A young girl visits her Nani’s home every Friday for dinner. They are Muslim and from Pakistan. As Friday is the Muslim holiday, the dinner has a lot A young girl visits her Nani’s home every Friday for dinner. They are Muslim and from Pakistan. As Friday is the Muslim holiday, the dinner has a lot of significance. They eat traditional food such as chapatis and a curry dish. At this dinner, Nani brings Leila upstairs and finds her a saffron scarf to wear and keep. It is so beautiful. ...more
Terrific comedic book for Muslim kids and people who enjoy reading about people who are Muslim. The book is very much like Judy Moody books and other Terrific comedic book for Muslim kids and people who enjoy reading about people who are Muslim. The book is very much like Judy Moody books and other books like it. ...more
A Muslim family goes to the public market. The young son gets lost among the crowd and can’t find his parents. Of course he does at the end. A nice piA Muslim family goes to the public market. The young son gets lost among the crowd and can’t find his parents. Of course he does at the end. A nice picture book with few words that shows the diversity of people at the market. Very sweet. ...more
I’m not the biggest fan of the prose poetry novel and my feeling is that a novel would have better suited the story. This book has nice illustrations,I’m not the biggest fan of the prose poetry novel and my feeling is that a novel would have better suited the story. This book has nice illustrations, but instead a focusing on a pencil and English before learning to write in Arabic, I’d have told a clear story instead. A lot of these prose poetry books seem to be made to keep the lexile readability level down than be an artistic choice. It obscures an important story that could have been told clearly and in an interesting manner. I wanted to learn about a girl living in Darfur more than poetry about a pencil. Kids can handle it. ...more
A very well written account of the Grand Ronde Reservation and the Umpqua people, who were wiped out by federal law in the 1950s after President EisenA very well written account of the Grand Ronde Reservation and the Umpqua people, who were wiped out by federal law in the 1950s after President Eisenhower signed it into law. It was called the Federal Indian Reservation Relocation Program and declared some Native American groups as no longer Indian and took their reservations away. The people were relocated to different cities around the country. Regina is Umpqua and her family loses their land and sent to Los Angeles where they do make more money and get a better education but attempts to wipe out their heritage go nowhere as they struggle to keep their language and culture alive. A very well written book that gives a people their lives back. Very good. ...more
A cool photography book by Diane Keaton about a three year journey building her own dream house. In Brentwood California, she bought land and began toA cool photography book by Diane Keaton about a three year journey building her own dream house. In Brentwood California, she bought land and began to design her house with other designers. She found her ideas on Pinterest and then began planning. Of course her architects had to get her adjust to reality and what she found in Pinterest. These photographs the stark and the color scheme is black and white. Very interesting. Was glad I found this book. ...more
A good solid biography of Elton John. It is sound and fine but it is not outstanding. I would recommend Elton’s autobiography for that but I learned fA good solid biography of Elton John. It is sound and fine but it is not outstanding. I would recommend Elton’s autobiography for that but I learned from this book and I enjoyed it. ...more
Touching book about a family traveling in the Great Migration. The author based it on the book, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, a nonficTouching book about a family traveling in the Great Migration. The author based it on the book, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, a nonfiction book. The author had her main character, a young teenage girl who’s teacher has given her an autobiography of Frederick Douglas, another way to ponder her trip North. This is a very meaningful book. ...more
Two friends use jars to collect the wonders of the world. One moves away and they learn to connect by sending the miracles through the mail and makingTwo friends use jars to collect the wonders of the world. One moves away and they learn to connect by sending the miracles through the mail and making new friends. ...more
Delightful as one would expect the book to be. Eric Idle does start out a bit stiff but it quickly dissipates as he gets going into his teen years andDelightful as one would expect the book to be. Eric Idle does start out a bit stiff but it quickly dissipates as he gets going into his teen years and college. It just keeps getting better and better. Funny account of sitting at the Tonys and watching Spamalot lose almost all awards but finally winning the big one. Accounts of the lives of Carrie Fisher, Graham Chapman, David Bowie and especially George Harrison. Robin Williams too +. I’m so glad I listened to the audiobook but probably the book in the future. ...more
The story of three sisters who were being in an important family at the turn of the 20th century. Little Sister became Madame Chiang Kai Shek, the lasThe story of three sisters who were being in an important family at the turn of the 20th century. Little Sister became Madame Chiang Kai Shek, the laser of Chinese Nationalism who ended up in Taiwan. Red Sister married Sun Yat Sen, the Vice Chairman of Communist China, Big Sister Chaing’s second in command. An interesting story that I never knew about. ...more
Beautifully illustrated book about a soup called Freedom Soup. A Haitian soup that used to be made by slaves who were banned from eating it. The book Beautifully illustrated book about a soup called Freedom Soup. A Haitian soup that used to be made by slaves who were banned from eating it. The book talks about grandma making the soup at New Year’s, and tells the story of the soup and the Haitian people. Very well told, appropriate read for younger people. ...more
Ok book about a duckling who is afraid of swimming and goes walking into the forest instead, only to be fattened by a fox to be eaten. Illustrations aOk book about a duckling who is afraid of swimming and goes walking into the forest instead, only to be fattened by a fox to be eaten. Illustrations are very nice. Story concept? Not quite. ...more
Interesting book about a group of anthropologists and sociologists challenged eugenic racial and gender ideas in the early 20th century. Margaret MeadInteresting book about a group of anthropologists and sociologists challenged eugenic racial and gender ideas in the early 20th century. Margaret Mead, Ruth Benedict, Ella Deloria, and Nora Neale Hurston completed research and wrote often bestselling books about their subjects. Their ideas changed and opened up cultural relativism. As an ESL teacher, my favorite finding was that people who weren’t fluent in English tended to have lower IQ scores probably due to their lack of English proficiency. This is still a problem now bi have kids tested for IQ who aren’t fluent in English and they get IQs in the 70s and 80s when they are completely normal. But people take and report these test scores as valid. It can affect these kids entire lives....more
A fun fast paced overview of lives of women in English colonies, and United States. I’m not sure if the history will stick but it’s a fun read. I’ve aA fun fast paced overview of lives of women in English colonies, and United States. I’m not sure if the history will stick but it’s a fun read. I’ve always been a fan if Gail Collins. I enjoyed reading it a lot. It’s chocked full of facts and stories. ...more
Sweet story about a Koala who clings to his tree and refused to move at the urging of other animals. Eventually he comes down and discovers a whole neSweet story about a Koala who clings to his tree and refused to move at the urging of other animals. Eventually he comes down and discovers a whole new exciting world. ...more
A moving memoir by an African American author, filmmaker and political official. Sarah M. Bloom writes a family history by focusing on a yellow house A moving memoir by an African American author, filmmaker and political official. Sarah M. Bloom writes a family history by focusing on a yellow house that the extended family lived in for generations. Located in a poor neighborhood in New Orleans, it endured Hurricane Betsy and Katrina. But was torn down as unlivable after a Katrina. The family had to go through a lot to get any money for the home and it rested on who was a legitimate or illegitimate child of a father. Beautifully written, I can’t recommend it more. ...more
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