Recommended English Books

[The Alternative Story]

jasmineong:

Hi TAS,


Do you sell this book that you mentioned- the boy with the striped pajamas cos I cant find it in your booklist..also do you have other books that are like this, where real life issues can be brought up to teach our kids?

Hi Jasmine,

Yes, we do but it will only arrive in a few days' time so when it is here,
we will put up the pricing.

Some other books which you can use to teach values:

1) Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is about a slave girl, Isabel, who is sold off to another
family when her mother dies. Her younger sister who is a special
needs child goes with her. In the new family, the mistress
is cruel and unkind to both girls. Isabel meets another
slave, Cuzon, who tells her that the best way out of slavery is
to report on her Loyalist masters (they support the king and
England) to the Patriots (they want freedom for America)

She cannot decide until one day her mistress sells her younger
sister off to another family because the sister has fits and the
mistress thinks it is bad luck to have her around. She then begins
to spy on her Loyalists masters for the Patriots.

At first, the Patriots seem to be winning the battle but then the
British soldiers arrive in America and then the Loyalists gain
the upper hand and it is discovered that Isabel was helping
the Patriots. Her mistress then takes her to court and demands
that her punishment be that a letter be branded by fire
onto her face. The patriots do nothing to help her.

Isabel nearly dies because of the infection. Cuzon manages to
save her. Later, she and Cuzon have to escape on their own and
find Isabel's younger sister and they set off for a place where
they can truly find freedom. That would be the sequel for Chains.

Issues to talk about:

- Slavery: Why it is wrong, how it started etc. Can talk about Martin
Luther King fighting for equality for the blacks. Most of the African
Americans came to America because they were brought in as slaves.

- The Revolutionary War: Although the Patriots believed strongly
in freedom, they failed to free the slaves. Why? They did not
see the slaves as people, they saw them as tools they could use
to gain the upper hand in the war as they knew the slaves
hated the Loyalists.

The book is also very engaging and the child will want to read in at
one go.


Where to get Chains:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7586&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

TAS

[The Alternative Story]

jeestan:

Hi TAS,


I have a question- see if you think it is feasible?

I have a few friends who stay near each other, we all are interested
to buy your story books with the phrases, if we could arrange a get-together
at one place, you think you could come down and sell your books to us?
This will be quite inconvenient for you but if you can gather about 20 parents,
you think this could be worth your while? (we all will buy a lot :love: )

Hi jeestan,

Sorry but we do not do this. We do not have the manpower to bring books
to various locations but now that we have more locations,- Yishun,
Bukit Timah, Paya Lebar- it should be easier to pick up the books

TAS

[jasmineong]

The Alternative Story:

Hi Jasmine,

Yes, we do but it will only arrive in a few days' time so when it is here,
we will put up the pricing.

Some other books which you can use to teach values:

1) Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

This book is about a slave girl, Isabel, who is sold off to another
family when her mother dies. Her younger sister who is a special
needs child goes with her. In the new family, the mistress
is cruel and unkind to both girls. Isabel meets another
slave, Cuzon, who tells her that the best way out of slavery is
to report on her Loyalist masters (they support the king and
England) to the Patriots (they want freedom for America)

She cannot decide until one day her mistress sells her younger
sister off to another family because the sister has fits and the
mistress thinks it is bad luck to have her around. She then begins
to spy on her Loyalists masters for the Patriots.

At first, the Patriots seem to be winning the battle but then the
British soldiers arrive in America and then the Loyalists gain
the upper hand and it is discovered that Isabel was helping
the Patriots. Her mistress then takes her to court and demands
that her punishment be that a letter be branded by fire
onto her face. The patriots do nothing to help her.

Isabel nearly dies because of the infection. Cuzon manages to
save her. Later, she and Cuzon have to escape on their own and
find Isabel's younger sister and they set off for a place where
they can truly find freedom. That would be the sequel for Chains.

Issues to talk about:

- Slavery: Why it is wrong, how it started etc. Can talk about Martin
Luther King fighting for equality for the blacks. Most of the African
Americans came to America because they were brought in as slaves.

- The Revolutionary War: Although the Patriots believed strongly
in freedom, they failed to free the slaves. Why? They did not
see the slaves as people, they saw them as tools they could use
to gain the upper hand in the war as they knew the slaves
hated the Loyalists.

The book is also very engaging and the child will want to read in at
one go.


Where to get Chains:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7586&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=20

TAS

Thanks TAS for the information!

[The Alternative Story]

Hi parents,


We are doing a tie-up with a bookstore at Forum Galleria to
do a free creative writing workshop for kids, we will also
be introducing 'hard to find' interesting children's books
that can help your child write well.

For more information of the event, you can go to this link:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13876

TAS

[jasmineong]

Hi TAS,


What do you think about the book - A trick of the dark? My boy wants to
get it but I dont know if the content is interesting or good for writing?

[The Alternative Story]

jasmineong:

Hi TAS,


What do you think about the book - A trick of the dark? My boy wants to
get it but I dont know if the content is interesting or good for writing?

Hi Jasmine,

This book is more suitable for older kids (primary 6 to secondary school
kids).

It is interesting but has quite a bit of foul language that is not
suitable for children. So even if your child is older, it is not so advisable
to let him read this.

However, the plot is interesting, it is about a girl who witnesses her
brother dying and then he seems to come back to life. He is not
human and has very inhumane characteristics and she has to find
a way to truly banish him from her life.

It is a dark but interesting book, a pity about the language though.

TAS

[pixiedust]

Any updates about your Book Sale ?

[The Alternative Story]

Hi pixiedust,


The bookfair will be in November, we will post out the confirmed dates
once we have confirmed the venue-we might not be having it
in the centre premises itself.

TAS

[coolit]

Hi TAS,


What is your take on Malice, it looks interesting with the drawings but it seems a bit depressing. Suitable for P5 boy? By the way, for your bookfair, when you have one, would it prob be at yishun or bukit timah area or both?

[jasmineong]

The Alternative Story:

jasmineong:

Hi TAS,


What do you think about the book - A trick of the dark? My boy wants to
get it but I dont know if the content is interesting or good for writing?

Hi Jasmine,

This book is more suitable for older kids (primary 6 to secondary school
kids).

It is interesting but has quite a bit of foul language that is not
suitable for children. So even if your child is older, it is not so advisable
to let him read this.

However, the plot is interesting, it is about a girl who witnesses her
brother dying and then he seems to come back to life. He is not
human and has very inhumane characteristics and she has to find
a way to truly banish him from her life.

It is a dark but interesting book, a pity about the language though.

TAS

Aiyo..foul language!! His friend told him it was very nice! I better tell him not to get..he has kind of run out of books, any recommendations of active boys (he likes upper pri books) Thanks much!