Thursday, October 20, 2011

Review of Off To Class

(Books in giveaway are not necessarily the books that have been reviewed or are on this post)


Off To Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes
ISBN: 978-1926818856
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Date of publish: Sept 13, 2011
Pages: 64

* I received this book from the author for review purposes. No compensation was sought or received. The views expressed are my honest opinion.*

Off to Class is a very interesting children's book about some of the different types of schools around the world. As an adult I found this to be a very helpful book. Living in Alaska, I am very aware of the need to think out of the box when a local school is not always an option. I found this book to be fascinating and inspiring. Education is one of the most important things we can give the children of the world. Survival everywhere depends on it. The innovative ideas of the many schools depicted in this book is truly wondrous to read. I think it will open the eyes and minds of children, (and adults), who choose to read this. It is an important resource for anyone who is interested in new ways to educate our children. I really appreciated the author adding in the school in New Orleans that was built after Hurricane Katrina and the "unschool" in Paris Tennessee. It brings home the reality that even here in the United States there is a need to rethink our classrooms. In my home state of Alaska many children are home-schooled or are in alternative type schools, ( the smaller schools that may house all grades in a single classroom). Due to weather and locations we have always had to educate our children "out of the box". Reading about schools that are on boats, yet are computer ready and powered by use of solar panels was eye-opening. The many schools around the globe using natural resources was marvelous to read about. It is awesome to see schools using natural materials to be built and then being powered by the sun. What an amazing lesson the children in those countries learn! As we move forward searching  for more ways to live on this planet while protecting it, the children educated in these classrooms will be a huge part of attaining that goal. Susan Hughes did an excellent job putting together this book. She educates us in an interesting and fun way. I enjoyed learning about the many schools. I was fascinated by this book. I hope there is a follow up book to this one. This book shows that we all learn from each other and we need each other for the future. This book is an awesome book for classroom libraries and for home schools. 

SUSAN HUGHES is a writer and editor, and has been writing both fiction and nonfiction children's books for over twenty years. Her book Canada Invents was shortlisted for the Hackmatack Award, as well as the Red Cedar Book Award. She lives in Toronto.

Other books by Susan Hughes include:

 Case Closed?: Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science Virginia No Girls Allowed: Tales of Daring Women Dressed As Men for Love, Freedom and Adventure Earth to Audrey

and the WILD PAWS SERIES:

Wild Paws: Bunnies in Trouble Wild Paws: Bobcat Rescue Wild Paws: Cubs All Alone Wild Paws: Orphaned Beluga

Susan Hughes may be found on Good Readshttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/250623.Susan_Hughes

Susan's website is at http://www.susanhughes.ca/

 
More information on Owl Kids Publishing, ( including contests and activities for children),  may be found on their website at http://www.owlkids.com/  

OwlKids is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/owlkids
 
OwlKids is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/owlkids

Comments always welcome!

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