Renee Skelton

Inez Fung forecasts the future?a future when Earth could look and feel a lot different than it does now. Inez is a climate scientist, someone who studies the causes of weather patterns and how they change over time. Why care about climate change? Because it affects every living thing on Earth, including you. What if the climate where you live began to change dramatically? What if a warmer climate caused the polar ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise? Inez investigates why such changes happen and how we can prepare for them. She does it by using data about the planet?s land masses, oceans, and atmosphere to create computer models of Earth. Even gas and dust embedded in polar ice half a millions years ago can tell Inez about climates of the past?and give clues about Earth?s climate future. Forecast Earth is the fascinating story of a scientist and her science. To tell this true tale of creative brilliance, author Renee Skelton drew on firsthand accounts from Inez and her friends, family, and colleagues. How did a quiet girl from Hong Kong grow up to become one of the world?s most respected climate scientists? The life story of Inez Fung will intrigue and inspire readers of all ages.… (altro)

Summary:
Harriet Tubman, A Woman of Courage is a biographical book published by Time for Kids Biographies. In the beginning of this story, readers are introduced to Harriet Tubman as a woman of courage who was born a slave. Throughout the book stories of how Harriet escaped from the life of a slave living on a plantation to her freedom in Pennsylvania. Harriet used an “underground railroad” system to assist other slaves to freedom. At the end of this story, an elderly Harriet Tubman is pictured in the last photograph taken of her. Her honors as a Civil War scout, receiver of a silver medal for bravery and many other honors are mentioned.

Personal Reaction:
This biography of Harriet Tubman is informative for early readers. I like the way the book is divided into chapters such as Working on the Railroad, The Civil War Years, and Harriet’s Later Years. The pages on the book are printed on paper that resembles old parchment paper. When I was younger, I thought the “underground railroad” was a real railroad! Thank God for the knowledge of learning it was not an actual railroad so I can pass the correct story of Harriet Tubman down into the generations of my children and grandchildren.

Classroom Extension Ideas: 1.) Create Paper Quilts. Have students design paper squares with coded messages to go along with the story of the Underground Railroad. Once students are finished, place all the squares together to form a quilt.
2.) Divide students into groups. Give the groups maps of the United States. Students are to find and pinpoint various safe house locations from a list. Students must decide the geographical terrain of the area. Students should decide if the locations were the kinds of places runaway slaves could easily find.… (altro)

Summary: This book is about the life of Harriet Tubman. It talks about her early childhood and how she was born into slavery but was determined from a early age that she was more than just a slave. She wanted better for her life. She was fearless woman and one of her famous quotes was " There was one of two things I had a right to- liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would have the other." Those are powerful words that proves why she is a woman of courage. Even when Harriet escaped slavery she was still concerned for others and she helped many other slaves escape and this was a act of selflessness and also courage.

Personal Reactions: I have read a few books about Harriet Tubman but when I was a little girl I do not remember having a "Time for Kids Biographies" book selection to choose from. I really like how the book is kids friendly and breaks everything down "big bird and cookie monster" so that all kids can understand what happened in the time of the persons life even though it was many years before their time.

Classroom Extension Ideas: 1. During Black History Month I would have my class put on a little skit for the school to show who Harriet Tubman was and why she is so important in History. 2. The students could write a short paper saying if they were put in the same position as Harriet Tubman would they take the long, scary trip alone to escape slavery and if so would they do a selfless service and go back and help others escape as well and why.… (altro)