Young Giovanni Caboto of Genoa cared for nothing but boats, but he was sent off to Venice to live with his uncle, a wealthy spice merchant. There, together with his new friend Michiele, he studied at the monastery and was especially fascinated by geography and exploration. When he got into trouble he was thrilled with […]
read aloud
Review: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
Once again, and probably for the last time, I read Carry On, Mr. Bowditch aloud to my children. It’s one of my top 50 children’s books for many reasons, not the least of which is the brilliantly-written story. Little Nat Bowditch is part of a seafaring family that has hit upon hard times, but he […]
Review: A Cry From Egypt by Hope Auer
Terrified, Jarah fled through the darkening streets of Rameses. She had been late bringing her mother’s weaving to Pharaoh’s palace, and Hebrews were not allowed outside Goshen past curfew. Jarah was almost home when an arm shot out of the darkness and clutched her shoulder…. As a young girl in Egypt, Jarah knew what it […]
Review: Favorite Poems Old and New
I cannot remember where I first heard about Favorite Poems Old and New, but I do recall the excitement when I finally found it somewhere, second-hand and affordable. This sturdy volume of almost 600 pages is a treasure. Last night Miss 12 was wandering around aimlessly, so we grabbed the book and settled down on […]
Review: Wambu Trilogy by Piet Prins
As they hunt together deep in the jungles of New Guinea, Wambu learns jungle craft and the ancient stories of spirits and magic from his father. But Wambu has discovered the power of the white man’s magic from a former villager, Hassewiets. When he and his father find a little fugitive girl, Sirja who is a […]