Review: RALPHINA, THE ROLY-POLY by Claudia Chandler

Ralphina, The Roly-Poly
By Claudia Chandler

As a fan of Janet Halfmann, I have great appreciation for children's books that tell a story and teach science at the same time. Children love learning about the world around them, and books that highlight the creatures they encounter every day help them build an understanding of the world.

With this in mind, I was very excited when Claudia Chandler's Ralphina, the Roly-Poly arrived. I could tell right away from the cover illustration this was going to be a treasure of a book. I knew my boys would be just as excited to learn about the strange little bugs they had become so accustomed to uncovering in their outdoor exploration.

Ralphina is both written and illustrated by Chandler. The story begins with Ralphina devising a plan to get the attention of the little boy who lives in the home on her lot. She's looking for a playmate, but her mother explains that she's probably just too small for the boy to notice. Her idea is to make the tulips in the yard bloom so beautifully that the boy will have to come outside and pick one of the flowers for his mother. Through Ralphina's efforts, we learn how roly-polies aid the growth and development of plant life. We also learn about their protective instincts, anatomy, habitat, and genus. The positive storyline about friendship and problem-solving is followed by two pages of facts about the little insects.

Putting the educational value aside, my favorite part of the book is definitely the gorgeous illustrations. The colors are vivid and the pictures pop from the page. These are the types of drawings that one could imagine gracing nursery walls or children's museums. The font is a little flowery, however, which might make it difficult for early readers to decipher. As long as an adult is doing the reading, this doesn't pose an obstacle.

Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is a book that will remain on bookshelves for years, as children will still find the scientific value after they've outgrown the storyline. Claudia Chandler has created a well-rounded book parents and children alike will enjoy.

Review: SHADOW YOGA, CHAYA YOGA by Shandor Remete

Shadow Yoga, Chaya Yoga: The Principles of Hatha Yoga
By Shandor Remete

Shadow Yoga, Chaya Yoga is an introduction to Hatha Yoga. Unfortunately, to claim this book as an introduction to any yoga principle is misleading. Remete describes the facets considered imperative to becoming enlightened through Hatha Yoga, but he does it in such a convoluted jargon-laden way, the reader becomes lost and confused trying to piece each principle together.

I feel terrible that I haven't even been able to finish this book. I've tried several times, but each time I start reading I become so overloaded with terms that my mind becomes distracted and I lose interest. The parts that I was able to understand easily were based on my prior knowledge of yoga gleaned from other readings and a Religions course. He speaks of various positions and methods, but never elaborates or provides tutorials on performing them. The author focuses on theory, but not implementation.

What I was able to absorb is that Hatha Yoga is made up of many layers of accomplishment, and none can be achieved until its precursor is mastered. Remete tries to emphasize the need to take the practice in segments and master each segment before moving on.

Shadow Yoga is Remete's own personal derivation of Hatha Yoga, to which his father introduced him at age six. I played around a bit on his website, ShadowYoga.com, and following the videos allows the practitioner to put some of Remete's instruction into practice. However, piecing everything together in the order and depth the author encourages is still quite elusive based solely on the text. From what I can tell, the objective is to provide enough information that the reader signs up for some courses, but can never fully grasp the practice on their own.

I'll keep trying to unlock the potential this book has. I'm sure there is some beneficial information contained within its pages that will guide me in mastering Yoga techniques. However, for a novice or beginner, there are better books available.

This book review is part of the Eco-Libris 2010 Green Books Campaign. View other reviews of eco-friendly books at Eco-Libris.net.

Review: LITTLE BLACK ANT ON PARK STREET by Janet Halfmann

Little Black Ant on Park Street
By Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Kathleen Rietz

I love the colorful and educational installments in the Smithsonian's Backyard series of books. And so do my boys. Ever since reading Hermit Crab's Home, Janet Halfmann has been a favorite author in our family. We seek out her books based on her name and not the content. But naturally, a child's curiosity about the world around them will encourage them to explore the wildlife that exists right in their own backyard. (And bring specimens of that wildlife indoors behind Mom's back.) Little Black Ant on Park Street explores several days in the life of an ant, experienced through the perspective of one special little ant.

The book opens during the Summer, when the backyard anthill is filled with activity. Little Black Ant has spent weeks working in the darkness of the anthill, but today she gets to explore the sunlit lawn outside while searching for food. It takes no time at all for the ant to find a feast for her colony, and the reader is allowed a glimpse at the teamwork and careful strategy that go into delivering the food back to the anthill and disseminating the meal to her fellow ants.

Day after day Little Black Ant ventures out into the great outdoors in search of food while the reader learns the biological processes of ant survival. There is even a hint of danger when Little Black Ant finds herself in the clutches of blue jay. Which defenses will she use to escape?

While this book is probably best enjoyed by toddlers and younger children, the educational benefits can span all ages. Even I learned a thing or two while sharing this book with my boys. And it's making me almost not want to kill the ant that's crawling across my laptop as I type this. Almost.