HomeSchoolBuzz.com

Carnival of Homeschooling: Things Homeschoolers Love.

2010-02-09T19:47:00.001-05:00

Hosted this week at the Raising Real Men blog. The theme is Things Homeschoolers Love.

We’ve been thinking a lot about what we love lately: A year ago our precious Katie was born the day before Valentine’s Day. How appropriate since we’d spend the next year thinking about her heart. At two weeks, we discovered she was in SVT (dangerously fast heart rhythm) at 278 beats per minute. They had to stop her heart six times that night. We were hoping she’d be one of the 25% who grow out of the condition by a year old, but we just found out her heart is still in danger. Not only that, but my best friend, husband and co-author, Hal has stage four Hodgkins lymphoma. We are thinking a lot about what we love – Christ, our family, and so much more!

So, we dedicate this Carnival, in the week before Valentine’s Day to Things Homeschoolers Love. Homeschoolers are an incredibly diverse bunch, but it is safe to say that homeschoolers: Read more...

A New Basis for U.S. Asylum Claims: Homeschooling

2010-02-03T23:07:00.001-05:00

From Time.com... I think it's safe to say the media is beginning to take note.

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike are not like other asylum seekers, people fleeing war or torture in places like Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia. They're music teachers from a village in southern Germany. And yet, in what appears to be the first case of its kind, the couple and their five children were granted asylum in the U.S. last week by an immigration judge who ruled that they had a "well-founded fear of persecution" in their home country for engaging in what has become a popular albeit somewhat controversial American practice — homeschooling their children. Read more...

German homeschoolers' political asylum exposes the EU Gulag

2010-02-03T16:45:00.002-05:00

From the Telegraph Blogs (UK).

The case of the homeschooling couple from Germany who were granted political asylum in the United States, about which Ed West blogged recently, becomes even more interesting if one reads the remarks of the man who granted the Romeikes asylum, Immigration Judge Lawrence O. Burman, of Memphis, Tennessee.

Burman said: “We can’t expect every country to follow our constitution. The world might be a better place if it did. However, the rights being violated here are basic human rights that no country has a right to violate.” He observed: “Homeschoolers are a particular social group that the German government is trying to suppress. This family has a well-founded fear of persecution… therefore, they are eligible for asylum…”

Those last remarks might have been uttered in 1933. Do we truly realise the significance of what has happened? Read more...

Carnival of Homeschooling – What Matters Most

2010-02-02T15:20:00.002-05:00

The Carnival is hosted this week by "As for My House" blog, reminding us what matters most.

It’s been a rough time for us lately… Unemployment… New job, but underemployed, and having to move out of our house… Living in the RV with three kids and four cats…

And we just learned that my Father-in-Law has been diagnosed with lung cancer (He’s going through a troubled recovery from throat cancer, beginning two years ago, and his wife has just been through a bout with cancer as well). We’ll be heading for Mississippi tomorrow to spend a week with the family there.

Nothing like struggles to make you re-evaluate your priorities!

With that in mind, I present this, the

Carnival of Homeschooling – “What Matters Most” Edition Read more...

Homeschool Writer of the Year Competition 2010

2010-01-31T12:05:00.001-05:00

Okay, this took me a while to understand. it's not a writing contest in the usual sense but Homeschool Writers site lists a bunch of other contests and they want to encourage homeschoolers to enter by offering prizes for entering the most.

It's a great idea and I encourage your K-12 homeschoolers to check out the list of writing contests waiting for their entry. They also offer deadline reminders for you.

Who can enter the most writing contests this year? This competition encourages homeschoolers of every age to get out their pens and join in the race!

Our Goal
The goal is to help students see that winning a contest is not the important part-- it's entering the contest itself. That's where this competition comes in; we try to encourage the student to enter writing contests without getting discouraged that they didn't win each contest. We award recognition not for who won the most but for who entered the most. Our hope is that students will find entering contests fun, even if they don't win. Read more...

Homeschooling breeds new culture of learning

2010-01-30T18:29:00.001-05:00

Via accessAtlanta

It’s part of a trend of home schoolers becoming involved in activities that would have once seemed the antithesis of learning in a private, family-based environment. What began with home educated students making their presence felt in scholastic sports leagues and youth orchestras has spread to cultural institutions.

“Part of what’s happening is that home schooling now is, or is really close to being, mainstream,” said Brian D. Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute. “If you’re a museum, a theater, a library, a team or a community chorus, you’re going to hear, ‘We’re here. Is there some way we can be part of what you do?’ ” Read more...

I thought people like me were nuts

2010-01-29T11:18:00.001-05:00

Via the Austin Daily Herald | Home schooling provides an alternative

Cindy Stevens, mother of 3, and Lisa Jewett, mother of 5, have taught their children all that they know — well, not exactly everything. But, the two women aren’t just mothers. They are teachers. Stevens and Jewett teach their kids at home, taking on everything from choosing the curriculum, writing lesson plans and grading exams.

“It’s funny because I used to be anti-homeschool,” Jewett said. “I thought people like me were nuts.” Read more...

Homeschoolers at the Kitchen table again

2010-01-29T11:14:00.001-05:00

All these slice of life homeschool stories mention the kitchen table. Via Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN.

Cindy Stevens' three children study at the kitchen table, but it's also where they get their daily lessons about math, science, history — you name it — from their mother.

Their day starts at 7:30 a.m. and is usually done by 2 p.m. The family does this five days a week.

The Stevens family is one of a few families in the Austin area that homeschool their children. Stevens said she became concerned about her children's behavior while her two oldest children, Olivia, 12, and Nathan, 11, were in preschool. A conversation with an elderly woman who homeschooled her grandchild offered Stevens a view that led her to homeschool her children. Read more...

German perspective on Homeschool Asylum in the U.S.

2010-01-29T11:09:00.001-05:00

The German Spiegel Online (English Edition) has a piece on the case of the German homeschool family granted asylum in the U.S.. There is not much by way of German reaction but some interesting background on the case.

The decision on the family's political asylum could still be overturned if the US government appeals the ruling. But Mike Donnelly, the attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association, said he hopes Tuesday's ruling will influence public opinion in Germany -- which is part of the reason his group offered to represent the Romeikes, he said. Read more...

German Homeschool Asylum, Where is U.S. Media?

2010-01-29T11:05:00.001-05:00

The Reality Check Blog asks the question why this isn't being covered in the media. I have seen the AP wire story published in the Washington Post. The Conservative Washington Times has their own report. Beyond this, there's not much real independent coverage of this in the U.S.

Sadly, about the only people reporting on these incidents seem to be Christian groups and homeschooling networks on the Internet. Groups like the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). As mentioned above, the AP has a story that has made its way around the wires, too, but there doesn’t seem to be much independent coverage of this by the Old Media.

This seems odd since it is quite an interesting story where it concerns international relations. The HSLDA says that this ruling is “embarrassing for Germany.” That may be but the rest of the media is silent. Read more...

U.S. Grants Political Asylum for German Homeschoolers

2010-01-28T00:32:00.001-05:00

Via OneNewsNow.com. It's actually a judge in Tennessee, so it technically is not the "U.S." granting asylum. Let's hope the Federal Government doesn't step in worried about creating an international incident. (HT Stacy on Facebook)

PURCELLVILLE, VA- A German couple who fled to Tennessee so they could home school their children has been granted political asylum by an immigration judge in Memphis. (See earlier story)

The decision clears the way for Uwe Romeike his wife and five children to stay in Morristown, Tennessee, where they have been living since 2008.

German law requires children to attend public or private schools, and parents can face fines or prison time if they don't comply. Romeike, an evangelical Christian, said he believes Germany's curriculum is "against Christian values." Read more...

Carnival of Homeschooling: for Those Considering Homeschooling

2010-01-26T13:02:00.001-05:00

The carnival is hosted this week at Corn and Oil.

It’s the middle of the school year. Unfortunately, there’s been one more bullying incident on the bus. The principal says his hands are tied, and maybe you’d consider driving your child to school (10 miles away). During those desperate times, you’ve considered homeschooling. Double DeckerAfter all, this double decker looks more appealing than that yellow one. Read more...

An Idiot’s Guide to Homeschooling

2010-01-25T11:22:00.001-05:00

Via The Enterprise Blog. I mentioned a similar attack on religion under the guise of homeschooling a few weeks ago with a similar (but less eloquent) criticism. Maybe attacking religion directly is too obvious. So attack a perceived fringe element like homeschoolers.

I continue to be amazed at the public displays of rank anti-religious ignorance by members of the “educated class.” This time it’s in an article entitled “The Harms of Homeschooling” by one Robin L. West (h/t to Izzy Lyman), from a recent issue of Philosophy & Public Policy, published by the University of Maryland. The name of the publication led me to expect something academic, but the article is basically a bigoted screed against the supposed religious extremism of the “hard core” of the homeschooling community. It’s chock-full of dispassionate academic prose like this (describing homeschoolers): Read more...

Homeschool players fighting for access to public school teams

2010-01-25T11:12:00.001-05:00

Via SI.com (the online version of Sports Illustrated)

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- On a rainy Friday afternoon in October, junior quarterback Stevie Douglas emerged from a well-traveled minivan that had begun its journey in Clinton, La. Teammates Ronald Brown, Rennel Hammond, Mike-el Arvie and Jeremy Arvie emerged from a white van bearing the logo of the New Life Tabernacle Church in Opelousas, La. From other vehicles came more players -- 21 in all -- and they toted their duffel bags into one of the leftover FEMA trailers that served as locker rooms for a tiny football stadium in the shadow of a graveyard.

Once inside, several players dipped into their bags and pulled out their helmets. Then they dipped back into their bags and pulled out screwdrivers to repair their helmets. The team doesn't have an equipment manager for the same reason they didn't come to Hattiesburg in a school bus. To use a school bus, the Patriots would have to play for a brick-and-mortar school.

The vast majority of the players are on this team homeschooled. Read more...

Bad economy may be fueling homeschooling trend

2010-01-25T11:10:00.001-05:00

Via the OrlandoSentinel.com. Add homeschooling as another effect of the bad economy. This may or may not be true but I hope these parents reap the joy of teaching their own.

When 7-year-old Annabelle Kirkpatrick studies fractions and converting pints to quarts, she and her mom go into their kitchen and start cooking.

For a lesson on caterpillars, they browse around their backyard flower garden for a look at the little critters firsthand. After all, Annabelle is homeschooled, which means her parents' two-story house in Eustis is her classroom.

Angela Kirkpatrick decided last school year to homeschool her daughter, who became one of a flood of Florida children who suddenly left private and public schools to learn at home. Read more...

Newbery and other Book awards for 2010

2010-01-20T17:13:00.007-05:00

Today American Library Association announced it's literary award winners. We have only read a few of the books awarded and look forward to reading many more.

John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature

When You Reach Me Hardcover, Rebecca Stead

Four Newbery Honor Books also were named:

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Hardcover, Phillip M Hoose

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate Hardcover, Jacqueline Kelly

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Hardcover, Grace Lin

Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (Newbery Honor Book) Hardcover, Rodman Philbrick

Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children

The Lion & the Mouse Hardcover, Jerry Pinkney

Two Caldecott Honor Books also were named:

All the World Hardcover, Liz Garton Scanlon, Marla Frazee

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors Hardcover, Joyce Sidman, Pamela Zagarenski

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults

Going Bovine Hardcover, Libba Bray

Four Printz Honor Books also were named:

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith Hardcover, Deborah Heiligman

The Monstrumologist Hardcover, Rick Yancey

Punkzilla Hardcover, Adam Rapp

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance 1973 Hardcover, John Barnes

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal (Exceptional Social Studies Titles for Intermediate Grades) Library Binding, Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, R. Gregory Christie

One King Author Honor Book was selected:

Mare's War Hardcover, Tanita S. Davis

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award

My People Hardcover, Langston Hughes, Charles R. Smith Jr.

One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected:

The Negro Speaks of Rivers Hardcover, Langston Hughes, E. B. Lewis

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
“The Rock and the River,” written by kekla magoon, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

The Rock and the River Hardcover, Kekla Magoon

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
Walter Dean Myers is the winner of this first-ever Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Myers’ books include: “Amiri & Odette: A Love Story,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “Fallen Angels,” published by Scholastic Press; “Monster,” published by Amistad and HarperTeen, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers; and “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” published by Scholastic Press.

Monster Paperback, Walter Dean Myers

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day; Celebremos El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros Hardcover, Pat Mora, Rafael Lopez

Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were selected:

Diego: Bigger Than Life Hardcover, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, David Diaz

My Abuelita Hardcover, Tony Johnston, Yuyi Morales

Gracias / Thanks (English and Spanish Edition) Hardcover, Pat Mora, John Parra

Pura Belpré (Author) Award

Return to Sender Hardcover, Julia Alvarez

Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named:

Diego: Bigger Than Life Hardcover, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, David Diaz

Federico Garcia Lorca (Cuando Los Grandes Eran Pequenos/ When the Grown-Ups Were Children) (Spanish Edition) Hardcover, Georgina Lazaro, Enrique S. Moreiro

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience
young children ages 0 to 10.

Django Hardcover, Bonnie Christensen

Schneider Family Book Award for middle grades (ages 11-13).

Anything But Typical Hardcover, Nora Raleigh Baskin

Schneider Family Book Award for The teen (ages 13-18)

Marcelo in the Real World Hardcover, Francisco Stork

William C. Morris Award honors a book written by a first-time author for young adults

Flash Burnout Hardcover, L. K. Madigan

Odyssey Award for excellence in audiobook production

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken Audio CD, Kate DiCamillo, Harry Bliss, Barbara Rosenblat

Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks were named:

In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack Adventures) Audio CD, L.A. Meyer, Katherine Kellgren (narrator)

Peace, Locomotion Audio CD, Jacqueline Woodson, Dion Graham

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball Audio CD, Kadir Nelson, Dion Graham

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book

Benny And Penny in The Big No-No (Toon Books) Hardcover, Geoffrey Hayes, Geoffrey Hayes

Four Geisel Honor Books were named:

I Spy Fly Guy Hardcover, Tedd Arnold

Little Mouse Gets Ready (Toon Books) Hardcover, Jeff Smith

Mouse & Mole, Fine Feathered Friends (Mouse and Mole) Hardcover, Wong Herbert Yee, Wong Herbert Yee

Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day (Dial Easy-to-Read) Hardcover, Kate McMullan, R.W. Alley

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults
Jim Murphy is the 2010 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,” published by Clarion Books; “Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Great Fire,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Long Road to Gettysburg,” published by Clarion Books; and “A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy,” published by Clarion Books.

Truce Hardcover, Jim Murphy

Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream Hardcover, Tanya Lee Stone, Margaret A. Weitekamp

Three Sibert Honor Books were named:

The Day-Glo Brothers Hardcover, Chris Barton, Tony Persiani

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 (Richard Jackson Books (Atheneum Hardcover)) Hardcover, Brian Floca, Brian Floca

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice Hardcover, Phillip M Hoose

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith Hardcover, Deborah Heiligman

Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video (The video is unavailable so I linked to the book for now.)

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Hardcover, Mo Willems, Mo Willems

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States

A Faraway Island Hardcover, Annika Thor, Linda Schenck

Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected:

Big Wolf and Little Wolf Hardcover, Nadine Brun-Cosme, Olivier Tallec

Eidi: The Children of Crow Cove (The Children of Crow Cove Series) Hardcover, Bodil Bredsdorff, Kathryn Mahaffy

Guardian Of The Darkness (Moribito) Hardcover, Nahoko Uehashi

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope Hardcover, William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

The Bride's Farewell Hardcover, Meg Rosoff

Everything Matters!: A Novel Hardcover, Jr., Ron Currie

The Good Soldiers Hardcover, David Finkel

The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir Hardcover, Diana Welch, Liz Welch, Amanda Welch, Dan Welch

The Magicians: A Novel Hardcover, Lev Grossman

My Abandonment Hardcover, Peter Rock

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate) Mass Market Paperback, Gail Carriger

Stitches: A Memoir Hardcover, David Small

Tunneling to the Center of the Earth: Stories (P.S.) Paperback, Kevin Wilson

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site
Lois Lowry will deliver the 2011 lecture. The internationally acclaimed author’s career spans more than 30 years. She is a two-time recipient of the Newbery Medal, in 1990 for “Number the Stars,” set in Denmark during World War II, and in 1994 for the eerily dystopian “The Giver.” Both books are published by Houghton Mifflin.

The Giver Paperback, Lois Lowry

Standards of public schools / homeschools differ

2010-01-20T09:28:00.001-05:00

From The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Many public-schooled students certainly wouldn’t pass my standards, and my children shouldn’t have to pass the state’s standards. I don’t have anything to hide; however, the question isn’t whether I and other home-school parents have something to hide or not, but whether we should have to prove something or not. Parents shouldn’t be held accountable to the state. The state – and its educators and educational system – should be held accountable to parents and taxpayers. Read more...

German Homeschoolers May be Granted Political Asylum

2010-01-20T09:25:00.001-05:00

Via Christian Newswire

PURCELLVILLE, VA, Jan. 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- In what could be a major international embarrassment for Germany a federal immigration judge in Memphis Tennessee is expected to rule this Wednesday on the political asylum case of the Romeike family who fled persecution by German authorities over homeschooling in August 2008.

"The persecution of homeschoolers in Germany has dramatically intensified," said HSLDA staff attorney Michael P. Donnelly. "They are regularly fined thousands of dollars, threatened with imprisonment, or have the custody of their children taken away simply because they choose to home educate." Read more...

Carnival of Homeschooling: Library Week Edition

2010-01-19T19:14:00.001-05:00

Home School Dad is hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling: Library Week Edition.

This is week 212 in the carnival of home schooling. If this was the carnival of home schooling for dogs it would be week 1,484.

Before I get started with the theme of this week, I thought this would be the best time to talk about the big news story going on right now. I certainly don't mean Leno vs. Conan. Laura presents 21 Ways For Your Children To Help Haitian Earthquake Victims posted at Practical Homeschooling. Read more...

How Conservatives Can Use “Education Reform” as a Campaign Issue

2010-01-18T20:41:00.001-05:00

Sam BlumenfeldAll candidates for office promise to “improve education,” but when they are elected, they haven’t the faintest idea of how to proceed from there. That’s because the whole idea of education reform is based more on the deliberate falsehoods produced by the educators than on the reality of why our schools are the way they are.

I have been writing critically about education for the last forty years, and the one thing that has become quite obvious to me is that all of the serious problems we have in public education today have been deliberately caused by the educators themselves, and that no true education reform is possible so long as we rely on the educators to create and implement these reforms. Read more...

You can help Haiti earthquake victims now!

2010-01-14T17:59:00.001-05:00

Staley Krause of CurrClick just sent me a note about their support of the Haiti relief effort. CurrClick.com will be matching donations to World Vision for this purpose. Donate $5 Now at CurrClick. Just click "Add to Cart" and check out.

Homeschoolers, Let's band together and see how much we can raise to help the people of Haiti.
If each of us gave just $5, think of what kind of an impact we could make. CurrClick.com will match donations.
All funds raised will be sent to the World Vision Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Please see the CurrClick homepage to watch our donation total as it rises in support of the Haitian people and their community.
Help us spread the word on Facebook and Twitter! If you have a Twitter or Facebook account, post the following: Homechoolers Help Haiti! Join with other homeschoolers & donate now: http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=33677&it=1

Information about the earthquake and World Vision:

A massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12th. The damage to buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated to be in the hundreds, even thousands. World Vision is on the ground rushing emergency supplies to survivors of this catastrophe.

Your gift now will help distribute life-saving relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets, and tents -- to children and families devastated by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

“We would be very concerned about a quake of this magnitude anywhere in the world, but it is especially devastating in Haiti, where people are acutely vulnerable because of poor infrastructure and extreme poverty,” said Edward Brown, World Vision’s relief director in the United States.

World Vision has worked in Haiti for 30 years and has some 370 staff in country. Please join us in praying for the children and families devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. Read more...

Carnival of Homeschooling: Dog and Cat Edition

2010-01-13T18:03:00.001-05:00

This week's carnival is hosted by Alasandra's Homeschool Blog. She has a dog and cat theme with pictures of their many pets throughout.

Fenris was adopted from the Bay St. Louis/ Waveland Animal Shelter. He is a well loved Mutt. The best guess is he is an Great Pyrenees & Australian Shepherd Mix. Fenris' name comes from Norse Mythology.

The Fenris Wolf (aka Fenrir) is a creature of the Asgardian dimension who is said to be an offspring of Loki and the giant Angrboda. It is a huge wolf (usual height 15 feet tall) with human-like intelligence, vast strength and the capacity to change its shape to that of a god or to change its size to that of a real wolf. Read more...

Book Tour: Calamity Jack

2010-01-11T08:09:00.001-05:00

Calamity Jack
By Shannon and Dean Hale Illustrated by Nathan Hale
Recommended reading level: ages 10 and up
Reviewed by: Kathy Davis

Note: You might read some plot spoilers so be forewarned.

Calamity Jack is the hero of this engaging graphic novel. Born to "scheme", Jack sets his sights on what he wants and will go for it no matter what the consequences. Unfortunately it seems bad luck follows him. Good intentions he may have, but the end result is not always "ideal". Just like another Jack we've heard about, Calamity Jack buys some magic beans that lead him straight to some cranky giants. The great beanstalk may provide him with a goose that lays golden eggs, but it also destroys his mom's bakery. His exasperated mom sends him away, and he goes westward. He needs to hide anyway from the giants, and he hopes once the goose lays him some eggs he can go home and help rebuild the bakery. Joined by his friend Rapunzel, (a star of another one of Hale's graphic novels) they return home to find out his mom is in trouble and his city in shambles. Can they save her? Or will once again calamity follow Jack?

I've never been a huge fan of graphic novels, but I have to say this one tells a good story, and has some dazzling illustrations – the kind that make you want to linger over the page once the dialogue is read. My copy was black and white, but the finished book will be full color throughout. Jack, despite his sordid past and tendency toward misfortune, is a likeable hero and it's easy to root for him to succeed. He also has some interesting side-kicks (Rapunzel and Pixie) and a nasty villain (Blunderboar) to fight. Any kid who balks at reading books, and even those who like to sink their teeth into a good novel will enjoy this book.

I'd like to thank the publishers bloomsburyusa.com for providing me with an advance reading copy of Calamity Jack for this review.
Want to learn more about Shannon Hale? Here's a short biography from her website:
"Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six award-winning young adult novels, including the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, and two books for adults, Austenland and The Actor and the Housewife. She co-wrote a graphic novel, Rapunzel's Revenge, with husband Dean Hale. They live with their two small children near Salt Lake City, Utah." For even more information, visit her website at: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html
Also, Here's Dean's website: http://www.dreadcrumbs.com/
And Nathan's http://spacestationnathan.blogspot.com/

Here are the participating bloggers on this book tour:
Sally Apokedak, Reading is my Superpower, firesidemusings.blogspot.com, Through the Looking Glass Book Review , Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Becky’s Book Reviews, The Hungry Readers, The Friendly Book Book, My Own Little Corner of the World, Book Blather, GreenBeanTeenQueen, Book Crumbs , Abby (the) Librarian, Dolce Bellezza, Homeschoolbuzz.com, The Book Cellar, Carrie’s YA Bookshelf, Bookshelf Monstrosity, Everyday Reading, Frenetic Reader, KidzBookBuzz.com, Maw Books

Homeschooled genius is youngest to go to Cambridge

2010-01-08T16:33:00.001-05:00

The home-educated teenager said: ''Maths has been my favourite subject for as long as I can remember.

''I enjoy being home schooled because I'm more involved. I can see the mark schemes and help my dad decide the curriculum.''

The degree, or ''tripos'' as it is known to Cambridge students, is widely regarded as one of the most difficult in the world. Read more...

Sweden slammed for seizing homeschooled boy

2010-01-08T16:31:00.001-05:00

Another sad case of government hegemony. According to the article, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), and the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) are getting involved.

Christian home-schooling parents who had their son taken away by Swedish Government officials have lost their court case to have him returned.

Dominic Johansson, who is just seven years old, was taken away from his parents in 2008 and a court has now ruled that the Government was within its rights to do so.

Critics have called Dominic’s removal a “disgraceful” abuse of power. Read more...