The “Rare Book Room” site has been constructed as an educational site intended to allow the visitor to examine and read some of the great books of the world.

Over the last decade, a company called “Octavo” digitally photographed some of the world ’s great books from some of the greatest libraries. These books were photographed at very high resolution (in some cases at over 200 megabytes per page).

This site contains all of the books (about 400) that have been digitized to date. These range over a wide variety of topics and rarity. The books are presented so that the viewer can examine all the pages in medium to medium-high resolution.

I enjoyed looking at Poor Richard’s Almanac and reading about a Rattlesnake Herb that was believed to used to cure the bite of a rattlesnake.  You can explore many other old books by visiting the Rare Book Room.

—Mary Nix

“Walden” is a four character, two act play about the final two days Henry
David Thoreau spent in his cabin before leaving Walden Pond. ”

Today I received another announcement from the same folks:

The album, “Walden: The Earth Song Collection” is now available. Proceeds of CD sales remain with this project to keep the Walden play available to educators worldwide free of charge. You can hear song samples and order your own copy today by clicking here.

I subscribe to this blog so that I don’t miss any of Andrea and Mark’s podcasts. I love books of all kinds, but I particularly enjoy a good children’s book.

Here’s their description:

Each episode features an informal discussion of one of our family’s favourite children’s books, a discussion on a book theme, an interview with an author or illustrator, or a listener submitted review.

Through this podcast and its website, we are building a lively, interactive community linking children’s book authors, illustrators, aficionados, parents, children, librarians and publishers.

Just One More Book!! is powered by passion. We have no advertisers or sponsors and there is no financial gain to be had. Our goal is to link children with great books and to help create happy memories for children and the adults that read to them and to have fun!

I hope you will check out all their posts, but if you only have time for one or two, check out

• Robert’s Snow Snowflake Bloggers for Cancer’s Cure: Week 3
• Robert’s Snow Online Art Auction for Cancer’s Cure: Interview with Diane Greenseid

I searched around their website as well and found that they are “a small, home-grown publishing company dedicated
to restoring to children and families a treasury of wholesome, character-building literature.”

At the website they have a “reading room” where you can read excerpts from some of their books.

Visit them here to learn more: http://www.bethlehembooks.com

Partners in the Sea

“In this nicely designed volume in the Undersea Encounters series, the authors introduce marine symbiosis, explaining mutualism and commensal partnerships as well as parasitism, providing numerous examples to clarify the concepts. Though most of the examples describe invertebrates such as sponges, sea anemones, sea urchins, and jellyfish, the authors also reference vertebrates, such as clownfish and cleaner fish. Remarkable full-color photos dominate every page. Crisp-edged and well lit, they offer amazing detail and greatly enhance the text. The use of large print and captions in colored type, which affords greater contrast against dark photographic backgrounds, makes the whole pleasing to the eye and appealing to younger readers. A glossary and a bibliography round out the book, which will be a popular choice for both browsers and report writers.”

You can look inside “Crabs” here at Mary Jo Rhodes website.

Her website also offers the following free resources:

• Aquarium Websites
• Fun Stuff for Kids
  
• Sites about Sea Animals
• How to Help Sea Animals
  

Each book introduces a new, unique fairy with familar friends returning for adventures to protect the world from all sorts of magical monsters. The books are modern day fairy tales.

In addition to the fairy tales, there are also fairy facts and fairy fun in each book.

At their website you will find:

• A Fairy Handbook
• Fun for Fairies

This magazine stands out because it encourages creativity, cultural diversity and explores ecological stewardship. It also provides a forum for children to communicate with other children from different backgrounds and countries. When you read the magazine, you realize children and youth are the reason for the magazine’s existence.

If you are looking for an interesting book, they have recently posted their 2007 Skipping Stone Honor Awards.

The latest issue of Skipping Stones includes, “No School for a Year! Learning on the Road.” that tells the story of two brothers who took a year off to travel and what they learned from their travels.

Skipping Stones’ Editor, Arun Toké, recently wrote that they are seeking more articles and stories by children and youth concerning their experiences with home education and learning that occurs outside the classroom in their upcoming issues (Sept – Oct and Nov-Dec).

For those interested in submitting, here is the contact information:

Arun Toké
Editor
Skipping Stones Magazine
P.O. Box 3939
Eugene, OR 97403
email: editor@SkippingStones.org
website: www.SkippingStones.org

While you are there, be sure to check out the following as well:

Multiculural Awareness and Nature Appreciation

Traditions and Celebrations * Diversity and Tolerance * Dreams and Visions * Youth Activism * Family and Society * Nature and Environment * Peace, Justice and Equality

The Youth Honor Awards recognize creative and artistic works by young people that promote multicultural and nature awareness.

To enter the 2007 Youth Awards (due by 25 June), visit:
http://www.skippingstones.org/youthhonor-02.htm