How To Draw Cool Stuff Pencill Palette, The Masters Edition

What a fantastic book! I absolutely loved it! 'How to Draw Cool Stuff ~ Pencil Palette, The Masters Edition' is the perfect step-by-step guide to help children learn about and practice drawing from some of the greatest artists. The artists featured in this book include Vincent Van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer, Georgia O'Keefe, Katsushika Hokusia, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Cecilia Beaux, and Gwendolen Mary John. 

Two pages are dedicated to each piece of artwork. On the first page, the title of the piece of art is accompanied by the name of the artist. It specifies when the artist created the artwork. An artist's biography follows. It then gives an interesting fact about the artist. After that, it describes something that makes the artist famous. At the end, it asks you a question about the art. This page also includes a picture of the artwork. Children are given step-by-step instructions on how to recreate the artist's work next to the artwork. The second page will contain a reproduction of the artist's work, in some form. The page will never be blank. It always gives outlines, partially completed works, dots-to-dots, and color-by-number outlines. 

The painting 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer from 1665 is an example. During his lifetime, he painted around 36 paintings. Vermeer is known for purity of light and form.

Match colors with the color palette provided with paint, crayons, or colored pencils. Where there are softer edges, such as the cheek, blend the colors softly together so there are no hard lines. The white of the paper can represent her pearl and collar, and the white of her eyes. There is a color-by-number component to the artwork. This gives children the ability to recreate 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' without drawing it. 

Another example is Edgar Degas' 'Dancers Practicing at the Barre', circa 1877. Degas was a French Impressionist. 

As the children study Degas' figures, they are instructed to notice how he uses perspective to create the basis for the figures. On the recreation picture, the dancers are colored and the background has a very faint coloring. Children are asked to draw the barre, the floor board, and the floor. It highlights gaps in lines and vanishing points. After that, children are to finish the painting using yellows and browns. A fascinating fact about this painting that I was unaware of. On the floor, bottom left, there is a watering can. When the ballerinas danced, they sprinkled water on the floor to keep dust down. 

It is most definitely not just a book for children. Anyone who enjoys learning about artists and recreating art will enjoy this book. This would be equally enjoyable for adults. The book is targeted at children ages 8-12. I would recommend this book for middle school and above.   

Disclaimer - I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 
As an Amazon affiliate I may earn commission if you click the link. 

Pencil Palette, The Great French Artists Edition

What a fantastic book! 'Pencil Palette ~ How to Draw: 12 Cute Drawings From The Great French Artists' is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide to help children learn about and practice drawing artwork created by famous artists. The artists featured in this book include Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Henri De-Toulouse Lautrec, Paul Cezanne, and Henri Rousseau. 

Supplies needed:

• Pencil, colored pencils, wax crayons, watercolor crayons

• Eraser

• Curiosity

• Water to dip watercolor crayons into

Use your watercolor crayon to create a watercolor effect by dipping it into the water. Blot the excess water with a tissue, and color the image as usual. 

Two pages are dedicated to each artwork. On the first page, the title of the piece of art is accompanied by the artist's name.It specifies when the artist created the artwork. Several of the paintings contain artist biographical information or fascinating facts about the artist. This page also includes a picture of the artwork. Children are given step-by-step instructions on how to recreate the artist's work next to the artwork. The second page will contain a reproduction of the artist's work in some form. The page will never be blank. It always gives outlines, partially completed works, dots-to-dots, and color-by-number outlines. 

Claude Monet's painting 'The House of Parliament, Sunset' from 1904, depicting the Houses of Parliament in London, was said to be a regular theme in his work.

There is a color wheel showing the range of colors Monet used in his paintings. In addition to the reflections in the water, students are encouraged to blend the cooler colors of the building with the warmer colors of the sky. For this work of art students are to complete a dot-to-dot pattern that will give them a framework for the building in the painting. Instructions are then given step-by-step on how to apply color and brushstrokes. 

'Mr. Loulou' (Louis Le Ray) (1890) by Paul Gauguin. His full name, Eugene Henri Paul Gaugin was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer. 

In this painting, Gauguin uses both primary and secondary colors, such as blue, yellow, red, orange, green, and purple, in distinct areas. In order to separate colors, thick black lines are used. A pencil outline of the painting appears on the student canvas page. In the instructions, students are instructed to begin with the background colors and move toward the focal point - Mr. Loulou and the chair.

It is most definitely not just a book for children. Anyone who enjoys learning about artists and recreating art will appreciate this book. This would be equally enjoyable for adults. The book is targeted at children ages 8-12. I recommend this book for middle school and above.   

Disclaimer - I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 
As an Amazon affiliate I may earn commission if you click the link. 

Romi Rami ~ A Timberdoodle Review

Romi Rami is similar to Rummy, but with a twist. So let's take a look at what's included in the game. Cards are divided into two decks, number cards and contract cards. There are four suits and the numbers 1-5 in the number deck. Then there are joker tiles and objective crowns. A detailed set of instructions is also included with the game. Romi Rami is part of Timberdoodle's 2024 Eleventh-Grade Curriculum Kit. 

Play begins with tossing the trophy tiles and using whichever side they land on. Creating the number market requires six cards. The contract row consists of four cards.
Three cards and one joker tile are dealt to each player at the beginning.

At any given time, you cannot have more than ten cards in your hand. The player whose hand consists of fewer than three cards will draw cards until a total of six cards is reached.

Whenever you pick up cards from the market, you must choose cards that share a common element, such as a suit or a number, or you can take a single card.

Following a market turn, you have the option of fulfilling a contract. It's okay if you can't. When you finish your turn, always add cards to the market so that there are six available cards.

When fulfilling a contract, keep only the cards that will score you points based on the suit displayed on the contract card. The rest of the cards in that contract can be discarded.

When a certain number of contracts are fulfilled, the game ends. In a two-person game, you keep playing until one player has seven contracts. If there were four players, you would end the game after five contracts.

A point is added to your score at the end of the game if you don't use your joker during the game.

Time to play!

Game is set up and ready to play. This was a two person game.

This is multiple turns into the game. My daughter is fulfilling her second contract.

My daughter scored eight total points for this contract. All of her cards were hearts!

I am about to place down my 5th contract for the WIN! 

The game Romi Rami is excellent in terms of quality. It comes in a compact box. Each deck of cards is kept separate in the box by a double fold down jacket. Learning the game is relatively simple, and playing it is very enjoyable. A simple yet aesthetically pleasing design makes the cards look classy. Game objectives are straightforward. I find the game somewhat similar to Phase 10, in that you must collect certain runs, pairs, suits, etc. If you play card games, there's an exciting thrill when you find just the right cards to form a run, suit, etc. In spite of the fact that the games are clearly different, there are a lot of similarities between Romi Rami and Rummy. My childhood memories of playing Rummy with friends and family came flooding back when I played the game. Our family has had fun playing this game. Romi Rami will definitely be added to our game rotation. Romi Rami is sure to be a hit with those who enjoy games.

Literary Study Bible

The ESV Literary Study Bible by Crossway Books is both a reader's and a literary Bible. Beyond being a reader's Bible it is also a study Bible. In addition to being the inerrant Word of God, the Bible is also a work of literature. We do not diminish the authority and divine inspiration of the Bible by viewing it as a book of literature. When you examine the sixty-six books contained in the Bible, each book conveys its message in a different way. There is a vast difference between the poetry in the Song of Solomon and that found in the Psalms. ESV Literary Study Bible is designed to help readers better understand the message(s) that individual authors intended in their writings.

How is the Bible defined as literature?

In literature, a writing's genre is the mode in which its content is expressed. Narrative and poetry are the two main genres found in the Bible. There are more than one hundred literary genres in the Bible. Prophecy, visionary, apocalyptic, pastoral, oratory, drama, epistles, monologues, and hymns are some of the other genres in the Bible.

There is a wide range of literary subject matter, from abstract propositional discourse to concrete presentations of human experience.

The Bible is considered to be the most complete repository of archetypes in the Western world, as it contains plot motifs, character types, and images that repeat throughout literature and life.

There are many stylistics and rhetorical devices that can be used in a piece of writing. These include: imagery, metaphor, simile, symbol, allusion, irony, wordplay, hyperbole, apostrophe, personification, paradox, and pun. Many of these images and figures of speech are found in the poetic and prophetic books of the Bible, as well as in Jesus' discourses in the Gospels.

Literature is an art form. 

Fallacies About Literary Approaches to the Bible

1. Viewing the Bible as Literature Betrays Liberal Theological Bias

2. The Idea of the Bible as Literature is a Modern Idea Foreign to the Bible Itself

3. To Speak of the Bible as Literature is to Claim that the Bible is Fictional

4. To Approach the Bible as Literature Means Approaching it only as Literature

5. To Say that the Bible is Literature denies its Divine Inspiration

Twelve Literary Feature of the Bible

1. A Unifying Storyline

2. The Presence of a Central Character

3. Religious Orientation

4. Variety of Genres and Styles

5. Preference of the Concrete over the Abstract

6. Realism

7. Simplicity

8. Preference for the Brief Unit

9. Elemental Quality

10. Oral Style

11. Aphoristic Quality

12. The Literature of Confrontation 

There is a thorough introduction to each book of the Bible. Introductions vary in their content. In the book of Isaiah, you will find this information.

• The Book at a Glance

• Prophecy as the Dominant Genre

• Other Genre

• Format

• Tips for Reading and Interpreting Isaiah

• Inferred Literary Intentions

• Theological Themes

• Isaiah as a Chapter in the Master Story of the Bible
  

These elements are present in the introduction to the Book of Matthew.

• The Book at a Glance

• Genres

• Format

• The Storyline

• How to Visualize the Book

• Phetorical and Stylistic Features

• Inferred Literary Intentions

• Theological Themes

• Matthew as a Chapter in the Master Story of the Bible 

Before Esther chapter 5, we are presented with this literary explanation entitled Esther Intervenes for Her Nation.

"The book of Esther is written in an embellished style, with scenes and speeches presented in full detail. In this chapter, this technique yields the famous picture of Esther appearing unsummoned before the king, who extends his scepter toward the queen. Esther invites the king to two banquets, perhaps weakening at the first one when the king asks what she wants (v.8) and in any case increasing the suspense of the story. The storyteller does not tell us why Esther also invites Haman, but it may have been part of a strategy to force the king into making a decision on the spot when at the second banquet Esther makes her accusation. But we are a long way from that moment when Haman returns from the first banquet "joyful and glad of heart" (v.9) and bragging to his wife and friends (vv. 10-13). The construction of the gallows that Haman intends for Mordecai shows him to be the archetypal overreacher –– the person whose personal ambition is too excessive to succeed." 

My personal opinion is that the ESV Literary Study Bible offers an interesting and unique way to study the Bible. It makes sense to explore the Bible as a work of literature after reading the lengthy Introduction at the beginning of the Bible. While maintaining the traditional chapter and verse format, typical study notes are not included in the Bible. Scripture passages flow naturally like great works of literature, without distraction. However, literary notes within the text provide a guide to individual books and passages. To avoid blending with the scripture text, the print size and style differ. The literary aids are placed at appropriate points within the text. My daily Bible reading will be enriched with the ESV Literary Study Bible.

Disclaimer - I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Cabinet of Curiosities

The 'Cabinet of Curiosities' is a collection of history's most fascinating stories. Aaron Mahnke with Harry Marks wrote this 336-page book. In each of the following topics, there are approximately a dozen stories of unbelievable, unsettling, and downright bizarre events. You will read and say just one more story and before you know it, another half hour has passed. There are a few stories you may have heard before, but there are many you probably haven't. You're going to be entertained and impressed so sit back, grab the book, and enjoy some coffee or tea.

It would be great to summarize a few stories from each of the sections, but that would result in a very long review. Below, I am going to summarize a few stories from a few of the sections. In this way, I hope you can get a sense of what to expect within its pages.

Table of Contents:

• American History

Pony Up (summarized by me)

"Pony Bob" was the nickname given to Robert Haslam because he made the fastest deliveries in Pony Express history. In the Pyramid Lake Indian War, Pony Bob covered 190 miles without rest on horseback in just under nine hours. The round trip was 380 miles and was completed in under two days. The most important ride he took was in April 1861. A special delivery of Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address was made from Fort Kearny in Nebraska Territory to Placerville, California. On the 120-mile trip, he was twice shot by bow and arrow in Indian territory. What made this trip so important. California might have sided with the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War if Pony Bob hadn't made it in time.

• Coincidences

• Creatures

• Death Defying

• Events

• Literature

The Plot (summarized by me)

Mary disappeared. She left a note about a last-minute trip, but then basically disappeared. According to everyone, her husband murdered her because he had a mistress and intended to divorce her. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. When Mary was found 230 miles away, she claimed to have no memory of what had happened. She was believed by some and disbelieved by others. The twist. In the absence of her, popular literature would not exist as it does today. She will always be known as the queen of mystery novels, Agatha Mary Christie.

• Inventions

• Mysteries

• Origin Stories

• People

• Places

• More Than Human

The Little Giant (summarized by me)

At the turn of the century, Adam Rainer of Austria was quite small. His 4' 6" height prevented him from enlisting in the German army during World War I. Despite this, his hands and feet grew at an abnormal rate. By 21, Adam had grown 3' taller. It was determined that he had acromegaly. His growth continued. He was 7' 8" tall when he died at the age of 51. As the only man in history to have lived both as a dwarf and as a giant, Adam was unique.

• True Crime

• War

The book is certainly quite interesting. In general, each story is between three and five pages long. In general, I enjoyed reading the book. This is a book I recommend.

The World Is Awaiting You

 

The World Is Awaiting You by Marianne Richmond is a beautiful and uplighting tribute to you. A child will realize how special he or she is from the words and illustrations on the pages. The book begins, "Happy day! You're here at last. The start of something new."

The world is awaiting your face, eyes, nose, and chin.

The world is awaiting your mind, your thoughts, your hands, your feet, your voice, and the story that's yours to plot and pen.

The world is awaiting your courage, your stop and rest, your heart, your spirit, and your love.

Make your mark, believe in your spark, because the world is awaiting you!

This is an example of how an "about you" reads. "The world is awaiting your courage to fuel your how and when. If things get hard as things will do, and trouble shows its face, the world is awaiting your stop and rest to give yourself some space."

The words in this book are absolutely beautiful and I love them all. A book like this should be read and heard by every child.

Disclaimer - I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 
As an Amazon affiliate I may earn commission if you click the link. 

The Herbal Doula

The Herbal Doula by Marie White explores herbal medicine benefits for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and children's health. It is designed to be a reference manual for those interested in combining herbal medicine with reproductive wellness. Each chapter is organized according to a specific stage in the reproductive process, and herbs are tailored to that stage.

This book contains the following chapters:

Foundations of Doula Herbalism

Herbal Basics

Fertility and Conception

Miscarriage and Abortion

Pregnancy and Birth

Postpartum (Fourth Trimester)

Breastfeeding

Baby and Child Care

Herbal Medicine for Doulas and Birthworkers

Doula Herbalism Materia Medica

Doula Herbalism Recipes

There was a lot of valuable information in The Herbal Doula. The things mentioned in this book would have helped me years ago if I had known them then as I have six children of my own.

It's really nice that the author extends the discussion beyond just postpartum to include advice for babies and children.

The recipes are such a helpful addition to the extensive lists of herbs throughout the book. The recipes found in this chapter are:

• Herbal Bliss Balls

• Lactation Cookies

• Calendula Oil

• Herbal Salve

• Fennel Glyecerite

• Elderberry Syrup

Herb lists throughout each chapter demonstrate the author's dedication to research. Herbs are discussed according to their origin, personal experience, and how they benefit specific stages.

I have multiple issues with the book as a whole. It is extremely disappointing that something so beautiful as pregnancy and childbirth is marred by those who cannot accept that God gifted women and only women the ability to conceive, carry, and give birth to babies. She discusses chestfeeding. Chestfeeding cannot be done, only breastfeeding can.

The author states, "The Herbal Doula is meant as a guide and helpful reference for all people, but it is not specifically or uniquely focused on the queer, trans, or gender nonbinary experience. Some pregnant and birthing people are indeed women, and many doulas identify as women too."

Due to the fact that only women are capable of carrying and nurturing babies through birth, I take issue with the above quote.

Due to my anti-abortion stance, I found the abortion section disturbing.

"With abortion, it is assumed that the pregnancy ending is the goal, and ffor that reason, abortions can be a positive experience for some people and in some circumstances. A completed abortion can leave people joyful and content. After all, abortion is a normal health care procedure that supports people to be healthy and well."

Abortion doula Hannah Matthews says, "Abortion can be a powerful act of love –– for one's self and one's own future, for one's existing children and family."

Some of these positions were hard to ignore. I felt compelled to discuss my negative takeaways from the book since I cannot support its views due to my personal morals and values. I realize that not everyone will agree with me on this, but I wanted my readers to know that I do not support or agree with everything said.

Disclaimer - I received this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. 
As an Amazon affiliate I may earn commission if you click the link. 

5 Little Birds ~ A Timberdoodle Review

A puzzle game, 5 Little Birds teaches children about deduction. The game is designed for one player. Taking turns would be an easy way to allow more than one child to play. This game is intended for children ages 5 to adults. As a progressive game, 5 Little Birds allows children as young as 5 to work on the starter puzzles. Older children through adults can work on the more challenging ones. The game has five levels: Starter, Junior, Expert, Master, and Wizard. There is an increasing complexity to the challenges as the levels progress. A wooden tree, one plastic tree base, five plastic birds, and a challenge booklet with 60 challenges are included in the game. This game is part of Timberdoodle's 2024 Kindergarten Curriculum Kit. 

The tree is made of quality hardwood, making it very durable for young children. For little hands, the spiral bound booklet is just the right size. Neither the tree nor the other plastic pieces have an odor. A thick, sturdy plastic base supports the tree simply by inserting the tree into the base. Little hands can easily grasp and clip the plastic birds. This clip is designed so that if your child accidentally gets their finger pinched by it, they will not be hurt.

How to Play

From the five levels, pick your challenge. Challenges hint at each bird's final position in the tree. Place the birds according to the hints provided on the challenge page. Each challenge has only one correct solution. In the book's back, you'll find the answers to all the challenges.

A page of hints is included in the challenge book to help with bird positioning. With seven holes in the tree and five birds, there will always be two holes that are empty. There are some hints that specify what color bird should be placed in a specific hole. Some birds will only appear gray as the challenges level up, so you will have to decide based on other hints what color the bird will be. In this case, the correct orientation will be provided. As you progress, the hints will be separated, leaving you to guess the position within the tree. Dotted lines will connect each of these hints. The hints will consist of a mix of birds from both sides. These are just a few of the hints.

Occasionally, it can be tempting to check the solution at the end of the book. Patience and critical thinking eventually lead to solutions through trial and error.

Despite the fact that this looks like a child's game, the higher challenges can be quite challenging that you're left stumped at times. You'll definitely have fun solving the higher levels if you're an adult. Smart Games has yet again created a game that will grow with your child over time.

Our whole family found 5 Little Birds a fun and entertaining game.