Pathfinders: Earthquakes & Volcanoes

Written by Lin Sutherland

Class for Earthquakes & Volcanoes-1(not sure using this book)

Class for Earthquakes & Volcanoes-2(not sure using this book)

Class for Earthquakes & Volcanoes-3(not sure using this book)

Class for Earthquakes & Volcanoes-4(not sure using this book)

ISBN: 978-0794402655
Description:
ARE YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL?

Because that's what's happening beneath your feet every day, even though most of the time you can't feel it. Giant plates on the surface of our planet are always afloat on the soft, hot rock of Earth's interior. Sometimes the plates grind against each other and suddenly shift position -- that's what makes an earthquake. Other times, hot rock seeps through a gap in the plates and bursts onto the surface as a volcano. You're about to learn more about Earth's amazing, shifting surface in Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

The forces that unleash earthquakes and volcanoes are among the most powerful in nature. Did you know that an earthquake can have 400 times the power of all the nuclear bombs ever exploded? Or that a single volcanic eruption can change the weather around the world? These pages offer plenty of fascinating facts to get you thinking, and that's just the start. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at some amazing scientific discoveries in the "Inside Story" sections, or find out how to put some science to the test in the "Hands On" features. You can read up on a topic, and then jump straight to a related yet different one.

My Comment:
This is a great book for class or family if you are interested in earthquakes and/or volcanoes. The book is divided into three parts: the Dynamic Earth (dealing with the inner earth); Earthquakes; and Volcanoes. I love the vivid illustrations and photos than my nephew does. I will show you some parts of the book introducing as below.
First Part:
-Do you know how the planets in our solar system formed?
-How do some collisions between plates from volcanoes?
-Can a continent really split in half? What happens when it does?
-What happens when sections of the crust collide?
-When rock layers move in different directions, faults form. What type of fault is this?
-Did you realize that this island is the top of a volcano?
Second Part:
-Where do earthquakes begin?
-Earthquakes under the sea can create huge waves. What are they called?
-What kind of seismic wave moves the land from side to side?
-What kinds of buildings resist earthquakes best?
-Most earthquakes occur at the edges of tectonic plates. Is there an earthquake zone near you?
-Why do earthquakes occur regularly along the west coast of the United States?
-The highest mountain in Japan is also a volcano. What is it called?
Third Part:
-What kind of eruption is this?
-Did you know that volcanoes make bombs?
-Whey would you need a gas mask near a volcano?
-Which volcano spread ash around the globe in 1991?
-Why do parts of Earth spout like a boiling kettle?
-Would you recognize an ancient volcano if you saw one?
-By studying lava under a microscope, scientists can learn about Earth's interior.
-On which Pacific island did the longest flank eruption in history occur?
-How have volcanoes helped us to learn about ancient civilizations?
-Did you know that spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is tearing an island apart?
-On May 18, 1980, one of the century's largest eruptions occurred in the U.S.A. What was name of the volcano?
-Did you know that you can see traces of volcanic activity on the face of the Moon?

I like to know what kind of place we live. It is not too hard to study the book. I also share the class video for you. I hope you like it and enjoy it. Good luck.

The Notebook

Written by Nicholas Sparks
The video is the movie trailer:

ISBN: 978-0446605236
Description:
"Somewhere," muses Noah Calhoun, while sitting on his porch in the moonight, "there were people making love." The Notebook, a Southern-fried story of love-lost-and-found-again, revolves around a single time-honored romantic dilemma: will beautiful Allison Nelson stay with Mr. Respectability (to whom she happens to be engaged), or will she choose Noah, the romantic rascal she left so many years ago?

My comment:
This book is written by Nicholas Sparks who is one of my favorite writers. I like the structure of this story. It is not a typical love story; boy and girl meet each other and fall in love, and then separated by parents. A few years later, they meet again and get married then have a happy life forever. I think it is quite different. In 1932, Noah Calhoun and Allie Nelson who are teenagers fall in love. They are separated by some reasons for few years. Noah joins the WWII, after that, Allie has his news from newspaper. She goes to see what’s going on with him. Do you think they will be together again? Why doesn’t Noah write Allie? Any misunderstanding is between both? We have to go on reading for curiosity.
This book will catch your eyes and can’t put it away. It makes you imagine you were Noah or Allie that you were dancing each other on the center of street. That’s so romantic sense. You will love this book, but must prepare tissues to wiping away tears.

A Bad Case of Stripes

Written by David Shannon


Video of the book

ISBN: 978-0439598385
Description:
Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don't like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she's so worried that she's about to break out in…a bad case of stripes!

My Comment:
Camilla Cream, who is a little girl, always do things as her classmates do. She is always worried about how people think about her. She tries 42 clothes at night before school. She finds which cloth she wants. But she gets in trouble. Her body has lots of stripes with many colors. Her mom finds many doctors to check her out. They could not cure her. It gives us two points of view. We don't worry about how other people think of us too much. What professors told is only for reference. Only you really understand yourself. You must be yourself. You can watch to video skimming the book.
Author uses crazy story and vivid drawing to show his idea for kids, even adult. It is a nice book for all of us.

The Dancing Bear

Written by Michael Morpurgo
Illustrated by Christian Birmingham

ISBN: 978-000674511

Description:

A gentle and deeply moving story of a young girl and her bear, told with great charm by a master storyteller. High in the mountains, in a tiny village, an abandoned bear cub is adopted by a lonely orphan child. Soon they are inseparable, beloved by the whole village -- safe, until the arrival of a glamorous film crew who need a dancing bear!

My Comment:

The story featured an orphaned bear cub. And Roxanne(7-year-old) who lives alone with her 'dour and unloving' grandfather in the French Pyrenees. Life is ruled by the mountains, sheep, snow and drought there. She finds and adopts the bear cub(his name is Bruno). Her fatger opposed initially that she want to keep Bruno the bear cub. One person who has a different idea thinks keeping the bear cub will bring some positive benefits. So her father was convinced by that.

Years later, Roxanne who a sweet girl sings like an angel. Finally, the media find and interest, the outside world intervenes: Bruno is to become a performing, dancing bear and Roxanne a singing star. This a very moving tale.

Change of Heart

Change of Heart:A Novel
Written by Jodi Picoult

ISBN: 978-1845070830
Description:
The acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author presents a spellbinding tale of a mother's tragic loss and one man's last chance at gaining salvation.

Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth?

One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen.

For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.

Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

Once again, Jodi Picoult mesmerizes and enthralls readers with this story of redemption, justice, and love.

The author was talking about this book.

My Comment:
Jodi Picoult's the book (Change of Heart) around an “angelic” (not really) death row, he has a deep desire is to donate his heart to his victim's sister. Is it challenge for the victim? Yes, for the victim that agrees or not is kind of inner torment. Death row wants to create a miracle in this way, and want to achieve the purpose of inner atonement himself. Is it really good way from a prisoner to the Messiah in this way? How does the mother of a dying sister make decision? She asked herself whether they could put away hatred and accept the executed the donated heart of a prisoner who killed her other child.
Jodi Picoult is good to use the short chapters explaining her point of view. She shows up that a new ethical issues - the death penalty. This book describes the situation of both parties in court, it is full of dramatic plot, and an unbelievable result in the end of the book. Even thought I am not interested in the law and religion, I love this book.
If you like philosophy, religion or law, you can try to read this book!

Looking After Louis

Written by Rita Marshall
Illustrated by Etienne Delessert

ISBN: 978-1845070830

Description:

"There's a new boy at school called Louis. Louis sits next to me and I look after him. He's not quite like the rest of us. Sometimes I wonder what he's thinking about. He often just sits and stares at the wall. If I ask him what he's looking at he says, 'Looking at' and carries on looking." This introduction to the issue of autism shows how - through imagination, kindness, and a special game of football - Louis's classmates find a way to join him in his world. Then they can include Louis in theirs.

Comment:

I haven't know the autistic students. When I read this book, I realize what is Autism and which symptoms they have. This is a good book for class. People have to know how to treat the other and care how other people feel not being selfish. When Louis who has autism goes to a school his classmates try very hard to understand him. They want to include him in their activities but they don't know how. One girl offers him crayons, and suggests he draw. Sooner Louis could draw pictures and play football with his classmates. This book is a valuable leason for young readers. I recommand it!

Pond Life (Cycles of Life)

Written by David Stewart & Mark Bergin
Illustrated by Carolyn Scrace

ISBN: 978-0531148433

Description:
Explore the world of a pond from the plants that provide food and shelter to the many different creatures that develop, breed, and hunt beneath the water.

Comment:
I think it is good book for classroom. It will bring you going through the life cycle of frogs from sping to winter. It is not only for children, also for adult. We live on the earth, and must know some knowledge about it.

I Still Hate to Read!

Written by Rita Marshall
Illustrated by Etienne Delessert


ISBN: 978-1568461748
Description:
Victor Dickens hates to read! Alway has. Or at least, that's what everyone but his faithful dog Paige has been led to believe. But Victor has a secret....In this sequel to the popular I Hate to Read!, young Victor Dickens, who publicly claims to hate reading, continues his imaginative literary adventures while accompanied by his dog Paige.

Comment:
The book's title is "I Still Hate to Read" that is about a little boy (Victor) do not like reading books, but it does not really mean Victor is not like to read. In fact, Victor just do not like to do homework, do not like following his mother's book list. This mentioned he has the secret friends, such as a rabbit, crocodile, parrot and mouse. The only one to share feelings with him is his pet - lioness, its name is Page.
One day the teacher gave them assignment to bring lion's stuff to aid reading class, then read a book about a lion, Victor decided to take Page to class; Finally his reading score is A+; we take a look at him how he's done.
The book's style is very special, very lively, imaginative content of the story!