Author Archives: Annette McQueen

The Sioux

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Betty Marcks impresses me with the amount of up to date information she squeezes into 32 pages about the Sioux native people. The Sioux call themselves The People of the Seven Council Fires and are composed from three cultural groups: Lakota ,Dakota, and Nakota from the United States and Canada. Marcks shares the early history of the Sioux, their first encounters with white culture, the native uses of their resources, how they continue their cultural traditions, and their current Sioux government.

The book includes a timeline, glossary, a student safe internet site – FACTSURFER.COM, and an index.

Submitted by Mary Pong

The Cherokee

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I am impressed with how up to date this book on the Cherokee native people is. I reached out to my Native friend and former colleague after reading author Betty Marcks statement, ” I am a white women of European descent. As such, I can claim no direct lived experience of being a Native American…” My friend is very impressed with Marcks’ writing.

Marcks has included the importance of the Cherokee language, the Cherokee make up of three tribes, the early history of the Cherokee with white culture, the native uses of resources, continuing cultural traditions, and the current Cherokee government.

The book includes a timeline, glossary, a student safe to use FACTSURFER.com internet site, and index.

Submitted by Mary Pong

The Blackfeet

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I am impressed with how up to date this book on the Blackfeet native people is. I reached out to my Native friend and former colleague after reading author Betty Marcks statement, ” I am a white women of European descent. As such, I can claim no direct lived experience of being a Native American…” My friend is very impressed with Marcks’ writing.

Marcks has included the importance of the Blackfeet language, the confederacy of four nations, the early history of the Blackfeet with white culture, the native uses of resources, continuing cultural traditions, and the current Blackfeet government

The book includes a timeline, glossary, a student safe to use FACTSURFER.com internet site, and index.

Submitted by Mary Pong

The Navajo

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My friend born and raised on the Navajo reservation was very impressed with how accurate and up to date this book on his native people is. I reached out to my friend and former colleague after reading author Betty Marcks statement, ” I am a white women of European descent. As such, I can claim no direct lived experience of being a Native American…”

My friend thought very highly of Marcks’ inclusion and importance of the Navajo language, the clans, the early history of the Navajo with white culture, the native uses of resources- the rug weaving, basketry, jewelry making, the cultural upbringing of the women, and the current Navajo government. Mt friend was under the impression Marcks must have talked with a Navajo elder.

The book includes a timeline, glossary, a student safe to use FACTSURFER.com internet site, and index.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Gilly’s Monster Trap

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Young Gilly lives on the coast of Lighthouse Bay where she spends most of her time in the water until an unseen monster arrives one day. The monster makes things disappear, like: snapper, prawns, and a wooly sweater, but it isn’t too serious until it snatches one of Gilly’s beloved flippers right off of her foot as she sits on the end of a dock. Rumors begin to fly around the little coastal town about the monster. Then one day, the monster grabs Gilly’s other flipper! That does it! Gilly will trap this monster to get her flippers back. The town helps Gilly set a trap. Nothing happens, until one day the monster is struggling out in the water caught in a fishing net. It could drown. Gilly convinces the town to help rescue the monster or else they won’t get their missing things back. In the end, Gilly needs rescuing from the monster trap she has fallen into. ‘ “Hey, you’re not a rotten monster– you’re a sneaky walrus!” ‘ The town folk get their items back and become friends with the walrus.

Cyndi Marko’s illustrations make me want to go find this lovely quaint little seaport in Northern British Columbia or southern Alaska surrounded by snow capped mountains. I loved the humorous pictures of Gilly’s pet gold fish who goes everywhere with Gilly ( in and out of its goldfish bowl).

Marko includes an entire page full of walrus facts and over 1 1/2 dozen websites for those who will want to learn even more about walrus.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Finch House

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Twelve year old Micah discovers the old dilapidated Victorian house her grandfather (Poppop) makes her promise she will never go near has been repaired and has people living in it. Micah knows this because she has just met Theo, the boy who lives there, outside in his yard. That is one promise she has broken to her dear Poppop.

Micah’s curiosity about Finch House grows the more Poppop refuses to talk about the house. Finch House has drawn many children into itself over the decades, so many that these missing children no longer make the news. Poppop’s sister Jenn was one of them. Little by little Micah is drawn into Finch House, literally. That is another promise Micah has broken to her Poppop. Curiosity has trumped Micah’s rational behavior. Will Micah be able to escape the hold her great aunt Jenn has on her and escape Finch House? Or will Micah be trapped inside Finch House forever?

This book draws the reader into itself much like Finch House does to the children (now ghosts) that live within it.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Why are We Afraid?

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When the light go out “after the clap of thunder” Max asks his father ‘ “Dad, have you ever been afraid?” ‘

So begins this conversation starter book on a story about fear. Fear can be about the: unknown, shadows, words or blows, lonely or alone, real monsters, freedom, falling short, free-falling, fading away, and/or the armor will crack open.

Older children will see or may need help seeing the symbolism both in the words and in the illustrations. Fear is pictured as a black hole in the sky on the front end cover and as a black oval shape that can carried around through the story pages.

The adult sharing this book may want to read the last two pages first – SHINING A LIGHT ON FEAR. They include: the original fear, the types of fear, the lessons behind our fears, the masks of fear, and the appeal of fear. Plus, two activities.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Does a bear Poo in the Woods?

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Shy Barry the bear seeks some privacy when he does his ‘ “First job of the day.” ‘ Barry treks through the woods avoiding the woodpeckers, skunks, and moose until finally his old friend Brenda Bigpaw tells him of a place up stream. Lucky for Barry, he finds the cabin before the burly woodsman returns there to do his business on the “POO THRONE”.

Cute, humorous illustrations with a nice rhyme scheme.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Class Pet

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Harvey the Hammerhead Shark is busy drawing his latest Iron-Manta-Ray comic book when he gets caught not paying attention in class. His teacher, Ms. Lumpy, chooses this time to teach Harvey a lesson in responsibility by having Harvey take the class parrotfish Pirate home for the weekend. Pirate is annoying with his squawking, to say the least. Harvey’s parents don’t want pets and are upset that Harvey was not paying attention in class. As a consequence, Harvey’s parent make the decision that Harvey choose between taking care of Pirate at home or take care of Pirate at the big birthday party Harvey’s been looking forward to going to all week.

Flash, the birthday boy, has already asked Harvey not to bring Pirate to the party. Harvey chooses to go to the party. The party’s DJ, Sea J. Marsh-shallow, has an allergic reaction to Pirate and leaves immediately.

The party is ruined! but NO! Pirate is a terrific DJ. Problem solved.

And Harvey has the rest of the weekend to put the finishing touches on his Iron-Manta-Ray comic.

This series includes: a Cast of Characters list ( character’s names are in bold the first time they appear in the story), word list (glossary), glossary words featured in bold type in the story, statements said with strong emotion are in larger font in bold type, five chapters, three or more black and white illustrations per chapter, and questions at the end.

My biggest problem is with Ms. Lumpy. I realize this is a children’s story but in real life Ms. Lumpy would be in hot water for sending the class pet home for the weekend without the parents’ consent.

Submitted by Mary Pong

The Friendship Wish

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Moving to a new place is just as hard for this little mermaid- Rosie- as it is for any other person. In this first book of the Mini Mermaid Tales series, Debbie Dadey works her magic of sharing life experiences with which young readers will be able to relate.

Rosie, the little mergirl, is too young to start Trident Academy. Rosie just moved into the area 3 days ago and is lonesome. Rosie has only just met Aqua, who talks her into going to take a quick look at the school. From there, they get swept into the school as the regular students enter the building. Impetuous Aqua cannot help herself from exploring the school, while shy Rosie is weary and reluctant, but follows Aqua deeper into the school.

First, they are in ‘deep-sea trouble’ for making a mess in the art/music room and later they are in ‘deep-sea trouble’ for leaving their neighborhood without telling anyone.

Despite their destressing first experience together, Aqua and Rosie become friends when their parents are shown a school for younger ‘mini mermaids and merboys’.

Six chapters, two or more black and white illustrations per chapter, table of contents, large font, word list (glossary),and story questions at the end all make this a fin-tastic (47) first book in a new series!

Words from the glossary appear in bold type within the story. Even bigger and bolder words of strong emotions also appear.

Submitted by Mary Pong