A bit of "geography" in Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder & Great Rivers of the World from Prestel Publishing [Review & Giveaway]

Great Rivers of the World by Volker Mehnert & illustrated by Martin Haake (ISBN: 978-3791374703; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 8-12; 40 pages)

My thoughts:  Man has long realized that sustainable life requires access to water and often waterways. This book showcasing Earth's great rivers is a graphic/text portrayal of the richness that these rivers bring to a vast amount of people and lands.

Tidbits of information about the rivers as well as historic landmarks are provided in the graphics.

This is a sort of seek-and-find rather than story-text book. You read the short text about the river and then traverse the pages devoted to that specific river to glean the tidbits and fun information.

A fun book that provides a richness of information about great rivers. A fine book to have around when studying geography.

I recommend.

About the book: a vibrant, fact-filled book for kids that blends geography, history, and culture.

Where in the Rhein does the Nibelung Treasure lie? What river helps mark the prime meridian? Why do people make pilgrimages to the Indian city of Benares? Why is the Mekong called the "Nine Dragon" river in Vietnam? How does the Mississippi divide and unite the United States? These and hundreds of other facts are explored in this wonderfully illustrated atlas of the world's great rivers. Each spread in this book offers a colorful map packed with drawings, figures, and facts. Cities that border the rivers are highlighted, as are distinct flora and fauna, significant natural and human-made features, and fascinating historical details. A "biography" of each river describes where it flows, and its importance to the communities it passes through. Special attention is given to the ecological health of the rivers--those that are thriving and those in danger of losing their valuable habitats. Along the way, young readers will come to understand the enormous impact that rivers have on our lives, while learning valuable information in a way that will spark their curiosity and imagination.

Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder by Mario Cuesta Hernando & illustrated by Raquel Martín (ISBN: 978-3791374567; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 5-8; 48 pages).

My thoughts: This book is designated for ages 5 to 8 but I think at least upwards to age 12 is quite appropriate. This is a wonderful amount of information about this little known and understood continent, Antarctica.

I found the information about the whales and other sea life so clearly put forth as well as the impact the huge population of sea life in the region eats so much krill.

The sponges at the bottom of the sea in this are area thousands of years old. The cold is so cold and so unhabitable. The "summer" is so short and still so very cold. The ownership of this continent is mankind since many nations have agreed to keep it "unowned" and pristine. The research is ongoing and shared.

Quite an interesting book and such a grand amount of clearly stated information.

I highly recommend.

About the book: Come aboard the Polar Star and accompany its crew on their half-year stay in Antarctica. Through full-page illustrations, children will experience the work and life of these explorers and scientists as they study penguins, whales, and seals, measure the depth of the ice, chart wind speeds of up to 186 mph (300km/h), examine old volcanoes, and withstand some of the lowest temperatures ever recorded. Kids will also learn about Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, the legendary explorers who first set foot on Antarctica. Equal parts thrilling adventure and in-depth exploration, this book is an unforgettable illustrated expedition to Antarctica that is sure to satisfy the boldest bedtime traveler.

GIVEAWAY

Begins March 3

Ends March 28 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or MMPublicity (publisist). Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Paper World: Planet Earth by Bomboland from Canlewick Press imprint Big Picture Press [Giveaway USA/CANADA]

ISBN13: 9781536208542
Hardcover $24.99

My thoughts:  Every now and then you find yourself holding a book that captures your interest in every imaginable facet. It is well crafted, sturdy, beautifully illustrated and colored, represents the text of the book in a unique and really attention-getting manner. Then you say to yourself, "Wow! This is So Nice!"

That's how I feel about Paper World: Planet Earth. What the publisher and illustrator have done with paper-craft is uniquely educational. You feel the Earth's terrain or levels of the sea. You see and feel the depth of each layer of the Earth and what each layer is made of.

You learn. Oh yes! You learn in bite-sized pieces tucked away under flaps you lift that are clouds, Earth shelves, or Magma Chambers venting through a volcano. Each lift of a flap is educational and fun.

But what is so impressive as well is the way you can drag your finger tips across the pages and feel the art. Paper World has truly crafted a fun and educational piece that won't soon be forgotten.

I highly recommend.

About the book: This guide to our planet shows paper being engineered like never before.

Paper World: Planet Earth uses ingenious paper cutouts to reveal the amazing details of our planet, from bubbling volcanoes to rushing rivers to the boiling hot interior of the Earth. With detailed art by studio Bomboland, a fact-filled text, and flaps and die-cuts on every spread, this one-of-a-kind novelty book will appeal to readers of all ages.

GIVEAWAY

2 Winners - Each a Copy

Begins November 9

Ends November 30 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA & CANADA

NO P.O. Boxes (Phone # Required for Canada Winners)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' copy is provided and shipped directly to the winner by the publisher or publicist.

National Geographic Kids United States Atlas, 5th Edition [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 9781426328312
$12.99 - Softcover
Ages 8 - 12

National Geographic Kids United States Atlas is debuting this year for tweens and will help students tackle the bigger workloads and more advanced thinking they are sure to encounter when they walk into the classroom this Fall....

My thoughts:  The study of maps and related geographic information has fascinated me. I have found that a well-conceived atlas provides a mass of information in pictorial and bite sized information format that is readily assimilated by all ages. For that reason, I find that having a quality atlas in the home, classroom, and school library of paramount importance.

The expected accuracy and quality of the National Geographic Kids United States Atlas, 5th Edition ranks top of the list of books to pursue for the age 8 to 12 child. Other ages will benefit from this publication as well.

Grouped regionally, each state has its own two pages showing a map with small images indicating products of the economy and where these are produced. Natural resources and conditions are shown as well as information specific to that state (location of Indian reservations, national forests, etc.).

The map showing natural hazards - blizzards, drought, floods, hurricanes, ice storm, tornado, wildfire, earthquakes, tsunami - was quite interesting to me as were other facts and images showing the variety that is The United States of America.

Truly a book to add to a child's educational collection and reference collections of children's libraries.

About the book: National Geographic Kids United States Atlas, 5th Edition (ages 8-12, $12.99) - This is THE gold standard of atlases and a must-have reference for home or school.  Featuring more than 75 maps, over 350 color images, lively photo essays, and an easy-to-use place-name index, National Geographic’s world-renowned cartographers have paired up with education experts to create an unparalleled resource of information about the United States.  Kids will discover the latest data and trends regarding land and water, people and places and eight socially themed maps on nature, population, energy and fire delve deeper into key issues.

GIVEAWAY

Begins August 15

Ends September 5 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.

Rise of the Lioness: Restoring a Habitat and its Pride on the Liuwa Plains by Bradley Hague [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN13: 9781426325328

About the book: Poaching and war damaged an isolated wilderness in West Zambia, reducing its lion population to just one: Lady, the last lioness. Witness Lady's fight for survival in this evocative narrative on the decline, fall, and rebirth of the Liuwa Plains. Follow Lady as she grapples with a landscape altered by human hands and discover how both Lady and humankind restore balance to the environment.

More than a story about one brave lion, The Lioness offers a great introduction to life science by looking at the workings of an ecosystem, the methods of scientists and environmentalists, and explaining the interconnection between the plant, animal, and human systems.

My thoughts: National Geographic has always been on the cutting edge of presenting quality, beautifully professional articles brimming with easily readable information about the world in which we live. A thriving, beautiful, rich and glorious world and yet a world endangered by a variety of threats to that which makes it so wonderful. In Rise of the Lioness National Geographic focuses on the loss of the thriving ecosystem of the Liuwa Plains in the southern part of Africa and how the Lion population had been reduced to one lioness.

I found it interesting that as early as the 1800s the African ruler of the area had protective rules in place to preserve the land and the animals. I also found it interesting that the blame for the decline of this area was not relegated solely to wealthy safari hunters. Grass burning, grazing farm animals competing with wild herds, war, and hunting all played a part in wrecking the land and toppling the ecological balance. So that leads us to the star of the book...... "Lady" the sole surviving lioness.

The reintroduction of lions (top of the chain of ecological balance) into the area began the restoration process and today the system is recovering nicely. This took a great amount of effort, cooperation, and diligence to make it work.

The text of Rise of the Lioness is very well written and easily understandable by school age children yet also contains information that makes for fascinating reading for adults as well. At the back of the book there are several pages with bits of information that really add to the research and educational value of the book: "Animals of the Liuwa Plaisn," a Glossary, and an Index.

I highly recommend this book for school and public libraries, home schools, and classroom shelves. A truely valuable teaching tool.

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 7

Ends November 28 @ 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own alone and I was not compensated.

Introduction to Cultures: If You Were Me and Lived In Italy [Review & Giveaway 1 Grand prize = set of books, + 5 will win a copy of ITALY]

The last half of the school year is well underway and students may be studying various peoples, lands, continents, and cultures. It always helps for them to have previously been introduced to it even at a pretty young age. Carole P. Roman is a former teacher and knows how to introduce cultures to students. Let your imagination travel to far away lands and see just what it might be like if you lived in......

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ITALY

Ms. Roman's book on ITALY is by far my most favorite of her culture books. She captures the essence of Italy in the illustrations consisting of photographic images as well as the usual drawings.

Did you know that Italy is in the shape of a boot? It is surrounded on three sides by water and is the home of one of history's largest conquering country - Rome.

Learn of popular names for boys and girls as well as what you would call your parents.

Ms. Roman touches on the rich history of Italy and this is definitely an asset to the book. (Tucked away in the corners along with page numbers is a tiny picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.)

The Mediterranean area - especially Italy, is well know for its food. A brief look at what the grandmother might serve you to eat in Italy is good.

At the end of the book there is are several pages of words with definitions that are good to know about Italy.

To date, Carole P. Roman has written and printed about 15 of the If You Were Me and Lived in…… books. Chat With Vera has reviewed most of these. I invite you to read my reviews and see if these might be good books to add to the library of that special child of yours. They are especially nice to have on hand in the home school library or school classroom library.

GIVEAWAY

(1st) A complete set of the "If You Were Me...." books
(2nd) 5 winners will each win a copy of Italy
Begins February 18 & ENDS March 10  @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 

 Open to USA addresses only.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of  If You Were Me and Lived In Italy in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not compensated for this review. Giveaway prizes are provided by the author and sent directly to the winners.

If You Were Me and Lived In... China: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World by Carole P. Roman [Review & Giveaway]

As a former teacher and as one who loves to see children learn about this world of ours and the people and places therein,  Carole P. Roman, writes children’s social study books that introduce children other cultures. Today we are visiting China and seeing just a bit about this ancient country's people and culture. First, the location places it in East Asia and the fascinating fact that there are 138 billion people living there and that it is the most populated country in the world. 

There are fascinating things in China; one of which is the Forbidden City that has over 4,000 rooms and was built in the early 1400s. For many years China was a closed country so visitors could not see the many wonders  of this ancient country including the Great Wall of China which is estimated to be 5,500 miles long and built over a period of thousands of years to keep outsiders out.

Chinese food is different from other cultures, too, and it also varies based on locale in China. The Chinese New Year is a very special time for them. Some of the basics of Roman’s culture books include names for Mommy and Daddy, types of food enjoyed in that culture, and activities – sports, etc. – they have. 

China has its own language which is entirely different from English, German, French, etc. There is a pronunciation guide in the back of the book showing English spellings of the way the Chinese words would sound and a brief definition of that word or phrase.

To date, Carole P. Roman has written and printed the following If You Were Me and Lived in…… books: Mexico, France, South Korea, Norway, Turkey, Kenya, India, Australia, Scotland, Hungary, and China. Chat With Vera has reviewed most of these. I invite you to read my reviews and see if these might be good books to add to the library of that special child of yours. They are especially nice to have on hand in the homeschool library or school classroom library.

GIVEAWAY 

Begins September 8 & ENDS September 27 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. 

 Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: The author provided a complimentary copy of If You Were Me and Lived In China in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own and I was not compensated for this review. Prize copy is provided by the author and will be shipped directly to winner.