Archives for Book Reviews category
In this episode, the first thing I do is review the new book by Phil Rink – Jimi & Isaac 1a: School Soccer. This book is a wonderful story of how trying something new and changing up habits is a good thing which can lead you to discovering talents you didn’t know you had! You can pick it up here at Amazon – please support independent authors that you like! Thanks to Phil for the book, and we look forward to more in this fun series, aimed at upper elementary and middle schoolers.
Air-dry clay, cardboard, acrylic craft paints and printed pictures
Then I discuss two different topics that work well together – supplies for school projects and having lots of craft supplies for cold, dreary afternoons with bored kids. I list basic supplies to have on hand that are good for all ages, and then talk about how we’ve used some more advanced supplies in craft projects and how that can be helpful for those school dioramas and models. Check out these pics for some of the projects I mention.
Geronimo Stilton puppet made from polymer clay, pipe cleaners, construction paper, tape and a wooden dowel
Polymer clay organelles in a glycerin soap cell model
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: Technorama and Tuning in to SciFi TV
This week, I recommend the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, rant a bit about SOPA, wax poetic about the accents in a production of A Christmas Carol, and give advice about remembering others less fortunate in this holiday season!
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music and Chiron Beta Prime courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
In this episode, I recommend a number of YA books and a couple of video games, in case you need a few gift ideas for your little geek! Here’s the list of books reviewed (not all pictured above):
Leviathan, Behemoth and Goliath (The Leviathan Series #1-3) by Scott Westerfield
Incarceron and Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
The Alchemist ( The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1) by Michael Scott
The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) and The Throne of Fire (Kane Chronicles #2) by Rick Riordan
The Summoning (Darkest Powers Series #1) by Kelley Armstrong
And these games I recommend – I’ve not played them yet, but the reviews are good, and we’re getting them!
Little Big Planet 2 by Sony (PS3)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword by Nintendo (Wii)
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: Adventures in SciFi Publishing and Tuning in to SciFi TV
This episode, I have some great books for you to get for your kids – the Jimi &Isaac series by Phil Rink. These books, Jimi &Isaac 3a: The Mars Mission and Jimi & Isaac 4a: Solar Powered are fun, interesting stories with well-written characters, and have a good amount of science info in them as well!
I also present the places on this CNN Travel list 15 American places your kids should see by age 15. Le me know if you’ve been to any of these places and what you think of this list!
And we are planning to celebrate our 100th episode next time, and want you all to call, email or send us a message, telling us what you like about the show, where you found us, or what you’d love to hear. We want to make a clip show featuring all of these messages, so please send us something soon!
A big shout out to our friends at Technorama, Chuck and Kreg! They’ve hit their #300 show, and we want to help them celebrate this milestone. Go check them out!
And, dear listeners, the huge earthquakes and tsunamis that hit Japan have caused great damage and loss of life. Here’s a way you can help. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies accepts donations via text message. Text “redcross” to 90999, and you can make a $10 donation to the organization. It will show up on your next mobile phone bill.
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: Dragon Page with Class and the Safe Haven Podcast
Here’s the second part of our discussion, covering the topics of books and sports for kids plus some other fun stuff – check out the links below. Thanks so much to Gary for chatting with me, and for all he does for us at HTGYG!
Origami Yoda
Wimpy Kid Books
Owly
Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls
The Elements
Girls on the Run is the program that Amanda is joining again to train for running a 5K! Check it out for your girls!
And check out the last two Space Shuttle flights – happening this year! Check the NASA Human Spaceflight Site for info and NASA TV!
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: Dragon Page Cover to Cover and Podculture
While still recovering from the Snowpocalypse here in ATL, I wanted to give your guys my thoughts on cooking with your kids. Not only is it a skill that everyone needs, it also gives you an opportunity to teach math, science, history, culture and good old common sense about how the world works, while also giving you a great experience with your kids. Here are some great references for cooking information to help your adventure! ( I referenced the Betty Crocker cookbook in the podcast, but I actually meant the Better Homes and Gardens New CookBook pictured here!)
Alton Brown’s Good Eats, on the Food Network
The Joy of Cooking
The Better Homes and Gardens New CookBook
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: The Babylon Podcast and Marc Gunn’s Irish & Celtic Music Podcast
Posted on 2011 under Book Reviews, Shows |
14
Jan
After the hectic holidays and some serious SNOW in ATL – we are back! Gery gave me a great idea with his voicemail about books, so I decided to cover some of the books we got for Christmas and some of the books I’ve saved on my bookshelf for the kids. Here are some links to the various series I mentioned in the show (and some pics of the ones I could easily reach or find!):
New Books:
Alex Rider
Monster High
Star Wars: Millennium Falcon- A 3-D Owner’s Guide
Star Wars Blueprints: Rebel Edition Book
Extreme 3-D Scary Bugs
Classic books:
The Nancy Drew Mysteries
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander
The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
The Amelia Peabody Mysteries by Elizabeth Peters
The Mary Russell Mysteries by Lori R. King
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: Dragon Page Cover to Cover and Podculture
Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!
In this episode, I announce our first HTGYG Contest Giveaway!
Ok, everyone, we are going to have our first contest giveaway! Our friend Tabitha Grace Smith, from the BTL Studios podcasts, has written her first children’s book in the “Machu & Jack” series, called “Jack the Kitten is Very Brave,” and is offering a free copy to one of our listeners! This story is based on her real-life cats, who were both rescued kittens, and it tells the story of Jack’s fear of water, and how imagination and fun helped him get over his fears (and it has pirates!). It is intended for 3-7 year olds, but everyone can enjoy this cute book!
You can enter to win this by emailing your name, Twitter name (if you have one), and email address to: howtogrowyourgeek at gmail.com, with “Jack the Kitten” in the subject line! You may enter once per day, until midnight EST on Dec 30! I’ll pick a winner out of the hat on Dec. 31, and notify you via email and Twitter, and here on the site, and then Tabitha will send you out your very own copy! U.S. or Canadian Shipping only – sorry! You can also visit Jack’s Facebook page, and find cool Jack merchandise at Zazzle!
I also review the great kids’ book “The Strange Case of Origami Yoda” by Tom Angleberger. This is Kevin’s new favorite book! Check out the Origami Yoda site here! Next, my friend Jen, who is a talented artist, has a site where you can commission artwork, or browse her collection of paintings inspired by music. Visit her site here! And finally, Gary and I both heartily recommend ThinkGeek for great geeky gift ideas for kids and adults!
Also, check our some funny voice work by me and some truly talented others at Comedy4Cast. Clinton wrote a great spoof of “Ghost Hunters!” Part 2 is up now!
Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek-at-gmail-dot-com, or call my NEW voicemail number at (678) 235-GROW (4769) and leave your thoughts. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!
Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Promo: Tuning in to SciFi TV and Technorama
Posted on 2010 under Book Reviews |
30
Aug
Hey guys,
Got a question for you. When you are out at a bookstore, what first catches your eye? The covers, right? Well that is how it is with me at least. A great cover can pull me in, or push me away from a book. And they always say, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. That is so true I am finding out more and more, and is really true when it comes to this book. When I first saw the cover I said, “Hmmm, this might be a cute kid’s book.” I was right, but also very, very wrong. Turns out, it is a lot more here than what I thought there would be. But I am getting a head of myself.
The Mousehunter – By Alex Milay
A book review by Darcy Low
From the cover: ” Across seventeen seas, there is no mousehunting pirate as feared as the legendary Captain Mousebeard. He seeks out the rarest and most precious breeds of mice to collect and trade, his fearsome reputation preceding him wherever he goes. Emiline, mousekeeper to one of Old Town’s wealthiest citizens; is anything but feared. So when her master puts a bounty on Mousebeard’s head, she sees it as the chance of a lifetime. Her journey takes her on a high seas adventure, filled with swords and sea monsters, betrayal, lies, and the chance to capture the most dangerous man in mousing history.”
Read more… »
Posted on 2010 under Book Reviews |
15
Aug
It’s not Oz, It’s a Marvel.
Hey Guys,
Well my summer is almost over, I start a new school year next monday. I will be studying a lot of new things, chemistry, computer science and drama classes. I am looking forward to it. 
this past summer, I choose to read smaller books, and a lot of graphic novels. They are just easier for busy days when you really don’t want be sitting around indoors. So I thought I would share the best ones out of the bunch.
Marvel’s Wonderful world of Oz graphic novel – By Eric Shanower and Skottie Young
Reviewed by Darcy Low
Growing up, my mom loved this movie. We watched it every time it came on. I am sure everyone has seen it, so nothing I will say here should be a spoiler to anyone.
Read more… »
