Thursday, October 31, 2019

October books

There was a definite theme this month.  Can you figure it out?

The total for October was 13 books and 5 magazines finished, and 0 abandoned.
That brings the total for the year to 193 books, 55 magazines, and 5 abandoned.

Who Was Galileo?
by Patricia Brennan Demuth
An excellent children's biography of Galileo.  Interestingly, I read this book the same week the older kids were doing experiments in their science class about dropping things and deciding whether heavy objects always fall faster.  One chapter in this book discusses Galileo's experiments and theories on this subject.  I read that chapter out loud and then left the book for them to finish if they wanted.

Wil Horse Scientists
by Kay Frydenborg
This photo-rich book explains the efforts to humanely control wild horse populations as Assateague Island via contraceptive immunizations.  Very informative.  Be aware that there are several pages of evolutionary content regarding how horses came to be and how they got to America.  Also, since it deal with the subject of horse pregnancy and contraception, it might be wise to wait to give this to children until you've talked with them about the "facts of life".  There's nothing inappropriate and no graphic pictures.
Misty's Twilight
by Marguerite Henry
The story of a descendant of Misty of Chincoteague as she goes through her careers as a cutting horse, jumping horse, and dressage horse.  I can't quite put my finger on why, but this story just didn't grab me like Henry's other books.  There's nothing really wrong with it, but it just didn't seem to have quite the power that her other books do.  There are one or two instances of siblings insulting each other and substitute swear words.


Black Gold
by Marguerite Henry
The true story of a small black colt who won the Kentucky Derby in 1924.

San Domingo : The Medicine Hat Stallion
by Marguerite Henry
A boy in the mid 1800s has a nard-nosed trader of a father who seems impossible to please.  The boy has a knack with animals and raises a specially marked colt that the Indians prize.  After his father trades the horse without permission, the boy leaves home to ride in the Pony Express.  Caution: uses "damn" several times. Also, the story is more appropriate for older readers (teens) than for young ones.
The Wildest Horse Race
by Marguerite Henry
This is one of her lesser known books, I believe.  It is based on true events in 1954 and tells the story of a half-Arabian mare and her rider/trainer who win 3 difficult and dangerous races called the "Palio" in Sienna, Italy.


Penny (Horse Diaries #16)
by Whitney Sanderson
A pinto mare participates in the Gold Rush, the Pony Express, and the building of the transcontinental railroad.  Interestingly, the same week I read this one, we went on a field trip to learn about the transcontinental railroad.  As with all the Horse Diaries, this one was excellent!

Hope Rising 
by Kim Meeder
This book contains many short stories about abused and neglected horses as well as the hurting children (and adults) that they help on Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Oregon.  Excellent!  But keep a tissue box handy.
Bridge Called Hope
by Kim Meeder
This is the follow-up books to "Hope Rising", containing longer stories about tougher cases of hurting horses and people, but always showing the hope that comes from God's redemptive love.

Life According to Og the Frog
by Betty G. Birney
By the same author as the Humphrey books (see my reviews from September), this is the first in a new series telling the story of life in Room 26 from the frog's perspective.  Delightful!  This book corresponds to "Friendship According to Humphrey."

Exploring with Og the Frog
by Betty G. Birney
This one is Og's version of "Trouble According to Humphrey."

Look! I wrote a book! (And you can too!)
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
A cute new picture book about the process of writing and publishing a book.

Apples to Oregon
by Deborah Hopkinson
A tall tale about a man who moved a large wagon load of apple trees (and other fruit trees) from Iowa to Oregon.  Fun.





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