An Enemy Like Me - Book Review

 

An Enemy Like Me, a novel by Teri M. Brown, is a book that held my interest from the very first page to the last.

Jacob Miller, a first-generation American, was raised by his mother through the Great Depression in a small German immigrant town in Ohio.

Jacob meets and marries Bonnie, and they have a son William. Jacob, Bonnie, and William are living their dream life until the unthinkable happens. 

The Japanese Empire bombs Pearl Harbor and the country is at war in both Europe and the Pacific.

Jacob, being of German descent, is already concerned for himself and his family with Germany and the Nazis invading Europe. 

After Jacob's friend is sent to an internment camp for enemy combatants. He is torn between staying home and protecting his family and proving he is a patriot by going off to war.

Teri M. Brown takes us through the lives of Jacob, Bonnie, and William from the time of the Great Depression to the present day 2016. She gives us an in-depth look at the joys, pain, and anguish of each of these real-life characters and the lasting impact of war on not only the soldiers but their families.

As I read page after page, I kept thinking of my father, and my uncles who served. The pain my grandparents, father, and uncles must have felt when they received the news that my uncle Sam's plane had been shot down. Then, the joy they must have had when they found out he was alive but a prisoner of war. Then, the worry of him being a prisoner of war.

If you are a fan of historical fiction then, this book is for you. I could not stop reading until I finished it. Thank you, Teri M. Brown.

Click here to learn more about Teri M. Brown, Author

I was introduced to An Enemy Like Me by a friend's review of this book. You can read her review here: Book Review of An Enemy Like Me on ReviewThisReviews.com

An Enemy Like Me

 

Me Reader Book Sets

In my opinion, it is never too early for kids to start reading.

As parents and grandparents, we all want to see our children learn as much as they can.

Our grandson Tyler got this Star Wars Me Reader as a gift. 

 The Me Reader story reader comes with 8 books and a reader pad. Choose which book you want to read along both sides of the pad.



 The icons in the middle of the electronic pad are displayed on each page. Just press the corresponding icon and it reads that page. 

Tyler was so excited to show me his new gift. He opened one of the books and pushed the icon for that page. The e-reader read the page then he looked at me and said: "Is that what it says, grandpa".

I don't believe that this is a substitute for reading to your children. I just think that this is a great way for kids to enjoy books.

These children's e-readers make great gifts and are perfect for traveling and summertime reading.  

Reading over the summer can keep the kids in tune with what they learned in school and help prepare them for the next school year.

Is this the best e-reader to buy? I really don't know all I can tell you is that our grandson loves this one. And, there are so many other Me Reader books sets to choose from. 

I've read many of the reviews and like all products, there are some bad and good. I can say that most are good reviews on the Me Reader Book Sets.

Choose your favorite Me Reader Story

& 

Me Reader 8Bk 3in Disney JuniorDisney Princess Me Reader 8 Book Set (Story Reader MeMarvel Me Reader 3 Inch 8 Book BoxDisney Friends Me Reader 3 Inch 8 Book Disney FriendsFrozen Electronic Me Reader and 8 Book SetThomas Me Reader Electronic Reader and 8-Book Library 4 inchMickey Mouse Clubhouse Electronic Reader and 8-Book Library: Story ReaderStar Wars Saga Me Reader 8Bk 3In

Salamander Dance Children's Book Review

Salamander Dance is a great and fun way to introduce your children to nature. We picked this book up last year at a local nature reserve Roger Tory Peterson Institute.

We read it to our youngest grandson Tyler over and over again. He just can't seem to get enough of it, he learns something new every time we read it, I also learned some things reading Salamander Dance.

The book is well-illustrated and well-written. Teaching us the life cycle of the spotted salamander. 

From the time they leave their woodland homes and travel to the early springtime vernal pools. This is where they perform their annual Salamander Dance at the bottom of the pools.

Vernal pools fill with water from the melting snow and the early spring rains and then dry up in the summer. 

Within three days the females lay their eggs attaching them to twigs and branches at to bottom of the pools. Young salamanders are born with gills so they can breathe underwater.

When spring moves into summer the vernal pools begin to dry up. The young salamanders lose their gills and grow lungs so they can breathe on land. They can now leave the dried-up pools and find their woodland homes.

Almost every page has spotted salamander pictures in their natural habitat.

I learned so much from this book. And, I highly recommend Salamander Dance for the kids.





Can't wait? Buy it Now: Salamander Dance 

About the Author:

Salamander Dance was written by David FitzSimmons. He is a freelance writer and photographer. And, has written award-winning children's books about Curious Critters. His books have sold over 100,000 copies:

The Illustrator is Michael DiGiorgio who is nationally recognized as a nature artist.

More Children's books from David FitzSimmons

Salamander DanceCurious CrittersCurious Critters MarineCurious Critters New Jersey (Curious Critters Board Books)Curious Critters Volume TwoCurious Critters Indiana (Curious Critters Board Books)Curious Critters New York (Curious Critters Board Books)Curious Critters Ohio (Curious Critters Board Books)Curious Critters Maine (Curious Critters Board Books)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Children’s Book Review

Our copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Is it ever too early for children to start reading and learning?  As a parent and now grandparents we began reading to our children and grandchildren when they were just babies, as I’m sure many of you do.

One of our grandson’s favorite books, when he was a toddler, was The Very Hungry Caterpillar, By Eric Carle. This book also became a favorite of ours.

The story starts on Sunday with the birth of a little caterpillar who is very hungry. The little caterpillar begins to eat his way through each day of the week. The book is very well illustrated with each day of the week and the food that the little caterpillar eats. 

The fruits and food on the pages of the book that he eats even have little holes punched in the food for each day of the week. This shows the children that the little caterpillar has eaten through it.

On Saturday the caterpillar eats through a whole lot of food and has a stomachache. On Sunday he eats one green leaf and now is a big fat, satisfied caterpillar. 

The caterpillar builds himself a cocoon, and in two weeks nibbles, his way out and is a beautiful colorful butterfly.

Our grandson learned the days of the week very quickly, as just a little guy. We would point to each of the foods that the caterpillar ate and he was able to name the food. Soon he was reading about each day of the week and what food the caterpillar ate for us.

His amazement as we turned to the last page when the caterpillar turns into a beautiful colorful butterfly. The look on his face was priceless.  

Not only the first time but every time we read this book, as we would have to read it over and over again. Thank you, Eric Carle, for giving me this pleasure with my children, and now my grandchildren.

About the Author:

Eric Carle was born in 1929 and became a designer, illustrator, and writer of children’s books. He has illustrated and written more than 70 books and is most famous for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. There have been more than 162 million copies of his books sold around the world.

His knowledge and love for nature are the themes he writes into his books.  He believes his books bridge the gap between home and school. To him, a home represents warmth and security, and school is a strange new place with new people and surroundings.
 

What's Your Favorite Color? (Eric Carle and Friends' What's Your Favorite Book 2)Eric Carle Activity and Coloring Book Set ~ 2 Eric Carle Kids Activity Books Featuring Alphabet and Number Learning with Dr. Seuss Rewards Chart (Eric Carle Books)World of Eric Carle, Around the Farm 30-Button Animal Sound Book - Great for First Words - PI Kids