Clicks 4 Education Book Club

Little Wolf’s Christmas August 17, 2006

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Little Wolf’s Christmas is the classic Christmas story but told from the Wolf’s perspective. Set in the White Mountains of Arizonia the story follows the life of a Mexican Gray Wolf pack as seen through the eyes of a wolf pup. Beautiful water color illustrations bring the charaters to life. The story was inspired by work with Native American Children. I first learned about the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Wolf Sanctuary which is based near St. Louis and started by Marlin Perkins. When I moved to Arizona I learned that they were releasing this beautiful animal to its native land where it is respected and loved.
$Little Wolf\'s Christmas$
Little Wolf’s Christmas- books a million
Little Wolf’s Christmas- Barnes and Nobles

Welcome to Clicks 4 Education Book Club August 12, 2006

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Feel free to browse recommended books. Many of the book articles are written by the authors themselves so if you want to reveiw a book or leave a friendly note to the author this is your chance. Reading is a cornorstone to education so pick up a good book to read yourself or share with a child. The book club lists family friendly books only so you don’t have to worry about offensive language or content when you choose a book from us.

Celebrate Earth Day March 18, 2007

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Celebrate Earth Day April 22, 2007. Earth day is a time to remind ourselves of ways to protect the enviroment and wildlife. We need to help others learn of ways they can help preserve the earth. Perhaps we cannot make a big diffence by ourselves but each of us can do thing each day to make a difference. Remember the three R’s of recycling- reduce, reuse and recycle. If you would like to learn more about the earth and preservation I suggest the books below to share with children the importance of the earth and that we are stewards that need to care for our resources because they are not unlimited.

As a Parks and Recreation graduate I don’t think Earth Day can pass without mentioning John Muir. Muir, an immigrant from Scotland, traveled much of the United States. He was a scientist and enviromentalist that became an advocate of the land. Early on he realized the damage of overgrazing, deforestation and realized we needed unspoiled lands to pass down to our children. He became responisble for convincing Teddy Roosevelt and other to expand our National Park System and include Yosemite Park. Muir later founded the Seirra Club to help protect lands and wildlife. Muir is a good role model for children because although he accomplished much in his lifetime he was not wealthy and taught himself when he could no longer go to school. You are welcome to click the link and print the bookmark for your own use.

Yosemite/John Muir bookmark $John Muir: America\'s First Environmentalist$
John Muir first enviromentalist John Muir: America’s First EnvironmentalistThis book has beautiful illustrations that depict the land the John loved to explore. The author lavishes quotes from John’s writings into the book to make the young readers feel as if he is telling the story himself and bring this adventurer to life grade school students.
John Muir also wrote an account of his travels in Alaska as explored glaciers. His book Stickeen is written for older readers. However if you would like to share this true story adventure with grade school readers I heartily recommend John Muier and Stickeen by Julie Dunlap and Mary Betth Lorbiecki. Readers will be captivated by the tale that bound man and dog in a race for survival and shows another side to John Muir. Bill Farnsworth’s illustrations and vibrant and the clips from John Muir’s own writings ads a touch to a make the reader feel that they are truely expreincing the escape from the glaceir with John and Stickeen themselves.

John Muir and Stickeen: An Icy Adventure with a No-Good Dog
Arrowhawk is a picture book by Lola M. Schaefer. Arrowhawk was based on an injured Red Tailed Hawk that a bird sanctuary found. The fictional story tells how the hawk may have been injured and made it is way to the sancturary where it was treated and eventurally released into the wild. This book won the Show Me Award of 2007.Arrowhawk
One could hardly conclude earth day without learning something about the rain forest. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry teaches children how animals, plants and even humans are interdependent on one another and how what we do to our resouces destroy our fagile ecosystems. In her story she uses the Kapok Tree as an example of how many animals and birds live in its branches and how it prevents soil erosion and produces oxegyn for man to breath. Her illustrations are as bright and colorful as the rainforest itself.

The Great Kapok Tree

Legend of the White Wolf February 13, 2007

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Are you looking for books for boys? You may want to try, Max Elliot Anderson’s Legend of the White Wolf. The book is easy reading even for the relectant reader. Written in the style of the old Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew series, and centering around nature and wildlife it has themes that children enjoy.Since I worked with Native American’s I also enjoyed the cultural tie ins and the hints of Christianity.

Forgotten Sacrifices

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Forgotten Sacrifices is a young adult historical fiction that appeals specifically to boys. Peter has come from worn torn Austria, after WWII, to live on a farm in Missouri. However, he discovers that his brother, who he had not seen for year has changed. The people in his adopted town are prejuidice and he learns that the family that has taken him in don’t really want the “enemies” living with them. Can Peter find out the secrets his brother is keeping from him and help them all become a family?

Flying Hugs & Kisses January 14, 2007

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Flying Hugs and Kisses is a children’s fictional story about one family that is affected by SIDS. It is written from the children’s perspective and how the children learn to deal with the sudden loss of a baby. Jewel Sample does a wonderful job of bringing this real life drama down to elements that children can understand. This would be a wonderful book to share with parents of children that are dealing with SIDS. The book is available in English and Spanish formats.

Besos Y Abrazos Al Aire

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe August 13, 2006

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This delightful raido show adaption by Focus on the Family does a wonderful job of bringing C.S. Lewis’s classic tail to life and yet remains true to the accuracy and message of the story. I started listening to the series when I was a dorm parent for grade school children. It was a wonderful way to relax and wind down before going to bed. The children looked forward to bed time so the could listen to each new installment. In fact they talked about it so much that the junior high girls demanded to listen to them too and they loved the series too. In fact it even got some of our reluctant readers into reading the whole series by Lewis. This radio show would be the perfect gift for anyone that loves Narnia series.

Chronicles of Narnia