Eastern Time
Book Reviews
Select a category
General Education
| Category: General |
| Rating: 3 stars |
| Pages: 224 |
| Comments: This book is a off-shoot of the original Five Love Languages (for adults). However, this book contains many good thoughts about how those same love languages apply to children. This book can be particularly helpful in elementary classes where teachers are looking for the best ways to minister to their students. |
| Reference: Chapman, G., & Campbell, R. (1997). The Five Love Languages of Children. Northfield Publishing: Chicago. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: General |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 265 |
| Comments: John A. Stormer examines the state of education in American public schools. There are some very enlightening statistics and stories. This book confirms all the horrible things that you have heard on the news about public education. It is a good read. |
| Reference: Stormer, John, A. (1999). None Dare Call It Education. Liberty Bell Press: Florissant, MO. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: General |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 168 |
| Comments: This book does a very good job of examining the various ways that students learn. Everyone has their own unique personality and likewise we all have different learning styles. Cynthia Tobias does a very good job of explaining the differences in learning styles and giving practical steps to including all learning styles in the classroom. |
| Reference: Tobias, Cynthia. (1994). The Way They Learn: How to discover and teach to your child's strengths. Focus on the Family Publishing: Colorado Springs, CO. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: General |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 246 |
| Comments: This book describes the story of a fictional man who is trying to implement is vision of what education should be before he dies. The vision the writer casts is very different from the kind of education we have today. However, many of the ideas are very good. Not all the ideas would be practical for use in elementary or secondary schools, but there are many good ideas and philosophies that can be taken away from the story. |
| Reference: Bunting, Josiah. (1998). An Education for Our Time. Regnery Publishing, Inc.: Washington, DC. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: General |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 160 |
| Comments: Dixie Lee Spiegel provides some great ideas about how to incorporate constructive discussion into classrooms. Good discussion is not just throwing out a question that students may find interesting, but using a system where students study topics, refine ideas, and discuss intelligently pertinent classroom material. |
| Reference: Spiegel, Dixie L. (2005). Classroom Discussion. Scholastic Inc.: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
Teaching Elemenatary
Elementary Fiction
| Category: Middle/Upper Elementary |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 155 |
| Comments: Most people have seen either the older version of the book starring Gene Wilder or the newer version with Johnny Depp. As much as I enjoyed the Gene Wilder version, the book is even better and more zany. It is a wonderful stretch of the imagination for kids. This is not an education book though, except in the fact that it teachs some good morals. |
| Reference: Dahl, Roald (1964). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Puffin Books: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Middle/Upper Elementary |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 126 |
| Comments: James and the Giant Peach is one of the most imaginative children books I have ever read. But then again, I have never read a book by Roald Dahl that was not. This book may not be considered an educational book, but it is very entertaining and will keep your students interested all the way through the end. James, a little boy who lost his parents, goes to live with two horrible aunts. While there James grows a gigantic magical peach. Inside there are numerous life-size insects. While exploring inside the giant peach, the peach begins to roll and the adventure begins. |
| Reference: Dahl, Roald (1961). James and the Giant Peach. Puffin Books: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Upper Elementary |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 305 |
| Comments: This is one of the great classic pieces of fiction. Mole, Frog, and Badger along with many other colorful personalities fill the pages with interest. The story concerns creatures living by a river and their adventures with their reckless friend Frog. In a very amusing way, the story relates how true friends help each other. |
| Reference: Grahame, Kenneth (1999). The Wind in the Willows. Aladdin Classics: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
Middle/High School Fiction
| Category: Middle/High School History(Civil War) |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 131 |
| Comments: This is the story of a young man that enlists in the army during the Civil War. During his time the young man learns what it means to be a man and learns the horrors of war and how to deal with them. He also learns what the Red Badge of Courage is. In addition to the story, the book can be used to teach about the Civil War time period as it has many references to things that modern man no longer sees in life. As a bonus, the book is an excellent source of vocabulary study. |
| Reference: Crane, Stephen. (1983, originally 1895). The Red Badge of Courage. Bantam Classic, New York: NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, Grace Baptist Christian School, GA - Administrator |
| Category: High School History/Philosophy |
| Rating: 3 stars |
| Pages: 352 |
| Comments: Voltaire was the product of a corrupt religion in France. His disdain for the corruption caused him to swing fully to the opposite conclusion that since the religion he knew was corrupt that all religion must be corrupt and that God must not exist. This of course is faulty reasoning. Nevertheless, many of his short stories point out the ridiculousness of some religious systems. Make sure that students are reading this book with a keen eye to the context of history, Voltaire's personal beliefs, and actual truth. |
| Reference: Voltaire. (1981, originally 1747-1749). Candide, Zadig and Selected Stories. Signet Classic, New York: NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Middle/High School Literature |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 249 |
| Comments: According to an Indian legend red fern can only be planted at a burial site by an angel. Wilson Rawls tells the story of a boy and his hunting dogs. The larger story is about growing up, dealing with happiness and loss, and becoming a man. |
| Reference: Rawls, Wilson (1961). Where the Red Fern Grows. Bantam Books, New York: NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: High School History/Government |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 128 |
| Comments: George Orwell's Animal Farm is an excellent read for high school history and government students. Orwell depicts very clearly and humorously the rise of communism in Russia. This book produces excellent discussions in the classroom and teachers can use the book to make the discussion of communism as simple or complex as needed. |
| Reference: Orwell, George (1946). Animal Farm. New American Library, New York: NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Middle School Social Studies |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 137 |
| Comments: Lois Lowry tells the tale of a family that is trying to escape oppression during World War II. In a very simple manner the story gives the basics of the kind of problems experienced in Nazi occupied countries and the fear that Jews experienced. In the end, Annemarie helps her friend to escape occupied Denmark before it's too late. All of Lois Lowry's books are good. This one is no exception. - Newberry Award Winner |
| Reference: Lowry, Lois (1989). Number the Stars. Bantum Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Middle/High School Literature/Social Studies |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 150 |
| Comments: This is the story of a young boy that grows up in a the Shaker culture. The boy helps to deliver a calf by himself in the woods. The owner of the cow and calf reward the boy with a pig. What happens next is the story of how the boy grows up. A very good coming-of-age tale. - mild language |
| Reference: Peck, Robert N. (1972). A Day No Pigs Would Die. Random House, Inc.: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
Middle/High School Teaching
School Leadership
| Category: School Culture |
| Rating: 3 stars |
| Pages: 192 |
| Comments: This book tells the story of Frank Peretti's struggle growing up with a physical ailment that made him look differently than everyone else. The book discusses bullying, its effects, and what can be done about it in schools. |
| Reference: Peretti, Frank. (2000). No More Bullies. W Publishing Group: Nashville, TN. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Leadership |
| Rating: 3 stars |
| Pages: 165 |
| Comments: Andy Stanley outlines five principles of leadership in the book. 1. Competence, 2. Courage, 3. Clarity, 4. Coaching, 5. Character. The book contains a few of the essentials to good leadership. The book is very brief and does not go into much detail about each of the concepts. |
| Reference: Stanley, Andy. (2003). The Next Generation Leader: 5 Essentials for Those Who Will Shape the Future. Multnomah Publishers: Sisters, OR. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Leadership |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 183 |
| Comments: Patrick Lencioni tells the story of two fictional CEOs. One find success at every turn, the other stuggles to keep his head above water. Through the story, the reader gains insight into four things that can make a leader successful. The last part of the book outlines the "four obsessions" and explains how to practically put them in place. This is an excellent read. |
| Reference: Lencioni, P. (2000). The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable. Jossey-Bass: San Fransisco, CA. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Leadership |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 134 |
| Comments: In this book, Patrick Lencioni tells the story of a new CEO that is failing. Then, on a train, the CEO runs into other CEOs and begins to discuss why he might be failing. The end of the book outlines the "five temptations" and give practical steps to avoiding them. |
| Reference: Lencioni, P. (1998). The Five Temptations of a CEO: A Leadership Fable. Jossey-Bass: San Fransisco, CA. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Leadership |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 192 |
| Comments: This book is a compilation of stories, saying, quotes, and lessons learned, from coach John Wooden. It is a very easy read as it is broken up into short segments. There are some very eye-opening insights that Wooden shares with his reader. |
| Reference: Wooden, J. & Jamison, S. (2007). The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership. McGraw-Hill: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
Math
English
| Category: Middle/High school English/Vocabulary/Etymology |
| Rating: 3 stars |
| Pages: 134 |
| Comments: This book includes word forms (prefix, suffix, root) from Greek, Latin, and other languages. Each root word in the book is given a definiation and an origin. The book is an excellent for helping students understand words and how they are made and where they come from. |
| Reference: Borror, Donald J. (1988). Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms. Mayfield Publishing Company: Mountain View, CA. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
Science
History
| Category: High School History/Government/Philosohpy |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 139 |
| Comments: The United States and England drew many of their Democratic-Republic concepts of government, including the idea that governments derive their power from the "consent of the governed" from John Locke. Being one of the foundational books for our form of government, this book is highly suggested. For students, teacher may want to consider using shorter excerpts to spark discussion. |
| Reference: Locke, John. (1952, orignally 1690). The Second Treatise of Government. The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc.: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: High School History/Philosohpy |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 42 |
| Comments: Rene Descartes outlines how he determines what is true and what is false. The short book is a very hefty read for upper level students. Descartes goes through a number of tests that he uses to determine his own beliefs and what can be believed in. A very interesting read. |
| Reference: Descartes, Rene. (1980, orignally 1637). Discourse of Method. Hackett Publishng Co.: Indianapolis, IN. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: High School History/Government/Philosophy |
| Rating: 1 stars |
| Pages: 48 |
| Comments: I rate this book with only 1 star because although the book is well put together, the philosohpy outlined has proven to be corrupt and unatainable. This read should probably be reserved for upper level students. The book is the conerstone for much of the Communist and Socialist governments and philosophies durng the last two centuries. This must be read with a critical eye. |
| Reference: Marx, Karl and Engels, Frederick. (1948, originally 1848). The Communist Manifesto. International Publishers: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: High School History/Government/Philosophy |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 82 |
| Comments: Machiavelli's, The Prince has become the understood source of modern pragmatism. Pragmatism being: the ends justify the means. Or, it doens't matter what I do (right or wrong) as long as I am successful in the end. Machiavelli wrote this short book to the current ruler trying both to get back into the good graces of the shifting authority and to help the new prince retain power more easily. This book should be read with a pen or pencil in hand. Prepare to take notes and think critically throughout the book. This is not an easy read, but it is a very good read. High school teachers may want to select excerpts for students to read. |
| Reference: Machiavelli, Niccolo (1947, originally 1513). The Prince. Crofts Classics: New York, NY. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
Physical Education
Special Education
Bible
| Category: Bible |
| Rating: 4 stars |
| Pages: 317 |
| Comments: This book is an allegory of the Christian walk and maturation process. The deer, Much Afraid, becomes a stronger servant for Christ (represented by the loving Shepherd) through trials and suffering. This is an excellent book for upper middle school/high school. |
| Reference: Hurnard, Hannah. (1975). Hinds' Feet on High Places. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.: Wheaton, IL. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Bible |
| Rating: 3 stars |
| Pages: 85 |
| Comments: This is the story of John the Baptist. John the Baptist lived a life completely devoted to serving God. However, when Christ arrived and John the Baptist was placed in prison and sentenced to death, John the Baptist (in the story) is somewhat disillusioned. The story is for those Christians that sometimes don't understand what God is doing in their lives. This book gives comfort that regardless of the circumstances, ultimately God is always in control. |
| Reference: Ewards, Gene. (1991). The Prisoner in the Third Cell. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.: Wheaton, IL. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Bible, Philosophy |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 96 |
| Comments: In his book, Francis A. Schaeffer very clearly and consicely depicts how society arrived at a place where atheism, agnosticism, and despair have become so prominent. He also gives the answers to those problems: Christ, as found in the Bible. One of the best books, I've read. If you wanted students to read this book, it is probably only appropriate for twelfth graders. |
| Reference: Schaeffer, Francis, A. (1968). Escape from Reason. InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
| Category: Bible |
| Rating: 5 stars |
| Pages: 100 |
| Comments: This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is a very simple and easy read. Part one of the book tells the story of David, before he became king, and how he dealt with King Saul. The second part of the book tells the story of how the now King David dealt with his own son who was trying to overthrow him. One of the best books for teaching selflessness and servanthood. |
| Reference: Edwards, Gene. (1992). A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness. Tyndale House Publishers: Wheaton, IL. |
| Review submitted by: Jeremiah Boyle, GBCS, GA - Administrator |
Electives
Other
Scrolling News Ticker by Mioplanet