Reviews

A friend said it was the best book she’s read in a long time, so I took The Elegance of the Hedgehog on my vacation – seemed perfect, nice little paperback to travel easy with plenty of time to read. After a couple of chapters I was not feeling the same love as my friend, but I was stuck in a hotel room with only that book, so I plodded on. I’m glad I did.

While most historical non-fiction works focus on large arcs of history through the lens of politics or religion or war, Bernstein looks at commerce from almost an evolutionary standpoint, as a beneficial process that has given people what they desire and what they need from the dawn of recorded history.

The publishers tout this book as a funny memoir about a white girl who is raised in a poor, predominately African-American inner-city by her divorced dad who acts like a black man.

Written in 1966 as science fiction, Make Room! Make Room! is set in New York City in 1999. It is August and unbearably hot. The city is overcrowded with 35 million residents who are forced to live in tiny rooms, abandoned cars and on the streets.

Lucy, by Laurence Gonzales, questions what it means to be human. Even more, it questions how we treat those we consider to be less than human. Lucy is not what she appears to be. While she looks totally human, she is not. Does that mean that she has no rights?

“I kinda liked this book. But my opinion on the matter probably shouldn't be trusted....” – Patrick Rothfuss via goodreads.com In addition to having a sense of humor, Rothfuss writes a bang up fantasy novel.

Ewing Kauffman grew up as a farm boy in Missouri. Ewing spent part of his early life  in the United States Navy.  After the military experience he married Marguerite, with whom two children, Larry and Marion were born. Ewing lived in Leawood for much of his life. The kids attended school in the Linwood School District, an early partner of the Shawnee Mission School District.

Spanning the early part of the 20th century, this tale of England chronicles the end of the established view of those “in service” - those who worked “downstairs” for the privileged class. It is the story of Grace, who, as a girl of 14, began work as a servant at Riverton just before the outbreak of World War I.

Kimberly Chang is eleven years old when she and her mother come to America shortly before Mainland China resumes control over Hong Kong. Her aunt Paula (Kimberly's mother's older sister) along with her husband Bob act as Kimberly and her mother's sponsors covering all expenses for travel, visas, and an apartment in New York City.

Government information for children, parents, teachers, and librarians is readily available at the Gov Doc Kids Group Wiki (http://govdocs4children.pbworks.com/). This site is rich in internet government information resources especially designed for children. Also available are instructions for the annual Constitution Day Poster Contest