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A Life Better Than I Deserve
Oct. 6, 2009
Review: Guardian Angel Publishing
Recently I was provided five free electronic books from Guardian Angel Publishing to review through the TOS Homeschool Crew program this year. Please visit the Homeschool Crew to read opinions on this and many other exciting homeschooling products and curricula.
Guardian Angel Publishing publishes children's books, both fiction and non-fiction, and in both standard printed versions as well as electronic book versions. For the purpose of this review, I was sent the electronic versions. For some of these books--most notably the Andy and Spirit title and Rainbow Sheep--having the electronic version was not the best option for reading aloud, as the illustration would be on one page while the text would be on the other. In a standard picture book format, I would not have to pause so long on each illustration while waiting for my children to note the picture details as one page would have the picture and the opposing page the text I would be reading.
These titles are all available as e-book downloads for $5.00 each or as print books for $10.95-$11.95 each. Purchasing an electronic version on CD is an additional option, yet I really prefer reading physical books, as do my children. Shipping is an additional charge, so if these books sound like something you and your children might love you may wish to combine your purchases.
Andy and Spirit Go To The Fair is an inspiring story about a handicapped youth who attends and competes in his state fair atop his loyal horse, Spirit. With award-winning illustrations, this book has an important, character-building lesson to teach. Bravery and perseverance in the face of prejudice and bullying is a character trait we all need to be reminded of. With interest building through the fair competition storyline and the compassionate development of Andy and his loyal companionship with Spirit, I found this book worth reading to my children. It could also provide an excellent stimulus for family discussion of prejudice, perseverance, and bravery. Though the plot is probably a little predictable for the parents, my children still found the story, its illustrations, and the "bonus" material on wild horse management in the United States worthwhile and engaging.
 Earthquake is a non-fiction book suggested for readers aged 6-9. This did not keep my 11 year old from being very interested in its subject matter. Due to the combination of main text interspersed with "factoids" (short facts, often with additional information relayed with them), illustrations, activities and lists, as an adult I felt the book occasionally seemed disjointed. Yet other children's non-fiction books I have in my own library employ this same technique to maintain children's attention, and this book was just as successful. An approach of educating and preparing children for potential disaster while interspersing an occasional bit of levity is combined in a balanced approach. (If your refrigeration fails, this book suggests eating your ice cream first--which had my children laughing!) The information about what might happen in a strong earthquake might prove a little disturbing for children much younger than the suggested age of 6.
Maybe We Are Flamingoes is a sweet fictional story for listeners and readers aged 3-9 years old. Two young flamingoes, Flora and Fernando, begin to notice that they are different from the flamingoes in their flock. Finally gathering up enough courage to ask his mother, Fernando discovers that their feathers will gradually change in color from white to grey to pink as they age. He further discovers that they develop their distinctive pink coloration from the foods they eat. Reassured, the two flamingoes start pondering what they would look like were they to eat a different diet altogether--and decide to draw pictures of themselves as broccoli birds and other far-fetched creatures. My own children giggled over these illustrations, which might open up a family discussion on nutrition.
 No Bones About It is a rhyming, illustrated text for ages 8-13. "Factoids" (those short interesting facts I mentioned in the Earthquake title) are also included within this text on virtually every page. Because reading these factoids would interrupt the rhyming sequence and flow of the main text, I would recommend reading this book straight through several times before reading the accompanying facts. Although this book was interesting to both my 8 year old as well as my 11 year old, my 8 year old daughter found a few of the illustrations somewhat disturbing and averted her head, refusing to look at the pictures. Yet I really think this could be a beneficial text to accompany an anatomy course or just learning the names and locations of many of the bones within the human body.
Rainbow Sheep is perhaps my overall favorite of these offerings. Kim Chatel, the fiber artist who created the fiber art illustrations as well as the accompanying text for this fantasy fiction piece, has created a truly original creative gem. Recommended as a read-aloud for 4 year olds up to age 10 as a read-aloud, this fairy tale has captured my younger children's imagination. Shepherdess girl Genevieve is found tickling the clouds until they roll away and the sunshine comes in, and later talking to a rainbow and cheering it with stories of monkeys and mermaids. I love the four "bonus" pages of included felting activities to complete with your children. Chatel's fascinating illustrations are inspiring enough to bring out the crafting impulse in even me!
Intrigued? This company has a page of free e-book downloads available for you to try them out. This company probably has something to offer every interest; yet although the quality of their published works is above average I certainly cannot speak for all titles they carry and strongly suspect that a variety of worldviews and philosophies will be represented within its offerings. For another opinion on this and other exciting homeschooling curricular offerings, see what the Homeschool Crew has to say.
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