Title: Attack of the Turtle

Author: Drew Carlson

Illustrator: David A. Johnson
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5338-7
Number of Page: 149
Genre: Historical fiction
Kid Reviewer: The Sabra Girls
Reviewer’s Age: 6.5, 8.5, 9.5 years old

Date submitted:     2/2/2010
Reading Time: 1-4 days

Intended Audience:
Kid Reviewer: The Sabra Family
Age: 6 – 12 years old
Gender: Both

Rating: 5 of 5. Excellent.

Review:

6.5 year old girl:I liked this story because it is a historical fiction book and we live in Connecticut. When we coming home from Boston, MA we passed by all the towns in this book, like Old Saybrook and New London. Also, I’ve been to all the places in NY City too.

8.5 year old girl: By reading this book, it’s a fun way to learn history.

9.5 year old girl: I really liked this book because I usually don’t like history, but this book changed me. It discussed inventors, what happened during the Revolutionary War, and I liked the explanation between what was fact and what was fiction in the book.

Mama: Overall, this was an incredible book. Please read this book as a family, and enjoy opening a unit study in the Revolutionary War, inventors and inventions, and/or New England geography.

Interesting facts:

The Epilogue, American Turtle diagram and its description, Author’s notes and Bibliography are all must-read sections of this book. They were so funny and interesting that we look forward to going to the Submarine Museum in Groton to see the life-sized model of the American Turtle ourselves in the Spring, inshaAllah. We read the “Bushnell’s Submarine – The Best Kept Secret of the American Revolution” by Arthur S. Leftowitz the Uncorrected Proof to verify the historical and scientific information shared in “Attack of the Turtle”.

* We read this book as part of the 2010 Intermediate Nutmeg Nominee Book Club at the Hamden Public Library. Previously reviewed books in this category included:
- Drita, My Homegirl

We’d love for you to share your kid’s book reviews on AmericanMuslimMom.com Click here to complete a review form.

Banana and Strawberry Milkshake Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups strawberries

2 medium-sized ripe bananas

1 cup sugar

2 cups milk

Directions:

Cut strawberries in half or quarters to approximately one-inch wedges or slices. Cut bananas into approximately ½ inch slices. Freeze the fruit until ready to prepare.

Whenever we bananas that are getting soft and ripe, or strawberries that are getting too ripe and juicy, we slice them up and freeze them in a container. Therefore, we’re always ready for these milkshakes.

When you’re ready to prepare and drink, put all the ingredients into a blender and puree to desired thickness.

This recipe makes 5 8-ounce glasses, that’s not to sweet, not to watery and not to thick.* But, you are welcome to make the necessary adjustments to the amount of any of the ingredients to suit your taste.

Serve with a straw & Enjoy!

We’d love to learn more recipes made by kids, so please share in the comments below!

Well if you haven’t, you’re at the right place; because me and my sisters will share our tips, tricks, and reviews for one of our most favorite programs–JumpStart!

We have 11 JumpStart DVDs and have been fans for over 5 years. So, we are so excited they are online now!

Now, we will begin to “register” at JumpStart.com

How to Register in JumpStart Virtual World

• At the right top of JumpStart’s home-page it says “Welcome Guest”, under that it says “Login” and “Register”. Click on “Register”.

• Now you need one of your parents with you to help you sign-up and fill in:

* Parent’s First Name,
* Parent’s Last Name
* Parent’s E-mail,
* You need to confirm The E-mail,
* Password, and you need to confirm the Password
* Parent’s Birth Day, and
* Have them fill in the information for Child One-you can add more kids later.

• Then click “Finish and Play”.

• After you click “Finish and Play” a window will pop up and that is the one to make your Jumpeez a made-up name, and then you will create your Jumpeez (JumpStart’s character).

Labeled World Map of JumpStart

So you can find your way around more easily, below is the World Map of JumpStart labeled.

February Fun at JumpStart

If you register right now, we’re finding 35 hearts for this month’s scavenger hunt. Try to get as many as you can, before heading here for the answers:

• Main Street
• Downtown
• Speed Drome Finale

Note to Parent

We recommend that your children go to Storyland (ages 3-5), Adventureland (ages 5-8), Marineland (ages 5-8), or Futureland (ages 8-10) for some learning first, and then let them explore JumpStart and have fun.

Note from Mama: The kids have tons of fun in the learning lands too. So, free to recommend a certain amount of time in one of the learning lands before they play around JumpStart–that’s what I do.

Have fun as you play JumpStart and come back so we can share our experiences in the comments area below!

Disclosure: I was provided with a JumpStart membership at no cost by Knowledge Adventure in order to test the products’ abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

1. The Prophet Muhammad said, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother (Ahmad, Nasai).
2. A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).

Role of Parents in the Qu’ran

While the above ahadith are about mothers, below are a couple verses in the Qur’an about parents

Qur’an
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.
(Surah Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #23)

And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years – give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination.
(Surah Luqman, Chapter #31, Verse #14)

Please leave a comment below with your favorite nasheed and Muslim Kids videos, since we showcase a new one every Sunday. Then, check back each week to see when we post it!

We’d like to showcase the best nasheed and Muslim Kids videos on the web every Sunday. So, please leave a comment below with your favorite link and check back each week to see when we post it!

• Aveeno - AVEENO® Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion.

• Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener – For US residents over the age of 18 years only.

Great Deal:

• Hasbro Games – $3.00 Toys-R-Us Mail in rebate. Deadline date: Sunday, January 31, 2010.
  

We’d like to showcase the best nasheed and Muslim Kids videos on the web every Sunday. So, please leave a comment below with your favorite link and check back each week to see when we post it!