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In their latest "Budget Book", Bethlehem Books gives us a double dose of adventure featuring Ensign Peter Byrd of the "Fighting 95th" Riflemen of the British army.... The Flying Ensign.

In the first story, the treacherous mountains of Northern Spain in winter provide a unique backdrop for the harrowing and courageous endeavours of "the Flying Ensign" and his comrades in rescuing their friend from certain death behind enemy lines and subsequently attempting to rejoin the ranks of the British army as they retreat from a desperate and lop-sided challenge to Napoleon's forces.

Fans of Showell Styles' Midshipman Quinn stories will recognize the similar attention to detail and themes of courage and ingenuity tied up with actual historic events in the Flying Ensign but with fresh characters, settings, and adventures. The landscape, architecture and culture of Spain are a fascinating place to experience mountain climbing adventures, hair-raising rescues and escapes and a wide variety of heroes and villains on both sides of the battle lines.

A quick and engaging read for ages 10 and up or a great read aloud for the whole family.

Also see our review of the second book in this volume – Byrd of the 95th.

Additional notes:

Copyrights 1960/1962

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

2-21-03

The Four Questions Logic Tutorial

Subject(s):

Thinking Skills

Grade / Age level:

High School

Resource Type:

CD ROM

Review:

Reviewed by:

Ana Braga-Henebry

First reviewed:

8-24-06

The Fourth Magi

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

The Fourth Magi is the story of Artaban, a Persian magi, whose family has recently died tragically. Artaban, while studying the stars, discovers a new star, the one foretold in the Old Testament. He resolves to follow the star and find Jesus, despite the ridicule of his friends. Taking his ever-complaining slave, Orantes, he embarks on his perilous journey of faith.

The movie details the journey of Artaban and the many trials he encounters. In the end, Atraban meets the physical Jesus only on his death bed, but we learn that Artaban had been ministering to Jesus whenever he helped "the least of my brothers".

Our family highly recommends this movie for family viewing. Orantes provides several interludes of comic relief. Though the story is fictional, it would still be an excellent addition to your study of Israel in the time of Jesus Christ, and an inspiring movie for all to watch. *****

The Fourth Magi stars Martin Sheen and Alan Arkin, and is based on the novel, The Story of the Other Wise Man, by Henry Van Dyke. The movie was produced in 1985 by Paulist Productions.

Reviewed by:

K.H.

First reviewed:

7-25-2000

The Friendly Beasts

An Old English Christmas Carol

Illustrator(s):

Tomie de Paola

Number of pages:

32 pages

1981

Publisher:

Putnam Juvenile

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Advent and Christmas Stories

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Grades K-2

Resource Type:

Picture Books

Review:

"The Friendly Beasts" is a lovely old English Christmas carol (the words and music are included in their entirety on the last page). Tomie de Paola has drawn beautiful pictures, in his signature style, to accompany the words to this song. (We didn't know the song before we came across the book. Now we tend to sing it, rather than read it, to the children.) It has been a favorite in our family partly because of it's beautiful simplicity and is frequently requested (even when it's nowhere near Christmastime) by our younger children. The artwork is to be enjoyed and cherished over and over again. I especially like a little drawing of the Annunciation that just shows up on the front cover.

Here is the first verse of the song to give you the idea:

Jesus our brother, strong and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude.
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus our brother, strong and good.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

12-1-05

The Fussy Angel

Author(s):

Mary Arnold

Number of pages:

32 pages

1995

Publisher:

Bethlehem Books

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Advent and Christmas Stories

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Review:

A humorous rendition of Baby Jesus' birthday told from the point of view of "the fussy angel" who wanted things to be just right for the newborn king. The angel complains about the dirty animals, argues with the wise men and tries to make the angelic choirs sing a little quieter. The story has greater depth than what is perceived at first glance. It is about the great and glorious God who loved mankind so much that he was willing to come down to earth and put up with all of our silliness and imperfections. This will be a favorite among the preschoolers in your home, but Moms will love it too.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

1998-99

The Gammage Cup

Author(s):

Carol Kendall

Illustrator(s):

Erik Blegvad

Number of pages:

283 pages

1959

Publisher:

Harcourt Inc.

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Fiction

Grade / Age level:

All ages

Review:

Reviewed by:

Elizabeth Yank

First reviewed:

2-16-2008

The Genealogy of Greek Mythology

Author(s):

Vanessa James

Number of pages:

107 pages

2003

Publisher:

Gotham Books (a division of Penguin)

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Review:

Additional notes:

double-sided fold-out chart with slipcase - over 17 feet long!

Donated for review by Penguin-Putnam

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

3-17-04

The Global Puzzle

2003

Publisher:

A Broader View

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

This inexpensive (approximately $15) jigsaw puzzle provides an easy and fun way to learn World Geography. Pieces are cut along country borders (although larger countries are split into pieces). Colors are simple and continents, oceans, countries and capitals are clearly marked. A few of the smaller countries are joined together in one piece. Canada is broken up into pieces cut along the province borders. The United States is broken up into pieces composed of one or two states each.

You might think the oceans would be diffcult to assemble given the vast areas they cover. Well, they thought this through pretty well. The ocean pieces connect with traditional jig-saw shapes (except for island pieces). Even better, they are printed with information about each of the countries of the world - in alphabetical order - in order to easily identify the general area they belong in. If you start by piecing together the border and then the oceans, the country pieces will stay together quite nicely. A nice picture of the map on the box makes a very helpful reference.

My nine-year-old son and I really enjoyed assembling this puzzle over the course of two days. Because of the amount of information on each piece (country, size, shape, etc) it is much easier to assemble than a standard jigsaw puzzle with the same number of pieces (There are just a few pieces that you will need to identify simply by color and shape - both in the ocean and in a few of the very large countries). The puzzle is recommended for ages eight and up. Children younger than eight might be frustrated by the coordination needed to work with some of the smaller pieces. Some of my younger children (as young as five) did enjoy helping put together the border pieces.

A great value and highly recommended!

Additional notes:

600 pieces jigsaw puzzle, completed size 36" x 18"

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

4-5-05

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus

Author(s):

Aliki

Number of pages:

48 pages

1994

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This 48-page picture book is designed to introduce early-elementary-aged children to the myths of Ancient Greece through text and pictures. We have several books in our family library by Aliki, and I was prepared to enjoy this one just as much. However, I was disappointed in both the artwork and the presentation of the myths.

The first pictures in the book are somewhat dark and eerie, and I would hesitate to show them to a young child. As the book progresses, the pictures take on more form and color, but they are rather intense. There are some very upsetting pictures of babies being eaten and subsequently brought back up, as well as evil, violent scenes that would be shocking to all but the most worldly child. I also disliked the many pictures with almost-total nudity and women clad in transparent clothing.

There are many, many versions of the most familiar Greek myths, and some are more suitable to children than others. These very brief retellings of the myths focus on the adult aspects of the relationships between the various gods and goddesses, to the exclusion of details that are more appropriate for the attention of a child. The author also makes the point that (p.48): "Even today, the gods are valued for their human qualities, their humor, their lessons, and their wisdom." This is simply untrue in our Catholic home; interesting, perhaps, but not "valued". This book is not recommended.

Reviewed by:

Susan Kalis

First reviewed:

4-19-01

The Golden Goblet

Author(s):

Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Number of pages:

248 pages

1961

Publisher:

Puffin Newbery Library

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Review:

The Golden Goblet is a story set in Ancient Egypt, of a young boy, Ranofer, who dreams of becoming a goldsmith like his father before him. Unfortunately, now that his father is dead, Ranofer lives with his horrible half-brother, Gebu, who has no love for his young charge, keeps him undernourished and beats him whenever he's in a bad mood. In the course of struggling with these things, Ranofer and his two loyal friends get caught up a in a mystery that leads from the revered tombs of the dead all the way to the Pharaoh's palace. The story is very exciting, the villains very evil and it will definitely be hard to put this book down. While getting wrapped up in the story, the reader will begin to understand how seriously and reverently the Ancient Egyptians treated the dead and how their strong beliefs in the supernatural and in the after life caused their preparations for death to play a major role in their culture. (Suitable for Mid to Upper Grade School)

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

3-17-2000

Love 2 Learn.net

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The Flying Ensign: Greencoats against Napoleon

The Four Questions Logic Tutorial

The Fourth Magi

The Friendly Beasts

The Fussy Angel

The Gammage Cup

The Genealogy of Greek Mythology

The Global Puzzle

The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus

The Golden Goblet

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