Purpose of this Blog...

You may have noticed that not all books are equal in capturing children's imaginations and in cultivating those innocent, tender souls. My goal is to help you find the ones that do!
(Painting by Mary Cassatt: "Mrs Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" -1888)




Tuesday, June 15, 2010

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ALASKA?


My brother and his family live in Eagle River, Alaska, near Anchorage. We were able to visit them during the summer years ago and let me tell you, Alaska has some of the most beautiful landscapes, seascapes, and flowers I've ever seen! Today I thought I'd share some picture books with you about Alaska that my kids enjoyed reading before and after our trip.

Shelley Gill has written many children's books about Alaska. These were our favorites, illustrated by Shannon Cartwright. (ages 4-8)
ALASKA'S THREE BEARS is a fun twist of the original, featuring the Polar Bear, the Black Bear, and the Grizzly Bear as they travel across Alaska in search of perfect homes. Your child will love the artwork and learn tons of interesting facts about bears.
THE ALASKA MOTHER GOOSE - Fun rhymes that teach kids about all the different wildlife in Alaska.
SWIMMER - Learn about the Chinook salmon and their life stages in this fun, beautifully illustrated story.


MAMA, DO YOU LOVE ME? by Barbara M. Joosee, pictures by Barbara Lavallee. This question is delightfully asked and answered from the perspective of the Intuit culture, as a daughter attempts to find the limit of her mother's love.


THE BRAVEST DOG EVER: THE TRUE STORY OF BALTO by Natalie Standiford, illutrations by Donald Cook. (grades 1-3) This is the true story of a sled dog in 1925 who led his team through the snow and ice - over 53 miles - to deliver medicine.


These three books about St. Herman are written for different age levels:
SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA, written and illustrated by S.A. Smith. (ages 4-8) A simple telling of a Russian Monk who brough Christianity to the native populations of Kodiak and Spruce Islands.
NORTH STAR: ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA, by Dorrie Papademetriou. (32 pages, ages 9-12) A more detailed telling of the monk who, in the late 1700's, crossed the Bering Strait with other Russian monks and lived with the Aleut people for over 40 years.
FATHER HERMAN: ALASKA'S SAINT (72 pages, ages 12 and up), by F.A. Golder, with papercut illustrations by Nikki McClure, tells of the life and miracles of St. Herman.

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