he and Sabrina's relationship will need to await the future books for progress.

Prince Charming is facing a tough political campaign from the Queen of Hearts. His reign as mayor is at risk because of his reluctant support of the Grimms. The outcome of the race will have an impact on the future of Ferryport Landing.

The Grimms learn more about Red Riding Hood's twisted involvement in the Red Hand and there is more to the story than they believed.

Buckley introduces the sisters to more interesting characters during their adventures. Daphne learns the Little Mermaid is nothing like the movie. The Jabberwocky terrorizes the children as they struggle to find a weapon that can defeat it. Sabrina realizes the danger of crossing Baba Yaga.

While some series lose their appeal and strength as the series continues, Buckley has to balance mystery and humor in his Sisters Grimm novels. I have the Once Upon a Crime (The Sisters Grimm, Book 4) on reserve at the library. I am looking forward to continuing to review this series.

Discovery Museums

2011-08-22T10:38:00.001-04:00

If you live in Massachusetts or will be visiting the area with children and have not discovered the Discovery Museums in Acton, you should add them to your list of places to visit.

The museums are focused on child-centered hands on learning. The picture above is of the Children's Discovery Museum. When you arrive, you will see this building first. The museum is an old Victorian building that focuses on younger children providing age appropriate activities. One ticket price provides admission to both museums so there is no need to decide which museum is better suited to your child. You can explore both and decide where to focus your time.

Library passes are available at many Massachusetts libraries. The Discovery Museum website even provides a list of the participating libraries for visitors to check when planning your visit. AAA members can also receive a $1.00 discount off admission for the member and up to three guests. While I usually do not usually promote membership, if you live in the area, the extra hours for members can make considering museum membership a possibility. If you visit frequently and your children enjoy a place to play during the cold winter months, the memberships can pay off. I would suggest taking your children a few times to see if you would visit often enough to make membership worth the cost.

The Chain Reaction Room was an early favorite at the Museum and it has returned to the delight of many of the guests.

This is the Science Discovery Museum. It was built after the Children's Museum opened and is focused on hands on science discovery for children. The rooms are larger and a bit more accessible than those found in the old Victorian house. The additional space allows the Museum to provide special programs and activities that the Children's Museum does not have the space to offer.

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

No Place for Magic

2011-08-22T05:30:00.001-04:00

No Place for Magic is the fourth book in the Tales of the Frog Princess Series.

After reading the third book I was concerned that the series had resolved most of the conflicts established in The Frog Princess. This story introduces Eadric's family and the conflicts that arise because Eadric's family has issues with magic. When trolls take Eadric's younger brother Emma has mixed feelings about how to manage her magical gifts. She does not want to offend his family, but she also does not want to put Eadric at risk by not using magic.

While Eadric's father comes to accept magic after his younger son is saved, his mother continues to resist Emma's charm. Emma is worried when the parents move up the wedding date and faires from both kingdoms are invited. She fears that an offended fairy could bring a curse to one or both families.

Bunnicula

2011-08-10T05:30:00.040-04:00

I had not read James Howe's books in some time, but decided to pick them up at the library to review for my blog. The story of Bunnicula is told by a dog named Harold. Harold and Chester the cat are surprised when the family adopts a bunny they found at the movie theater. Based on the title of the film, Dracula the bunny is named Bunnicula.

Chester is a literate cat and become suspicious of Bunnicula's schedule of sleeping during the day and being up at night. When vegetables start turning white as if drained of all their juice, Chester suspects Bunnicula might not be a normal bunny.

Harold thinks Chester is taking things too far and sets out to get help for Bunnicula.

The animal storytellers are wonderful in this story. While Bunnicula never speaks in this story, his story is fun. This story is a great way to engage readers in chapter books and because there are multiple books in the series, it encourages kids to keep reading.

Teacher Resources:

Chapter Reviews

Family Education

Howe Biography Scholastic

Teacher Vision

WebQuest

The Unusual Suspects

2011-08-09T05:00:00.012-04:00

The Unusual Suspects is the second book in the Sister Grimm series.

Things are starting to heat up in Ferryport Landing. Sabrina and Daphne are forced to return to school despite the kidnapping of their parents and they are removed from their grandmother's care by a mysterious social worker. While settling into school the detectives are called to action when one of the teachers is killed.

The author set up a cast of characters that are expected to be a part of the Red Hand's plot. However as the plot unfolds there are more twists than expected. The detectives are not the only ones who will want to review their children's fairytales and literature to keep up with the plot twists.

We have mixtures of Wonderland, Hans Christian Anderson, along with the Grimm’s characters we have come to expect from Ferryport landing. Buckley ends the story with a cliffhanger leaving readers wanting to grab the next novel to discover the fate of the detectives, their friends, and family. I have The Problem Child (The Sisters Grimm, Book 3) on reserve at the library so I will have to wait until it comes in to discover their fate.

The Secret Kingdom Chronicles of the Red King

2011-08-04T05:30:00.000-04:00

Chronicles of the Red King: The Secret Kingdom is the first book in Jenny Nimmo's new series. This series is a prequel series to her successful Charlie Bone series.

For Charlie Bone readers the story finally begins to reveal the origins of the Red King. We are introduced to Prince Timoken and his sister Zobayda. We learn of a magical cloak bestowed on Timoken by a jinn made from the last moon spider. His sister is given a ring and both are provided with a potion that prevents them from aging until they choose to begin the process.

The children are forced to leave their kingdom and eventually, after many years are separated.

The story connects to the original Charlie Bone series as the King's history is presented as research done using the special gifts the decedents of the King possess. Readers begin to understand the connections the gifts have to the King and we are left hoping that this series will explain how the gifts were passed on to the current generation found in Nimmo's original series.

I had been looking forward to the release of this book and I was not disappointed with the direction it has taken. I look forward to the additional books in the series.

Free Discovery Day at Drumlin Farm

2011-08-03T05:30:00.023-04:00

Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Massachusetts is hosting a Free Discovery Day Saturday August 6th from 10AM-3PM. Print out a free admission coupon on the Drumlin Farm website. You only need one per house. Information on the event can be found here.

Event offerings include free admission, hayrides, wildlife presentations, an obstacle course, and a hay play area. The theme is old fashioned play.

Organizers suggest bringing a picnic lunch, but they are offering ice cream, slushies, and drinks for sale at the event.

The Minute Boys of Bunker Hill

2011-08-02T05:30:00.001-04:00

I finally got around to finishing the library's copy of The Minute Boys of Bunker Hill. I found the library copy through the state's regional system. Our local regional system did not have a copy to borrow.

This is one of the few children's historical novels I have found that covers the time period between the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. From what I read when researching Stratemeyer, he originally considered a longer series that would see his hero Roger through the Revolution. However, it is clear as he was writing this book that idea had been dropped. This book clears up all loose ends and gives the reader a glimpse into the adult life of all the characters.

Threads from the first book are drawn into the second novel. The Tories who made Roger's life challenging in the first book are back to cause him danger in the second. He continues to pursue his promise to the dead British officer and realizes the issue is even more urgent than he previously realized.

This would be a great historical fiction novel to read along with historical accounts of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the occupation of Boston. It would also explain the question of why Boston celebrates St. Patrick's Day for students who seem to miss this lesson in standard American history instruction.

Concord Museum's Free Fun Friday Event

2011-08-01T05:30:00.003-04:00

Friday August 6th, the Concord Museum in Concord, Massachusetts will be participating in Free Fun Fridays. Not only is the Museum admission free, but they have a special program planned for the day that highlights their current exhibition When Duty Whispers: Concord and the Civil War.

The reenactors from the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the Irish Brigade, will be setting up a Civil War camp on the front lawn of the Museum from 10AM-3PM. Visitors can ask questions and find out about life in the camp. There are musket demonstrations planned for 11AM and 1PM and a visit from Fredrick Douglas at 2PM at no cost to the visitors. Check with the Museum to confirm all details. I am just passing along what I have learned to date.

This is a great free chance for families to experience a bit of living history in the area. Unfortunately, do to some scheduling conflicts I do not think I will be able to make this trip. We are hoping to make it to the Concord Museum as part of our history tour this summer.

Once Upon a Curse

2011-07-27T05:30:00.026-04:00

Once Upon a Curse is the third book in the E.D. Baker's Frog Princess series.

Princess Emma wants to marry Eadric, but a family curse that has destroyed her favorite aunt's happiness has convinced her that she cannot marry without breaking the curse. She and Eadric realize a trip into the past is required in order to learn the secret to solving the mystery.

This book introduces some new characters and a few interesting twists. One character I was certain was the evil character of all fairytales had a surprising twist that led to a happy ending. Readers may be surprised to find out who is responsible for releasing the family from the curse.

I had to reach out to the regional library system to get the audio version of No Place for Magic. I will review that book when it comes in and I have time to finish it. I have been enjoying audio books while doing writing and doing various house tasks.

The Fairy Tale Detectives

2011-07-26T06:00:00.007-04:00

The Fairy Tale Detectives is the first book in Michael Buckley's Sisters Grimm series. My library regional system had the first book available to borrow and review.

Daphne and Sabrina Grimm are no strangers to the foster care system. They have run away from more than one. They are very suspicious when a person claiming to be their grandmother comes forward to claim them and brings them to Ferryport Landing. Grandma Relda Grimm tells the children that they have an interesting family responsibility. They are the descendents of the Grimm brothers and there was more to their life than collecting and recording stories. Grandma Relda informs them that fairy tales are real.

Just as the girls are wrapping themselves around this idea Grandma is kidnapped by a giant and the girls must figure out how to rescue Grandma. They discover that all is not happy in the fairy tale world of Ferryport.

Without Grandma's advice, they must figure out who is responsible for bringing a giant to town. All is not as it seems and they discover there is a villain manipulating the situation in Ferryport.

As the children learn more about the problems in Ferryport Landing, they also find out more about their missing parents.
I love adapted fairy tale stories. This series is promising to be a fun and engaging one. My husband was laughing as he caught a portion of one of the audio CD’s I was listening to during my exercise session. It has great potential for a read aloud. The series has appeal for adults and children.

Free Teaching Materials

School Supplies for Stocking Stuffers or Christmas Donations

2011-07-25T05:30:00.004-04:00

School supply sales have already begun and the deals on art supplies and other items that make great stocking stuffers are amazing. You never see these deals at Christmas. Not only do these make great stocking stuffers, but art supplies are also requested by charities that are looking to provide Christmas presents for children. If you plan to donate this year, you may want to put aside some extra art supplies now to have for the Christmas season.

Office Max, Staples, Walmart, Target, Office Depot, and others are all competing to bring business into their stores. If you plan ahead, you can put aside something for later at a price you can afford.

Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary

2011-07-20T06:00:00.003-04:00

Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary is the fourth book in the five book Fablehaven series. I already have the last book on loan from the library.

Seth and Kendra each have a journey and find different allies in this book. Seth fears the worst over news about Kendra. However, his sense that all was not right with Kendra helps his family to learn the truth.

While we learned about Kendra's fairy powers in previous Fablehaven adventures, in Dragon Sanctuary we learn Seth has a path, too. Both will need their powers to survive the Sphinx as they have a quest.

Once again Kendra is crushed when someone she trusted betrays her. Instead of being a friend the Sphinx has a trusted mole on the journey to Wyrmroost. When all seems lost Kendra finds that not all are unworthy of trust.

We learn more about the nature of the Sphinx and Kendra is suprised to discover the truth. One of Grandpa's promises to Kendra and Seth about the family is broken with the reader left waiting for the next novel to find out what happens.

One of my younger relatives is getting the Fablehaven Complete Set(Boxed Set) for her birthday. I always liked getting a complete set of books when I was a child. It was frustrating to start a series and have to wait to get the next book.

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

2011-07-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow is James Rollins first venture into children's literature.

After reading about this author and series, I borrowed the audio copy from our library. The opening was what I had hoped for years ago when I eagerly attempted the Indiana Jones books that followed the movies series. Those books were terrible. In the opening of his book, Rollins captured the excitement that made me want someone to write a quality adventure that captured that excitement. If you have read any of my book reviews, you know I do not like reviews that simply compare one series to another and excuse the author from any additional work.

The opening of this book did capture the excitement I felt from the Indiana Jones Series, but the books moves on to create its own niche.

Jake Ransom and his sister are the children of missing archeologists. They are invited to the opening of a Museum opening in London to see the artifacts found by their parents prior to their disappearance. The invitation is not what it seems. Jake and his older sister Kady are transported to another world through an artifact.

Here they discover a collection of lost world civilizations and a dark force that must be defeated for both worlds to survive. As Jake learns more about the mysteries of this lost world, he begins to clash with the Skull King leading readers to anticipate where the mystery is headed.

Unlike some of the other sister and brother series, I have written about recently, this one focuses mainly on Jake. His sister has a minor role in the story, but the main action is directed around Jake.

This story has many of the predictable lost world plots. Predictable does not make them boring. I believe the series has potential as a fantasy adventure series. The author does need to decide what to do with Kady. She seems a bit of a wasted character. In most of the other brother and sister fantasy series, each has a critical role. If Kady does not to have a role, perhaps it would be better to leave her at home, as the series continues.

I have a long reading list ahead of me so the next book is not yet on my library list. However, I do have Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx on my list of library books to track down.

AAA Six Flags New England Discounts 2011

2011-07-18T05:00:00.004-04:00

If you are looking for information on Six Flags New England's Fright Fest please see the more recent blog post Six Flag New England Fright Fest for information on the event and AAA discounts.

I will post updated information in the spring regarding discounts and costs for the 2012 Six Flags New England Season as I find them.

We have a few roller coaster fans in our family so I offered to research Six Flag Discounts.

Standard Six Flags 2011 entrance price for adults is $46.99. If you purchase online through Six Flags the cost is $36.99. Parking is $20. You can get a Flash Pass for $35 and Meal Deals start at $13.49.

AAA offers minimal standard discounts at all Six Flags across the country for AAA members. However, the discounts for Six Flags New England are more substantial. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $28 at the AAA office or online. Discounted parking passes are available for $13.

AAA Insider Day

AAA members who are considering going to the park on July 23, 2011 have even more options for saving. AAA early entry day allows AAA members who buy their $28 tickets in advance to enter the park early at 8:30 AM. Members who arrive prior to 8:30 AM and show AAA card, parking voucher, and admission ticket will get free parking. If you visit the Insider table, you can get $5 off the Flash Pass. If you visit the Group Sales Window before 10 AM and purchase your Meal Deal, the price is reduced to $10.63.

With this kind of deal, the park may be crowded on AAA day. However, the savings may be worth the crowds.

If you do not want to visit on Insider Day, buying your admission and parking tickets at AAA in advance still provides considerable savings.

Dragon's Breath

2011-07-14T05:30:00.000-04:00

Dragon's Breath is E.D. Baker's second book in the Frog Princess Series. I was able to obtain a copy of this book through our local library regional system.

Emma and Eadric have still not completely overcome their issue with the frog spell as they discover when Emma sneezes and they return to their frog status. Another sneeze returns them to human form, and they understand the enchantment is not over. Eventually, Emma determines that the ability to change is not always a bad thing.

Romance continues for Eadric and Emma as well as Grassina and Hayward, her otter enchanted fiancé. The author has done a good job presenting a strong feminine character in Emma. The author avoided a cliché happy ever after ending for Emma and Eadric. Emma is not ready for marriage. She has chosen to study magic while she matures. It is not that she does not love Eadric, she just wants the time to finish her education. I thought that was a great message.

What bothered me is the author does not seem to realize that you can make assertive female characters without making wimpy male characters. Many authors have managed to create young adult male and female characters that are strong and comfortable with their strengths and weaknesses existing in the same novel. Eadric could be a strong male role without diminishing Emma's independence and emerging confidence in her abilities.

Emma and Grassina learn of an curse that plagues their family. As Emma and Grassina work to return Hayward back to his human form, they realize the real treachery of Emma's grandmother.

I have Once Upon a Curse on reserve at the library. While I am not happy with Eadric's role, I have enjoyed watching the plot emerge. I will give it at least one more book to see if Eadric’s character improves.

Summer Reading Programs 2011

2011-07-13T05:30:00.061-04:00

There are several rewards programs available for children who read during the summer. I decided to update the list I made from last summer.

Barnes and Noble Imagination's Destination requires children to read eight books, fill out a journal that parents can download from the website, and rewards children with a free book from a list that can be seen on the journal.

Book Adventure is a Free Program offered through Sylvan Learning. It provides leveled book lists and computer tests that are not unlike programs many kids already use in school to track independent reading comprehension. Parents and students must register in order to access the full benefits of the program using the same e-mail address.

Bookworm Wednesdays provides movies as rewards to readers. Children who write a book report can attend a free 10 AM Children's movie at select Showcase Cinemas, Multiplex Cinemas or Cinema de Lux box office from July 6-August 10.

Border's Double Dog Dare is available from 6/1/2011-9/5/2011. Children 12 and under need to fill out a form that can be downloaded, read ten books, fill out the form and return it to Borders. Children can then pick a free book from a list provided by Borders. Parents can download the form and look at the list of free books by clicking on the link.

Pizza Hut Book It Summer Program

Pottery Barn for Kids runs from 5/31/2011-8/24/2011. This program is a bit more restrictive. Parents download a list of books that children under ten must read one of two specific lists of books, fill out the form and then are rewarded with a free book from the store.

Reading Warriors

Scholastic Summer Challenge

Super Why PBS Read-A-Thon July and August program sponsored by PBS.

TD Savings Summer Reading Program Students can earn $10 for new or existing young savers account by reading 10 books, filling out the form and returning it to the bank. Program runs May 4, 2011-September 30,2011.

Also, don't forget to check out your local library programs.

Hudson Public Library

Marlborough Public Library

Sudbury Goodnow Library

Reading Lists:

Top Ten Summer Reading Lists

Mothstorm

2011-07-12T05:30:00.000-04:00

Mothstorm: The Horror from Beyond Uranus Georgium Sidus! is the final book in the Larklight series.

Art, Myrtle, Mother, Father, Jack and friends have gathered at Larklight for the Christmas holidays. As any fan of the series or of science fiction or fantasy knows, these characters are not destined to have a simple holiday celebration. Just as Myrtle and Jack's romance is blooming of course our characters are called to action.

Mother must deal with another of her kind who has decided she wants to take over the solar system. Mother must make some challenging decisions to save her family and the universe.

Myrtle proves to be a surprising influence on a hostile race much to the surprise of her family.

For some reason science fiction is a neglected genre for children. Few books are written and read. This series should get more attention. The books are a great way to introduce children to science fiction. The series provides an opportunity to learn about the differences and similarities between the genres of science fiction and fantasy.

I bought the series to have around for a younger relative who will be visiting this summer. It helps having entertaining books on hand to keep young guests entertained during down times.

Grip of the Shadow Plague

2011-07-08T06:30:00.002-04:00

Grip of the Shadow Plague is the third book in Brandon Mull's Fablehaven Series.

Mull has chosen a traditional fantasy plot, a plague, to create a conflict in his third novel. War has come to the magical world of Fablehaven and creatures of light are being infected with a dark plague that is changing their nature. Humans are becoming shadows.

As Kendra and Seth return to Fablehaven they find that the issues that were left off in the previous novel have not improved. Through Kendra's involvement with the Knights of the Dawn and her previous exposure to the Fairy Queen, we finally discover answers to some of the questions from the previous novel. We discover the true nature of the Sphinx. Readers learn if the Sphinx is on the side of light or darkness.

Kendra learns that even children are not immune to danger and death. As the war continues, sacrifices are made in an effort to secure the safety and future of all the creatures.

A previous friend lost is found and more of her story revealed. Her story provides readers with an interesting romantic story that leaves readers with a time travel circular ending that takes some processing.

As we enter Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary the race continues to find the artifacts. I have this book on reserve at the library and am interested to see how the characters process through the journey.

AAA Canobie Lake Park Discount

2011-07-07T05:30:00.007-04:00

The AAA discount for the 2011 season seems to have ended. If you are looking for information regarding Canobie Lake's Screemfest please see see the more recent blog post Canobie Lake Screemfest.

I will post new information next spring regarding discounts for Canobie Lake for 2012.

I am continuing to look for discounts as we look at places we may want to visit this summer with family. Canobie Lake Park located in Salem, New Hampshire was a place we visited for years when I was a child until the closer and less expensive Whalom Park opened in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Whalom Park is now gone, but Canobie Lake is going strong and has expanded to include more attractions including a water park.

AAA allows people to buy tickets online or at one of their offices for a discount of $4.00. This discount reduces the $32 admission price to $28.00. Just to be clear this discount is only available when you buy the tickets in advance. According to my research, this is not one of the AAA discounts available when you show your card when you arrive at the venue. It is only available to members who purchase their tickets through AAA.

Canobie Lake also offers discounts and special offers to people who sign up for their email newsletter. They are currently listing businesses and other locations where coupons for admission discounts can be located on their website here.

We have not finalized our summer plans yet, but I thought others might appreciate the information.

2011 Free Fun Fridays in Massachusetts

2011-07-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

The Highland Group is sponsoring Free Fun Fridays this summer. The program provides free entrance each Friday to different musuems, zoos, theater and other attractions to residents and visitors in Massachusetts during the months of July and August. The first event was July 1 the last is August 26. You can check out the Free Fun Fridays Website for the schedule of attractions on each date.

I would also suggest checking with the attractions to find out if there are any additional costs for specific programs you may be interested in at the location. I know with other offers only admission is covered additional programs are generally at the cost of the person attending. With some venues all that is required is admission and you have full access to everything. With others, like the Musuem of Science there is plenty to see for the cost of admission, but more available at an additional cost. I have not read anything about specific events associalted with attendees of Free Fridays. Calling ahead can provide you with more information.

For those who plan on utilizing other pass or discount options, you may also want to be aware of these dates as you can expect there to be higher traffic on these dates. If you have other options, you may want to choose another date for your visit to find a less crowded venue.

Thank You Acton, Massachusetts

2011-07-05T10:55:00.000-04:00

I posted about local July 4th events as a result of my research on what we wanted to do in addition to our tradition of attending the parade in Sudbury. We settled on going to the fireworks and concert in Acton on July 2nd. Acton was having an anniversary celebration and the crowds were large.

While many people often stop to complain about all the bad things that happen, I wanted to remember to say thank you. I cannot remember ever attending a more organized event. We received great directions from helpful people all along our path.

From experience, I know these events are challenging to plan. The organization of parking, busses, and people available to answer questions was a testament to hard work and planning.

We took a chance on attending an event I have not been to since my teen years. The Air Force Band did a wonderful job and the fireworks display was wonderful. As someone who is not crazy about the noise of the fireworks, I enjoyed the way the water absorbed some of the noise. One of guests was thrilled to see fireworks that are no longer used near her.

We had the chance to enjoy a wonderful night with family. Thank you Acton, you gave our family a wonderful evening.

July 4, 2011 Activities in Massachusetts

2011-06-30T05:30:00.000-04:00

Independence Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. There are so many wonderful activities and chances for families to enjoy local activities. I decided this year I would keep a list as I located them so I could direct friends and families to the resources I found and others could enjoy them, too.

Boston Harborfest

Chelmsford

Combined List of Fireworks and Activities

Find Local Fireworks Locations

Find Parade or Concert

Sturbridge Village

Sudbury Parade

If I find more resources, I will add them before the holiday.

Starcross

2011-06-23T05:30:00.000-04:00

Starcross is the second book in the Larklight series. After recovering from the giant spiders and rescuing the British Empire, Myrtle, Art and their mother are enticed to go on vacation to Starcross a luxury hotel. As anyone who reads fantasy or science fiction knows, vacations are never peaceful for heroes in these novels.

Reeve did find an original villain. Who would suspect evil top hats? Mother and the children along with Jack are engaged in another adventure to save the Universe from danger.

Art matures a great deal in this book and carries the burden of telling the story. Myrtle's diaries are not a part of the tale as they were in Larklight. We learn more about Mother's history and abilities in Starcross. Jack and Myrtle's relationship continues to progress slowly with typical challenges and issues.

A younger relative will be receiving this series this summer to keep her entertained during down times during her visits. I will be interested to hear her thoughts on the books.

Rise of the Evening Star

2011-06-21T05:30:00.027-04:00

Rise of the Evening Star is the second book in Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series.

Those who have challenging experiences with classmates will appreciate Kendra and Seth's experience at the end of the school year. Their challenge really is a monster that wants to do nothing but cause them harm. Since they cannot share their knowledge of creatures with their friends or reach their grandparents who understand, they must figure out how to deal with the situation on their own. The children come to realize this transfer student is part of a larger plot from the Evening Star to cause problems for Fablehaven.

The children manage to reach their grandparents who provide assistance in removing the children from the local dangers. The children's grandparents arrange for the children to spend the summer at Fablehaven where they deal with new challenges and challenges left over from the first Fablehaven book.

People keep trying to compare this series to Harry Potter and I must admit I do not see the comparison. The series have completely different attractions. It stands as a strong series without bouncing of the popularity off Harry Potter. I love helping kids make connections between characters and novels. However, I do think the Harry Potter comparison has become a crutch to get kids to read something new. It is time to encourage children to read new series on the series merit, not hoping that kids will find it Harry Potter like.

The Throne of Fire

2011-06-17T05:00:00.003-04:00

I finished the library's copy of a The Throne of Fire and it was worth the wait. Rick Riordan's second installment of the Kane Chronicles was as good as I had expected. He has set an aggressive writing schedule releasing a book every sixth months for his Kane series and his The Heroes of Olympus series. The next Olympus book is due out in the fall of 2011.

The children have new recruits from the messages Sadie left at the end of The Red Pyramid . Sadie is struggling with the responsibility of training other children and worrying about the coming struggles with Apophis.

Listening to this story on audio is an advantage as you can hear the change in narrators and hear the difference in voice literally as well as figuratively.

As the children struggle with the decision to bring back Ra they continue to deal with story lines left over from the previous story. Carter wants to find the girl he lost, only to discover he may not have ever had her. Sadie discovers having two male interests is almost as hard as being alone.

The journey demonstrates that being a God is not always protection against harm. Their visit to a nursing home for aging Gods demonstrates that those who are forgotten, regardless of their previous stature, become lost.

This was another great Riordan adventure. I will admit I had to look up a few references, as I was not aware of a couple of things he mentioned. I consider that a positive about his books. It is a chance to engage children in learning more about Egyptian history while getting them interested in an adventure series.

Ancient Egypt: A Guide to Egypt in the Time of the Pharoahs (Sightseers)

2011-06-16T05:30:00.022-04:00

Ancient Egypt: A Guide to Egypt in the Time of the Pharoahs (Sightseers) is part of the Sightseers series. The books are written as travel guides.

I used this book with my Ancient Egypt unit. The book presents historical information to students as if they still could travel to Ancient Egypt. The reader is introduced to how to travel, what to wear, eating, accommodations, shopping and leisure time. From here the author moves on to life in Egypt including chapters on hunting, mummification, the pyramids, farming and health and legal warnings for your journey.

This book is a great supplemental resource or general interest reading for children. The series makes history accessible to students and it may be a fun project to try with your students. Can they create their own travel materials?

This book is currently out of print, but available in libraries and through second hand resources. This book and the rest of the series is a wonderful way to engage children in bringing history to life and imagining what it would be like to visit another time period.

The Frog Princess

2011-06-14T05:30:00.002-04:00

The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker is the first book in a series that puts a twist on the old fairytale.

The story diverts from the original story when we learn Princess Emma comes from a magical line. Her family practices magic and this ultimately has an effect on Emma's future.

Emma is not thrilled with her prospects of marrying Prince Jorge. While out avoiding the prospect of marriage, Princess Emma meets a talking frog, Eadric. Following the traditional story, Eadric claims to be a prince in need of a kiss to restore himself to his true self. Emma thinks over his request, but eventually provides him with the traditional fairytale request. Here is where the story changes. Instead of turning Eadric into a prince, Emma finds herself turned into a frog.

Eadric helps Emma adjust and survive her life as a frog. They survive an experience with a less than qualified witch and travel back to Emma's castle. Their journey provides a sweet romantic tale.

I was able to get the first book on audio CD through my local library service. It may take me longer to get the second book, as I have to use the state library service to find it. It does not appear to be as widely circulated on CD.

Larklight

2011-06-09T05:30:00.036-04:00

There are not many modern science fiction series written for children. I was interested when I heard about Philip Reeve's Larklight series. I requested the first, Larklight from the library.

I was amused at the comparisons people made about this book. As usual everyone compares all children's adventure series to Harry Potter. Others saw Star Wars. While I did see a Scotty reference from Star Trek I actually thought the pirate story focused on orphans reminded me more of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance.

This story is set in an alternate universe where Isaac Newton discovered space travel and the British Empire has extended to create a Victorian space empire. Larklight is the home of a brother and sister who live with their father there. Mother's fate seems uncertain. Father's fate soon becomes questionable during a spider attack on Larklight. A space pirate who take pity on their orphan status rescues them.

The story follows their adventures in space and we learn more about the origins of the spiders and the fate of the children's parents. Without giving any spoilers, there is more to Mom's story than the children could possibly imagine. As the children learn more about their mother and their home Larklight, they become an integral part of solving the problems facing the Empire.

This is one of the better attempts at science fiction for young adults I have read in a while. I have picked up the second book from the library so I will have a chance to see how the series continues. The series was written as a trilogy, so it would not be too challenging for most children to complete.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Movie

2011-06-07T05:30:00.035-04:00

I had a chance to borrow The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader from the library recently. I missed the movie when it was in the theaters, but wanted to continue watching the series.

For those looking for a book companion, this is not the movie. The movie condenses and changes the book to make a movie script that they felt would work. C.S. Lewis did not write for future screen adaptations. The books are not written with a focus on action and dialogue necessary for screen success.

I do think reading the book and watching the movie afterwards can be a good exercise for children. It is a great chance to discuss what is left out or changed in the movie. The discussion should ask children why they believe these choices were made. This is a way to encourage reading comprehension. You cannot understand what has been left out, changed, or added unless you remember what happened in the original book. Instead of punishing students as generations of English teachers have done by creating tests and papers that catch students who only watch the movie instead of reading the book, this can be a way to encourage students to do both.

There are rumors that Walden Media may be producing another Narnia film. I was surprised to read that they are considering skipping to The Magician's Nephew for their next film. This would leave the The Silver Chair and The Horse and His Boy unmade. This leaves me with hope that someone may finally make a movie version of The Last Battle, a movie I have always wanted to see.

I wish Walden Productions well in their efforts to continue production of the series. I do hope they complete the effort.

Fablehaven

2011-06-03T05:30:00.044-04:00

Fablehaven is the first book in a fantasy series written by Brandon Mull.

Fablehaven shares traditional fantasy series elements and creates new twists to entertain readers. Kendra and Seth provide the traditional brother and sister who arrive in a magical family situation and learn of a connection to magic that they were previously unaware of prior to their visit. This premise is not new to fantasy. Kendra and Seth are sent to visit their grandparents at Fablehaven, a sanctuary for magical creatures. Grandmother is strangely not present and grandfather has a list of rules that the children must follow.

As is usual in most fantasy novels the children are not able to follow the rules leading to magical chaos. The children unleash forces and discover Grandma's fate. The forces they unleash kidnap Grandpa and force the children to manage circumstances they could never have imagined.

While many people compare this series to Harry Potter, I do not. I see this more as a transitional series to the more complicated adult fantasy series. While Harry Potter pulled adults into reading children's literature, this series seems more designed to prepare young adult readers to become audiences for adult fantasy series. As I have been reserving the other books in the series, this opinion has become stronger. The themes and plots seem to be moving more towards adult fantasy series traditions and less towards children's fantasy novels. It is a great marketing strategy to attract new readers to a genre.

I checked this book out from the library at the suggestion of a younger relative who is eagerly waiting to get a copy of the second book. I have the second book from the library to read so we should be able to discuss the series this summer.

Free Fablehaven Resources:

Online Quiz

Teacher's Guide from Brandon Mull

Writing questions answered by Brandon Mull

Mr. Revere and I

2011-06-01T05:00:00.006-04:00

Mr. Revere and I is the second of Lawson's fictional biographies told by animals.

A former British army horse, Scheherazade, lost by her officer in a dice game to a colonist, is the author of this Paul Revere biography. She enters Revere’s life when Sam Adams entices her new owner to donate her to provide Paul Revere with transportation for his courier position. There is just one minor issue, Paul Revere cannot ride and must learn.

One of the values of this book is that it starts with Paul Revere's early journeys, not his ride to Lexington and Concord. Readers learn more about his activities for the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence.

Scheherazade’s transition from British army horse to Sherry, Paul Revere's rebel horse is an interesting one. Her transition is provided to show readers that the liberty the colonists were fighting for was so clear that even a horse would eventually understand the difference between tyranny and liberty.

I would suggest reading this book along with more factually accurate sources. While this story will generate interest, it does fictionalize enough information that children should be aware of the factual events and how they compare to the novel.

Blue Star Museums

2011-05-30T05:00:00.014-04:00

I recently heard about this initiative and wanted to pass on the information. The Blue Star Museums program started in the summer of 2010. The program is continuing this summer. Blue Star Museums are museums that offer free entrance to active duty personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 to Labor Day September 5, 2011. The FAQ page states five immediate family members may attend with appropriate documentation. If you click on the FAQ link, you can get information about the documentation required and answers to other questions you may have.

The NEA provides a map of the covered museums by state. This can help you find out which museums in your area or places you plan to visit this summer are participating. If you have military family visiting this summer, you also may want to check out which museums are participating, as this can be an inexpensive way to have a family outing. As I wrote about previously the more discounts you use, the more outings you can afford to have on your vacation.

Ben and Me

2011-05-26T05:30:00.070-04:00

Robert Lawon's Ben and Me is a fictionalized biography of Ben Franklin. Lawson uses a unique format to write the story of Franklin's life. Instead of the traditional non-fiction format, Lawson has a mouse write the story.

The introduction to this book has always amused me. Lawson begins the introduction by telling readers that the tale they are about to read was found in a mouse home and established as authentic by experts. The author, Amos Mouse contends that he, not Ben Franklin, was responsible for Franklin's success. The story begins with Amos teaching Ben Franklin how to make the Franklin stove to keep him from freezing to death.

As the story moves to Ben's role in the Revolution, Amos tells how he helped Ben achieve his success. Readers will be interested to discover that Thomas Jefferson also had a mouse accompany him to the Continental Congress to help him write the Declaration of Independence. Amos even takes credit for Ben choosing to go to France to get help for the colonists.

Amos gives a preview of the upcoming French Revolution as he organizes various factions in an uprising against the Versailles Palace mice to rescue a mouse friend's seven children.

The humor in the story has continued to draw children to this story. It is a great chance for parents and teachers to help students to make connections to the factual Ben Franklin.

Ben and Me Free Teaching Resources:

Ben and Me Video Part 1 Part 2

10 Question Online Quiz

California Online Resources for Educators

Make Way for Ducklings

2011-05-25T05:30:00.053-04:00

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is the 1942 Caldecott Medal winning picture book.

I originally heard this picture book when Captain Kangaroo introduced the story on his children's morning show. I thought it was a familiar classic, but I am finding that there are so many books that some books are lost in the shuffle.

This was a favorite of my Mom's because while she raised her children in the suburbs, Mom was born and lived in Boston prior to moving to the country. She would often get lost in the story as she remembered her own childhood experiences in the places the ducks visited. I find this book has been a great gift to send homesick friends and family who miss Boston.

The story follows a duck couple as they look for a place to make a nest in Boston. They tour Boston as they check out potential sites. When the ducklings are born, the story follows the ducklings’ adventures as they travel to the Public Gardens. The illustrations are beautiful and unusually done in brown instead of traditional black and white or colored options.

This is a classic story that has been shared by generations of children. If this book is not on your bookshelf or one you have checked out of your local library, it is well worth exploring.

Free Teaching Resources:

Geography Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan Includes Maps

Live Oak Media

Robert McCloskey Horn Book Radio Interview

Teacher Vision Activities

The Minute Boys of Lexington

2011-05-24T05:30:00.007-04:00

The Minute Boys of Lexington is a historical fiction account of the Battles of Lexington and Concord written from a boy's perspective by Edward Stratemeyer. Unlike the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twin Series I previously blogged about that Stratemeyer's syndicate wrote, there are some indications this may have been his own work.

The story focuses on Roger Morse and his young friends as they participate in the events leading up to and the day of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The focus on the boys is designed to give children a feeling for what it would be like to have been a child during the Revolution and to give them a chance to travel along with Roger and his friends as they experience the challenges.

The author clearly tells the story from an American boy's perspective. There is no attempt to balance the story with an English perspective of the events. As I mentioned previously these stories can be helpful in providing color and contrast to traditional historical accounts of the events.

My library research can only find two books in the series although the original writing indicates that the intention was to write a series about the Revolution. I am trying to get a copy of The Minute Boys of Bunker Hillthrough our regional loan system. While the series was republished in the 1990's it does not seem to have been widely publicized. It is harder to locate than I expected.

Let it Begin Here! April 19, 1775 The Day the American Revolution Began

2011-05-23T05:30:00.015-04:00

I first went looking for one picture book with this title only to find there were two with very similar titles. I requested both from the library to review. Sometimes books are republished, but in this case the books not only have different authors, but approach the topic differently.

In Don Brown's version of Let It Begin Here!, the focus is on the British role in the Battle. The story starts with King George and follows the conflict to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This makes this book a great companion to the hour by hour coverage given in Dennis Brinnel Fradin's Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution. That book provides readers with more of a colonist's perspective on the events. You can read my review of that book here.

The illustrations in this book are more cartoonish and remind me a bit of Jean Fritz's books. They do not distract from the story and may engage children in reading about the events.

It is interesting to compare and contrast the viewpoints in the two novels. Brown is horrified by some of the actions of the colonists, but never discusses the pillaging done by the British troops. Reading both books provides a chance to talk to children about bias and the importance of reading multiple sources to get an accurate picture of events.

The Cricket in Times Square

2011-05-19T05:00:00.033-04:00

The Cricket in Times Square is a wonderful story of friendship between a cricket, a mouse, a cat, and the boy who takes care of the cricket. Chester Cricket finds his way to New York in a picnic basket and Harry Cat and Tucker Mouse help him settle in to life in New York's Time Square. Mario, the son of newsstand owners struggles to find a way to keep Chester healthy and to get Mama and Papa to allow him to keep Chester in the newsstand.

Harry and Tucker involve Chester in a variety of adventures that cause friction with Mario's family. Eventually Mama and Papa almost loose the newsstand when a party causes a fire. Chester feeling horribly guilty begins to chirp out music he learned during the party and draws a crowd who begin to buy papers from Mama and Papa's failing newsstand. While Chester enjoys helping save the business, eventually like all wild creatures, he longs to return home. The end has Chester making a choice about returning home and Mario dealing with the choice his friend makes for freedom.

This is the first in a series of books Selden wrote about these characters. While not all of them are currently in print, most are available at your local library if you wish to read more of their adventures.

Free Curriculum Links:

Columbus State University Unit Plan

Cricket Cubes

Cricket in Times Square Interactives

Literature Guide

Macmillan Teacher's Guide

Questions, English Lessons, Activities

Edward Stratemeyer the Man Behind Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys

2011-05-18T05:30:00.006-04:00

I was a huge fan of the Bobbsey Twins, later Nancy Drew and even read some of my brother's Hardy Boy books as a child. As a teenager, I was amazed to find that Laura Lee Hope, Carolyn Keene, and Franklin W. Dixon were not real authors. The books were published under Edward Stratemeyer's syndication. In fact, there have been times when Nancy Drew had a male author.

As I talk with family and friends, I find there are many people who are still not aware of this, so I thought I would publish a blog with some resources for those who are interested in learning more.

Franklin W. Dixon

The History of Nancy Drew

Who was Carolyn Keene? An interview with Mildred Wirt Benson, the Original Ghostwriter for the Nancy Drew Mystery Novels.

Who Wrote the Bobbsey Twins?

Frog and Toad are Friends

2011-05-17T05:30:00.008-04:00

Frog and Toad Are Friends is part of a Frog and Toad early reader series that focus on the two friends, Frog and Toad. The books are designed in chapters with each chapter telling a story about the two main characters. The focus of all the stories in the series is friendship.

These books have remained popular despite their simple plots and basic illustrations. Our family is on our third generation of children to read these books. They still seem to enchant.

If you enjoy Frog and Toad, Lobel has some less known books that you may want to explore with your children.

I listed some free resources for those looking to explore the book further.

Arnold Lobel

Book Report Template

California Teacher Resource Guide

Frog and Toad Resource List

Scholastic

Usborne Time Traveler

2011-05-16T05:30:00.015-04:00

Usborne Time Traveler was originally published as a series of four books. This volume contains Knights & Castles, Viking Raiders, Rome & Romans, and Pharaohs & Pyramids.

The series uses time travels as a vehicle to interest children in learning about these time periods. The illustrations are cartoonish, but educationally relevant. Each book starts with a child putting on the time helmet, "setting the place indicator and the date dial" and then proceeds with the informational portion of the books. The first section of the book deals with the people the children will meet. In each series, the children meet a family. In the Middle Ages children follow Baron Godfrey's family. Children follow Knut and his family to learn about Vikings. Petronius and his family introduce children to life in Rome. Egypt is introduced through reading about Nakht and his family. Each book ends with a quiz for children to review the information they learned.

This is a fun series to engage children in learning about history. There is a great deal of information embedded in a fun format. This will keep kids reading and wanting to learn more about the topics.

From an educational point of view, having these as individual volumes makes sense. It can be distracting to try to teach kids about one topic and have children flipping through the other topics, instead. However, many kids love general interest books that cover a variety of topics. Therefore, this could be a great book for a classroom library or for a child's personal library.

Bread and Jam for Frances

2011-05-13T05:30:00.030-04:00

Bread and Jam for Frances is part of a series of books written about Frances the badger and her family. Many of the books tell stories both parents and children can relate regarding going to bed, eating, adding a sibling, and a variety of other issues.

I borrowed this book from the library to review because when I mentioned Frances to a few people they were not familiar with the name and I wondered if others had missed her in the midst of so many newer children's series. Harper Collins has released many of the Frances stories as part of their I Can Read Series. The copy I borrowed of Bread and Jam for Frances is the I Can Read version not the original format.

I had an amazing second grade teacher who filled her classroom with wonderful children's books that the school did not provide. This is how I originally encountered Bread and Jam for Frances. Frances is a young badger who enjoys bread and jam and cannot understand the need for a varied diet. She sings songs; trades her lunches, and constantly complains about eating anything but bread and jam. Her mother tries an experiment. She allows Frances to have nothing but bread and jam for all her meals and snacks. Frances of course misses the other fine meals her mother makes. She eventually asks her mother for something other than bread and jam having learned her lesson.
This is a good early reader series for children. Harper Collins lists it as a level 2 in their I Can Read Series. Most of the books are available for purchase and in your local libraries.

Let it Begin Here! Lexington and Concord First Battles of the American Revolution

2011-05-12T05:30:00.067-04:00

Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution is a picture book account of the Battle of Lexington and Concord written by Dennis Brindell Fradin and illustrated by Larry Day.

I came across this book title while trying to find a copy of Day of Glory: The Guns at Lexington and Concord from the library. I put a reserve request in only to discover there are actually two books with similar titles. I have Let It Begin Here!: April 19, 1775: The Day the American Revolution Began by Don Brown on reserve now and will review that when I get my copy from the library.

One of the greatest strengths of this books was Larry Day's illustrations. The book opens with a battle map that outlines the trip from Boston to Concord. The watercolor pictures bring the story alive and this makes the book a resource for both younger children and older students. The pictures are not cartoonish or juvenile. It is a good chance to bring art into a discussion of history.

Dennis Brindell Fradin chose an interesting format for his picture book. He starts with a Who's Who dividing characters on the American side and the British side. The next page is an Introduction that outlines the history leading up to the events of Lexington and Concord. The book continues in a less detailed hour-by-hour format than found in Day of Glory. This is expected because of the picture book versus chapter book format. However, I do think some of the details of the events could have been more detailed and some of the less important information left out.

For instance, there is speculation about whom the colonists got their information from regarding Gage's movements. Gage's wife has always been suspect because of her American heritage, but there is no proof that she leaked the information. While this author acknowledges there is no proof, twice in the book he strongly hints that she is responsible for betraying her husband without ever providing compelling evidence.

The book ends with a quick summary of the war and a page I found interesting called What Happened to the People. This page gives a few details of the lives of some of the figures on the American and British side of the Battle. My only issue was Mrs. Gage being listed as side unknown. That seemed unnecessary and inappropriate. The book would have been stronger without the attacks on Mrs. Gage and more of Spenser's focus on the people and the towns that came together to fight the Regulars.

I would recommend this book as a resource for parents and teachers looking for children's books on the topic. The detailed hourly accounts provide a good format for examining the battle. Children can make their own outline and add details as they learn more from other resources.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

2011-05-11T05:30:00.000-04:00

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a wonderful story of two children who decide to run away and live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The story was published in 1968 and won a Newberry Award.

The story combines elements of realistic fiction and mystery. As the story ages, children are starting to appreciate it as historical fiction as they learn more about what life was like for children in the late 1960's. One great activity for parents or teachers reading this book with children is to discuss the differences between Jamie and Claudia's life experiences and current life for children. The cost of living is one of the most interesting discussions I have had with children.

Mrs. Frankweiler tells the story to her lawyer. Early on, you can understand the relationship between her lawyer, the children, and Mrs. Frankweiler.

My fascination with the story has always revolved around the children living in the museum. The main plot however, revolves around Claudia and Jamie trying to discover if Michelangelo created an angel that the museum has purchased from Mrs. Frankeweiler. The children are not handed the answer to their question, but given one shot to discover the answer in the mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

The story does not address the dangers of running away. I have read criticisms that it presents an idealized view of children surviving on their own. I can say honestly I read and enjoyed this book as a child and shared it with many younger relatives with none of them who truly believed they could run away and safely survive in an art museum. It was fun to contemplate what it would take. It also was a good chance to discuss the financial costs of living independently. Claudia and Jamie discuss the challenges of budgeting their limited funds in order to survive the trip.

Another criticism of this book is the lack of concern for the family left behind. Jamie expresses some regret, but Claudia is frustrated and searching for something. This book is not a statement about family life, but if Claudia's reaction bothers people, it is a chance to discuss what the family and Claudia could have done differently to address her issues. We all know of children who have these frustrations. Claudia can be a way of opening the door to discussing alternate solutions.

I have found success using this book as a literature circle book to discuss the story or as a read aloud that involves think alouds. These methods seem to develop some interesting discussions. For many students, I found it still required generating some interest, helping make connections, in order to have a more successful independent read. The students that did not like the book were often the ones I did not spend as much time promoting the book to prior and during reading.

Free Resources:

Comprehension Questions from Scholastic

Schools of California Online Guide for Teachers Curriculum Guide

Wadsworth Elementary Curriculum Guide

Skip-Bo

2011-05-10T05:30:00.035-04:00

I was introduced to Skip-Bo at a summer retreat with some teaching colleagues. It was so addictive I had my husband stop on the way home from picking me up to get a set of cards so we could play. He was quickly a fan, too. I have since purchased Skip-Bo Junior to engage younger members of the family in playing the game.

The basic rules of the game are easy to teach and to follow for children who can count and have the patience to follow suit and wait for turns. For parents who are looking an alternative to Uno Skip-Bo is a good choice.

Card games are convenient to stuff in a bag when you need something to keep children and adults busy. We often take Skip-Bo or one of our other card games with us because they are easier to pack than a traditional board game and they keep not only us, but often the kids who are in are party amused during waits or weather delays. Unlike an expensive computer game, if lost the replacement cost is not nearly as painful. Most of these card games are not expensive and are great suggestions for family members looking for inexpensive gifts. I use them to add to Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, and for other fun occasions.

Detectives in Togas

2011-05-09T05:30:00.002-04:00

Detectives in Togas combines historical fiction with mystery to create a fun children's novel. I find historical fiction is a great way to supplement the study of history. When an author finds a way to combine another genre with historical fiction it just increases the ability to draw children in to reading it.

This is another republished older book. The original publication date was 1956. It is still in print and available for purchase.

Detectives in Togas is the story of Roman students and their teacher trying to solve the mystery of an attack on their teacher and graffiti that has appeared on a Roman Temple. One of their classmates is jailed for the crime because of actions that occurred during class.

As the mystery unfolds, the reader learns more about Roman society, government, and history. The book is more meaningful if students have some background and knowledge of Roman history, but it can be read as a mystery without too much additional research.

I will be looking for the sequel at the library. It appears the boys are in trouble again. One of their fathers is in danger of being assassinated.

The Red Pyramid

2011-05-06T05:30:00.000-04:00

The Red Pyramid is the first book in Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles series. While the Percy Jackson series have focused on Greek and now Roman mythology, the Kane chronicles introduce readers to Egyptian mythology.

The format for this series is also a departure from the Percy Jackson series. The story starts with a warning to the reader that reminds me a bit of Alcatraz . Riordan draws the reader in by having the characters leave a message for some mysterious person who will be coming for what they are leaving in a locker, indicating that the reader is in danger just by picking up the novel to follow their journey.

This novel also departs from the previous novels by using the first person instead of the traditional third person voice. Sadie and Carter tell the story trading off chapters.

Sadie and Carter are brother and sister raised apart. Her grandparents raise Sadie and Carter travels constantly with his father. While this might seem like a bad custody story, there is a reason for the children's separation, which the reader soon learns.

While Riordan invited readers to learn more about Greek myths in his Olympian series, this series seems like it requires more background knowledge. He spent a significant amount of time in the Percy Jackson series helping readers less familiar with Greek mythology. This novel seems to expect readers to become educated or have more of a background in Egyptian history. I wish this novel had been available when I was teaching Egyptian history and mythology to fourth graders. There would have been a chance to apply what they knew.

Sadie's character is the reader's voice in the novel, as she was not raised with Carter and his father's knowledge of Egyptian history. However, as we discover more about Sadie's heritage, she loses some of that voice for a reader who may not be familiar with the stories of Isis, Osiris, Horus, and Set.

I am enjoying the series and looking forward to the The Throne of Fire due out May 3. If your child is not as familiar with Egyptian history there are some great resources. Mary Pope Osborne's non-fiction series includes one on Egypt, Mummies & Pyramids (Magic Tree House Research Guide). Eyewitness has long been one of my favorite non-fiction resources and they have two books in their series that would be useful Ancient Egypt and Eyewitness Pyramid .

Riordan has given Carter and Sadie choices that Percy did not have. Readers of the Percy Jackson series will notice the author has managed to avoid contradictions when presenting two opposing religious theories. It will be interesting to see where he proceeds with the characters and the plot as the series continues.

Charlie Card Discounts

2011-05-05T05:30:00.000-04:00

This applies to those in the Massachusetts area that use the MBTA passes that are now called Charlie Cards. I know over the years there have been various promotions to encourage the use of the MBTA, but there is now a formal online free Charlie Card Discount Booklet that will tell you where to show your Charlie pass to get savings. Like the PBS card, the discounts range from shopping to attractions, and theater. You will want to compare your discounts to see which one provides the best options. Unlike some of the other discount options I have discussed, many of the Charlie Card discounts do not cover multiple users. Depending on the discount, it could be a way to add to the group savings or a great deal for one person wanting to save.

As I advice with all discount cards it is always best to call if you have any questions about what the discount covers or if it is still valid.

If you do not live in Massachusetts but have a transit pass in another state, check online to see if there are any similar programs.

History News Series

2011-05-04T05:30:00.000-04:00

If you are looking for some fun and educational reading material to supplement your history curriculum the History News series published by Candlewick publishing may be something to research.

I used The Egyptian News, The Greek News, and The Roman News for two years. The Explorers Newswas added to my classroom library when the curriculum changed and I needed new supplemental material. These books offer a variety of learning opportunities in a fun format.

The books are set up in a magazine style. The articles reflect the various types of writing one would see in a newspaper/magazine. The articles attempt to create the feeling for what might have appeared if the articles were written at the time the events occurred, but in modern language students will connect to and comprehend. The books even include letters to the editor about topics that might have been debated at the time.

These books provide a wonderful opportunity to discuss the difference between factual reporting and opinions. Students can be asked to identify and support their reasons for labeling pieces as factual or as opinion articles and learn to apply this skill to current news material, too.

PBS Member Discounts

2011-05-03T05:30:00.009-04:00

While some people take advantage of the privileges of membership, some are not aware that becoming a PBS member offers more than just a charitable donation. It also can provide discounts depending on how well your local station markets itself to donors.

Our area is served by three stations. The Boston Station WGBH is the largest and offers an extensive lists of discounts available to members. The discounts include activities for adults and families as well as shopping.

New Hampshire has a smaller list, but should be checked for updates. Click on the Member Card Website for an updated list. Some of the museums and other attractions popular in this state are covered for members.

Rhode Island surprisingly has a list that is highly competitive with Boston's. In fact, there are many Massachusetts’ attractions on Rhode Island's discount list.

Like the AAA discounts, they are not always as good as the library passes, but if you or family member is a member of your local PBS station, you should be using these discounts. Review your options and take the best discounts you have available to you. It is not a reason to join, but if you have spent the money, get the best value for your money by using the discounts for trips or shopping you already plan on doing.

Day of Glory the Guns at Lexington and Concord

2011-05-02T05:30:00.082-04:00

I thought about reviewing Day of Glory: The Guns at Lexington and Concord too late to request the book from the library in time to reread and write a review in time for Patriot's Day. It did remind me to put a request into our local library for the book.

The book was originally published in 1955 and picked up as a Scholastic Book selection in the 1970's. At some point Scholastic printed the book again in the 1990's under their Apple Paperback brand. I have not been able to locate a date because the library copy I borrowed still lists the original 1955 copyright date.

The story is a historical fiction account of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The book is formatted in hour chapters beginning at 7PM the night before the battle and ending at 7PM the day of the battle. The book is historical fiction because it attempts to provide more emotional and personal details and create a storyline to guide the readers through the events. This is what makes this novel a great book to accompany what can be dry historical accounts of the battle itself. Students can and should be asked to verify information for accuracy.

What I liked about this book is that it does not only focus on Lexington and Concord and the generic Minutemen who fought. It discusses the towns and locations where the volunteers came from to fight. While I was aware of many of these stories, I think it is important for students to hear them. Not all the Minutemen arrived at Lexington. It took time for the news of the Regulars arrival to get to these towns, the men to assemble, and then travel to the areas. This book does a good job explaining how the residents learned of the British troop movements and the journeys required to make it to the battle locations. It also explains the British plans and movements that are rarely addressed in most children's historical accounts of the battle.

This book is not currently in print, but it is commonly available in used books sites and as I demonstrated your public library. As with all resources, I suggest reading it yourself before using it with your children. This story would make a good read aloud in conjunction with other non-fiction historical accounts.

If you can find the original book, the cover art is better. The original cover depicts an artistic view of the Minutemen walking. The Apple cover is of children and is less focused on the content of the novel. The cover is hardly essential to the content of the writing.

Additional Links:

Acton Minutemen

Danvers Alarm List

Menotomy Minutemen

Minuteman National Park

Sudbury Minutemen

AAA Attraction Discounts

2011-04-29T05:30:00.001-04:00

I used to make the mistake of thinking of AAA as the people I contacted when the car broke down and I needed help or the place to go before I went on vacation. I often forget to check them out for local stuff and that costs me money. Since I am already a member, using my membership to get additional discounts costs me nothing, but the time to check.

I was reminded of this recently when planning a weekend museum trip. The website kindly listed the discounts they offered. AAA was one of them. As I wrote about in a previous blog, the library pass program was a better deal. However, you cannot always count on getting a pass when you want one. The AAA discount is not limited to a specific number of residents per day.

This inspired me to research what other discounts were available in my area. AAA will provide you with a link to your local branch. At our AAA I discovered discounts to places we are planning to visit this summer as well as a place I was not aware of that is now on my must visit list. The EcoTarium in Worcester provides indoor and outdoor science explorations for students and families. For an additional cost, they have a canopy walk, train ride, and Planetarium. Doing further research I discovered our library does have a better pass, but it will not cover the number of people who want to attend, if we can even secure it for the day we want it. Since most of our family members have AAA, we can reduce the cost for all who travel with us, based on the AAA offer available at this site.

I am going to be talking about some other ways to reduce your costs while visiting local attractions this summer. There are many ways to avoid paying full price. Evaluating your options will help you generate the best cost savings.

The Sixteen Hand Horse

2011-04-28T05:30:00.017-04:00

As I mentioned in my previous post about The King Who Rained I put a request into the library to borrow the The Sixteen Hand Horse . It arrived in time to share it with a younger relative on Easter. While she is no longer of age for picture books, this book had some of the most challenging expressions of the series.

There were a couple of phrases I had to check on. "Daddy says he caught a fish on a spoon" proved my context skills are still working. A spoon is a fishing lure, which was my guess. A family member who knew about fish eggs cleared up the fish row or roe. Several other expressions had to be explained to the student, but those were the only two that left me frustrated that the computer had been locked away for Easter.

If you have not tried these books before, I suggest you seek them out. This one provided some quality entertainment on Easter. It was a great chance to discuss expressions, idioms, and to admit that sometimes we all need to review the meanings when context clues are not enough to help us through the unfamiliar phrase.

Library Museum Passes

2011-04-27T05:30:00.010-04:00

This topic came up when we realized we were having an unexpected guest next weekend who would be staying for a longer than anticipated time. We needed an activity that was close and entertaining. We chose the Science Discovery Museum in Acton. For some reason I thought I had checked our library's list of museums, but I missed this one. Their website provides a list of libraries that have Discovery Museum passes. After realizing I almost missed a great money saving opportunity, I thought it was a great topic for a blog.

Many local charitable organizations provide passes to museums and other local places of interest for library patrons to borrow. The passes can range from discounts to free admission. The numbers of people they cover also vary.

These are some helpful tips to get better use from your local library passes.

Use the Online Library Services in the Convenience of Your Home.

If your library has an online service, start there. I have been in line more Saturdays while people struggle desperately to find an available pass. Library event passes are popular and they reserve quickly. Many libraries not only have the ability to research pass information, but actually to reserve the passes. Libraries vary in how far in advance you can reserve a pass. Once you know your intended date, you will want to reserve as soon as the system allows you to make a reservation. Popular passes go quickly, especially in the summer and during school vacations.

Read the Rules

The libraries and the institutions you are visiting have rules. Many libraries have instructions about when the passes can be picked up and dropped off. Our library has some stiff fines when passes are not picked up or they are dropped off late. This is to encourage people not to place a hold on a pass with preventing someone else from using it that day. The goal is to reserve it and use it.

Our library is good about trying to list availability only on dates institutions are open. For instance if a museum is not open on Mondays, they try to "X" out that date so people cannot reserve the pass for those days. However, places do change hours and schedules. I have heard people complaining to the librarians that they were unable to use the pass as if it was the library's fault the place was closed. My advice is to check the website and call if you have any doubts. Some places are better than others about keeping their websites updated with current hours and schedules. The library has enough challenges just keeping up with the reservations and returns. They are not travel agents.

Read the Directions for the Pass

It is important to know what the pass does. Many libraries provide this information online. If you have any doubts, ask. Call the library and double check with the place you are visiting to make sure you know what is covered. Some passes provide discounts, others free entrance. Some passes will give you entry to the museum, but you have to pay for special exhibits. Some of these exhibits require separate reservations. Much of this information can be found on the institution's website. It is best to do your research before your trip.

Check Your Best Options

If you are traveling in a group, you may have multiple discount options. I am going to be discussing a few more of these in future blogs. Children and seniors often have discount offers based on age. You may want to use those discounts first and use the library discounts for the more expensive adults. You can always spread the savings around to make sure everyone gets benefits from the actual cost when buying the tickets. There are multiple ways to divide the savings. We tend to add up the cost of the tickets after savings and divide it by the number of adults. Then everyone gets to share in the savings. There are many other methods to maximize the discounts and free tickets. If people are traveling from different towns, research the library discounts available in those towns. Even if you cannot get your library passes, grandma or an uncle traveling with you might have better luck. If you get lucky, you may get enough passes to cover all of you. Just one word of caution, you are responsible for any loans made on your library card. It is best not to borrow any passes you will not be responsible for as you will be liable if they are not returned.

Flexibility Provides More Options

Weekends tend to be the busiest. If you have the option to visit during the week, you have a better chance of using a pass. Many homeschooling parents are aware of the benefits of weekday visits. For some sites, you do have to work around school group tours. That goes back to my warning about researching prior to scheduling your trip.