Kathleen Stupar
Books Are Friends -- Read Them...Be Inspired...Then Create
The Tear Thief
Choosing Your Tears
23 Jun 2009The absolutely beautiful rich illustrations grab the attention of the reader at the cover and never let go till the last page. Their softness invokes the perfect background for the nighttime setting of the story , as well as enhancing the mysteriousness of the main character and the outcome of her mission. The story is a simple one which captures a child's attention at the start and keeps him/her intrigued to the very end. The tale is a delightfully entertaining story which introduces the reader/listener to the value of "genuine" tears as opposed to all those other kinds of tears -- a great way to get a lesson across about handling human emotion without "lecturing." Mom and dad -- you'll enjoy the story as much as your kids will! Great for sharing during family reading time.
The Genius of Leonardo
A Unique Approach to Leonardo
22 Jun 2009This is one of my favorite Barefoot Books. What a unique way to teach us about Leonardo's accomplishments -- none of that dry, boring "leonardo invented ______ in the year ____." The approach of telling the story of Leonardo DaVinci from the perspective of his young assistant makes this an entertaining read for boys and girls alike, especially the scientifically inclined. But, science isn't the main topic -- rather, the subtle, sophisticated storytelling weaves the science among the main story of Leonardo the man, not the inventor, revealing his mysterious personality along with his genius. The illustrations of Leonardo's work as well as those illustrating the story are excellent! I'm a Barefoot Ambassador who has received great feedback from customers who have given this to boys and girls ages 8 to 12. I've given it as a gift myself. ---Kathy Stupar