Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time, Book 13)

Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time, Book 13) Review



The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight.

The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age.

Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel’aran’rhiod and find a way--at long last--to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever.

Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways--the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn--have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men’s lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost.

This penultimate novel of Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling series--the second of three based on materials he left behind when he died in 2007--brings dramatic and compelling developments to many threads in the Pattern. The end draws near.

Dovie’andi se tovya sagain. It’s time to toss the dice.


Sunday, March 25, 2012

Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin, Book 1)

Spider's Bite (Elemental Assassin, Book 1) Review



After Gin’s family was murdered by a Fire elemental when she was thirteen, she lived on the streets and eventually became an assassin to survive. Now, Gin is given an assignment by her handler to rub out an Ashland businessman, but it turns out to be a trap. After Gin’s handler is brutally murdered, she teams up with the sexy detective investigating the case to figure out who double-crossed her and why. Only one thing is for sure —Gin has no qualms about killing her way to the top of the conspiracy.


Friday, March 23, 2012

Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects (Janice VanCleave's Science for Fun)

Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects (Janice VanCleave's Science for Fun) Review



Introduce young children to the wonders of science

Using this book as a guide, you and your favorite budding scientist can have fun exploring the world while you help your child learn about science and develop important science process skills. You may think it's hard to get young children interested in science, but just watch their eyes light up when they make bouncy blubber or play clay, or when you venture out together in the backyard or local park for a bug-collecting expedition. These are the kind of everyday explorations that give kids a great foundation for a lifetime of science learning.

In this terrific collection of fun, kid-tested science activities, bestselling children's science writer and former teacher Janice VanCleave has combined her favorite science activities for young people into one jumbo-sized book that you and your children will love.

Janice VanCleave's Big Book of Play and Find Out Science Projects includes over 50 easy-to-do activities and is divided into four parts:

PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Encourage kids to get physical with science with questions such as: How does a compass work? Why do I have to wear a seat belt? Why can't I catch a rainbow? Why does my hair stick to a comb?

NATURE: Help children answer questions naturally including: Why do cats' eyes glow in the dark? How do fish move up and down in the water? Why do plants move toward the sun? Can squirrels really fly?

BUGS: Challenge the science bug in kids with questions such as: Why do fireflies light up? How do butterflies drink? Where do spiders come from? Why are walkingsticks hard to find?

HUMAN BODY: Capture children's imaginations about the whole body of science with questions like these: Why do I have hair on my body? How does my heart sound? Why do foods taste different? Why are my bones hard?


Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Days and Months We Were First Born- The Unraveling (Book 1 of 3)

The Days and Months We Were First Born- The Unraveling (Book 1 of 3) Review



In the summer of 2068, New Yorker Martin Jacob had a sweet life ahead of him. He had recently graduated from NYU. He spent most of his time with his artist girlfriend, who had a wonderful apartment in Harlem. And in September, he was to begin his career as a History teacher for a private school in Connecticut. An easy life was laid out before him. Then a man-made virus came along, and it turned his world upside down.

Martin wakes to find a disheveled President addressing the nation. His girlfriend is driven mad with grief, right before his very eyes. His parents call to inform him that they are going to die. And he steps outside to find Martial Law on the streets.

"The Days and Months We Were First Born- The Unraveling" is book one of Martin's epic tale of survival. At times funny, at times heartbreaking, and at times action packed, this book will take the reader on an unforgettable journey.

* Edited as of December 10, 2011


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Evolution: A View from the 21st Century (FT Press Science)

Evolution: A View from the 21st Century (FT Press Science) Review



James A. Shapiro's Evolution: A View from the 21st Century proposes an important new paradigm for understanding biological evolution. Shapiro demonstrates why traditional views of evolution are inadequate to explain the latest evidence, and presents a compelling alternative. His information- and systems-based approach integrates advances in symbiogenesis, epigenetics, and mobile genetic elements, and points toward an emerging synthesis of physical, information, and biological sciences.


Friday, March 16, 2012

Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts

Basher Science: Human Body: A Book with Guts Review



From the best-selling team that brought you The Periodic Table, Physics, Biology, and Astronomy comes a topic that's close to our hearts-literally! Meet the characters and processes that that keep the human body chugging along. From the basic building blocks like Cell, DNA, and Protein, to Bones, Muscles, and all of the fun-loving Organs, readers will cozy up with the guys on the inside. Trust us-Liver has never looked better!


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Exceptional (Exceptional Series Book #1)

Exceptional (Exceptional Series Book #1) Review



"In the future, things are anything but ordinary..."

In 2022, the United States commissioned a group of scientists to experiment with genetic mutations. Their goal was to create a serum that would alter the human genetic code, making the subject stronger and faster. They succeeded but their victory was short lived. Not only had they created a super serum, but also an airborne virus. By 2025, seventy-five percent of the world's population had perished. The survivors, well their lives would never be the same.

175 A.V.

Ally is an Ordinary; a human immune to the virus. She lives in a settlement outside the City with her mother and twin brother, but lately it doesn't seem to be enough. She is wrestling between being with her family and volunteering to move to the City, where she can work for the Exceptionals.

Luke is an Exceptional; a superior human being. His ancestors were infected with the virus and lived through it, leaving their super human strength and special abilities to him. He has never given much thought to Ordinarys, despite pressure from his father to choose one from the ORC. But all of that changes when he meets Ally...


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Science Book of Color: The Harcourt Brace Science Series

The Science Book of Color: The Harcourt Brace Science Series Review



Fun-packed science projects and experiments introduce readers to basic science principles. Full-color photographs and easy-to-follow text guide children through creative experiments using common materials, while practical examples relate each experiment to the world around us. “The handsome design and illustration of the series make it an inviting choice for library collections.”--Booklist“Clear, well-spaced photographs, good instructions, and appropriate warning typify this series of experiment books for middle graders.”--The Horn Book


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Dreamhackers Vol.1 (Comic Book Graphic Novel) (95 page)

Dreamhackers Vol.1 (Comic Book Graphic Novel) (95 page) Review



The civilization has long ago settled in numerous worlds all over the Galaxy. Then the means of instant inter-galaxy communication that linked the worlds was invented.
This “Super-Internet” has penetrated even to the farthest worlds of the Galaxy.
It was first meant to store and transmit the information. But soon it appeared that even substances, including the living organisms, may be transferred through positron flows.
Since then, it ceased to be a mere “Super Internet” - a new info-world emerged with its inlets, trunk lines, information storage and substances – the PROTERRA world...


Thursday, March 8, 2012

The Power of Picture Books in Teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies: Grades PreK-8

The Power of Picture Books in Teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies: Grades PreK-8 Review



This book's 50-plus lessons--each based on a different picture book or story--will help classroom teachers build a foundation for teaching math, science, and social studies concepts to students. Each lesson uses children's literature to make challenging, abstract concepts relevant to children's lives, inviting them to learn these concepts while responding to a story's illustrations, theme, characters, and plot. The lessons also demonstrate how teachers can use children's literature to meet national standards in math, science, and social studies.

Chapters 1 through 5 set the stage for using picture books, discussing the effective, imaginative integration of literature into the classroom. Teachers will learn to create an environment that ensures that when children and books come together, the experience is enjoyable and thought provoking. Chapters 6 through 9 provide individual lessons, by grade level, with detailed activities based on specific books.

Included in each lesson are a brief summary of the book; the mathematics, science, or social studies standards addressed; the objective of the lesson; applicable language arts experiences; key concepts; materials and procedures needed to teach the lesson; possible assessment activities; and a Making Connections section that lists related, useful books and websites.

The following are a few benefits of the lessons: Math lessons present math concepts in the context of real-life situations, encouraging students to think critically and to solve problems; science lessons focus on the process of doing science through inquiry; social studies lessons teach students about other cultures and diversity in our society; and the activities include language arts components such as eliciting students responses to literature in oral, written, or visual form and providing opportunities for vocabulary development.


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Greek Gods and Goddesses (Dover Classic Stories Coloring Book)

Greek Gods and Goddesses (Dover Classic Stories Coloring Book) Review



Ready-to-color illustrations, each accompanied by a page of descriptive text, depict Atlas holding up the heavens; Hermes slaying the many-eyed Argus; Aphrodite weeping over the body of Adonis; and 19 other exciting illustrations. A great way to introduce youngsters to Greek mythology. 22 black-and-white illustrations.


Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Works of Andre Norton (12 books)

The Works of Andre Norton (12 books) Review



Illustrated with 10 unique illustrations.

The Defiant Agents
The Gifts of Asti
Key Out of Time
Plague Ship
Ralestone Luck
Rebel Spurs
Ride Proud, Rebel!
Star Born
Star Hunter
Storm Over Warlock
The Time Traders
Voodoo Planet