CHILD NATURE BOOK REVIEWFIVE ON THIS PAGESHANLEYA'S QUESTBy Thomas J. ElpelReview by Bob 
I have long been a fan of Elpel's "Botany in a Day", a remarkable introduction to botany. But how, I wondered can this knowledge be passed on to children in a way that will capture their attention and imagination? Elpel has answered my question with his newest book "Shanleya's Quest".Enter Shanleya's world as she discovers the simple truth of the patterns of plants. The book held my attention from beginning to end. Shanleya finds adventure along with each new discovery. As her knowledge grows, so does the reader's. By the end of the story, I learned more about plants than I realized. Elpel says that this book is "subversive in the most innocent ways...The patterns of botany outlined through the stories of this book are so simple, so easy to remember once you have seen them a time or two, that you will always recognize them when you pass on the street or meet in the woods." Also available: Shanleya's Quest Card Game We found it at Granny's Country Store TOUCHING SPIRIT BEARBY BEN MIKAELSENReview by Barbara 
The story was well written. It captured my interest from beginning to end. But, more important than that, it delivered a powerful message about unlearning hate and anger. The story shows how violence begets violence. It shows us a more effective way to neutralize anger and thereby avoid the destructive results. I highly recommend it for older children and even adults.WE FOUND IT AT AMAZON.COM INCIDENT AT HAWK'S HILLBY ALLEN W. ECKERT
Review by Bob 
This story of a boy, a badger, and an unlikely survival adventure, was entertaining from start to finish. As a young boy struggles with his relationships with other people, including his father, he finds a kinship with wild animals. The author offers insight into badger behavior and at the same time tells a hartwarming story of a boy who does not "fit in". This Newberry Honor Book is based on a true story.WE FOUND IT AT AMAZON.COM HATCHET
BY GARY PAULSEN
Review by Bob 
When I first read this book over ten years ago, I liked it immediately. My daughter Christina passed on this Newbery Honor Book to me after having read it in middle school. Today it still is a gripping and realistic survival story. A 13 year old boy finds himself stranded in the Canadian wilderness. His survival depends on his courage, his strong will to live, and his only tool--a hatchet.WE FOUND IT AT AMAZON.COM THE TRACKERBY TOM BROWN JR.Review by Barbara 
This story tells how Tom Brown, as a young boy, met an old Apache Indian named Stalking Wolf. He learned the art of tracking from him. Tom’s burning desire to emulate Stalking Wolf and master the skill of tracking motivated him to spend hours of “dirt time” studying the details of tracks. The adventures he experienced in the Pine Barrens developing awareness and learning to track are spell binding. When I finished reading the book I wanted more. I ended up buying everything I could find, written by Tom Brown. “The Tracker” was the catalyst that set me on the path that I am on now.WE FOUND IT AT AMAZON.COM BACK TO MAIN BOOK REVIEW PAGE
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