This post goes towards It’s Monday What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA at Teach Mentor Textsand for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge as well as Just Jot It January. This also goes towards the NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge and the Short Story Reading Challenge – Deal Me in 2018.

For the Short Story Reading Challenge – Deal Me In 2018, here is a short short-story this week again (but not intentional – the pick of the cards!).

The Card: 6 of Spades

The Selection: Leo Tolstoy’s ‘The Three Questions‘

Here is the goodreads description: The story takes the form of a parable, and it concerns a king who wants to find the answers to what he considers the three most important questions in life. When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?

My thoughts: This story provides the answers to the questions posed by the king in the story (and also asked by many of us very often). Through this story, he illustrates the importance of the present moment, of mindfulness (of the whys, wheres, whos, whats, and hows of the present moment), and to simply do good. A beautiful quick read that can be appreciated by all.

Another book that I discovered after I read this story and was trying to find out more about this was an adaptation of the story for children (with a replaced character set and no violence) – named, well, The Three Questions [Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy] – by Jon J Muth. I have to yet read this adaptation but it looks and sounds like it would make a great gift (and books are my favorite books to give and receive), so I will be checking this out soon!

 

Epic Cardboard Adventures by Leslie Manlapig

Series: Capstone Young Readers
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers; Combined edition (March 1, 2018)

Goodreads Description: The creator behind the blog Pink Stripey Socks brings her crafting talent to cardboard! With these easy-to-make, imagination-growing cardboard crafts, kids can put on a show, travel back in time, and even rocket to outer space!

My  thoughts: This book contains many creative ideas – using, as the title says, cardboard.  And while cardboard in its many forms (cartons, paper towel tubes, toilet paper tubes, other) is not the only material needed, many of the other materials are ones you will likely already have at home! Plus, you can put those Amazon shipping cartons to fun use! A helpful material list for each craft and step-by-step photographic instructions help the reader work towards a cool end result – be it something just pure fun, a costume, playtime use, games, props to put on shows, and more. My favorite sections were those on Ancient Egypt (could be because of our recent visit to the amazing local museum here – a travel post on that to come in the next couple of weeks!), space (our Kennedy Space center visit?), and the section ‘Put on a Show’ which includes crafts for a rock concert, puppet show, and carnival fun among others.  Displaying the end results of my creations?? In a future post – coming soon!!

Note: While some crafts can be completed by kids by themselves, many of the crafts will need an older kid or adult help/supervision to complete. But – be warned, this can be addictive for those who love creating – like my DD and me (and my DH will not be a happy camper as he prefers cardboard boxes and used paper towel holders in the recycle bin usually!) This book while, will appeal more to younger kids, creative ‘uns of all ages will have fun exploring these ideas…

Rating: B+
Reading Level: Ages 7 to 11
Reread Level: 5/5

 

Disclaimer:Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for sending me a digital review copy of the book – Epic Cardboard Adventures. I was not compensated for my reviews. My thoughts were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal opinions formed when I read these books.

Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links.