Tag Archives: PSBW Nigeria

Hello Universe

AGES 8 - 12, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Title: Hello Universe 

Author: Erin Entrada Kelly

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Number of pages: 320

Type of Book: Fiction, adventure, drama, contemporary

Genre: Middle Grade

Age: 8 – 12

Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Hello-Universe-Erin-Entrada-Kelly/dp/0062414151

Price: $10.49

MY SUMMARY

This heartwarming tale follows the lives of 4 very different kids with distinct loveable traits, Virgil (the shy one), Valencia (the courageous, deaf one), Kaori (the self-acclaimed psychic) and Chet (the bully). Virgil, the protagonist, is a shy, often bullied, middle grader with one fervent wish, to find the courage to talk to the girl of his dreams, Valencia. To achieve this goal, he enlists the help of another middle grader, Kaori. When Virgil sets off for his meeting with Kaori, he comes across Chet, his nemesis, and as a result, finds himself trapped in an abandoned well, deep in the woods. Faced with the horrible fate on never getting out of the well, he must reach inside himself to find the strength to overcome his fears …

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: As you may have already guessed, I am not a fan of contemporary fiction but this was a delight to read. It has little bits of adventure, humour, tragedy, light romance, great pacing and suspense! I decided to read it because sometime last month, everyone in the #kidslit community was talking about it. I love it because it didn’t disappoint at all. In fact, it surpassed expectations. It was so good that I totally forgot to read as a writer until I was half way through.

I loved the use of multiple perspectives! First, the story was told from the point of view of four different characters, then 3 out of those characters had their stories told in third person while one, Valencia’s, was told in first person using the present tense. It was executed to perfection and each character’s voice was distinctive.

I absolutely loved learning about Filipino culture and folktales. I also really enjoyed the fact that the characters were strikingly diverse; there’s a Japanese-American, a Filipino-American and one with a hearing defect. In Hello Universe, Erin Entrada Kelly celebrates friendship and overcoming one’s fears. Having Virgil, Valencia and Kaori find themselves in the end was nothing short of beautiful. I love happy endings! The last line was absolutely heartwarming. I almost cried! I highly recommend this one.

Note that this book won a NEWBERY!

DOWN: It had a sagging beginning problem! The first few chapters were quite slow! It also did lean heavily towards fate and the powers of the universe and Ouija boards and the like. Not my cup of tea.  

RATING

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Read an excerpt here: https://preview.aer.io/Hello_Universe-MjQwMDQ=?social=0&retail=0&emailcap=0

CHALLENGE: Hello Universe 

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Read the excerpt using the link above, then write your own ending. (500 words)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com.

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8 – 12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 13th 2021.

Next Book of the Week:

THE SECRET OF THE PURPLE LAKE by Yaba Badoe

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photo credit: Amazon

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

AGES 0 - 4, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

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Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Author: Eric Carle

Publisher: Philomel Books

Number of pages: 24

Type of Book: Fiction; Educational

Age: 0 – 4

Available here:http://readingcorner.ng/ProductDetails.asp?SubCatagoryID=621&ProductID=2094; Instagram: @tams_ink; http://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399226907; borrow it here: http://zodml.org/eachbook.php?id=694

Price: N2,200; N3,500; $5.52; Free

MY SUMMARY

A little bit of science for toddlers. This book tells the story of a caterpillar’s journey to becoming a butterfly. But first the caterpillar eats through amazing fruits, veggies (and the book) until it becomes quite sick! Read this little package to your toddler to teach him about butterflies, fruits, days of the week, etc., in the most fun way possible!

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: I LOOOOOVVVEEEEE this book!!!!! Using brilliant illustrations, this book shows toddlers how to count (from 1 to 5), some fruits (apples, pears, etc.), some food (cheese, cakes, sausages, etc.), some colors, days of the week (Monday to Sunday), and a little bit of science (the very hungry caterpillar becomes a beautiful butterfly at the end of the book!). The icing on the cake? The caterpillar eats through the pages of the book as it eats through the fruits in the book. I recommend this book for all kids aged 0 to 4!

DOWN: None!!!

RATING

5 Stars.

TRIVIA

  1. This book is sold somewhere in the world every thirty seconds![1]

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

    1. Team the reading experience with a visit to eric-carle.com
    2. Watch a video here: 

CHALLENGE: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Draw and colour 4 (four) fruits found in Nigeria. (4 year olds)

OR

  1. Identify and colour the caterpillar (2-3 year olds)

http://www.eric-carle.com/ColoringSheet.jpg

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 2 – 4 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Tuesday, March 17th 2018.

Next Book of the Week:

BUT NOT THE HIPPOPOTAMUS by Sandra Boynton

 

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399226907

 

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photo credit: amazon.com

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

AGES 0 - 4, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FEBRUARY IS ‘COLOUR’ MONTH

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Title: Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jnr, Eric Carle
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co
Number of pages: 26
Type of Book: Fiction; Educational
Age: 0 – 4
Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Bear-What-You-See/dp/0805047905 Borrow it here: https://thebookwormcafe.libib.com
Price:$6.19
MY SUMMARY
A teacher uses a peculiar method to teach his class about animals and colors. He makes the animals and kids believe that they are being watched!

‘Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?
I see a red bird looking at me

Red bird, red bird, what do you see?
I see a yellow duck looking at me’

The kids are introduced to 9 (nine) different colors like red, yellow, blue, purple, green etc. as well as 9 (nine) different animals like the gold fish, horse, frog, bear and bird, etc.
THUMBS UP AND DOWN
UP: There were many highlights. First off, the pages were filled with bright and colorful pictures of animals. Then, the book featured lots of colours and colours are our theme for our 0 – 4 age group for the month of February! Then, its edutainment quality. It introduces kids to different animals and teaches them to identify sight words as well as similar words! Kids will be able to ‘read along’, after a few reads. Finally, the icing on the cake: the use of rhyme and repetition.
I recommend for all 0 – 4 year-olds. It’s a sturdy book too so it will survive those destructive little fingers.

NB: this book was first published in 1967, 50 years ago!!
DOWN: None
RATING
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK
1 Sing, instead of reading. Better still, make it a call and response song. So sing
‘Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do you see?’
And let your toddler respond with
‘I see a red bird looking at me’
2 Try the exercises below
3 Try making animal sounds
CHALLENGE: Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?
CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)
1 Draw and colour 4 animals. (2 – 4 year olds)
OR
2 Colour the animals in the sheet below

image

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com
Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 2 – 4 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book. Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Tuesday February 21st 2017.
Next Book of the Week:
THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT by Eric Carle

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photo credit: amazon.com

Tales From the Arabian Nights

AGES 8 - 12, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

imageTitle: Tales from The Arabian Nights
Author: Andrew Lang
Publisher: Award Publications
Number of pages: 304
Type of Book: Fiction; Classic
Age: 8+
Available here: https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Arabian-Nights-Essential-Classics/dp/184135838X
Price: $13.57
MY SUMMARY
Set in ancient Arabian lands between Persia and China, this book tells the story of Scheherazade, the wife of the rich and powerful Sultan Schahriar. The Sultan loved his first wife to pieces. Sadly, she betrayed him, so he killed her and developed a hatred for all women. Vengeful,, he married a new bride every evening and killed her the following morning. His once loyal subjects hated and cursed him because they lost daughters to him daily. Then one day, a young lady, Scheherazade decided to marry the Sultan against her family’s wishes. She told him stories for a thousand and one nights to avoid being killed by him.
Scheherazade was portrayed as a master story teller as she wove fantastic magical tales of enchanted lands, genies, fantastic beasts, life changing adventures and dazzling jewels. She was able to keep him so interested in her stories that he kept postponing her death to be able to hear the end of each story. Some of the stories she told were age-old classics like The Seven Voyages of Sinbad, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Read a review of this book here ) and Disney favorite, Aladdin and the Magical Lamp.
Read the book to find out what happened when Scheherazade ran out of stories.
THUMBS UP AND DOWN
UP: It is literally a book of stories. It is filled with fun and magical stories for children and adults, some with a moral or two. It also gives readers a sneak peak into life in ancient Arabia.

DOWN: None

RATING
4 stars
TRIVIA
1 Why did Sultan Schahriar kill his wives the day after the wedding?: He believed all women were deceitful like his first wife and he wanted the world to be rid of them.
2 Who was Scheherazade: The first daughter of the Sultan’s Grand Vizir
3 Some of the stories told by Scheherazade: Blind Baba Abdalla, Ali Baba and the Forty thieves, the Seven Voyages of Sinbad
4 What happened after One thousand and one nights: Read the book to find out

CHALLENGE: Tales from The Arabian Nights
CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)
1. Write a 400 word story within a story set in ancient Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba land (8 – 12 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com
Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8-12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.
Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Sunday, February 19th 2017.
Next Book of the Week:

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photo credit: amazon.com

The Red Transistor Radio

AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

February is Millennium Development Goals Month

Title: The Red Transistor Radio

Author: Fatima Akilu

Publisher: Cassava Republic Press

Number of pages: 32

Type of Book: Fiction; Educational

Age: 4 – 8

Buy it here: http://www.cassavarepublic.biz/collections/childrens-books/products/the-red-transistor-radio

Price: N1200

MY SUMMARY

Khalida’s mummy had an old red transistor radio that she played ALL the time and Khalida was tired of hearing that radio. Finally, one day, she burst out,

“Mama … Why do you listen to this radio all day? It’s very annoying!”

Her aunty gave her the weirdest answer ever. “… that radio is special … it has made many things happen, including you, Khalida”

Khalida didn’t think much of her aunt’s response until she was given an assignment in school to write a story about something unusual that happened to her.

So Khalida asked her parents how the radio made her. Read the book to find out how the red transistor radio made Khalida and how its story made her famous!

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: It emphasizes the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health. It takes an important and very adult subject and breaks into tiny nuggets, making it easy for young readers to digest. It also does this in the most peculiar yet fun way, using the story of a radio. Young readers learn how to prevent maternal mortality and improve maternal health by making sure pregnant women frequent antenatal clinics, eat balanced diets and have their babies in hospitals.

DOWN: None.

RATING

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

TRIVIA

  1. The subject of this story is the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health.

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Read an excerpt here: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7312/files/Excerpt_for_websitePages_from_Red_Transistor_01-32_tp.pdf?3624
  2. Learn more about the 7th Millennium Development Goal here: https://www.unicef.org/mdg/files/childfriendlymdgs_edited.pdf

 CHALLENGE: The Red Transistor Radio

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

Read the story above and answer the questions below:

  1. Draw a girl in a Fulani outfit (4 – 6 year olds)
  1. List the Millennium Development Goals? (7 – 8 year olds)

OR

  1. Draw a picture showing 3 things pregnant women can do to prevent maternal mortality. (7 – 8 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Thursday, February 16th 2017.

Next Book of the Week:

NGOZI COMES TO TOWN by Fatima Akilu

 

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photo credit: cassavarepublic.biz

 

 

 

Princess Arabella Mixes Colours

AGES 0 - 4, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FEBRUARY IS ‘COLOUR‘ MONTH

princess_a-_mixes_colours_cover_small_large

Title: Princess Arabella Mixes Colours

Author: Mylo Freeman

Publisher: Cassava Republic Press

Number of pages: 24

Type of Book: Fiction; Educational

Age: 0 – 4

Buy it here: http://www.cassavarepublic.biz/collections/childrens-books/products/princess-arabella-mixes-colours; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Arabella-Mixes-Colours-Freeman/dp/191111512X

Price: N1,500; £6.99

MY SUMMARY

Princess Arabella’s room is boring and she has to do something about it. So she orders the palace servants (footmen) to bring ‘lots and lots and LOTS of paint’ to her room so she can paint all the furniture in there. However, she doesn’t want the colours they’ve brought to her so she decides to MIX colours:

red + white = pink paint for her dressing table

red + yellow = orange paint for her chair

red + blue = purple paint for her mirror

blue + yellow = green paint for her bed and

black + white = grey paint for her toy elephant

Read the book to find out what happens when Princess Arabella accidentally drops the pots of paint and they go flying through the air and worse, what happens when she wakes up and thinks it was all a dream!

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: There were many highlights. First off, the illustrations, they were bright and colourful. Then, the book featured lots of colours and colours are our theme for our 0 – 4 age group for the month of February! Then, its edutainment quality. It teaches kids how to mix colours in a fun way! Finally, the icing on the cake: the use of rhyme and repetition.

‘I know what to do!

I’ll mix some red and some white in this pot

stir it all up

and look what I’ve got!’

I recommend for all 0 – 4 year-olds. It’s a sturdy book too so it will survive those destructive little fingers.

DOWN: None

RATING

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Do some painting wit your child (on paper, not the room please!) and mix colours while you’re at it!
  2. See excerpt here: http://www.eenhoorn.be/foreign_rights/prinses-arabella-maakt-kleuren.html (warning, it’s in Dutch!)

CHALLENGE: Princess Arabella Mixes Colours

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Mix colours just like Arabella and use them to colour 5 shapes. (2 – 4 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 2 – 4 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book. Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Tuesday February 14th 2017.

Next Book of the Week:

BROWN BEAR BROWN BEAR WHAT CAN YOU SEE by Eric Carle

 

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photo credit: cassavarepublic.biz

 

 

The No. 1 Car Spotter

AGES 8 - 12, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , ,

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Title:  The No. 1 Car Spotter

Author: Atinuke

Publisher: Walker Books      

Number of pages: 111         

Type of Book: Fiction

Age: 8+

Available here:

 Price: N1200; GBP 5.99

MY SUMMARY (without the ending):

This book, the first in a series introduces the bubbly and cheerful Oluwalase Babatunde Benson as No 1. No. 1 lives in a village where car spotting, a game involving spotting cars sometimes just by hearing the sound of the engine, is a major hobby for the men. He’s the Number 1 car spotter in his village, maybe in the world!

This book contains four ‘complete’ stories in which No 1 saves the day by providing an innovative solution to the problem of the village market cart, goes to the market with the village, buys ‘lipstick’ for Aunty Fine-Fine, runs the risk of losing his hard-earned nickname and helps to save his grandma and improve village life.

The No. 1 Car Spotter series details that fun and frolics of a young boy in a village in an African country (which isn’t mentioned).

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: Reading this book is easy-peasy and the illustrations scattered all over make it even more fun!

DOWN: None

RATING

4 stars

TRIVIA

  1. The name of the car manufactured by No. 1 and Wale and his crew: The Toyota Cow-rolla. 
  2. Car spotting is a hobby for the _____________ in No. 1’s village: Men
  3. What did Aunty Fine-Fine send No. 1 to buy from the shop with many small-small bottles and containers and many girls: Lipstick
  4. What did No. 1 buy instead: Nail Polish 
  5. As far as No. 1 is concerned, without __________, there is no such thing as good food. Palm Oil
  6. The 10 pink Porsche convertibles that stirred up dust when No.1 and Coca Cola were returning to the village from the market: Aunty Fine-Fine’s toenails painted with bright hibiscus pink nail polish.

WATCH THE AUTHOR READ FROM THE BOOK HERE: 

 

CHALLENGE: The No. 1 Car Spotter 

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Are you a car spotter? Can you list 26 types of cars using the 26 letters of the alphabet?

(e.g A-Aston Martin, B-Bentley, C-Cadillac (these examples cannot be submitted as answers) ( 8 – 12 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8-12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Sunday, January 12th 2017.

Next Book of the Week:

TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS by Andrew Lang

 

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photo credit: amazon.com

Aliyyah Learns a New Dance

AGES 4 - 8, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

February is Millennium Development Goals Month

 

Aliyyah learns a new dance

 Title: Aliyyah Learns a New Dance

Author: Fatima Akilu

Publisher: Cassava Republic Press

Number of pages: 32

Type of Book: Fiction; Educational

Age: 4 – 8

Buy it here: http://www.cassavarepublic.biz/products/aliyyah-learns-a-new-dance

Price: N1200

MY SUMMARY

Aliyyah loved dancing and she was very good at it too. One day, she was chosen to represent Nigeria at an African dance competition in Tanzania. At the competition, she met and befriended dancers from different African countries especially Fanta, from Ghana. A month after winning the competition in Tanzania, Aliyyah was invited to represent Nigeria in another dance competition, this time in Sweden. Aliyyah, her family, her school, in fact the whole country were ecstatic. Her brother Ashraf started practicing new dance moves with her, the whole school suggested new dance moves, a national competition was even held to design her costume for the competition.

Shortly afterwards, she travelled to Sweden where she met young dancers from all over the world, Japan, China, India, Serbia. She learnt about their culture, e.g. the Japanese Kimono, the Indian Sari and she learnt new languages too (some words in Hindi and Cantonese).

Read the book to learn whether or not Aliyyah won the competition and all the things she learnt from her new friends. Other books in the MDG series by the same author are Ngozi comes to town and Preye and the sea of Plastic, see review here.

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: It emphasizes the Millennium Development Goal of developing global partnerships. It shows young readers that the world is a global village and we should learn as much as possible from and about our neighbours.

It also shows them that hard work pays, that anything worth doing is worth doing well and that they should strive for excellence in everything. Aliyyah is seen practicing a few times in the book and winning prizes afterwards. Most importantly, it shows young readers the advantages and the need for forging global partnerships. Aliyyah’s costume for the competition in Sweden was sewn by a tailor in Abeokuta, with a fabric made in a Chinese-owned factory in Calabar. This fabric was made from cotton grown in Nigeria whose seeds were sourced in the United States.

It ends with a beautiful line ‘Who thought I could learn so much through dance?”

DOWN: None.

RATING

5 Stars

TRIVIA

  1. The subject of this story is the Millennium Development Goal of developing global partnerships.

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Read an excerpt here: http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0103/7312/files/Pages_from_Aliyyah_2011.2.pdf?3813
  2. Jigsaw puzzle here: http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=2ac0249767c7
  3. Learn more about the 7th Millennium Development Goal here: https://www.unicef.org/mdg/files/childfriendlymdgs_edited.pdf

CHALLENGE: Aliyyah Learns a New Dance

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Draw a girl in a Fulani outfit (4 – 6 year olds)
  1. List the Millennium Development Goals? (7 – 8 year olds)

OR

  1. Name the traditional clothing worn by women in the following countries
    1. India
    2. Japan
    3. China
    4. Scotland

Find them in the crossword puzzle below (7 – 8 year olds)

Z D C Y H N M K D G J B X
V G C H E O N G S A M N O
K S A R I D R E S I S A E
H J O H T D W E O M H I N
I F T H S O L A R O E I T
O F S J A V S K T N S U S
O C N K I L T E E O C N A
L X S B A N G L S A K L F

 

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 4 – 8 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Thursday, February 9th 2017.

Next Book of the Week:

THE RED TRANSISTOR RADIO by Fatima Akilu

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photo credit: cassavarepublic.biz

 

Press Here

AGES 0 - 4, BOOK REVIEW, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FEBRUARY IS ‘COLOUR‘ MONTH

Title: Press Here

Author: Hervé Tullet

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Number of pages: 56

Type of Book: Activity; Interactive; Educational

Age: 0 – 4

Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Press-Here-Herve-Tullet/dp/0811879542/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RAZS2H4WXVAAHT34M159 ; http://www.tamsinkbooks.com.ng/product/press-here/

Price:  $9.09

MY SUMMARY

This book takes young readers on a magical, colourful journey beginning with two words, ‘Press here’. It starts with a yellow dot which magically multiples with each, ‘press’ (really a rub) of the reader’s tiny fingers. The book enthralls the 1 – 4-year-old reader with commands to ‘press’ it, shake it, rub it, blow it, tilt it and watch the coloured dots change colour, multiply, fly and dance all over the pages. Guaranteed to keep your toddler entertained for ages.

Warning: You may read it over and over and over and over again in one sitting! Be prepared.

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: It features the primary colours and colours are our theme for our 0 – 4 age group for the month of February! It helps kids build fine motor skills and introduces them to the concept of ‘action’ and ‘reaction’. Author, Hervé Tullet, is an artist so he knows how to literally and figuratively ‘play’ with colours! This is why this award-winning New York Times Bestseller is such a favourite with little children. Other titles by the same author, ‘Mix it Up’, ‘Let’s play’. I recommend for all 0 – 4-year-olds. It’s a sturdy book too so it will survive those little fingers.

DOWN: None

RATING

5 Stars

HAVE FUN WITH THIS BOOK

  1. Make your own Press Here mini book (plus other activities) here: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/landing-pages/presshere/images/PressHereActivitySheets.pdf
  2. Watch the book trailer here: https://www.amazon.com/Press-Here-Herve-Tullet/dp/0811879542/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RAZS2H4WXVAAHT34M159

CHALLENGE: Press Here 

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Draw and colour 5 shapes using 5 different colours (2 – 4 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 2 – 4 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book. Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Tuesday February 7th 2017.

Next Book of the Week:

PRINCESS ARABELLA MIXES COLOURS by Mylo Freeman

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photo credit: amazon.com

 

The Story of Islam

AGES 8 - 12, BOOK REVIEW, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Title: The Story of Islam

Author: Rob Lloyd Jones

Publisher: Usborne Publishing (Young Reading Series 3)

Number of pages: 61

Type of Book: Non-Fiction; History; Educational

Age: 8+

Buy it here: http://product.chelisbookazine.com/product-tag/young-reading-series-3/page/6/?orderby=date; https://www.amazon.com/Story-Islam-Usborne-Young-Reading/dp/0794518656

Price: N690; $5.86

MY SUMMARY

The story of Islam began with an ordinary man, an Arabian called Muhammad. In year 610, on a mountain close to Mecca, Muhammad sat alone in a cave when, out of nowhere, a voice spoke to him. The voice told him he was a messenger of God, an angel. Through that angel and some visions, he received revelations directing him to start a new religion, Islam. Muhammad spread the doctrines of this religion by word of mouth and with the use of animal skins but it wasn’t well received by Meccans. Muslims were persecuted for about 20 years until they took over Mecca after a war in year 630. Muhammad died two years later in year 632 but that was only the beginning of the religion. Over the next ten centuries, Muhammad’s Muslim army grew under the care of several successors (caliphs) and conquered several nations around Arabia, Christian and pagan alike, converting many to Islam. However, there was trouble in paradise. The Muslims had split into two groups, the Sunni Muslims and the Shi’ites.

Read this book to learn about these groups, the Abbasids, a group of Shi’ite Muslims who brought a period of great wealth, knowledge of the arts and sciences and culture to the world and the magnificent city of Baghdad; the Ottomans, arguably the greatest Muslims that ever lived; the Taj Mahal, the resting place of the Mughal empress, Shah Jahan, and the Crusades, the centuries-long war between Christians and Muslims over the holy city of Jerusalem.

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: This book gives a brief but information-packed history of Islam with pictures, maps and illustrations and the most vivid words, I have read in a book in a very long time.  I have read it twice already. It’s a little slice of world history. I recommend for parents and children alike especially for lovers of history.

DOWN: None.

RATING

5 Stars

TRIVIA

  1. Islam: Submission to God’s will; Muslims: those who submit to God’s will
  2. The Five Pillars of Islam: Shahadah: a declaration that there is only one true God, Allah and Muhammad is his messenger; 2. Salah: prayers said 5 times a day facing in the direction of Mecca; 3. Charity, giving Zakah – a percentage of savings- to the poor; 4. Fasting (Sawm) in the month of Ramadan and 5. Hajj: a pilgrimage to Mecca
  3. صلى الله عليه وسلم (salla alllah ealayh wasallam) is said every time the Prophet Muhammad’s name is mentioned. It means ‘Peace be upon him’.
  4. Muhammad was buried in a tomb which was placed in: The Mosque of the Prophet, in Medina, ‘The City of the Prophet’.
  5. Some achievements of the Golden Age of Islam: Literature: One thousand and one nights (Tales from Arabian nights) one of the best collections of stories and poems from the Arabian empire (read a review of one of the stories, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves here); Baghdad, the most spectacular city in the world at the time, the House of Wisdom, an enormous library filled with books from which many of their ideas were birthed, Astrolabes and Magnetic compasses: helped people travel the world and used later by Europeans to discover America!

VIEW SAMPLE PAGES HERE: https://usborne.com/browse-books/catalogue/product/1/2338/the-story-of-islam/#&gid=1&pid=1

CHALLENGE: The Story of Islam

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

  1. Write a 300-word essay on the story of Islam in Nigeria. (8 – 9 year olds)

OR

  1. Draw a picture using only the details in the first four lines of the last sample page. See the link above for sample pages

 

  1. Write a 500-word essay on the story of Christianity (10-12 year olds)

OR

  1. Draw a picture using only the details in the first four lines of the last sample page. See the link above for sample pages

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8-12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book. Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Sunday, February 5th 2017. 

Next Book of the Week:

THE LAST DAYS AT FORCADOS HIGH SCHOOL by A. H. Mohammed

 

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photo credit: usborne.com