Archive for the 'Book Review' Category

A Great Book Review for Manitowapow

Manitowapow changes how we look at First Nations history

according to a book review found in the spring issue of GrassRoots News. The review by Don Marks begins

It isn’t often that a book review makes the front page of a newspaper but the release of Manitowapow means much more than the addition of another title to bookstore shelves and internet sites. Manitowapow is making history because it offers a completely new way to learn about our past. But the major value of this book is that it also includes writing by people who have never claimed to be authors but who simply put down in writing their thoughts about news, issues and events that were taking place around them. Because they were actively involved in them.

If you would like to read the entire review, please click here.

If you would like to order a copy of Manitowapow, please click here.

High Praise for Manitowapow

Teacher Starleigh Grass includes a review of Manitowapow in her blog, Twinkles Happy Place. She writes,

The publishers recommend it for grades 11–post-secondary but, I could see a lot of uses for excerpts of it in earlier years. Highlights for me included Emma LaRocque’s poetry, particularly her poem on being Indigenous in academia and a piece of writing on the difference between being Aboriginal and being an Indian. As a classroom teacher teaching secondary humanities in British Columbia, I would keep this [book] on my shelf.

Starleigh continues with some great ideas how she would use Manitowapow in the classroom. Find these ideas at www.twinkleshappyplace.ca.

Sugar Falls Recommended for your Classroom

Ideas for Presenting Difficult Content

Starleigh Grass writes in her blog, Twinkle’s Happy Place, that Sugar Falls

…does an excellent job of handing difficult material. It’s important for youth to understand the struggles that Aboriginal people have faced in order to survive and to read survival stories. This is based on a true story and the main character, Betsy, is definitely a role model. I would include this book in my classroom at the secondary level. Whether or not you choose to include this material depends on your own ability to navigate the policies in your district regarding difficult material in the classroom and your own comfort level…

Starleigh generously presents questions that can act as a springboards to discussion for your classroom. You can find these questions in her blog by clicking on www.twinkleshappyplace.blogspot.com.

7 Generations Connects Past and Present

7 Generations series is an ambitious and fearless undertaking

according to Girl to the Rescue, a literary blog that reviews mostly young adult literature, children’s books, graphic novels, and fantasy.  In this blog, the writer points out that

the splicing of the past with the present is the most effective part of the series, where Edwin must experience a passed history by reliving it through story. For the reader, this is made clear because of the format of the graphic novel. The reader sees the seamless weaving together of past and present, which is made most explicit by frame-by-frame representations that highlight the synchronicity between the two.

To continue reading this post, please click here.

To order the 7 Generations titles, visit www.pandmpress.com.

A Rich Source of Practical Ideas

A Book Review for The Art of Inquiry: Questioning Strategies for K–6 Classrooms

New!

review by Mary Moroska

The latest edition of the Canadian Teacher Magazine features a book review by Mary Moroska. In her review of the The Art of Inquiry, Mary points out the authors,

Nancy Lee Cecil and Jeanne Pfeifer, show us how to develop both our own questioning skills and those of our students. They explain how to model open-ended questions, and suggest many strategies for teacher and student directed questioning that will enable constructing real meaning from experiences lived.

To read the entire book review, click here.

To order a copy of this book, visit www.pandmpress.com.

A Valuable Edition to Your Collection of Resources

Readers Theatre: A Secondary Approach Book Review

978-1-55379-249-9

review by Amanda Parker

Amanda writes that Readers Theatre: A Secondary Approach is

an excellent resource that is quick to read and easy to implement in middle or high school classrooms. This resource assists teachers in facilitating learning, as students will guide themselves and each other through improving reading aloud.

The entire review can be found in the Sept/Oct 2011 edition of the Canadian Teacher Magazine. To read the entire book review, click here.

To order a copy of this book, visit www.pandmpress.com.

7 Generations Teaches Aboriginal History

Shedding Light on Aboriginal Issues

Brittany Leborgne writes in the journal,  The Eastern Door, that the

The Pact

7 Generations graphic novel series by Cree writer David Alexander Robertson has come to an end, but their effectiveness in educating Canadians and First Nations on their history is something he hopes never will. The series, which includes four books, Stone, Scars, Ends/Begins, and The Pact, follow a family dealing with lasting effects of the residential school system. “I want there to be a greater understanding and appreciation of our history and where it’s brought us,” David explained, referring to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

Continue reading the article by clicking on 7Gen_Review_Eastern_Door

Purchase 7 Generations for your classroom by clicking on www.pandmpress.com

Stone Recommended

Book Review for Stone on Paper Tigers Blog

Book 1

Paper Tigers is a website, blog, and outreach program centered on multicultural young readers’ books and reading as ways of fostering empathy, understanding, and peace. In a recent blog post focusing on First Nations books, Stone, book 1 of 4 in the 7 Generations series, is featured. To read this post please click here

For more information about the 7 Generation series click here

To place an order please visit www.pandmpress.com

A Review for Books, Media & the Internet

An Excellent Resource for K–12 Teachers

978-1-55379-203-1

In the March/April issue of the Canadian Teacher Magazine you will find a book review for Books, Media & the Internet: Children’s Literature for Today’s Classrooms. The reviewer writes

this [book] is a must-have resource for any professional library in the 21st century.

To read the entire review click here

To purchase your copy of this book visit www.pandmpress.com

A Review for Teaching Art

Find a Book Review for Teaching Art in the Canadian Teacher Magazine

by Rhian Brynjolson

In the November issue of the Canadian Teacher Magazine you will find a book review for Teaching Art: A Complete Guide for the Classroom. The reviewer writes

this excellent resource will help you plan a year’s worth of quality art education that will nurture your students’ abilities and creativity, whether or not art is your specialty.

Click here to read the review.

If you would like to order this book, visit www.pandmpress.com