Books in Young readers library series

Florida’s Native American Heritage for Young Readers:--Interactive Format--Language and Reasoning Exercises--72 Illustrations"The Timucua Indians provides young readers with a hands-on introduction to the first Floridians and the methods that archaeologists and historians use to study them. . . . The author, a naturalist and educator who works with kids, has done her homework."--Jerald T. Milanich, curator of archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural HistoryLong before Mickey Mouse moved to Florida, the state was populated by the Timucua, a tribe of Native Americans who lived in the southeastern United States for more than 1,000 years. Written for kids--and their teachers and parents--who want to explore the Timucuan culture, this illustrated and interactive book leads readers on a detective’s quest through 16th-century Florida. Though Timucua speakers flourished in northeast Florida and southeast Georgia, no other historically accurate book about them exists for elementary and middle-school readers. At the heart of the book, 47 "Detective Directives" invite kids to follow clues and conduct their own investigative activities: explore a trash midden, speak some of the Timucua language, plan a feast, even figure out how the Timucua hunted 25-foot-long alligators. When the mysteries are solved, the reader becomes a certified Historical Detective. Each chapter has short informative paragraphs that allow readers to understand archaeology and historical research and to practice language and reasoning skills. Starting 15,000 years ago with the Paleoindians, readers will march across the Bering Land Bridge, past glaciers, down to Florida, learning along the way how Columbus accidentally bumped into the Americas and what happened when the Europeans arrived. Most of all, they will discover the Timucua--and maybe even save an entire native culture from being lost forever. Kelley G. Weitzel is the senior preserve naturalist at the E. Dale Joyner Nature Preserve at Pelotes Island in Jacksonville, Florida. She has taught workshops and seminars about Florida's environment and its Native Americans for seven years and is currently working on a children's novel about the Timucua culture.

Little Suzette and her nursemaid enjoy daily walks in the handsome park near their home. Often, they see a tall, elegant lady strolling in the park with her tiny puppy. Then, a comical incident transforms Suzette and the puppy into friends. The time and place of this gentle story is Paris in the 1870s, when many fine artists were creating the exciting approach to painting called Impressionism. As it happens, little Suzette's Uncle Edgar is one of those artists. He is the famous Edgar Degas. One day, Uncle Edgar sends an artist to paint Suzette's picture. Imagine Suzette's surprise, when the artist turns out to be the tall lady from the park! And imagine Suzette's delight when the little puppy comes with her! The result of this enchanting meeting lives on to this day in an art masterpiece. For the woman was the major American artist, Mary Cassatt. Her painting of Suzette and the little dog, known as The Little Girl in the Blue Armchair, now hangs in the National Gallery of Art, in Washington, D.C. Among this book's many beautiful full-color illustrations is a reproduction of the story's painting.

"A marvelous account of Florida’s Indians for young readers."--Jerald T. Milanich, Florida Museum of Natural History<i>Journeys with Florida’s Indians</i> launches readers in grades 4 through 8 on an adventure into Florida's past. Young readers will meet the Paleoindians and learn about their arrival in the Americas, then join a boy on his first mammoth hunt as he escapes stampedes and the flames of a fire drive. Next, readers move forward in time to meet Spanish explorers, the Timucua, the Calusa, and the Apalachee Indians–first through fact, then through fiction. They'll attend the first meeting between French explorers and the Timucua and learn how Europeans impacted Florida's Indians. Alternating factual chapters are filled with maps, historical engravings, and modern illustrations. Fictional chapters are narrated by Tenerife, a fictional Timucua Indian kidnapped by the Spanish as a child, whose tales about Florida's native cultures reflect his own escape and adventures on his journey home.Weitzel's book fills several basic needs for Florida's young readers and educators. It is a valuable tool for school libraries serving students in state history classes at both upper elementary and middle school levels. It highlights native cultures in northeast, northwest, and south Florida, making it appropriate for public libraries, national parks, and bookstores throughout the state. Although there are multiple books on the Seminoles, this text is the only one for young readers on Florida’s many historic and prehistoric cultures. Fiction and fact are combined in an engaging introduction with solid, up-to-date history--in effect, two books in a single economical package. Combining accessible archaeology and history, compelling fiction, and more than 50 illustrations, <i>Journeys with Florida’s Indians</i> will appeal to all young Florida readers and the teachers and librarians who work with them.Kelley Weitzel is senior preserve naturalist at the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve. Her previous book <i>The Timucua Indians – A Native American Detective Story</i> (UPF, 2000) received the Florida Historical Society’s Charlton Tebeau Book Award for the best general interest/youth oriented book on Florida history.

Looking for exciting Bible storybooks for 8–12 year olds? Check out Barbour’s Young Readers’ Christian Library for the stories of John the Baptist, Moses, Noah, and Ruth. Carefully retold for kids, each book is illustrated with line art to help readers envision the characters and setting of the story. In Ruth, young readers will get to know the spirited, loyal foreigner who became the great-grandmother of Israel’s greatest king, David, learning lessons of faith that will benefit their lives today. And a special “secret code” feature adds fun to the whole package, as readers can discover an encouraging secret message woven throughout the entire book.

It's Christmas time all across America and Jenny is feeling left out. Her secular parents, born to different faiths that they no longer observe, don't believe in celebrating Christmas. She never seemed to mind before, but this year it bothers her--maybe because they're home and not on the Florida coast where they usually go at this time of the year to avoid the holiday hoopla. All around her the neighbors have decorated their houses with festive lights, while her house by contrast looks drab and uninviting during the long, cold winter nights. Itfs made her feel like an outsider. Why does her family have to be different? She talks with her mom and dad about their reasons for not observing the holidays.Then one day a teacher gives her "an awesome idea": she tells Jenny about the winter solstice and ancient traditions among many peoples of the northern hemisphere who celebrate this shortest day of the year in anticipation of the longer, warmer, and brighter days of the coming spring. Why don't we celebrate the winter solstice, too? Jenny wonders.Her parents can't help but agree and a few days later they bring home a potted pine from the local nursery for the living room. What fun they all have placing their special decorations on the solstice tree. And best of all, Jenny can now invite any of her friends, no matter what their religious backgrounds are, to admire her beautiful tree. Everyone can participate!This charming story will help children and parents enjoy the winter season in a meaningful and all-inclusive fashion.